Drill Daddy Drill

"Drill Daddy Drill" is a dirty blues song, recorded by Dorothy Ellis and released as a single on Federal Records in April 1952.[1] The B-side of the record was "Must Go Out and Play".[2] Both songs were penned by Ravon Darnell (who, using his real name Rick Darnell, co-wrote the blues standard, "The Thrill Is Gone") and Mario Delagarde.[3] Delagarde was the regular double bass player with Johnny Otis and His Orchestra.[4]

"Drill Daddy Drill"
Single by Dorothy Ellis
B-side"Must Go Out and Play"
ReleasedApril 1952 (1952-04)
RecordedJanuary 16, 1952
GenreDirty blues, R&B
Length2:55
LabelFederal Records 12070
Songwriter(s)Ravon Darnell, Mario Delagarde

History

The song was recorded on January 16, 1952, in Los Angeles, California, by Ellis with backing by Johnny Otis and His Orchestra.[1] The personnel involved were Dorothy Ellis (vocal), Lee Graves (trumpet), George Washington (trombone), Rene Bloch (alto saxophone), Ben Webster (tenor saxophone), Lorenzo Holderness (tenor saxophone), Walter Henry (baritone saxophone), Devonia Williams (piano), Pete Lewis (guitar), Mario Delagarde (double bass) and Leard Bell (drums).[5] Webster supplied his tenor saxophone playing to the track, which was described as "excellent but ordinary".[6]

The release of the single was listed in Billboard's issue dated May 3, 1952.[7] Cash Box in its May 17, 1952, periodical, was more forthcoming with its short review noting the main track as "A hustling bounce novelty with double entendre lyrics is treated to a forceful reading by thrush Dorothy Ellis".[8] At the date of the recording, Ellis was just over 16 years and three months old.[9][10]

Wording

The song's lyrics were liberally sprinkled with the usage of double entendres. The verb 'drill' was used in either of its various descriptive terms as "produce (a hole) in something by or as if by boring with a drill",[11] and "meaning to have sex from a male perspective". This is exemplified in the song's lyric, "When one well goes dry, we'll use another hole".[12]

Worth

A copy of the original vinyl single sold in May 2017 for $204.37.[13]

Compilation album re-releases

The track was included in the compilation album, He Got Out His Big Ten Inch: Risque R&B and Rude Blues, released in 2005 by Indigo Records.[14][15] It was also featured on another compilation, Eat to the Beat: The Dirtiest of the Dirty Blues (2006, Bear Family Records),[16] among many other such compilations.[17]

References
  1. "78 Record: Dorothy Ellis - Drill Daddy Drill (1952)". 45worlds.com. Retrieved September 4, 2022.
  2. "45 discography for Federal Records". Globaldogproductions.info. Retrieved September 4, 2022.
  3. "Rick Darnell (3)". Discogs.com. Retrieved September 4, 2022.
  4. "Mario Delagarde". Discogs.com. Retrieved September 4, 2022.
  5. "KDP | Session | Dorothy Ellis, Los Angeles, CA, January 16, 1952". 1540brewster.com. Retrieved September 4, 2022.
  6. Frank Buchmann-Moller (5 February 2010). Someone to Watch Over Me: The Life and Music of Ben Webster. University of Michigan Press. p. 143. ISBN 9780472025985.
  7. "Billboard". Nielsen Business Media, Inc. 3 May 1952. Retrieved September 4, 2022 – via Google Books.
  8. "The Cash Box Jazz 'n Blues Reviews" (PDF). Worldradiohistory.com. May 17, 1952. p. 22. Retrieved September 4, 2022.
  9. Eagle, Bob L.; LeBlanc, Eric S. (1 May 2013). Blues: A Regional Experience. ABC-CLIO. p. 295. ISBN 9780313344244. Retrieved September 4, 2022 – via Google Books.
  10. "Obituary for Dorothy "Miss Blues" Ellis at Howard-Harris Funeral Services". Howardharrisfs.com. Retrieved September 4, 2022.
  11. "Dictionary definition of "drill"h". Google.co.uk. Retrieved September 4, 2022.
  12. Terry Victor; Tom Dalzell, eds. (26 June 2015). The New Partridge Dictionary of Slang and Unconventional English. Taylor & Francis. p. 743. ISBN 9781317372523.
  13. "Gripsweat - RARE 1952 RISQUE BLUES-DOROTHY ELLIS-DRILL DADDY DRILL/MUST GO OUT AND PLAY-HEAR". Gripsweat.com. Retrieved September 4, 2022.
  14. "Various Artists - He Got Out His Big Ten Inch: Risque R&B and Rude Blues Album Reviews, Songs & More". AllMusic. Retrieved September 4, 2022.
  15. "He Got Out His Big Ten Inch: Risque R&B and Rude Blues - Various Artists | Releases". AllMusic. Retrieved September 4, 2022.
  16. "Eat to the Beat: The Dirtiest of the Dirty Blues - Various Artists | Releases". AllMusic. Retrieved September 4, 2022.
  17. "Dorothy Ellis | Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved September 4, 2022.
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