Jive Train – Jim Laurro and His Orchestra with Pee Wee Ellis
1956, Fine Records. Possibly the first studio recording of Pee Wee Ellis. This record is out of print.
Dizzy Jone’s Birdland,
Nov. 1963, Butane Records. This record is out of print.
Here’s a clipping of the song. No rights implied. We do not offer downloads. Music written by Pee Wee Ellis. This record is out of print.
The Dapps featuring Alfred Ellis
King 45-6169 from June 1968
The Rabbit Got The Gun (Instrumental)
There Was A Time
(live at the Apollo, with overdubbed sax solo)
Here’s a clipping of the King single 45-6169. No rights implied. We do not offer downloads. Music written by Pee Wee Ellis. This record is out of print.
Alfred “PeeWee” Ellis featured with the James Brown Band
King 45-6199 from November 1968, A James Brown Production
Here’s a clipping of the King single 45-6199. No rights implied. We do not offer downloads. Music written and/or arranged by Pee Wee Ellis. This single was re-issued on Disc 2, JAMES BROWN, THE SINGLES, VOLUME FIVE: 1967 – 1968. Available through the Universal Music Group on Hip-O-Select or use this amazon-link. To our knowledge the re-issue is also out of print, so good luck!
1970 Sound Stage Single SS7-2655
Please note: Moon Walk was written by Pee Wee Ellis. The label communicates the wrong credit.
Here’s a clipping of the Sound Stage single SS7-2655. No rights implied. We do not offer downloads. Music written by Pee Wee Ellis. This single was added to the compilation BLAXPLOSION (A COLLECTION OF CLASSIC FUNK), Charly Records, which is available here.
Blues Magoos • Gulf Coast Bound
1970 ABC Records ABCS-710 STEREO
with Pee Wee Ellis (ts / perc), Cooker Lopresti (bs), Richie Dickon (congas / perc), Jim Payne (dr), Peppy Thielhelm (g / lead vocals), Eric Justin Kaz (p / lead vocals), Daddy Ya Ya (tambourine), John Liello (vibes / perc)
Recorded March 1970
A-Side: Gulf Coast Bound, Slow Down Sundown, Can’t Get Enough Of You
B-Side: Magoo’s Blues, Tonight The Sky’s About To Cry, Sea Breeze Express
This record is out of print.
Hank Crawford • It’s A Funky Thing To Do
1971 Cotillion, SD 18003 (A Division of Atlantic Records Corporation)
Pee Wee Ellis is the writer of It’s A Funky Thing To Do
and recorded the song himself later in 1996 on his album
A NEW SHIFT (Minor Music MM 801060)
In 1993 the song was sampled by Salt ’N’ Pepa on their album
“Very Necessary”; song: “Step”
Gotham • Pass The Butter
1972 Natural Resources, NR-104L
A Trademark of Motown Record Corporation.
Pee Wee Ellis is the writer of “USE IT OR LOSE IT” and “MOON”.
In a slighlty different setting “Gotham” was also known as “New York Street Band”.
“USE IT OR LOSE IT” was frequently issued on Funk compilation such as “Mojo Club Presents Dancefloor Jazz, Vol. 4: Light My Fire” or “Various – Mo’steppers – 16 irresitible mid-tempo motown grooves”
Hank Crawford • Help Me Make It
Through The Night
1972 CTI, KUDU, KUL4
Pee Wee Ellis is the writer of “HAM”.
Third song of the B-Side. The LP was released in 1972 ,
“HAM” was recorded in August 1971.
Shirley Scott • Mystical Lady
assumably 1971 Cadet Records, CA 50009
with Pee Wee Ellis (ts on “Let It Be” and “Hall Of Jazz”), Shirley Scott (organ and vocals on “Your Song”), Danny Turner (ts), Wally Richardson & George Freeman (g), Ron Carter & Richard Davis (b), Bobby Durham & Freddie Waits (dr), George Patterson (as on “Proud Mary”)
A-Side: Mystical Lady • Your Song • Hall Of Jazz
B-Side: Proud Mary • Love Dreams • Let It Be
No rights implied. We do not offer downloads. This record is out of print.
Johnny Hammond • The Prophet
1972 CTI, KUDU, KU-10
Pee Wee Ellis arranged and conducted the album and is the writer of “THE PROPHET”.
Just a few names from the recording session: Ron Carter (b), Johnny Hammond (organ), Billy Cobham (dr), Eric Gale (g), Jon Faddis (tp), Pepper Adams (bs), Maceo Parker (ts), Hubert Laws (electric flute)
A-Side: The Prophet • Your Song • Tomorrow Belongs To The Children • Witchy Woman
B-Side: Thunder & Lightning • Stand Behind Me • Corner Of The Sky
The song “THE PROPHET” was covered by Jack McDuff in 1972 on the album THE HEATIN’ SYSTEM (CADET, 2CA 60017) and it was sampled by K.M.C. KRU in 1992 in “YOU BE THE JUDGE”.
Leon Thomas • Blues And The Soulful Truth
1972, Flying Dutchman Productions LTD. FD 10155
Pee Wee Ellis is the writer of “LET’S GO DOWN TO LUCY’S” and “CHINA DOLL” and he plays various instruments on the album: tenor saxophone, piano, soprano saxophone, baritone saxophone, organ, marimba and as the liner notes say coat hangers!
George Benson • Body Talk
1973 CTI, CTI 6033
Pee Wee Ellis arranged and conducted the album and is the writer of the first tune “DANCE”.
Jack McDuff • Magnetic Feel
1975 GRT Corporation, Cadet Records, CA 60039
with Pee Wee Ellis (as & ts), Jack McDuff (Moog & Arp synthesizer, electric piano, piano and organ), George Benson (all guitar solos), Phil Upchurch (WaWa Guitar on “Magnetic Feel”), Cornell Dupree (Rhythm Guitar on “Mr.T”), Bob Cranshaw (b), Grady Tate (dr), Geroge Benson (dr on “A Long Goodie”, the LP really says Geroge not George), Ray Mantilla (congas, dr & perc), Jack McDuff & Esmond Eswards (vocals on “Won’t You Try My Love”), Jack McDuff plays organ bass on “Black Jack” and Synthesizer Bass on “Blue Monsoon”.
A-Side: Blue Monsoon • Don’t Mess With Mr. T • A Long Goodie
B-Side: Won’t You Try My Love • Black Jack • Magnetic Feel
No rights implied. We do not offer downloads. This record is out of print.
Sonny Stitt • Never Can Say Goodbye
1975 GRT Corporation, Cadet Records, CA 60040
with Pee Wee Ellis, Sonny Stitt (as & ts), Bernard Purdie (congas, dr), Ron Carter (b), Waymon Reed &Ernie Royal (tp & flugelhorn), Gerlad Chamberland (tb), Roland Hanna (p), Billy Butler (g), Ray Mantilla & Gilmore Digad (congas, dr), Wilbur Bascomb (electric bass) and many more.
A-Side: Slick Eddie • The Way We Were • Medley: *Bachianas Brasilieras #5 and Funky Interlude • Never Can Say Goodbye
B-Side: Spanish Harlem, Theme From The Godfather II • Ocho Rios
Note: The Label print mistakes the A with the B-Side.
This is actually Side A according to the LP’s rear side.
And this is the B-Side
The note at the bottom of the LP says:
To “Pee Wee” Ellis “Thank you”
Produced by: Esmond Edwards/Arranged and conducted by Alfred “Pee Wee” Ellis/Rhythm Section Record at: Sound Exchange Studios, N.Y.C./Engineer: Skip Juried, Additional Recording & Mixing: A&R Recording Studios, N.Y.C./Engineer: Don Hahn, Mastered at: Sterling Sound Studio, N.Y.C., Engineer: Bob Ludwig. Master Cylinder: Victor Davis, Bernard Grant Vear, Ron Carter appears through the courtesy of CTI Records
Art Direction: Neil Terk, Front Cover Photograph Hank Dunning, Liner Photo: Esmond Edwards, Production Supervision: Bob Scerbo
Chess/Janus records a division of GRT Corporation, 1633 Broadway New Yor, N.Y. 10019. Also available on GRT 8-Track and Cassette.
Here’s a clipping of the song SLICK EDDIE. No rights implied. We do not offer downloads. Music written by Pee Wee Ellis. This record is out of print. Used copies can be found on ebay. Start your search here.
[Remark by the author: Pee Wee Ellis also plays on the SONNY STITT album DUMPY MAMA from 1975. Please start your search here. The album is available on Dutchman Records and was re-issued on CD in Japan. For more details please look into the discography.]
Pee Wee Ellis with Brass Fever • Time Is Running Out
1976, ABC Records, ASD-9319
Produced by Esmond Edwards, arranged and conducted by McKinley Jackson.
Pee Wee Ellis plays all saxophone solos on the album.
A-Side
1. Time Is Running Out
2. Takin’ It To The Streets
3. Boogie On Reggae Woman
4. Mr. Tambourine Man
B-Side
1. Dancing Machine
2. Pressure Drop
3. Summertime
4. Funky Carnival
The sound clip below features Pee Wee’s sax solos on Summertime and Boogie On Reggae Woman.
No rights implied. We do not offer downloads. Music arranged by Pee Wee Ellis. This record is out of print. Used copies can be found on ebay. Start your search here.
David Liebman • Light’n Up, Please!
1977 A&M Records, Inc. Horizon, 28 238 XOT
Pee Wee Ellis is writer of “CHILDREN IN THE GHETTO”, “THE FONZ’S STRUT”, “GOT TO WORK”, “CHICKEN SOUP” and he plays electric piano, tenor saxophone, percussion, soprano saxophone thru octave voice as well as he delivers some background vocals and handclaps. Also the album is a re-union with Pee Wee’s old friend Leon Thomas (vocals).
Recorded May 1976, at The Record Plant, Sausalito, CA., USA
Pee Wee Ellis • Home In The Country
1977 Arista Records, Inc., Savoy, SJL 3301
Actually the first album under his own name. Pee Wee Ellis is the arranger and conducter of this album. Among the guest musicians are: George Benson, Idris Muhammad, Bernard Purdie, Cornell Dupree, Eric Gale and Waymon Reed, who introduced Pee Wee Ellis (and also Fred Wesley) to the James Brown Band in the 1960’s.
Chuck Vincent & Shuffle • Here And Now
1980 Smoke House Records. The label was owned by Pee Wee Ellis and had its residence in Mill Valley, California.
with Pee Wee Ellis (ts & backing vocals, horn & string arrangements), Wah Wah Watson (g), Robert “Buddah” Winters & Walter Turner (backing vocals), Taj Mahal (g), Ross J. Winetsky (bell tree), Steve Puleo (perc), Janet Morrison, Jeanette Sartain & Pam Moore (backing vocals), Rodney Franklin (p), Andre Ghozland (g), Mark Isham (horn arrangement on Hold On (Have You Seen My Baby), James Levi (bongos, congas, timbales), Chuck Vincent, Chris hayes, Karl Dickens, John Turk & James Levi (backing vocals); Pat Craig (organ), Stephen Gel, Emily Van Valkenburg & Mimi Dye (strings)
A-Side: Heavy Duty Booty • Song For You • Fly Away (dedicated to Elizabeth Horn) • Let Yourself Go • Hold On (Have You Seen My Baby)
B-Side: Easy • Pop Goes That Funky Thing • Fine Young Thing • Stepping Down • Here And Now (dedicated to Henry “The Owl”)
Executive Producers: Chuck Vincent & Paul Rappa
Producer: Ross J. Winetsky
Horn and String Arrangements : Pee Wee Ellis
Engineers: Mark Needham & Doyle Williams
Recorded at Bear West Studios, San Francisco, CA in 1979
No rights implied. We do not offer downloads. Music arranged by Pee Wee Ellis. This record is out of print.