"I spent some time last night after my toddler got to bed working on the Hot Club web pages; scanning graphics from the album cover and doing some layout so it'll look good.

But I'd like some answers to the following questions so it will be informative as well as "beautiful":

1. Which cuts would you prefer audio clips of on the HCOA pages?
2. Would you prefer full length cuts, or excerpts?
3. Where was the album recorded? Studio and / or city?
4. How long did it take? Hours, days, weeks?
5. Can I assume there were no overdubs-all live in the studio top to bottom on each number?
6. When was the album recorded (year and season)?
7. How old were you? How old was Johnny?
8. Did you gig together as "Hot Club" around that time?
9. What amplifier did you use for the recording?
10. What amp did Johnny use?
11. Did Johnny use only the Strat pictured on the cover?
12. You said in an earlier e-mail you used your favorite triple neck Custom not the pedal guitar shown on the cover; what tunings were on the Custom, on which neck? Could you spell them out from lowest string to highest (example: a c e g a c e g for an 8 string C6)?
13.If possible could you say which tuning was used on each cut?

I know this is a lot to ask you to try and remember, but I really appreciate that you are the only person who might know this esoteric information. If you can take your time and address each question in whatever detail you can I will be better able to produce a fitting tribute to your great record. "

~Dave Van Allen 1-25-2001

Dave lets start with (question)# 3 there is much more before that, and if you want I can tell you how I first met John back in 1950 while we were appearing on WPIX TV 5 nights a week with Rosalie Allen-ever heard of her?? Big name and RCA Victor recording artist back in the late 40's thru the 50's good looking gal sang and yodeled great; she was teamed up with Elton Britt-ever heard of him???.

She also did a DJ show called "Prairie Stars" daily. She was a popualr artist back then; she started her career with my dad.

Lets get back to question # 3 . The album was recorded at Nola Studios in Manhattan. John and I laid out the money for the recording session; it was supoosed to have been a demo to try to sell to a record company. We had a few offers from a company "Roulette" records (big back then with the hit 76 trombones with Hugo and Luigi -sounds like an Italian restaurant..) problem with that was they wanted a full rhythm section added. John did not want that-we had much disagreements re that. I felt we should have a drummer etc, he wanted to keep it pure and simple like Django his idol.

We shopped around and got no where. Finally went to a record label where I knew the head of A&R as I had recorded there many times backing up various artists. Paul Cohen head man at Decca said he had no place for the material we had, but to try... a subsidiary of Decca. We went there and spoke with a fellow by the name of Bob Theil- didn't know he was the husband of Teresa Brewer ("Music Music Music" ). He was a nice fellow. He listened to the demo tape-ran it through the studio equipment and sat in the studio just studying the tunes etc. His only reply was "boy that is 'hot' stuff." He asked if we had agents or managers representing us. We did not at the time. He had the engineer play the demo over three or four times, kept studying and listening. In the control room was a guy standing there who looked very familiar; he had a open mike and said "hey Bob (Theil), man, you guys are burning wax here, that is a 'hot' recording". There's the name "hot" again. The guy came into the studio and sat with Theil and then I knew who he was. It was Steve Allen! He did the tonight show before Johnny Carson. Steve was on the label too.

Theil said he would have to mull it over with some other people and would get back to us. Johnny said "When????" I laughed inside. He (Theil) says "well its 1.30 now, go get some lunch and come back, we will try to have an answer for you."

Who could eat, here was a major label interested in four guys who rehearsed in Johnny's apartment in upper Manhattan- not a nice place to live, tenement house maybe 10 family, mixed everything, but they all knew John the guitar player! He used to sit on the steps of the apartment house and play Spanish tunes and the Spanish people loved him; ditto the Italians and the Jewish people. John had a tune for everyone. He was never without his guitar.

After we had lunch we went back upstairs.... Theil was in his office with Steve Allen, he said "hey you guys, this is Steve Allen and he thinks you guys are really 'hot'. In fact he would like to consider having you make an appearance on the Tonight show, that would also give us some exposure for the new LP." When he said this I knew we were in! Listen up Dave- he said "Steve and I think this is a 'hot album' and we would like to think of it as a Django Reinhardt type thing, but with that steel guitar it gives it a different feel. Django has the Hot Club Of France, how about us calling this 'The Hot Club Of America'???"

Wow, what a thrill! John was spaced out, my heart was pounding (maybe from that lousy pastrami sandwich I ate for lunch). Here was the kicker: they were going to make arrangements for a contract with options for three LP's a year for the first year to see how it went. Then we would sit down and do a bigger deal. He advised us to get representation managers etc. He felt we were musicians and not business minded guys. How right he was. Theil took the demo and what you hear as the finished product was actually the demo- his reason???? He said "its so dammed good I would hate for you to realize you were now recording for a major label and that would take away from the original sound you have created. You guys sound as hot as hell" He said Steve Allen told him, the LP would be a winner. Made arrangements for pictures for the album cover etc .etc.

It was recorded summer July of 58.... Well I mean they pressed the LP from the demo at that time, they didnt want to re-do anything. I will continue again tomorrow if I am up to it, ,,you must be tired of reading all this jibber jabber much, much more to the story, as I write it I can close my eyes and see it again like it was yesterday.

Next chapter: when we signed a contract with a couple of Snake's with fangs of poison who started our downfall before we really got off the ground, , Good night.
Jody
The Hot Club miniseries will continue

~Jody Carver 1-31-2001