158 LaVern Baker (1929-1997) and the Gliders “Tweedle Dee” 1954

“major record companies, particularly Mercury Records, had been ‘stealing’ hits by covering R&B songs with white artists…The independent Atlantic Records company, Baker’s label, had decided to strike back at this practice by recording its black artists with pop arrangements…But Mercury Records…refined its larceny by copying LaVern Baker’s song…A subsequent appeal to Congress publicly challenged the practice of larger record companies from stealing both songs and arrangements from smaller companies” (What Was the First Rock ‘n’ Roll Record).

LaVern Baker and the Gliders “Tweedle Dee”