You Mean Everything To Me

Most commonly known as Cash McCall, guitarist / singer / songwriter Morris Dollison Jr. was born in New Madrid, Missouri. His youth was spent between Chicago's north side, rural Mississippi and Arkansas. After his military service Dollison returned to Missouri but moved soon after, settling in Chicago. In the early 60s he sang and played guitar or electric bass with The Jubilee Hummingbirds, The Pilgrim Jubilees, The Gospel Songbirds, and briefly with The Five Blind Boys Of Mississippi. He also worked with secular artists like soul star Alvin Cash, blues guitarist L.C. McKinley, Lefty Bates, and a long stint as guitarist with Saxie Russell & The Starfires. When Dollison auditioned for One-Derful! Records in late 1963, A&R man Monk Higgins and label boss George Leaner liked what they heard. "The Earth Worm", credited to Maurice Dollison & The Turnkeys, was issued as a two-parter on their M-Pac! imprint. He went on to become a session guitarist and occasional songwriter for the label, penning songs for old friend, Otis Clay. In early 1966 he auditioned for St. Lawrence / Thomas Records with the self-penned "When You Wake Up". Unbeknownst to Dollison at the time, Monk Higgins had moved into an A&R role for the Chicago-based label, and once again, he liked what Dollison was doling out. "When You Wake Up" was cut with the house rhythm section, Higgins added horns and background voices later. Thomas Records issued the impressive results as a single, under the fictitious name of Cash McCall. Dollison belatedly learned of his new alias when he heard it debut on WVON radio. The song was a national R&B hit, securing Dollison prestigious gigs and live appearances, however, his few follow-ups for the label -- despite being decent -- failed to chart. It was during this time though, that Dollison began to develop a fruitful songwriting and production partnership with Higgins, and briefly Higgins' wife, Virginia Smith. I suspect the obscure Chicago-based Sack Records was the couple's pet project before Higgins was hired on full-time by the legendary Chess Records. Dollison followed Higgins to Chess where their partnership would flourish and his name would become synonymous with hard Chicago soul . He had a couple of strong singles released on the Checker label but wrote or co-wrote with Higgins (among others) for prominent artists on the roster like Little Milton, Mitty Collier, Muddy Waters, Etta James, Laura Lee, and many more. His handywork as a blues guitarist is featured on a wide array of Chess productions, in the late 60s / early 70s he's featured lead on albums by Dorothy Ashby, Jack McDuff, and Phil Upchurch. Additionally, he produced and arranged Howlin' Wolf's 1971 album, Message To The Young, with the great Sonny Thompson. From there, Dollison signed to Stan Lewis' Jewel subsidiary, Paula Records based in Shreveport, Louisiana. Initially he was writing and producing for Paula, later releasing his blues-laden debut album, Omega Man, by way of the label in 1974. Sadly the album lacks both the tenacity and sincerity of his work throughout the 1960s. Soon after he relocated to Los Angeles where he reunited with former Chicago colleagues, Ben Wright and Charles Stepney. Their combined efforts amounted to a pair of drab disco infused 45s issued by Columbia Records. With a greater focus on electric blues, Dollison released two further albums in the 80s -- the latter of which is quite good -- and spent the next two decades as an in-high-demand guitar slinger, collaborating with countless artists in both performing and recording capacities. Dollison's legacy of contributions to the music world are many, but for my money, it was his mid 60s / early 70s work as a songwriter that shines brightest. Oddly his efforts are credited to as many as two pseudonyms and various spellings of his birth name, yet be it Morris or Maurice Dollison, Don Juan, or his more popular moniker of Cash McCall, the man certainly had a way with words. Enjoy.

VA - You Mean Everything To Me (Selections From The Songbook Of Cash McCall)

01 - Maurice & Mac - 1969 - Baby, You're The One (Checker 1224)

02 - Bobbie Jean Bland - 1967 - Do It (Sack 4360)

03 - Irma Thomas - 1967 - Don't Make Me Stop Now (Unissued Chess-FAME Recording)

04 - Dee Irwin - 1968 - I Can't Stand The Pain (Imperial 66320)

05 - Bobby Rush - 1969 - Wake Up (Salem 1006) [mono]

06 - Simtec & Wylie - 1969 - Can't Break Away (Shama 4003) [mono]

07 - Otis Clay - 1967 - That's How It Is (One-Derful 4848) [mono]

08 - Cash McCall - 1967 - S O S (Checker 1184) [mono]

09 - Laura Lee - 1969 - Love More Than Pride (Chess 2068)

10 - Little Milton - 1969 - I'll Always Love You (Checker 1225)

11 - Tyrone Davis - 1970 - I Keep Coming Back (Dakar 616)

12 - Etta James - 1967 - Don't Pick Me For Your Fool (Cadet 5564)

13 - Mitty Collier - 1967 - Git Out (Chess 2035)

14 - Junior Parker - 1969 - I'm So Satisfied (Blue Rock 4080)

15 - Garland Green - 1969 - Jealous Kind Of Fella (UNI 55143)

16 - Reid Inc. - 1977 - That's How It Is When You Are In Love (Bold LP-304)

17 - Family Brown - 1978 - I Can't Get Used To Being Alone (United Artists LP UA-LA828-G)

18 - Roscoe Robinson - 1972 - Don't Set Me Free (Paula 365)

19 - Odell Brown - 1970 - Free Delivery (Cadet LPS-838)

20 - Big Ella - 1969 - I Need A Good Man (Lo Lo 2101)

21 - Cash McCall - 1967 - It's Wonderful (To Be In Love) (Thomas 312)

22 - Andre Williams - 1967 - Humpin', Bumpin' And Thumping (Checker 1187)

23 - Etta James - 1966 - I Prefer You (Cadet 5552)

24 - Little Milton - 1968 - Let Me Down Easy (Checker 1208)

25 - Velma Perkins - 1970 - I'll Always Love You (Twinight 140)

26 - Timmy Smith - 196? - I'm Willing To Love You (Starville 1207)

27 - Bobbie Jean Bland - 1967 - I'm Satisfied Just Loving You (Sack 4360)

28 - Tyrone Davis - 1967 - I Tried It Over (And Over Again) (Sack 4359) [mono]

29 - Cash McCall - 1966 - You Mean Everything To Me (Thomas 311) [mono]

30 - Mamie P. Galore - 1967 - Do It Right Now (Sack 4361) [mono]

YMETM

Note: If you omit tracks 18 and 19, the remainder fits nicely on a 80min CD-R