Wyly Bigger – “Hello, Is That You?”
Americana Highways presents this premiere of Wyly Bigger’s version of the song “Hello, Is That You?” from his forthcoming album, due to be released on May 24. This song was written by Floyd Huddleston and originally performed by The Red Tops. The album was recorded at Shelby Foote Mansion in midtown Memphis and produced by local singer/songwriter and producer, Mark Edgar Stuart.
On this song, “Hello, Is That You?,” are Wyly Bigger on vocals and piano; Mark Edgar Stuart on bass; Danny Banks on drums; Matt Ross-Spang on guitar; and Jim Spake on baritone sax.
This is a blend of rockabilly, big band and swing, with horns and a classic Elvis vibe on a lesser known Red Tops song. “Hello? Is That You? Baby this is you-know-who” with call and response, and there is clearly an exciting undercover operation going on.
Before she passed away in 2019, my grandmother gifted me her collection of 45rpm singles from her teenage years in the 1950s. Amongst the typical ‘50s names like Bill Haley and Fats Domino, I found one with an interesting label from a band called The Red Tops. I spun it on my turntable, and really grooved with the B-side number, “Hello, Is That You?” Come to find out, that single was the only recording The Red Tops, a primarily party band from Vicksburg, Mississippi, ever recorded. Since I discovered it, it’s been one of my favorite songs to play, so we made a point to include my own version of it on this album. While the original recording leans more to the big band side of a “jump blues” tune, we took a different approach to make it my own, leaning more heavily into the rock / rhythm n’ blues feel. – Wyly Bigger
Discover more about Wyly on his website here: https://www.wylybigger.com/
