CNN iReport

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THE PLAYBOYS & ISAAC

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(A 1963 Recording Session with Isaac Hayes)

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These happy young boys in the attached photos are The Playboys. On the evening this photograph was taken in September 1963, we were declared winners in the Memphis-Mid South Fair Talent Contest held at the fairgrounds in Memphis. Guitar, bass, drums, trumpet, baritone and tenor saxes...no Beatles and Dave Clark Five for us...give us James Brown, Otis Redding and Booker T and the MGs...rhythm and blues was our game! We were something...we thought! I was the trumpet player...front row center. As part of our winnings, we were invited to the American Studio in Memphis for a recording session.

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During that fall of 1963 (early 1964 at the latest), with words of wisdom and caution from parents, the six of us drove to Memphis (100 miles) in two cars loaned by two of our fathers. We had never been near a recording studio. Now we were in one.

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We played our repertoire for the producer. He wasn't displeased. A fellow came in off the street. "This guy plays organ," the producer said. "You mind if he plays along?" We certainly didn't mind.

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It was Isaac...years before any major fame...thick head of hair. Sir Isaac, he called himself. He flipped on the Hammond. An unknown Isaac Hayes was sitting in with The Playboys. Isaac was playing with us, when in reality we should have been playing with him!

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"You know a tune I have always wanted to do?" the producer said. "Spoonful by Howlin' Wolf." None of us knew it...Isaac included. It was late at night, but somebody in the studio knew somebody who had the record. A phone call was made. The "somebody" was awakened. She sleepily put Spoonful on her record player. How could anybody be sleepy! None of us were sleepy. The telephone receiver was passed around for all to hear. We each listened as the record was played over and over. Okay, we got it! Let's go record! The engineers were the most encouraging of all. One fellow kept jumping around and pointing with a big smile to Terry, the guitar player. "Goose them strings, boy. Goose'um!!"

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Terry goosed. As best we could, we all did. Of course, The Playboys thought they were going to be the next BIG THING. Upon Isaac's suggestion, we put What Am I Living For on the flip side. I have always been pleased that he suggested to the producer that I play the bridge on the trumpet. That thought even brings a smile today.

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The celebrations were gigantic! In the control room, the engineers did playbacks...over and over...loud! We all danced around. Listen to that! That's us! We made a record!

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In a 1957 Chevrolet, as the sun was coming up, we drove Isaac home. I vaguely remember driving along a railroad track and a small white house. That could all be wrong, but that's the way 45 years lets me remember it.

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The record wasn't a hit. It was never released, as far as I know. The Playboys were sent six copies. I know where three are. Still in its dust cover, I held one in my hand just moments ago.

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Spoonful by the Playboy Five it says. Somebody that evening at the American Studio either couldn't count or was still trying to the make an American version of the Dave Clark Five out of us. That could never have happened. Nothing but R & B for us!

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The Playboys were around for several more years until college sent us our separate ways. We had a nice career for a high school combo from a small town in north Mississippi. We played in places like Washington, DC and Cincinnati, Ohio...even appeared on the The Ted Mack Original Amateur Hour in New York City.

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One day in the late 1960's, I was watching American Bandstand. There was my friend, Isaac. I watched with a smile...and remember a night at the American Studio.

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Eddie Thomas