Down Melody Lane

(2-CD set) Ken Griffin was born in Columbia, Missouri. His biggest hit was 'You Can't Be True, Dear' (1948), which was first released as an instrumental, and later that year re-released with a vocal by Jerry Wayne dubbed in. Both versions became popular, selling over 3. 5 million copies. He also starred in a 1954-55 syndicated television series, 67 Melody Lane. His version of Ebb Tide was played in the fifth-season premiere of the TV drama Mad Men. He recorded on a variety of recording labels, especially Columbia. It was in the 1940s in Aurora, Illinois, that Griffin broke into the nightclub circuit, playing at the Rivoli Cafe nightly. The sessions at the Rivoli cafe were broadcast on the radio station, WMRO, and the program became popular. Although some fans want everything Ken Griffin did; many prefer the Hammond so this compilation aims to satisfy both camps. The Wurlitzer electrostatic reed organ used in the TV. show had not been fully developed at that time and although it appears that Ken had signed a contract to make future recordings exclusively on the Wurlitzer, we can't help wondering if this was a wise move. That Instrument unsurprisingly, seems not to have been the success for which Wurlitzer had no doubt hoped and they fairly quickly turned to making a true electronic instrument - somewhat too late it would appear.