"Miracle Baby" Dad's song about premie son, died on 1st birthday RARE & UNUSUAL

$

20

Up for sale is probably the most unusual record you will ever encounter.  It is a 7 inch, 45 rpm, vinyl record, on an obscure label by an obscure artist.  One side of this record has a most remarkable song sung by a father in memory of his prematurely born son, who died on (or shortly after) his first birthday.

Artist:   Billy Law

Record Label:  Village Records

Produced by:  T.O.R. Recording Studio, 1207 West St. Bernard Hwy, Chalmette, La. 70043

Record Number:  201

Release Year:  Unknown (probably mid to late 1960s, see discussion below)

One Side:  Miracle Baby (Casimere J. Chris) [BMI - 2:10  Tell *A* Tune Publishing Co.]

Other Side:  What's The Use In Dreaming (William E. Law, Earl Oropeza) [BMI - 3:10  Tell *A* Tune Publishing Co.]

What's The Use in Dreaming is a nice song about a fellow who laments that his dreams never come true.  But, in my opinion, the real star on this record is Miracle Baby.  This is an elegy to a baby who died on (or very soon after) his 1st birthday.  The song contains specifics of his premature birth and of his struggles during his short life.  We learn that his name was Paul Chris and that he was born at the Touro Infirmary (in New Orleans, Louisiana).  He had respiratory difficulties and problems swallowing.  He lived far longer than doctors had predicted but died of pneumonia.  At one point, the song mentions that his condition was similar to that of Patrick, the son of "our late President".  This would be a reference to Patrick Bouvier Kennedy, who was born prematurely to President and Mrs (Jackie) John F. Kennedy in August, 1963 and died from what then was known as "hyaline membrane disease" (now called "infant respiratory distress syndrome").  [Note:  JFK's son lived only 2 days, not the full year that the subject of this song survived.  JFK was assassinated 3 months later, in November, 1963; it is likely that Miracle Baby was recorded not too long after, while the JFK reference would have been fresh in the public mind.]

As a song sung by a father about his late son, Miracle Baby has an authenticity that simply cannot be matched by commercial artists.  It is not musically complex and does not have "professional" touches.  But the artist has a nice voice and the result is quite powerful in a plain spoken way.

I was unable to find out anything about Village Records, nor about the T.O.R. Recording Studio in Chalmette, Louisiana, nor about the Tell *A* Tune Publishing Company, nor about the singer Billy Law.  Miracle Baby was written by Casimere J. Chris.  The concluding lyrics to the song say that the baby's name was "Paul Chris".  It is likely that Casimere was the baby's dad.  That would leave the question as to why the singer is listed as "Billy Law".  Perhaps Casimere used the name "Billy Law" as a performance name for his own voice.

I also don't know whether the "William E. Law", who co-wrote the song "What's the Use of Dreaming" is the same as "Billy Law" (listed as the singer on both sides).  But I was able to find the name "Earl Oropeza" (the other co-writer of "What's the Use of Dreaming").  He was better known as "Earl Stanley" and had much local success in New Orleans with such groups as Roger and the Gypsies and Earl Stanley and the Stereos.  His most famous song was "Pass The Hatchet".

See above for complete description of condition and for photos.  Sold as is.

Attention US Buyers:  I will ship by USPS Media Mail or by USPS Priority Mail, your choice.  Please note that if you have a Military Mail address (e.g. APO), I must ask that you pick USPS Priority Mail as it is my understanding that USPS Medial Mail is not reliable to Military Mail addresses.

Attention International Buyers:  I will ship using USPS Priority International Mail (worldwide) or by USPS First Class International Mail (to countries with e-Delcon service), your choice.  Please note that the price does not include any customs that may be charged by the country to which the record is delivered.