Hey Cat !

Hey Cat !

Sunday 31 May 2015

Specialty Records !


Claude King and his Hillbilly Ramblers.
Specialty Record # X SP 705 - 1952
She Knows Why / She's My Baby.



Tillman Franks - Upright Bass, Claude King - Rhythm Guitar/ Vocals & Tommy Tomlinson - Lead Guitar.

I love Johnny Horton's version of this song, but for me this original version just pips it for me, it has that special feel and the vocals are underplayed by Claude and to this end it just oozes class !
She Knows Why was written by Claude and released on the LA Rhythm & Blues label 'Specialty' . Hank Williams wanted to record this as 'You Know Why' but was eventually recorded by Johnny Horton .

Claude King passed away 7th March 2013.

Saturday 30 May 2015

Federal Records !


Tommy Scott 
Federal Record # 10003 - 1951
Rockin' And Rollin' / You Done Me Wrong


Tommy sure does Rock and Roll in this early 50's guitar boogie feast ! was this the first R'N'R Record ? it's gotta be up there as a country boogie rockin' monster of a record for sure. Tommy shows his class vocal and the whole thing just moves and grooves !

Tommy Scott was born in a little town near Toccoa, Georgia, up in the mountains about 100 miles east of Atlanta. Tommy began his musical career when he was around ten years old, playing the guitar and singing for old-time square dances and parties. 
Around 1948, he was doing his own show and was known as "Ramblin' Tommy Scott's Hollywood Hillbilly Jamboree". 

Friday 29 May 2015

Mercury Records !


Eddie Bond and the Stompers 
Mercury Record # 70826 - 1956
Rockin' Daddy / I Got A Woman .



Eddie Bond needs no introduction from me, A great performer and song writer through out his career and with this record you get two classic slices of mid 50's Rockabilly bop ......pure Rockabilly Bop !







Bennie Hess and the Nations Playboys.
Mercury Record # 6121 - 1948.
You Ain't Cheatin' On Me Now / Tonight And Every Night.



Bennie Hess is well known in Country/Rockabilly circles as a debonair, entrepreneur business man and would deal and sell and produce records. He had his own labels called 'Opera' and 'OKed' and 'Jet' (mid 1950's) which proved pretty successful .
He had some success on Mercury and was heading for the big time (read story below) but is more well known in Rockabilly collecting for his 'Wild Hog Hop' 45 released on 'Major' in 1958.

The union recording ban took effect in 1948, forcing many labels to close down. However unconcerned by the union, Hess recorded a string of releases during this year ending up becoming his busiest period. In addition to his own releases, he produced the first recordings by Iry LeJeune and secured a territorial big seller. This was the start of the resurgence of the accordion in Cajun music. Three more records followed on Opera before he gained a deal with major label Mercury, who released his 'Tonight And Every Night' (#6121) that became hit and went to number 1 on several local charts in July 1948. With this success, Mercury decided to release the follow-up record 'With You I'd Be Satisfied/Come On Home Where You Belong' (#6147) in late 1948. However, Bennie ran into trouble with Mercury when they discovered that he had bootlegged this release on his own Opera Records with the result that they terminated his contract. With characteristic exaggeration, Hess later recalled that he was on "the brink of stardom" when this setback occurred.

Born 10 February 1914, Chriesman, Texas

Died 22 November 1984, Houston, Texas.



Johnny "T" Talley 
Mercury Records # 70902 - 4th Aug 1956
Side A - (I've Changed My) Wild Mind.
Side B - Lonesome Train

This was the best $20 I have spent in a long time!
Classic Mercury Rockabilly at it's very best! Johnny "T" Talley is simply on fire on this record, slappin' bass and hot guitar make this an instant monster bopper!






Mar-Vel Records !


Jack Bradshaw and Tennessee Two.
Marvel Record # 750 - 1954
Don't Tease Me / Don't Cause Me To Hate You.


This little gem released on Mar-Vel in 1954 is a favorite 78 in my collection, cost me only $10 and is worth every cent in my opinion. A cracker of a song that Jack handles with ease. This song was later covered by Carl Smith and reached the top twenty in the country charts in 1955.

Harry Glenn, owner of the Mar-Vel’ label, became extremely enthusiastic when he heard Jack’s “Don’t Tease Me”. So much so that he took Jack and his group to station WWCA in Gary where Mr. Glenn engineered the session himself. 
Its release brought a lot of exposure and air play on Midwestern country stations. Later in that year, 1954, Carl Smith covered the song for Columbia records and brought the song all the way up to number 18 on the C&W charts across the nation.


Columbia Records !


Johnny Horton 
Columbia Records # 21538 - 1956
I'm A One Woman Man / Don't Like I Did Before 




Classic Johnny Horton from 1956 - Don't Like I Did (written by Claude King) was recorded in March 1956 at Bradley Barn Studio's with Lightnin' Chance on Bass and the B side was recorded at a earlier session at the Barn in Jan of 1956. This cut had Bill Black on Bass and Grady Martin on Lead Guitar and this is without doubt classic country Rockabilly at it's finest.


Floyd Tillman
Columbia Records # 36998 - 1946
Drivin' Nails In My Coffin / Some Other World .


Written by Jerry Irby, Nails in my coffin is a real cool slice of western swing with nice echo laden vocals and just chugs along fine with lovely guitar and fiddle . Recorded in Feb 1946 .

Floyd Tillman [vcl/gt]
Leo Raley [mandolin]
Lew Frisby [bass]
Darold Raley [fiddle]
Randall Raley [fiddle]
Smitty Smith [piano]




Billy Walker 
Columbia Records # 21499 - 1956
Whirlpool / Go Ahead And Make Me Cry.

Whirlpool is just one of those songs that makes me smile, stunning vocal control by Billy and some fine backing make this a great country shuffle song.





Johnny Horton.
Columbia Records # 21504 - 1956
Honky-Tonk Man / I'm Ready If You're Willing.



A stonewall classic tune from Horton really needs no introduction. Loads of slap bass and a wall of sound that elevates this from the usual country Rockabilly fodder. If you don't love this record .......then you need medical help !!!!!!!

Horton and Franks were pushing for Honky Tonk Man to be the lead-off single but strangely Don Law didn't believe in the song, and it was only after the intervention of Jim Denny that Law relented and issued it with I'm Ready If You're Willing on the flip side. Live shows were arranged to push the single with the band featuring Franks on bass and a teenager from Minden, Louisiana, Tommy Tomlinson on guitar.

Decca Records !


Charlie "Peanut" Faircloth
Decca Record # 46237 - 1950
F-O-O-L-I-S-H Me, Me / I'll Sail My Ship Alone.


This little treasure from Charlie is swingin' country boogie at it's best, you get the lot here, great guitar, Steel and Piano and a perfect tune written by Vic Mcalpin.

He was born premature in 1927 and weighed slightly less than three pounds. On the day he was born, an Afro-Indian midwife named Baby Dora delivered him and placed him in a shoe box with heated bricks around it to keep him alive.
Nine months later, he was stricken with polio. He was so small and frail as a baby that his family dressed him in doll clothes. He thrived despite the disease, and was able to lead a fairly normal life, eventually marrying a beautiful girl named Frances Lanier and fathering four children.
Ernest Tubb heard one of Mr. Faircloth’s broadcasts, gave him the opportunity to sing with his band, and hooked him with Decca Records. In 1950, Decca showcased Mr. Faircloth’s talents in the single “I’ll Sail My Ship Alone,” which climbed to the top of the Billboard country chart that year as the No. 1 song in the nation.
Charlie R. “Peanut” Faircloth Sr., 82, of Chattanooga, died on Tuesday, March 16, 2010




Autry Inman.
Decca Record # 28778 - 1953
Pucker Up / That's When I Need You The Most.


Autry is known in Rockabilly collecting circles as the real deal but before he made the jump over to the Rockabilly side he was firmly in the County hillbilly camp and cut a few decent Country tunes for Decca during the early 50's.
This number 'Pucker Up' is a little fast tempo jolly tune with all the usual country sounds of Fiddle, Steel and some cool pickin' Guitar by Floyd Robinson.

Sunday 24 May 2015

Kentucky Records !



Jimmie Ballard 
Kentucky Records # 520 - 1952
Tappin' Boogie / Taint Big Enough .



Here we find Jimmie Ballard and some naughty lyrics about tapping that thing and Taint Big Enough ! superb boogie lead guitar punctuates the whole A side song , of course is complimented by some silky steel . Very underrated tune on the Kentucky label. 

Risque lyrics on both sides . 1952 Cincinnati, OH - Buffalo Johnson & His Herd (James “Jimmie” Ballard [vcl/gt + unknown musicians.Producer: Carl J. Burkhardt)
018 TAIN’T BIG ENOUGH Kentucky 4-520 
019 TAPPIN’ BOOGIE 4-520

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Harry Adams with Buffalo Johnson.
Kentucky Folk Records # 521 - 1952
Side A - Milk Bucket Boogie.
Side B - Arkansas Traveler.

This is hillbilly boogie at its finest! nothing sounds finer than a  'milk Bucket Boogie'. Harry Adams is up early with the alarm clock and is in great  form on this Kentucky Folk record out of Ohio! .......it has it all, great steel, guitar  & fiddle and  those humorous  lyrics make this one mighty fine record!


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Bobby Musgrrove 
Kentucky Records # 584 - 1954
Dollar Sign Heart / Be Still My Heart.


In 1954 Kentucky released this lil' beauty by Bobby Musgrove , Born in 1932 . Dollar Sign Heart is nothing to get hot under the collar about, just a really good country Hillbilly mid tempo tune, plenty of steel and searing guitar work and some fine singing by Mr Musgrove. Bobby went on to sign to King Records and dropped the 'Mus' from his surname and was better known through the 60's in country and gospel circles as Bobby Grove.

OT Records !



Virgel Bozman 
OT Records (Oklahoma Tornado) # 109 - 1950
Blues For Oklahoma / Don't Let It Grieve Your Little Heart


Sparse instrumentation is what you get here on the A side, this is pure rural hick bop ! you get some cool Steel and even a mandolin interjects every now and then ! So when you get to the second break you get a full dose of some rasping guitar, just wonderful and is the sort of stuff I just love ! The B side is just as cool but at a much more relaxing country slow to mid tempo pace with lashings of Steel sweeping through the whole song and some nice piano plinking away in the back ground ! 

This O.T. label was originally based in Westlake, a small town on Highway 10 in the Southwestern corner of Louisiana. The initials O.T. stood for Oklahoma Tornadoes, a group run by Virgel that had recorded for Bill Quinn’s Gold Star label. Among the members of this short lived, but important band, were Bennie Hess, and Cajun fiddler extraordinaire Floyd Le Blanc. . His brother, Harmon recorded Rockabilly on the Texas Sarg label. Another Bozman O.T. release, when the label was relocated to San Antonio, is the fine, more Western Swing in style, « Troubles, Troubles » (# 113), backed by the Circle C Boys. It’s driven along by a bass player who enjoys himself enormously.

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Cleo Harves with Lightning Guitar.
OT # 105 - 1949
Side A - Skinny Woman Boogie.
Side B - Crazy With The Blues


This is a great record but at the same time kinda strange because Cleo sounds like two different singers on the the two tunes. On the B side he sounds just like all Black blues singers of the period, vocals, guitar all fit typically in the Blues A-Z of how to make a Blues record, don't get me wrong he does it very well and is a class tune of it's style. But the A side is just bizarre, out of time, great and truly brilliant Country Blues thing with Cleo sounding like a Country White Blues singer. This side is right up my alley! it's clumsy, superb, wrong but right and at the end the whole thing just about falls apart with all members stopping at different times (you can imagine them all looking at each other nodding as if to say 'right stop now' .......it's a thing and sound of beauty and the wrong bits sound just perfect to me!







Republic records !


Lee Bonds & Sonny Sims 
Republic Records # 7041 - 1953
I'm Glad That I Love You / Give My Broken Heart A Break



Born in Alabama in 1924. Lee Bonds had two releases previous to to his Republic offerings in 1953 on the Tennessee Label. Bonds was a prolific writer and could certainly write a nice Country Honky Tonk tune.
This release on Republic has one side with Lee Bond and Sonny Sims and the other on his lonesome. The duet with Sonny is pure class, both have vocals that just melt into one, absolute class, great uptempo song with strong fiddle and Steel. The B side is more sedate and has Trumpet laden throughout by Bill Roberts along with some fine piano and Steel by Larry Garman and falls more into the Honky Tonk  category !


Thursday 21 May 2015

Speed Records !


Lattie Moore 
Speed record # 101 - 1953
Juke Joint Johnny / It's Good Enough For You.


Summer 1952 Buckley Record Shop, Union St., Nashville, TN – Lattie Moore (Lattie Moore [vcl/rh gt], Robert “Bobby” Phillips [steel], ? [bass], ? [fiddle]. Producer: Frank Innocenti)
003 SP-5 IT’S GOOD ENOUGH FOR YOU Speed 101 45-101/Redita RLP-116
004 SP-6 JUKE JOINT JOHNNY Speed 101 

His first record, "Hideaway Heart"/"Married Troubles" (the latter
surely not autobiographical - Lattie has been married to Maxine Frost since December 1944),
 on the Arrow label from Indianapolis, is very
rare. One year after this 1951 debut came the recording that can be
considered as the first rock 'n' roll record out of Nashville, though
at the time nobody knew it. It is the original version of "Juke Joint
Johnny" (Lattie's own com-position), recorded for the Speed label.
Lots of people have cut this song, including Red Sovine, Eddie Bond
and Jim Atkins and the Pinetoppers. Lattie himself did a flat-out
rock 'n' roll version (as "Juke Box Johnnie") in December 1956, for
Arc Records. He cut 25 tracks for King, over two periods: 1953-1956
and 1959-1963. In 1958 he made two good singles for Starday, "Why Did
You Lie To Me" and "Too Hot To Handle". His only chart entry
was "Drunk Again" (King 5413) in 1961 (# 25 country). Another
drinking song, "Out Of Control", was co-written with George Jones.
Both men recorded their own version, the Jones record being the
biggest seller.




Joedy Lea.
Speed Records # 104 - 1953
The Devil Paid Me / Sweet Little Baby

Joedy Lea wrote both songs on this platter credited as (Leavins) and his top notch band show real quality as they rip through The Devil Paid Me (With A Mother In Law) a mighty fine country swing number that bobs along at a superb rate of knots and is the stand out track on this record.





Tuesday 19 May 2015

Freedom Records !


Jimmy Johnson & Jack Rhodes Ramblers.
Freedom Record # 5009 - 1950
Salt Your Pillow Down / Could You.



Jimmy Johnson will always be highly regarded in the world of 45 collecting for his two sided monster record on Starday . Number 561 - Woman Love / All Dressed Up is a highly prized slice of rural hick bop ! but before that he recorded this little masterpiece, released on Freedom in 1950 this is truly a stomper of a 78 record, searing lead guitar matched with Steel and Fiddle and of course the super vocals of Jimmy........a lil' cracker of early 50's country bop !

In 1952, Don Law of Columbia Recordscame to Dallas and cut Johnson at Jim Beck’sstudio accompanied by Jack Rhodes’ band on February 1rst. They recorded four songs, all originals that Rhodes had possibly bought off their writers, and brought additional musicians : Jimmie Rollins on lead, Joe Knight on rhythm and Bobby Garrett on steel. Two 78s came out out under the name ofJack Rhodes and his Lone Star Buddies, of which neither sold well.

August 1950 ACA Studio, 612 Westheimer, Houston. TX - Jimmy Johnson with Jack Rhodes Ramblers (Jimmy Johnson [vcl], Bobby Davis [el ld gt], Red Hayes [ac ld gt], Al Petty [steel], Leon Hayes or Doc Shelton [bass], Kennetth 'Little Red' Hayes [fiddle])
001 ACA 1727 SALT YOUR PILLOW DOWN Freedom 5009
002 ACA 1728 COULD YOU 5009 





Peck Touchton and The Sunset Wranglers .
Freedom Record # 5028 - 1950
Walk Em' Off Blues / Lonely World.



If ever someone deserved to be a BIG county star then Peck Touchton was such an artist. A truly staggering vocalist and his output on Sarg and here on Freedom is unquestionably the finest rural bop you will ever hear !
Walk 'Em Off Blues is a mid tempo country blues hurricane of a song, it takes you by the hand and leads you through some magical guitar work by Raleigh Dykes and sweet Steel by James Bell and not forgetting Peck tortured country vocals, if you haven't guessed yet but I am a BIG BIG fan !

May 1950 ACA Sound And Film Studios, 5520-22 Washington Ave., Houston, TX – Peck Touchton and The Sunset Wranglers (Peck Touchton [vl/gt], Raleigh Dykes [ld gt], James Bell [steel], Pete ? [bass], Pat Thomas [fiddle])
001 ACA 1659 WALK‘ EM OFF BLUES Freedom 5028 Green Star 5028
002 ACA 1660LONELY WORLD Freedom 5028 



Coye Wilcox 
Freedom Record - Test Press # 5040 - 1951
Look What Loves Done To Me / It's Nobody's Business.


Wilcox was born in Rusk, Texas . A tire plant worker by day and by night a tip top country singer . He was for a time a singer in The Jack Rhodes Band in early 1950, around this time he made some demos for Charlie Fitch at Sarg but saw no release, Undeterred he popped down to Houston and cut this release for Freedom, a pure county bop record, lashings of Steel and Lead Guitar and the rural vocal tone of Coye. A tip top record without doubt.

Monday 18 May 2015

Sage And Sand Records


Lonnie Barron (The Mississippi Farm Boy) with The Farm Boys.
Sage and Sand Record # 201 - 1955
You're Not The First Girl / Sentimental Me, Sentimental She.


Two years after releasing this record Lonnie Barron was shot dead by a jealous husband who caught him with his lady, he was shot three times and was wearing full western attire at the time of the shooting.

On this record Lonnie sounds like an angel and is one of my favorite country tunes by him. Starts with some fine fiddle and Steel and then you get Lonnie pouring his heart out about the girl who broke his heart, this is utter quality and should be right up there when you wanna tell someone what country honky Tonk music is......play this and remember Mr Lonnie Barron .

Gone Records !

Jimmy Stone 
Gone Recording Corp # 5001 - March 1957.
Mine / Found. 




This was the first release from New York Label 'Gone' in 1957 . The A side Mine is a likeable slow tune with full backing vocals by  a Jordanaires type outfit but really nothing to get excited about, but flip it over and you get full twang guitar intro and then heavy echo laden vocals, but even though it's late into the 50's this tune still retains it's country Rockabilly origins and boy oh boy this is pure magic.

Friday 15 May 2015

Sarg Records !


Peck Touchton - Sarg # 146 - July 1956
My Baby Ain't Around / I'm Just A Standby .




It would be accurate to suggest that a true rockabilly fan's lips would appear to be permanently in a slightly curled state, if only to symbolize the combination of arrogance, mayhem, anarchy, and innocence that make this genre of music so enjoyable. Is this too much for a curled lip to symbolize? Any further curling would only be the result of mentioning certain artists, names that are not only laced with obscurity but just plain sound cool. Peck Touchton is such a name, by all accounts the real name of a performer who recorded a series of singles for the Sarg label in the '50s. This enterprise was headed by Texas producer Charlie Fitch, who began releasing records in 1954. Over the next two decades, some 150 singles were released by Fitch, and even if the A&R choices had been made at random the catalog would have still represented extensive documentation of the South Texas scene. Willie Nelson and Doug Sahm, Texas legends both, made their earliest sides for Sarg.

The Sarg Records StoryTouchton fronted an outfit called Peck Touchton & the Sunset Wranglers, and recorded titles such as the quixotic "You've Changed Your Tune," the revealing "Then I Found You," and a literal peck of sob stories, including "Lonely World," "My Baby Ain't Around," and "I'm a Standby." His "Walk 'Em Off Blues" was one of the most frequently touched-on Touchton tracks on country and rockabilly specialty radio shows. Touchton appears on several different compilations, but listeners also have the option of investing in the multi-CD set entitled The Sarg Records Story and acquiring every track the label ever released.



By Eugene Chadbourne





Neal Merritt .
Sarg Records # 104 - April 1954
I Got Fooled / Korean Love Song


During his short life, Merritt was at one time disc-jockey at day, and singer in clubs at night, a common practice in the ’40s and ’50s. Few remember his fast-talking in San Antonio KONO or KMAC in the early ’60s. Even one of his closest friends told he was « possibly the loneliest man » he’d ever known. Born Carol Merritt in 1930, he changed later for a more ‘masculine’ name; he learned how to play piano and guitar, but was passionate for singing and song-writing. By 1949 he formed his first band, the Bandera Ranch Hands and toured the area. After a stint in Korea, he was back with « Korean Love Song » – both Capitol and Mercury rejected the song, so Charlie Fitch began his label with the tune, in late December 1953. Merritt recorded 3 other songs, later published in April 1954 (700 78s and 100 red wax 45s), but, by the the end of the year, Fitch had only sold 80.


Neal Merritt recorded once more for Sarg in 1955, alas, again without more success, and by the end of the year Fitch resolved his contract. He would then go to Starday (# 237, 260 and 281), and much, much later, in 1965, had a #1 in the hands of Little Jimmy Dickens with « May The Bird Of Paradise Fly Up Your Nose ». A Capitol contract followed, which went nowhere, and Merritt was back to Texas, less and less disc-jockeying, more and more drinking. He was found dead (cirrhosis and heart failure) in a Gatesville, Texas motel, in April 1975.



Larry Nolen with The Bandits .
Sarg Record # 115 - 1954.
Hillbilly Love Affair / No Wedding Bells For Me.



Larry Nolen was born in Mineola in Northeast Texas in 1933 and moved to San Antonio as a child. In 1954 he started his own band Larry Nolen & The Bandits and released “I Need You Now” and “Hillbilly Love Affair” on Sarg Records. Larry has been inducted into the Rockabilly Hall of Fame for “King of the Ducktail Cats”.




Herby Shozel & the Longhorn Playboys .
Sarg Record # 116 - 1955
You're Gonna Pay / I Can't Believe It's True.



Charles Fitch saw Herby and The Longhorn Playboys playing at the Barn, a local club and offered them a contract. They would record at ACA in Houston in March 1954. « I suppose » was a local hit. They had a second session backing Neal Merritt, then in August cut four original songs, the best being « You’re Gonna Pay », released a year later. Neither of them sold enough though, and after misgivings with Fitch, they parted. The band never recorded again.



Larry Nolen & The Bandits .
Sarg Record # 110 - 1954.
I Need You Now / The Bandit.



LARRY NOLEN and the Bandits

Larry Nolen was born in Mineola in Northeast Texas in 1933 and moved to San Antonio as a child. He began his professional music career as a rhythm guitarist in 1946,at the age of 13, when he joined The Mountain Rhythm Band, a family band that featured Boy and Gene who later achieved success as The Jacoby Brothers. Smiley Whitley, leader of one of the most famous western swing bands in Texas, recognized a star on the rise and invited Larry to play with his band, Smiley Whitley and the Texans. They performed most Saturday nights at Bandera’s famous Cabaret Dancehall and also hosted a radio show at San Antonio’s KONO / KMAC radio station five days a week. In 1954, Nolen left the Texans, started his own band Larry Nolen & The Bandits and released « I Need You Now » and « Hillbilly Love Affair » on Sarg Records. Nolen went on to share the stage with Elvis Presley, Porter Wagoner, Spade Cooley, Hank Thompson, Doug Sahm, Marty Robbins, Johnny Paycheck, Roger Miller and George Jones, frequently appearing on The Louisiana Hayride and more than fifty Grand Ole Opry Road Shows. Larry has been inducted into the Rockabilly Hall of Fame for « King of the Ducktail Cats » (Starday 668), the Texas Western Swing Music Hall of Fame with the Texas Tophands, and the Bandera Music Hall of Fame as a Living Legend. A few of his hit records include « I Need You Now« , « Please Talk To My Heart« , « The Bandit« , « Hillbilly Love Affair » and « Ramblin’ Rose » which was recorded by Nat King Cole. Larry currently lives on a ranch near Pipe Creek, Texas with his wife, Dixie. He owns and operates Bandit Records, his own private recording studio on the ranch. Larry continues to perform live at venues and events throughout Texas and has recently recorded his latest CD, « Hangovers Sure Hang On 




Herby Shozel & The Longhorn Playboys.
Sarg Record # 103 - 1954
You Ain't Foolin' Me / I suppose .



After two first records (Neal Merritt) not selling, Fitch was hungry for a success. He found it with Herby Shozel’s « I Suppose/You Ain’t Foolin’ Me » Born Herby Schoelzel in Fentress, Texas, in 1928, he was immersed in music. His family moved in San Antonio in 1941, and by 1945, he had his own band and a local radio show. Unfortunately Shozel was drafted from October 1950 for two long years. The band had lead guitar, piano and bass, along with an ex-Bill Mack fiddler. The Longhorn Playboys’ sound was far more Country than their contemporaries of the area: it was achingly pure sound, strongly influenced by Hank Williams. Shozel’s voice could be lithe on love ballads yet sly and sarcastic on tell-offs.


Charles Fitch saw them playing at the Barn, a local club and offered them a contract. They would record at ACA in Houston in March 1954. « I suppose » was a local hit. They had a second session backing Neal Merritt, then in August cut four original songs, the best being « You’re Gonna Pay », released a year later. Neither of them sold enough though, and after misgivings with Fitch, they parted. The band never recorded again.




Dave Isbell & the Mission City Playboys.
Sarg Record # 108
Satisfied Or Sorry / No Longer Afraid.



Dave Isbell:Vocals and possibly Guitar

Mission City Playboys:
Willie Nelson:Guitar
Johnny Bush:Drums
Other musicians unknown
Recorded at ACA Studios 612 Westheimer Houston, TX. 1954

Originally issued on and this recording taken from the 1954 single (Sarg 108) (78 RPM)





Henry Bennetsen & The Southernaires.
Sarg Record # 105 - 1954.
Side A - What's The Matter With You.
Side B - Six More Days.

Henry Bennetssen was for all intents and purposes a great fiddle player with a half decent voice . He was part of The Southernaires band and also palyed on the next Sarg release # 106 backing Arnold Parker .
The A side is a pretty decent lil' country tune but the really gold lies within the flip 'Six More Days' which starts off with Henry's fine fiddle, some fine steel and punchy rhythm guitar and drums makes for a mighty fine record and Henry's voice is just right and he holds it all together very well. 





Recorded May 2nd 1954 - ACA Sound and Film Studios, Houston, Texas.

Sound Engineer - Bill Holford.

Henry Bennetsen - Vocals/ Fiddle.
A.L 'Curley' Williams - Rhythm Guitar.
Homer Bade - Steel.
Pop Rose - Bass.

Benny Lange - Drums.

Thursday 14 May 2015

Starday Records !

Starday Records !



Sonny Burns - Starday Records # 114 - 1953
Side A - Tho, You're In My Arms.
Side B - Blue, Blue, Rain.

The great Sonny Burns with an another early country twin spin. What you'll get way before you play these tunes is pure slow/mid paced country songs. Both sides are sung in true country style and what you hear is what you get! ......pure Starday quality!








Sonny Burns 
Starday Records # 189 - 1955
You'll Look A Long Time / Six Feet Of Earth



Sonny Burns produces here some fine country Honkytonk with this lil' beauty, pure gold, superb Steel by Herb Remmington and Fiddle by Ernie Hunter. This is what Starday is all about to me, great vocals, great song (Written by Glenn Barber) and just lifts you up out of your chair with a smile !

  January 1955 Goldstar Recording Studio, 5628 Brock St., Houston, TX – Sonny Burns (Sonny Burns [vcl/gt], Hal Harris or Glenn Barber [gt], pro. Herb Remington [steel], ? [bass], Ernie Hunter [fiddle], Doc Lewis or Dewey Meadows [piano]. Producer: Pappy Daily) 
020 ST-2238 SIX FEET OF EARTH 78-189
021 ST-2239 YOU’LL LOOK A LONG TIME 78-189



Sonny Burns 
Starday Records # 118 - 1953
Too Hot To Handle / Powder And Paint.


Fantastic early Starday tune, more of a rustic hillbilly song that Sonny handles with great care, again sublime Steel work and again sung with utter brilliance by Mr Burns !

 In 1953 Burns cut some demos accompanied by Noack that first led to a regional release on HJA Records, and then a record deal with the Beaumont, Texas-based label Starday Records. Burns' second release for Starday, "Too Hot to Handle," 






Sonny Burns and the Western Cherokees - 1954.
Starday Record # 131.
Side A - A Place For Girls Like You.
Side B - Heart Like A Dollar Sign.

February 1954 Jack Starns home studio, 11325 Voth Road, Beaumont, TX - Sonny Burns and The Western Cherokees 


(Sonny Burns [vcl/gt] + The Western Cherokees:  Robert Larry “Blackie” Crawford [ld gt],  poss. George Jones [rh gt], poss Corlue Bordelon [steel], prob. Bob Heppler or Buck Crawford [bass], Olen “Big” Red” Hays [fiddle], Kenneth “Little” Red” Hays [fiddle], Milburn Annett [piano]. Producer: Jack Starns). 

Sonny Burns never lets you down with his Starday releases and # 131 also hits the high spot. Just superb delivery from Sonny and this along with beautiful fiddle, and top quality steel playing. Both songs are strong and proved that with just a little bit of luck and less drinking Sonny could have been a massive country star.














De Wayne Higdon & The Drifters 
Starday Records # 149 - June 1954.
Side A - Take Your Time (Cause Every Minute Counts)
Side B - Does Anybody Know.

De Wayne had what can only be described as the voice of an angel! and also had one helluva backing band including 18 year old Jay Dunnahoo on red hot fiddle!
The A side is just a magical country mid tempo bop, great lead guitar which just whisks this song along! but never forgetting Mr Higdon's beautiful vocal!
 B side is your typical, but above par country chugger which is also damn purty and sounds at times like it should have been a massive country hit !!! 
I tip my hat to you De Wayne!







Chuck Mayfield 
Starday Records # 161 - 1954.
Lucky Me / Helpless Hands.



This is one of my top Starday records of all time, 'Lucky Me' in my opinion should have been a million seller ! this is Country bop at it's finest, Chuck has such a tone to his voice that it could peel a banana at ten yards ! and when you have guys like Speedy West, Joe Maphis and Fiddlin' Kate behind you what you get is pure gold !

Chuck Mayfield was born in Fort Smith, Arkansas in 1934. Around 1947 or so, the family moved to Eloy, Arizona. They said he was quite talented at an early age, having played and had been singing he was a young boy of twelve years old.
He kept at it but it wasn't until about 1952 or 1953 that he began singing professionally.
He signed a recording contract with Starday records in 1952 .



Benny Barnes 
Starday Records # 262 - 1956
Poor Man's Riches / Those Who Know.



Benny hits ya hard with this great echo laden country rockin' tune, the Piano is to the fore and with great Steel and Fiddle you get what can only be described a Starday heaven, Benny has such a rich pure tone to his voice that the whole song just glides along just fine !

American singer, songwriter and guitarist, born January 1, 1936 in Beaumont, Texas; died August 8, 1987 in Beaumont, Texas. Known for writing "Poor Man's Riches"





Jimmie Walton "The Tennessee Country Boy"
Starday Record # 125 - 1954
High As A Georgia Pine / Baby You're The One .







What you get here with Jimmie Walton is a great 2 sider, where as back in the day you would have your uptempo A side with your country weepie on the back ......not here folks, what you get are two blistering tunes the A side, written by Jimmie 'High As A Georgia Pine' hits the floor running, sumptuous Steel and Fiddle and some superb Guitar pickin' then on the flip you get a truly magical mid tempo song again written by Jimmie and is as catchy as flu in winter, this is one helluva record and very underrated in my opinion.





Jimmie Walton " The Tennessee Country Boy"
Starday Record # 144 - 1954
I'll Live That Name / What Will The Future Bring.




2nd outing on Starday for Jimmie, not as strong as the first (#125 above) but still a catchy Cajun sounding Hillbilly bopper co written by Billy Mize. Both my copies have been signed by Jimmie and I got these for a great price just this year.





Neal Merritt

Starday Records # 237 - 1956

Side A - You Had To Do Me Wrong

Side B - What's The Difference .





After his limited success at Sarg Records, Neal Merritt got a contract at Starday and this was his 1st release out of three on the label and this gives us a pleasing slice of Country blues with the usual steel and fiddle providing the Starday sound !

March 1956 poss. Gold 
Star Recording Studio, 5628 Brock St., Houston, TX- Neal Merritt

011 ST-2424 WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE Starday 45-237
012 ST-2425 NO ONE BUT YOU 45-260
013 ST-2426 SOMEDAY YOU‘LL PAY 45-260
014 ST-2427 YOU HAD TO DO ME WRONG 45-237

During his career, he has recorded for the Sarg record label, Starday and Manco Records. In 1964, he and his wife Alice took a trip to Nashville to try and land a recording contract. It only took two months before Central Songs signed him as an exclusive songwriter. He began to do demo recordings of his tunes so the publishing company could pitch them to various artists. One of those 'dubs' was heard by the A&R chief at Capitol Records, Ken Nelson. Reportedly, Ken didn't have to hear all of Neal's songs - he said, "Sign him up...he's money in the bank."






George Jones.

Starday Records # 202 - 1955.

Why Baby Why / Seasons Of My Heart.







The recording session for "Why Baby Why" took place in Houston, Texas's Gold Star Studios on August 27th 1955 and featured the house lineup of Glenn Barber on lead guitar, Herb Remington on pedal steel guitar, Tony Sepolio on fiddle, and Doc Lewis on piano. Jones recorded the backing vocal himself, with help from innovative techniques from engineer Bill Quinn, after a planned appearance by more established singer Sonny Burns did not materialize due to the latter's drinking. Jones himself was drinking throughout the prolonged session, sometimes forgetting chords or words; Sepolio resolved afterward never to work with Jones again.




CORKY CARPENTER 

Starday Records # 134 - 1955

A Side - My Heart Would Like To Know


B  Side - Chapel Of Memories.



A real catchy mid tempo number by Corky with some sterling guitar work and glorious fiddle . B side is the usual country weepie .



Jack Rhodes/ Freddie Franks 

Starday Record # 117 - 1953
.
Gypsy Heart / Al's Steel Guitar Wobble.





Real nice fiddle bop from the Jack Rhodes band with wonderful singing by Freddie Franks, plenty of fiddle, guitar and jaunty piano make this a stand out early Starday release.



Eddie Eddings & The Country Gentlemen.

Starday # 163 - 1954.

Smoochin' / Yearning (To Kiss You)

Smooth tunes by Eddie and his Country Gentlemen, both sides are good ol' fashioned Country songs, played well and with style. You get Piano & Steel on this slice of Starday .This record is often over looked by collectors but in my opinion .......this is a winner .





Eddie Noack 

Starday Records # 159 - 1954

Take It Away Lucky / Don't Trade 





Eddie Noack is just perfect at this mid-tempo swingin' Hillbilly, you always get perfection, great piano, fiddle and steel. Take it Away Lucky fits perfectly into Eddies niche and he strolls through this effort with ease.

Born De Armand Noack, Jnr., 29 April 1930, Houston, Texas/ Died 5 February 1978, Houston, Texas A.k.a. Tommy Wood.

Noack joined Starday in 1953 (beginning a long association with ‘Pappy’ Daily), where his immediate success came as a writer when several of his songs were recorded by top artists including Hank Snow 

ca. July 1954 Gold Star Recording Studio, 5628 Brock St., Houston, TX – Eddie Noack (Eddie Noack [vc/gt], Robert Lawrence “Blackie” Crawford [ld gtr], Joseph “Joe” Callahan [gt], Harold “Curley” Chalker [steel], Pee Wee Reid [bass], Olen “Big Red” Hays [fiddle], Kenneth “Little Red” Hays [fiddle], Gerald “Jerry” Desmoreaux [piano]. Producer: Pappy Daily)
029 ST-2176 TAKE IT AWAY LUCKY 45/78 -159

030 ST-2177 DON’T TRADE 45/78-159




Eddie Noack 

Starday Records # 169 - 1955

Left Over Lovin' / I'll Be So Good To 

You .




Fiddle starts off this tale of a cheatin' woman who don't love Eddie like she used to. Rasping Steel sweet fiddle and piano are all over this track and again was a good seller for Starday and Eddie always sold well .

October 1954 Gold Star Recording Studio, 5628 Brock St., Houston, TX – Eddie Noack (Eddie Noack [vcl/gt], poss. Joseph “Joe” Callahan [gt], Buddy Doyle or Frank Juricek [steel], prob. Pee Wee Reid [bass], poss. Ernie Hunter [fiddle],  Gerald “Jerry” Desmoreaux [piano]. Producer: Pappy Daily)
031 ST-2222/ST-3 LEFT OVER LOVIN‘ 45-169.

033 ST-2224/ST-5 I’LL BE SO GOOD TO YOU [RELIVING THE PAST] 45-169




Glenn Barber 
Starday # 166 - Nov 1954.
Ring Around The Moon / Ice Water.



This is the song that makes collecting records such a wonderful thing. I never thought I would own a copy on 45 let alone a 78 !!!!! but here we are, it's mine and without doubt a pseudo Rockabilly Hillbilly classic .
A brilliant slice of early Starday is handled by a young Glen(n) with such maturity that it mocks his nineteen years on the planet . 

Born 1935 in Hollis, Oklahoma, but raised in Pasadena, Texas. Died in 2008.

October 1954 Starday Studio, Jack Starnes House, Voth Road, Beaumont, TX – Glenn Barber ( ? [ld gt], ? [rh gt], Herby Remington [steel], ? [bass], Doc Lewis [piano]. Producer: Pappy Daily)
011 2998/ST 10 RING AROUND THE MOON 45-166

014 2999/ST 13 ICE WATER 45-166.