Big Jeff Bess and the Radio Playboys. Ma An' Pa Say Records # N/N - 1950 Hom-Bru Boogie / Ten-E-Cee Boogie.
Big Jeff Bess (featuring Radio Playboys) - Ma An' Pa Say Records - Hom-Bru Boogie / Ten-E-Cee Hom-Bru . Big Jeff Bess was born on September 2, 1920 in Tennessee, USA as Grover Franklin Bess. He was an actor, known for A Face in the Crowd (1957) and Wild River (1960). He was married to Tootsie and they would open together 'Tootsies Orchid Lounge' in Nashville in the early 1960's. He died on August 23, 1998 in Davidson County, Tennessee. Apparently the Tennessee State Fair beer garden show had done so well in 1949 they decided to record the songs about 'Hom Bru Beer' that Jeff had written for the show and to sell the discs at the fair in 1950. So it was recorded at the radio station WLAC and produced and sold in limited numbers at the fair. I picked up this rare 78' for 99 cents on ebay in 2015.......boy what a score ! George McCormick - Guitar Big Jeff Bess - Vocals & Rhythm Guitar Ed Hyde - Fiddle Jack Boles - Upright Bass Dwain Birdwell - Steel
Joe 'Cannonball' Lewis Gateway Record # 3006 - 1953 I'm Gonna Tear Your Playhouse Down / Before I Met You.
Joe Cannonball Lewis was Born april 12, 1924. He was inspired by Jimmie Rodgers and was a highly underrated artist in the 1950s. He had a preference for railroad songs and that is why producer Fred Rose gave him the name "Cannonball". Lewis recorded with musicians like Chet Atkins (Guitar), Joe Talbott (Steel Guitar), Gordon Terry (Fiddle), Goy Farmer (Rhythm Guitar), Shorty Whittaker (Mandolin) and Ray Brandenburg (Banjo). This is pure rip roaring country honkytonk at it's finest. This is top shelf stuff, a mind blowing record of heavyweight proportions ! savage lead, snappy rhythm guitar, red hot Steel and the great vocals by Joe.....this is heaven .....pure heaven !
Dave Rich RCA Record # 6595 - 1956 Your Pretty Blue Eyes / Ain't It Fine .
Dave Rich RCA recording star ......should have been a mega star, had a voice that would melt anyone's heart, great song writer, Dave had it all . But when the call of God and the church became too great he chose the path of the lord and the rest is history ! These two songs are perfect country songs, lavish in sound (produced by Chet Atkins) . During his recording time with RCA he would work with the best . Chet and Grady Martin on Guitar, Jimmy Day on Steel, Bob Moore on Bass, Floyd Crammer - Piano and Buddy Harmon hitting the skins.....what a dream line-up and what a great record !
Hawkshaw Hawkins. RCA Victor Record # 5623 - 1954 Waitin' For My Baby (Rock Rock ) / Flashing Lights.
From 1953 until 1958 he recorded for RCA, under the supervision of Chet Atkins, but without any hits. Already in 1949, WSM officials had invited Hawkins to join the Grand Ole Opry, but he declined, choosing to stay at WWVA. However, when they asked him again in 1955, he did accept, making his debut at the Ryman Auditorium on April 23, 1955.
Hawkshaw Hawkins RCA Victor Record # 6211 - 1955 Car Hoppin' Mama / The Love You Steal
He recorded first for the King record label. On May 1, 1953, he signed with the RCA Victor label. Then he moved to Columbia before returning to the King label. Perhaps his most requested song at one time was Filipino Baby, for they wrote, "…what Hawkshaw can't do with that song, no one can."
During that second tour with the King label, he recorded a Justin Tubb (son of Ernest Tubb) tune called "Lonesome 7-7203" in 1962.
But sadly, Hawkshaw would not live to see it reach number one on the charts. On March 5, 1963, he, along with fellow Grand Ole Opry stars, Cowboy Copas and Patsy Cline, were returning from a benefit show (for a disc jockey that had lost his leg) in a plane piloted by Randy Hughes, the son-in-law of Cowboy Copas and the manager of Patsy Cline. The plane encountered a blinding thunderstorm that caused the plane to crash in the woods near Camden, Tennessee.
Curtis Gordon RCA Victor # 5760 - 1954. Caffeine And Nicotine / Diveded Heart.
Superb little Country boogie tune about the addictive nature of Caffeine and Nictotine, Curtis shows his real class on this tune and feels totally at home swingin' away on this one.
Jimmy Ballard King Record # 1143 - 1952 The Creeks Gone Muddy / Till The End .
This is one helluva smooth lil' country swing bopper, Jimmy's sings about his dating troubles in this super record. Beautiful Steel and boogie Guitar elevate this record above the rest and provides us with a real hillbilly treat.
Hawkshaw Hawkins King Records # 944 AA - 1951 Rattlesnakin' Daddy / I Hate Myself.
Real name Harold Franklin Hawkins. Born 1921 in Huntingdon, W.Va. Died in 1963. Hawkshaw had a great strong voice and could sing a ballad and a hillbilly bopper with ease ! but he never really had a recognizable vocal style, if you played a few country balladeers and asked then asked you to pick out Hawkshaw, most people would struggle ! Rattlesnakin' Daddy is a great song and Hawkins does it proud.
Bobby Roberts and The Ozark Drifters King Record # 4837 - 1955 I'm Gonna Comb You Outta My Hair / My Undecided Heart.
What you get with this King release is pure country with the usual Steel and fiddle in a very Hank Williams style. Then just a year later Bobby Roberts recorded the wild Rockabilly classic 'Big Sandy' ......are they the same singer ? they don't really sound alike, but I would bet they are. Just like all male singers around this time, they had the Elvis factor and quickly changed style to win that big contract and get famous. Either way the King sessions are cool and are handled with ease by Roberts,
Lattie Moore King Record # 1327 - 1954 They're Not Worth The Paper They're Written On / Under A Mexico Moon.
In my opinion Lattie Moore never made a bad record. His King, Starday, Speed and Arc recordings are up there with the best. Born in Kentucky in 1924 he grew up listening to Hank, Acuff and Hank Snow and started playing clubs and bars in the late 40's . His release on Speed in 1952 is regarded as the first Rock 'n' Roll record recorded in Nashville. This slow to mid tempo tune by Lattie is pure country and shows what a lovely voice Lattie possessed. You also get beautiful Steel and fiddle to compliment the whole thing......in one word .....Class !
