Bert Bryson and his Musical Boys Bethlehem Records # 1294 - 1954 One Sided Heart / I Was Burned In Carolina. This very early release by the newly formed 'Bethlehem' record companyshowed just a little pomise. After failing with their early pop crooners they opted for the Country sound with this nice little yodel hillbilly tune right out of New York. Bethlehem was formed in 1953 in New York City by Gus Wildi. Wildi, a Swiss immigrant, had been in the country for about two years and wanted to create something According to the announcement concerning Bethlehem's establishment, found in Billboard on February 27, 1954 (p26), Bethlehem Records was initially structured with Gus Wildi as President of the label, with Murray Singer the General Manager & National Sales Manager, Jim Bright as the A&R (Artists & Repertoire) Manager, and Elaine Bergman handling promotion. In June and early July, 1954, Bethlehem released "One Sided Heart"/"I Was Burned in Carolina" by Bert Bryson [Bethlehem B1294], "Honky Tonk"/"Moderner Liebestraum" by Jim Bright [Bethlehem B1295], "Don't Steal My Heart"/"Hip Shaking Mama" by Beulah Swan [Bethlehem B1296], and "Broken Hearted Waltz"/"Echoing Mailbox" by the Simmons Twins [Bethlehem B1297]. So by the end of July, 1954, Bethlehem had released seven singles with Sy Oliver as musical director. As is not uncommon with new labels, sales of these singles were, to put it bluntly, dismal. The funds that had been set aside to start the company were running out.
Don Ray with The "High Steppers" Meladee Records - M 118 - 1956 Step Aside (And Let A Good Man Pass) / Hand Full Of Memories RCA Custom Pressing.
Very little is known about Mr Don Ray and his "High Steppers" but what I can confirm about this Meladee record is .......that it is an absolute top drawer record and that 'Step Aside' is pretty much the kinda song that sticks in your head for days & days. It is not ferocious rockabilly or even quick high tempo hillbilly , it is melodic, tuneful, and damn right brilliant, wonderful voice and the guitar pickin' and steel work is sublime......if you find this on a 45 or 78 BUY IT !
Recorded late 1954 or early 1955, SUN Studio, Memphis Tennessee Carl Perkins (vcl/gtr); Jay Perkins (gtr); Clayton Perkins (bs); W S Holland (dms).
Carl makes a big splash with his first release on Flip records in early 1955. Movie Magg is a great song, it has both, bounce and energy but never gets to raucous or wild, it just stays in the pocket and it definitely kept the Memphis Country fans very happy, as it sold locally very very well, a terrific tune and Carl was heading towards the big time when he gets his chance on Sun Records just a few months later. Turn Around is just a beautiful song, and handled with care by Carl and the band.
Charlie Feathers Flip Record Inc. # 503 - March 1955. Peepin' Eyes / I've Been Deceived
Charlie Feathers (vcl/gtr); Quinton Claunch (gtr); Stan Kesler (steel gtr); Marcus Van Story / William Diehl (bs); Bill Cantrell (fiddle)
Sun records founder Sam Phillips launched Flip records in February, 1955. The label folded abruptly after threats of legal action were voiced by Ed Wells, owner of another Flip label in Los Angeles. Recording took place at Sun studio, 706 Union Avenue in Memphis. This rare as hens teeth 78 is a thing and sound of beauty , Nothing comes close to Charlies voice and every word is crammed to the brim with pure raw emotion ! Within months of the law suit from LA , Flip # 503 saw a release on the Sun label as Sun # 503 ( both the Charlie Flip and Sun records are highly prized by collectors) I have been after a copy on 78 for years and finally got my chance to own what I consider to be one of the greatest and important records of that era ......Flip #503 is nothing short of a masterpiece !
Flip were trying to cover all the angles in popular music and this cross over Blues R'n'R record does that with ease. Yes, it's a novelty tune, but it really does bob along nice and the flip on Flip is even better, Rock 'n' Roll jump with the very White looking Smokey Joe sounding every note like a Black singer (no wonder they were surprised in Harlem when he got booked for shows in 1956)
Sam Phillips at Sun again got the same tunes released on the legendary Memphis label on both 45 and 78 rpm.
Flip & Rosco had a local hit with this little tune so Sam Phillips at Sun quickly rushed it out on the legendary Memphis label (this was the last Flip/Sun duel release)
Rosco made his fame in Memphis with "The Chicken" song and he deserved it, it's a tip top novelty blues mover and has all the charm to back it up, splendid little slice of Blues shellac.
Tommy Little and Sunrise Rangers . Ollit Records # 2001 - Date 1950 ? Mean, Mean Woman / One Time Too Often.
Top shelf Country bop, superb Guitar, fiddle and Steel and pure hick vocal from Mr Little on this hillbilly bruiser right out of New York .......both sides are monsters ......this is what it's all about for me, rural, hick bop !!!!!
Lattie Moore and his Allen County Boys . Arrow Records # n/n - 1951. Married Trouble / Hide-Away Heart.
Here is Lattie Moore's 1st ever recording, this record was the holy grail for most collectors for over 50 years and I only know of two other copies apart from mine !!! so it's rare ....VERY RARE ! This is tip top hillbilly bop, superb Guitar solo and some solid bass playing . Recorded most likely at label owner Tate Bolands house in Indianapolis in 1951.
Uranium Miners's Boogie / No Use To Feel Blue "And Start Cryin' Now"
Riley Walker - Vocals / Rhythm Guitar
Belva Walker (Riley's sister) - Piano
Gordon Hawkins - Bass
Charles Gallagher - Steel Guitar
Here is the first of Riley Walker and his self promoted records on his own label Atomic! 'Uranium Miner's Boogie'. He sold both his releases (78 & 45 rpm) at local bars, record stores and roadhouses around Salt Lake City for the princely sum of 98 cents!!
This is the better of the two releases IMO and is sought after by collectors on both formats, a real country boogie about a subject that was a major part of life and industry in and around Salt Lake City, Utah and down to Cortez in Colorado.
Prominent Piano and some superb Steel playing make this one helluva Uranium geiger counter boogie woogie!
Side A - Right Or Wrong (I'm Gonna Snuggle In Your Arms)
Side B - Hold Me Darling
Vocals by young Davie Ruf and it's a really catchy up tempo little tune, great sound, great fiddle and overall a really good hillbilly number. I has pretty much everything, superb steel and that good feel vibe. It does exactly what it says on tin, it bops in a hillbilly stylee!
The Westport Kids - Westport Records # 128 - May 1955
Side A - Yearning - Praying
Side B - Mama-I Won't Rock It
Catchy little number from the Westport Kids, the A side is on the slow side but is pretty decent, nice little tune with some nice female harmonies in a country style with the rather shabby lament half way through which is not needed.
The B side is sung by 9 year old Bobby Ruf and is a decent catchy tune but you might find it difficult to get past the rather annoying kid vocal which is OK but does itch your fillings every now and then.
Westport records released these Milt Dickey tracks in 1955, don't get me wrong these are very nice country songs, Milt has a decent voice and the musicianship is very good, but it feels and sound like the Rockabilly explosion a little further south had not quite reached Kansas City yet (or they refused to accept it) and just kept on insisting it was just a fad and it will pass. Either way, you can only love and gaze in wonder at the fantastic Westport label and the fact that Alvis Wayne woke them up just a year later with some damn fine Rockabilly releases.
Side A and you'll hear Milt singing a nice slow song about his bleeding heart and over the other side 'Television Love' is a little more up-tempo but never gets close to getting a tiny bit raucous, but is a better tune when all is said and done.
The Westport Kids - Westport Records # 130 - Dec 1955
Side A - You Kaint Take It With You
Side B - Your Kisses Turned Sour
(Photo) Members of the Westport Kids are: Cathy Ruf, Singer and accordion; Hank Ruf, steel guitar; Christine Ruf, singer and guitar; Betty Ruf, guitar; Bobby Ruf, age 6; and Dave Ruf, bass.
December 1952
The Westport Kids are in splendid form on this toe tapping ditty country tune, you get plenty of triple harmonies by Frank, Dave & Marvin, some great fiddle and steel and it really moves along at a jaunty pace and is actually a decent tune played really well.
Then over on the other side you get a really good up-tempo female vocal bopper sung by Christine Ruf and again you get hit with some great steel and fiddle, this is a real barn burner and proves that these Westport Kids were cooking up some fine country bop by the end of 1955.
JIMMY DALLAS ( with Cathy Justice) Westport Records # 131 - 1956 Who Do, Honey You Do / I've Got A Right To Know .
Here you get two fine tunes by Jimmy Dallas, the A side has Jimmy singing with Cathy Justice and a mighty fine duet it is, perfect mid tempo county bop, loads of great fiddle and steel. The flip is not as hot but delivers a strong heart felt slow love song, and Jimmy delivers a great strong vocal and both sides he is backed by The Westport Kids.
Jimmy Dallas (1927-2004, rn Keith B. Kissee) was a country performer famous on the KC scene of the 50’s. He had 3 releases on Westport. «Good Intentions» is a fine uptempo hillbilly tune : strong vocal, sawing fiddle and bright steel. «Eeny-Meeny-Miny-Mo » and « How Do ? Honey You Do » are duets sung with Cathy Justice.
Alvis Wayne With Al Hardy and his Southernaires (not Tony Wayne and his Rhythm Wranglers as noted on label)
Westport Records # 132 - Sept 1956
Side A - Swing Bop Boogie
Side B - Sleep, Rock-A-Roll Rock-A-Baby.
Alvis Wayne - Vocals/ Rhythm Guitar
with Al Hardy's Southernaires +
Chuck Harrison - Lead Guitar
Danny Walker - Drums
Hank Evans - Bass
Dusty Rhodes - Steel
Wally Bright - Piano
Alvis does rockabilly and he does it brilliantly with this 1956 Westport release. This is a double A side monster of rockabilly brilliance, this is top shelf porn rockabilly, the stuff that dreams are made of and in one word this is 'remarkable' hic-up vocals with a nervous delivery that will send you into orbit and lets not forget the out of this world steel playing by Dusty Rhodes, brilliant!!
The A side is most definitely all swing bop & loads of boogie, it just moves at a pace that will leave you speechless and smiling all at the same time.
Then flip that Blue label over and you get much more of the same, Alvis can sing, he can really sing and launches into some heavy echo laden stutterin' vocals with scorching guitar and mind blowing steel , it does not get any better than this, bop, bop, bop Alvis!
Alvis recorded not in Kansas City but only a few miles from his home in a converted, soundproof studio in a Corpus Christi machine shop. He cut his first sides in July 1956 with AI Hardy’s band backing him on three tracks of what Alvis thought was only a demo session. With Chuck Harrison on lead, Danny Walker on drums, Hank Evans on bass, Dusty Rhodes on steel, a blind pianist named Wally Bright and Alvis himself on rhythm guitar they recorded “Swing Bop Boogie”/”Sleep Rock-A-Roll Rock-A-Baby,” which was released as Westport 132. Both tunes feature astonishing steel work by Rhodes, who wrings some sci-fi sounds out of his instrument that surely would have impressed even steel virtuoso “Take It Away” Leon McAuliffe from Bob Will’s Texas Playboys. Not to be outdone, Chuck Harrison’s lead work is stinging, fiery and clever, betraying in its attack Harrison’s familiarity with Carl Perkins’s style
