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.
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.
Jimmie Spear and The Bluebonnet Boys . Freedom Record # 5005 - 1950 Mad At My Heart / Turn Me Around.
Not much is know of Jimmie, even a photo is proving hard to track down.The singing style is pure Hank Williams, which Spear would have absorbed from that artist's heavy touring and broadcasting in both Louisiana and Texas, well before Williams took over the nation's country jukeboxes. With the Bluebonnets, Spear used a band name as worn as the shoes of a Houston hobo. Delores & the Bluebonnet Boys and Dick Dyson & His Bluebonnet Boys were both well established Texas western swing bands well before Spear stepped into the studio.
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 .
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.
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.
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.
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 real 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.
Recorded mid 1954 at ACA Sound & Film Studios, 5520-22, Washington Ave, Houston, Texas.
Engineer - Bill Holford
Arnold Parker - Vocal
Kenneth Williams - Lead Guitar
A.L. 'Curley' Williams - Rhythm Guitar
Homer Bade - Steel Guitar
Pop Rose - Bass
Benny Lange - Drums
Henry Bennetsen - Fiddle
Arnold Parker went on to record an absolute Rockabilly stormer over at Starday in 1956, but here we find him and The Southernairs laying down some honest country on a late 1954 release.
The A side is a real nice slow lovey dovey slice of pure Texas country, all the elements are here and it does not disappoint. But again, flip it over and the tempo goes up a few notches and you get to hear 'One Way Love' a real cool mid-tempo bopper that chugs away and sounds perfect to my ears!
Dave Isbell (1st Left), Willie Nelson (third left)
Dave Isbell & the Mission City Playboys. Sarg Record # 108 - 1954 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
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
Neal Merritt - Sarg Record # 111 - 1955. A - There's An Hour To Every Minute. B - Sweeping Up The Ashes. Neal may have never had a big hit record and probably more remembered around those parts as a radio DJ and presenter he certainly did cut some great tunes at Sarg and Starday and this one is his best IMO on Sarg. Rip roaring up-tempo country at it's best, the band are having a ball, strong bass and drums lets you know this is gonna rock and it does BIG TIME !!!!!
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.
Jack Hill had a really good voice and had a decent band called 'The Cavaliers' but for this recording, for some reason Charlie Fitch producer/Owner used Larry Nolen's band 'The Bandits'
Sales weren't that good on this record so no further release saw the light of day on Sarg.
Jack had more of a pop vocal than a straight country vocal which might have seen him dip below other performers around the area at the time, but even so, here you'll hear 2 terrific songs with excellent musicians backing him up.
Eddy and the Ah-Ah Playboys rip right through this A side, strong fiddle and piano keeps this ditty moving right along. Eddy has a very nasal tone to his voice but it works and he sings about having a real fine time someday. The same goes for the flip, really strong playing and Eddy's voice just makes it all jangle along just fine & dandy!
Recorded summer 1955 - Probably at KMAC Studios, 222 1/2 W. Commerce Street, San Antonio, Texas.
Quite simply not the best release on Sarg and sung by Bobbie Vaughn (aged 13) & Dale Vaughn (aged 11). Samson is so bad that it makes your tooth fillings itch (which takes some doing), they both screech their way through this really bad country song and it is relentless in its ambition to murder your ear drums for all eternity. This is so bad it's bad, real bad.
Peck Touchton once again produces two fantastic sides on this early 1956 release. The A side is a wonderful tune and if the B side had been a slow country weepie it would be seen as masterpiece but the flip, as chance would have it is even better, it's so good and it knows it, 'You've Changed Your Tune' is classy and bops along at a right pace with The Sunset Wranglers showing pure class as they let Peck sing is heart out, it's so good it's brilliant.
Recorded 7th March 1956 - ACA Sound Studio, Houston, Texas.
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!
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.
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.
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.
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 !!!
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
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 .
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 .
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.
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
When Biff starts this off he tells you what he wants and needs, well let's just say that whole thing just jigs along fine with fiddle, steel & Piano and Biff keeps the whole thing in a real happy mood.
'Lonely' on the flip is a more laid back country record with some nice echo on Biff's vocal and the Steel weeps all the way through, just splendid.
Jerry Hopkins - Starday Records # 182 - April 1955
Side A - My Everlasting Love
Side B - Mamma Baby
Earlier in Jan 1955 Jerry saw a release on the Dart label (a Starday Custom) where he had already recorded 'My Everlasting Love' as a B side. He or someone must have loved that tune because just 3 months later he re-recorded the tune and got a full on release on Starday. Now the A side is a lovely song, very well sung and hits all the right country jingles and jangles but it's the flip where we get a bit more excitement with the excellent 'Mamma Baby' which has some sweet pickin' and some nice echo on the vocal.
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
Here is a couple of mighty fine tunes from Jack Hammons, just country, nothing more, but it's very very good country. Rockabilly had exploded and others tried to follow but Jack stays true to his country routes and he does it rather well.
Mr. Cupid is the simple story of love and the search for true affection, loads of fiddle and some mind blowing steel top this little ditty off , class country!
The B side is a slower tune but the love theme continues and is just a s good as Mr. Cupid, overall this is feel good platter, loads of lovely love and happy happy thoughts and sometimes we all need a bit of this type of country, great stuff.
Side B - Can't Live With E'm (Can't Live Without E'm)
Fred made some great records at Starday and a couple of 'not so good' ones. This record is one of good ones, it is simply bloomin' marvellous! After 1957 he was dropped by the label and only recorded a couple more times into the early 60's and went onto the DJ at various radio stations.
Here you will hear a toe tappin' fiddlin' A side and a bluesy rockabilly shuffle (written by Jack Rhodes) on the flip! Both songs are great, but so different in execution, which shows the versatility of Mr Crawford and shows he had some class when it came to his recording output.
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.
Starday Record # 203 - Sept 1955 Side A - Goodbye, Farewell, So Long.
Side B - Look On The Good Side
Recorded in August 1955 Gold Star Recording Studio, 5628 Brock St., Houston, TX.
Biff again hits the spot with a cracking record and a very over looked A side. Goodbye, Farewell, So Long is pure magic and shows the evolution in very short space of time in the extra quality of his voice and songs that Biff was recording through 1955.
His deep voice starts it off when in comes the splendid Steel and punchy Guitar and has a real special lilt as it rips along.
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."
Rudy "Tutti" Grayzell - Starday Records # 241 - May 1956
Side A - Duck Tail
Side B - You're Gone
Here you have 2 blistering Rockabilly sides from Mr Grayzell, spin the A side you get perfection, red hot tip top rockabilly as he tells his girl "don't mess with my Duck Tail" and then you flip it over and again Rudy and the boys go wild with 'You're Gone' . This is X rated rockabilly, you will NOT here finer.
This little scorcher by Leon Payne (also written by Payne under the name Patterson) is that typical Starday sound from around the mid 50's, they were still churning out good time country hillbilly along with the new sound of Rockabilly. This is most definitely in the country mould, Leon brings a touch of happiness with his vocal and comes with some happy happy backing vocals and some terrific guitar on the 2nd solo.
One More Chance is a slower affair but just as wonderful.
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"
.jpg)
.jpg)
