Rocky Bill Ford and the Sunset Wranglers . Gilt-Edge Records # 5023 - 1950 Beer Drinking Blues / Aggravatin' Woman
Written by Bill, this song has been reworked many times in many guises. This is your classic drinking tune, and tells the story of a man bragging how he can out drink any man, any time ! Also recorded in the 1960's as Beer Drinking Blues by Eddie Noack and has Beer Drinking Daddy by Johnny Champion and James Mask .
October or November 1950 Houston, TX - Rocky Bill Ford 001 3879 BEER DRINKING BLUES X1 Gilt-Edge 5023/Audio Lab AL-1561 Design SDLP 002 3880 AGGRAVATIN‘ WOMEN X1 Gilt-Edge 5023/Audio Lab AL-1561 Design SDLP ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SLIM RHODES . GILT-EDGE RECORDS # 5026 - 1951 SIXTY DAYS / MEMPHIS BOUNCE.
Recorded at The Memphis Recording Studio (AKA Sun Studio) in December 1950. Dusty Rhodes handles the vocals on "Sixty Days" and the flip is a tremendous instrumental. Released in early 1951 this was Slims second release on Gilt-Edge and the A side motors along, western swing with a touch of Hillbilly makes it a classic from the Sun vaults . Pee Wee Suggs can be heard playing some sweet Jazz guitar on both sides . --------------------------------------------------------------------
"Rocky" Bill Ford & The Sunset Ramblers.
Gilt-Edge Promo Record # GE-5039 - June 1951
Side A - You Know Doggone Well I Do
Side B - Was I Dreaming William Anderson Ford "Rocky" Bill Ford - 28th Dec 1926 - 15th Nov 1998
Before Bill recorded the monster 'Have You Seen Mabel' on Starday he was a truly special country singer and writer! the A side is cool sounding mid paced country shuffle and exactly the sound for the year and label! OK! It's not a monster tune and not get you bopping around the floor but this was what the folks wanted in 1951! something that you could tap your feet along to and if you wanted! you could grab your gal and smooch together around the floor! Mr Bill Ford never disappoints!
Curley Cole Gilt-Edge Record # 5029 - 1951 I'm Going To Roll / Another's Arms Are Holding You.
Not much is known about Curley Cole, no photo's that I can find and the only the info is on the DJ copy label that I own. He was born in Mayfield, Kentucky and that he plays Mandolin, Fiddle, Guitar and Bass. 'I'm Going To Roll' is a typical train rollin' down the line tune, with great steel and some nice piano.
Tennessee Valley Boys Mode Records - 101 - 195? Bitter Feelings / I'm Wondering Now .
This is a 78 record I found that is not listed anywhere ! Pretty rare and all attempts have me stumped on it's history and date ! This song 'Bitter Feelings' and 'I'm Wondering Now' were both released in 1953 on two different releases on 'Demo' Records ( a anagram of 'Mode' ? ) and were straight Country songs under the name 'Larry Lee (Phillipson) and the Westerneers' . This 78 (pic above) is a Bluegrass version with very sparse instrumentation (Mandolin and Banjo) so I would estimate an earlier recording (poss 1952) Larry Phillipson later recorded the 'Bitter Feelings' side again in 1959 and was released on the 'Cinch' label and the song was faster and in a straight Rockabilly style.
Roy Orbison and Teen Kings Sun Records - # 242 - 1956 Ooby Dooby / Go Go Go
Classic Sun twin spin monster from Roy! & it does exactly what it says on the tin! it rocks, it moves and it shakes! all at the same time . The session at Sun took place on the
27 March 1956 Sun Studio, 706 Union Ave., Memphis, TN – Roy Orbison (Roy Orbison [vcl], Johnny Wilson [gt], James Morrow [mandolin], Jack Kennelly [bass]. Billy Ellis [drums])
ROY FACT - "Ooby Dooby was a song I heard at North Texas State when I met two guys there, Wade & Dick. I took their song back and recorded it. Then I called Sam Phillips at Sun, on the advice of Johnny Cash. I told Sam that Johnny had said I might be able to get on his label. Sam Phillips replied Johnny Cash doesn't run my record label and he hung up"
Roy's first release was a 45 rpm on Jewel records # 101 it was recorded March 4, 1956 in Norman Petty's studio, Clovis, New Mexico, the A Side was 'Tryin' To Get To You' B/w 'Ooby Dooby'. That record sparked Sam Phillip's interest and 'Ooby dooby' was quickly re-recorded later in March for SUN and released with 'Go Go Go' in May 1956 as Roy Orbison And Teen Kings ! --------------------------------------------------------------------
Carl Perkins Sun Records # 249 - 1956 Dixie Fried / I'm Sorry, I'm Not Sorry
Dixie Fried was not the sort of single you would have expected as a release after Carl's previous hit on Sun Records but Sam Phillips went for it all the same . The dark tale of late night boozing ,Honky Tonks, Razors and bar room brawls .....not really the stuff that Mum and Dad were gonna buy for their kids back in 1956, but this is the stuff the collectors want now, this is Rockabilly with a dark twisted edge and boy oh boy does it move ....Rave on cats !
March 1956 Sun Studio, 706 Union Ave., Memphis, TN – Carl Perkins 024 U-211 DIXIE FRIED 249 025 U-210 I'M SORRY I'M NOT SORRY 249 ..........................................................................................................
Warren Smith Sun Records # 250 - 1956 Ubangi Stomp / Black Jack David.
In August 1956, Smith went back to the Sun Records studio to record his second release, "Ubangi Stomp". This infectious rocker had an incorrect lyric including an African chief with the syntax of a movie Indian. For the B side, Smith recorded the classic ballad "Black Jack David". This song, which originated in early 18th-century Britain and survived in various forms in the mountains of the American south, may be the oldest song ever recorded by a rock and roll performer. Although a resounding artistic success, it did not sell as well as Smith's debut.
Ernie Chaffin Sun Record # 262 - 1957 Feelin' Low / Lonesome For My Baby.
Ernie Chaffin for me, can be summed up in just one word .......King ! For me he was the king of Country at Sun studios, a trail blazer, a man way before his time, a truly gifted song writer and vocalist. Sam Phillips obviously saw the same in the man and released a total of four singles ( not bad for a simple Country singer in 1956/57 ) while all around him Jerry Lee, Roy Obison and Carl Perkins were rocking it up for the kids, Ernie just kept doing what he did best, quality songs that were not only catchy but were different, oozed class and are today considered classics .......these are beautiful songs and I will say it one more time ........ERNIE CHAFFIN IS .........KING !
Ernie Chaffin again pulls a monster record from the Sun studios! Laughin' And Jokin' with it's chuggin' beat and gold crafted melody smacks you square between the eyes with a tune so ahead of it's time it's scary! A full on country rockabilly record which has style and a performance that must have turned Sam Philips head right around!
Earl Peterson (Michigan's Singing Cowboy) - Sun Records # 197 - 20th Feb 1954
A Side - Boogie Blues
B Side - In The Dark
A masterpiece of the first fiddle boogie country bop to be released by Sun (just three months before Elvis got his 1st release) Earl lays on some yodel and inflections in his voice that show maturity and you get some sublime guitar pickin' just for good measure! Whoever is on this session were top notch musicians that's for sure! Just a few months later Earl hopped over to Columbia records and re recorded and released 'Boogie Blues' for them! but it did not have that magic that he got in Memphis and Earl I'm sure carried on singing Country until his death in 1971!
Rhythm Rockers ( Hardrock Gunter) Sun Records # 248 - 1956 Jukebox Help Me Find My Bay / Fiddle Bop.
Full name Sidney Louis Gunter Jr. Born 1925 in Birmingham, Ala. Disc jockey and performer on WWVA (Wheeling, W.Va.) in 1953-54. In 1953, Gunter took as job as a disc jockey at WWVA in Wheeling, West Virginia. The next year, while in Birmingham, Gunter cut a new version of "Gonna Dance All Night", which was leased to Sun Records. Sam Phillips was looking for an artist who could bridge the gap between R&B and pop and he may have thought that he had found just that in Hardrock Gunter (before hitting the jackpot with Elvis Presley later that year), but the Sun version (201) sold just as poorly as the Bama version of four years earlier. A second release on Sun (248) was "Jukebox Help Me Find My Baby" in 1956, credited to the Rhythm Rockers. This had originally appeared on the small Cross Country label and ran over three minutes. Phillips edited down Gunter's single to a more commercial length (2:31), but sales of the record, which had been gathering momentum prior to Phillips' involvement, ground to a screeching halt. Gunter was very dissatisfied : "Sam Phillips edited the hit out of the record. Without the novelty parts, the record fell flat." Between the two Sun singles, Gunter had recorded for King in Cincinnati. In 1957, he started his own label, Emperor Records, together with WWVA colleague Buddy Durham. He recorded several singles and an LP ("Songs They Censored In the Hills", 1958) for Emperor, but chart success continued to elude him. In 1964 he took a break from the music business to build up a career in insurance.
Jack Earl And The Jimbos Sun Records # 240 - 1956 Slow Down / A Fool For Lovin' You
A bop classic ! a Rockabiily tune that needs no introduction to any fan, in short this is what Sun Records is all about, this is the Sun sound and Jack is the ring master as he conducts the Jimbos in a furoius A side in "Slow Down" and then brings them down with a skippy ballad on the flip ........just a dream records !
Johnny Cash And Tennessee Two. Sun Records # 258. There You Go / Train Of Love
You wanna hear classic Johnny Cash ? then look no further than Sun # 258 .....pure Cash, you get exactle what you need, heartbreak, love, chuggin rhythm and the voice of Johnny ......unmistakeable brilliance !
Jimmy Dawson ( Dave Farley) Bonanza Records # 101 - 1955 Devil Eyes / Walking Round In Circles.
What a red hot scorching' lil' record this is ! Released by Bonanza as sung by 'Dave Farley' ( as per my copy above) and the name scratched out on both sides (on later Bonanza copies) the name was changed back to Jimmy Dawson. 'Devil Eyes' is such a great song and features some fine guitar pickin'.......what a record ! what a 78 bonanza !!! Originally issued as Dave Farley ( Farley pseudonym seen scratched out) better known as Jimmie Dawson with the "IE" .Devil Eyes B/w Walking ’round In Circles (the latter being the most well-known Dawson song, except " Big Black Bug Boogie " a different song with the same name was issued on Delta 101 by Dick Marquis) were apparently reissued from Bonanza 101 (reviewed by Billboard in October 1955) ; with the very same label/number, it had been also issued by a Dave Farley, another Dawson pseudonym! Bonanza was given a Cincinnati, OH. address.
Luke McDaniels Trumpet Record # 184 - 1952. Whoa Boy / No More
What you have here from McDaniels is a flippin great hillbilly bopper, Luke is still trying to find his style for sure, but boy what a song, what a voice, what a lil' belter this record is.
15 June 1952 WFOR Radio Station Studio, Hattiesburg, MS – Luke McDaniel (Luke McDaniel [vcl/rh gt], R.B.Mitchell [ld gt], Clayton Parker [bass], Hilton Giger [fiddle]) 001 DRC 124/ACA 2227 THIS CRYING HEART Trumpet 45-184/ Klick-O-Phonik CDNo.# 002 DRC 125/ACA 2228 WHOA BOY Trumpet 45-185/ Proper PROPERBOX 103 STCD-24 Cactus TRUMPET-1 , Klick-O-Phonik CDNo.# 003 DRC 126/ACA 2226 NO MORE Trumpet 45-184/,
Luke McDaniel, like many a good singer was born in the good ole southern state of Mississippi, in Ellisville on February 3, 1927. He started in music after buying a seven dollar mandolin, and was influenced by hillbilly singers like The Bailes Brothers. He formed his own band and turned professional in 1945. He opened for Hank Williams in New Orleans in the late 40's and appears to have become hooked on the lonesome sound of Hank. In 1952 he recorded "Whoa Boy" for Trumpet Records in Jackson, Mississippi as well as a tribute single, "A Tribute To Hank Williams, My Buddy". The Trumpet records were all high quality hillbilly, but as with many at the time, showed him at this stage as little more than a Hank Williams clone.
Jimmy Swan and his Range Riders Trumpet Record #198 - March 13th 1954. Lonesome Daddy Blues / One More Time.
I suppose if you were looking for a Hank Williams type vocal and sound you really need look no further than Jimmy Swan. But still it sounds truly wonderful, top of the shop country. Typical lonesome blues song, suitcase packed and headin' on down the line ......brilliant ! 3 February 1953 ACA Studio, 5520 Washington Ave., Houston, TX – Jimmy Swan/*Jimmy Swan And His Range Riders (Jimmy Swan [vcl/ac gt], R.B. Mitchell [ld gt], Charley Ward [steel], Hilton Giger [bass]. Clayton Parker [fiddle]. Producer: Lillian McMurry) 007 DRC-150/ACA-2432 MARK OF SHAME Trumpet No. 197 45-197/ BCD-15758 Cactus TRUMPCD-1 008 DRC-151/ACA-2433 LOSERS WEEPERS Trumpet No. 197 45-197/ BCD-15758 Cactus TRUMPCD-1 009 DRC-152/ACA-2431 ONE MORE TIME* Trumpet No. 198 No. 45-198/BCD-15758 Cactus TRUMPCD-1
Werley Faifburn " The Delta Balladeer" Trumpet Record # 195 - 1953 Camping With Marie / Let's Live It Over .
The Delta Balladeer is completely at home with this early outing on Trumpet, plenty of fiddle and a country bounce that moves along just fine. Recorded February 3, 1953 at ACA Studio located in Houston (Texas). Werley was backed by Jimmy Swan's band The Range Riders with R.B Mitchell (lead gtr), Charley Ward (steel gtr), Hilton Giger (bass) and Clayton Parker (fiddle). Four self penned songs were cut on that day, two being issued on Trumpet 195 "Camping With Marie" and "Let's Live It Over" with the mention Folk vocal and two others "Baby, Call On Me" and "I Feel Like Crying", scheduled for release on Trumpet 196, but never issued.
"Lucky" Joe Almond & his Hillbilly Rockers ! Trumpet Records # 221 - 1954 Gonna Roll and Rock / Hickory Nut Boogie.
Joe could smell this Hillbilly with a beat / Rockabilly sound starting to spread it's wings through the south and with this ditty Almond is pretty damn close to hitting the Rockabilly sound head on !!!, a real catchy tune and at the time a good seller for Trumpet. It was Lucky Joe Almond (Joseph Curtis Almond) from Wedowee, Alabama, who proved to be the label’s most successful Hillbilly singer. His first offering for TRUMPET was a cover of Piano Red’s classic R&B song « Rock Me » (# 199). This was recorded in Houston in 1953 with musical accompaniment provided by Jimmy Swan’s band, the Range Riders. Swan’s boys were good at what they did, but weren’t getting the groove, especially the shuffle rhythm McMurry had in mind. Finally she grabbed an acoustical board and began to thump it herself to enliven the rhythm : it helped. Alhough « Rock Me » proved to be a good seller for TRUMPET, selling well to both Black and White markets, it was to be almost a year before Almond was back in the studio, backed this time by Curley Williams’ band, the Georgia Peach Pickers. At this session, recorded at the Diamond studio in Jackson, Almond laid down the two Hillbilly Bop classics « Gonna Roll and Rock » and « Hickory Nut Boogie » (# 221).
Slim Dossey with the Ranch Boys Ace-Hi Records # 5011- 1954 Ramblin'Man / Mexican Joe.
Slim does a nice version of the Hank classic in 1954 ! himself and the Ranch Boys really put their all into this Ace-Hi release and for me Slim does a really good vocal . My 78 copy comes in the original Ace-Hi sleeve !
Slim Dossey made his way to California from the Seattle, Washington area in January of 1953. When he arrived, he contacted promoter Bill Wagnon, who got Slim a guest spot on the famed "Town Hall Party" that originated from Compton, California. While in Los Angeles, Slim found work on various shows such as the "Jimmy Wakely Sunday Night TV Show", the "Spade Cooley Show".
Lula Bel Si & the Country Meldoy Boys . Hamilton Records # PC 7558 - 1952 Sweet Kisses and a Cold Heart / Come Back To My Heart.
Hamilton Records produced here a snappy little western swing number with Lula Bell Si sounding about 12 years old ! But what you do have here is a well played song with a catchy little chord proggesion that turns this song from one of the norms to a right lil' belter. Hamilton also prouced another release by Lula Bell Si on Hamilton 45 rpm #1025 'Kentuckian Waltz / Cast A Spell on Me in 1953.
Lula Bell Si according to one article in 1957 was known as "The Girl With The Golden Voice". She was a native of Indiana. In the early 1950s, her band was called the Country Folk. The 1957 article indicates it was being called the Melody Boys. Lula Bell and her band would play to packed houses on Sunday nights at the Indian Ballroom in Indianapolis. The ball room at the time was the midwest's largest hall of its type at the time and had top bands appearing there regularly. The Sunday night show they appeared on was aired over Channel 4, WTTV out of Bloomington, Indiana and was called "The Indiana Barn Dance". The square dance calling on the show at that time was done by Max Engel. Lula Bell Si, leader, vocals Kenny Si, guitar, emcee Hershal Calbert, bass fiddle Frankie, fiddling Cliff Kirkham, lead guitar
Terry Fell and the Fellers X Records # 0010 - 1954 Don't Drop It / Truck Driving Man
Classic case of the B side takes off and no one remembers the A Side ! This was the Truck Driving song that sparked a wave of trucking tunes from the West to East coast ! Terry is totally at ease with this tale of the long distance trucking man and his lonely life on the road, just him, the white lines and neon signs. Honking harp starts the fun and then you get lovely harmony vocals and the whole thing just motors along just fine ! Fell started his record career in 1945 as a member of Billy Hughes band. His first record was with Hughes on Fargo Records. He then began his solo career for Cortney and 4 Star Records, although none of his singles were hits there.
Onie Wheeler and his Ozark Boys. OKeh Records # 18022 - 1953 Run Em' Off / When We All Get There.
In August 1953, Onie and the boys signed with OKeh/ Columbia Records in Nashville and had their first recording session at the end of that month, under the supervision of Don Law. The session included two of Wheeler's best-known songs, "Run 'Em Off" and "Mother Prays Loud In Her Sleep". Both were covered by other Columbia artists : "Run 'Em Off" by Lefty Frizzell (# 8 country in February 1954) and "Mother Prays Loud.." by Lester Flatt & Earl Scruggs.
Gene Henslee Imperial Record # 8227 - 1954 Dig'n Datin' / A Girl Named Heart Brake
Let's have a hillbilly riot with the great king of Imperial Rockabillies Gene Henslee. Dig'n Datin' recorded in Oklahoma or Texas and is a true blast off record when he tells us he wants a Cadillac 4 miles long and a new suit and tie. Red hot Fiddle, Piano, Steel and searing boogie guitar .....what more does a fella or gal need !
Ernie Chaffin Hickory Record # 1024 - 1955 I Can't Lose The Blues / Get Me On Your Mind .
Recorded Nashville 1955 this is classic Ernie, two powerful songs delivered in a style all his own. This was his second and last release on Hickory .Both written by his close friend Pee Wee Maddux 'I Can't Lose The Blues' is perfection and why Ernie never made it big in Nashville after this just amazes me ..........staggering ! 'Get Me On Your Mind' just races along with pounding fiddle and some amazing guitar work by Pee Wee. US Country singer born on January 1, 1928 in Water Valley (Mississippi). Ernie Chaffin began his career in 1954 at Hickory Records from Nashville. In 1955, with Marion Carpenter, He starts the label 'Fine' in Biloxi (56). He then took a trip to Sun Records of Memphis (57) where he recorded 4 singles. He recorded there after at River, Vernel, Village, Rite and Axent Records. He was a regular singer on the radio WVMI of Biloxi (Mississippi) in 1956. Ernie succumbed to an accident of tractor, on his farm of Hattiesburg, Mississippi, April 16, 1997.
Jimmie Collie Hickory Record # 1033 - 1955 She Will Get Lonesome / Sinners Angel.
I just love this record, got it for a few dollars and trust me it was worth every cent. Written by The Louvin Brothers and recorded in Jan 1955, Jimmie just belts out a performance that should have rocketed him to country stardom but like so many others just fell short. He had six releases on Hickory but none in my opinion were as fine as this . A simple song about the moon and the stars and a hope they will help him get his girl back ......beautiful !
Ernie Chaffin Hickory Record # 1016 - I'm Gonna Salt My Sugar Away / Lonely Wind.
This was the first release for Ernie on Hickory. Fred Rose was instrumental in signing Ernie but only after Paul Cohen at Decca/Coral got turned down as Ernie did not like his style ! A good start at Hickory but this was never gonna up root any trees anytime soon. Ernie sounds like he's searching for that sound ( that thank the lord he found at Sun Records). Again Pee Wee wrote both tracks and both are played with gusto and have that very relaxed Hickory sound !
Rusty & Doug Kershaw Hickory Record # 1055 - 1956 I'll Understand / Mister Love
A damn fine fourth single release by brothers Russell Lee and Douglas James better know as Rusty & Doug . They would go onto record a further 14 singles on Hickory and cement their sound in Nashville. What you're getting here is superb sublime harmonies and stunning Piano playing by Wiley Barkdull and of course that fantastic fiddle sound by Doug .
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