Artist un Credited - CRL Records . American Brewing Co. New Orleans / Miami. Side A - Regal Boogie. Side B - That Regal Feeling. Rare little slice of shellac which would have us believe that drinking Regal Beer will do you nothing but good and make you a better person....oh yeah !!! . Un credited singer and band on this superb slice of western hillbilly boogie. Hillbilly compilations CD's and LP's had named the artist and band as .......and it's quite funny 'Al Kahole and his Drinkin' Buddies' .....this is not the artist name but would be great if it was !!!!! This 'Regal Boogie' hits the spot in more ways than one with sweeping steel, top guitar pickin' and loads of call and response from the band .....just perfect. This was obviously a publicity scheme for the beer company and I'm not sure how many were produced but I would imagine not too many .
Anyway , grab yourself a beer and listen to this ........boogie !
A Side - George Toon with The Tennessee Drifters - Mean Ole Boogie
B Side - Billy Hardison with The Tennessee Drifters - Drifters Special
For 1950 this really is a 'Mean Ole Boogie' it's piano boogie all the way on this mean hick stomper, wonderful vocals by George Toon and then on the 2nd half of the solos we get some hot scorchin' lead guitar which is worth the admission fee alone, just boogie woogie magic!
Mr Dink with the Kentucky Lads really excel on the flip on this beauty pressed by Dot and the 'Mason-Dixie Boogie' is pretty much on the money and is worth tracking down this 78 just for this tune.
The A side is a decent effort, slower number which is still good but it does not come close to the boogie side!
Big Jeff Bess and the Radio Playboys. Dot Records # 1058 - 1951 Side A - Step It Up And Go. Side B - After We Are Through.
Big Jeff Bess - Rhythm Guitar/Vocals Ed Hyde - Fiddle Johnny Sibert - Steel Guitar. George McCormick - Lead Guitar. Ike Inman - Upright Bass. Johnny Maddox - Piano.
Big Jeff was a Nashville legend, even back when this was recorded Jeff was a hero to many in town. Bar owner, film star, this guy done it all, he even married Tootsie and they opened a bar in Nashville which is still open today.
This 78 was the second release by the band on the label and my god what a rip roaring tune it is, pounding piano and some sweet boogie guitar by George McCormick.....this is as close to the start of Rock 'N' Roll as you can get, this is a record of mega magnitude in the world of country music ......SUPERB HILLBILLY BOOGIE !!!!
"Country" Johnny Mathis . J-B Records # 1500 - 1952 Side A - Contented Side B - Me For You And You For Me.
This is Johnny Mathis (Not to be confused with the other more famous Johnny Mathis crooner from the 60's and 70's) and is better known as "Country" Johnny Mathis . This is his second ever release and both songs were written by Mr Mathis himself. He also became part of the legendary duo 'Jimmy & Johnny' and they cut some brilliant rockabilly in the mid to late 50's. Here we have a typical country weepie A side and is just OK really and not really gonna set the world on fire but the flip is a real nice slow to mid tempo hillbilly tune and in my opinion the better of the two, nice song with some nice steel and Johnny's voice is smooth as ever. Jim Bulleit the label owner went onto finance and help Sam Phillips set up Sun Records in Memphis in 1953 .
Larry Lee and The Westerneers . Demo Records # 1029 - 1953. Side A - Bitter Feelings. Side B - While I Was Waiting For You .
This is the second recorded version of the classic song 'Bitter Feelings' written by Larry Lee AKA Larry Phillipson . The first was recorded on the 'Mode' label probably in 1952 and is in a more bluegrass style, this superb version on 'Demo' is more of a straight country style and is clearly leading the way to the more Rockabilly version that was to be recorded and released on the 'Cinch' label in 1959 as Larry Phillipson and the Larry Lee Trio. This version on 'Demo' is pure classic country and is just marvelous, recorded with great feel and shows superb song writing skills by Larry and you can tell that he believed in this song and was determined to make it work no matter what it took. It is now a classic rockabilly song and the 'Cinch' version is loved by the rockin' vinyl collectors.
Jimmie Dawson . Playboy Records # 346 - 1951. Side A - Flat-Top. Side B - Here Today Gone Tomorrow.
Here, not only do we have one helluva great looking label but we also get some great country bop from Mr Jimmie Dawson. This is red hot, hair dressing country bop with some rip roaring lead guitar and boogie fiddle, just a joyous record and by jingo this only cost me $15 !!!!!
Don Holt & The Ranch Boys . Buddy Records # 102. Side A - Let Me Love You. Side B - My Baby Still Loves Me . Manufactured by Tanner'N'Texas , San Antonio, Texas. It's a boogie woogie rhythm from the very start with this little gem. Fiddle and sweet Steel lead this right off the bat and then some delightful lead guitar, this is raw and at the same time just like a polished diamond , great great great .
Gibson Family Singers BRC Records ( Broadcast Record Club) # 1024 - 1955 Side A - Holy Jesus by Gibson Family Singers. Side B - Jesus, My Savior and Friend by W.A. Newsom. Here is some superb country gospel bop from the Gibson Family Singers on the BRC label out of Cleveland, Tennessee. Not sure of recording date but more than likely early to mid 50's . Not much is know on the group but they did have a 45 record out on their own 'Gibson' label in 1957 with a song called 'I'm Going To Heaven' . This is a split record with the B side by W.A. Newsom which is not the best song I have ever heard and sung in a very strange warble type style . But the A side is pure heavenly magic, superb vocals, brilliant steel and just the sweetest guitar pickin' you'll hear this side of the sun ( check out the second solo). The label is based in Cleveland, Tennessee on the aptly named Bible Street.
