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.
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Al Terry - Hickory Records # 1017 - Nov 1954
Side A - Hey, Whatta Y'Say
Side B - Let's Postpone Our Wedding
Al Terry comes across on nearly every record as a class act, smooth, perfect but always backed by a hot combo and when all is said and done! that's what sells records and Al certainly did that.
Both these tunes bear witness to a perfection and clarity of voice and style that were Mr Terry's alone, great voice, backed with class pickers.
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 .
Claude King Pacemaker Records # HB 1010 - 1953 A Million Mistakes / Why Should I ?
December 1950 KWKH Radio Station Studio, 509 Market St., Shreveport, LA – Claude King (Buddy Attaway [gt], Tillman Franks [bass], Webb Pierce [vcl chorus]. Producer: Webb Pierce) 003 A MILLION MISTAKES Pacemaker 1010 Gotham G 409 004 WHY SHOULD I Pacemaker 1010 Gotham G 409 Pacemaker Records at the time had some top names on their little label in Shreveport, Louisiana. Webb Pierce, Tillman Franks, Hal Harris & Sleepy Jeffers to name a few. Claude King had one release on Pacemaker ( This version was reissued on Gotham #409) this was never gonna set the country world alight in 1953 (as it was recorded some 2 years before) produced by Webb Pierce and sounds so dang good and Claude sings it with real passion with the addition of some beautiful Steel work. Then just a few years later after his years of hard work it finally payed off when he was signed to Columbia Records and had a string of hits during the 1960's.
Roy Hogsed and the Rainbow Riders. Coast Records - # 262 - 1947 Cocaine Blues / Loafers Song.
Roy gives us a really early version of the song made famous years later by Johnny Cash. Sparse guitar and lashings of accordion (Gene Dewez) which drives the solo. Roy sings this with gusto and you can see where Mr Cash got his inspiration. Top drug tune played with a smile !
20 May 1947 [19:30-22:00] Universal Recorders, 6757 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood, CA – Roy Hogsed (Rusty Nitz [bass], Gene Dewez [accordion]. Producer: Charles Washburn) 001 348/3291 DAISY MAE Coast 261/ BCD-16191 002 349/3292 THE LOAFRS SONG Coast 262/ LP-5015 003 350 RED SILK STOCKINGS AND GREEN PERFUME Coast 261/ BCD-16191 004 351/3289 COCAINE BLUES Coast 262 Capitol 40120 F40274 F1635/ LP-5015 BCD-16191
Eddie Shuler's All Star Reveliers Goldband Records - # G 1021 - 1951 Ace Of Love / Hiding My Tears In The Rain.
In 1945 he recruited his own All Star Reveliers modeled after the Texas swing bands of Spade Cooley and Bob Wills. Much of the success of the Reveliers could be attributed to Eddie, himself, who emceed a radio show four days a week at station KPLC in Lake Charles. At KPLC in 1944, with either a wire recorder or primitive, one-track tape machine, he also recorded his first 78 rpms which were used mostly as demos to promote his band. In 1955 the Reveliers disbanded. "Not only was I tired of all the long nights and travel but also it was wreaking havoc on my marriage. You know how musicians always tend to attract the girls," he always said with a wink. Although most of the early Goldband releases were dominated by the Reveliers, including the local hit of 1951, "Ace of Love," G 1021 - this issue was only ever released on a 78 rpm.
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 !
