Updates

• Added info on Jimmy Ford, thanks to Volker Houghton. • Extended and corrected the post on Happy Harold Thaxton (long overdue), thanks to everyone who sent in memories and information! • Added information to the Jim Murray post, provided by Mike Doyle, Dennis Rogers, and Marty Scarbrough. • Expanded the information on Charlie Dial found in the Little Shoe post.

Wednesday, May 6, 2009

Something about the Three Ramblers

Download the Three Ramblers' entire recordings

Johnny Cash imitators were just as popular as Elvis boys - the Three Ramblers were one of them. Their one and only release was part of the Starday Package Deal - in June 1958. The label credit went to Ozark Records out of Sault Saint Marie, Michigan. It's probable that the group came from this town and that they were only a local act. However, the A-side featured a Johnny Cash styled song called "If You Call That Love". The lead guitarist beginns the track with the "Cry! Cry! Cry!" solo that Luther Perkins played in 1955, but then, the whole song changes the accord pattern to an up-tempo "Folsom Prison Blues" with new lyrics. The solo by the lead guitarist is just slightly different to the "Folsom Prison Blues" solo. The flip side is a band's original (although songwriter credit on "If You Call That Love" also goes to the band only) called "Walkin' Talkin' Babydoll". On this song, the bass fiddle player imitates the sound of a driving train, another Johnny Cash attribute.

There are also two acetates ("Rock and Roll Tonight" and "Tom Cat Daddy's Blues"), which maybe feature another vocalist. The songs were first issued in 2007 by the German "Nasty Rockabilly" series (volume 11 and 12).

That's all I know 'bout the Three Ramblers. Corrections and additions are highly appreciated!

Addition: The two acetates "Rock and Roll Tonight" and "Tom Cat Daddy's Blues" were also reissued on "Michigian Rockers, Vol.2", a US release by Rock Therapy Records. Many thanks to John, who provided the info!

5 comments:

John L said...

Hi,

Info about German release for 2007
not strictly accurate. Have a look at White Label 8844 and Boot Rockabilly Vol 02

John

Mellow said...

WLP doesn't feature the twio acetates, but one of the released songs. I don't have any info on the Boot Rockabilly comp, it's unknown to me.

regards

John L said...

Hi
The item that I referred to as "Boot Rockabilly Vo2" was actually named
Michigan Rockers Vol 02. It is still floating about on the web along with Vol One .

The track list is below

Bob & Rockabillies - Michigan Rockers Vol 2 mp3 - Your Kind Of Love - 06 - - -
Slaughter, Chuck & Buddy Kay & Shamrocks - Michigan Rockers Vol 2 mp3 - Lucky 11 Rock - 14 - - -
Nix, Ford & Moonshiners - Michigan Rockers Vol 2 mp3 - Nine Times Out Of Ten - 12 - - -
Friar, Hugh & Virginia Vagabonds - Michigan Rockers Vol 2 mp3 - I Can't Stay Mad At You - 13 - - -
Bullington, Jim - Michigan Rockers Vol 2 mp3 - Love Bug Crawl - 18 - - -
Kirkland, Jimmy & Stan Getz & Tom Cats - Michigan Rockers Vol 2 mp3 - Come On Baby - 03 - - -
Kirkland, Jimmy & Stan Getz & Tom Cats - Michigan Rockers Vol 2 mp3 - I Wonder If You Wonder - 09 - - -
Powers, Johnny & Stan Getz & Tom Cats - Michigan Rockers Vol 2 mp3 - Long Blond Hair, Red Rose Lips - 07 - - -
Powers, Johnny & Stan Getz & Tom Cats - Michigan Rockers Vol 2 mp3 - Rock Rock - 04 - - -
James, Leon - Michigan Rockers Vol 2 mp3 - Baby Let's Rock - 15 - - -
De Bree, Pete & Wanderers - Michigan Rockers Vol 2 mp3 - Hey, Mr. Presley - 02 - - -
Taylor, Ray & Alabama Pals - Michigan Rockers Vol 2 mp3 - Connie Lou - 08 - - -
Taylor, Ray & Alabama Pals - Michigan Rockers Vol 2 mp3 - My Hamtrack Baby - 05 - - -
Hall, Roy & Jumping Cats - Michigan Rockers Vol 2 mp3 - Three Alley Cats - 17 - - -
Hall, Roy & Alley Cats - Michigan Rockers Vol 2 mp3 - Dig Everybody Dig That Boogie - 20 - - -
Shoffner, Rufus & Joyce Songer - Michigan Rockers Vol 2 mp3 - Orbit Twist - 19 - - -
Frog, Shorty - Michigan Rockers Vol 2 mp3 - Sheddin' Tears Over You - 16 - - -
Three Ramblers - Michigan Rockers Vol 2 mp3 - Rock And Roll Tonight (Uniss) - 10 - - -
Three Ramblers - Michigan Rockers Vol 2 mp3 - Tom Cat Daddy's Blues (Uniss) - 11 - - -
Three Ramblers - Michigan Rockers Vol 2 mp3 - Walking, Talking, Baby Doll - 01

Regards

John L

Mellow said...

Looks interesting. RCS doens't include this comp (only volume one). I will update the posting. Thank your for the info

mellow

John L said...

Hi Mellow,

You can get the two Michigan Rockers
on the Rockabilly Ranch blog

Cheers

John