120% Heroes of Country CD1

Weton Records, KBOX605 / CD1 - This CD box set was put out in 2004 by the Dutch label Weton Records that also issued the Wanted:Waylon Jennings and Wanted:Merle Haggard disc. If you read my previous posts, you know that this label is a low-budget one, so no liner notes or other information. But there's wonderful stuff on it, this one was always one of my favorite sets I have, although most of the material are re-recordings. The CD starts with Johnny Cash's "Country Boy", one of his Sun recordings, and has his next highlight with Gene Autry's version of "You Are My Sunshine". Waylon Jennings' 1964 cover of the George Hamilton IV hit "Abilene" and Stonewall Jackson's last hit "Me and You & a Dog Named Boo" are also great. Apart from these tracks, there are many other good songs on it, check it out!

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track listing:
1. Johnny Cash - Country Boy
2. Frankie Laine - I Believe
3. David Houston [with uncredited female duet partner] - My Elusive Dreams
4. Ferlin Husky - Wings of a Dove
5. Bobby Bare - The Year That Clayton Delaney Died
6. Billie Jo Spears - '57 Chevrolet
7. Freddy Fender - Silver Wings
8. Gene Autry - You Are My Sunshine
9. Lynn Anderson - Rose Garden
10. Jim Reeves - Your Old Love Letters (live)
11. Merle Haggard - The Legend of Bonny and Clyde
12. Patsy Cline - I Can See An Angel Walkin'
13. Skeeter Davis - I Honestly Love You
14. Slim Whitman - Red Sails in the Sunset
15. The Harden Trio - Tippytoeing
16. Waylon Jennings - Abilene
17. Porter Wagoner - Misery Loves Company
18. Stonewall Jackson - Me and You & a Dog Named Boo
19. Nat Stuckey - Sweet Thang
20. Bobby Helms - Fraulein

A newcomer...

Look at this, a new, very interesting blog about Texan country and rockabilly music. Checkt it out! The previous posts on Lee Rose and Wink Lewis are awesome...

http://wired-for-sound.blogspot.com/

Something about Tennessee Thompson

Another of the "obscuries", here we go with Tennessee Thompson:

Thompson & the Boomerangs, 1959, in a Chicago recording studio: unknown, Aubrey Cagle, Jerry Williams, Tennesse Thompson, "Boomer", unknown

Edward R.C. "Tennessee Thompson" was the child of Jesse Frank Thompson and Elvie Capps. It seems that Thompson was basically a country singer during the 1950s. At least in the late 1950s, he played with a band called the Boomerangs, which included Thompson (gtr/vcls), Jerry Williams and "Boomer" (ld gtr), unidentified persons (bass/drums) and Aubrey Cagle (gtr). Cagle also recorded under his own name for his Glee record label. Thompson made his one and only record in 1959 for the local RCT label out of Indianapolis, Indiana. Two songs, "Slippin' and Slidin'" and "Saturday Ball", both wonderful examples of hard-driving rockabilly, were recorded in Chicago, Illinois, with the Boomerangs and issued on RCT 7033/4. Thompson hat at least one son, but I don't know what happened to him.

Dowloand Thompson's complete recordings

Any more information is appreciated. The photo above comes from a family chronicle website, most of my info also comes from this site (which was made by his son).

BTW: The Curley Jim post is under way!

Folks, cannot say how sorry I am. But yes, I forgot my username and password for the megaupload account. Today, I wanted to present you five tracks by the obscure Curley Jim Morrison, but as fate has it, I am not able to do so. I'll find a way to get you the music as soon as possible!

Mike Seeger & Bill Reid RIP

This week, we have to grieve for to Old-Time/Bluegrass musicians: the famous Mike Seeger and the more unknown bluegrass DJ Bill Reid.

Mike Seeger passed away on August 7, after a battle with cancer. Seeger was the half-brother of Pete Seeger and formed the old-time band "New Lost City Ramblers" in 1958, playing the traditional mountain and folk music of the 1920s. The group achieved some success in the 1960s during the folk revival. Seeger was one of the most famous and authentic folk musicians.

Bill Reid died on August 9, at the age of 88. He is considered to be one of the earliest bluegrass artists and recorded with such artists as Curly Lambert and Benny Martin. He started his career in 1945 with Bill & Mary Reid and the Melody Mountaineers, but split up with them in 1959. He then went on to became a succesful bluegrass DJ. Read the full article at hillbilly-music.com.

Wanted: Merle Haggard

Another low-budget comp by the Dutch label. This time, we hear songs by Merle Haggard, many of his hits, but also lesser known tunes. I think most of them were re-recordings done in the 1970s, for example the original single version of "The Fightin' Side of Me" sounds different, maybe there was a string bass on it? Anyway, this one is a better comp then the Wanted:Waylon Jennings that I posted three weeks ago, 'cause there are Haggard's hit songs on it. Best tracks are "Okie from Muskogee", "The Fightin' Side of Me", "Daddy Frank (The Guitar Man)", "Mama Tried" and "The Roots of My Raising", although there are a lot more good songs.

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track list:

1. Okie from Muskogee
2. Today I Started Loving You Again
3. Carolyn
4. The Fightin' Side of Me
5. If I Could Only Fly (live)
6. Daddy Frank (the Guitar Man)
7. Mama Tried
8. The Moment I Lost You (live)
9. It's All In the Movies
10. The Roots of My Raising
11. Cherokee Maiden
12. Mama's Hungry Eyes
13. Kentucky Gambler
14. Things Aren't Funny Anymore

Red Fox Chasers on CD

The Tompkins Square label will release a two CD set by the Red Fox Chasers entitled "I'm Going Down to North Carolina". The disc is going to be out in stores on August 18 and features the complete recorded works of the Chasers for the first time.

The songs were digitally remastered by Christopher King and the liner notes come from nobody else than Kinney Rorrer, Charlie Poole biograph and a descendant of fiddler Posey Rorer. Really one of the best releases of the year, a disc worth to buy!

Sonny Burgess - Red Headed Woman

Sonny Burgess and the Pacers are tearin' up the house with "Red Headed Woman" in Jackson, TN, at the Rock-a-Billy Festival. It is amazing how much power they still have. Burgess' voice is still great and look at the piano player, he rocks like the Killer!

Billy Lee Riley RIP

Rockabilly legend and Sun recording artist Billy Lee Riley died on Sunday, August 2, in Jonesboro, Arkansas, at St. Bernards Medical Center. Riley was battling cancer since May 2009. His death came unexpected, because Riley felt better the last weeks. "But, he went peacefully", said his wife Joyce. Riley's last public performance was in June with his old Sun buddy Sunny Burgess. Riley is survived by his wife Joyce, her daughter Angela Johns and his three children from his first marriage, Erin Riley, Wendy Kennedy and Darron Riley.

Billy Lee Riley was one of the last true rockabilly legends. Sun and the whole music world have lost a "forgotten giant". I hope, Riley is now at a better place. Rest in peace Billy Lee.

Billy Lee Riley needs your help

I guess you already know it, but to those who didn't knew that Billy Lee Riley is very ill and needs all your help, here is the message Rockabilly Hall of Fame leader Bob Timmons posted some weeks ago:

"Billy Lee Riley ...one of the remaining original great Sun Records artists, is in dire need of help! Billy has had his share of health problems, and is now battling stage four cancer and is in much pain. This is a CALL FOR HELP to all musicians and fans. Let's all get together and send something today to Billy and Joyce and show them that he means alot to us. If you have a website, a facebook or myspace, please post this need for help on it! His Address is:
Billy Lee Riley, 723 Crest Drive Jonesboro, Arkansas 72401"

You can also donate directly to Riley via PayPal, see the Rockabilly Hall of Fame website.