Designer Records Discography (Part II)

Designer
3373 Park Avenue
3109 Park Avenue

This is part two of the extensive Designer Records discography. The last known releases are from 1977. See also Part I for earlier releases on Designer.

45-7038:
45-7039:
45-7040: Rev. Houston Potts, Jr. - Pray for Peace / Light to All the World (1973)
45-7041: Dorthey Lowery Middlebrook and Sons - Wonderful / Do You Know Him (1973)
45-7042:
45-7043: Alabama Sons of Joy - Jesus Will Fix It Alright / Four Walls of My Room (1973)
45-7044:
45-7045:
45-7046:
45-7045: Sensational Evening Stars - Guiding Light / Tell It Like It Is (1973)
45-7046: The Golden Five of Sumter S. C. - Don't Let It Be to Late / Jesus Is a Rock in the Weary Land (1973)
45-7047: Pearlie Mae Hudson - I Give Up Everything to Follow Him / There Is a Crown of Life (1973)
45-7048: Eddie Clark and the Peace Makers - That's What It's All About / I Have Spring in My Soul (1973)
45-7049: The Wandering Five - How Good God Has Been / Walk with Me / I'll Fly Away / I Thank the Lord Each Day I Live (1973)
45-7050:
PAG 7051: Reliable True Sons of Chicago Illinois - As Long As I Got Jesus / Right Time (1973)
PAG 7052:
PAG 7053: Original Sons of Joy of East St. Louis Illinois - Jesus Is My Friend / I Must Tell Jesus (1973)
PAG 7054:
PAG 7055:
PAG 7056:
PAG 7057: The Mighty Trumpets of Joy of Largo, Florida - We Need Jesus Now / This Little Light of Mine (1973)  
PAG 7058:
PAG 7059:
PAG 7060: The Sacred Hearts - Let Jesus Fix It for You / May the Work I Done Speak for Me (1973)
PAG 7061:
PAG 7062:
PAG 7063:
PAG 7064:
PAG 7065: The Spirit of West Point - Jesus Never Fails Me / I Won't Be Back (1973)
PAG 7066:
PAG 7067: Brother Jesse Jackson and the Mighty Wings Over Zion Singers - Sinner Come to Jesus / Can't Nobody Take You There (1973)
PAG 7068: Major-Airs of Springfield, Ohio - Farther Along / What a Friend We Have in Jesus (1973)
PAG 7069:
PAG 7070:
PAG 7071:
PAG 7072:
PAG 7073:
PAG 7074:
PAG 7075:
PAG 7076:
PAG 7077:
PAG 7078:
PAG 7079:
PAG 7080: Melody Kings of Greenwood Mississippi - I Don't Know What I Would Do Without the Lord / Will You Meet Me There (1973)
PAG 7081:
PAG 7082:
PAG 7083: The Original Holy Kings - Christ at the Wall / God's Love Is Higher (1973)
PAG 7084: Michael Garrett and the Original Gospel Two - I Feel Like Going On / That's What He Is to Me (1973)
PAG 7085:
PAG 7086:
PAG 7087:
PAG 7088:
PAG 7089: The Christian Wonders - I'll Fly Away / Over There (1973)
PAG 7090:
PAG 7091:
PAG 7092:
PAG 7093:
PAG 7094:
PAG 7095:
PAG 7096:
PAG 7097: Wandering Souls of Dayton Ohio - Truly Foundation / Lord, I Done What You Told Me to Do / Take a Look at Jesus / A True Story Oh, Mary (1973)
PAG 7098:
PAG 7099:
PAG 7100:
PAG 7101:
PAG 7102:
PAG 7103:
PAG 7104:
PAG 7105: Gospel Ovations from Greenwood Mississippi - Tell God About My Troubles / Hold On (1973)
PAG 7106: Spiritual Harmonizers of Rockford, Illinois - This Morning / Call Him Up (1973)
PAG 7107:
PAG 7108:
PAG 7109: The Sacred Heart - You Don't Know What the Lord Has Done for Me / Waiting for My Child to Come Home (1974)
PAG 7110:
PAG 7111:
PAG 7112:
PAG 7113: The Gospel Motivators - Down on My Knees / O'Lord We Come Now (1974)
PAG 7114:
PAG 7115: Rosie Tate - It Is No Secret / He Touched Me (1974)
PAG 7116: St. Paul Chapel Choir - Working in the Vineyard / When the Gate Swings Open (1974)
PAG 7117: James Foster - I Feel the Love of Jesus Down in My Heart / I'm Leaning on Jesus (1974)
PAG 7118:
PAG 7119:
PAG 7120:
PAG 7121: 
PAG 7122: 
PAG 7123: The Mountain Travelers - Steal Away to Jesus / Longing to Be (1974)
PAG 7124:
PAG 7125:
PAG 7126: The Morning Doves - Pray On / Lord Try Me (1974)
PAG 7127:
PAG 7128:
PAG 7129:
PAG 7130:
PAG 7131: The Mighty Golden Aires of Ridgeland S. C. - I'm Gonna Wait on the Lord / Let It Shine (1974)
45-7132:
45-7133: The Salem Harmonizers - New Home / Somebody Touched Me (1974)
45-7134:
45-7135:
45-7136:
45-7137:
45-7138:
45-7139:
45-7140:
45-7141:
45-7142:
45-7143:
PAG 7144: Gospel Soul Revivals of Davenport Iowa - I Know My God is Strong / Sweeping Thru the Pearly Gates (1974)
45-7145: The Four Stars feat. Willie Benson - Lord's Been Good to Me / O' Lord I Need Thee (1974)
PAG 7146: Foster Brothers - Plant Love / Freedom Shore (1974)
45-7147:
45-7148:
PAG 7149: Dixie Wonders of Memphis Tennessee - Praise His Name / When They Get Old (1974)
45-7150:
PAG 7151: Gospel Ensemble of Greenville, Miss. -What Will Tomorrow Bring / Your Friend (1974)
45-7152:
45-7153: Jubilee Humming Birds - A Sinner's Plea / I Won't Have to Cry No More
45-7154: Faithful Aires of Jackson Tennessee - Bye and Bye - Part #1 / Bye and Bye - Part #2 (1974)
45-7155:
45-7156:
45-7157:
45-7158:
45-7159:
45-7160:
45-7161:
45-7162:
45-7163:
45-7164: The Fatithful Aires - I'll Be Satisfied / When I Arose This Morning (1974)
PAG 7165:
PAG 7166: Fantastic Gospel Travelers - The Lord Will Make Anyway / Try the Lord (1974)
PAG 7167:
PAG 7168:
PAG 7169:
PAG 7170:
PAG 7171:
PAG 7172:
PAG 7173:
PAG 7174:
PAG 7175:
PAG 7176:
PAG 7177:
PAG 7178:                     
PAG 7179:
PAG 7180:
PAG 7181: The Walker Singers - Let Your Light Shine / Why I Have to Cry 
PAG 7182:
PAG 7183:
PAG 7184:
PAG 7185:
PAG 7186: The Spiritual Harmoneers - Time to Live Holy / Jordan River (1975)
45-7187:
PAG 7188: The Jackson Trumpeteers - Clean Up Your Life / Lord Remember Me (1975)
PAG 7189: Rev. Houston Potts, Jr. with the Angelettes - Help Somebody If You Can / When Will We Be Paid (1975)
PAG 7190:
PAG 7191:
PAG 7192:
PAG 7193:
PAG 7194:
PAG 7195:
PAG 7196:              
PAG 7197: The Magnificent Soul Survivors - Hold on to His Hand / Let It Be (1975)
PAG 7198: The Spiritual Wonders - Let There Be Peace / Keep on Following in the Footsteps of the Lord (1975) 
PAG 7201: Lovie Hill - God's Word / God's Word to Me (1975) 
PAG 7202: Madam Mildred Hollins - Sometimes I Ask / Lord Help Me Treat My Fellow Man Right (1975)
PAG 7203:
PAG 7204:
PAG 7205:  
PAG 7206: Ellison Family - Before This Time Another Year / On the Battle Field (1975)
PAG 7207:
PAG 7208: 
PAG 7209: Heavenly Bound Travelers Gospel Singers - The Lord Will Make Away / Serving the Lord Well Off (1975)
PAG 7210:
PAG 7211:
PAG 7212:
PAG 7213: Golden Travelers feat. Lee Futrell - What You Gonna Do When the World's on Fire / Everybody Ought to Pray Sometime (1975)
PAG 7214:
PAG 7215:
PAG 7216:
PAG 7217:       
PAG 7218: Sensational Travelers of Richmond, Calif. - Father I Love the Lord (1975)
PAG 7219: Noah's Ark - The Lord's Prayer / You Been Good to Me (1975) 
PAG 7220:
PAG 7221:
PAG 7222:
PAG 7223:
PAG 7224:    
PAG 7125: The Rayborn Brothers Quartet - Glory, Glory / Walk with Me Lord (1974)
PAG 7126: The Morning Doves - Pray On / Lord Try Me (1974) 
PAG 7227: Christian Jubilees - Shame on You / I Got Shoes (1975)
PAG 7228: The Souls of Solomon of Buffalo, New York - Got to Get a Message to Jesus / Do Your Self a Favor (1975) 
PAG 7229:
PAG 7230:
PAG 7231:
PAG 7232:
PAG 7233:
PAG 7234:
PAG 7235:
PAG 7236:     
PAG 7237: The Stars of Faith - I'm Rich in God's Love / Just a Few More Days (1975) 
PAG 7238:
PAG 7239: The Genessee Gospel Travelers - Where Could I Go But to the Lord / Don't Blame It on the Children (1975)
PAG 7240: Lou Etta Terry Singers of Buffalo New York - Who Do You Turn to / Prayer is the Answer (1975)
PAG 7241:
PAG 7242:
PAG 7243:
PAG 7244:   
PAG 7245: Glorybound Singers of Doddsville, Mississippi - We're Dreaming of Heaven / He's Been Good to Me (1976) 
PAG 7246:
PAG 7247:
PAG 7248:
PAG 7249:
PAG 7250:
PAG 7251:
PAG 7252:
PAG 7253:
PAG 7254:        
PAG 7255: Evangelist Singers of Dayton, Ohio - Victory / I Woke Up This Morning (1976) 
PAG 7256:
PAG 7257:
PAG 7258:
PAG 7259:
PAG 7260:
PAG 7261:
PAG 7262:
PAG 7263:       
PAG 7264: Astonishing B. and S. Singers - The Shadow / Find You Way Home / The Last Prayer / In Debt (1976) 
PAG 7265:
PAG 7266:
PAG 7267:
PAG 7268:
PAG 7269:
PAG 7270:   
PAG 7271: Elige Brown - When Jesus Comes / A Helping Hand (1976)
PAG 7272:
PAG 7273:
PAG 7274:
PAG 7275:
PAG 7276:
PAG 7277: 
PAG 7278: Evening Doves of Memphis Tennessee - I Feel Good Inside / Get Right with God (1977)
PAG 7279:
PAG 7280: 
PAG 7281: Malinda Smith Wolfe - There's Gonna Be a Fire / Precious Lord 
PAG 7282: Malinda Smith Wolfe - Walk with Me / I'm In My Dressing Room 
PAG 7283:
PAG 7284: Exciting Gospel Song Writers of Des Moines, Iowa - Surething / Serving the Lord / Meet Me Jesus / My Heart Is Fixed (1977) 
PAG 7285:
PAG 7286: 
PAG 7287: Breckenridge Singers - Heaven Is My Home - Someday / Since I Found My Savior - I Heard Someone Calling Jesus Name (1977)
PAG 7288:
PAG 7289: The David Spiritual Five of Chicago, Illinois - I Have a Father / It's Going to Rain (1977)
PAG 7290: Heavenly Spiritual Gospel Singers of Chicago, Illinois - Search Me Lord / Don't Know What I Do with out the Lord (1977)
PAG 7291: Atkins All-Stars of Chicago, Illinois - Walk on the Water / Trouble Don't Last Always (1977)

Betty Amos on Starday

Betty Amos with Judy & Jean - Why Don't You Be My Baby (Starday 778), 1966
Here's a great country performace by Betty Amos with Judy & Jean, a trio that was touring the US from 1960 up to 1977. I consider their best period from 1964 up to 1967, when they recorded for Starday in Nashville. Though, the trio and Betty Amos in particular were much more than a touring act.

Betty Amos was born and raised near Roanoke, Virginia. She joined the Carlisles in the early 1950s as a singer and also worked with Mac Wiseman early on. She was first in the recording studio with Bill Carlisle's group and also cut a session with Lulu Belle and Scotty Wiseman in late 1952 for Mercury. By late 1953, Amos set out on her own and cut her first solo session for Mercury in the fall of that year. "What Would It Take" / "Hello to the Blues" was produced at the Universal Recording Studio in Chicago and released on Mercury #70280x45 in 1954. 

Billboard August 6, 1955

More recording sessions for Mercury followed until the label dropped Amos in 1955, releasing her last single in 1956. Afterwards, she took a break from recording for a couple of years. Nevertheless, she was seen and heard on numerous tours across the country and also performed at the KWKH Louisiana Hayride and the WWVA Jamboree in Wheeling, West Virginia. There, she met Alice Schreiber, who had sang with her father's band "Barney Schreiber and the Hayshackers," as well as with Buddy Spicher and Donna Darlene as "The Golden West Girls." Schreiber eventually changed her name to "Judy Lee."

In 1960, Betty Amos formed a trio with her sister Jean and Judy Lee. While Betty Amos took over the lead vocals and rhythm guitar, Judy Lee played electric lead guitar and Jean was on bass. For bluegrass numbers, Judy Lee switched to an acoustic guitar and Betty would play her banjo. The developed an enteraining stage show and began touring the country with their act.

In May 1962, Amos recorded a session for the Philips label in Nashville, which produced one single. By 1963, the trio had secured a contract with the Starday label and moved to Nashville. They held their first session in May that year at the Starday Sound Studio in Nashville, produced by Tommy Hill.

Betty Amos

Not only a talented singer and musician but also an accomplished songwriter, Amos composed a number of noteworthy songs. "Eighteen Wheels A-Rollin'," recorded during the trio's second session, was the first female trucker song to be recorded and one of the group's few recorded bluegrass numbers. Although Betty, Judy, and Jean harmonized real well together on bluegrass tunes, they became better known for their honky-tonk country style, in which they recorded most of their songs. Amos also wrote a number of hits for other artists, including the Willis Brothers ("Blazing Smokestack"), Jean Shepard ("Second Fiddle to an Old Guitar"), Bonnie Owens ("Wonderful World") as well as Ernest Tubb and Loretty Lynn ("That Odd Couple").

Today's selection is a favorite of mine. It features Betty Amos in her usual 1960s country vein with beautiful harmony vocals by Judy and Jean. Recorded approximately in August 1966 with unknown background musicians, "Why Don't You Be My Baby" was released with "Almost Persuaded" on Starday #778. Another of my Betty Amos favorites is "The Cat and the Rat," a hard driving country rocker from January 1966.

The trio remained with Starday until 1967 and then recorded for Stop and Candy, before disbanding in 1977. They reunited in 2003 for a Louisiana Hayride tribute show and now all three women are living in Hendersonville, Tennessee.

Designer Records Discography (Part I)

Designer
3373 Park Avenue
3109 Park Avenue

The Designer imprint was almost exclusively used for black gospel recordings, which were produced by Wooten and his team in great quantity. Designer was Wooten's most frequently used label and ran from 1967 until 1978, when he ceased his operations. The first part of the Designer contains releases until 1973. The majority of them were recorded when Wooten was still based on 3373 Park Avenue.

45-6786: Pat Walker - The Holy City / Down from his Glory (O Sole Mio) (1967)
45-6787: The Spiritual Consolators - Lord You Know / Where Shall I Be (1968)
45-6788:
45-6789: The Spiritual Consolators - Dr. King We Sing #1 / Dr. King We Sing #2 (1968)
45-6790: 
45-6791:
45-6792:
45-6793:
45-6794: The Spiritual Travelers - Blessing from Jesus / Mother's Prayer (1969)
45-6795:
45-6796:
45-6797:        
45-6798: Annie Lee Akins & Henry Thomas - The Common Touch / This Little Light of Mine (1969)
45-6799: Dixie Land Singers of Jackson, Tenn. feat. Sammie Cox - Old Landmark / Land Beyond the River (1969)
45-6800:
45-6801:
45-6802:
45-6803:
45-6804:
45-6805:
45-6806:
45-6807: Memphis Spiritual Four - By and By I'll See Jesus / Here Am I (1969)
45-6808:
45-6809:
45-6810:
45-6811:
45-6812: The Gospel Souls - I Got the Holy Ghost / O When My Jesus Comes (1969)
45-6813: The Gospel Souls - Sinner Man Where You Gonna Run / An Old Lady Testifies (1970)
45-6814: The Goldenairs feat. Thomas Ray Beard - Can't Do Nothing Until He Comes / Going Home on the Morning Train (1969)
45-6815:
45-6816: The Silvertone Singers of Wynne, Arkansas feat. Lonnie Harris Jr. - Where Jesus Is / Go Back to God (1970)
45-6817:
45-6818:
45-6819:
45-6820:
45-6821: 
45-6822:
45-6823: Laura Bradley Taylor and the Famous South Land Singers - How Far the Lord Brought Me / How Good (1970)
45-6824: The Jubilee Hummingbirds - Stand By Me / Something Within Me (1970)
45-6825:
45-6826:
45-6827:
45-6828:
45-6829:
45-6830: The Breckenridge Singers - God is a Ruler from Above / Ticket to Heaven (1970)
45-6831: The Spititual Choralettes Singers - Need Prayer / Don't Let It Be Too Late (1970)
45-6832:
45-6833:
45-6834:
45-6835:
45-6836:
45-6837:
45-6838:
45-6839:
45-6840:
45-6841:
45-6842:
45-6843:
45-6844:
45-6845:
45-6846:
45-6847: The Sullivan Specials - More Power / Just a Little Talk with Jesus (1970)
45-6848:
45-6849:
45-6850:
45-6851:
45-6852:                     
45-6853:
45-6854: Pearly Gate Singers - Let Me Lean on You / Let Jesus Fix It (1970)
45-6855:
45-6856:
45-6857:
45-6858:
45-6859:
45-6860:
45-6861: The Union Gospel Singers of Benton Harbor, Mich - Nobody Knows the Trouble / Use My Lord (1970)
45-6862:
45-6863:
45-6864:
45-6865:     
45-6866: The Gospel Stars - Jesus Is Calling Me / I Got the Spirit of the Lord All Over Me (1970)
45-6867: The Traveling Star - Marching Home to Jesus / Beautiful Mansion (1970)
45-6868:
45-6869:
45-6870:
45-6871:
45-6872: The Templeairs - Lord Search My Heart / I Have Done the Best I Can (1970)
45-6873:
45-6874:
45-6875:
45-6876:
45-6877:
45-6878:
45-6879:
45-6880: The Shaw Singers - Must Jesus Bear the Cross Alone / God Has Done Much for Me (1970)
45-6881:
45-6882:
45-6883: The Greater Abyssinia Choir - I Can Depend on Jesus / He Will See You Through (1970)
45-6884: Elizabeth King - Testify for Jesus / Walk with Me (1970)
45-6885:
45-6886:
45-6887: The Johnsonaires - Come to Jesus / He's Coming to Judge the World (1971)
45-6888:
45-6889:
45-6890:    
45-6891: Leroy Liddell and the Gospel True Singers - What Shall I Do Lord Part #1 / What Shall I Do Lord Part #2 (1971)
45-6892:
45-6893:
45-6894:
45-6895:
45-6896:
45-6897: Morris Sisters of Clarksdale, Mississippi feat. Annie Mae Morris - We Will Answer / Be Like Jesus (1971)
45-6898:
45-6899: Young Adult Fellowship Choir - I'll Trade a Lifetime / He'll Fight My Battles (1971)
45-6900:
45-6901: Faithful Aires of Jackson Tenn. - I'm Coming Home / He's a Friend of Mine (1971)
45-6902:
45-6903:
45-6904:
45-6905:
45-6906: Rev. Eugene Cochran - Wise Head Foolish Heart #1 / Wise Head Foolish Heart #2 (1971)
45-6907: The Memphis Harmonizers - Gambling Man / God Is Real (1971)
45-6908:
45-6909:
45-6910:
45-6911:
45-6912:
45-6913: Dynamic Hughes Gospel Singers - Beautiful City / Viet Nam (1971)
45-6914: Evelyn Taylor - This Old Soul of Mine / My Soul is Satisfied (1971)
45-6915: Breckenridge Singers - Jesus is Coming Back Again / God So Loved the World (1971)
45-6916: Thomas Ray Whitford - Jesus Rose with the Power in His Hand / Who's Going Down in the Grave with Me (1971)
45-6917: The Southern Male Chorus - Come in This House / I Got a Telephone (1971)
45-6918: Melody Kings of Greenwood Miss - I Know It's Jesus / If You Need the Lord Call Him (1971)
45-6919: Wings Over Zion Singers - He Was a Modern Day Job / I've Got My Name on the Roll (1971)
45-6920: Echoes of Harmony of Hamsfield La. - Lord You Have Been Good to Me / What the World Needs is a Little More Love (1971)
45-6921:
45-6922: Gospelettes - Tribute in Prayer / Lift the Savior Up (1971)
45-6923:
45-6924:
45-6925:
45-6926: The Christian Ensemble - I am Going to Sing for My Jesus / I Lay Awake at Night (1971)
45-6927:
45-6928: Sensational Family Singers - I'll Go / Everyone Should Know Who Jesus Is (1971)
45-6929:
45-6930:
45-6931: Songs of Spiritual of Albany Ga. - We are Climbing Jacob's Ladder - It's Been a Long Journey (1971)
45-6932:
45-6933: L. and S. Singers of Yazoo City Miss. - Glad That Trouble Don't Last Always / I Shall Not Forget What the Lord is to Me (1971)
45-6933: Soul Stirrers of White Castle, La. - Precious Lord - Part #1 / Precious Lord - Part #2 (1971)
45-6934:
45-6935:                     
45-6936:
45-6937: The Archie Singers - God is a Giving God / Only the Strong Survive (1971)
45-6938: The Sensational Starlighters - Just a Little Talk with Jesus / Jesus Won't Deny Me (1971)
45-6939: Dixie Wonders of Helena Ark - If You Miss Me Singing Down Here / If the Lord Needs Somebody (1971)
45-6940:
45-6941: Big Milton Williams and the Sons of the South - Sure Thing / Nobodys Fault But Mine (1971)
45-6942: Doris Stewart - Pay for It All / After Awhile  (1971)
45-6943:
45-6944:
45-6945: Rev. W. C. Riley - Tell God About It - Part #1 / Tell God About It - Part #2 (1971)
45-6946:
45-6947: The Soul Superiors of Detroit, Michigan - What Ever You Do, Do Good / A Great Day (1971)
45-6948:
45-6949: Genessee Gospel Travelers - Traveling Shoes / I Thank You Lord (1971)
45-6950:
45-6951: Evangelist David Shows, Sr. - Lord Walk with Me / The Old and the New (1971)
45-6952:
45-6953:
45-6954:
45-6955: Judeans - Jesus is Coming Soon / The Meeting in the Air / Jesus is a Soul Man / The Old Rugged Made the Difference (1971)
45-6956: Sons of Joy of Canton, Ohio - God is Somebody to Know / Get Back Satan (1971)
45-6957:
45-6958: The Goldenaires - So Glad I Made It Over / Beautiful Mansion (1971)
45-6959: The Goldenaires - Been So Good / When You Wake Up in the Morning (1971)
45-6960:
45-6961:
45-6962:
45-6963:
45-6964:
45-6965: Alberta Powell - Trusted / The Same God (1972)
45-6966:
45-6967:
45-6968:
45-6969:
45-6970: Trenton Gospel Travelers - Tell Me Little Boy How Old Are You / I'll Be Satisfied (1972)
45-6971: The Boyle Brothers - Land Beyond the River / I'm a Child of God (1972)
45-6972:
45-6973:
45-6974:                       
45-6975: The Grenada Southernaires - To Bad, So Bad, Jesus Had to Die / Southernaires Junior (1972)
45-6976: The Gospel Coronetts - I'm Nothing Without the Lord / I Love Him (1972)
45-6977:
45-6978:
45-6979:
45-6980:
45-6981:
45-6982:
45-6983:
45-6984: The Fanstastic Stars - I Know the Lord Will Make a Way / If You Ever Change Your Mind (1972)
45-6985:
45-6986:
45-6987: Rev. W.N. Reed and the Macedonia Ensemble - Rise Up and Walk / The Old Account (1972)
45-6988: Silver Trumpets - How I Made It Over / Living Down Here on Borrowed Land (1972)
45-6989: Evangelist David Shows, Sr. - God Is My Friend / That Liar Shall Not Tarry in God's Sight (1972)
45-6990: O'Neal and the Dean Brothers - It's Your Life / Don't Give Up (1972)
45-6991: The Jubilee Humming Birds - I Got Shoes / Lord Will Make a Way (1972)
45-6992:
45-6993:
45-6994:
45-6995:
45-6996: The Royal Dixie Wonders - My Prayer / Let Me Walk (1972)
45-6997:
45-6998:
45-6999:
45-7000:                         
45-7001:
45-7002:
45-7003:
45-7004: Mighty Kings - There Is No Place to Hide / There's Not a Friend Like Jesus (1972)
45-7005: Sensational Starlighters - Lord Show Me the Way to Go / If You Need It the Lord Got It (1972)
45-7006:
45-7007:
45-7008:
45-7009:
45-7010:
45-7011:
45-7012: The Memphis Southernaires - Moving on Down the Line / The Holy Spirit (1972)   
45-7013:
45-7014: The Dixie Wonders of Memphis, Tennessee - Story of Job / Just Like Him (1972)
45-7015: Spiritual Harmonizers of Jackson, Tennessee - Working the Road / You Should Have Been There (1972)
45-7016: Fabulous Golden Wings - It's a Needed Time / I Got a Friend (1972)
45-7017: Heaven Dee-Etts of Trenton N.J. - Savior Hold My Hand / When You Bend Your Knees (1972)
45-7018:
45-7019:
45-7020:
45-7021:
45-7022:
45-7023: The Cooper Singers - Right to the Tree of Life / I am Troubled About My Soul (1972)
45-7024:
45-7025:
45-7026:45-7027: Garland Wilson and the Dynamic Powell Brothers - Make This World a Better Place (If You Can) / Condition (1972)
45-7028: Sensational Royal Lights - Righteous Judge / Lord, I Tried (1972)
45-7029:
45-7030:
45-7031:
45-7032: Mighty Echos - When the Lord Get's Ready / When Jesus Comes (1972)
45-7033: Mosby Singers of E. St. Louis Illinois - The Lord Is My Shepherd / I Got the Love of Jesus (1972)
45-7034:
45-7035:      
45-7036: 
45-7037: Cora Bell Watkins - Soon As My Work Has Ended / Pure Religion (1973)

Lynn Pratt's Hornet label

Tammy Locke - C. B. Queen (Hornet HO-1013)

While there are only snippets of info available on Tammy Locke except for the fact that she recorded one single for Lynn Pratt's Hornet label in the 1980s, Lynn Pratt's career has been spotlighted a bit more. Thus we concentrate not on Locke but on Pratt and Hornet Records in this post.

But first, let us take a look on Tammy Locke. Locke performed with her family as a band, first called the Memphis Hillbillies, then they went as the Tammy Locke Show (derived from her "success" with the Hornet single), and finally as B.J. and the Bears. Her father was B.J. Whitman, who, along with his wife Jean and his three children, made up the band. They performed around Memphis for several years and had their own live stage show called "Nashville South Show" in Southaven, Mississippi, a suburb of Memphis. Concerning her daughter's record, Jean Whitman told a newspaper once: "She's still singing it at the show on Saturday nights, but only if it's requested."

So far, so good concerning Tammy Locke. Now, we focus on the owner of Hornet Records. By the time Lynn Pratt made his first commercial recordings in 1956, he was already 30 years of age. Nevertheless, Pratt waxed some of the hottest rockabilly music that ever came out of Tennessee. He was not one of the young singers imitating Elvis Presley. Pratt had a style of his own, developed by dint of his country music background and the unique but highly interesting musical circumstances.

Leonard Hugh “Lynn” Pratt’s birthday and birthplace are disputed. Country and rock’n’roll researcher Adam Komorowski mentions Pratt was born in 1927 in Lexington, Tennessee. However, Pratt was actually born on April 9, 1926 in Sugar Tree, Decatur County. A rural area in West Tennessee, it is located on the Sugar Tree Fork about 32 miles northeast of Lexington. He was the son of Walter Erie “Dutch” (1889-1962) and Amy Pearl (Baker) Pratt (1891-1967) and had four brothers (Walter Perry, Willie Earl, Clifford Clay, Carl David) and four sisters (Bonnie Lee, Berna, Doris, Verna Mae). Pratt’s family hailed from Decatur County but lived in Henderson County by 1913. By the time Pratt was born, they were again residing in Decatur County but moved back eventually, where most of the family members would spend much of their lives.

In 1939, Pratt attended a Saturday evening Grand Ole Opry show at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, which impressed him very much. He had the chance to talk to some of the musicians after the show’s end and left Nashville with the determination to become a musician in his own right. While still in high school, he founded his first band. During World War II, Pratt joined the US Navy and served in the South Pacific. There, he played and performed as much as he could. After the war, Pratt began to travel through Arkansas and Missouri in order to promote products of the Continental Drug Company as a singer over radio and at personal performances. He returned to Tennessee in 1948 and made nearby Jackson, Tennessee, his home base. Pratt was earning his living as a barber at some point in his life but it is unclear if he kept it as his day job or if he was able to make his living out of music, at least for some time.

It is assured that Pratt auditioned for Sun Records in Memphis, Tennessee, to no avail. Tapes were found in the Sun vaults under his name, including “If I Can’t Have You.” A friend of Pratt’s, Danny Hudson, recalls that Pratt began recording for Sun around 1954: “Lynn started recording at Sun Records in the 1950s before Cash, Perkins, Lewis, Presley, etc. had hits. Sam Phillips decided not to publish Lynn's songs, so Pratt left Sun […].” “If I Can’t Have You,” however, sounds it was recorded about 1956 or later. The recording featured a rhythm and electric lead guitar as well as drums plus Pratt’s vocals.

Lynn Pratt, ca. 1960s

By 1956, Elvis Presley had his first #1 hit with “Heartbreak Hotel” on RCA-Victor. Lynn Pratt was impressed with the new style of music and although Sun had refused him, he did not give up and set up his own record label in Lexington, which he called Hornet Records. Hornet was a tiny label operated by Pratt from his home on Summer Street. At that time, his regular band consisted of Pratt on vocals and rhythm guitar, James „Ikey“ Hauner on lead guitar, Charles F. “Charlie” Roach on steel guitar, Bill Grantham on piano, A.J. Maness on bass and Henry Hays on drums. Charlie Roach had previously performed with Red Rolison, Charles Moore, and Jimmie Rhodes in a band and also founded Westwood Records in Jackson, Tennessee, in the summer of 1959 and recorded a lot of artists from that point on. Regarding the other band members, nothing can be told of them.

Pratt organized a recording session at radio WSIX in Nashville with his band in 1956 (possibly without drummer Henry Hays) and laid down “Tom Cat Boogie” b/w “At Night Time.” The top side is a fine rockabilly song with enjoyable lead guitar and piano breaks. The songs were released that year on Hornet #1000 and proofed to be a strong seller for Pratt, at least regionally. It peaked at number one in several local charts and the success of his first single led to performances with Lefty Frizzell, Carl Perkins, Johnny Cash, and Jerry Lee Lewis.

During the next three years, Pratt cut three more singles for Hornet. The next to come after “Tom Cat Boogie” was “Troubles” / “I Don't Need” (Hornet #1001), two songs that pointed more towards country music. On his recordings of “They’re Learning” and “Come Here Mama,” released on Hornet #1002, Pratt and his band however laid down two very hot cuts. “Come Here Mama” is a variation of the old folk standard “Mama Don’t Allow (No Low Down Hangin’ Round),” which had been recorded by countless artists, including Riley Puckett (Columbia #15261-D, 1928), the Allen Brothers (Bluebird #BB-5448, 1934), a rockabilly version by Vern Pullens entitled “Mama Don’t Allow No Boppin’” (unreleased, 1956), and Billy Wallace (Sims #120, with Jimmy King, 1961).

His last single on Hornet consisted of a cover of Sonny Burgess’ classic rocker “Red Headed Woman” and “I Cried All Night” (Hornet #1003). Burgess had recorded “Red Headed Woman” in 1956 for Sun Records in Memphis (Sun #247) and already at that time, it became a favorite among rock’n’roll performers in Tennessee, Arkansas, and Missouri. Bobby Crafford, the Jokers, the Rebel Rousers, and Wayne Worley, all recorded this song. On Pratt’s release, he was backed by the Jubilaires Quartet, a vocal group that has remained in obscurity since.

Apart from “Red Headed Woman,” all releases were penned by Pratt, who was an accomplished songwriter and owned Hugh Publishing in Lexington. But at the time of the release, publishing credits were split between Vol. Music Publ., Old Judge Publishing, and Bluff City Publishing. Interestingly, Old Judge also published songs on Chesley Sherod’s House of Sound label in Memphis, including “Real Cool” / “Want to Be Wanted Blues” (House of Sound #C&S 504, 1957) by Aubrey Cagle and “She’s Jail Bait” / “Sputnik” (House of Sound #C&S 505, 1957). Likely owned by Charles Matthews, Old Judge also published a lot of material released on Matthews' OJ label in Memphis.

In 1959, Pratt also recorded a singer named Carne Pitrello on Hornet. Pitrello was from New York and, contrary to widely held beliefs, was not a pseudonym for Lynn Pratt. He recorded a version of “When the Saints Go Marching In,” renamed simply as “The Saints,” and “You Belong to Me” (Hornet #1004) in 1959. “The Saints” was a wild version with guitar and piano breaks as well as an effective drummer’s performance. Interestingly, Pratt claimed songwriting credits for “The Saints” (Bluff City Publ.).

Unfortunately, all subsequent releases after “Tom Cat Boogie” failed to stimulate the same success. By 1965, Pratt and his band had given up playing music and recording. Nevertheless, Hornet was never closed down by Pratt and continued to exist well into the 1980s. For many of his 1980s prodcutions, he used Arlue Studios in Jackson. Some of his friends and discoveries still recorded for the label but only few copies of each release were pressed. Pratt turned to producing and promoting in the 1960s and produced a show called “Tennessee Jamboree,” which may have been the same show that was broadcasted out of LaFollette, Tennessee, over WLAF. His friend Danny Hudson also stated Pratt was one of the persons who discovered Loretta Lynn (which is doubtful, however).

Pratt promoted countless country music shows at venues in Lexington and Jackson, booking such artists as Freddie Hart. He also continued to perform locally and worked as a barber daytime, thus becoming known as the "singing barber".

Lynn Pratt, ca. 1970s. Photo taken from the back of
Collector LP #CSL 2304

By the 1970s, Pratt had been involved in several social and municipal affairs, including the local school board, the Lexington Fair Association, and the Henderson County Cancer Society. He was also at one time the owner of the Henderson County Times newspaper and booked many national acts for local shows, including Conway Twitty and Alabama. By the 1970s, Pratt’s 1950s songs were rediscovered by music collectors in Europe. In 1975, the Dutch Collector label released a LP entitled “Super Rock ‘a’ Billy,” which included several tracks by Pratt. Also, it was probably Collector’s owner Cees Klopp who first interviewed Pratt during one of his visits to the US. Since, Pratt’s recordings have been re-released on numerous compilations in both the United States and Europe. Also, other Dutch collectors like Hank van Broekhoven and Mike Arts came to visit Pratt in Lexington and to interview him for their "Rockville" magazine.

Pratt erased some controversy when he started out as a movie maker, directing and writing a movie called "Revenge in the First Degree". It was a low-budget "sex-and-violence" film made for the home video market. It premiered at the Princess Theatre in Lexington and Pratt was well aware of its polarizing content but, as he was cited in the Jackson Sun, "there's a hunger for raunchy, R-rated stuff on the home video rental market."

In later years, Pratt began recording again. His first album was called “Lynn Pratt & Friends – Honky Tonk Country in Old Traditional Style.” In 1999, Pratt recorded his last full length album entitled “Country Living,” which also featured new versions of “I Don’t Need” and “At Night Time” as well as a reworking of “Tom Cat Boogie” entitled “Tennessee Boogie.”

Lynn Pratt died on January 19, 2002, in Lexington at the age of 75. He is buried at the Henderson County Memorial Gardens in Lexington.

Hornet Records Discography

1000: Lynn Pratt – Tom Cat Boogie / At Night Time
1001: Lynn Pratt & the Tomcats – Troubles / I Don’t Need
1002: Lynn Pratt and his Rhythm Cats – They’re Learning / Come Here Mama
1003: Lynn Pratt with Jubilaires Quartet – I Cried All Night / Red Headed Woman
1004: Carne Pitrello – The Saints / You Belong to Me (1959)
1005:
1006:
1007:
1008:
1009:
1010:
1011:
1012: Don Rhodes – She Never Had No Intention / Gonna Find Me a Lady (1984)
1013: Tammy Locke – C.B. Queen / Truck Driving Daddy
1014: Dennis Smith – Just One More Time / I See a Good Night in Her Eyes
1015: Talmage Hawkins – A Toast to Her and Him / When I Think About My Woman

LP-009: Rayburn Anthony - I've Been Loved By You Today

Robbyn Records Discography

RR-001: Linda Charlene - The Gypsy Told Me / If You're Comin' Home (1982) 

Sources:

• Entries for Lynn Pratt and for Hornet Records at 45cat
• Adam Komorowski: "Classic Rockabilly" (Proper Records), liner notes, 2006
• Thanks to Danny Hudson for his input on Lynn Pratt
• Special thanks to researcher Volker Houghton, who was kind enough to share several newspaper articles with me.

Winston Shelton on Walton

Winston Shelton and the Country Gospel Singers - On the Banks of Old Jordan (Walton 45-EP-950), 1961

Today's selection is a nice little gospel recording by Winston Shelton and the Country Gospel singers. "On the Banks of Old Jordan" is the better song on this side in my opinon. "I'm Not a Poor Man" skips at one point, unfortunately, and since it is the weaker number, I didn't include it here. No info on Shelton survived other than he recorded this EP, a single on Starday's Dixie custom imprint in 1960 ("When Sunday Comes Again" / "Mom Knows What's Best", Dixie #45-892), another 45 on Faith as well as an EP for the Richmond, Indiana, based Gospel label.

Billboard review of Shelton's Dixie single
on January 30, 1961.

The story of Walton Records, on the other side, has been researched a little better. The label was founded by Norman Walton in 1961 and was first located on 2311 Glen Court in Richmond, Indiana. Somehow connected with the Walton label were the Poor Boy and American labels. Both were run by Wayne Raney and Jimmie Zack.

The Poor Boy label was started in 1958 by Wayne Raney and Jimmie Zack. The first release (Poor Boy #100) showed a Richmond post box address. Then, they changed it to a Muncie, Indiana, post box address. Muncie is located about 43 miles southeast of Richmond on the Indiana-Ohio state border. Poor Boy releases #105 up to #107 showed addresses in both Muncie ("Home Office") and Richmond ("General Manager Office"). The final releases on Poor Boy only had a Muncie address. The label was closed down in 1960. Its last release is probably the best known: "Sweet Marie" b/w "Servant of Love" (Poor Boy #111) by the Van Brothers, Arnold and Earl Van Winkle. Both songs were also reissued by Norman Walton on the Walton label.

American was run by Jimmie Zack out of Muncie. It was only active in 1960. Wayne Raney also operated a New American label out of his Raney Recording Studio in Oxford, Ohio, that same year but it is not known to me whether the labels were related or not.

The Walton label, respectively, was founded by Norman Walton in 1961 and released a slew of country and gospel singles and EPs up to 1966. Even an album by Gil Richmond was recorded in 1964 on Walton. Several of the songs recorded on Walton were co-written by Norman Walton, including Winston Shelton's sides. Similar to Poor Boy, the record labels also showed different adresses. The adress on Winston Shelton's EP was 2923 Boston Pike in Richmond. Possibly these adresses were printed on account of the particular artist.

A complete Walton discography can be found at 45rpm records.com.

Winston Shelton Discography

Dixie 45-892: Winston Shelton - When Sunday Comes Again / Mom Knows What's Best (1960)
Walton 950: Winston Shelton and the Country Gospel Singers - From Bethlehem to Calvary / Stop and Think / I'm Not a Poor Man / On the Banks of Old Jordan (1961)
Faith 1033: Winston Shelton, Red Berry, the Country Gospel Singers - The Darkest Spot Up the Mortal Soul / What Must I Do to Be Saved (1963)
Gospel No.#: Winston Shelton - Seek Ye First the Kingdom / Praise God for the Victory / ? / ? (1966)

Read more

• The Poor Boy label

Travis Lee on Glo-Lite

 Travis Lee - I Wish the Sun Would Shine (Glo-Lite GL 98)

This is an interesting country rocker on Bill Glore's Glo-Lite record label from Memphis, Tennessee. It sounds it was recorded in the 1970s, although a late 1960s recording date seems also possible since Glore established Glo-Lite in 1968 and this was one of the earlier releases.

Although the record label shows an adress as of 4081 Jackson in Memphis, I believe it was recorded at 625 Chelsea Avenue, where the Glo-Lite studio was located. No information on Travis Lee can be found. There was a Travis Lee on Cal State Music, a label active in the early 1970s in Santa Monica, California. I doubt it is the same singer.

The flip side to "I Wish the Sun Would Shine" is a country ballad, "Then I'll Go." More info on Glo-Lite Records can be found here.