Ranch Radio Song of the Day

Ranch Radio is back! Health problems partially patched over. Computer problems hopefully resolved. For Swingin' Monday we have Talkin' 'Bout You by the River Road Boys.

 https://youtu.be/xc4kR5UrvrY

Song Of The Day #020

Charles Levi Walker, Jr., was born in Copeville, Texas, on November 2, 1926 and died in 2008. At age 17 he got his first professional gig singing in a Dallas honky tonk. Not long afterword he became a vocalist with Bill Boyd's western swing band The Cowboy Ramblers. He recorded for Decca in the 50's and then became a very popular country dj in San Antonio. He had his first big hit in 1962 on Columbia with the Harlan Howard tune "Pick Me Up On Your Way Down." Other big songs for him were "Don't Squeeze My Sharmon," "Little Ole Wine Drinker Me," "Truck Driving Man," "Close All the Honky-Tonks," and "Who Will Buy the Wine?" among many others. He released over 30 albums and joined The Grand Ole Opry in 1967.

Today's selection is his 1954 recording of "Tell Her Lies And Feed Her Candy" which is available on the Pick Me Up On Your Way Down box set.

Please note I've created a Label section on this blog. Look over to right column, scroll down to Labels, then click on the Song Of The Day folder. There you will be able to play all twenty of the songs posted so far, and future ones will be added.

Song Of The Day #019

Bill (1917-2008) and Earl (1919-1998) Bolick were born and raised in East Hickory, North Carolina. Their very religious parents taught them at an early age to sing gospel music. While each played several instruments, they eventually settled on Bill playing the mandolin and Earl playing the guitar.

They made their first radio appearance in 1935 as part of a group called "The Crazy Hickory Nuts." In 1936 they signed with RCA as a brother duo and The Blue Sky Boys were born. Their first release, Sunny Side Of Life/Where The Soul Never Dies, was an instant hit and they went on to record over 100 songs for RCA before they both left for the war in 1941. They returned in 1946, had some more hits, but didn't like the direction country music was taking, refused to have an electric guitar on their recordings, and retired from music in 1951. They were brought out of retirement in the 60's as part of the hootenanny craze and recorded a couple more albums.

Along with the Monroes, Delmores and Dixons, the Blue Sky Boys were part of the "brother sound" of early country music. Bill and Earl, though, had a unique style of harmony that influenced later artists such as the Louvin Brothers and the Everly Brothers.

This being a gospel music day, our selection by the Blue Sky Boys is I'm S-A-V-E-D, recorded in 1940. It's available on the box set Blue Sky Boys.

If you like your gospel music with a soft choral arrangement and with a modern, weak-kneed, sissified message, then this song ain't for you.

Song Of The Day #018

Most everyone should be familiar with Johnny Horton, of I'm A One Woman Man, The Battle of New Orleans, North To Alaska, etc. fame. He was born in 1925 to a family of migrant fruit pickers and got most of his raising in East Texas. He got his start by winning a talent contest hosted by the then radio announcer Jim Reeves. He was killed in a car wreck in 1960.

I picked this song for today's selection because my dad got such a big kick out of it. He even liked it after he found out what a pirogue really was.

So here's Johnny Horton's 1956 recording of I Got A Hole In My Pirogue. It's available here as an mp3 download, and is available on several collections, including his 16 Biggest Hits.

Please enjoy while I sit back and remember dad's reaction to this song.

Song Of The Day #017

I gotta quit pickin' these songs at the end of my postings. I completely ran out of time yesterday, and don't have the time tell you about Johnny Bond today. He was a country music star on records, radio and the movies, and I will tell you more about him in a future posting.

Today's selection is Johnny Bond's Oklahoma Waltz, available on the cd I Like My Chicken Fryin' Size.

Song Of The Day #16

The gospel song this Easter Sunday will be by a modern bluegrass group who does it the traditional way.

Today's selection is Praising The Risen Lamb by Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver. The song is on their cd Treasures Money Can't Buy.

Song Of The Day #015

Mildred "Millie" and Dorothy "Dolly" Good were born in 1913 & 1915 respectively. There is some disagreement on where they were actually born, but they claimed to be from Muleshoe, Texas. Their stage name was Girls Of The Golden West. When Dolly was only 14 they got their first radio gig on WIL in St. Louis. In 1933 they became regulars on the WLS Barn Dance, which led to guest appearances on the syndicated Rudy Vallee show, which in turn led to their recording contract with Bluebird. They were very popular during the 30's & 40's and were one of the few female acts in country music at that time.

While not containing today's selection, a good sampling of their mid-thirties recordings for Bluebird & Vocalion can be found on their cd Roll Along Prairie Moon.

Today's selection is My Love Is A Rider, Bluebird 5752.

Song Of The Day #014

I had picked The Girls Of The Golden West to be our artists this morning, but when I came across the article of George Strait being named Artist of The Decade I knew we had to honor him, especially since he keeps the traditional country sound on so many of his songs. Besides that, I've been at ropings where he and Bubba also competed.

So today's selection is Ace In The Whole from his 1989 cd Beyond The Blue Neon.

Listen to them rip it up on this western swing style song.

Turn up the volume so your neighbors can enjoy it too.

Song Of The Day #013

George Morgan was born in Waverly, Tenn. on June 28, 1924. He formed his own band in the mid-forties and was soon invited to be part of Wheeling Jamboree on radio station WWVA. In 1948 he was invited to join the Grand Ol' Opry where he replaced Eddy Arnold. The same year he signed a recording contract with Columbia.

Candy Kisses, which Morgan wrote, was released in 1949 and went to the top of the charts, spending three weeks at #1. 1949 was a great year for Morgan, as seven of his singles placed in the top ten.

One of those was today's selection, Please Don't Let Me Love You. It's available on the Bear Family 8 cd collection Candy Kisses, or you can download the single for 99 cents at Amazon.com.

Song Of The Day #012

William Grishaw was born in 1915 in Lynchburg, Virginia. He took the stage name of Zeb Turner and was a famous honky tonk guitarist. His first recordings were in 1938 as a member of the Hi Neighbor Boys. Joined later by his brother, who took the stage name Zeek Turner, they appeared on recordings by Hank Williams and Red Foley, and wrote the Eddy Arnold hit It's A Sin.

Today's selecton is Zeb Turner's 1951 recording of Chew Tobacco Rag.

Wake Up, It's Monday!

Song Of The Day #011

The original Brown's Ferry Four were Grandpa Jones, the Delmore Brothers & Merle Travis. The group got started 1943 when another group had left WLW in Cincinnatti, Ohio, leaving a 30 minute hole for the station to fill. Alton Delmore hurriedly put the group together. They went on the air the next day and country music history was made. They cut 44 sides for King Records between 1946 and 1952, all of which are available on the 2 cd collection Rockin' On The Waves.

Today's selection by the group is Old Camp Meeting.

Song Of The Day #010

The Delmore brothers, Alton & Rabon were the sons of Alabama tenant farmers. They were considered pioneers of country music, and I'll tell you more about them at a later date. I've run out of time.

This is their 1946 recording of Going Back To The Blue Ridge Mountains. It's available on Classic Cuts, Vol. 2: The Later Years 1933-52

Song Of The Day #009

Dock "Curley" Williams was born in 1914 and raised on the family farm in Grady County Florida. He was the seventh son of a country fiddler who also was the son of a country fiddler. His band was first called The Santa Fe Trail Riders and they had shows on several different Georgia radio stations. His big break came in 1942 when he and his band were invited to join the cast of the Grand Ol' Opry, and the band's name was changed to The Georgia Peach Pickers. He cut his first record in 1945. While no relation to Hank Williams, Curley wrote the song, "Half As Much", which was a big hit for Hank.

The selection today is his Lou'siana Serenade, available on the Bear Family CD Half As Much.

Song Of The Day #008

After all these videos and fancy stuff, I'm gonna dip into my collection of old 78s.

The Sweet Violet Boys were actually The Prairie Ramblers. Like many artists of the time, they recorded under a different name when the material was considered risque. Bob Miller, the pianist in the group wrote There's A Man That Comes To Our House. He went so far as to publish the song under the pseudoname Trebor Rellim, or Robert Miller backwards. I also understand Patsy Montana left the studio when this or similar songs were recorded. Things were a wee bit different back then (mid-thirties).

Enjoy The Sweet Violet Boys recording of There's A Man That Comes To Our House, Columbia 37768.

Song Of The Day #007

Eddy Arnold was responsible for the Lonzo & Oscar duo. In the mid-Forties Arnold wanted a comedy act for his performances. He asked two band members, Lloyd George (Lonzo) and Rollin Sullivan (Oscar) to put something together. They become so popular that in 1948 they went out on their own. Over the years there were 6 Lonzo's, but Sullivan was always the Oscar.

The selection today is their 1948 recording of There's A Hole In The Bottom Of The Sea. This version is from a 26 track cd by the same name, BACM 198.

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Song Of The Day #006

Here is Eddy Arnold's 1951 recording of There's Been A Change In Me. It's available on the 5 cd collection The Tennessee Plowboy & His Guitar .

Enjoy.

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Song Of The Day #005

Sundays will be old-time or traditional gospel.

Please enjoy Hank Snow's 1953 recording of The Gloryland March.

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Song Of The Day #004

Dorsey Murdock Dixon (Oct 14, 1897-Apr 1968)was born in the mill town of Darlington, SC, quit school in the fourth grade, went to work in the mill at age 12, and started playing the guitar when he was 14. His younger brother, Howard (Jun 19, 1903-Mar 24, 1951), followed him to the mill and to music. In 1932 they formed a fiddle-guitar duo and played in local venues. They joined the WBT Jamboree in 1934, which led to a 1936 recording contract with Victor where they cut 60 sides. Their musical career was over by the start of WWII. During all this time they continued to work at the mill. Dorsey retired in 1951 and Howard died at the work-site in 1960. It should be noted that Dorsey was also a songwriter, having penned Weave Room Blues and Wreck On The Highway among others.

Today's selection is their 1936 recording of Sales Tax On The Women. It is available on the cd Dixon Brothers, Vol. 1: 1936.

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Song Of The Day #003

James Clarence Wakely was born in Howard County, Arkansas in 1914, and went on to become one of the "crooning cowpokes." In 1937, he formed The Bell Boys (named after their clothing company sponsor) in OKC. They made radio appearances, did local shows and made some recordings. They later performed under different names, primarily The Jimmy Wakely Trio and Jimmy Wakely & His Saddle Pals. Johnny Bond was a member of all the groups. In 1940, at the invitation of Gene Autry, they moved to California and became part of Autry's Melody Ranch Show. Wakely left after two years, as he signed a recording contract with Decca and started appearing in movies. He passed in 1982.

The selection today is his 1947 recording of Song Of The Sierras. It is available on his Vintage Collections.


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Song Of The Day #002

Born in Oklahoma but raised in the Bakersfield, Ca. area, Jean Shepard has one of purest voices of any female country singer. While playing with the Melody Ranch Girls, an all-female country band which formed in 1948, she was discovered by Hank Thompson, who helped her get a record deal with Capitol. Her first recording session was in 1953.

The selection today is her 1955 recording of Beautiful Lies, available on the 5cd collection The Melody Ranch Girl. It's also available on the 24 track Honky Tonk Heroine.





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