Song Of The Day #060

Today's gospel song is "There's One" by the Bishops and is from their "Kentucky Bluegrass" CD.

Song Of The Day #059

I'm playing today's selection because of my Dad. When we were talking about him batching at the ranch, or when discussing my music collection, he would always mention how much he liked "Sleepy Rio Grande" by Bud & Joe Billings. He had a 78rpm record of this song which he apparently played a lot when living alone, or "batching" at the DuBois ranch. Dad and I went out to the old shack he lived in, found some old 78s, but no "Sleepy Rio Grande." I finally found it a few years ago on Cattle CD 207 Bud & Joe Billings - Singing Pals from Kansas. It was issued in 1929 on Victor 40088 and was side A. Side B was "When Its Springtime In The Rockies." I also found out there was no Bud & Joe Billings. Both singers were from Kansas, but they were Frank Luther Crow and Carson Jay Robison. Carson Robison, paired with Vernon Dalhart, pioneered the recording of cowboy songs. They recorded from 1924 to 1928. Frank Luther (as he became known) also developed a following during this period for taking cowboy songs to city dwellers. Dalhart & Robison broke up in 1928 and Robison & Luther started singing together. They recorded under several names, including The Carson Robison Trio, when they added Luther's wife, Zora Layman. She was a Kansas singer and fiddler, recorded on her own, one song of note was her "Seven Years With The Wrong Man." Luther & Robison were most remembered, however, for their recordings as Bud & Joe Billings.

Anyway, I wish I'd found this song before Dad passed on.

I can still imagine him though, batchin' at the ranch, cranking up the Victrola, and listening to "Sleepy Rio Grande."

Go to folder - FileFactory.com

Song Of The Day #058

Meet the Massey family. Raised on a ranch near Roswell, NM the group included Louise, her husband Milt Barbie, and her brothers Curt and Allen. They were stars of the WLS Barn Dance and the b&w photo was their promo picture put out by WLS. Beneath the picture it states:

Meet the music-making Westerners, newest members of the WLS staff. The dangerous looking man on the left with the bass "fiddle" is Milt Mabie. Next to him is Larry Wellington with his accordion. Then Dott Massey who plays violin and trumpet; Louise Massey Mabie, singer and pianist, and Allen Massey, guitar and banjo specialist. Louise, Dott and Allen are sister and brothers. Milt was "adopted" bt Louise several years ago, while Larry joined the group more recently. Reared on a ranch near Roswell, New Mexico, the Massey's took to music rather than "cow punching", so their father, an old-time fiddler, led them in Chautaqua and Lyceum appearances for three or four years, after which they entered radio.

In addition to their singing, they appeared in a Tex Ritter movie, and years later Curt wrote the theme music for the TV shows "The Beverly Hillbillies" and "Petticoat Junction." In addition, Louise wrote the beautiful and much recorded classic "My Adobe Hacienda."

The group disbanded in 1950.

Today's selection is taken from their Bronco Buster CD (9026) release "Swing West." The British Archives of Country Music has also released a compilation, Louise Massey and the Westerners, Ridin' High 1933-1941.

Here they are doing My Adobe Hacienda.

Song Of The Day #057

One of the originators of commercial western music was the Sons Of The Pioneers. The group was formed in 1933 and they signed a recording contract with Decca in 1934. The group at that time was Leonard Slye (Roy Rogers), Bob Nolan, Tim Spencer and Hugh Farr (they later added Hugh Farr's brother Karl). Slye, Nolan & Spencer handled vocals and Slye played rhythm guitar, Nolan standup Bass and Farr the fiddle.

I once heard Rogers interviewed on the radio and I remember two stories from it.

Rogers said Nolan was scheduled for an audition and when Rogers opened the door Nolan was standing there barefooted with his shoes in his hand. Nolan had a job as a lifeguard and didn't wear shoes very often, but he had bought a new pair for the audition. He also didn't have enough money to pay for all of the bus ride to the audition site. Nolan rode the bus as far as his money would take him and then had to walk the rest of the way. The new shoes were killing his feet and he had to remove them. That's why he was standing there all dressed up for the audition, but barefooted with his shoes in his hand.

Rogers also said that at a low point in their career they found themselves completely broke and stuck in Roswell, NM. They played on the local radio station and soon learned that if they mentioned their favorite food on the program, the local folks would make sure they got some by delivering it to the radio station.

I guess we can thank the good folks in Chavez County for not letting the boys starve out early in their career.

Today's selection on the Radio Ranch is their 1934 recording Hold Them Down. It can be found on their 5 CD collection Songs of the Prairie.

Song Of The Day #056

No time to write much this morning. Most should know Patsy Montana who's big hit was I Want To Be A Cowboy's Sweetheart. Today we will feature her singing Cowboy Rhythm, which is available on her 27-songs CD The Original Cowboy's Sweetheart.

Song Of The Day #055

This will be western week on our Ranch Radio, and we'll start with Gene Autry. Many may know that during Autry's first years of recording he was a total copy of Jimmie Rodgers, adopting Rodgers blue yodel style of singing. Those recordings are available on the 9 CD Box set That Silver Haired Daddy Of Mine. In today's selection Autry has moved over to western or cowboy music, albeit with a Rodgers-type yodel. Enjoy Autry singing I'll Go Riding Down That Old Texas Trail, available on his Columbia Historic Edition.

Also, for you late-comers, or for those who just want to play these songs again, the entire collection is available on The Westerner. Just stroll down the right column till you see Labels, and there you will find the songs in numerical order.

Song Of The Day #054

Today's gospel song is Singing An Old Hymn by the Buchanan Brothers, released in 1946. It's availabe on the Bronco Buster 9018 CD titled Atomic Power.

Song Of The Day #053

Let's have Jim Reeves get you started for a wild weekend. Here's a link to his available CDs.

Yes, this should get you ready, Jim Reeves singing Drinking Tequila.

Song Of The Day #052

I think I'm in the mood for some Homer & Jethro this morning. Let's listen while they tell the truth about women in their 1957 tune The West Virginny Hills.

Song Of The Day #051

Here we are on song 51 and I haven't played anything by the man with the sharpest name in country music, Webb Pierce. His music is readily available, with the most complete being the Bear Family 4CD The Wondering Boy (1951-1958). A more economical selection would be 20th Century Masters - The Millennium Collection: The Best of Webb Pierce .

Today's selection is Webb Pierce singing his 1953 release It's Been So Long.

Song Of The Day #050

For our fiftieth song here is some early Porter Wagoner singing Itchin' For My Baby.

Song Of The Day #049

As little country humor this morning. Here's Archie Campbell and his recording of The Cockfight.

Song Of The Day #048

Louis Marshall "Grandpa" Jones (1913-1998) was born in Henderson County, Kentucky, but spent his teenage years in Akron, Ohio. His father was a fiddle player, his mother a singer, and he was on the radio at age 18 performing as The Young Singer Of Old Songs. Bradley Kincaid later gave him the nickname Grandpa because he was so grouchy during early morning radio programs. Jones liked it and started dressing the part. During his career he recorded for King, RCA, Decca and Monument. He wrote one of his hits, "Eight More Miles To Louisville", joined The Grand Ol' Opry in 1946 and in 1969 became a regular on the TV show Hee Haw. In 1984 he published his autobiography Everybody's Grandpa: Fifty Years Behind the Mike. He performed up until a few days before his death at age 84.

If you like his early King sides try Grandpa Jones - 28 Greatest Hits. There is also his Country Music Hall of Fame CD and the 5CD collection Everybody's Grandpa.

Today's selection is Five String Banjo Boogie.

Song Of The Day #047

How about a little Bob Wills & Tommy Duncan this morning. Here they are doing "Heart To Heart Talk" from their 3 CD collection Encore.

Song Of The Day #046

Sidney Louie Gunter Jr., known as Hardrock Gunter was born in Birmingham, Alabama in 1925. He was a singer, songwriter and guitarist. He recorded for Decca in the 50's, retired from the music business in the 60's, and in 1995 moved to Rio Rancho, NM according to Wikipedia. Today's song comes from his CD I'll Give 'Em Rhythm . His official website is here.

It's the first workday of the week, so time to put on your britches and get to work. Speaking of britches, here is Gunter's I Put My Britches on Just Like Everybody Else .

Song Of The Day #045

Today's song features the Louvin Brothers, whom I've previously written about on Song Of The Day #031. Since this is Memorial Day weekend, they will be performing "Weapon Of Prayer", recorded in 1951.

Song Of The Day #044

The Hank today was gonna be the man with the coldest name in country music - Hank Snow. I don't have all my files configured on my new computer, and don't have access to my Hank Snow CDs. I do, however, have access to my old time country radio files and lo and behold here's a 15 minute Hank Snow radio program. It's Country Style USA starring Hank Snow and brought to you by the U.S. Army.

Have a great holiday everybody.

Song Of The Day #043

Hank Locklin (Lawrence Hankins Locklin 1918-2009) was born in the Florida Panhandle, and took up the guitar after being hurt in an accident when he was eight. He went on to sell 15 million records, have six #1 hits and 70 charted songs. His biggest hits were "Send Me The Pillow You Dream On", "Geisha Girl", "Please Help Me I'm Falling" and "Happy Birthday To Me." In the 1960s he built a ranch-house, called “the Singing L”, in the middle of the field in Brewton, Alabama, where he had once picked cotton as a boy. When he passed away on March 8th of this year, he was the oldest living member of the Grand Ol' Opry at 91.

The best collection of his music is the 4 CD Bear Family Please Help Me I'm Falling, but their are many others. For those who like the oldies, a record company out of Holland has just released Send Me the Pillow You Dream On, 3 CD collection of his 1948-1955 recordings.

Today's selection is one of my favorites of his early recordings, "A Good Woman's Love" from 1956.

Sharon and I will celebrate our 36th anniversary on the 24th. This song comes very close to the truth, so I dedicate it to you darlin'.

It's followed by a 1962 video of Locklin singing "Please Help Me I'm Falling."

Song Of The Day #042

Running late this morning. Our third Hank of the week is Hank Thompson (1925-2007). He was born Henry William Thompson in Waco, Texas. He sold over 60 million records and his band, The Brazos Valley Boys, was voted the #1 Country and Western band 14 years in a row. He has been inducted into the Country Music Hall Of Fame and the Songwriters Hall of Fame. Thompson's music is widely availabe; you might want to start with his Vintage Collection.

He had a series of hits based on nursery rhymes. Here's one of them: Rub-Adub-Dub

Song Of The Day #041

Hank Penny (1918-1992)was born in Birmingham, Alabama and was influenced by his father, a disabled coal miner who played the guitar and did magic tricks. His favorite music was western swing and he formed his first group, the Radio Cowboys in 1938. The musicians that played with Penny over the years makes an impressive list: Noel Boggs, Roy Langham, Joaquin Murphy, Speedy West & Merle Travis, among others. One of his female singers was one Mary Morgan, later known as Jaye P. Morgan. Penny was invited to be on Dude Martin's show, where he eventually ended up stealing Martin's wife, singer Sue Thompson, and then started hosting his own show. Penny retired in the mid-70s.There are several collections of his music available, such as Flamin' Mamie 1938-1941, The Penny Opus #1,and King of Hillbilly Bebop .

Here at The Westerner we are all about equality and inclusion, so we've pulled out the Special Pink Player and are dedicating today's selection to any feminists out there.

Here is Hank Penny singing, "Catch 'Em Young, Treat 'Em Rough, Tell 'Em Nothin'".