Song Of The Day #150

Song of The Day #150! That calls for a double dose.

Let's stay with the western swing genre. Anyone who has followed Tommy Duncan's career knows he was a big fan of Jimmie Rodgers. Here he is with Bob Wills and their 1934 recording of Rodger's Mean Mama Blues. We'll follow that up with a good Ocie Stockard fiddle tune Crafton Blues, recorded in 1937 by Jimmie Revard & His Oklahoma Playboys

Both tunes are available on the 4 CD box set Stompin' Singers & Western Swingers: More from the Golden Age of Western Swing.

Song Of The Day #149

Today Ranch Radio brings you a western swing tune, Make Up You Mind, by the Saddle Tramps. You'll find it on the multiple artist, 27 track CD Swinging West, Vol. 2

Song Of The Day #148

Let's get your blood flowin' this Monday morning with an instrumental by the great guitar picker Dan Crary. Here he is flatpicking Cotton Patch Rag. You can find it on his 10 track CD Guitar.

Song Of The Day #147

Today's Gospel tune is I've Got That Old Time Religion In My Heart by The Wilburn Brothers.

Song Of The Day #146

It Tickles by Tommy Collins is our selection today.

It's available on his 18 track CD The Capitol Collection.

Song Of The Day #145

Today Ranch Radio brings you the 1951 recording of Cowpoke by Elton Britt.

It's available on his Country Music's Yodelling Cowboy Crooner, Vol. 1.

Song Of The Day #144

Today's tune is Kentucky by the Blue Sky Boys. I've written about them before. On that day's selection back in April, J.R. Absher, proprietor of The Outdoor Pressroom, wrote in the comments section:

Their style and harmony on "Kentucky" surpasses any other version ever recorded.

So J.R., Ranch Radio sends this one out to you.

Song Of The Day #143

Ranch Radio brings you the 1944 recording of Shame On You by Spade Cooley. Cooley is the band leader and plays fiddle while the lead vocal is by Tex Williams.

The tune is available on his 20 track CD Spadella: The Essential Spade Cooley.

Song Of The Day #142

Get ready to move. Here is Bill Boyd & His Cowboy Ramblers swinging Under The Double Eagle.

My version is from vinyl, but you can get it on his 16 track CD Saturday Night Rag: 1934-1936.

Song Of The Day #141

Our Gospel tune is Read The Bible Every Day by the Sons Of The Pioneers.

It's available on their 4 disc box set Wagons West.

Song Of The Day #140

We'll close out the week with Slim Whitman singing his 1953 hit North Wind.

My version comes from his 6 disc box set Rose Marie by Bear Family Records. There is a remastered version on the 15 track Slim Whitman - Vintage Collections Series by EMI Records.

Song Of The Day #138

As you can tell, things are a little slower and a little sadder this week on Ranch Radio as we feel for those local ranchers who are about to be placed in wilderness areas thanks to Senator Bingaman. So don't expect any up-tempo happy type tunes until I recover.

Today's selection is Streamlined Cannonball, a beautiful recording by the "Ol' Pea Picker" Tennessee Ernie Ford accompanied by The Dinning Sisters. It's available on his 3 disc box set Masters 1949-1976 by Capitol Records (just 15 bucks for 50 tracks).

Song Of The Day #137

Today's selection is a pretty ballad by Faron Young - his 1952 recording of Tattle Tale Tears.

It's available on his 24 track CD Live Fast, Love Hard: Original Capitol Recordings, 1952-1962 and the wonderful 5 disc box set The Classic Years 1952-62.

Song Of The Day #136

To get those feet moving and the ol' heart pumping this monday morning we'll offer two instrumentals by the bluegrass group 4 Wheel Drive from their 16 track CD No Doubt About It.

You've heard Yakety Sax and Yakety Axe. Well Ranch Radio brings you Yakety Banjo. It's a short little ditty so to keep that heart pumping the second instrumental is Indian Killed A Woodcock.

Song Of The Day #135

Ranch Radio's gospel tune today is Trade My Cross by the bluegrass group The Abrams Brothers.

The song is available on their 13 track CD Iron Sharpens Iron

Song Of The Day #134

Time for a little Skeets McDonald this morning. Today's selection is his 1954 recording Smoke Comes Out My Chimney Just The Same.

It's available on his 5 disc box set Don't Let the Stars Get in Your Eyes and on the 33 track CD Heart Breakin' Mama, both from Bear Family Records.

Song Of The Day #133

Today's selection is Blue Ridge Mountain Blues by Bill Clifton & His Dixie Pals.

This tune was on one of the first bluegrass LPs I owned. I got into bluegrass because bluegrass LPs were only 99 cents, whereas regular country LPs were $2.99. So it was bluegrass for me. I'm thankful that those albums were so cheap, or that I was so broke, because I became a real fan of the music.

This particular song was cut in March of 1958 in Nashville at the RCA studio. It's available on the 18 track CD Bill Clifton - The Early Years (1957-1958). And look who was backing him up: In addition to Clifton on guitar and lead vocals, there was Ralph Stanley [banjo], Benny Martin [fiddle], Tommy Jackson [fiddle], Curley Lambert [mandolin, tenor vocals], John Duffey [dobro, mandolin, high baritone vocals], and Junior Huskey [bass]. Bluegrass and country fans will have no problem recognizing those names.

Give it a listen and turn that volume up so all your neighbors can enjoy it too.

Song Of The Day #132

Today's tune is Laurie's Waltz by mandolin picker Buddy Merriam and his bluegrass group Back Roads. The song is available on Buddy Merriam & Back Roads - It's Blue Grass Time.

Ranch Radio sends this song out to Laura Schneberger for all she does to assist the livestock industry on many issues and for her informative blog Wolf Crossing.

Song Of The Day #131

This morning Ranch Radio will try to get your feet movin', your heart pumpin' and maybe bring back some fond memories. Our tune is the traditional Paul Jones done by Adolph Hofner & His San Antonians (his earlier recordings were with "His Texans" and his later recordings were with "The Pearl Wranglers").

The song was recorded on February 28, 1941 in the WBAO Studio at the Blackstone Hotel in Fort Worth, Texas. In addition to Adolph Hofner on vocals & guitar, the musicians on this cut were: Emil Hofner [steel], J.R. Chatwell [fiddle], Buck Wheeler [bass], Johnny Rives [fiddle/drums], and Bert Ferguson [piano]. I don't know who blew the whistle. It was originally released as OKeh 06184, and is available on his 26 track CD South Texas Swing.

The last time I danced to a Paul Jones was a long time ago at the old Corona gym. As I recall the ladies formed an inner circle and the males an outer circle, with the two circles going in opposite directions. When a band member blew a whistle and hollered "Paul Jones" you grabbed whoever was in front of you and they became your partner until the whistle blew again and then you formed the circles once more. All ages, sizes and shapes took part. If you were lucky you drew a good looking gal and if you weren't...well you got to dance with some folks you probably never would have asked. The worst was drawing someone who couldn't dance, but everyone had a good time.

How about you? When, where and how did you do the Paul Jones?

Song Of The Day #130

Our Gospel tune this morning is Look At What The Lord Can Do by the bluegrass group 5 For The Gospel.

The song is on their 12 track CD Look At What The Lord Can Do.