Song Of The Day #080

Today we'll feature Roy Acuff and his 1940 recording Lonesome Old River Blues.

It's available, along with thirteen others on The Essential Roy Acuff.

Song Of The Day #079

Here's Carl Smith and his recording of Mr. Moon.

It's available on his Don't Just Stand There: 20 Greatest Hits CD and on the wonderful 5 disc box set Satisfaction Guaranteed.

Song Of The Day #078

Let's get things rolling this week with Leon McAuliffe playing Panhandle Rag.

This version is from his Columbia Historic Edition LP.

Song Of The Day #077

On this Fourth Of July I will make an exception and offer a song from the modern era of country music.

The song is In My Land by Royal Wade Kimes, and is the hidden track on his A Dyin' Breed CD.

This song has special meaning on this day as we celebrate our liberty.

Give it a listen and have a great 4th of July!

Song Of The Day #076

Our selection today is by the western dance band duo of Spade Cooley and Tex Williams. Cooley plays the fiddle and is the band leader and Williams does the vocals.

Cooley was very popular on the west coast, won a battle of the bands contest with Bob Wills, and had six top ten hits. His career ended in 1961 when he was convicted of killing his wife. He served 8 years, was let out to play a charity concert, and died backstage after the performance.

The tune is Troubled Over You and is available on the two disc Swinging the Devil's Dream from Proper Records.

Song Of The Day #075

This morning we will feature Charlie and Ira Louvin, the Louvin Brothers, and their 1956 recording of What Is Home Without Love.

It can be found on their 8 disc box set Close Harmony and on their CD Tragic Songs of Life.

Enjoy that harmony.

Song Of The Day #074

I'm in the mood for fiddle music this morning, so we're gonna have a fiddle fest featuring two of my favorite fiddlers, Tommy Jackson and Howdy Forrester. Funny how Ranch Radio always seems to play what I'm wanting to hear.

So give a listen to Forrester doing High Level Hornpipe and Cruel Willie, and Jackson playing Stony Point and Trouble Among The Yearlings.

Good luck trying to find their stuff. Here's hoping some reissues will be forthcoming.

Song Of The Day #073

Today's song is I Wanna Be Hugged To Death By You, recorded in 1954 by Hawkshaw Hawkins. More on Hawkins later.

The song is available on the 3 disc collection Hawk 1953-1961, a Bear Family Records product.

Enjoy.

Song Of The Day #072

Today's gospel tune on the Radio Ranch is Methodist Pie by Hylo Brown and The Timberliners.

It's available on his 20 Gospel Favorites CD.

Song Of The Day #071

I've always felt Anita Carter had one of the best female voices in country music. She was the youngest daughter of Mother Maybelle Carter. She, along with her sisters Helen and June, made up the Carter Sisters, in which Anita sang and played the upright bass.

She also had a career as a solo artist.

For real fans, you can't beat the 7 disc box set Appalachian Angel: Her Recordings 1950-1972

Today we have her 1951 duet with Hank Snow Down The Trail Of Achin' Hearts. This recording went to No.2 on the charts.

Song Of The Day #070

Will you help me find a song?

When I was in high school or maybe a little older I had an LP with a fiddle breakdown on it named Look Sharp Be Sharp. It was based on the Gillete razor blade jingle that I would hear on Friday Night Fights.

I think it was on a Rural Rhythm LP, a cheap record label from whom I used to mail order albums.

Anyway, I just loved that fiddle breakdown. I think it was the only song on the LP that I liked.

I don't remember the fiddle player or the band (I'm pretty sure it was a bluegrass LP).

So, if you know the the band or where I can obtain this fiddle breakdown, please let me know. I will be forever greatful.

The first item is one of the old Gillette tv adds, followed by the look sharp march.

The second item is Look Sharp Be Sharp done up dixieland style, which comes a little closer to how the fiddle breakdown sounded.

Song Of The Day #069

Many may not be aware of what an accomplished mandolin player Jethro Burns was. Yes that same Jethro of Homer & Jethro fame.

Here he is doing Nola. It's available, along with 21 other tunes on his The Puritan Sessions.

Song Of The Day #068

The Radio Ranch is running late this morning, but we'll put up a song by The Arizona Yodeler, Kenny Roberts.

The tune is The Yodel Polka, recorded in 1952 and available on his CD Jumpin' & Yodelin'.

I'll tell you more about Roberts at a later date.

Song Of The Day #067

Most are familiar with Johnny Horton hits generated after he signed with Columbia Records in 1955. First came his "honky tonk" era, with hits like Honky Tonk Man, and then his "historical" era, with hits like The Battle Of New Orleans.

Some may not know that prior to 1955 he recorded on Abbot and then Mercury records, and they were great pure country recordings. Today's selection on Ranch Radio is one of those early recordings, Betty Lorraine from 1952. It's available on the 4 CD box set The Early Years.

Song Of The Day #066

Ranch Radio's gospel song today is the 1951 recording of Electricity by Jimmy Murphy.

Murphy's music is available on such collections as Electricity on the Starday label and Sixteen Tons of Rock & Roll put out by Bear Family records. I prefer the Bear Family collection, as it has the original recordings.

Since this is Fathers Day, our second offering is by Lester Flatt & Earl Scuggs, with Lester doing the narration on Father's Table Grace.

Song Of The Day #065

Ranch Radio is ready for a little change of pace, so we're offering up two bluegrass fiddle tunes by Aubrey Haynie, Hamilton Special and Long Cold Winter. Long Cold Winter was composed by one of the greatest bluegrass fiddlers, Kenny Baker. Both tunes are available on Haynie's CD Bluegrass Fiddle Album.

Hey, Joe Delk and Bobby Jones, hope you enjoy these.

Song Of The Day #064

Today's Ranch Radio will feature the man with the cleanest name in country music, Ernest Tubb. This song is available on his 5 CD box set Yellow Rose Of Texas.

Here's Ernest singing his 1954 recording of Journey's End.

Billy Byrd does a fine job on this cut too. Nothing Fancy, just...beautiful.

Song Of The Day #063

On the Ranch Radio this morning is the Ol' Pea Picker himself, Tennessee Ernie Ford singing Anticipation Blues. You can find this song and much more of his early work on the 30 track CD Rock City Boogie.

Song Of The Day #062

Tommy Collins (Leonard Raymond Sipes) was born on a farm just outside OKC in 1930. After high school and attending college, he joined his friend Wanda Jackson and her parents on a trip to Bakersfield, Ca. The Jacksons returned to Ok. but Collins stayed, having made friends with local DJ Terry Preston (Ferlin Husky). Collins wrote songs for Cliffie Stone and then signed a recording contract with Capitol in 1953. He had many hits for Capitol, such as today's selection, but he was also a very successful songwriter. His songs were recorded by such artists as Faron Young, George Jones, Merle Haggard (20 songs) and George Strait. Haggard's hit single Leonard was his tribute to Collins. Collins passed away in 2000.

His music is still available, including the 5 CD box set Leonard, or you might try his The Capitol Collection.

Collins wrote and sang our selection today You Better Not Do That. It was recorded in 1953 and that's the then little known Buck Owens playing lead guitar.

Song Of The Day #061

Johnnie & Jack and The Tennessee Mountain Boys. The Johnny was Johnnie Wright (the spelling was changed by a record label) and the Jack was Jack Anglin. They weren't brothers but were brothers-in-law. Other members of the group were Johnnie's wife Muriel Deason (Kitty Wells), and Jacks brother Jim Anglin. The group had no hits until they signed with RCA Victor in 1949. Their first hit was "Poison Love" which hit the top ten on all three billboard charts. They were successful members of the Grand Ol' Opry till Jack Anglin was killed in a car wreck on his way to Patsy Cline's funeral.

Real fans can try their 6 CD box set Johnnie & Jack And The Tennessee Mountain Boys. Smaller collections are also available.

Here's their 1953 recording of Private Property.