STARDAY custom series – part 1: #500 to # 525 (late 1953 to July 1955)

Apr 10, 2011 | Record labels

Coast 500 JIMMIE O’NEAL/Cotton Henry (late 1953)

A- Patent On My Heart (CH)/ B- Streamliner Boogie (vocal J O’N)

Los Angeles, California

No info on who Cotton Henry is, although I found a disc on Starday 129 by a Cotton Henry (“Alibying Sweetie / Eskimo Nell”) which could be him. These sides will be podcasted in a later Starday survey . For the flip, the only real info I have is that Jimmie O’Neal later owned the Rural Rhythm label out of Arcadia CA. Streamliner Boogie is a talking blues ditty with some nice guitar work – marred by poor sound quality on the disc. Don Carlos Music appears on quite a few releases on Wolf-Tex Records (Wolf City, TX)

Coosa 501 HOYT SCOGGINS & the Kingsmen Quartet (January 1954)

Jesus Still Heals/ The Pathway Is Not Crowded

Carterville, Georgia

The A side is a fast piano led gospel number with Hoyt leading the Kingsmen Quartet in what Billboard magazine might have described as an “exuberant reading”, had they reviewed it. The B side is a straight-ahead fast country gospel number with the Quartet dominating the song. Hoyt was born in 1927 and was at one point a DJ on WCGA in Calhoun, GA. “Jesus Still Heals” also appeared on Starday EP 106 (main series) as by Hoyt & Tyrone Scoggins with the Tune Twisters, but this maybe a different version of the song. He also owned his own Scoggins label. (See also Starday 542, 563, 606 & 659 ). Equally at home on Gospel, Hillbilly and even R&R, Scoggins must have had a strong regional following as he was still recording on NASHVILLE (a late ’50s/early ’60s outlet for Starday recordings)

Hoyt Scoggins and band

Gospel 502 Conway Gospel Chorus (February 1954)

No details. Not Hillbilly.

Cosmopolitan 503 Big Bob Dougherty & his Orchestra (March 1954)

Whale (inst) / Okey Pretty Baby.

Leavensworth, Kansas. A R&B rocker.

Coast 504

Savannah 505 BUDDY LIVINGSTON & his All Girl Band (April 1954)

Back When She Was Young / Write Me Right Away

Savannah, Georgia

JACK HAMMONS (April 1954)

Tomorrows Goodbyes (Johnny Skiles/JH) / Substitute For Love (Johnny Skiles/JH)  

Los Angeles, California

The A side is a weepy hillbilly with fiddle and steel guitar being the predominant instruments. B side is slightly faster. Jack Hammons hailed from Monroe, Louisiana and was heard singing by Col. Tom Parker as Elvis’ soon-to-be-manager drove through Monroe. Jack was singing a number of songs that were penned by himself and Johnny Skiles, who was his brother-in-law, and the Colonel quickly contacted Starday to arrange a  recording session for him. (“Mr Cupid” / “That’s The Way To Fall In Love” – STARDAY 197). Johnny Skiles (cowriter) recorded for Honee-B & Corvette Records amongst others and probably moved up to the West coast sometime after these recordings. (See Corvette 672 later on in another serie) As an aside, Skiles also recorded for Jimmie O’Neals’ Rural Rhythm Label (See Coast 500)The A side is a boppin’ hillbilly disc featuring fiddle, piano and steel guitar, with a double bass break sandwiched between. Flipside is more of the same. The A side was rerecorded soon after (see Savannah 513). Buddy was based in Savannah, Georgia. His “All-Girl” band were actually his sisters. He altready had a record on King. According to the Billboard Music Magazine dated 25th Oct 1952, the band consisted of Mary Frances Livingston on bass, Buddy was on steel gtr, Christine Livingston on fiddle and Willine Livingston on electric guitar and was about to embark on a King Recording pact. Their manager was their father, Dave Livingston.   He also recorded R&R for Scottie Records.   Buddy was still performing around Savannah, GA in the 60’s. His band at this time were called Buddy Livingston & the Versitones and Buddy sang and played bass, performing mainly at a club called “The Bamboo Ranch”. They also had their own 30 minute TV show on WTOC. Billy Joe Royal (of “Down In The Boondocks” fame) was also a featured vocalist for a time. The “Bamboo Ranch” burnt down in 1970, allegedly under suspicious circumstances, though I hasten to add that Buddy & the band weren’t party to this or were inside at the time.

Rangeland 506 BILLIE & GORDON HAMRICK “The Honey Hill Sweethearts”        (July 1954)

He is My Guide / He’s Gonna Take His Children Out

Charleston, North Carolina

B&G Hamrick present themselves here with a pleasant mandolin led gospel coupling, with the B side being the faster of the two. Both sides were written by Bernice Jennette. The only info I have on the Honeyhill Sweethearts {there is a small  town vcalled “Honey Hill, some 30 miles North Est of Charleston} is they had at least two previous releases on Rangeland (which may have been their own label), both pressed by RCA in 1953 (“My Dream Of The Old Rugged Cross” / “My Savior’s Train Of Life” – RANGELAND No.# // “Married People Out Of Place” / “Pocotaligo Waltz” – RANGELAND No.#). At present I have no other info of any other subsequent recordings, apart from the three other Starday customs listed later in this serie (Starday 522, 626, 673). The B side was reissued on a 6 track Dixie 78rpm with a fade out roughly halfway. Billboard magazine (14th March 1953) mentions that their steel guitarist who played on the RCA pressed Rangeland discs was Bob Bratcher, who died in Jacksonville, FL in early 53. Billie and Gordon formed a gospel bluegrass duet. Together,they wrote and recorded songs in the 1950’s for both the Rangeland label and the Starday label. They hosted a gospel variety show , The Old Country Church. The gospel bluegrass variety show ran for over 12 years on WUSN-TV channel two in Charleston, SC. Billie played this Martin guitar and Gordon played mandolin on the show and numerous personal appearances throughout the Southeast. Their career spanned over 30 years. Ms. Hamrick passed away in 2002.

HAMRICK – Gordon B. Hamrick born November 18, 1917 in Douglasville, GA, died December 30, 2001. He served in the U.S. Army in the Panama Canal Zone in the 1930s and continued military service in the Coast Guard through WWII on the USS Savage as a Chief. He also managed grocery stores in Jacksonville and performed gospel music with wife Billie in Charleston, SC on a television show called The Old Country Church in the 1950s and 60s.

California 507 AL WARWICK (rn Arthur Alton Warwick)       (September 1954)        

Rag Doll / You Are The Only One

Van Nuys, California

Al paid for the studio time and the musicians to cut these self-penned songs and put them on record for posterity. The band on both sides romp along nicely behind Al’s relaxed vocals. He struggles a little with timing here and there but overall it’s a pleasant disc. No other info on the artist at this time, but the guitarist on both sides sounds very, very much like Roy Lanham.

Texas 508 EARLY GRAHAM & His Musical Drifters (November 1954)

I Wish You’d Start Fooling Again / Stop Fooling My Heart

Henderson, Texas

Another fine hillbilly disc with Grahams’ lazy, perhaps slightly flat vocals supported by a tight little combo featuring guitar & steel. The B side is a good mid tempo hillbilly song.  “Early L. Graham was born August 24, 1909 in Arkansas, but resided in Rusk County, Texas most of his life. He died October 4, 1978, aged 69 years old. So he was about 45 when he made this, his only known record ” (wrote Andrew Brown)

Dart 509 JERRY HOPKINS & The Southern Playboys (December 1954)

Cuddle Up To Me / My Everlasting Love                                                                

Saint-Louis, Missouri                                                                                                              

Once again, no info on the artist.  The DART version of “My Everlasting Love” is different to the version released on STARDAY 182 (“Mamma Baby” / “My Everlasting Love”), and I’m guessing this was the first release since the Starday disc was reviewed by Billboard on 18th June, 1955. The A side on the Dart disc is the uptempo tune with fiddle, guitar and steel guitar. B side is a pleasant enough weeper. DART 509 was issued on both 45 & 78rpm formats. Note the lack of publishing details – a rarity for a Starday Custom.

S-Kay 510 RAY MAYO (January 1955)

Mended Hearts / Who Winds Your Clock  

Gardena, California

Both sides are uptempo hillbilly with piano & fiddle. Ray seems to have a little trouble with both timing (to me, he sounds slightly ahead of the band in places but he catches up after the solo) & rhyming but both sides are pleasant enough. B side has a very slight “double-entendre” nature about it; probably a little racy for the staid of ol’ fifties but milder than watered down mustard by today’s standards. Regardless, the “Not Recommended For Radio Broadcast” stamp can be found just above the title. “Who Winds Your Clock” was previously recorded by Bucky Bates on 4-Star 1295 in 1949, and rereleased later on 4-Star 1559 in 1951. Just as the last release, the publishing info is left to plain old BMI instead of the usual “Starrite“.

Johnson 511 JERRY & The String Trio (January 1955)

Lead Me To The Promise Land / Judgement Day

Lake Charles, Louisiana

Although both sides of the record credit vocals to Jerry & Steve, only 511-A is a duet. It’s a wonderful disc that has been described as an early example of “Gospelbilly”, although I think only the gospel part is correct. Nevertheless, you could say that the music certainly has rockabilly overtones, especially the “B” side.   No writers credits and although Starrite published both sides, that info seems to have been left off of the label. As far as I know, there’s only two known copies of this disc. As yet, it has not surfaced as a 45 and probably only exists in it’s 78 format.

Mississipi 512 JOE BRYANT & The Mississipi Woodchoppers (January 1955)

Pulpwood Blues / A Man Ain’t Nothin’ But A Woman’s Slave

Centerville, Mississipi

A nice, tough Hank Williams type disc, once again bordering on Rock-A-Billy, with rough-hewn vocals and a competent band featuring steel guitar, fiddle & guitar. A side has a “Lovesick Blues” feel to the intro. Flip side is more of the same. Again, like the previous disc, there only seems to be one known copy and possibly only ever pressed as a 78rpm. I think the steel guitarist gets a little lost in the solo on the B side, but that only adds to the character of the track in my opinion.

Savannah 513 BUDDY LIVINGSTON & his All Girl Band (February 1955)

Back When She Was Young / Can’t Love No One (like I Love You)

Savannah, Georgia

513-A is a different version to the earlier release on SAVANNAH 505. In fact, it’s more slicker than the original and the steel guitar break has been practiced and honed to perfection. The sound quality of Savannah 513 recording is a lot clearer on this disc than the previous release. According to the blurb on a DJ copy of one of his King releases, (1181) Buddy was born in Fitzgerald, GA and was 19 years of age when this disc was released. Sadly, I’ve yet to hear the flip side and only 78rpm copies of Savannah 513 have surfaced. By March 1957, Buddy was appearing on WTOL-TV, Savannah, GA daily between 1:30 & 2pm, Monday to Friday and a 7:00 to 7:30 slot every Friday evening. Another missing label shot I’m afraid.

Rodney 514 BEAMON FORSE (February 1955)

Rest Of My Life / You Better Go Now

Bronson, Texas

As far as I’m concerned, not only is this the first real true rockabilly disc in the series, but if there was ever a top ten Starday Custom listing, this would definitely be included! Great rockabilly guitar led, slap bass bopper featuring Beamon on vocals, his brother Ted on lead guitar, JT “Tiny” Smith on bass, Charlie Craddock on steel guitar and an unknown piano player. Born Beamon Tom Forse on 4th December 1934 in San Augustine, TX, he had a radio show with his brother Ted at KTXJ (Jaspar, TX) and he knew George Jones since he was a child. This disc was cut at Gold Star Studios, Houston TX., and it was inspired by hearing Elvis Presley’s “That’s All Right Mama” being played over the radio. The disc was financed by Rodney Spaford (hence the label name I guess) who was a rich guy from Sabine, TX. Beamon moved to California after this release, and he recorded as Tom Forse on Rich-Vein Records (owned by Terry Fell and features Eddie Cochran on guitar). Beamon also booked top acts on the West coast and wrote songs for Terry Fell, who would pay him cash for them. Beamon died in 2004. He and Truitt Forse were cousins. (See Starday 596). Side A “The Rest Of My Life” is a nice classy Honky tonk number. The disc wassupposedly issued on both 45 & 78rpm formats.

Diamond 515 AL MEYER and His Pals (March 1955)

You’re The Same Old Moon / Somebody Cares

St. Genevieve, Missouri

Zero info on Al Meyer apart from what’s listed on the label shot. Primitively recorded hillbilly disc with guitar, steel guitar & fiddle. If the label didn’t say MO, I would have sourced this disc a lot further south, perhaps Mississippi or Alabama. Vocally, it reminds me a little of Lloyd McCullough on Von Records. (Lloyd has his own custom on Starday 686).

Evangelistic Sacred Songs 516 CURT & FAYE BARTMESS with String Ins Accmp (sic)          (March 1955)

Country Music In A Sacred Way / The Narrow Way

Curt & Faye were from Oklahoma and broadcast over KJBC in Midland, TX. Evangelistic was their own label, created after non payment of royalties from another TX label. Reverend Curt Bartmess still has a congregation in Oklahoma, but Faye (if her real name was Myrtle Faye Bartmess) has passed away. Anyhow, the A side is a pleasant country gospel number with some nice guitar and mandolin throughout. Flip is slightly slower with some good vocal interplay between Curt & Faye – shades of Luke the Drifter.

Savannah 517 BUDDY LIVINGSTON & His All Girl Band (Vcl – Buddy & Trio)     (April 1955)

I Can’t Help The Way I Feel / When You Stuck Your Tongue Out At Me

Savannah, Georgia

Not heard the A side. B side is a nice hillbilly disc from Buddy and his sisters – mid tempo with good harmonies & steel guitar. Compared to the previous release (513), the actual recording sounds a little primitive and perhaps it was recorded around the same time as the release on Savannah 505. It’s a darn fine disc all the same. Also judging by when BMI cleared the song for broadcast, this disc may have been actually issued to the public (so to speak), or if you prefer – shipped to Buddy before Diamond 515 & Evangelistic 516. (I am going by the assumption that all discs were pressed and the songs were submitted to BMI once payment reached Starday.)

Starday 518 DANIEL JAMES (rn Dan Mechura)         (April 1955)

Magic Wands And Wishing Wells / Through The Barroom Door

STARDAY 518 was reissued on ALLSTAR 7161, which isn’t that surprising when you consider that Daniel James is Dan Mechura, who owned Allstar. Billboard mentions in passing (26 March 1955) that Daniel had signed with Starday Records and he was broadcasting over KNUZ. To promote this disc, Daniel toured with Hank Locklin, Lee Leissner & Texas Rhythm Boys in June 55. Compared to the torrid “Rock Moon Rock” – (Allstar 7163) & “I’m Gonna Move” – (Allstar 7183), Daniel delivers this plaintive hillbilly disc with all the gusto of a man singing whilst reading the lyrics in front of him. Nice echoey sound on the disc though gives it some atmosphere. The odd thing about this is that at the time of this disc, he already sees to have started his Allstar label with an address out of Garrow Street, Houston, TX. Menchura was happy to offer the same kind of deal that Starday offered here – cut the tracks – stick out a 45rpm, limited distribution and hoped for a hit to carry the momentum onwards and upwards. Dan and his Allstar label were also active in the seedy world of “Song-Poem” record labels. But by the mid 60’s, Dan’s labels folded after issuing at least close to 200 45’s on either the main label or on one of Dan’s numerous subsiduary labels. Note the publishing details have changed by the time he reissued it on his Allstar label.

Starday 519 JIM CUNNINGHAM and the Missouri Wranglers (May 1955)

A Pain A Pill Won’t Reach / Take Time To Cry

No info on Jim and his band at the present time. It’s a good hillbilly disc with sawing fiddles and steel guitar. Both sides bounce along nicely.

Starday 520 HOWARD BRAMLETT (June 1955)

Let’s Take Our Children To Church / City On A Hill

A gospel disc. Not Hillbilly

Hoyts 521 REV. CAMPBELL with the Wonder Boy (June 1955)

Old Ship Of Zion / You Can’t Hurry God

Greenwood, South Carolina

Gospel disc, not hillbilly

Starday 522 BILLIE & GORDON HAMRICK with the Low Country Gospel band (June 1955)

Our Prayer / When I feel The Spirit (Brother) I’m Gonna Shout

The second gospel offering from the Hamricks, now featuring their Low County Gospel band (which may well have been uncredited on the RANGELAND 506). There is a feeling amongst collectors that the first disc sold well enough for a reprint, so Starday issued their second offering on their own label hoping to garner a bit more interest for the disc. (Others think the Hamricks paid extra for it to be issued on Starday.) Anyhow, it’s a mandolin led country gospel for the A side. B side, which is a fast, fiddle led exhortation on the joys of having God in your heart. Kinda makes you wanna jump up in the aisles and yell “Hallellulah!”

Starday 523 RED MANSEL and his Hillbilly Boys (July 1955)

I’ve Crossed You Off My List / Brocken Fickle Heart

Nice bar-room honky tonk from Red & his Hillbilly Boys, with the A side being especially good. Fiddle, steel guitar and a nice upright piano with rhythm guitar and bass accomp. Red Mansel was (unsurprisingly) the star of “Red Mansel & Boys” on KFDA-TV, Amarillo, TX, (15 min slot on TV between 4:45-5:00pm (Tuesday) and again at 12:45-1:00 pm (Saturday) and was also heard daily over the radio station. He also appeared on Dan Menchuras’ Allstar label from Houston, TX after this release. (He signed a 2 year contract with the label in early April 1956.) “Johnny On The Spot” / “Would You Ever Believe It’s True” – ALLSTAR 7160 {Billboard stated that this release was “lightweight material (that) can’t go far!”} and “My Only One” / “Going Steady With A Dream” – ALLSTAR 7174 are two of the better ones where rockabilly is concerned. Mansell appears on a writers credit on Starday 518.

Carolina 524          FRANK LEVINER (July 1955)

Keep Loving Up / Plan Of Salvation

Untraced

The Joneses 525 Mrs. R. D. JONES (July 1955)

I Ain’t Got Time / My Prayer For The Ones I Love

Bogalusa, Louisiana

I love this record! It’s certainly a primitive recording and the fidelity seems to fluctuate here and there. But the guitar steals the show with some nice chording and fills whilst Mrs Jones sings along pleasantly. I always imagine Mrs Jones sitting at the family piano belting this out in front of the family whilst the marsh mellows toast in the fire. It’s a joyous record – fills this ol’ heart with a little glee. Flipside is an altogether sadder affair, and somebody’s playing an accordian instead of the piano but again, Mrs Jones is in fine vocal form. I can’t pinpoint exactly what it is about this 45, but for me I could listen to it again and again without getting tired of it. (Others I’ve played it to don’t even try to stifle a yawn so maybe it’s just me it effects). Only the large amount of Joneses in the Bogalusa area prevents me from phoning each one up and asking “Excuse me , are you Mrs Jones?” But on somebody else’s dime, I’d certainly give it a go.

All appreciations from Malcolm Chapman’s notes in his excellent site: http://web.mac.com/malcychapman/Starday_Customs/Starday_Intro.html. Additions from Phillip J. Tricker’notes to “Hixville” CD (Jasmine JASCD 452) An indispensable album!