For this early Spring favorites selection, I’ve chosen mostly – that is unusual – major labels recordings!
The first three on King probably all cut in Cincinnati between 1949 and 1950. The earliest track is by RED PERKINS (born in 1890), who had begun his career before WWII and was later the featured vocalist of PAUL HOWARD Arkansas Cotton Pickers (see below). Here it is his “Hoe-Down Boogie” (King 792), a fine call-and-response fast bopper. He also had “Crocodile tears” the next year. His first issue on King (# 773) was “Texas Boogie“, and the personnel was then Jabbo Arrington [gt], Billy Bowman [steel], Bob Moore [bass], Roddy Bristol [fiddle], Fiddlin’ Red Herron [fiddle], Joe Rea [drums], poss. Harold Horner [piano]. The backing is probably similar.
Second selection is of course by PAUL HOWARD: “The boogie’s fine tonight“. Fine piano bopper (# 871), and the next is by the famous REDD STEWART, featured vocalist of Pee Wee King‘s Golden West Cowboys. Actually, except accordion (inaudible) the GWC are the backing band of Stewart for this great “Brother drop dead” (# 843). Fine piano, aggressive steel punctuating the beat.
Paul Howard
Red Perkins, “Hoe-down boogie”
Paul Howard “The boogie’s fine tonight”
One step away to West coast on the Capitol label for GENE O’QUIN and “I specialize in love” (# 2715). Fast bopper from 1954.
Gene O’Quin “I specialize in love”
Back to early days. Dallas, Texas, Jim Beck’s studio, April 1951. The MERCER Brothers (Wallace and Charlie), an old-time male duet do a very energetic “Wish bone” on Columbia 20978. They sound like the Delmore Brothers, and even have WAYNE RANEY on harmonica for a great solo! Thanks to Jack Dumery to have led me to them (and for the CD!)
Redd Stewart
Mercer Brothers “Wish bone”
Eddie Crosby “Blues stay away from me”
Danny Dedmon “Hula hula woogie”
The link with the former is the Delmore and a version of their all-time great “Blues stay away from me“, a cityfied rendition (Cincinnat, August 1949) by EDDIE CROSBY. Nice guitar (could be Zeke Turner).
Finally back in Dallas with DANNY DEDMON, former vocalist of Bill Nettles. Actually his Rhythm Ramblers are Nettles’ Dixie Blues boys. Here he does in 1947 the amusing “Hula hula boogie” on Imperial 8019.
Sources: my own collection and the net for artists pictures.
arkansas 45s