The Van Winkle Brothers (Arnold and Lee) were musically prolific from 1956 to 1962 . Nobody seems to have any informaion on their childhood, although U.S. 1940 Census gives for Arnold a birthdate in 1935 ; but the birthplace is in Tennessee, when they made their careers as far as Indianapolis.
Howdy folks,
Hope you’re all well and ready to visit some more boppers and rockabillies. The name JAMES MASK isn’t that familiar (he had not big hits), although he appeared on Bandera (Illinois), Arbet (Tennessee, « I miss my teen angel », a teen rocker), and later (1972) on MGM-Sound of Memphis (the country rocker « Humpin’ to please »).
Here we find him on the Pontotoc, MS (where he was born in 1932 – Tupelo area) Tom Big Bee label (# ) with a fine early ’60s version of the Rocky Bill Ford‘s classic, « Beer drinkin’ blues ». Honest country rocker. He had some tunes (unissued in the ’50s) on an old White label LP 2305 “Mississipi R’n’R”. The Dutchman wrote there that Mask was backed by his two brothers Charles and Willie.[March 24,2018. I add the reissue of Bandera 1319 “Hootchie Coochie Gal“, a good rocker from 1959 – unissued at the time]
James Mask “Beer drinkin’ daddy”
“Hootchie Coochie Gal“(Bandera 1319 – reissue)
Let’s stay in Mississipi with an otherwise very well known artist, at least in Europe (he drives, latest news, a taxi at Chicago Int’l Airport), Mr. HAYDEN THOMPSON. I offer his first record, on the Booneville, MS, label, Von [which issued Lloyd McCollough and Johnny Burnette’s first records,] “Act like you love me” b/w « I feel the blues coming on“. (original in 1951 by Elton Britt, although not credited on the label) Great slow Hillbillies, whispering vocal over confident backing. Same last tune was done (but it’s a different song) by Loy Clingman on the Arizona Elko label in 1956. Penned by Lee Hazlewood, it’s a soft Country-rock effort. The third Thompson track is taken from his sessions at Sun in Memphis, and he retains the same feeling with « Blues, blues, blues » (U.K. Charly 605B) – although more echo, as usual from Sam Phillips’ manner.
Hayden Thompson, “Act like you love me”
Hayden Thompson, “I feel the blues coming on”
Hayden Thompson, “Blues, blues, blues”
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Elton Britt “I feel the blues coming on” (RCA, 1951)
Let’s get up north in Lancaster, KY, and with HAROLD MONTGOMERY. His fine sides on Sun-Ray were documented in the site (see « Sun-Ray » label). Here he comes once more with a good side, similar style, on Wolf-Tex 103, « How much do you miss me », from the ’60s. Great mumbling vocal, similar to early Elvis!
Way north a little further. Muncie, Indiana on the Poor Boy label. A small one, but important artists, the best known being its owner Wayne Raney (« We need a whole lot more of Jesus (and a lot less of Rock’n’Roll »!) ; others are the Van Brothers (« Servant of love », to name only one) and Les & Helen Tussey (already recently posted in fortnight’s favorites).
Harold Montgomery, “How much do you miss me“
The artist was named DANNY BROCKMAN & the Golden Hill Boys, on Poor Boy 107. First side is Hillbilly bop, « Stick around » from 1959, when Brockman was D.J. at WTMT in Louisville, KY. Great Starday sound, a powerful rhythm guitar, great interplay between lead guitar and steel during the solo, fabulous (altho’ too short) fiddle solo. A ‘must ‘ record for Starday sound lovers. The flipside is sung in unisson duet with a certain Carl Jones. Nothing exceptional with « Don’t you know it’s true », a real Everly Bros. -alike. With fine steel and fiddle solos. Brockman also appeared on Dixie 859 (« Big big man »), more on him in a future fortnight.
Danny Brockman, “Stick around“
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Danny Brockman & Carl Jones, “Don’t you know it’s true”
Finally in Omaha, Nebraska (frontier to Canada). 1958, with the wild double-sider « The itch/Baby doll » by CARL CHERRY on the Tene label. « Baby doll » is a typical White doo-wop rocker, good although average. THE side is the garage Rockabilly « The itch » (Tene 1023), prettily sensual. Cherry has got the feel and itch, and the drummer and lead guitar player (RaB HOF says the guy was legally blind!) too ! Fantastic garage sound…They don’t play this way anymore, even with the wilder neo-rockabilly European bands.
Carl Cherry & Wild Cherries, “The itch”
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Carl Cherry & Wild Cherries, “Baby doll“
Carl Cherry & Wild Cherries
Let’s begin this new favorites selection with the first (?) record by an artist who would have much, much later fame as Boxcar Willie. Here he’s named MARTY MARTIN on the Honeycomb label and he sings a good “Mobile, Alabama blues”.
Marty Martin “Mobile, Alabama blues”
Les & Helen Tussey “They went around”
From Indiana in 1960 we find on the Wayne Raney‘s label Poor Boy LES & HELEN TUSSEY doing the nice rockabilly “They went around“.
Next is a famous ARTHUR SMITH on a rare French MGM Issue for the instrumental “Guitar and piano boogie”. Title says it all.
Arthur Smith “Guitar and piano boogie”
Finally, thanks to a Mr. Noel T, I put my hands on two rare JESS WILLARD disks. First the completely unknown G&G 107 double-sider “I’m branding my darling with my heart” (earlier cut by Jack Guthrie) and “Hillbilly heaven” (this is apparently not Eddie Dean’s song). Both sides are gentle hillbilly boppers from 1957. G&G was a parent label to Ka-Hi which Willard had “I’m telling you” on. Second is the Sundown 126 “Cops and robbers/Night time is cry time” from 1959, posthumously issued. Alas, both sides are completely pop.
Jess Willard “I’m branding my darling with my heart”
Jess Willard “Hillbilly heaven”
Jess Willard “Night time is cry time”
Jess Willard “Cops and robbers”
arkansas 45s