The Larry Phillipson – ‘The Bitter Feelings Mystery’
Bopping.org salutes a new contributor, who adds a very strange story about a Rockabilly classic..
I spotted this 78 record ( below) on Ebay in June 2015 ‘ Tennessee Valley Boys’ singing ‘Bitter Feelings’ & ‘I’m Wondering Now’ written by ‘Mauritz/Phillipson’ , it was a Buy It Now for $240 (or best offer) it had no audio attached and was listed incorrectly . I made my offer …..$170 and it was accepted ….. now the wait for the postman !
Tennessee Valley Boys “Bitter feelings”
Tennessee Valley Boys, “I’m wondering now”
Now I know it has to be the same Phillipson song (The writing credits are the same as on the various later versions) and of course ‘Milwaukee’ on the label is the correct area, but what version was it ? The first version of ‘Bitter Feelings’ was believed to be the version on the ‘DEMO’ label released on 45 & 78 (surely just a coincidence that DEMO is a anagram of ‘MODE’) but when was the ‘MODE’ version released ? .
The ‘MODE’ # 101 version ( pictured above) is straight Bluegrass song , mandolin and harmony vocals make this a wonderful twist on the classic rockabilly tune.
Now the ‘DEMO’ release # 1029 (above) ‘Bitter Feelings ‘ / While I Was Waiting For You’ by ‘Larry Lee and The Westerneers’ from 1953, pressed by RCA was we thought to be the first version of the song, now this version is an up tempo country/ hillbilly version ( with a hint of Bluegrass) but different from my mystery ‘MODE’ copy.
Larry Lee “Bitter feelings” (Demo 1029)
Larry Lee “While I was waiting for you”
The final versions of ‘Bitter Feelings’ were released on two labels. 1959 saw the ‘CINCH’ # 3858 release (picture below), as ‘Larry Phillipson and The Larry Lee Trio’ . ‘Bitter Feelings’ / ‘Talkin’ To Myself ’ . The song has now evolved into a straight rockabilly song, it’s a blistering version and motors along with strong guitar and drums.
Larry Phillipson “Bitter feelings” (Cinch 3858)
Larry Phillipson, “Talkin’ to myself”
The final release of the song , again as ‘Larry Phillipson and The Larry Lee Trio’ is exactly the same version but re-released in 1965 on the ‘CUCA’ label # 6541. The sound on these recordings were slightly inferior to the ‘CINCH’ version even though they were taken from the original 59 master. Again ‘Talikin’ To Myself’ was on the flip.
So we now know of three versions of ‘Bitter Feelings’ (four releases) , a Bluegrass version, a Country/ Hillbilly version and the final Rockabilly classic. I find it really interesting to see a song evolve through the 50’s . I believe my ‘MODE’ # 101 version to be the original of the song but if anyone has more knowledge of the release dates and info then please let me know . Please contact me at cordwoody53@hotmail.co.uk.
1 – MODE # 101 – BITTER FEELINGS / I’M WONDERING NOW – 195?
2 – DEMO # 1029 – BITTER FEELINGS / WHILE I WAS WAITING FOR YOU – 1953.
3 – CINCH # 3858 – BITTER FEELINGS / TALKIN’ TO MYSELF – 1959
4 – CUCA # 6541 – BITTER FEELINGS / TALKIN’ TO MYSELF – 1965
for a complete Larry Phillipson discography, go to the Rockin’ Country Style page: Phillipson, Larry
arkansas 45s
mode = 1952
Hi Dean,
Were does come this 1952 date? This Mode label was obviously a local one, which had nothing to do with the L.A. big concern.
Looking forward to these tracks. I first heard of Larry Lee on those old Cuca Records comps on Collector/White Label.
I just found a copy of the Mode records version Bitter Feeling and I’m Wondering now I got this about 50 years ago I always thought it was my neighbors record Fred Mauritz I don’t know if that is the case or not.I would be willing to sell my copy.
Hi Mark Minta, have sent you an email, it might be in your junk folder regarding your copy of Mode 101 , would love to purchase the record. Hope to hear from you soon. Cheers. Mick .
Mark Minta, I’d be interested in your Mode disc. Reach our to me at my blog, Rockin Round The Valley! My contact info is on there. Your neighbor WAS the co-writer, and likely still in that line up of Larry’s group when it was recorded. Not sure why his name was removed from the writing credit.
I am lucky enough to own his first (electric) guitar, dated to 1949, a Gibson sg125. He told me ( by early email) at the time he had bought it to record and had definitely used it to record bitter feelings. However the date of late fifties would tie in with his conversation with Patsy Cline about her reticence about recording “Walking after midnight” which must have been the later 1950’s. The wear on the guitar neck shows a thousand gigs and a few battle scar’s. It has been played at a more than a few gigs here in the U.K. too.