Late November 2016 bopping fortnight’s favorites
Howdy folks ! Another selection concentrating between 1954 and 1957, but with the early odd side from…1929 and the latest from 1964.
Here we go with SKEETER BONN (born 1923 Junior Lewis Bougham) he had a long serie of sides cut early to mid-’50s for RCA. 
I’ve chosen the two-sider #(21-6352 from 1955) « There’s no use now », a good medium paced opus with a Bonn in fine extrovert and exuberant voice over a classic backing of discreet steel and bass. The flipside « Rock-a-bye baby » is faster, fine guitar, for this eternal kiddie (?) theme.
“There’s no use now“
His next came in 1957, « Chained » has a harsh vocal and a lot of echo for a real fast song. I don’t know where it was first issued, on Admiral 1007 out of Wheeling, W.Va. or on Town and Country 129, a Polan Springs, Mo. label.
“Chained”
download GAYLON WAYNE (Wayne Williams) next, was born in 1935 in Kentucky, and is best known for the furious « Red hot 
mama » on the Tenn. Sure label – a bit outside the scope of this blog. I retained a side he cut on Delta # 1044, the fine Hank Williams styled « I ain’t gonna sing the blues », full of energy (drums), over a romping piano and a fiddle always present. Year unknown, maybe 1957-58. On the NL Redita 117 label which was combining every good tracks he recorded, « Steel guitar work » once attributed to him, is omitted : it was in fact done by a group Kiliman HawaIans.
“I ain’t gonna sing the blues”
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Now a wildie from..1929 (Sept. 29) by WILL EZELL (1892-1963) (piano/vocal) : « Pitchin’ boogie » was recorded for Paramount (# 1285) in Richmond, IN. with Baby James on cornet, a bass player and a tambourine. The boogie woogie craze was on its way ! His style remembers one of Jimmy Blythe, boogie and ragtime artist.
“Pitchin’ boogie“
During the late 40s a basically Bluegrass group, that of the McCORMICK BROTHERS, originally from Westmoreland, TN. had their show on WHIN in Gallatin and WKYS on the Hayloft Jamboree. They (Harold, rhythm guitar – Haskell, banjo – Kelly, mandolin – and Lloyd, guitar – backed by Benny Clark on fiddle and Hayden Clark on bass) enjoyed so much success that in 1954 they entered Hickory studio on Franklin Avenue in Nashville to cut their first sides : « Red hen boogie » (# 1013), and later « The Billy Goat boogie » (# 1024) are fine duelling banjo and fiddle tunes, largely inspired by the vocal harmonies of the Delmores. These quaint although swinging performances led straight to Rock’n’roll.
“Red hen boogie”
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“The Billy Goat boogie“
Another personality well-known during the ’80s in Europe was GLEN GLENN (rn Glen Trout). He had a few records in 
1957-58 on Era in California, but managed to publish (in Sweden) earlier sides more in the Hillbilly vein. From 1957 came « I saw my castles fall today » recorded at Cal’s Corral from KCOP, Modesto, Ca.: a fine ballad full of emotion, with the guitar playing of Gary Lambert. Now to a demo from September 1956, « It rains, rains », a superb shuffler. Ralph Mooney is on steel. Finally on Doré (# 717), « I didn’t have the sense to go « is more of a Country-rocker from 1964.
“I saw my castles fall today”
download
“I didn’t have the sense to go“
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Sources : my own collection ; as usual, YouTube ; Hillbilly-music.com ; 78rpm world.
Bill S. out of south Texas. Thanks for your kind words and visits. I’m glad to please you with my selections. Your comments are fully appreciated !
arkansas 45s