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COUNTRY,
BLUEGRASS & OLD-TIMEY
Porter Wagoner -> Don
Walser
| PORTER WAGONER |
Bear Family BCD 15499 |
The Thin Man From West Plains: RCA Sessions
1952-62 |
● CD $94.98 |
4 CDs, 112 tracks, approx. 4 hr. 33 min. recommended
Looking
objectively at Porter's first RCA recordings from 1952-1953, one can only
marvel at how derivative of Hank Williams he was. Songs like Trinidad
weren't even very good in 1953. Luckily, Porter found his own voice with Company's
Comin' and particularly A Satisfied Mind, which sound good even
today. From 1954 on, the musical proceedings took a dramatic upturn as he
created his own proudly hillbilly style, that even Chet Atkins' Nashville
Sound alterations couldn't overwhelm. The early hits are here, among them Eat,
Drink and Be Merry (Tomorrow You'll Cry), the immortal What Would
You Do (If Jesus Came to Your House), Uncle Pen/ Tryin' To Forget
the Blues/ Your Old Love Letters/ Misery Loves Company/ Cold Dark Waters
and I've Enjoyed As Much of This As I Can Stand. The booklet is
loaded with old photos, ads and information from annotator Dale Vinicur,
whose research features occasional gaffes, but does the job. (RK)
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| PORTER WAGONER |
Jasmine 3507 |
A Rare Slice Of Country |
● CD $11.98 |
22 tracks, 57 mins, highly recommended
A fine collection of
22 sides by this excellent honky tonk singer. The first 10 tracks features some
of Porter's very earliest sides, presumably from the early 50s, finding
Porter strongly under the influence of Hank Williams and Left Frizzell but
also showing his originality on songs like River Of Love and I
Betcha My Heart, I Love You. The rest of the tracks are from mid 50s
radio shows, usually hosted by Red Foley. There are fine versions of some
of his hits like Satisfied Mind/ Eat, Drink, And Be Merry (Tomorrow
You'll Cry)/ I Thought I Heard You Call My Name and others as well as
fine non hits like Be Glad That You Ain't Me/ Love At First Sight,
two versions of If You Don't, Somebody Else Will - one a duet with
Foley and a fine gospel song Good Morning Neighbour with a trio
vocal. There are several comedy interludes which are more entertaining
than usual - lots of jokes at the expense of Porter's slender frame.
Excellent sound.
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| PORTER
WAGONER & THE BLACKWOOD BROTHERS |
King 5108 |
The Grand Old Gospel |
● CD $8.98 |
12 tracks, 33 mins, recommended Reissue of 1966 RCA album. A
fine collection of country gospel featuring the fine lead vocals of Porter
accompanied by the pleasing harmonies of The Blackwwod Brothers - When
I Reach That City/ The Family Who Prays (Never Shall Part)/ If We never
Meet Again/ Trouble In The Amen Corner/ I See A Bridge/ A House Of Gold+6.
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| JIMMY WAKELY |
Bronco Buster 9032 |
Great Hillbilly & Western/ Swing
Rarities |
● CD $18.98 |
This album of 20 rare tunes will be a welcome addition to
any Western collection. Four feature "Fiddlin" Arthur Smith, who
appeared in numerous Wakely films. These fit the "hillbilly"
category suggested in the album's title. A fifth, I Miss You Since
You've Been Gone, was performed by Wakely on the screen but,
unfortunately, Smith does the vocal here. But the rest makes this a highly
desirable album. The Sunshine Gals, who also appeared in Wakely films, do
a couple of songs, and Wakely's smooth vocals are featured on the
remaining tracks. The supporting musicians are not identified, but the
sound is much like that of the groups that backed Jimmy in films. Titles
include I Hear You Talkin'/ Neath The Purple On The Hill/ Too Bad
Little Girl, Too Bad/ The Old Spinning Wheel/ There's An Empty Cot In the
Bunkhouse/ In A Little House On The Hill and When It's Night Time
In Nevada, among others. Fidelity is not perfect, but that doesn't
interfere with enjoyment of the music. Highly recommended. (OJS)
JIMMY WAKELY: 'neath the Purple on the Hill/ Cimarron (Roll On) (Voc.: the
Sunshine Girls)/ Crazy Blues (Vocal: Arthur Smith)/ Fort Worth Jail (Voc.:
Sunshine Girls)/ I Hear You Talkin'/ I Miss You since You've Been Gone
(Voc.: with Arthur Smith)/ I Wonder Where You Are Tonight (Voc. Sunshine
Girls)/ I'll Be Faithful/ Iin a Little House on the Hill/ Is this a Dream/
Orange Blossom Special (Vocal with Arthur Smith)/ Take Me Back to
Tennessee (Voc. With Arthur Smith)/ The Honey Song (Honey, I'm in Love
with You)/ The Old Spinning Wheel/ There's an Empty Cot in the Bunkhouse
Tonight./ Too Bad Little Girl Too Bad/ When It's Night Time in Nevada/ Why
Should I Wonder (Voc.: with Arthur Smith)/ You Still Belong to Me/ this
Night Is Mine
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| JIMMY WAKELY |
Cattle 284 |
Plus Movie Friends |
● CD $18.98 |
22 tracks from the 40s and early 50s - often with orchestral
accompaniment and featuring appearances by Pat Buttram, Bob Hope and others.
JIMMY WAKELY: A Four Legged Friend/ Bandera Waltz/ Cryin' Just For You/ Did
You Write A Letter To Your Sweetheart/ Don't Be Lonely./ Home Town Rag/ I
Hear You Talkin'/ I Like The Wide Open Spaces/ I Went To Your Wedding/ I'll
Never Do A Thing To Hurt You/ I've Got Nuggets In My Pockets/ Lorelei/ Music
By The Angels (lyrics By The Lord)/ Old Soldiers Never Die (they Just Fade
Away)/ Pale Moon/ Pot O' Gold/ Rainbow At Midnight/ There's A Cloud In My
Valley Of Sunshine/ There's That Same Old Lovelight In Your Eyes/ Under The
Anheuser Bush/ When I Say Good Night/ When It's Harvest Time, Sweet Angeline
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| JIMMY WAKELY |
Cattle 285 |
The Early Classic Recordings |
● CD $18.98 |
22 tracks recorded between 1946 and 1951.
JIMMY WAKELY: Another Fool Steps In/ Are You Ashamed/ Blue Bonnet Blues/
Christmas Polka./ Everyone Knew It But Me/ For The Sake Of Days Gone By/ I
Don't Care/ I Don't Want Your Sympathy/ I'm Gonna Marry Mary/ If Santa Claus
Could Bring You Back To Me/ Moon Over Montana/ On The Strings Of My Lonesome
Guitar/ Silent Night/ Somebody's Rose/ Sweethearts On Parade/ Tellin' My
Troubles To My Old Guitar/ The First Nowell (the First Noel)/ Too Many
Sweethearts/ Try To Understand/ When A Speck In The Sky Is A Bluebird/ Where
The Moon Plays Peekaboo/ You're The Sweetest Rose In Texas
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| JIMMY WAKELY |
Jasmine 3543 |
From Cowboy To Country |
● CD $11.98 |
24 track collection featuring Jimmy as both western singer
and mainstream country. Includes two duets with Margaret Whiting. Tracks
include Between The Lines/ Oklahoma Hills/ Walking The Sidewalks Of
Shame/ Wedding Bells/ I Love You So Much It Hurts/ Roll Along Kentucky Moon/
I Wish I Had A Nickel/ Cimarron (Roll On)/ I Wantta Ride That Gospel Train/
I'm Thinking Tonight Of My Blue Eyes/ Tenting Tonight On The Old Camp Ground,
etc.
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| BILLY WALKER |
Bear Family BCD 15657 |
Cross The Brazos At Waco |
● CD $145.98 |
6 CD's, 157 songs, approximately 7 hrs. recommended
Texan
Billy Walker had some good years on the charts but hasn't had much notice
on the reissue front. Walker oldies like Cross the Brazos At Waco and the
honkytonk number Charlie's Shoes remain minor favorites today. Hank
Thompson got him onto Capitol in 1949 and he signed with Columbia in '51.
Even then it took three years until Thank You For Calling propelled
him into the Top Ten. The focus here is the first 15 years of his career
from the first Capitol session until his last Columbia session in 1965.
Walker stuck to honkytonk and all these records. A falling-out out with
Capitol exec Dee Kilpatrick described in Colin Escott's notes ended that
association and Dallas studio owner Jim Beck brought him to Columbia's
attention. The material speaks for itself, but among the curiosities are a
1952 session backed by Leon McAuliffe's Western Swing Band and a 1957 date
at producer Norman Petty's New Mexico studios. Walker shared his session
time with Buddy Holly, and members of Holly's band the Crickets even
backed Billy. Along with Claude Gray, Walker was among the first to record
Willie Nelson songs, having covered Nelson's The Storm Within My Heart
in 1959. In 1961 Walker was the first to record Funny How Time Slips
Away, all part of this set. The booklet is typical Bear Family: Colin
Escott's notes were based on new interviews with Walker, and rare photos,
advertisements and posters covering all the same period as the music. Many
fans might not want this much Walker, but for those who do, it's
definitive. (RK)
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| CHARLIE WALKER |
Bear Family BCD 15852 |
Pick Me Up On Your Way |
● CD $113.98 |
5 CD box set with 40 page book documenting the career of
this fine and underrated artist starting with his earliest recordings cut
for Imperial in 1952 to his classic Columbia and Epic sides.
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| DOUG & JACK WALLIN |
Smithsonian Folkways 40013 |
Family Songs & Stories From The North
Carolina Mountain |
● CD $14.98 |
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| DON WALSER |
Texas Music Group 4502 |
Rolling Stone From Texas |
● CD $13.98 |
12 Tracks, 39 min., recommended. Originally on Watermelon.
Heart songs, cowboy songs, a couple of Western Swing tunes and a Tex-Mex
border song... Don Walser is doing his part to keep traditional country
music alive and vibrant with both his choice of music and his booming
voice, not to mention his yodeling. Walser wrote or co-wrote five songs
and the covers include Marty Robbins Don't Worry 'bout Me, Ernie
Ford's Shotgun Boogie. Jimmie Rodger's California Blues and
Willie Nelson's Three Days. Stellar musicians including Cindy
Cashdollar, Ray Benson, Johnny Gimble and Floyd Domino support Walser. My
only criticism is that some times the CD almost sounds too polished, I
wish it could have been a little more ragged. But it's pretty difficult
not to smile when you're listening to Walser belt these songs out. He's
got a great voice and his love of the music can be heard in his singing.
(RS)
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