Fake country: Tops, Folk Music, Victory, Western Extended Play Records

Fake country from the early Fifties,and lots of it.  With more to come.  Can't beat that, eh?  Nope.  You can't.  Why am I.  Typing in partial sentences?  Sorry.  About that.

These are, of course, budget label "covers" of country hits.  All were ripped by me from 78s in my crazed collection, and, while most are in "eh" condition, none are hopeless.  In fact, one is nearly mint, and it's from the Record-o-Mail Co., of all places.  Record-o-Mail singles never turn up mint, yet mine did (see last image). 

The most enjoyable tracks, to my ears, are the counterfeit Hank Williams numbers, along with the no-name cover of Elvis' That's All Right, though it's Marty Robbins' version being copied here.  Considering the get-it-over-with-quick nature of these cheap label sessions, I suppose we should be amazed by the competence of these copies.  No disasters in this bunch--in fact, none are less than reasonably catchy.  We almost expect one of these bandleaders to start off with, "Okay, boys, let's make this reasonably catchy!"

Thanks, Hap, Smokey, Al, Del, Steve, Bob, Paul, Mimi, and (no artists listed) for the reasonably catchy country music we are about to hear.  Click here to hear:   Fake Country.

Somebody's Stolen My Honey--Smokey Drew (Folk Music 146)

Half as Much--Al Harmon  (Same)

Almost--Steve Thompson (Same)

Three Ways of Knowing--Al Harmon and Paul South (Same)

The Gold Rush Is Over--Bob Sandy and His International Cowboys (Tops 326)

Howlin' at the Moon--Del Gillman and His Bar-X Boys (Tops 298)

I Can't Help It--Same.

Hey, Good Lookin'--Del Gillman and His Bar-X Boys (Tops 296)

Let's Live a Little--Same.

Too Old to Cut the Mustard--Bob Sandy and Mimi Martel (Tops 321)

Silver and Gold--Bob Sandy and His International Cowboys (Tops 321)

Kaw Liga--"Hap" Williams (Victory Extended Play Records BG-1020)

That's All Right--(Western Extended Play Records HB-8)

Would You Mind--Same.

The Kentuckian Song--(Western Extended Play Records HB-13)

Sunday morning gospel: Sacred shellac!

Ten selections ripped from the headlines--er, I mean, ripped from shellac.  Two are repeats, and the rest are fresh acquisitions, if a little dusty and worn.  Things kick off with two 1940 bluegrass numbers by Whitey and Hogan, followed by two 1940 country sides by Roy Acuff.  Actually, the Acuff sides sound nearly as bluegrass to my ears--check the banjo on When I Lay My Burden Down.  Great "old time" selections which have me wondering if anyone called them "new time" when they were new?

Group leader:  And now a new-timey number for your pleasure.
Audience member: Don't you know any old numbers?
Group leader:  Be patient.  These'll be old time before you know it.

Then we jump ahead ten or fifteen years (I'm guesstimating) for some fine Southern quartet singing recorded on the Sharon label of Los Angeles and the eponymous Dixie Four label of Indianapolis.  Two of these are Noah's Ark-related and in classic African-American style--De Animals A-Comin' is even described as a "novelty spiritual."  The performance is fun, not to mention Dr. Demento-ready.

Not an easy bunch to digitally repair--the Four Flats recordings have an unusual degree of hiss and low-frequency noise, the Acuff sides are way below mint, and a big needle "pit" on a Gospel Lamplighters side had me spending a half hour retouching the noise spikes.  But not once did I question my sanity for doing all this.  Twice, yes, but not once.  Well, maybe three times. Anyway... enjoy!

To the sounds:   Sacred Shellac, 5-6-12
 
TRACKLIST

I'll Meet You in the Morning (Brumley)--Whitey and Hogan, 1940.  (Decca 5938)
Let Me Travel Along--Same.
Will the Circle Be Unbroken--Roy Acuff and His Smokey Mt. Boy, 1940.  (Okeh 05567)
When I Lay My Burden Down--Same.
The Animals A-Comin'--The Four Flats (Portland OR) (Sharon X-737)
In the Shadow of the Cross--Same.
The Old Rugged Cross--The Gospel Lamplighters (Sharon X-757)
Shall I Crucify My Savior--Same.
Noah!--The Dixie Four (Dixie Four 107; Indianapolis IN)
Just Take It to Jesus--Same.