DIXIE RECORDS 914

EDDIE REYNOLDS and his Band

Feb 61   (BB = 20th March 61)

45-914A - Cowboy Hall Of Fame

(Harry C Johnson)   (Bendon Music)

45-914B - Am I Still The One

(Harry C Johnson)   (Bendon Music)

DIXIE 914

518 East Seymour, Shawnee, OK

Source: Phillip J Tricker

A slight back in the hills sound to the recordings, but it's a nice 45rpm. Probably could do without the "Cowboy..." song as it doesn't do much for me. But tribute songs usually did well locally, so I can't blame him for that. Eddie's got a great voice when he's not doing the recitation bit.

The flip is a good guitar instrumental. Nothing outstanding but it's got a nice bit of "Primitive" about it. (Could do without the electric rhythm though as it's a bit loud). Is this Eddie playing guitar or one of his band members? Maybe Harry C Johnson as he wrote this side (or at least he has the writers credits.) A bit unusual for somebody to write an instrumental and not play it himself.

DIXIE RECORDS 913

KEN LIGHTER and his Hay Ryders

Feb 61

634-45-913A - The Corner Of Love

(None Listed)   (Bendon Music)

634-45-913B - Am I Still The One

(None Listed)   (Bendon Music)

DIXIE 913

Source: Terry Gordon / Phillip J Tricker

Merry Christmas to all!!!

The top side is a bit of dreary Nashville country set at a slight waltz tempo. Sorry to all Nashville country fans, but this music genre leaves me a little cold. Probably got some airplay here and there. King Records pressed this one after a small dry spell where Starday either pressed the last few themselves or went elsewhere.

Flip side is set at a better tempo (for me anyway). Still has that Nashville sound, but Ken's vocals has a bit more echo and there's more urgency in delivery. The band are very good and well rehearsed. Yeah, like this side quite a bit. 

DIXIE RECORDS 912

PARKER CUNNINGHAM

Jan 61

45-912A - Little Teardrop

(Jimmy Bradford)   (Tronic Music)

45-912B - Blow Whistle Blow

(Jimmy Bradford)   (Tronic Music)

DIXIE 912

Source: Terry Gordon

B side is a good Cash-A-Like with a smattering of Nashville country musicianship in the background. Parker is better known for the stompingly humourous "Dry Run" on Bill Cooley's Rebel Record Label.

DIXIE RECORDS 911

BOB BEDARD

Jan 61

45-911A - (I’m Proud And It’s) Nice To Be With You

(-)   (-)

45-911B - You Caused The Blues

(-)   (-)

DIXIE 911

Not seen this disc, but the B side is a pretty good country rocker. There are blue and pink versions of the label, suggesting it was repressed? (or perhaps they simply ran out of pink or blue labels - or the pink are DJ copies.) Never heard the A side. 

DIXIE RECORDS 910

CHARLOTTE HARDEN

Jan 61

45-910A - That’s All Right With Me

(Connie Dycas)   (Tronic Music)

45-910B - Lovin’ You Baby

(Connie Dycas)   (Tronic Music)

DIXIE 910

(Possibly Detroit or Flint, MI area)

Source: Terry Gordon

Two more fine songs from the Ozark Sweetheart, both penned by Connie Dycus. Charlotte was from Arkansas but had moved (with her family?) up to Troy, Michigan whilst she was still at school. There is a good chance that the band behind her are all Detroit Musicians. 

(Charlotte appears again later in this series.)

FAITH RECORDS 909

QUEENS OF JOY GOSPEL SINGERS

Jan 61

45-909A - Jesus Is A Way Maker

(M Alexander)   (Starday Music)

45-909B - Lord I Prayed

(D Taylor)   (Starday Music)

FAITH 909

(Although there is no location written on the label, Faith 927 was from Bluefield, VA)

I heard this many years ago on an old cassette tape, long before I knew it was part of the Starday Custom Package. Although at the time I didn't really appreciate Gospel music, I found both sides of this disc pleasantly pleasing, especially the A side. I jotted it down in my "ever-present" note book and promptly forgot about it until recently. I don't have any information on this group (nothing new there) except they reappear in this series on FAITH 927.

Source: Terry Gordon

DIXIE RECORDS 908

HOWARD MAYBERRY with The Sangamon Boys

Jan 61

45-908A - Proof Of Love

(W Sullivan)   (Tronic Music)

45-908B - This Just Can’t Be Puppy Love

(W Sullivan)   (Tronic Music)

DIXIE 908

Box 451, Decatur, IL

Part two of a split session (see previous post) finds the Sangamon Boys lead by Howard Mayberry and shows just how a country band can dabble with Rock and Roll. Top notch effort from the band to keep up with Mayberry's slightly snarling vocals.

The flip-side (actually the top side) has eluded me so far.

Source: Terry Gordon

DIXIE RECORDS 907 (Updated)

JUNIOR GARNER with The Sangamon Boys

Jan 61   (BMI = 31 Jan 61)

45-907A - Mr Satellite

(W Sullivan)   (Tronic Music)

45-907B - Blind Date

(Gardner)   (Tronic Music)

DIXIE 907

Box 451, Decatur, IL

Source: Terry Gordon / Dean Craige Morris

From: Decatur Daily Review (25 Dec 1960)

DIXIE RECORDS 906

ELMER BRYANT

Dec 60

45-906A - Gertie’s Garter Broke

(Bryant)   (Starday BMI)

45-906B - Will I Be Ashamed Tomorrow

(Bryant)   (Starday BMI)

DIXIE 906

Source: Dean Craige Morris

Nashville country meets Square Dancing meets hillbilly with cajun fiddling. Quite  a mix here really. Top side is pleasant enough without keeping me up at night wondering how the hell I was outbid on eBay for it. Flip-side is definitely more country than anything and admittedly doesn't move me musically.

There are many Elmer Bryants listed on Google and I think I have read more obituaries on this name than any other. None of them seem to be this guy (or at least it isn't mentioned in the obit), so maybe he's still out there - trying to patch up Gertie's garter.

DIXIE RECORDS 905 (Bandera 1310)

BUDDY WRIGHT

Dec 60

45-905A - Just For Today

(-)   (-)

45-905-B - Lilly Of The Field

(-)   (-)

DIXIE 905

An unusual entry as I have yet to see this on DIXIE RECORDS, yet it was certainly released on Bandera Records from Chicago, IL. Listed in the fantastic "The Starday Story" book by Nate Gibson, I've yet to find anybody who has a copy (although one or two says it exists.)

However, as I'm a bit of a hoarder, I have kept my original Starday Custom Listing that appeared on my old iMac which I started back in 1992 and there it is - listed as above.  I must have got it from somewhere long before Nate's book. (There is a chance he got this info from me I hasten to add.)

To make it slightly more complicated - Dean Craige Morris sent me label shots of the Bandera which has the date Jan 61 stamped on both sides - about a month after this would have been released. So, I can't shed anymore light on this mystery at this time.

Judging by the Bandera release, the A side is dreary country (sorry Buddy). Nicely recorded and all that, but it's a bit dull. I'm trying to imagine why, if it was on Dixie originally, Bandera would pick this up as I can't see the commercial appeal. The flip is pretty much the same, although a bit more reverb on his voice. I can hear Jim Reeves covering this, so maybe that was a good reason to pick it up.

I left the details blank as, not seeing the Dixie release, I cannot ascertain if the publishing and the writers credits are the same. I have posted the Bandera label shots below.

DIXIE RECORDS 904 / 102

CHERI ROBBINS
Dec 60
45-904A - Please Don't Call Me Lonesome
(Poovey - Shell)   (Bayou State.)
45-904B - High School Love
(Poovey - Shell)   (Rebel Publ.)
DIXIE 904 / 102
TX?

Two quite nice sides from Jim Shell and Joe Poovey. (Sounds like Poovey's Band behind her). "A" side seems to have the vocals double tracked, or perhaps there's actual female backing vocals - not sure as the recordings are a little either muffled or there's a bit too much natural (or added) reverb.

Flip side is a bit clearer. Both sides smack of Nashville Country, even though they are uptempo and the guitarist has some rock and roll in his fingers. Not sure about Cheri's voice. It's not that she can't sing, but, to me, it seems to lack something. I think she's pretty young, whoever she is.

Also noticed that it seems King Records did not press this (like they had been doing previously.)

Source: Terry Gordon / Dean Craige Morris

MAR KAY RECORDS 903

THE CACKLE SISTERS (Mary and Cathy)
Dec 60
634-45-903-A - Gee It's Lonesome Here Tonight
(Everett Duncan)   (Sandra Music)
634-45-903-B - Call My Name
(Everett Duncan)   (Sandra Music)
MAR KAY RECORDS 903
Jonesboro, AR

Source: Jay Stern / Dean Craige Morris

This this the same Cackle Sisters as The DeZurik Sisters (Mary Jane and Carolyn)? A wonderful duo from Minnesota who lit up the airwaves on Vocalion Records amongst others and appeared on the National Barn Dance (if it is them). I'm not so sure, but what do I know?
Obviously it says Mary and Cathy, not Mary Jane and Carolyn.

Well, anyway, Both sides are country with a nice acoustic feel. Pretty good harmonies from the sisters. Musically, an acoustic guitar (maybe two actually or an electric guitar with a nice wooden tone), a fiddle and a string bass tucked far away in the background is well recorded. Nothing to set my pulses racing but something I could listen to occasionally. "Call My Name" is marginally the better side.

DIXIE RECORDS 902

PAT SPENCER

Dec 60

634-45-902-A - Some Boy’s Dad

(Pat Wingo Spencer)   (Starday BMI)

634-45-902-B - A Newsboy On Christmas Eve

(Pat Wingo Spencer)   (Starday BMI)

DIXIE RECORDS 902

Source: eBay / Dean Craige Morris

Simple vocals and acoustic guitar. Lovely echo on the vocals! But both sides are ballads and a bit on the "twee" side. She** has got a nice voice and the songs are nicely crafted and not the usual cliche-stuffed nonsense that was churned out on a regular basis.

But hang on ...**. A side contains the lyrics "He Said, "My Lad - You're Kind To Me" .... so is Pat a male vocalist? To me, it sure sounds like a woman's voice - a bit on the low side, but still it has a "Feminine Timbre" (Not sure if you can use the word Timbre for vocals but hopefully you know what I mean.)

Flip it over and he/says "...Act Like A Big Old Man". So, I have no idea if Pat is Male or Female. I was going to suggest maybe a male wrote the lyrics but the singer is also the songwriter - so I guess he's male. Not sure about Newsboy On Christmas Eve, as the song seems to spend most of it's time lamenting the death of a parent. Not exactly full of Christmas Cheer!

This feels like a classic song poem to me - without the dodgy vocals and nasty organ-type backing you'd get on HalMark Records. Come to think of it, I actually like this quite a lot :-)

THE HUMMING BEES 901

THE HUMMING BEES
Dec 60
634-45-901-A - Jesus Step Right In
(E Watson)   (Golden State)
634-45-901-B - My House
(J Grant)   (Golden State)
THE HUMMING BEES 901
101 Preston St, Texarkana, AR

Source: Neil Scott

There's an another one on Humming Bees label (45-10 - King Press 1134) from Texarkana, AR ("This Is Its" / "Been Born Again"). Plus, there's The "Humming Bees" on 4-STAR 1448 ("Pass Me Not" / "Working On The Building"). Not sure if they are related to the gospel group above.

DIXIE RECORDS 900

JACKIE DUNHAM

Nov 60   (BB = 05 Dec 1960)

634-45-900-A - Lovely Girl

(J. Dunham / B Boathren)   (Starday Music)

634-45-900-B - I'll Leave It Up To You

(J. Dunham)   (Starday Music)

DIXIE 900

Not seen a copy of this as yet, but notes say that it was paid for by Starday Records and put out pretty quickly after the recording session. (Did have a label shot of the "A" side but it was so blurry I deleted it - thinking I'd easily get another one :-) )

As an aside - the Buddy Meredith record on Dixie that has been listed on various sites, books and label listings is a 1956 SO pressing. The Water Maynard on Dixie 900 is a PRP pressing from 67/8.

No sooner as I posted this, Dean Craige Morris comes up with (half) the goods!
I also spelt the surname wrong and I've corrected it.

Sources: Dean Craige Morris / Nathan Gibson

JAMBOREE RECORDS 899

ELSIE WARREN - Lincoln Jubilee

Nov 60

634-45-45-899-A - I Love My Jesus

(Joel Ray Sprowls)   (Pamper Music)

634-45-45-899-B - Unwanted Heart

(Joel Ray Sprowls)   (Pamper Music)

JAMBOREE RECORDS 899

Hodgenville, KY

Source: Phillip J Tricker
(Thanks to Dean Craige Morris for the heads up on my typo in one of the song titles.)

DIXIE RECORDS 898

BILLY DAVIS

Nov 60

634-45-898-A - Last Night I Dreamed

(Thomas Vaughn)   (Tronic BMI)

634-45-898-B - Tear Stained Pillow

(Thomas Vaughn)   (Tronic BMI)

DIXIE RECORDS 898

Source: Jay Stern (Via 45cat)

RAINBOW RECORDS 897 / 101

OBIE BENTON and The Highlanders

Nov 60

634-45-897-A - I Just walked Away From Paradise

(Benton)   (Starday Music)

634-45-897-B - Too Young For Love

(Benton)   (Starday Music)

RAINBOW RECORDS 897 / 101

Po Box 3133, Lakeland, FL

Source: Lars Lundgren / Kent Heinemann

BLUE JAY RECORDS 896

DELMAR SEXTON and The Rone County Boys

Nov 60

634-45-896-A - I Will Not Be Denied

(D Sexton)   (Starday Music)

634-45-896-B - Looking For An Old Fashioned Church

(Chester C Dexton)   (Starday Music)

BLUE JAY RECORDS 896

Source: Phillip J Tricker

DIXIE RECORDS 895

DANNY BROCKMAN

Nov 60

634-45-895-A - Big Big Man

(Rhodes / Fleetwood / Mullinax)   (Starday BMI)

634-45-895-B - Jealous Dreams

(Browning / Grove)   (Starday BMI)

DIXIE RECORDS 895

IN???

Source: Lars Lundgren / Kent Heinemann

VALLEY RECORDS 894

DALE ANDERSON

Nov 60

634-45-894-A - Before This Day Ends

(Vic McApline)   (Cedarwood BMI)

634-45-894-B - I Can’t Stay Home

(Walker / Tillis)   (Cedarwood BMI)

VALLEY RECORDS 894

Box 115, Madison, TN

Source: Phillip J Tricker (Again!! - leave some for us, Phil!)