DIXIE RECORDS 1181

THE SLOAN BROTHERS - Bradley, Milburn, Orbin and Vernon

67

45-1181-A - Quarter Past Four

(Orbin Sloan)   (Tronic BMI)

45-1181-B – Last Letter

(Orbin Sloan)   (Tronic BMI)

DIXIE RECORDS 1181

Pippa Passes, KY

Source: Jay Stern

DIXIE RECORDS 1178

THE SLOAN BROTHERS - Bradley, Milburn, Orbin and Vernon

67

1178-A - Lonesome Dove

(B. Sloan / M. Sloan / O. Sloan / V Sloan)   (Tronic BMI)

1178-B - Who’s Knocking At Your Door

(B. Sloan / M. Sloan / O. Sloan / V Sloan)   (Tronic BMI)

DIXIE RECORDS 1178

Box 114, Garner, KY

Source: Phillip J Tricker

TRUSTY RECORDS 1149

KENNY EZELL and The Night Trains

Mar 66

45-1149-A – The Same Old Thing

(J. Faulk)   (Trusty Publ.)

45-1149-B - Slowly

(T Hill/W Pierce)   (Cedarwood Publ.)

TRUSTY RECORDS 1149

Madisonville, KY

Source: Phillip J Tricker

GOSPEL RECORDS 1135

GOSPELAIRES QUARTET

Oct 65

45-1135-A – You’ve Got To Move

(Wm. York)   (-Starday BMI)

45-1135-B – Troublesome Waters  (Solo - Dorothy Buell)

(E Rippetoe/ J B Karnes)   (Stamps Baxter)

GOSPEL RECORDS 1135

303 South 38th St, Middlesboro, KY

Source: Terry Gordon

GOSPEL RECORDS 1103

Gospelaires Quartet

Dec 64

45-1103-A – Jesus Signed My Pardon (No Publ.)

                   He Will Pilot Me (No Publ.)

45-1103-B – Song Of Salvation (No Publ.)

                    House Of Gold (No Publ.)

GOSPEL RECORDS 1103

Middlesboro, KY

Source: Terry Gordon?

I B C RECORDS 1088

JIM GASKIN

Sept 64

45-1088-A - Awanee Town

(James M Gaskin)   (Starday BMI)

45-1088-B - Where The Red Roses Twine

(James M Gaskin)   (Starday BMI)

IBC RECORDS 1088

Box 176, Irvine, KY

Source: Dean Craige Morris

HUMPHREY RECORDS 1019

YOVENNE HUMPHREY

May 63

45-1019-A - Amazing Grace

(None)   (None)

                   Lord, Please Listen While A Pray

(CS Grogan)   (CS Grogan Publ.)

45-1019-B - Chilly Jordon

(J. Leland)   (Tronic BMI)

                    What A Day That Will Be

(J. Hill)   (Ben Speer Music)

HUMPHREY RECORDS 1019

139 College, Greenville, KY

Source: Pascal Perrault

NEEDA RECORDS 1001

Bobby Faust & The Town Cryers

Jan 63

45-1001-A - I Wish That I'd Never

(AJ Arnold / Gene Grider)   (Starday Music)

45-1001-B - Will My Heart

(AJ Arnold / Gene Grider)   (Starday Music)

NEEDA RECORDS 1001

Louisville, KY

Source: Pascal Perrault

S.S.S RECORDS 961

Dykes Brothers with Pap and The Young’uns

Feb 62

45-961-A - Heartaches

(Dykes Bros)   (Tronic Music)

45-961-B – Life Ain’t Worth Living

(Dykes Bros)   (Tronic Music)

S.S.S RECORDS 961

Williamsburg, KY

Source: Phillip J Tricker

S S S RECORDS 932

DON TEAGUE with String Band

Jun 61

634-45-932-A – I Love You, I Need You, I Care

(Teague)   (Bendon BMI)

634-45-932-B – One Dream, One Love, That’s All

(Teague)   (Bendon BMI)

S S S  RECORDS 932

Williamsburg, KY

Source: 45cat (ana-b), Jay Stern, Al Turner

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.)

NATION RECORDS 793

DAVE HAMILTON with Joe Luger Orch 

JUDY JAMES with Roger S Weigand on Piano

Aug 59

793-A - You Are So Romantic

(Grace W Combs)  (Golden State Songs)

793-B – Special Kind Of Way

(Grace W Combs)  (Golden State Songs)

NATION RECORDS 793

Lexington, KY

Source: Dan DeClark, Dean Craige Morris

Ok, this is a provisional entry, because it's a King Pressing (in DW) which has an account No. of 588 (instead of 634 which is exclusive to Starday). That's the only reason I say "Provisional". All the other factors seem to fit (Publ. etc)

Originally listed here as on NATIONAL RECORDS. 

I wonder of Grace Combs is released to Lefty Combs who owned Al-Vic Records?

B&G RECORDS 772

JAMES GALLAGHER
Mar 59  (Rcs = Jul 59)
772-45-222-A - Are You The One   (Starday Music)
772-45-222-B - Ford And Shaker   (Starday Music)
B and G 772
940 Deleware Ave, Lexington, KY

I thought about posting this before I classed it as an unknown record release. Fits by year (1959) but I'm not sure about the King Custom Pressing information.

772 appears where the account numb er usually rests on the label and the label itself is listed as # 222. Both sides published by Starday Music - another point on its inclusion.

I'm not 100% sure on this one. But with three emails stating it is and none suggesting that it isn't, I'll leave it for now. Britestar 772 is from 1962 so that doesn't count.

Source: Terry Gordon, Tom Krajina, Michel Proost, Apes Ville.

ALVIC RECORDS 764

GARY LINK and The Rock-A-Fellas
Mar 59
764-A - Don't You Know    (Golden State)
(Link)
764-B - Rhythm Rock   (Golden State)
(Link)
ALVIC RECORDS 764
Harrodsburg, KY   (Lefty Combs)

Two sided chaotic rocker. Great stuff!

Source: Terry Gordon

BLUEGRASS RECORDS 740

ARVEL LEWIS
Sept 58
45-740-A - Pine Mountain Boogie   (Golden State Songs)
(Lewis)
45-740-B - I Knocked On Your Door   (Golden State Songs)
(Lewis)
BLUEGRASS RECORDS 740
Tilford, KY

The only thing I could find about this record, apart from the fact that the "Pine Mountain Boogie" is an excellent primitive country rocker, is finding a death notice for an Arvel Lewis in Fort Lauderdale, FL - so i'm not even sure if it's the same guy. 634 King Pressing.

Source: Doug Brown

Any info? Email me!

BLUE GRASS RECORDS 712

JESSE STEVENS and the Big Sandy Boys
Apr 58
CP-1488 - Mama Mama   (Golden State Songs)
(Stevens)
CP-1489 - No Bluebirds In The Sea   (Golden State Songs)
(Stevens)
BLUEGRASS RECORDS 712
West Van Lear, KY

Source: Neil Scott

STARDAY RECORDS 699

BILL JOHNSON and the Dabblers

Mar 58   (BMI Clearance on 31st May 1958. )

45-699-A - Lonesome Daddy Blues

(Johnson)   (Starrite BMI)

45-699-B - Umm Boy, You’re My Baby

(Johnson)   (Starrite BMI)

STARDAY RECORDS 699
(Unknown Location - possibly KY)

Source: Terry Gordon

STARDAY RECORDS 696

JOHNNY TOOLEY

Feb 58   (BMI Clearance on 31st March 1958.)

45-696-A - King Of Dreams

(Bobby Anderson)   (Starrite BMI)

45-696-B - Looking Glass Heart

(Bobby Anderson)   (Starrite BMI)

STARDAY RECORDS 696
(Artist based in KY)
(Pressed for Bill Anderson, owner of Summit Records, Central City, KY.)

Source: Lars Lundgren

FARRALL RECORDS 687

JIMMIE DALE

Dec 57   (BMI Clearance on 31st March 1957.)

CP-1383 - Man Made Moon

(Murrell Farmer / Thomas Allen)   (Starrite BMI)

CP-1384 - For A Day

(Murrell Farmer / Thomas Allen)   (Starrite BMI)

FARRALL RECORDS 687
1834 Nelligan Ave, Louisville 3, KY.

Source: Lars Lundgren

STARDAY RECORDS 676

AL RUNYON

Nov 57   (BMI Clearance on 31st January 1958.)

45-676-A - The Day Before The Night

(Florence Wilson / Ray Baker)   (Starrite BMI)

45-676-B - Baby Please Come Home

(Al Runyon / Jimmie Skinner)   (Starrite BMI)

STARDAY RECORDS 676
(Unknown location - possibly KY)

Source: Terry Gordon

It’s odd to consider that for all of the recordings this artist managed to have issued pre 1958, it’s this one that he’s best remembered for. 

Clairborne county was established on the 29^thOctober 1801 and named after William Clairborne who became one of the first Tennessee Superior Court judges, and one of the first representatives in the US Congress from the state of Tennessee. By the time Al was born (Christened Albert Benton Runions), the county boasted a population of approx. 23,000 hard working souls in an area large enough for people to only know their close neighbours.

Al was born on the 29^thAugust 1918 in Little Sycamore Valley near Yellow Springs and east of Tazewell, the county seat. Life was hard for the farmers and sharecroppers in that area and Al didn’t have it easy being brought up in rural poverty. By the age of 14, in the midst of the Great Depression, Al left home and joined a few travelling circuses where he would sing and do comedy. The outbreak of war saw him enlist, but a breathing problem called for a quick medical discharge. So Al decided to entertain the troops overseas instead in several USO shows.

After the war, he moved to Cincinnati, OH and found work on live shows, Radio and a smattering of TV appearences. Whilst trying to scratch a living as an entertainer, he came across Carl Burkhardt – the owner of Gateway / Kentucky Records (amongst others), jukebox operator and slightly later – owner of the famed Rite Pressing Plant. Carl’s jukebox operations was the key here – he would get local artists to cover hits of the day and install them onto the jukeboxes dotted around Cincinnati and the outer areas, including some in West Virginia and Indiana. Like Delbert Barker (who covered mainly Hank Williams tunes), Al did many covers of Hank Snow and Jimmie Rodgers and once paid for their sessions, Carl would put them on his various labels and slot them into the jukeboxes. (After a couple of beers probably none of the bars’ patrons noticed the tunes they picked were not by the original artists.) By this time, Al has respelled his surname as Runyon as it was easier to pronounce for DJ’s.

Various releases was hatched from these session and were mainly issued on Big 4 Hits – One of Carl’s labels and a few on Alcar, Kentucky and Gateway (or Gateway Top Tunes as some of them were called.)

Eventually Al got a shot at Coral records in 1954 and saw “Icicle Tears” / “Bonita Chiquita Senorita” issued (Coral 64187), (leaving two unknown titles in the can.) Back to Burkhart’s set up, he continued to record tracks issued on the above labels, but now was also doing covers of Presley and Johnny Cash to add to his repertoire.

By 1958, Al had a song called “The Day Before The Night” , written by Ray Baker and Florence Wilson, that he was eager to record. Spending most of the studio time getting this side just right, he realised he needed a flip side. A quick 15 minutes of scribbling lyrics alongside Jimmie Skinner (possibly the producer of the session, and a singer / songwriter / record store owner in his own right), run-throughs and an final practice, he cut “Baby Please Come Home” and either Al or Jimmie Skinner sent the recordings off to Don Pierce for custom pressing. (Why he didn’t go to Carl Burkhardt is a mystery.) Don thought the A side had potential and custom pressed it on Starday records (686), pressing 300 copies on 45rpm (with a possible further 200 re-run) and Al waited patiently for stardom to come knocking on his door.

….and waited …and waited a bit more…..

Although getting some local airplay, it never really broke out of the Ohio Valley area, so Al continued to play festivals, night clubs, bars and country picnics – and also appearing on the Corn Huskers Jamboree which was broadcast over WCPO TV in Cincinnati.

(The other version of this story has Starday offering Al a contract and issuing the 45 in the hope it sold enough to warrant a contract extension and extra songs. Either Al, Jimmie Skinner or Starday paid for the session.)

“The Day Before….” is a nice enough song and I can see it had the potential for Al to get a taste of fame out of it, but it’s the flip – the gutsy, guitar driven rocker that deserved all of the plaudits. In fact, if you took away the beat from the song, it could still be a great up-tempo country record. Not bad for a guy just shy of 40 years of age!

He did many fine recordings – had a great voice and had entertainment riffing through his veins at an early age. It’s slightly sacrilegious to hark on about one record when he made so many fine recordings, but once you hear “Baby Please Come Home” at a volume which would wake the neighbours, you’ll understand!

Al passed away on 24^thDecember 1998. Rusty York (a long-time friend) sang at his funeral.

Source: Terry Gordon/Mike Smythe

Source: Terry Gordon/Mike Smythe