STARDAY RECORDS 731

THE LEWIS FAMILY
Jul 58
731-A - Born In Bethlehem
(Polly Lewis)   (Golden State BMI)
           He’s Got The Whole World In His Hands
(G. Love)   (Chappell)
731-B - Beautiful City
(Wallace Lewis) (Golden State BMI)
           Paul And Silas
(Apr: Wm. York)   (Golden State BMI)

STARDAY 731

Source: Nathan Gibson / (Rex wax = Doug Brown)

STARDAY RECORDS 728

RAY ANDERSON

Jun 58

45-728-A - You Can’t Break A Heart (That’s Been Broken)

(Starrite BMI)  (Anderson)

45-728-B - Cryin’ A River

(Starrite BMI)   (Anderson)

STARDAY RECORDS 728

Not entirely sure if this is the same guy who recorded in the Cincinnati, OH are for Excellent Records amongst others. To my ears the vocals aren't too similar to each other, but that could be the recording.

Source:  Lars Lungren

STARDAY RECORDS 727

HAL PAYNE

Jun 58

45-727-A - You’ll Miss Me Tomorrow   (Starrite BMI)

(Payne)

45-727-B - Honky Tonk Stomp   (Starrite BMI)

(Payne)

STARDAY RECORDS 727

Source: Terry Gordon

STARDAY RECORDS 719

FRANKIE EVANS and his Top Notchers
May 58  (BB Rev = 30th June 1958)
45-719-A - The Ain't Got Blues   (Starrite)
(Lowana Julaire / Frank Evans)
45-719-B - All My Dreams Are Gold   (Starrite)
(Lowana Julaire / Lew Tobin)
STARDAY 719
(Artist based in Florida at time of release)

Source:  Terry Gordon

STARDAY RECORDS 714

ALDEN HOLLOWAY and his Tri-City Boys
May 58
45-714-A - Chiquita   (Starrite BMI)
(Floyd Haglen)
45-714-B - Loving Is My Business   (Starrite BMI)
(Alden Holloway)
STARDAY 714

Source: Terry Gordon

STARDAY RECORDS 711

LAWSON RUDD with the Tippecanoe Valley Boys
Apr 58
45-711-A - Country Town Girl   (Starrite BMI)
(James Wheeler / Lawson Rudd)
45-711-B - Blues On The Run   (Stsrrite BMI)
(Lawson Rudd / John James)
STARDAY RECORDS 711

Source: Terry Gordon

STARDAY RECORDS 710

BILL GOODWIN
Apr 58   (BMI Clearance on 31st March 1958)
45-710-A - Second In Your Heart   (Starrite BMI)
(B Goodwin / S Sasser)
45-710-B - Teenage Blues   (Starrite BMI)
(P Sasser / S Sasser)
STARDAY RECORDS 710
(Artist based in Colorado)

Source: Terry Gordon

STARDAY RECORDS 704

FUZZY WHITENER with Jerry Dykes and his band
Mar 58
704A - Why Do I Love You   (Starrite BMI)
(Whitener)
704B - Sugar Buggar   (Starrite BMI)
(Whitener)
STARDAY 704

Source: Terry Gordon

STARDAY RECORDS 701

LOU WALKER
Apr 58 
45-701-A - Little Bitty Man
(Walker)   (Starrite BMI)
45-701-B - Cause I'm Losing You
(Walker)   (Starrite BMI)
STARDAY 701

Source: Terry Gordon

STARDAY RECORDS 700

TEX TURNER
58
700-A - Why Not Honey
700-B - (Unknown)
STARDAY 700

One of the many mysteries regarding Starday Customs is this one. In 30 years I have never seen this record, heard it or even know anybody who has a copy. BUT ...... a Spanish collector, who's opinion I tend to value, says he has heard this record back in the 70s or 80's and it does indeed (obviously) exist. He described it as a "little like Truitt Forse" which is high praise indeed!

I have also seen this listed as having Lou Walker on the flip side - both sides of the Starday 701 release. No idea where this comes from either. 

Perhaps anybody else can fill in any blanks on this record? 

14 Jul 2013 - Update.

To correct my last statement, the collector I mentioned had NOT heard or seen this record. Apparently, a french collector heard this track at Don Pierces' office and that it was on a (possible) acetate and probably unissued. To confound matters, when asked about the record years later, he denied he'd ever heard it, despite actually sending a letter to another collector to announce what he'd just heard at Dons. Time can play tricks on us all I guess. (I can't remember who I am most mornings). A collector even hired a private detective in the 70's to try and find a Tex Turner but drew a blank. (I have omitted the names of the collectors as they have not given me permission to use their names in this.)

Another note I found which I had written back in the 80's was that Tex Turner was a pseudonym for another artist and may have appeared on a Dixie ep. Where I got that snippet from is anybody's guess as I never wrote down my sources until the 90's (and by then it was too late to remember some of them).

 I love a mystery - as long as I can have the answers at the end!

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

STARDAY RECORDS 694

TAYLOR PORTER

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

45-694-A - It’s Over Now

(Porter)   (Starrite BMI)

45-694-B - No More Lovin’ You

(Porter)   (Starrite BMI)

STARDAY RECORDS 694
(Unknown Location)

Source: Lars Lundgren

STARDAY RECORDS 688

BOB and CINDY DEAN

Jan 58   (BMI Clearance on 31st March 1958)

688-A - Long Time Gone

(Dean)   (Starrite BMI)

688-B - Gone For Another

(John Hammer / Joan Dassau)   (Starrite BMI)

STARDAY RECORDS 688
(Unknown Location)

Sopurce: Phillip J Tricker / John Burton

STARDAY RECORDS 686

LLOYD McCULLOUGH

Dec 57   (BMI Clearance on 31st March 1958.)

45-686-A - Half My Fault

(McCullough / Bond)   (Starrite BMI)

45-686-B - What Can I Tell Them

(Bond / McCullough)   (Starrite BMI)

STARDAY RECORDS 686
(Unknown Location - possibly Nashville, TN)

Source: Terry Gordon

Born Lloyd Arnold McCollough, 25 June 1935, Memphis, Tennessee
Died 10 January 1976, Memphis, Tennessee

Lloyd was born as Lloyd Arnold McCollough, 25 June 1935, Memphis, TN and was of Irish descent. Whilst in High School, Lloyd was contemplating a career in baseball but the death of Hank Williams made him decide that perhaps singing would be a better option. By 1952 he was playing locally for family and friends and formed his first band – The Drifting Hillbillies. They recorded some tracks for Sam Phillips at the fames Sun Studios but nothing was released.

Finally, Lloyd got a record deal with the tiny VON label located in Booneville, MS. Both sides were probably classed as “Out-And-Out Hillbilly / Country music, but his feel for what Elvis Presley had been doing was already evident – even if Lloyd wasn’t trying to become a rock & roller at this stage. A quick change of labels (as Von had virtually no distribution) was the EKKO label where he recorded two more polished (and more country sounding) sides. By then, Country was taking a back seat to Rock & Roll and Lloyd saw an opportunity to get on the bandwagon to promote himself whilst keeping to his country roots. His recordings for the Nashville REPUBLIC Records became a classic example of Rock-A-Billy, even if it only caused a few ripples in the pond of R&R. With Bill Helms cranking out some great licks through an amp the size of a postage stamp and Lloyd growling like a man possessed, it was probably too loud and wild for much radio play.

Sometime after these recordings, he hitched up with his band at a recording studio and recorded these two sides. It took 6-8 months before they saw the light of day on Starday Records, but many would say it was worth the wait. Both sides co-written by Eddie Bond, Lloyd managed to belt out two fine sides – showing his vocal dept to the late, great Hank Williams whilst keeping up with those teenage rockers that were appearing out of everywhere. sadly, by the time this disc was released, R&R was beginning to burn out and teen idols seemed to be taking over. Lloyd was never going to be able to compete with the slicked-out artists like Paul Anka.

By this time Lloyd had changed the name of his band to the Rockin' Drifters. While working on the East Coast, as Lloyd was continually hitting the road with his band, he met up with Savoy Records' Herman Lubinsky – a shrewd yet successful label owner. Herman cut six songs with him, but only two were released, on Savoy's subsidiary label, Sharp. The instrumental "Dixie Doodle" (Sharp 108, 1960) was the first record to be credited to "Lloyd Arnold", as he now called himself. In late 1960, Lloyd recorded (probably in Philadelphia) another great rocker, "Red Coat, Green Pants and Red Suede Shoes" (Myers 113). Coupled with the equally strong "Hangout”. The disc did nothing more than get a little local attention and a record to sell at gigs. A much wilder version of Hangout was released on KATCHEE records (possibly before the MYERS disc.)

Lloyd also recorded a few singles for the MEMPHIS Label, owned by Buford Cody and also recorded for K-ARK, MILLIONAIRE and a slew of smaller labels. Leaving R&R behind, he went back to country, whilst some of his Memphis Recordings were pretty darn good and bordering on R&R. But by 1976 Lloyd was having many problems and he sadly took his own life.

Lloyd is an artist who I feel - had been born a few years earlier – could have ridden the coat tails of Hank Williams and maybe even landed on the MGM label as he had that kind of southern drawl in his vocals that could’ve sold records and got more radio play. But whilst he never really made it as an artist nationally, he left behind some great recordings. 

STARDAY RECORDS 685

GENE SCARBOROUGH

Dec 57   (BMI Clearance on 31st March 1958.)

45-685-A - Wanted

(Scorbrough)   (Starrite BMI)

45-685-B - Lonesome For Someone

(Scarbrough)   (Starrite BMI)

STARDAY RECORDS 685
(Unknown Location)

Source: Phillip J Tricker

Gene was possibly an Ohio artist – based on three of his four (known to me) singles having Ohio addresses. Cashbox (24 Jan 59) mentions that Clay Eager – former WLW-NBC TV and Radio emcee who also appeared on the “Homespun” show, Boone County Jamboree, Midwestern Hayride and often seen on stage at the famed Renfro Valley Barn Dance (plus WWVA Jamboree and occasionally the “Opry”) had become the producer, Director and emcee of the WMNI-Jamboree – which featured as its regular cast – Echo valley Folks / The Crawford Bros. / Jimmy Williams / Jimmie John / Ray Anderson / The Pine Mountain Boys (and others) and a certain Gene Scarborough. Gene also appeared on the Ohio State Country Round-Up which was presented each Saturday at the Ohio State Fairgrounds. Gene was booked through an agent called Miss McConnell who was based in Columbus, OH.

The A side is a nice up-tempo country disc with a fine band behind him. He’s got a good country voice – so much so that Don Pierce elected to issue it on the Starday imprint. Flip is slower and the band aren’t quite as together as they were on the top side. Still, a nice enough effort and both sides probably got a bit of radio airplay and jukebox coins. After 1964, I lose sight of Mr. Scarborough. He recorded for Forney Crace’s tiny Hark Label from Marion, OH (Bluest One In Town / Running Away From Love); Brock Records from Columbus, OH (Please Answer Me / A Dream of You) and, weirdly, the Del-Ray label from Harrington, Delaware (It All Depends On Linda / Think Twice Before You Go). 

STARDAY RECORDS 684

MAY HAWKS

Dec 57  (Billboard review on 27th January 1958.)

45-684-A - Talk A Little Louder

(May Hawks / Les Thomas)   (Starrite BMI)

45-684-B - Forever And A Day

(May Hawks / Les Thomas)   (Starrite BMI)
STARDAY RECORDS 684
(Artist based in Flint, MI)

Source: Lars Lundgren

Born in Cookeville, TN on 16^thJune 1921, Lily Mae Gibson was the sixth child in a somewhat musical family. Her first public appearance was with her sister Leone at a schoolhouse at nearby Algood and by the 1940’s, she was performing over WHUB in Cookeville.

May married a friend of Leona’s husband and moved to Troy, MI, as her husband, Robert Hawks worked there at the Chrysler Plant. Attending a show featuring local band leader Casey Clark and Little Jimmy Dickens, she was asked to sing – which led to a spot on WKNX in Saginaw, MI. After a brief stint in Nashville as part of the “Martha White Biscuit and Cornbread Time” show, she stayed in Troy and began working with Casey Clark, appearing on the Big Barn Frolic based in Highland Park, whilst having her own daily show over WJR.

By 1952, she was contacted by Jack and Devora Brown – owners of the famed Fortune Record Co. from Detroit. Sending her off to the Universal Studios, she cut “Jealous Love” (also covered by the Davis Sisters). (“Jealous Love” / “Year After Year” – FORTUNE 173). Two more discs followed before she moved onto Don Large’s Horizon Label (where she was billed as the “Teenessee Thrush”). Then she did another duet with Lester (Les) Thomas for the North Hollywood Coin label. (Lester also duetted on some Fortune Recordings).

Which brings us to this recording – her last duet with Les. As she was very popular in Detroit and the surrounding areas, Don Pierce decided to issue this on Starday Records, as he saw sales potential for the record.

“Talk A Little Louder” is an amusing ditty of being together whilst ignoring the plea from the other to settle down. Backed by some fine musicians, the tune rolls along nicely. Flip is slower – but vocally she’s on top form. There are shades of a young Patsy Cline vocally.

May continued singing passed this recording before eventually moving back to Cookville, TN. She was elected to the Michigan Country Music Hall Of Fame in 1997 and passed away on 4^thNovember 2010.

For a fuller (and much better written) history of her career, go out and purchase Detroit Country Music by Craig Maki and Keith Cady – a book full of amazing information and anecdotes on and from the many talented musicians that performed around the Detroit, MI area. (The chapter on Ford Nix is work the price on it’s own!)

STARDAY RECORDS 683

KELLY BROTHERS (Abner and Newt)

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

45-683-A - Flying Saucers

(A Kelly / N Kelly)   (Starrite BMI)

45-683-B - Hero

(A Kelly / N Kelly)   (Starrite BMI)

STARDAY RECORDS 683
(Unknown Location)

Source: Neil Scott

Abner and Newt Kelly hailed from Pelzer, SC which is around 15 miles away from Greeneville. Although their early musical experience was singing Gospel songs (which they continued to do so after this record), and performing either with or alongside the famed Blue Ridge Quartet, they hit the vinyl airwaves with this excellent 45, which Don Pierce saw promise in and placed it on the Starday Imprint.

After this disc, I lose their career for a few years. They had a release on Embrace Records (from their home town) and an LP on Majestic Records which is gospel. The Kelly brothers on Excello, Sims, Federal and Nashville are not related to this duo.

“Flying Saucers” is a nice hillbilly-cum-bluegrass ditty which claims that UFO’s are from God. Nice strong vocals from the Abner and Newt.

STARDAY RECORDS 678

SINGING WILLIS FAMILY

Nov 57

45-678-A - He’ll Answer You

(Red Smith)   (Starrite BMI)

45-678-B - I Need The Lord

(Bob Wills)   (Starrite BMI)
STARDAY RECORDS 678

Source: Lars Lundgren

Nice gentle gospel from the Willis Family. The female singer has got a nice voice but sometimes it slightly overpowers the tracks, especially the first side. “He’ll Answer You” is a nice piano led tune with a melodic guitar solo. (Sadly, mine jumps, kinda spoiling the effect). Flipside is a bit more of a raucous affair. A male vocalist takes the spoils on the singing and there’s no instrumental solo.

Of course, I can’t work out who the “Singing Willis Family” is, or where they’re from, since there’s no label address and they recorded covers – one penned by Red Smith and the other by Bob Wills. There was a gospel record on a King-Pressed Dixie Label (45-123) By Harmon J Willis and the Willis Family (based out of Greer, SC – 1968?), but I don’t know if they are the same as here. The was another “Singing Willis Family” who recorded on a “No Name Label” out of Ft Worth, TX as well (An SO pressing from 57), but they maybe the Singing WILLS Family. (I have the record listed as both so I’m not sure if the typo is mine or not)

No matter – just play the sides and get right with God!

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