STARDAY RECORDS 631

KEN CLARK and his Merry Mountain Boys

May 57  (BMI Clearance on 21st June 1957.)

45-631-A - Ho! Ho! Love ‘Em Joe

(Clark)   (Starrite BMI)

45-631-B - Quit Fool (Mama’s Lookin’)

(Clark)   (Starrite BMI)

STARDAY RECORDS 631

Okay, so I know darn all about Clark, except he recorded for Starday main series and for the Nashville label (assoc with Starday). 

A side is a nice uptempo number with fiddles, Steel Gtr, Dobro and lead guitar and some lovely Starday Sounding echo. Some call it country, some call it Rock-A-Billy. Whatever the musical tag, it's a lovely record. B side is more country/hillbilly and there's a little less echo. Another uptempo side and very nice it is too. Cowboy Copas recorded at least one song of Clark's. (MC)

Label Shot : Nathan Gibson (with thanks to Neil Scott, whose original copy was used here, despite the label looking like it had been attacked by Martians.)

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DALE RECORDS 630

DARNELL MILLER

May 57  (Billboard review on 24th May 1957. BMI Clearance on 21st June 1957.)

45-630-A - Waiting Game For Love

(D Miller)    (Starrite BMI)

45-630-B - Gettin’ Out Of The Woods

(Cecil Surrat)    (Starrite BMI)

DALE RECORDS 630

Bluefield, VA

I'm assuming this is the same Darnell Miller who recorded for Starday Records, as they sure sound similar. A side is a slow weeping hillbilly song; probably not one for the memory banks, but Darnell sings with with feeling. Flipside is a medium tempo ditty with fine vocals from Darnell, ably backed by some fine fiddle playing. (MC)

Label Shots: Al Turner

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FAITH RECORDS 629

THE RELATIVE QUARTET

May 57   (BMI Clearance on 21st June 1957. Billboard review on 18th August 1957.)

45-629-A - A Home For My Soul

(J Q Deal Jr. / Rheda L Strickland)   (Starrite BMI)

45-629-B - Heavenly City

(Rheda L Strickland)   (Starrite BMI)

FAITH RECORDS 629

Conover, NC

Lovely far-back-in-the-hills Gospel from what sounds like a white quartet. I can only hear an accoustic guitar being played, no other instruments and no solos. No personnel details, except perhaps the names listed as song writers.

The FAITH label turns up a fair bit later in the series with various addresses. I've wondered if FAITH was the gospel version of the DIXIE label. Can't be sure. (MC)

Label Shots: Phillip Tricker


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WILLIE NELSON RECORDS 628

WILLIE NELSON

May 57   (BMI Clearance on 21st June 1957)

45-628-A - No Place For Me

(Willie Nelson)   (Starrite BMI)

45-628-B - Lumberjack

(Leon Payne)   (Hill and Range BMI)

WILLIE NELSON RECORDS 628

Vancouver, WA

Willie Nelson was born 30th April 1933 and is by far, one of the most well known artists to cut a disc for the Starday Custom series. After studying music at home, he joined the Bohemian Fiddlers as their singer and guitar player. After graduating from high School in 1950, he joined the Air Force where he was eventually discharged for having back problems. After stints as a musician (he played bass for Ray Price) and as a DJ, he signed a contract with pamper Music as a songwriter. He wrote some of the best known country classics, such as "Funny How Times Slips Away", "Hello Walls", and "Crazy".

But back to this little gem. Both sides are dominated by an accoustic guitar (presumably by the man himself) and the vocals have a fair slab of echo added to it, giving it a slight haunting feel. There is a steel guitar nestled in the background - well, almost in the next room to be honest. The flip is okay; a nicely sung cover of a Leon Payne song. But it's the A side that really sticks out. (MC)

Label Shots : Phillip Tricker


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STARDAY RECORDS 627

BOB and CINDY DEAN

May 57   (BMI Clearance on 21st Jun 1957.)

45-627-A - I’m Knocking On The Door (To Your Heart)

(Garland Cline)   (Starrite BMI)

45-627-B - One Life To Live

(Garland Cline)   (Starrite BMI)

STARDAY RECORDS 627

Bob and Cindy Dean were a popular Country and Western team who were based in Elkton, VA and made some stunning records throughout their musical career. Bob was born on the 26th October 1919 in Elkton (Cindy Morris was born December 24th 1924).

Bob’s musical career started in 1955/7 after he found a lead guitar picker, Leon Baxter, with whom he formed a band. Their first job was just a plain beer joint in NW Washington, DC, where they picked their music three nights a week. Through their popular live performances, Bob got a recording deal with DC Records. He remembered that in Virginia there was a good fiddle player, so he got in touch with him and talked over their would-be music venture. His name was Hank Dean and he also sang tenor. (Hank was no relation to Bob). Bob hired Hank and along with Leon, the three of them recorded “Maple On The Hill” and “I’m Sheddin’ Tears Over You” on DC 8049. The sessions took place at the Paragon Studios in Washington, DC.

DC Records were interested in releasing two more sides, as 8049 was selling well locally, thanks in part to Connie B Gay’s radio program “Town And Country Time”, and Bob’s personal appearances. Their next recordings were “Back To Old Smoky Mountain” and “I’ll take Her From The Valley” (DC 4101). By this time, Bob was opening up for acts at the Constitution Hall for Connie, being followed by the likes of T Texas Tyler and the Sons Of The Pioneers.

After the death of his father, Bob (and Cindy, who was his wife - the sleeve notes don’t mention how they met) moved to McGaheysville, VA to be with his mother. Bob worked for a while at a chemical plant, but once he was laid off, he decided to get into the music business full time. By now, Cindy was singing along side him. They formed a new band featuring his old school friend Eddie Michael on fiddle and Cindy learned how to play the stand-up bass. Carroll Ray was on electric guitar.

By 1955, Bob and Cindy Dean were winning first prize on a Connie B Gay show with a song entitled “Walk, Walk, Walking Blues”. This track, along with “When You Cross Your Heart” were eventually issued on Ben Aldeman’s KAY label from Washington, DC, with the flip side of the EP being taken up by two manic vocal recordings from Link Wray (“I Sez Baby” / “Johnny Bon Bonny”). According to the sleeve notes, these tracks were recorded in 1955.

How Bob and Cindy found themselves on Starday is a bit of a mystery as it’s not really explained in the sleeve notes. According to the session details listed on the LP, these were recorded in 1958 and their next Starday release (#688) was recorded in December 57. It mentions that a Frank Merica was on banjo at the session and Carroll Ray was still on guitar.

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Label shots: Neil Scott

STARDAY RECORDS 626

BILLIE and GORDON HAMRICK with the Low County Gospel Band

Apr 57   (BMI Clearance on 26th April 1957.)

45-626-A - Gonna See My Lord Someday

(Nell Palmer)   (Starrite BMI)

45-626-B - Jesus Is The Name

(Nell Palmer)   (Starrite BMI)

STARDAY RECORDS 626

Another slice of Gospel heaven from the talented Billie and Gordon Hamrick.

A side is a torrid Blue Grass / Gospel number with nice harmonies. Very nice banjo solos, accompanied by a fiddle player. B side is slower with a Dobro more to the fore. Perhaps this is my favourite 45 by the artists so far. Almost makes me want to go to church! (except, in England, we'd have no music like this being performed.) (MC)

Label Shots: Phil Tricker


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COOSA RECORDS 625

ERNEST PAINTER

Apr 57   (BMI Clearance on 26th April 1957.)

45-625-A - No One But You

(Painter)   (Starrite)

45-625-B - Whispering Heart

(Painter)   (Starrite)

COOSA RECORDS 625

Shannon, GA

Sadly, no info on the artist. Nor have I heard either side. Ernest was brought into a recording studio by Hoyt Scoggins and most copies were given to DJ’s in the hope somebody more famous would pick up the songs. (MC)

Label Shots: Lars Lungren and Kent Heineman
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DIXIE RECORDS 624

TOM CROOKS and the Rock And Roll Four

Apr 57   (BMI Clearance on 26th April 1957.)

45-624-A - My Heart Don’t Lie

(Crook)   (Starrite BMI)

45-624-B - Weekend Boogie

(Crook)   (Starrite BMI)

DIXIE RECORDS 624

Rome, GA

A side is a slow number, sung with a hillbilly flavour. Tom has that great "hillbilly Twang" to his voice. There's some nice guitar gently supporting Tom whilst he's crooning his love song.

Flip the disc over and you get a great relaxed Rock-A-Billy/Hillbilly/Country hybrid ditty with an accoustic guitar taking the lead with fine support from a steel guitarist. Oh, the joys of the weekend (unless, of course, you're unemployed - in which case, to quote Morrissey,  "every day is like Sunday").

According to Terry Gordon, the artist was from Rome, GA. He sounds like he’s in his 30’s or later to my ears and calling the band “The Rock And Roll Four” is a little optimistic, but it’s a great track nevertheless. (MC)

Label Shots: Terry Gordon


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JAY RECORDS 623

BOB COLE

Apr 57  (BMI Clearance on 26th April 1957.)

45-623-A - Face To Face

(B.Cole)    (Starrite BMI)

45-623-B - You Lied

(B.Cole) (Starrite BMI)

JAY RECORDS 623

New Orleans, LA

Bob had his own radio show broadcast over WARB, Covington, LA and appeared as the MC and a singer on the "Old Country Barn Dance, which was held at the Ann Theatre, Baton Rouge, LA. (He was still appearing at the Ann Theatre in 1958, but after that I have no idea.)

A side is a slowish country ditty; a little like an early Hank Williams. (To be honest, most songs of this type always remind me of Williams). Nice dreamy steel guitar and tic-tac guitar. Guitar solo is a simple run around on the melody. The B side is faster and has a nice catchy melody. Again the guitarist skips along with the melody in the solo. (MC)


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Source: Al Turner

STARDAY RECORDS 622

LUCKY HILL

Mar 57  (Billboard review on 29th April 1957.)

45-622-A - Fickle Baby

(Lucky Hill)   (Starrite BMI)

45-622-B - It’s Comin’ Home To You

(Lucky Hill)   (Starrite BMI)

STARDAY RECORDS 622

A side is a hillbilly song, kinda like an early Lattie Moore King 45. Fiddles are the main instrument here. B side is slower and more bluesy (in a typical hillbilly sort of way). More of a Hank Williams type song, and the tune bears a passing resemblance to "You're Gonna Change Or I'm Gonna Leave".

As for Lucky himself, he appeared on the Jimmie Rodgers Memorial celebration in Meridian, MS, held over May 21st-22nd in 57. He wrote in billboard advertising this disc can be acquired from him form an address in Tiffin, OH. By July 57, having come back from an Armed forces tour of North Africa, Lucky could be found as a staff announcer over KDRO-TV, Sedalia, MO. In Dec 57, Billboard also announced that his piano player (Denny Bolin) had broken his neck in a car accident near Joplin, MO. That's pretty much all the info I have on this artist. He also recorded for TNT Records.

Label Shots: Neil Scott.

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