September 2010 Newsletter

Transcription

1 September 2010 Newsletter Yesterday & Today Records P.O. Box 54 Miranda NSW 2228 ph: (02) Web: Postage: 1cd $2/ 2cds $3/ 3-4 $6.50 We can sometimes sneak 5 in for that rate PRE CHRISTMAS SALE. I have had 3 walk in sales in the last 12 months & they have all gone well. Next one will be 20 th November and promises to be the best yet with a big buying trip in the interim. It is INVITATION only so if you would like to come please let me know. It will be worth your while believe me Please read on. Lots of great new cds & bargains. If you haven t ordered in a while this is the chance to remain on our mailing list. Thank you! If sending a cheque for any sale item please call first.

2 A) Mark Chesnutt Outlaw $30 B) Shane Worley Honky Tonk History $30 Two similarly themed albums, mostly covers of outlaw period classics but both with originality to make them worthwhile. Worley has previously done a Haggard tribute albums and continues with a great cover of Is This the Beginning of the end, a Wynn Stewart song that appeared on an early Haggard album. He also does a finetake on Heart Don t Stop Stoppin on Me Now, from Vern Gosdin & Max D Barnes. Producer Mike Headrick is of course a hero in our annuls and he shines on guitar throughout. Shane even does an Alan Jackson song, and does an extremely fine job on House With No Curtains. Worley is also a fine writer as evidenced by Every Waylon Needs a Jessi, about the guy who sees it as a time to settle down. Mooney Had His Back is a song by Mike Headrick about Waylon and his great steel guitar player, Ralph Mooney. Great. Worley is a superior vocalist who has the ability to turn any song into his own. One of the most popular independent artists we have ever sold. Chesnutt hit the ground running with his Too Cold at Home. Instantly he proved himself to be one of the greatest vocalists in country music history. He became somewhat unfashionable though, but only to the turkeys that are supposedly running the major labels in Nashville. He now treads the independent route as well. Firstly this is produced by Dwight s early mentor, Pete Anderson. There is a real surprise as Mark does a duet with the fabulous Amber Digby on a rather obscure Dr Hook song (co-written by Denis Loccoriere and Shel Silverstein). Its is A Couple More Years and even though a big Dr Hook fand I never really liked this much, BUT Ches and Amber give it a life it never had. Amber is the perfect foil for Chesnutt. Chesnutt s vocal is an absolute delight. It is not the same song. It is magically transformed by two of the best vocalists you d ever hear. If you hear this and don t get goosebumps call the coroner. Chesnutt shines on two Kristofferson songs, the oft covered Sunday Mornin Comin Down, again a song that seemingly can be adapted to the singers style as evidenced by the likes of Ray Stevens and Johnny Cash having hits with it, and the equally grand Lovin Her Was Easier (Than Anything I ll ever Do Again). The first is taken at a slow pace with a wonderful sparse acoustic backing. The latter is the consummate love song, perhaps a bit too wordy to have been a single but too good to have not been. Waylon is however his hero and Freedom to Stay is a big vocal that the great man would have approved of. So there they are folks. Two great singers. Two great albums. Some familiar songs but that is what style is, taking something and turning it into your own. A tie!! Johnny Rodriguez Some of Mine Some of Theirs $30 Johnny sounded great on that duet album with Johnny Bush, that came out a year or so ago. BUT, I am still trying to figure out his non appearance on the last few tracks. I need not wonder of anything sinister as this album is a beauty. Johnny also steers clear of re-doing any of his hits. This is all new material which includes a great swing number in Where s My Baby Now. On the Other Side was written by Linda Hargrove, seemingly for Johnny as the lyrics relate to his darker side. Vestida De Blanco is the album s Spanish song and it is a beauty. It is followed by the only song Johnny actually wrote Hello Love, goodbye, which I guess makes the

3 album s title a bit confusing but this is a nice ballad that you could imagine being tailor made for Merle Haggard. Broken Heartsville is a song of a guy drowning his sorrows. Some nice covers, especially his version of The Lord Knows I m Drinking and a slow version of Joe South s Don t It Make You Want to Go Home which Rodriguez turns into a country classic, it is like hearing the song for the first time. Great Marty Robbins inspired take on Sonora s Death Row. Great album. Recorded in Abilene Texas with assumably a bunch of local musicians who are great. Justin Trevino & Amber Digby Keeping Up Appearances $30 The two favourites of Yesterday & Today Records together for the first time on a duets album. They have never sounded so good. What a line up of musicians Bobby Flores/Jake Hooker/Dickey Overbey/ T Jarrod Bonta. They work superbly together and to have seen them perform together in Australia was an honour and a privilege. Justin drops his voice a little and Amber soars. It is as perfect as you d expect. I feel sorry for those who think the Nashville scene is good. Amber is worth a thousand Taylor Swifts and Justin two thousand Toby Keiths. This album is as good as any Porter & Dolly, as good as any George & Tammy. Just do yourself a favour. You won t regret it. Hank Williams III The Rebel Within $30 Hank 3 as he is known is the consummate bad boy. When he sings Getting Drunk & falling Down you know he is not singing about something he read. Great opening number as he tells about his lifestyle and his friend Misery. The title song really moves with breakneck banjo, slap bass and steel. Drinkin Ain t Hard to Do has a classic feel..you get the feeling he has done personal research on his songs. Karmageddon is a weird little number. Lost in Oklahoma is probably the most traditional sounding number, until you listen to the lyrics that are definitely Hank 3. Seems this completed his contract with Curb records. Where he will turn up next is anyone s guess! Hank Thompson Hank the Hired Hand $35 2cds This is a mix of hits and radio transcriptions and on the second cd features an interview Hank did on a French radio show in Very eloquent and featuring more transcriptions plus snippets from artists who influenced him over the years. Some of the radio transcriptions are great especially River Road Two Step. This is on the El Toro label. Also on he label (we have on order) is the only cd by Wayne Walker, a successful songwriter. Plus Rockin Bonnie & the Rot Gut Guys Cocktail Jubilee, a sensational female rockabilly singer. Fabulous. Brennen Leigh The Box $30 This is the 3 rd album by Brennen and this comes on like a classic Emmylou style album. She has a great voice and it is a country album, in which most of the songs are written by the singer. They have a classic feel about them. She harmonises well with Jim Lauderdale on the title track, about a box of treasures she kept to remind her of an old love it has a refrain that appears throughout the song I can t bring myself to throw the box away. Instantly great. Something Borrowed has a driving bluegrass feel. Nice dobro from Texas steel man & producer, Tommy Detamore. What ll I Do is one of only two songs not written by Brennen. Co-writetn by Waylon soundalike Wendel Adkins it is far removed from an outlaw song which you might expect prior to hearing. Distracted is a great country weeper, with some great steel guitar from the aforementioned Tommy Detamore. Travelling On is a

4 co-write with Sunny Sweeney. Her songs are all good. Her singing is great and fine guest musicians such as Bobby Flores, Ronnie Huckaby on piano and of course Tommy Detamore. Re-read the opening line and take it on board. This album is great. Gary P Nunn Taking Texas to the Country $30 Gary P and the Texas Bunkhouse band feature a mix of original songs but also include 4 songs by Levi Mullen and one Levi/Gary P cowrite. Tony Booth The Other Side of Life $30 Tony Booth is superb. This is straight out of the Ray Price shuffle school. He originally was on Capitol Records and I would highly recommend his 2 on 1 Capitol cd listed below. I d also recommend his cd with Darrell McCall and Curtis Potter. All That She Could Take is a great new song co-written by producer, the brilliant Justin Trevino and Darrell McCall s daughter Guyanne. Consummately produced by Justin as well as featuring harmonies by Justin and Amber Digby. Perfect Place is a great country weeper if a lonely room kills memories I ve found the perfect place. It s All Your Fault is another great shuffle. For a change of pace Sometimes I Talk in My Sleep is a great waltz tempo number from the pen of Eddy Raven. As a real surprise we get a fantastic Tex Mex treatment of Blue Spanish Eyes. Forget Al Martino! This is brilliant. Wonderful artist. Wonderful album. Waylon Jennings The Dark Side of Fame $28 This is a very interesting compilation in that it ignores Waylon s outlaw period. Most of the compilations, in fact all apart from this feature Waylon s rocking outlaw, heavy on the bass style. This features his softer more country side and as such is a great summation of the early and wonderful Bear Family boxes. This features songs from classic albums such as Sings Ol Harlan / Folk Country / Singer of Sad Songs / Jewels /Taker-Tulsa / Cedartown Georgia. Great stuff all the way. Very generous 28 tracks. Frankie Laine Rocks & Gravel $28 Great collection of the big voiced Francesco LoVecchio s (but known as Frankie Laine to you & I) best western flavoured songs. A generous 28 songs from such albums as Hell Bent for Leather, Deuces wild, Balladeer, Call of the Wild. It includes such gems as Riders in the sky, Gunfight at the OK Corral, Bowie Knife, 3:10 to Yuma etc. DVD George Strait Live! $35 I have not been very kind to George Strait over the last 10 years. He has simply been too safe and unexciting; up until his latest album, Twang which is a wonderful throw back to his halcyon days. Margaret, Australia s #1 George Strait fan told me how good it was and by gum she was correct. I still believe George was in a class of his own around the time of Beyond The Blue Neon and lo & behold this dvd from New Year s night 1986 leading into 1987 is as good as it gets. The Ace in the Hole Band whip it up a treat and this has 16 songs from that concert. He even does a cover of the great Hank Thompson s Six Pack to Go. In addition there are 5 bonus music videos. 21 tracks in all. THIS IS ONLY SOLD IN WAL MART STORES. Not sold outside USA. The dvd is all regions. Let s hope Twang is a return to his great period. DVD Statler Brothers: The Gospel Music Of Volume One $35 DVD Statler Brothers: The Gospel Music Of Volume Two $35

5 Two dvds each wit habout 90 minutes on the Gaither label, Apart from 19 songs on each there are lots of anecdotes. DVD Gary P Nunn Live from Blancos $35 Gary P and the Bunkhouse Boys. One of the mainstays of the Texas music scene this features all his classics, and more. Kara lee is about his ex wife, Karen Brooks, who recorded for Warner Brother.aaah young love and ambition!! Its about to get western Nobody but me Kara Lee I don't live here anymore Down to Louisana Cowboy at heart Brother tumbleweed Sleepwalk Roadtrip Meet me down in Corpus My kind of day on Padre London Homesick blues Redneck Riviera Lonesome lone star blues Corina con lima Porter Wagoner What Ain t to Be, Just Might Happen/ Porter Wagoner Sings His Own 2 on 1 $28 If there has been an artist who has come up with a better bunch of album covers than the great Porter I haven t seen him. Who else but Porter could pull off a lime green suit (striped of course) matched with a psychedelic floral shirt, set off by a black tie with a large egg shape opal-like clip. Of course his wonderful yellow locks are the piece de resistance!! The albums are both super and date from 1972 & 71 respectively when Porter was at his absolute peak. The first was the original album for Rubber Room, maybe the quirkiest (& best also) country songs ever. 10 of the 12 songs on the album were written by Porter and the other 2 by Dolly Parton. There are also 6 bonus tracks including the rare duet with Merle Haggard, I Haven t Learned a Thing, originally on the Porter album. Everything about these albums is superb, including the tremendous musicians who are featured; Hargus Robbins, Jerry Reed, Pete Drake, Grady Martin etc. WITH THE PREVIOUS AND FOLLOWING ALBUM PLEASE REORDER EVEN IF YOU PLACED A PROVISIONAL ORDER WHEN THEIR RELEASE WAS FIRST WRITTEN ABOUT A COUPLE OF NEWSLETTERS AGO. Dolly Parton The Fairest of Them All/ My Favourite Songwriter, Porter Wagoner 2 on 1 $28 Daddy Come & get me, the opening track from the first album Daddy Come & Get me is a woman s plea to come and get her out of the asylum in which she was placed by her unfaithful husband. Now, you want to know why Dolly hit it off so well with Porter!! Down from Dover is the original version (later re-recorded on her Little Sparrow album) of the tragic tale of a teenage unwed mother. Surprisingly her album of Porter s songs was the hardest of hers to find on record. Most of the others showed up but hardly ever, bordering on never did you see that one and when you did a hefty penny was demanded for it. Surprising is that a lot of songs have a deeply religious flavour and Dolly was probably the ideal vehicle for Porter to get them across. The 2 albums are featured in full with 2 bonus tracks.

6 Dale Watson Carryin On $28 Heroes come and heroes go but none keep going on like the great Dale Watson. This is one its way and will be here when you get this. All new recordings recorded in Nashville, and featuring the great Hargus Robbins on piano and the Grand Ol opry s own Carole Lee Singers (Carole Lee Cooper is daughter of the great Wilma Lee & Stoney Cooper). Track listing is as follows: 1. Carryin' on This Way 2. Hey Brown Bottle 3. Flowers in Your Hair 4. You're Always on My Mind 5. Ain't That Livin' 6. Heart of Stone 7. I'll Show Ya 8. How to Break Your Own Heart 9. For a Little While 10. Whatever 11. Your Love I'm Gonna Miss 12. Don't Wanna Go Home Song 13. Hello, I'm an Old Country Song Bill Anderson Songwriter $30 What a great album! Bill has been pumping out albums on his own label and this may be the best. It Ain t My Job To Tote Your Monkey (a play on the expression having a monkey on your back ) is a surprisingly upbeat opening and has some fabulous humour in it. Good Time Getting There is a collaboration with the man who is the last vestige of hope for Nashville mainstream in Jamie Johnson, and will make you smile. Bill also collaborates again with Jon Randall on the sad & touching. If Anything Ever Happened to You. Nostalgic but not hackneyed. By contrast If You can t Make Money is a jaunty ditty. Papaw s Sunday Boots is a song only Bill Anderson could have written. The Songwriters is a salute to that breed of which Bill is one. We re heroes, we re schemers, we re drunks, we re dreamers. half of the world thinks we re crazy, the other half wants to be us. Great great great!! That s When the Fight Broke Out is laugh out funny as Bill relates the story of a couple in terms of the dialogue used on Who Wants to be a Millionaire. Kind of half spoken it is like one of Jerry Reed s best. Some Kind of War is a hard look at the uncertainties of life. In the brief notes Bill says This is a collection of 12 new songs that I ve written with some great co-writers and friends. I Hope you will enjoy them. Well Bill, I did more than enjoy them. I thought they were just fabulous! Merle Haggard Amber Waves of Grain/ Kern River $30 Sometimes you d wish record companies would get together and work out what they are gonna reissue as the second album came out on a cd earlier in the year. BUT the good news is that Hag s hardest album to get on cd, the great Amber Waves of Grain is available again to all and sundry. This was a live album but unlike many live albums had new songs on it and the title track stands as the best ever song about the plight of the farmer, with a universal lyric that says it all. Just as good is the song Gone With the Wind, which has some wonderfully word play incorporated from the immortal movie. There is a great medley of the original Okie from Muskogee and its answer song The Okie From Muskogee s Coming Home. It is a bonus if you don t have the Kern River reissue, but even if you do don t worry. Amber Waves of Grain stands up very well on its own.

7 Silver Meteor: A Progressive Country Anthology $30 Sierra Records This was the best ever country rock compilation and it just got better with an astonishing 14 tracks added to the original 12. I had this on lp and it was just about impossible to find after it came out. It didn t matter that it was horribly warped (no not like my mind) it was grand. It had 4 tracks from what would have been the solo debut of Byrds singer/guitarist Clarence White. They included a great version of the Delaney & Bonnie hit Never Ending song of Love as well as a hot instrumental take of Alabama Jubilee. On Why You been Gone So Long, Ry Cooder guests alongside Clarence. Sadly that is where the story ends as Clarence was tragically killed when a drunk driver ran into the station wagon into which he was loading his gear. It also put an end to an Everly Brothers album which was also going to feature Clarence White along with fellow Byrd Gene Parsons. Two tracks from these sessions are included, I m On My Way Back Home and The Cuckoo, both classics. It featured 2 songs from Casey Kelly s Elektra record, including the title song (railroad buffs will know the Silver Meteor is a train). Barbara Keith, also responsible for a rare 70s album, performs the original of the oft-covered Bramble & the Rose. The Blue Velvet Band consists of bluegrass veterans Bill keith & Eric Weissberg, Richard Greene and others. Bonus tracks include Paul Seibel s Pinto Pony (w. Clarence White) and Rusty Young (of Poco fame & also with Clarence) on Everybody s Talkin. Writer Larry Murray performs his song about a dog, Bugler, which featured Clarence on vocal when it was performed by the Byrds. Two Gram Parsons tracks are performed by Country t Blue. Recently UK magazine Uncut voted this as one of the all time great lost albums. That has now all changed with this cd. 26 country rock classics. Do yourself a favour. John Prine In Person & On Stage $28 It seems like only yesterday that the Cosmic Cowboy and I stood side to side some 2 metres from the stage at the now defunct Birkenhead Tavern to see John Prine. Prine is a performer. Warm and personable on stage, and a little shy and reserved off. He has had a couple of live albums but this is the best. I wonder if the Cosmic Cowboy remembers the dweeb who was standing next to us, who had seemingly studied everything annoying on the first live album and chosen to act out the audience part at that performance. Well, the good thing about this is the audience is well back in the mix. In Spite of Ourselves has a wonderful introduction about how he wrote that song for a movie in which he appeared as Billy Bob Thornton s brother, with Andy Griffith as their dad. I guess that made me Opie s step brother!, jests the great man. Iris Dement guests on this and the wonderful Unwed Fathers. Prine has a mesmerising ability in providing anecdotes and enhances the songs on which these are featured. He talks about his family on The Bottomless Lake and his family vacations, something I never really realised was the subject of the song. Sara Watkins of Nickel Creek adds a delightful duet vocal some nice fiddle touches to The Late John Garfield Blues, which Prine takes at a slightly slower pace than the recorded version. There is no point in doing a live album which is indistinguishable to the original version and Prine delivers! Bear Creek Blues is a Carter Family song, which Prine did on the Carter Tribute album, the Carter Family being an early influence. On Angel from Montgomery another guets drops by, that being Emmylou Harris. Again, taken at a gentler pace with some nice mandolin touches, this will give goose bumps, even if Emmy is a tad out on the harmonies. Your Flag Decal won t Get You Into Heaven Anymore was the first song on John s first album and he tells how he wrote it when he was a mail man

8 delivering Reader s Digests fabulous. It was Readers Digest who gave out the stick on flags about which this song was written. Mexican Home is a lovely duet with Josh Ritter. Paradise, all about the Kentucky coal miners shares a relationship with both the Everly Brothers and Merle Travis. This features Kevin Welch and Keiran Kane, who also plays some great mandolin licks. Prine is so darn entrancing I wish he would write a book. There are few better than he!! Twistable Turnable Man _ A Musical Tribute to the Songs of Shel Silverstein. $30 Wow, I rarely go to shows, preferring the recorded version, but having just mentioned the great John Prine it is appropriate I mention Doctor Hook, or Dr Hook & the Medicine Show as they were known. They toured Australia in the mid 70s and they were so good the first night I had to go back the second. BUT there were a couple of reservations. This was when they had changed from Columbia to Capitol labels and had began to record NON-Silverstein songs. The shining light was the Shel songs and I still think they were the best interpreters of Shel s songs. This tribute, with one exception, is just sensational. Firstly, the faves: John Prine does a great version of This Guitar Is For Sale, a song I believe I had only ever heard by Shel s co-writer, Fred Koller. To this day I think Shel chose Fred as a collaborator as he was the only person who had a worse voice than he (but I have several Shel albums which I do love). Kris Kristofferson s gnarly voice is perfect for the fabulous The Winner (with Bobby Bare doing harmony). Best track though, and one of the greatest you would ever hear is Me & Jimmy(sic) Rodgers sung by the great octogenarian, Ray Price, who has a voice so perfectly in tune and as smooth as it gets, that it makes you wonder how it was possible. This nostalgic song not only talks about Jimmy (don t know if he actually meant Jimmie Rodgers, or just someone else) but also talks about Audie Murphy, Betty Grable and so on. Wonderful and then some. There is a great touch on Daddy What If with Bobby Bare Jnr doing the lead vocal and his daughter Isabella doing the child question part. Of course Bobby Jnr had taken that role when his father, Bobby Bare (snr) had recorded the song. Bobby Snr is great on The Living Legend. Dr Dog do a Beach Boys inspired The Unicorn, a worldwide hit for the Canadian Irishmen, The Irish Rovers. My Morning Jacket (yes that is a group) do several songs and all are fine, including the final 26 Second Song (anyone care to guess how long that one goes for??). Sarah Jarosz, who is another new name to me does a fine Queen of the Silver Dollar and Black Francis, again a new name, does a fine take of Cover of the Rolling Stone. Some may not like Billy Bob Thornton and the Boxmasters take on Sylvia s Mother but I love it! Taken at a jaunty pace it is something I think would have appealed to Shel. Nanci Griffith is fine on The Giving Tree. NOW, the only bad song on the whole album is a song I rate as one of Shel s best and that is The Ballad of Lucy Jordan, tortured to within an inch of death by Lucinda Williams. Painful, pitiful, self-indulgent are all terms that come to mind, but just plain awful covers it best. When it became cool to refer to her as just Lucinda I knew it was time to tune out but this is horrid. Still 14 songs out of 15 get the thumbs up. If this was a record you could at least score that track out so it could never be played, which is something that it deserves. Cornell Hurd A Bad Year for Love $30 Everybody loves Cornell Hurd and his band who are generally considered the best Austin has to offer. As always great value with 17 tracks, but a little different this time with 6 instrumentals recorded as a tribute to his great guitarist Paul Skelton

9 who passed away after a battle with cancer and makes his last appearance on this album. Apart from Roger Miller s Invitation to the Blues (a big hit for Ray Price) and a track Cornell informs us was played by Max Kernaghan s Four Dimensions in the 60s all songs are Cornell Hurd originals and each carry his trademark wit & wisdom. Respect from the Dead is Cornell s message to a former lover that is how Cornell feels, the fool she left broken hearted. T Jarrod Bonta is superb on piano, as he expertly punctuates Cornell s angst filled vocals. Woops, missed another non Cornell song, I ve Got Wine On My Mind, which was performed by great Johnny Paycheck. Scott Walls is great on steel guitar on another tale of regret, I Won t Apologise for Loving You. Hell, I should say heck, after all this is a g rating publication, I love Cornell. Still going well Booth, Tony The Key s in the Mailbox/ Lonesome Two original Capitol albums on 1cd by this great Ray Price inspired singer. Haggard, Merle Kern River/Chill Factor 2 on 1 $25 Haggard, Merle Out Among the Stars/ Friend in California $30 Classic Haggard rare albums available again! Hayes, Wade Place to Turn Around $30 Great vocalist back with a superb independent honky tonk cd. Jones, Georgette Kristofferson, Kris Miss Leslie Myles, Heather Robbins, Marty Slightly Used Woman $30 How good! Please Don t Tell Me How the Story Ends: The Publishing Demos tracks inc. the original demo of Me & Bobby McGee topped off with a brilliant 60 page book. Wrong IS What I Do Bset $30 She writes them all & sings them like a female George Jones. Just fabulous. In the Wind $30 Great album on her own label. Have I Told You Lately That I Love You? / I ve Got a Woman s Love $32. Great UK 2 on 1 back in stock. Both on cd for firs ttime., Sanders, Ray Funny How Time Slips Away $30 Classic vocalist on the Hillside label. 20 great songs. Scruggs, Earl/Tom t Hall Storyteller & The Banjo Man $28 Great album Serratt, Kenny Smith, Cal Watson, Gene Williams, Ron The Best $30 Brilliant Haggard style vocalist! The Best of $30 UK compilation of 16 original MCA tracks. The only cd ever of Cal s classic period. All killer, no filler. Matters of the Heart $30 20 track MCA label compilation from the UK. All great. The Longer You re Gone $30 (Our 2009 Album of the Year) from the son of Leona Williams & one time step son of Merle Haggard. Various Troubled Troubadours Wonderful 27 tracker $28 DVDS Commander Cody The DVD Collection $35 (w. Bill Kirchen) Flatt & Scruggs Best Of TV Shows Vol 9 $25 Flatt & Scruggs Best of TV Shows Vol 10 $25 Great ones. Haggard, Merle Live from Austin 1978 $30 Haggard, Merle Live from Austin 1985 $30

10 Haggard, Merle Ol Country Singer Live at Billy Bobs 2004 w. Freddy Powers & Janie Fricke. $35 Haggard, Merle Live at Church St station $25 (80 min) Jones, George 50 th Anniversary Tribute 2DVDs + Cd $35 Myles, Heather And the Cadillac Cowboys Live at Newland 76 minutes $35 Former Dwight co-hort Brantley Kearns is great in support. Newbury, Mickey Live at the hermitage $38 Watson, Dale And His Lone stars Newland $35 Great 90 minute plus. BEAR FAMILY NEWS These are due mid month. Please order asap to ensure you don t miss out: Rick Nelson : The Last Time Around $300 7cds page hard cover book. One of the greatest artists of all time and this features both his country rock classics as well as his return to rockabilly and rock & roll. He was also calling himself Ricky at the sad end of his life as Carl Perkins referred to him that way and he figured if it is good enough for the great Carl it is good enough for me!! 134 tracks. Conway Twitty : The Ballads Of $35 Great singer, this covers the period and is a companion to the Conway Rocks cd. 33 tracks and a 36 page booklet. Leads of with the original it s Only Make Believe. Johnny Burnette Ballads Of $35 Another companion volume this time to the Johnny Rocks 30 tracks and 36 page book. Bonnie Dobson Vive La Canadienne $32 Canadian folk singer best remembered for her song Morning Dew (not on this) This has 24 trcaks and runs just over 80 minutes. Her 1964 and 1972 folk albums are combined with previously unreleased material. Johnny Horton & Johnny Cash I m a Fishing Man $35 Rather unusual issue with only a 3 track cd but a metallic bulletin board (20x15cm) with magnetic key holders. Just what I always wanted!! John Pearse Lost 1966 Waldeck Audition $32 apprently a big influence in the folk guitar field. 35!!!Years of Bear Family Records Box set 3cd 68 tracks plus 208 page hard cover book.!! All songs are unique to this and are about both Bears as in the 4 legged kind and about Bear Family the label. A great cross section of artists and again the songs are only on these cds. The artists includes Deke Dickerson, Elizabeth Cook, Riders in the Sky, Chip Taylor, George Hamilton IV. A great collectable. It isnot going to be expensive. Probably $60-$80 depending on how much that book weighs. Freight out of Germany is not cheap. Make sure you get in early. This is a one time order only. OTHER BEAR FAMILY RECENT RELEASES IN STOCK As far as the first one goes please read the comment as this is repeated in its entirety from the last newsletter. Will use different font this time. **A Girl Named Johnny Cash an Other Tribute Songs $32 This is a classic case of one that may have been missed but when you find out about it, it will be a must have. Basically it is a series of tribute songs sung by well known artists to other artists. It takes its title from Jane Morgan s A Boy Named Sue answer song A Girl Named Johnny Cash, which considering she wasn t a country singer was just great. What makes it a must have

11 though are 10 songs by Stoney Edwards, one of the greatest country vocalists ever and 9 of these are seeing their first release on this cd. He of course was responsible for the wondrous Hank & Left Raised My Country Soul but the other 9 are just as good. They were recorded at a 1973 session and included the likes of Grady Martin, Weldon Myrick, Tommy Jackson, Lloyd Green, Charlie McCoy, Hargus Pig Robbins etc. In addition there are guests, eg on The Night Ernest Tubb show Came to Town ET s guitarist Billy Byrd is a guest; on The Carter Family Mother Maybelle plays autoharp; on Roy Acuff King of Country Music we get guest appearances from both Jimmie Riddle and Howdy Forrester; Bob Wills, The Fiddlin Man features both Tommy Jackson & Leon McAuliffe. As wonderful as these are, there are no duds among the 18 tracks. Hag s Tommy Collins tribute, Leonard is indeed one of Merle s best ever, and Rudy Thacker s little known Ballad of Johnny Horton is indeed a joy. ** The Big Bopper Hellooo Baby!! $32 Great 31 tracker. His hit Chantilly Lace was one of the most memorable of the 50s and this great cd has all his recordings including the original White Lightning, which he wrote as well as great humour filled songs such as Big Bopper s Wedding and It s the Truth Ruth. Also has every tribute song, including Bopper by Donna Dameron on which he guests. **Next Stop is Vietnam 13 cds page hard cover book, $390 At a tad under 4kgs this is a weighty volume. Over 300 tracks from every format with the title taken from a song by the least personable guy I ve ever met. Great set! If you want a track listing let me know. 2 in stock. **Bobby Charles See You Later Alligator 28 tracks $32 **Hedy West & Bill Clifton Getting Folk Out of the Country $32 **Eddie Cochran Rocks $35 35 tracks none better than Twenty Flight Rock & Sumemrtime Blues. How good!! **Smoke That Cigarette:Pleasue to Burn $32 32 tracks about cigarettes & smoking. **Pat Boone Drugstores Rockin $32 35 tracks. Rarities These are some of the best albums over the years and they are all out of print. Some of these go for 2 to 3 times what I have them listed as. All are in new/as new condition. Don t miss out, as most 1 copy only. These take great skill in acquiring, believe me. They are sourced from a number of places, all overseas. LATE ADDITIONS TO RARITIES Ball, David David Ball $28 This was going to precede Thinkin Problem and in their wisdom RCA didn t release it. A pity as it is very good with originals & covers. A must for David Ball fans, and isn t that just about everyone?? Dunn, Holly Across the Rio Grande $40 Dunn, Holly Holly Dunn $38 Dunn, Holly Cornerstone $35 Holly Dunn s first 3 albums on the MTM label were definitely her best with the

12 self titled one containing her biggest hit in Daddy s Hands, the second Cornerstone maybe her best with 2 stunning tracks in Strangers again & a delightful version of Jim Croce s Lovers Cross whilst the final MTM album had her delightful version of the title song, also done by Reba, but Holly wins!! All 3 albums are delightful. Pennington,R/Buddy Emmons Swinging by Request $40 Pennington,R/Buddy Emmons Goin Out Swingin $35 Pennington,R/Buddy Emmons It s All in the Swing $35 Ray Pennington was honcho of Step One Records, a Nashville independent label which had a wonderful roster. He was also a fine Ray price inspired vocalist & as many steel players would say Buddy Emmons is the best ever. The Step One House band, so to speak, was none too shabby with Rob Hajacos on fiddle, Bobby All on acoustic guitar and Bunky Keels on piano. The first has 21 tracks & Clinton Gregory is an excellent vocalist on 2 tracks. They are a mix of vocal & instrumentals, with Little Brown Jug featuring some extraordinary steel from Mr Emmons. The second has some great guest vocals by Curtis Potter and the 3 rd gives great country swing versions of what were originally big band recordings. All are super. Smith, Sammi Best $30 Now out of print. Great selection of all original tracks. Thompson, Jeff Jeff Thompson $40 No, not Thommo, but a fine singer who was going to have the first album release on the Arista country label but the album never came out. Has a style reminiscent of Ricky Van Shelton with a great deep voice. Does a superb version of The Greatest Man I Never Knew, a hit for Reba, but Jeff wins hands down!! Equally grand is the wonderful It s a Good Thing I Don t Love You Anymore, with a superb lyric and the upbeat Today is Elvis Birthday. Bandy, Moe Act Naturally $30 Bandy, Moe Many Mansions $35 Bandy, Moe No Regrets $35 (last 2 are very rare MCA albums) Bellamy Brothers Rebels Without a Clue $30 There MCA album from 1988 was their best with the title track, Fountain of Middle Age, The Courthouse & Andy Griffith Show being just some of the classics. Berry, Benny Standing Here Alone $45

13 Berry, Benny Some Things Never Change $40 Berry, Benny Mama s Rockin Chair $30 Berry, Benny When Trains Still Ran Through Dixie $40 Four albums on the long defunct Hawk Records label from Northern Ireland. Benny is an Oklahoma boy and these are possibly the most popular independent label albums we have ever had! Why wouldn t they be?! They are almost like 4 long lost Merle Haggard albums. They are that good. Mama s Rockin Chair is missing back graphic. All 10/10 Bogguss, Suzy/Chet Atkins Simpatico XXXXON SALEXXXXX $20 One of Chet s last albums and one of Suzy s best, if not the best. A must have. Bond, Johnny Very Best $35 with Hot Rod Lincoln, Ten Little Bottles etc Only place to get the originals & out of print. Boone, Larry One Way to Go $25 Boone, Larry Swingin Doors, Sawdust Floors $30 Boone, Larry Down That River Road $35 All 3 are as good as it gets. A great songwriter & singer he reminds of George Strait in the late 80s! Superb, Mrs Johnson. The first listed was his first CBS album & may be the best value in the entire newsletter Britton, Marsha Good Times & Hard Times $35 Great Album on Hawk label (see Benny Berry) We ve Had Some Good Times is a duet with Benny. Browne, Jann Tell Me Why $ gem long OOP As well as being a cracker singer she is a great writer with the highlight being Louisville. Emmylou guests. Browne, Jann It Only Hurts When I Laugh. Great west coast singer reminiscent of Emmylou.$25 Cartwright, Lionel Lionel Cartwright $30 Was nominated as one of 1989 s 3 best new artists along w. Clint Black and Garth Brooks. He loses absolutely nothing in comparison. Cash, Tommy Let An Old Racehorse Run $28 12 track indie on Playback inc duet with Jeannie C Riley Cash, Tommy Classics $30 15 tracks on his own label has Johnny cash on 4 tracks plus Connie Smith, Tom T Hall, George Jones etc. Clark, Guy Craftsman 2cds $30 His 3 WB albums on a 2CD out of print set. Coe, David Allan 1990 Songs for Sale. $48 20 new original recordings (not re-recordings of hits) was first on the DAC label. All great Coe songs such as A Marriage Made in Heaven Went to Hell, The Devil was to Blame, Tennessee Waltz With Me etc Copas, Cowboy Copasetic: The Cream of King-Starday Recordings $35 Out of print 26 tracker on the defunct Westside label.

14 Cryner, Bobbie Curless, Dick Dalton, Lacy J Bobbie Cryner $35 I always say this gem is the best album by a female we have ever had & (until Miss Leslie came along) the only time I have heard a female sing like George Jones. Very much like Melba Montgomery to these ears. The Drag em Off the Interstate Sock It To Them Hits of Dick Curless $30 Classic out of print Razor & Tie comp. of Dick s original Tower & Capitol Hits. Crazy Love $30 Stunning album which features a great version of Van Morrison title but the highlight is Little Boy Blue one of the best things you ll ever hear. Dalton, Lacy J Survivor $45 an amazing album; easily her best & that is saying something givenhe overall quality. Her version of Guy Clark s Old Friends ranks as one of the best recordings ever!!! Hard Luck Ace makes reference to both Waylon & Janis Joplin. A magical album. Davies, Gail Davis, Joey Pretty Words $25 The ubiquitous Jimmy Bowen was in a class of his own at the end of the 1980s. All songs by Gail inc. I Don t Know Why which was renamed Tell Me Why & was title track of Jann Browne s debut. Top cd. Love Songs, Waltz s True Stories & Lies The spelling may be a bit out but 17 superb honky tonk tracks are as good as it can go. Everybody loves this. $40 Delray, Martin Get Rhythm $45 This is absolutely one of the best albums we have ever had and whilst the title track featured Johnny Cash joining Martin in a sensational duet, I have no reservations in saying Martin s version of the Wood Newton song Lillie s White Lies is the best album track on any album we have ever had. The fact the rest of the album is nothing less than great makes this a must have. Trivia: Martin s real name is Mike Martin and he is a professional tennis coat. We still await his third album. Delray, Martin What Kind of Man XXXXSALEXXXX $25 Draper, Rusty Earle, Steve Edwards, Stoney Edwards, Stoney Second of only 2 albums. Greatest Hits $28 Out of Print 18 tracker. Uncut Gems $45 20 tracker put out by his Publishing company. Some have never appeared on his albums and in different versions when they did. Just For Old Times Sake. $60 Amazing late 80s independent by one of the best ever country vocalists. All great. The Best Of: Poor Folks Stick Together $35 20 of his greatest Capitol hits on an

15 Ewing, Skip out of print cd. Includes the amazing Two Dollar Toy, the controversial Blackbird & of course the classic Hank & Lefty Raised My Country Soul. Coast of Colorado $40 Wonderful deep voice singer best known nowadays as a songwriter. This MCA debut from 1988 was produced by Jimmy Bowen & features the hit The Gospel According to Luke. Ford. Tennessee Ernie Capitol Collectors Series $35 This 29 tracker is out of print and contains the best single collection of Ernie s hits & more. This is the best ever US series. Freberg, Stan Frickie, Janie Gaddis, Ron Gosdin, Vern Gosdin, Vern Gosdin, Vern Grand, Gil Greene, Jack Capitol Collectors Series XXXXXON SALEXXXXX $25 21 tracks. Again, the sound and presentation is stunning. Collects the best of Stan s musical parody tracks plus his Green Christmas tracks. Labor of Love $25 This 1989 CBS release was her best with the highlight being a stunning version of Steve Earle s best song, My Old Friend the Blues. Chip Off the Old Block $40 This has vanished off the planet. Ron was George Jones band leader and also first husband of Lorrie Morgan. He is a major talent in his own right. The title track was covered by its writer Vern Gosdin on The Voice cd. This album features guest appearances from former boss George Jones ( I Fell Off the Wagon ) Ex wife Lorrie Morgan ( All Day All Night Thing ) and Porter Wagoner ( When the Shiny Silver Eagle Meets the Great Speckled Bird ). A real gem. Alone XXXXXON SALEXXXXX $28 Came after his best Chiselled in Stone and was 100% cry in your beer ballads; as good as any George Jones album, ever! Nickels Dimes & Love $25 It doesn t get better than his duet with Janie Frickie, Two Good People With Love Gone Bad The Voice $ classic which proved Vern had not as yet reached the other side of the hill! Now out of print. Famous Last Words $25 Never actually released. The Jolly Green Giant $38 20 MCA & Decca tracks long deleted. Only time the originals have been on cd. Inc. 3 duets with Jeannie Seely. Haggard, Merle Capitol Collectors Series $25 20 tracks. The best single cd of Merle at his best. Haggard, Merle 5:01 Blues Epic Out of print $35 Haggard, Merle I m Always on a Mountain When I Fall $50 Out of print MCA album

16 Haggard, Merle Hardwick, Billy Harms, Joni Harris, Emmylou Hawkins, Hawkshaw Hobbs, Becky Horton, Steven Wayne Husky, Ferlin Jones, David Jansen, Frank Jones, George Jones, George Jones, George His Greatest And Best $25 MCA collection which is very well compiled. Too Country $25 A great singer and writer s only album. Like Dean Dillon. A+ Hometown Girl $38 Joni s original Capitol album. Very hard to get. Last Date $35 On defunct Eminent label & has 2 bonus tracks. This also has attractive slip sleeve. No slip sleeve $28 I m a Rattlesnakin Daddy $35 24 King tracks on this out of print Westside issue. All Keyed Up XXXON SALEXXX $25 Best ever female honky tonk album, with the best track being Jones on the Jukebox. Steven Wayne Horton Capitol album from 1989 was sadly his one & only. What you get is a great upbeat album a la Marty Stuart Hillbilly Rock but better. $28 Vintage Collection $28 20 hits. OOP. Bridges $30 Again a 10/10 oncer indie. Long out of print from 1994 will have you wondering why he didn t become one of country music s biggest stars. You re a Phone Call That I Need to Make $35 OOP on Bob Grady label. One of the best labels for independents & one of the best independents! Friends in High Places $30 All duets Wine Colored Roses $ album is very very hard to find on cd. Too Wild Too Long $140 If you were a country music lp collector in the 80s you may have bought from an American, L. Stanley Baumruk who had the rarest albums. When one was so incredibly rare he would always use 2 words in his listing and I use the same 2 here. Find one! Next to impossible. Includes some great songs but the best has to be The Man That Nobody Loves. Jones, George Alone Again/Grand Tour $40 2 on 1. Alone Again is only available here & is rated one of his very best albums. Jones, George Jones, George One Woman Man $35 Personal favourite. Place in the Country is one of his best unknown songs. Right up there with He Stopped Lovin Her Today & with the delicious irony he only gets his wish when he is buried! You Oughta Be Here With Me $38 This was the last album he did for Epic & it may be his best. Superb songs & he is in absolutely wonderful voice. Jones, Geo./Melba Montgomery Vintage Collection $55 20 classics!! Out of print and has all the wonderful United Artists label duets. His best duet partner Kane, Keiran Find My Way Home XXXON SALEXXX $25

17 Rare post O Kanes album. Kendalls 20 Favorites $35 The Kendalls made one album for Epic where they went and re-recorded their hits. The result was even better than the originals with the highlight being Royce s lead on Pittsburgh Stealers. Lind, Bob Best of Bob Lind $35 25 tracker Inc. #1 hit Elusive Butterfly. Logan, Josh Somebody Paints the Wall $55 sung in the style, sound & spirit of Mel Street. Lyda, Jacob Here We Go Again $30 Lyda, Jacob Three Times the Charm $30 Two great indie albums with the great indie producer Mike Headrick in tow. McCall, Darrell Pictures Can t Talk Back $35 his debut cd on the Atrap label from McCarters The Gift $35 Impossible to get debut. McCarters Better Be Home Soon XXXXON SALEXXXX $25. Hard to believe they only ever had 2 albums. This billed as Jennifer MCarter & the McCarters features a stunning take on the Crowded House song. Has slight bluegrass leanings & great songs. McDaniel, Mel Rockabilly Boy $35 There is no better song than You Can t Play the Blues in An Air conditioned Room!!!! McDaniel, Mel Country Pride $38 Very hard to find 1991 album with wonderful songs such as If I Live to Be a Hundred I ll Die Young and The Annual Blount County Snuff Dipper s Ball. Wundabar! McEntire, Reba Oklahoma Girl 2cds 40 Mercury tracks. Double cd case with attractive slip sleeve & book $40 Her best & most country. Have one without slip case $30 McRight, Alecia For Love s Sake $40 rare independent album from the wonderful Alecia Nugent. Not sure if Nugent is married/single/ married again or divorced name but this is a great album prod. by Carl Jackson/ Macon, Uncle Dave Country Music Hall of Fame (MCA) $25 Martin, Mario Keep it on the Country Side $48 This is the greatest mystery I have ever contended with. This superb 1991 album featured great songs and a great singer who reminds of Ricky Van Shelton but was only 17 at the time!!! Everybody loves this and it is as rare as they come. James Stroud produced. Martin, Sonny Martin, Tony I ve Always Been Country $38 Great indie with the saddest song ever on it. Rock A Bye Baby makes Little Jimmy Dickens Raggedy Ann seem jolly! Back to Bakersfield $40 One of the best Mike Headrick produced indies. 13 tracks with no less than 9 from the legendary

18 Whitey Shafer. Mata, Billy Made in Texas $30 Terrific San Antonio native. If This Was Texas rates as one of the most engagingly catchy things you would ever hear. Miller, Roger Best Of Volume Two: King of the Road $30. Best single cd of his hits. Long OOP Moffatt, Katy Greatest Show on Earth $28 Taken of the market as Ringling Bros objected to the title. Superb album & purists will need this version. It was later reissued as Evangeline Hotel. Montgomery, Melba/ Norma Jean First Ladies of country 22 tracks $28 Only place you ll get Melba doing No Charge. Moore, Lattie I m Not Broke But Badly Bent: Best of King-Starday recordings $40 29 great tracks on defunct Westside label Morgan, George Room Full of Roses: the George Morgan Collection Razor & Tie OOP $35 Morse, Ella Mae Capitol Collectors Series XXSALEXX $25 Mixed her styles from big band to country Nelson, Leo Under Neon Lights $55 Want to know my all time favourite independent, yeah not one of but the top spot?? This is it. Great album produced by Bob Grady with assist from the great Mike Headrick. 12 great track with a duet with Bill Arwood on the title track. Nelson, Willie A Horse Called Music $35 Nelson, Willie Promiseland $35 Nelson, Willie Peace in the Valley: The Gospel Truth Collection with Willie Nelson Jnr. They used a little poetic licence with the artists as Willie Nelson Jnr was known as Billy Nelson al lhis life, up until it tragically ended on Christmas day So this album had special meaning for Willie as it seems this was the only time Willie Jnr/Billy had recorded. The results are stunning. Billy/Willie Jnr generally trades parts of the songs with Wilie and has a distinctive voice that is iinstantly memorable. He does the sole vocal on "My Body's Just a Suitcase for Your Soul" and it indeed may be the best track on an album where nothing is less than grand. Willie solos on "Troublemaker" and it is a different and far better version than on his album of the same name. being a big Willie fan I must rate this as his best gospel album an indeed one of the best in general. $55 Newbury, Mickey Lulled by the Moonlight $30 Newton, Wayne Coming Home $28 No I haven t gone nuts as this is a great 1989 country album which is really good and features a great

19 duet with Tammy Wynette. All good. O kanes Tired of the Running $35 O kanes Imagine That XXXON SALEXXX $20 Superb duo of Jamie O Hara & Keiran Kane. Wonderful songs with a touch of bluegrass. Owens, Buck Hot Dog $30 Owens, Buck Kickin In $30 Owens, Buck Act Naturally $35 His 3 comeback albums which feature the likes of Emmylou, Dwight & Ringo (who did vocal on the Beatles version of Act Naturally ) Pacheco, Tom Bare Bones & Barbed Wires 2cds $40 Everybody s favourite songwriter, that nobody s ever heard of!!! Great unplugged album Parker, Billy Parton/Wagoner Parton/Wagoner Paycheck, Johnny Paycheck, Johnny Petrone, Shana Pierce, Webb Price, David Price, Ray Price, Ray And Friends $38 OOP Bear Family cd with 2 albums on the one. The first is stunning with all duets, Darrel McCall, Cal Smith, Webb Pierce, Ernest Tubb etc!! Two of A Kind $28 20 tracks Sweet Harmony $30 another 20 tracks Both on the excellent Pair label. The Real Mr Heartache: The Little Darlin Years $55 Country Music Foundation with Paycheck at his best. I love George Jones but his Epic label gems owe more than a passing nod to this. 24 tracks. Many have only heard his later outlaw albums but his recordings on the Little Darlin label actually inspired George Jones! Survivor $30 His last hurrah, out of print w. the highlight I Can t wuit Drinking. Shana Petrone $55 one of those rarities that never was actually released. King of the Honky Tonk $25 CMF label. 100% Texan $30 Grand!! Title says it all. Sometimes a Rose $25 great 90s album which contains one of our favourite tracks in Not a Dry Eye in the House. Heart of Country Music $48 Step One label releases are so good. Ray works with a very sympathetic producer in Ray Pennington and a crack team of musos On this Ray does 20 country classics with largely acoustic backing. Interesting that on my Nashville trip last year I met Ray Waddell who is doing a biography on Ray Price and I told him how much I liked this and he told me it was also Ray s favourite of all the albums he had done. Nothing is better than Ray s version of Is Anybody Going to San Antone. Rhodes, Kimmie West Texas Heaven XXXSALEXXX $20 In the top 2-3 female folk-country albums ever & has duets with Willie, Waylon & Townes Van Zandt. A steal