Fake country from the early Fifties,and lots of it. With more to come. Can't beat that, eh? Nope. You can't. Why am I. Typing in partial sentences? Sorry. About that.
These are, of course, budget label "covers" of country hits. All were ripped by me from 78s in my crazed collection, and, while most are in "eh" condition, none are hopeless. In fact, one is nearly mint, and it's from the Record-o-Mail Co., of all places. Record-o-Mail singles never turn up mint, yet mine did (see last image).
The most enjoyable tracks, to my ears, are the counterfeit Hank Williams numbers, along with the no-name cover of Elvis' That's All Right, though it's Marty Robbins' version being copied here. Considering the get-it-over-with-quick nature of these cheap label sessions, I suppose we should be amazed by the competence of these copies. No disasters in this bunch--in fact, none are less than reasonably catchy. We almost expect one of these bandleaders to start off with, "Okay, boys, let's make this reasonably catchy!"
Thanks, Hap, Smokey, Al, Del, Steve, Bob, Paul, Mimi, and (no artists listed) for the reasonably catchy country music we are about to hear. Click here to hear: Fake Country.
Somebody's Stolen My Honey--Smokey Drew (Folk Music 146)
Half as Much--Al Harmon (Same)
Almost--Steve Thompson (Same)
Three Ways of Knowing--Al Harmon and Paul South (Same)
The Gold Rush Is Over--Bob Sandy and His International Cowboys (Tops 326)
Howlin' at the Moon--Del Gillman and His Bar-X Boys (Tops 298)
I Can't Help It--Same.
Hey, Good Lookin'--Del Gillman and His Bar-X Boys (Tops 296)
Let's Live a Little--Same.
Too Old to Cut the Mustard--Bob Sandy and Mimi Martel (Tops 321)
Silver and Gold--Bob Sandy and His International Cowboys (Tops 321)
Kaw Liga--"Hap" Williams (Victory Extended Play Records BG-1020)
That's All Right--(Western Extended Play Records HB-8)
Would You Mind--Same.
The Kentuckian Song--(Western Extended Play Records HB-13)
9 comments:
I guess there aren't much things more interesting than budget covers!
love this stuff Thanks? Anybody know who the mystery artist/ Artist is on the western ep? Chhers
The Kentuckian song was issued on Gateway top tunes 45 - 1134 by Art Rouse is it the same version?
+ Al Runyon had would you mind on Gateway top tunes 1116 is this the same?
I don't have those Gateways, so I don't know. I wouldn't be surprised, with the way these labels swapped masters.
"Hap" Williams doin' Hnk Williams? That's right sneaky.
Wonder how many birthdays were ruined over the years because well-meaning moms, dads and grans got shafted by buying The Grasshoppers instead of The Chipmunks, Chubby Chess for Chubby Checker (or Fats Domino) or various Beat Groups with Beatles names or pictures on the cover.
Speakin' of "Too Old," Homer & Jethro dropped a line about being "Too Old To Cut the Mustard" into their parody of "Settin' the Woods On Fire." Me, I can't listen to Hank's version the same way, having discovered that the line was inspired by a too-spicy Mexican meal. Hank, leaving the campfire, figured he'd be "settin' the woods on fire." Aw, shoot.
Patti Page lives!
Any chance you could post a new download link?
Thanks,
Derik
P.S. I've got several Western EPs on my blog.
I had to make a swift exit from Mediafire recently, so... we'll see. Hopefully, I still have the zip on my hard drive.
The link is back in action--I moved the file to new storage. Enjoy.
I'll check out your blog--looks great.
Thanks lee. Hope I can keep finding these mail order records. Wish people had taken better care of them. They're usually pretty beat up by the time I find them.
-Derik
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