The Ohio Valley Sound

James Tussey

2010-07-22T14:23:00.002-04:00

James Tussey
Laurel Leaf no #
RITE pressing 24171/24172
London, Kentucky 1968
Curtains In The Window / I Had A Dream Of You

Another great country bop/rockabilly tune from 1968! The Laurel Leaf label imprint was owned and operated by Ray Hoskins, who recorded many fantastic primitive bluegrass tunes for his own label. This partcular release has proven to be very difficult to track, and possibly could be the only known copy in the hands of local collectors. Stay tuned for another great release on this label by Gary Wheeler & The Bushwackers...

I HAD A DREAM OF YOU

CURTAINS IN THE WINDOW

L.C. Angel with Coye Farmer & The Blue Mountain Boys

2010-07-22T14:04:00.004-04:00

L.C. Angel with Coye Farmer & The Blue Mountain Boys
Baron Records no #
RITE pressing 22497/22498
Hamilton, Ohio 1968
Walking Out / Conscience I'm Guilty

One of the last records RITE pressed in 1968 comes this excellent re-make of Walter Scott's "Ruby Records" release. This was a massive jukebox hit here in the "Ohio Valley", so much in fact that Angel requested another pressing in 1980 on the "A & A" label.

WALKING OUT

Bob Spencer & T. Taylor

2010-07-21T00:35:00.010-04:00

Bob Spencer & T. Taylor accompanied by The White Tower Gospel Band guitarist: J. Sizemore / accompanied by the Pentecostal Travelers guitarist: Pete Nance
Spencer Records E.P. 501
RITE pressing 14831/14832
Cincinnati, Ohio 1965
Move Up A Little Closer / On The Mountain With Jesus / Man Of Faith / He Will Calm The Troubled Waters

Super primitive country/bluegrass gospel bopper from 1965! The guitarist on Side B is credited to Pete Nance, or Pete Nantz who recorded the wonderful two-sider on Clix Records from Cincinnati "Jukebox Pearl"/"Flip Flop & Fly". I found this along with the Pete Nantz E.P. on Jewel so I am almost positive it is indeed the same guy. Strange that each side features a different band with the same lead singer?

HE WILL CALM THE TROUBLED WATERS

MOVE UP A LITTLE CLOSER

Abe Link & The Western Spotlighters

2010-07-04T20:24:00.007-04:00

Abe Link & The Western Spotlighters
S.T.R.C. Canton Records 106
Canton, Ohio 1955
Skeleton Bookie / Town & Country Polka

Spooky, weird, primitive and downright creepy one here. Listen closely to the lyrics an "Honest Abe" will tell you all about burying a body in his cellar. These guys did at least three records on Canton, this one being the best by far.

SKELETON BOOKIE

BIlly Martin

2010-07-04T20:18:00.005-04:00

Billy Martin
Lucky Records 0009
RITE pressing 3003/3004
Cincinnati, Ohio 1960
If It's Lovin' That You Want / Angel

Perfect country bop/rockabilly sound from the "Queen City". Martin also re-recorded this tune for Sims Records in California about 5 years later.

IF IT'S LOVIN' THAT YOU WANT

Jimmy & The Gems

2010-07-04T20:10:00.005-04:00

Jimmy & The Gems
Tone Records no #
RITE pressing 7479/7480 1962
Twisting Sadie / The Big Rumble

Low-fi crude rockabilly, backed with a kick-ass instrumental. Members of this band hailed from both Indiana, and Ohio.

TWISITNG SADIE

THE BIG RUMBLE

The Dixie Harmonairs

2010-05-31T23:05:00.001-04:00

The Dixie Harmonairs
Dixie Records no #
Covington, Kentucky
Honey Hush/Rock Around The Clock

Covington, Kentucky is located ten minutes from Cincinnati, Ohio, right over the river. This custom pressing is about as crude as they get, both in appearance and sound. All known copies are pressed on thick vinyl from a pressing plant unknown to me, and come with hand stamped labels. This particular Dixie imprint is not related to the more familiar "DIXIE" label related to Starday Records. Both sides are fine examples of primitive rockabilly from the Ohio Valley.

HONEY HUSH

ROCK AROUND THE CLOCK

Joe & Ray Shannon

2010-05-31T22:56:00.005-04:00

Joe & Ray Shannon
Shenandoah Records 246-08
Columbus, Ohio 1964
Hobo Baby / He Will Be The One

Fine primitive country bopper from Columbus.

HOBO BABY

Ray Lunsford

2010-05-12T01:54:00.008-04:00

Ray Lunsford (King Of The Electric Mandolin)
Sage Records E.P. 285
Hollywood, California
I Don't Love Nobody / Rustic Dance / Pickin' Around / Red Wing

Best known as the madolin player for Jimmie Skinner, Lunsford made several great records for Starday, Excellent, Sage, Allandale and many others I'm sure. Legend has it Lunsford and Skinner were next door neighbors for years before Skinner found out he was a musician, and asked him to play at a backyard barbecue. The rest is history. A true hometown hero for me.

PICKIN' AROUND

I DON'T LOVE NOBODY

Ray Lunsford

2010-05-12T01:49:00.003-04:00

Ray Lunsford
Excellent Records 226
Cincinnati, Ohio 1955
Country Pickin / Red Wing

Amazing mandolin and fiddle instrumental two-sider, complete with photo stamp on label!

COUNTRY PICKIN

The Bluegrass Ramblers

2010-05-12T01:31:00.002-04:00

The Bluegrass Ramblers
Spinner Records 104
Columbus, Ohio 1965/1966
Too Late / Yesterday's Love

Amazing harmony, instrumentation and lyrics on this stunning bluegrass tune from the Capitol of Ohio. Spinner had quite a few releases covering pop, country, bluegrass and even garage bands. If anybody has any information on these fellas, drop a line...

YESTERDAY'S LOVE

Walter Brown & Son Floyd

2010-05-12T01:04:00.004-04:00

Walter Brown & Son Floyd
Melody Records E.P. 115
RITE pressing 21611/21612
Hamilton, Ohio 1968
Magic Valley / The Infidel's Daughter / Heaven Will Surely Be Worth It All / There's A Light Guiding Me

The Melody label from Hamilton, Ohio was owned and operated by William Jones, who also owned the Pine Tree, and Sunrise labels as well. Many fantastic hillbilly, gospel, bluegrass, and primitive country releases can be heard on these prolific labels. For my money the Walter Brown & Son Floyd E.P. is easily the best of the bunch. Something about his voice, the guitar and the primitive sound on this platter just kill me. Another late 60's recording from the Ohio Valley that sounds like early 50's "Anywere Else, U.S.A.".

MAGIC VALLEY

THERE'S A LIGHT GUIDING ME

The Wiley Bros.

2010-05-11T16:11:00.003-04:00

The Wiley Bros. (Jim, Jack, & Danny Wiley)
Log Cabin 905
RITE pressing 16141/16142
Mt. Healthy, Ohio 1966
You're The Cheating Kind / Gone To Be An Angel

The Log Cabin imprint was ran by Rusty York, as a division for his "Jewel Records" label. It featured mostly country and bluegrass recordings by local talent. The Wiley Bros. sound very young to me, most likely a pre-teen trio. Their young voices allow them to have amazing harmony, and the song writing is very mature for someone their age. Easily my favorite bluegrass tune from this area.

YOU'RE THE CHEATING KIND

Mary B. Huffman

2010-05-06T19:04:00.006-04:00

Mary B. Huffman
Light Of Life Records no #
ARC pressing
Hamilton, Ohio 1967
I Need God / My God Isn't Dead

The Light Of Life label ran out of Hamilton, Ohio from the mid-sixties, into the early seventies, and released several gospel 45's, and LP's. Rhythm guitar supplied by J.D. Jarvis' son Lucky on this great example of gospel rockabilly.

Courtesy of the "Pizza Boy".

I NEED GOD

Pat Kingery & His Kentuckians vocal by Tommy Holmes

2010-05-04T16:34:00.005-04:00

Pat Kingery & His Kentuckians vocal by Tommy Holmes
Vance Records 411
RITE pressing 6861/6862
Scottsville, Kentucky 1962
Jam On The Lower Shelf / Jam On The Lower Shelf

Bluegrass music and politics have been linked together for ages, and this unique recording combines the two. Marion Vance was a politican from Kentucky who payed Joe Dyson (owner of Goldenrod Records) to press up this 45 to be played over local airwaves to help promote his campaign. First issued on (Goldenrod 14) in 1957, and then issued on Vance at least three different times, which shows that Vance used the disc as promotional material for each year he ran for office. The vocalist heard here is Tommy Holmes, famous for his recording of "Wa-Chic-Ka-Noka" on Joe Dysons' other label Cherry Records. Pat Kingery & His Kentuckians made many records for several labels, including Goldenrod with vocalist Elva Carter, and the backing band on Judy Capps' release for Cherry in 1959.

JAM ON THE LOWER SHELF

Hisel & Gerldean Carpenter & The Gospel Rhythmaires

2010-05-01T13:35:00.001-04:00

Hisel & Gerldean Carpenter & The Gospel Rhythmaires
REM Records 322
RCA custom pressing
Lexington, Kentucky 1964
I Am Going To A City / He'll Be There In Time

True country gospel bopper on Bill Mooney's REM label. Don't know much about these two, except that they also had an E.P. and at least two L.P.'s. on REM, and an L.P. on Jewel.

I AM GOING TO A CITY

Ernest Martin With The Norvel Brothers & O.C. Robbins

2010-04-30T19:37:00.000-04:00

Ernest Martin With The Norvel Brothers & O.C. Robbins
A Martin Bluegrass Special E.P. 1019
RITE Pressing 4111/4112
Dayton, Ohio/Winchester, Kentucky 1960
Gabriel Blow Your Silver Trumpet / I Want To Live Humble / White Dove Of Peace / The Golden Crown

Ernest Martin recorded as many as thirteen 45's, three 78's, and eight albums, before calling it a career in 1986. Born January 27th, 1914 in Clay City, Kentucky, Martin spent alot of time in the Hamilton, Dayton and Middletown areas of Ohio. Almost exclusively a gospel artist, his recordings feature wonderful "rockabilly" style guitar playing courtesy of Bob Norvel. If this sound interests you, check out the BRITISH ARCHIVE OF COUNTRY MUSIC CDD 152 "Ernest Martin And His Gospel Melody Makers" from the U.K.

I Want To Live Humble

Les & Helen Tussey & The Golden Hill Boys

2010-04-30T18:55:00.000-04:00

Les & Helen Tussey & The Golden Hill Boys
Poor Boy Records 105
RITE pressing 2232/2233
Muncie, Indiana 1959
They Went Around / Married To A Friend

The Poor Boy label is familiar to most for its releases by The Van Brothers (Servant Of Love), and Norman Witcher (Somebody's Been Rocking My Boat). But this little ditty is by far my favorite that the label has to offer. Les & Helen Tussey had two releases for Poor Boy, the other being a nice country gospel tune, and also released a pure country two-sider on the Madison label from Cincinnati, famous for its release by The Big Whopper (Nelson Young). Everytime I listen to this song, it makes me think of the Darlin Family on the "Andy Griffith Show". I can just picture them pickin' and singin' this tune with Andy in front of his fire place in the living room...

They Went Around

Glenn & Vivian Watson

2010-04-30T18:39:00.000-04:00

Glenn & Vivian Watson
BMC Records 1000
RITE Pressing 2264/2265
Dayton, Ohio 1959
I Couldn't See You / Just Keep On Going

Glenn & Vivian Watson originally hailed from Estill County, Kentucky, but spent most of their proffessional music career in the Ohio valley. They worked as a radio disc jokey team in Dayton, Middletown and Piqua Ohio. I am almost certain all of their five 45's were released through the help of Cark Burkhardt, the owner of the RITE pressing plant, and the Gateway/Kentucky/Big 4 Hits labels.
This is one of my personal all-time favorite country boppers from Ohio.

Just Keep On Going

Sharlet Sexton & The Tennessee Valley Boys

2010-04-28T21:49:00.000-04:00

Sharlet Sexton & The Tennessee Valley Boys
Breeze Records 401
Livingston, Tennessee 1968
My Old Heartaches Are In The Past / Since Baby Put Me Down

Here is one of the real true treasures of the Ohio Valley! Miss Sharlet Sexton & the Tennessee Valley Boys were buried in obscurity for almost 42 years until recently being compiled on CD by Collector Records head honcho, Cees Klopp. The "Nuclear Wildman" hipped me to this record nearly four years ago when I traded for my first copy, and I have never been the same since. This record has been a staple on my turntable at least twice a week since bringing it home from rural Indiana. Miss Sexton recorded this number when she was sixteen years old with the help of Herman Hatfield (deceased), her Uncle Johnnie Flatford (mandolin; deceased), cousin Jimmy Flatford (upright bass), and Bud Wall (lead guitar). They traveled and performed in Indiana, Ohio, Michigan, Kentucky and Virginia until 1972 when she decided to get married and walk away from the trials and tribulations of being a country music troubadour. She and the boys left behind (to the best of my knowledge) five 45's, and one incredibly obscure LP.
Currently Miss Sexton resides in Anderson, Indiana, works as a police/fire dispatcher and has been working on some home recordings on her computer.

Since Baby Put Me Down

Satisfied

Will The Circle Be Unbroken

Walt Cochran & His Holly River Boys

2010-04-25T15:42:00.000-04:00

Walt Cochran & His Holly River Boys
Olimpic Records 249
KING Custom Pressing
Columbus, Ohio 1963
(Darlin' What Am I Gonna Do / I'm Sittin' On Top Of The World

From the capitol of Ohio comes this rough and tumble version of the timeless classic "Sittin' On Top Of The World". This record was re-released on the Holly label based in West Virginia which might be where Cochran orriginated from. A fine example of "The Ohio Valley Sound".

I'M SITTIN' ON TOP OF THE WORLD

Tom Craig & The Trenton Valley Boys

2010-04-25T14:07:00.000-04:00

Tom Craig & The Trenton Valley Boys

Jay Records E.P. 1960

RITE Pressing

Sidney, Ohio 1960

My Dream Girl / Your Daddy's Coming Home / Your Girl Or Mine / Please Tell Me

The Jay Records label was owned and operated by Jim & Edith Young, who also recorded many great records in their own right, for the label. It basically was a "song-poem" operation where local yocals could write a song, and have professional talent set their words to music in hopes of making a hit. Labels like "Tin-Pan-Alley", and "Preview" seem to be some of the more popular song-poem labels, and we know that they pressed a significant amount of each record, but that is not the case with the Jay label. Sometimes as little as 25 copies were given back to the song writer, making it nearly impossible to track down every release. E.P. 1960 seems to be one of the most obscure offerings in the label's vast catalog. No idea who Craig was, or where he came from but he sure delivers with two fine primitive rockabilly tunes.

YOUR DADDY'S COMING HOME

PLEASE TELL ME

Bob Martin & The Chapel Hill Singers

2010-04-25T13:46:00.000-04:00

Bob Martin & The Chapel Hill Singers

Mar-Tone Records 0001

King Custom Pressing

Hamilton, Ohio 1962

World I Left Behind / Why

This is the same Bobby Martin who recorded for Ruby, and Bel-Kay out of Hamilton, Ohio in 1957/58. He was a disc jokey in 1959 at WHBN in Harrodsburg, KY, home to the Al Vic label. Song writer Kendall Hayes recorded many records as well for Ohio, and Kentucky labels in 1962.

I love the piano and guitar work on this one, and the vocal delivery reminds me of Bob Luman's approach.

WORLD I LEFT BEHIND

Cherokee Rhythmaires vocal by Billy Parsons

2010-04-25T00:36:00.000-04:00

The Cherokee Rhythmaires vocal by Billy Parsons

Cherokee Records 780

King Custom Pressing

Wellston, Ohio 1958

My Everything / What I Get For Loving You

As far as I know this is the first offering from Bill Parsons, famous for his "All American Boy" release on Fraternity Records. The Cherokee label is best known for the releases by Earl Reed & His Rhythm Rockers featuring Johnny Scoggins, but this is has proven to be the hardest release to find. A great melodic, almost "teen" sounding bopper with a rockabilly feel.

WHAT I GET FOR LOVING YOU

Dick Fowler & The Original Ohio Valley Boys

2010-04-25T00:03:00.000-04:00

Dick Fowler & The Original Ohio Valley Boys

Maarc Records 1546

RITE Pressing 25543/25544

Akron, Ohio 1970

My Eyes Were Wide Open / Tap Room Blues

Here is a classic example of "The Ohio Valley Sound", and from 1970 no less! One of the most interesting attributes about the music from the Ohio Valley, is that we never lost touch with our roots, and here is the proof. While city slickers in New York, or Los Angeles were digging the sounds of Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, or C.C.R., this is what "buckeyes" were doing...
A fast paced bopper with fantastic guitar breaks supplied by Rudy Thacker!

TAP ROOM BLUES