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"No Color In Poor": San Antonio's Harlem Label
If it had only served as the initial catalyst in the career of one artist, Doug Sahm, Harlem Records of San Antonio would be significant enough. But it also gave us outstanding vocal group records...
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Goldband Records: The Early Years (UPDATE)
Eddie Shuler outside of Goldband Studio, 2001. Note: This is a revised, expanded, and corrected version of the original article (date of update: Nov. 29, 2011). For most people, the history of Goldband...
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Rudy and his Reno Bops on Rio 101
Reno Bops - Cry, Cry/Ramblin' (Rio 101)Reno Bops - Vocal by Rudy T. - "Cry, Cry"Reno Bops - "Ramblin"If Rudy "Tee" Gonzales's dating of "Cry, Cry" to 1957 is correct, then it is one of the first...
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Rudy and the Reno Bops on Blaze 104
The Reno Bops - Indian Rock / Cry, Cry (Blaze 104)"Indian Rock""Cry, Cry"About three years after their debut on Rio (heard here), San Antonio's Rudy and the Reno Bops returned to vinyl with "Indian...
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Swing Records vs. Atlantic in 1949
The Swing Records Manufacturing Company of Paris, Texas, has been the subject of no small amount of curious inquiry over the years. I've blogged before about their releases by Roy Lee Brown and his...
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Conrad Johnson and his Orchestra on Freedom 1501
The Conrad Johnson Orchestra (Conney's Combo), vocal L.C. Williams - Won't You Please Come Back / I Don't Want Your Baby (Freedom 1501) "Won't You Please Come Back" (vocal L.C. Williams)"I Don't Want...
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Perry Cain on Freedom 1200
Perry Cain - "Big Timing Grandma" / "My Heart Belongs to You" (Freedom 1200)"Big Timing Grandma" (link to Soundcloud)"My Heart Belongs to You" (link to Soundcloud)This is the sixth in a series...
View ArticlePerry Cain with the Bill Hayes Orch. on Sittin' in With
Bill Hayes Orch. with Perry Cain, vocal - "Hurry Home Baby" (unissued) / "I'm Sorry I Was Reckless (With Your Heart)" (Sittin' in With 560)"Hurry Home Baby" (Link to Soundcloud)"I'm Sorry I Was...
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J.D. Edwards on Imperial 5245
J.D. Edwards - Hobo / Cryin' (Imperial 5245)"Hobo"https://soundcloud.com/4578texas/j-d-edwards-hobo-imperial-5245"Cryin'"Buried deep in the Lightnin' Hopkins discography is this almost unknown item....
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Bennie Leaders and his Western Rangers on OKed 1050
Bennie Leaders and his Western Rangers - Hey Miss Fannie / My Love For You (OK'ed 1050)"Hey Miss Fannie""My Love for You"Bennie Leaders' last record as a vocalist (he made a few square dance records...
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The Nite Owls on Vocalion 04118
The Nite Owls - Ain't That Too Bad/You Fooled Around And Waited Too Long (Vocalion 04118)"Ain't That Too Bad""You Fooled Around And Waited Too Long"San Antonio's Nite Owls don't get a lot of love on...
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William Spross with his Zither on Spross
William Spross with his Zither - Boogie Woogie Machine/The Greatest Step in Life (Spross Songs and Records no #)"Boogie Woogie Machine" (Harvey Kroeger as Soloist)"The Greatest Step in Life" (William...
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Lightnin' Hopkins - The 1954 ACA Sessions
Lightnin’ Hopkins’ ACA Studio sessions from 1954 -- most of which were released on the New York-based Herald label -- are among his most vital, but also his most misunderstood. Though not best-sellers,...
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Vanity of Vanities - The Special Edition Label (1962-1990)
Vanity of Vanities - The Special Edition Label (1962-1990)I would imagine most Texas music specialists have never heard of the Special Edition label out of Houston. This is not surprising. Although it...
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Pete McWilliams on Mutual 205
Pete McWilliams (The Wondering Cowboy) - I Hope the Sandman Throws Rocks in Your Eyes / The Ramblers Blues (Mutual 205)Pete McWilliams had an established reputation in the Houston area during the 1940s...
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The Sherman Williams Orchestra on Bullet 283 / 304
Skippy Brooks, vocalist/pianist with the Sherman Williams Orchestra, 1940s. The Sherman Williams Orchestra - (Red Head Blues) My Flamin' Gal - vocal by Skippy Brooks (Bullet 283) Ooh-Wee Baby Gee -...
View ArticleEddie Noack on 4-Star X-73
Eddie Noack and The Pecos Valley Boys - I'd Change My Ramblin' Ways for You / I Awake and Find You Gone (4-Star X-73) "I'd Change My Ramblin' Ways for You""I Awake and Find You Gone"Eddie Noack's...
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Charlie Moore Interview (Billy Jack Wills' Western Swing Band)
Billy Jack Wills and his Western Swing Band, early 1950s. From left: Vance Terry, Kenny Lowery, Dick McComb, Charlie Moore, Billy Jack Wills, Cotton Roberts, Tiny Moore. Click to enlarge.The late 1940s...
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Barre Recording/Apogee Records of Victoria, Texas
After 40 years of research, it sometimes seems that no Texas label was so localized that could it nearly escape all documentation, but the Apogee/Barre label and studio from Victoria perhaps comes...
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High Pockets and the Sun Valley Playboys on Rainbow 1086/87
High Pockets (Manuel Dickerson) and the Sun Valley Playboys - "Then We'll Be Happy" / "Boy Crazy Jane" (Rainbow 1086/87)Not much is known about the Sun Valley Playboys, who walked into Bill Quinn's...
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