To Loudermilk bio & link page
Back to part 1, 1956-1960 The Colonial, Columbia, Universal-Cedarwood years
This is part 2, 1960-1963 RCA, Hickory, Nashville, Acuff-Rose years
To part 2, 1960-1963 RCA, Hickory, Nashville, teen, hillbilly and novelty
To part 3, 1963-1969 RCA, Hickory, Nashville, country, bizarre and open minded singer-songwriter songs
To part 4, 1970 & later MIM, Europe, years of retirement
To part 5, Loudermilk singing traditionals and covering other songwriters
To part 6, unknown songs/covers - info wanted!
To a few sound samples of unreleased songs.
Would you believe it, European Champion body building 1982. Ritva 'Kike' Elomaa,
even recorded the song...!
Original version written by Loudermilk in 1959 and recorded by
(Cherokee Indian) Marvin Rainwater, entitled "Pale Faced Indian".
Loudermilk later reshuffled some lyrics and released it in the mid 1960s as "The Lament Of The Cherokee Reservation Indian",
which was shortened later to "Indian Reservation" by Don Fardon scoring a worldwide hit.
The Raiders (vocals Mark Lindsay) copied it for the US market
A well-known story is that when Loudermilk was asked by American Top 40 radio show about the story behind
the Raider's hit Indian Reservation,
he concocted a tale that he wrote the song after crashing his car in a blizzard and being kidnapped
by Cherokee Indians. He claimed that they tortured him for days and only let him go after he promised
to write a song about their plight. DJ Casey Kasem ran the story about four times and called it the
"one of the most incredible stories we've ever told on AT40"
The song has not only been used by American and Canadian Indians as a protest song.
In 1972 a Jamaican black reggae version was recorded (new lyrics and re-titled "African Blood")
and more recently Slovenian fascisto-rock band Laibach made an impressive and penetrating cover.
In their "National Reservation" they comment on how Eastern European Balkans nations are being Americanised and Japanised.
← picture sleeve of the early Japanese 45rpm Hickory release of the Roy Acuff Jr. version
→ Kiowarini (ps. for Francois Vincent de Betsiamites), a 'French-Canadian indian',
recorded it in French: Le Cri de la Nation (not on the depicted LP)
Marvin Rainwater (1960, MGM 12865 as "Pale Faced Indian")
John D Loudermilk (1966, LP Sings a Bizarre Collection)
Roy Acuff Jr (1967, Hickory 1456)
Lewis & Clarke Expedition (1967, LP Earth, Wind, Fire & Water, group with young Michael Murphey)
Don Fardon (1967, Pye 25437; 1971 reissued on Youngblood)
Santo & Johnny (1968, LP On The Road Again, instrumental version)
Living Brass (1969, LP The Horse/ Grazing in the Grass And Other Hits)
The Nashville Teens (1969, Major Minor 599)
The Hotvill's (1969, LP Slow and Soul Beat Party, French budget dance covers LP)
Nokie Edwards (1970, LP Nokie!, instrumental by ex-Ventures guitarist)
Marco Polo (1970, Vogue DV11157, Weiße Man hat uns belogen, German lyrics)
Paul Revere & the Raiders (1971, Columbia 45332 US #1 hit)
John D Loudermilk (1971, LP Elloree, weird WB-version)
Björn Skifs (1971, LP Opopoppa, Sweden)
Hawkey Franzén (1971, "Vi te Vakna", version in Swedish)
Per Carsten (1971, Triola TD 515, "Den lille kommunes klagesang", version in Danish)
Piloto (1971, 45 rpm EMI, Spanish version "Reserva India")
The Riders (1971, Odeon 8671, another "Reserva India", from Argentina)
Daniel (1971, Fonit SPF-31289, "Fra lacrime e la terra", Italian cover)
Jarkko Antikainen & Laura Ruotsalosta (1971, Decca 5761 as "Cherokee Heimo", Finnish version)
Kiowarini ("Le Cri de la Nation", cover by a 'French-Canadian Indian')
Robert Last & seinem Orchester (1971, LP Happy Dancing 4)
Frank Valdor (2LP Dynamic Man, German instrumental orchestral party music)
Hugo Strasser (1971±, LP Yesterday (Vom Twist zum Beat), a popular Bavarian dancehall band)
Frederik (Ilkka Sysimetsä) (1972, LP Tulin Näin Ja Voitin, another Finnish "Cherokee Heimo")
Jackie Rowland (1972, Sioux 015, a reggae version)
Funky Brown (1972, Sioux 018, another reggae version, now titled "African People")
The Jay Boys (1972, HarryJ 6644, "African People" in a Harry J mix)
The Indians (1972, LP Indian Reservation, an Irish showband)
Liz Howard (Stardust 301, 45 rpm but not on the 1950s label)
Martin Circus (1975, LP No.1 Hits USA, French lyrics "L'amie des esprits")
Jan Rohde & Grabbarna (1975, LP Jan Rohde & Grabbarna, Scandinavian rocker)
Billy Thunderkloud & the Chieftones (1976, Polydor 14321, as "Indian Nation", Canadian Indian band)
Mike Theodore Orchestra (1977, LP Cosmic Wind, disco version)
Cherokee People (1977/78, CBS 5976, French disco version)
999 (1981, Albion 1023, UK punk)
Orlando Riva Sound (1980, Salsoul 333, top 10 hit Germany)
Turkey Bones & Wild Dogs (1985, mini-LP No Way Before The Weekend, Scottish punk)
Bad Sign (1986, LP Sleep Walk, Finland)
Pure Mania (1991, cd A dance with a stranger, Swedish punk rock)
Long Tall Texans (1991, cd Singing To The Moon)
DeeMona (1990, Pearl 19906, an Austian disco 45)
Radiacs (1991, LP Going Strong, UK psychobilly)
Ed Kuepper (1991, cd Honey Steel's Gold, Australian ex-Saints punker)
Muldoon Brothers (1992, cd Back o' the Barn, Irish)
Tim McGraw (1994, as part of his hit "Indian Outlaw")
Laibach (1994, cd Nato, lyrics adapted "National Reservation")
Kike Elomaa (1995, cd Kike Elomaa, Finnish version "Lapin Noita")
Masi Luomi (1995, cd Haitari Soi Louisianasta Läyliäisiin, another Finnish "Lapin Noita")
Tony Ronald (1996, cd Síntesis Vol.2, a poor cover)
Don Fardon (1997, now doing a 'dance mix' of his hit, cd The Next Chapter: All The Hits And More)
Mark Lindsay (1999, cd Legends Live)
Mark Barfoot (cd Moved By The Spirits, Indian native flute instrumental)
Barbara Clear (2004, cd Live in der Olympiahalle München)
Don't Turn On The Light
Loudermilk / Bob Forshee
Margie Bowes, a North Carolina country singer,
was married to Doyle Wilburn of the Wilburn Brothers. Sang at the Opry in 1959 and 1963.
In 2004, Margie had a foot amputated. Her foot was seriously injured in a vehicle accident in 1995,
and required numerous surgeries prior to the amputation.
Her 1960 Loudermilk song, a good, up-tempo hillbilly ballad, was one of John D.'s first songs in the long list of recordings for
Acuff-Rose and Hickory records in Nashville.
Margie Bowes (1960, Hickory 1124)
Falling Again
A good up-tempo song!
Porter Wagoner (1960, RCA 7770)
Throwin' Kisses
Bob Luman's original features Roy Buchanan on guitar.
First recorded for his 1960 LP, it was also released as a 45 in 1967 (Hickory 1460)
Bob Luman (1960, LP Let's Think About Livin')
Sue Thompson (1961, Hickory 1144)
Sheila Southern (1961, HMV pop 917, UK)
Meet Mr Mud
Also features Roy Buchanan on gtr. In 1964 released as a 45 (Hickory 1564)
Lyrics
Bob Luman (1960, LP Let's Think About Livin')
I Gotta Go (Because I Love You)
Hyland's record reached as high as #102, Billboard bubbling under.
←The song was covered by Brazilian Ronnie Cord (Ronald Cordovil), a singer from Sao Paulo who had a smash hit
with Brian Hyland's Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie.... After having recorded pop covers in English,
he later joined the Jovem Guarda movement and scored hit records in Portugese.
Cord died in 1986 of cancer.
Brian Hyland (1960, Kapp 363X, London 9262, UK)
Ronnie Cord (1961, LP Tonight My Love Tonight, Brasil)
The original version of the song by RCA guitarist Floyd Robinson was a minor hit Down Under.
The song made it big in France. Clip of Sylvie Vartan and Frankie Jordan performing the French hit version:
(← Click image to play the clip)
It was Sylvie's first recording, a duet with the the ex-dentist rock singer Frankie Jordan. Though she
sang the better half of the song, Jordan's name was in capitals on the sleeve, and Sylvie's in small print.
Sylvie continued to make it big in France while Jordan returned to be a dentist.
She later recorded a re-make with Pierre Palmade, now singing the 'male'-part of the song, and Palmade
the female part that actually suited him well!
Another rather bizarre cover is by the group Au Bonheur des Dames. A risqué version:
now it is a homosexual story of two truckers who, on the excuse of being out of gas, are having a wild night
with a lot of double entendre humour in the lyrics.
Floyd Robinson (1960), RCA 7827)
Frankie Jordan & Sylvie Vartan (1961, Decca 70734, French cover: "Panne d'essence")
Au Bonheur Des Dames (1988, LP Jour de Fête, as "Une panne dans la nuit", French neo-rock-humour)
Sylvie Vartan (1998, cd Irresistiblement Sylvie! with Pierre Palmade)
Star Academy 3 (2003, cd Fait Sa Bamba)
Frankie Jordan & Noémie (2004, cd Les pionniers du rock Français: Le retour, live à l'Olympia)
Freddy And His Go-cart
Great teen-novelty song. Lyrics On the other side of the 45 Duncan did the first recorded version of Hello Mary Lou, the Gene Pitney song
that later would be a huge hit for Ricky Nelson.
This Duncan is the US singer of later C&W-fame, not the UK skiffle-artist
Lyrics: Who's that sneaking down the fire escape
Who's that peeking through the garden gate
Who's on the loose, but can't be found
Big Daddy's Alabama bound
Big Daddy's Alabama bound (2x)
Police is searchin' but he can't be found
Big Daddy's Alabama bound
Somebody ran off with the mayor's wife
Somebody tried to take the police chief's life
Somebody stole the judge's ragged old gown
Big Daddy's Alabamy bound...
Highway patrol and the F.B.I.
Is out huntin' this criminal
They got their hound dogs sniffin' the ground
Big Daddy's Alabamy bound...
Boots Randolph (1961 RCA 7835; 1967 Monument 1038, bubbling under hot 100)
The Willis Brothers (1961, Starday 45-570)
John D Loudermilk (1962, 12 sides of John D Loudermilk)
Lita Marino (1962, WB 5302, a #41 local break out on KJR-radio, Seattle, Washington)
The Orlons (1963, LP South Street, fast rocking doo-wop)
Sue Thompson (1964, Hickory 1240, bubbling under Billboard Hot100)
Les Triplées (1964?, EP JAG 730003, French lyrics: "Grand père est plus jeune que nous")
The King Brothers & Virginia Mountaineers (1965?, Dixie 958)
Del Wood (1966, LP Upright Low Down And Honky Tonk)
The Browns (1967, RCA 9364, small C&W hit)
Chet Atkins (1968, LP Hometown Guitar)
Wanda Jackson (1968, LP The Many Moods Of)
Ted Daigle (1968± LP Ruby Don't Take Your Love To Town, Canadian country singer, song credited to Laudermilk)
Al Tercek and his Orchestra (1968±, LP Polka Power, as "My Polka Poppa" (is Transylvania bound!))
Del Reeves (1970, LP Big Daddy Del)
Kossi Gardner (1971, RCA 47-9963, on Hammond organ)
Jerry Reed (1971, LP When You're Hot, You're Hot)
Kenny Price (1971, LP Sheriff Of Boone County)
Danny Davis (1971, LP Super Country)
Chet, Floyd & Boots (1987, cd Chet, Floyd & Boots)
Marcel Dadi (1992, cd La Guitare à Dadi Vol 2)
Ebony Eyes
Everly's tear jerker reached #8 on Billboard.
Coupled with Walk Right Back, this double A-sided record was a top hit all over the world.
→Acuff-Rose sheet music publication
Everly Brothers (1961, WB 5199)
Die Ramonas (= Gus Backus) (1961, Polydor 24565, German translation 'Annemarie' by American born Schlagerkönig)
Dickey Lee (1963, LP Tale Of Patches)
Bobby Russell (45 rpm SI 1142, not sure about date and label origin)
Bob Harvey (Starlite 11772)
Gluntan (1970, LP Gluntan i Studio, Norwegian cover "Sannhetens øyeblikk")
Fumble (1972, LP Fumble, UK 70s rock)
Frankie McBride (1974, LP Sad Songs - Country Style, Canada)
Roy Alton (1975, Tackle 009, UK reggae in a strange, instable rhythm)
De Wiko's (1978, Philips 6075 024, Dutch translation "Vlucht 1203")
Orion (1978, LP Reborn, 'the masked man', an Elvis imitator)
Het Landgraaf-Duo ('piraten' 45rpm, another Dutch "Vlucht 1203")
Hepie & Hepie (2007, cd Hepie & Hepie, again "Vlucht 1203")
Stayin' In
Song about a stupid jerk who loses his girl to the he-man
of the school. Some radio stations banned this innocent song, because of its 1st line:
"I punched my buddy in the nose" (lyrics).
Same type of story on Bully Of The Beach and The File
Everly Brothers (1977, LP The New Album, a prev. unreleased 1961 recording)
Top Forty, News, Weather and Sports
Great song! First release had a line in the lyrics
about Patrice "Lumumba doin' the rumba to the tune of The Blue Tango".
On later releases that line was cut out (Congo freedom fighter Lumumba was murdered in January 1961
with a little help of the Belgian government), bluntly amputating the verse by one line.
Other news & music references in the lyrics: Eisenhower, Fidel Castro, Rockefeller,
Lolita, Brenda Lee, Nehru, Krutchev.
"The Great Snowman" has become a classic in Sweden, land with the highest population density of Snowmen, it seems.
The song is a must for every amateur band to have in their repertoire.
The popular dansbands play the song in English or with Swedish lyrics. Over the years, the lyrics have been
translated more than once, so the song has been recorded with song titles like:
Min dröm skall bli sann (My dream will come true),
Le Lite Mer (Smile a little more),
Du gick din väg (You went your way),
Då kanske drömmen slår in (Dreams may come true).
All these lyrics seem to deal with another story than the original song about Jimmy Jones, the Great Snow Man,
see Lyrics
Bob Luman (1961, WB 5204)
John D Loudermilk (1961, LP Language of Love, in Germany on a 45 on the b-side of Language Of Love)
Björn Tidman (1961, Triola 110, as "Snemanden", Denmark)
Bill Carlisle (1964, Hickory 1280)
Hillbilly Five (1964, LP Another Christmas Guitar And Songs, Sweden)
Key Notes (1965, Europa SE 07, Swedish 45 rpm credits Luman as composer)
Jörgens Orkester (1967, 45 on HB Artist label; on a 1975 LP the group also recorded a Swedish translation "Le Lite Mer")
Bobby Bare & Hillsiders (1967, LP The English Country Side, Nashville singer coupled with Liverpool beat group gone country)
The Geezinslaw Brothers (1968, LP Chubby)
The Mercey Brothers (1968, single by Canadian brothers)
Flamingo Kvintetten (1969, LP Chin Chin, in Swedish: "Min dröm skall bli sann")
Streaplers (1969, LP Bugga, Sweden)
Jimmy Snyder (45 rpm on Lee)
Jeannie Denver (1975, Westwood WRS 100, UK country)
Säwes (1976, LP Dansa På 3, Swedish dansband)
Carols (1976, LP Svängiga Danslåtar, more from Sweden)
The Spotnicks (1978, LP The Great Snowman)
Mia Wester (1978, LP Ge mej din hand, Sweden)
Jade Hurley (1979, LP 20 Golden Oldens Festival, by tv personality and Australia's King of Country-Rock 'n' Roll)
Ty Tender (45 rpm by Austrian Elvis-imitating rocker)
Lennes (1979, 45 rpm Artside label, Swedish dansband)
The Streaplers (1979, LP Jubileumsalbum, Sweden)
Bohusländers (1980, LP Bohusländers, Swedish, this time titled "Du gick din väg")
Mats Rådberg & Rankarna (1981, LP All Time Country Favorites, Sweden)
Andy Lee Lang (1985, Austrian neo-rocker)
Paul McCloud (1998, cd The Early Years, Australian neo-rockabilly)
Albateros (1999, cd På Vingerle, Danish version "Linda og Snemanden")
Ryno Rockers (2000, cd Still Rocking)
Mats Bergmans (2002, cd Min Egen Ängel)
Canders (cd Lite av din tid, another Swedish dance band)
Gary Blackmore Band (cd Reminiscing, UK Country)
Paddy O'Brien (2003, cd Footsteps, Irish)
Lost and Found (2004, cd Lost and Found II, Texas folk duo)
Arvingarna (2005, cd 8, another Swedish 'dansband', as "Då kanske drömmen slår in")
The Pig Latin Song
I-ya ovla ooya, Pig Latin for I love you see lyrics Leadbelly also recorded (another) Pig Latin Song
Bob Luman (1961, WB 5204)
The Magic Strangers (1964, CNR 9697, Netherlands, Luman credited as composer)
Schurli und die Motorbienen (±1986, Plattewurm KM3, Austrian fun cover: "Ausgehen Heute Ausgehen")
If I Had The Right To Do You Wrong
Kitty Wells (1961, LP Seasons Of My Heart)
(You're) Too Late
Loudermilk/ Bill C Phillips
Phillips a composer and recording artist for Columbia
who also worked with Kitty Wells. This 1961 co-written song emerged first (?) on Bill's 1977
LP on the Guinness label, looks like a compilation/ discount label
Bill Phillips (1977, LP The Bill Phillips Project)
Duo DD (1962, EP 50190, Croatian cover "Jezik Ljubavi" by 2 girls)
Claude François (1963, EP Fontana 460863, French version "Langage d'Amour (Ou-bi-dou-bi-dou)")
Claude François (1964, Philips 373285, Italian version "Dubi Dubi")
Earl Sinks (1965, Hickory 1315)
Drafi (1965, Decca Y7299 (OZ), Decca F22353 (NL), German singer Drafi Deutscher on the b-side English version of his hit "Marble Breaks and Iron Bends")
Birgit & Iris (Electrola 23435, cover in German: "Shoo-Be-Doo-Be-Doo")
Sue Thompson (1966, Hickory 1431)
Timo Panell (1976, M&T 1007, Finland as "Sinä Vain")
Flamingo Kvintetten (1968, LP Jag Går Ut Med Hunden, Swedish version "Kärlekens Språk")
Leif Hultgren (1976, LP Spå två, another Swedish "Kärlekens Språk")
Peter Vesth (1988, tape cassette Bænkevarmer, Danish as "Kærlighedens sprog" in a live version)
Grönwalls (1994, cd En plats i solen)
Danilo (2001, cd Country Love, on a Norwegian various artists collection)
Lunch In A Bucket
A good, fast catchy teen song,
lyrics
Jimmy Bell, (← in the studio with Boudleaux Bryant and Floyd Cramer).
Jimmy was in fact Jimmy Sweeney, a black Nashville R&B singer/ songwriter who sang in the 1940s with the Five Bars
and later worked for Hickory Records. As 'Jimmy Bell' he had a big hit in Canada, doing
the original "She Wears My Ring", a song later to be covered by Elvis. It was the Boudleaux/Bryant adaptation
of the old Italian "La Golondrina". "Lunch in a Bucket" was intended to be the follow-up.
John Hore (1966, LP Country Gentleman, New Zealand)
Mister Jones
Loudermilk says he sang Mr Jones with his father-in-law (who was a rich store-owner) in mind.
In many other songs Loudermilk used the family name Jones.
There is a mother-in law "Miss Jones" figuring in He Can Be Your Baby,
and beside Angela Jones there is a Jimmy Jones (it was the Great Snow Man's name).
Then there is his The Jones' song, criticising the tv and journalism,
and finally Ben Jones who left widder Jones 25 acres of land.
Lyrics of Mr Jones
Scott Engel (1961, Liberty 55312), probably 1st release of the song; Engel
later as "Scott Walker" part of the Walker Brothers
John D Loudermilk (1961, LP Language of Love, 1962 RCA 7993)
Otto Brandenburg (1963, Odeon DK-1613, Denmark)
Conway Twitty (1964, LP Hit The Road)
The (Count) Bishops (1979, EP Chiswick 111, good UK boogie rock)
Roberto Carlos, covering in Portugese as "O Calhambeque", here as released on a French EP
Song is registered as being co-written by Gwen Loudermilk, JDL's first wife.
Gwen's contribution has been the remark "Good idea" when JDL told her about the idea to write a song about the
Nashville traffic Police.
The song is a parody based on the old banjo traditional "Ground Hog". First recorded in 1924 by Land Norris on Okeh,
and covered by Pete Seeger, Guy Carawan, Doc Watson, etc etc. In 1959 folk group The Windjammers recorded a version,
produced by Chet Atkins and JDL.
Loudermilk added to the basic verses of Ground Hog his own catchy chorus "road-a-hog, beep beep! do-do-de-do-do".
It was that part that really turned it into a hit.
The song has been a big hit in South America. It was one of the important songs of the Brazilian Jovem Guarda movement (=Young guards),
a very popular musical movement in the years of 1964-1970 with Roberto Carlos as its virtual leader.
It was a simple and naive type of music and jovem guarda was very underated by critics and so-called
serious Brazilian musicians (like the bossa nova people). But it always kept its fans among singers and composers
of other kinds of popular music, specially from "tropicália", another fine and rich musical movement
that happened in Brazil in the years 1967-1971 and had Caetano Veloso and Gilberto Gil as leaders. Today guys like David Byrne,
Beck and Sean Lennon are some of their fans.
John D Loudermilk (1962, RCA 8101, Billboard pop #65)
Roberto Carlos (1964, EP CBS 5956, "O Calhambeque", Portuguese)
Roberto Carlos (1964, as "Mi Cacharrito" in Spanish)
Carlos Alberto (1964, another "O Calhambeque")
Los Iracundos (1964/65, as "El Cachivache" in Spanish by Argentinean group)
Manolo Muñoz (Musart 4225, "Mi Cacharrito", Mexican 1960s pop star)
Helena Rocha (1965, EP Decca, "Calhambeque" by Portugese girl singer)
Joe Dassin (1965, CBS 2141, French cover, as "Bip Bip")
Os Velhinhos Transviados (1965, LP Embalados, Brazil, instrumental with some scat fun talk)
The Supersonics (1966, LP Mandando Brasa!, "O Calhambeque")
Topo Gigio (1968, EP Philips 441449, Brazilian "O Calhambeque" in children tv-series)
Jimmy Capps (1971/72, PapaJoe 702)
Os 3 Patinhos (1980, EP for children by the Brazilian version of Donald Duck's 3 little nephews, quacking "O Calhambeque")
Lulu Santos (1984, LP Todo Azul, Brazilian superstar doing another "O Calhambeque" style disco)
Angélica (1989, cd Angélica, Brazilian tv star doing "O Calhambeque")
Marcos Resende (1991, LP Tributo A Roberto Carlos, Brazilian instrumental, jazzy piano orchestral version)
El Compa Godo (1994, cd Compa Godo Y Su Banda La Ponderosa)
Caetano Veloso (1995, cd O Calhambeque, 30 Anos De Jovem Guarda Vol. 3)
Leonardo (1999, 2cd Ao Vivo, Brazilian country singer doing live "O Calhambeque")
Simba Musical (2002, cd Corazón de America, a Mexican "Cacharrito")
Silvana Cruz (2001, cd Ao Som dos Ventos, Brazilian "O Calhambeque", excellent jazzy interpretation)
Bebeto & Grupo Gamação (2002, cd Os Melhores do Ano 3, "O Calhambeque")
Renato Vargas (2002, cd , As Canções Que O Rei Cantou Vol II, "O Calhambeque")
The Breastfeeders (2006, cd Salut Joe!, French-Canadien "Bip-Bip" on a Joe Dassin tribute album)
Road Hog was a giant hit in Brasil. Roberto Carlos' version "O Calhambeque" was covered by many Brasilian singers.
It also was an inspiration to a comic story by Brasilian artist Eugênio Colonnese, who made comics
about O Morto Do Pântano (= Swamp Zombie). Colonnese was ahead of his time. His Zombie
character was made long before American "Swamp Thing" was on the scene. He also conceived an original character Mirza, which later
seems to have been the inspiration for "Vampirella".
In Colonnese's 9-page story "O Calhambeque Vermelho" (1968), two shady scoundrels drive to the swamp
in their old red vehicle ("Calhambeque Vermilho") to dump a body. Each man has the plan to finish his rival afterwards.
But Swamp Zombie has noticed them enter his territory and in the end he gets hold of the old vehicle and the story
ends with him riding the Calhambeque and singing the lyrics of the song!
Left: "O Morto" doesn't like the surviving scoundrel to make fun of him,
center: and uses his weapon,
right: and drives off singing the chorus of "O Calhambeque"!
LP released 1963 in South Africa, pictures the original South African Blue Train
Song was released as a surprise hit in South Africa, where the songtitle had extra impact thanks to Suid Afrika's famous railroad line
between Johannesburg and Kaapstad (Capetown), die Blou Trein (Blue Train).
The song was recently revived by Doyle Lawson, who did a sparkling blue grass version
that got rewarded with the 2003 IBMA Award Song Of The Year.
John D Loudermilk (1961, LP Language of Love, 1964 C&W hit)
Betty McQuade (1962, Astor 7017, Australia)
Chris Baldo (1962, Decca 19614, Radio Luxembourg deejay sang it with German lyrics, but songtitle not changed)
Roy Acuff Jr (1968, Hickory 1515)
Frank Necessary & Stone Mountain Boys (1972, Jalyn 45-352)
Pat Boone (1973, LP I Love You More And More Every Day)
Ladislav Vodička (1973, Czech translation, text Michal Bukovič)
George Hamilton IV (1972/73, RCA 0854)
The Gap (LP Comanche Gap, UK Country)
Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver (2002, cd Hard Game Of Love)
Bjøro Håland (2007, cd Diamonds Are Forever, Norwegian country artist)
Darling Jane
← Dorsey Burnette's release in a 1962 Dutch picture sleeve release.
The song was inspired by Loudermilk's interest in meteorology and especially hurricanes.
He would predict where a storm would land and drive to the location and stay with the people at the shelter.
Lyrics.
Sammy ("Oh Julie!") Salvo was a one hit-wonder artist.
But he sure deserved more: he recorded a lot of catchy, good rocking songs.
His Italian roots must have given him his great voice.
Lyrics
Sammy Salvo (1961, Hickory 1150)
John D Loudermilk (1962, 12 sides of John D Loudermilk)
Leon Schuster (1988, LP Dasiefoutie!! version in Afrikaans: "Boelie van die Strand")
Loudermilk's inspiration for "Bully Of The Beach" came from the advertisements for the "Charles Atlas System",
a body buidling course. In every 1930 and 1940 magazine a comic beach story illustrated how it worked:
'Are you tired of getting sand kicked in your face, I promise you new muscles in days!'.
Loudermilk isn't the only one to have made a parody on this.
Bernard "Willem"
Holtrop, the best cartoonist of the 20th century (at least that's how he will be judged
in 100 years), made his version in the 1970s, a short story "Monsieur Muscle":
Seems to come straight from the
lyrics of Bully Of The Beach:
Left: A great big bully kicked sand in my baby's face...
Center: She left with him arm in arm...
Right: So I went home and I ordered me a book on how to get to be big and strong!
Clip of John D performing Windy & Warm, in 2007, Ford Theater, Nashville TN, in the Series Poets And Prophets organised
by the Country Music Hall Of Fame And Museum:
(← Click image to play the clip)
John tells how he played the song for Chet Atkins, and Chet picked up a guitar and
finished the song before John could finish it, though John had written the song!
There's a load of pickers practising "Windy and Warm" on YouTube. Just enter the song title in the
YouTube search box and watch
the song being done by dozens of amateurs and professionals.
Loudermilk has shown an interest in weather phenomenons.
It was an inspiration to songtitles of some of his songs (Windy and Warm, Cloudy and Cool, Long Dry Spell),
also figures in "Darling Jane".
I've been told that a guy did the song in the 1960s who added lyrics to it. True? Who?
Chuck Kruger did a "Windy & Warm" in 1978, but it is another tune
Sylvie Vartan on an EP with the French "Quand le filme est triste".
A big hit in France. Also used in the soundtrack of Jean-Luc Godard's 1964 movie Une femme mariée.
Start of the career of Sue Thompson as a teenage idol.
Though Sue was already a 35 years old country music veteran at the time, mother of a teenage kid
and in her 3d marriage by then, her voice still sounded like an innocent teenager.
Sue's record hit #5 in the Billboard pop charts.
Lyrics:
He said he had to work so I went to the show alone
They turned down the lights and turned the projector on
And just as the news of the world started to begin
I saw my darling and my best friend walk in
Though I was sitting there, they didn't see
And so they sat right down in front of me
And when he kissed her lips, I almost died
And in the middle of the colored cartoon, I started to cry
Oh, sad movies always make me cry (2x)
So I got up and slowly walked on home
And mama saw the tears and said, "what's wrong?"
And so to keep from telling her a lie
I just said sad movies make me cry
Oh, sad movies always make me cry...
The song was a big seller in the Latin world. As "Filme Triste" in Brazil and
"Quand le film est triste" in France. Sylvie Vartan's French version was a big hit in France, the #26 hit of the year 1962
and it started off Sylvies career as one of the most important yéyé-singers of the 1960s.
A French-Canadian cover by by Michèle Richard, singer and tv-star.
Indo-rocking girl Greetje Mona, born Greetje Bozelie in Tiel, Netherlands, covered the song for the Dutch and Belgian market
on the Palette label. A good version, with an exotic touch of steel guitar. She also recorded as Gitte Mona a German version.
A later 1972 cover by Bob Smit (another indo singer) & Duke City Sextet, 'n Trieste Film, bears the mark of a Pierre 'Smurfing Father Abraham' Kartner production.
Sue Thompson (1961, Hickory 1153)
Lennon Sisters (1961, Dot 16255)
Carol Deene (1961, HMV POP 922 UK)
Sylvie Vartan (1961, RCA 45188 French version: "Quand le film est triste")
Pierrette Bruno (1961, EP Pathe 572, another "Quand le film est triste")
Dany Fischer (1961, EP Polydor 21793, again a French "Quand le film est triste", now in a 'male' version)
Towa Carson (1961, RCA 644, Swedish version "Trist story")
Dorthe (1961, Triola TD 45-150, Danish version "En sørgelig film")
Lil Malmkvist (1961-62, EP Säterjäntans Lördag, another Swedish "Trist story")
Sherry Blake (Budget cover EP JukeBox 4516)
Greetje Mona (1961, Palette 40094, good Dutch version "Ik moet altijd huilen om een trieste film")
Gitte Mona (=Greetje Mona) (1962, Palette 40118, version in German "Ich muß im Kino weinen")
Michèle Richard (1962, Meteor 318, "Quand le film est triste", Québécoise)
Queta Garay (1962, EP, hit in Mexico: "Las Caricaturas me hacen Llorar")
The Peanuts (1962?, LP The Hit Parade Vol 2, Japanese version by popular twins Emi & Yumi Ito)
Homer & Jethro (1962, LP At The Convention, parody "Bad Movies (Always Fracture Me)")
Floyd Cramer (Orchestral muzak version)
Trio Esperança (1962, Odeon 14811, "Filme Triste" giant hit in Brazil)
Demétrius (1963, Continental 78.212, another "Filme Triste")
Zé Fidelis (1963, Continental label, a Brazilian parody "Filme Besta")
Yeda Maria (1963, RCA, another Brazilian "Filme Triste")
Gloria Benavides (hit in Chile: "Las Películas Triste me Hacen Llorar")
Les 4 Cadillacs (1964, LP Les 4 Cadillacs, Brazilian first class studio musicians doing an instrumental version of the song, titled "Make Me Cry")
Franco's OK Jazz (±1964, BomaBango 2, French version by Africa's #1 musician Franco, sorcerer of the Congo guitar, vocals by Vicky Longomba and Michel Boyibanda)
Gloria Crawford (1966, Doctor Bird 1057, a great Duke Reid rock steady production)
Cyndy Starr & Mopeds (ska, 1960s)
Yes Indeed (1967, Triola TD347, Denmark)
Lisa & the Stylers (LP Top Hits by Lisa & John, Singapore)
Vilma Santos (1971, LP Sweet Sweet Vilma, Philippine version, by child movie star)
Bob Smit en Duke City Sextet (1972, 11 Provinciën 83/6.666, tearjerking Dutch version "'n Trieste Film")
Barbara Jones (1972, Double B 6920, good Jamaican reggae version)
Sir Harry (1972, Double B 6920, dub version "Movies Version" on the B-side of Barbera Jones' release)
Shawn (1974, MGM South 7033)
Lenore Somerset (1975, LP For Billy Joe)
Sueli (1976, another "Filme Triste" from Brazil on the Beverly label)
Cecilia Hong (1977, LP Carry On Till Tomorrow, Paloma Blanca, Asiatic album)
Rupert & Rolling Coins (LP At the Sonesta Beach Hotel and Golf Club, Carribean band)
Anne Kirkpatrick (1979, LP Shoot The Moon, version by Slim Dusty's daughter)
Nathalie Simard (1980, LP Je n'aurais jamais dû partir, "Quand le film est triste")
Boney M (1981, LP Boonoonoonoos)
Cynthia Schloss (1982, ONIKA 12" disco single, coupled with Hugh Brown rapping "Yu Better Go")
2 Belgen (1982, Antler 004, their debut 7", "Quand le film est triste").
A weird cover, Loudermilk's tune hard to make out, if present at all. One of these two Belgians, Rembert De Smet,
registered the song as his own composition, though in fact he shamelessly used the French lyrics
Georges Aber had written 20 years before for Sylvie Vartan's hit cover, and sticked them to a typical 1980s mechanised disco dance beat.
Priscilla Rollins (LP Volume 1, reggae from the Bahamas)
Audley Edden (1984, LP Sponger Moo, another one from the Bahamas)
Paul McCloud (1984, LP by Australian country neo-rocker)
Baby Jail (1987, translated the song in Swiss German dialect and had a minor radio hit)
Ledward Kaapana & Ikona (1989, cd Still Pressin', Hawaiian version)
Wawa (1990, cd Wonderful Tonight, Japan)
Sandy & Junior (1994, "Filme Triste", another Brazilian cover)
Pam Hall (1998, cd Bet You Don't Know)
Terry Gajraj (1999, cd Sweet Love Songs 2, Guyana's (male) sweetheart)
Coral Chavez (2000, cd Lo Siento, "Las Caricaturas", tex-mex version)
Jolina Magdangal (2000, cd On Memory Lane, Phillipine popular actress/singer)
Mark Atuaia (2000, cd M.A. Versatile from the Isles, Hawaiian Reggae)
Joy Adams (cd Covers)
Amelia Lomu Likiliki (version from Tonga)
Dennis Marsh (New Zealand, modern country)
Maneenuch (cd Golden Memories 2, Maneenuch Smerasut, Thailand's top singer and dancer)
Chico César (2001, cd Um Barzinho, Um violao, this cd attributes the song to "D. Laudermilk")
2A2 (2001, cd 2A2, Filme Triste by Brazilian group)
Solanna (2002, cd Solanna, Hawaiian version)
Alan O'Day (2003 WBCB Ronnie Allen Show, alternative lyrics "Sue Thompson
(Always Make Me Smile)", song about the career of Sue)
RZO (2004, Brazilian hip-hop used 1 line of the song in their rap Filme Triste)
La Chilindrina (2004, 3cd 60Éxitos, Mexico, "Las Caricaturas me Hacen Llorar")
Sula Miranda (2006, cd 30 Anos, Brazilian Filme Triste)
Ray (Knighton) & Wanelle (Collins) (2006, cd In Nashville, US Country)
Richard Clayderman (Forever Golden Collection Volume 3)
Lynne Toner (2007, 3-cd Kiwi Country Girls, New Zealand)
Original version by Dinning is a boring belcanto ballad. Nellie Rutherford
turned it into a soulful ballad. This was done again by Nina Simone, great laid-back version, later copied by Norah Jones.
Nina had changed the original lyrics quite a lot, see lyrics
Also exists some Scandinavian cover of the song: Gör Mig Het
Mark Dinning (1961, MGM 13024)
Nellie Rutherford (1962, Hickory 1172)
Nina Simone (1967, LP Silk & Soul)
Norah Jones (2000, cd Come Away With Me)
Robinella (cd No Saint, No Prize)
Rhythm & Blue (2003, cd Adios Kansas, a Duke Univ NC a-cappella group)
David Hughes, Tom Tally, Richard Dodd, Ruth Bruegger, Jean Sudbury, Chad Wright (2003, cd The String Quartet Tribute to Norah Jones, terrible instrumental muzak version)
Ruthie Foster (2004, cd Stages, good Texas blues version)
Eugenia Méndez (2004, cd Embrase-moi, as Tu m'embrases
(I would think correct French should be 'embrasses'), French lyrics sung by jazzy Venezuelan lady)
Patreece DeArmond (2005, Pete Verbois home made recording)
Chili Chicks (2007, cd Chili Chicks, C&W by 3 Austrian girls)
Lorna Reid (2008, cd Gypsy In My Soul)
(He's My) Dreamboat
US #14 pophit; Connie also recorded a song Traumboot (=German for Dreamboat),
but that song is no Loudermilk cover but an original German Charly Niessen composition.
Peter Niemann (1961, Telefunken 55395, German version)
Ma Baker's Little Acre
First version by Norris Wilson was released as "Ma Baker's Island".
Lyrics
Norris Wilson (1961, Monument 453)
John D Loudermilk (1966, LP Sings a Bizarre Collection)
John D Loudermilk (1971, LP Elloree, WB version)
Rocks of Reno
Lyrics Song was released on a 45 in Germany as the b-side of Google Eye (RCA 47-8530)
John D Loudermilk (1961, LP Language of Love)
Bob Luman (1962, WB 5255)
In A Matter Of Moments
Good cover by Louise Cordet, an ex-convent schoolgirl and
related to Prince Philip. Louise toured with the Beatles in 1962. Her version was the B-side of
her hit I'm Just A Baby that charted #13 in the UK.
Mark Dinning (1961, MGM 13048)
Louise Cordet (1962, Decca F11476 UK)
Jimmy's Song
(Jimmie's Song)
The original lyrics spell it Jimmy's song,
the LP release Jimmie's song
John D Loudermilk (1961, LP Language of Love)
Tommy Sands (1961, Capitol 4660)
Love Is A Dangerous Thing
Fast, swinging song (lyrics)
with a lot of doo-woppin' pa-pa-depa-pa-pom by Melson
who is best known as co-writer for Roy Orbison
Joe Melson (1962, Hickory 1175)
Madam Rosy
Song about a fortune teller: Madam Rosy with the crystal ball,
I saw your sign outside, it said you knew it all... etc
Sue Thompson was told by Phil Everly that he did it originally as "Norma" but it never got off the ground.
Sue: "I first did not want to record it, my delivery was real slow at that time, and I thought, I can't sing that fast song.
But they talked me into it and I loved it afterwards of course."
It was Sue's biggest hit, follow up to Sad Movies, and peaked #3 in Billboard's Hot 100..
In 2002 a 'male' version of the song was recorded by rock cult band NRBQ.
The boys knew the song from the Sue Thompson version and changed the title into 'Norma',
singing 'Only girl I love to kiss, is my baby Norma' where Sue sang
'There's a dress that I've got to sew and wear for Norman', etc.
The band was amazed to hear they unconscious used the song title JDL original had had in mind.
The song inspired a number of fun versions. In 1966 Australian Donna Gaye recorded it as "Normie",
an ode to Normie Rowe, Aussie's teen favourite at the time. Lyrics changed a little here and there
with references to Tony (Worsley), Peter (Doyle) and Mike (Furber), other competing Australian singers.
The first released batch misprinted a "Mills/Loudermilk" co-authorship on the label.
In Spanish a comic version "Tomas" was a hit record and recently there was a Danish disco parody by Diskofil and
a Dutch version about "Normen & waarden", ridiculising the christian-conservative political theme of Fortuyn and Balkenende.
Three European sixties covers: Sweden (as "Charlie"), France (as "Gontran") and Germany (just "Norman").
Sue Thompson (1961, Hickory 1159)
Carol Deene (1962, HMV POP 973, UK #24 hit)
Ginette Sage (1962, Apex 13245, French (Canadian) cover "Normand")
Arielle (EP Barclay 70449, another French cover "Gontran")
Dany Mann (1962, Electrola 22082, German version, big hit in Germany)
Wenche Myhre (1962, Triola 281, as "Normann", cover in Norway)
Willeke Alberti (1962, PF 318692, Dutch cover top 10 hit; she also sang it in German)
Gonnie Baars (1962, Artone 25131, another Dutch cover)
Helen Reeves (1962, Discofoon 3510, budget label cover, Holland)
The 3 Jacksons (1962, Philips 318 799, part of their "Accordeon Potpourri No 50")
Anita Lindblom (1962, Fontana 271204, Swedish version "Charlie")
Bente Merete (1962, RCA 45-1075, in Danish as "Charlie" covered)
Gloria Benavides (Chilean cover, she sings it in English)
Wander Lee (1962, Musidisc label, Brazilian cover, "Norman" in Portuguese by girl singer Wanderly Regina)
Poly (1962, Continental label, instrumental cover by succesful Brazilian steel guitarist/ band leader)
Tuulevi Mattila (1962, Philips 340579, cover in Finnish)
Rauni Pekkala (1962, Broadway 122, Finnish)
Jolly Land (±1962, Argentina)
Quique Roca Su Conjunto Müsico Vocal Y Claudia (Hispavox HH 17-218, Spanish "El Gran Tomás")
Mayté Gaos (1963, Mexico, another "El Gran Tomas")
Donna Gaye (1966, Kommotion 1314, hit in Australia, titled "Norman-Normie")
Del Wood (1966, LP Upright Low Down And Honky Tonk)
Danny Davis & Nashville Brass (1971, LP Super Country, instrumental version)
Maureen Elkner (1975, M7 111, as "Normie", B-side of Australian hit "Rack Off Normie!")
Barbara Lee (45 rpm on Emerald 3309, a Nashville label)
Bjørn & Okay (1979, LP Live i Aften, in Danish now entitled "Susan")
Song written and recorded in 1962, but it took 4 years to be released
Sonny James (1966, LP Young Love & Other Songs Of Love)
Belonging To You
Bob Luman (1962, WB 5272)
I Can't Hold Your Letters (In My Arms)
Good up-tempo country song.
Tommy Zang (his real name) was a charming singer from Kansas City,
with an incredible voice. Tommy had some minor successes but failed to get the big break he deserved. He died a few years ago.
One of Loudermilk most interpreted and performed songs.
The song was written in January 1962.
Loudermilk remembers about first recording the song on dub with Don Gant and Norro Wilson:
"Now it was Don Gant who suggested: John, you need to repeat that line 'then it don't work out, then it don't work out...'.
And that was a good idea, it sounded good, it was a little hook, you know."
←First release was in the fall of 1962 by Don Cherry on the Verve label, a subsidiary label of MGM. The 45 did not sell.
This Don Cherry is not the famous jazz performer, but a crooner who had a 1956 million seller with "Band of Gold"
(not the Freda Payne song) and became a professional golf player in 1962. He golfed his way into the top 10 US open and had a career of 30 holes-in-one.
Nowadays, at the age of 80, Don still plays golf and performs as a singer.
Loudermilk's first release of the song was on a South African 45 (RCA-657),
where it was intended to be a follow-up to JDL's local chart success Blue Train.
This version was with strings orchestration and Anita Kerr chorus backing. In the US the version
with Kerr and strings was released in 1965 as B-side of That Ain't All (RCA 47-8579) .
Later a superb version was recorded by Loudermilk for his 1967 Suburban Attitudes' album. A strong and simple version,
strings, orchestration and chorus singers omitted, just John D. in a relaxed, acoustic version.
←Second American release is the cover by Johnny Tillotson on his 1964 album, recorded as a country song.
Johnny Nash picked it up for his 45 release on Argo.
→Sheet music for the early Australian and UK-release in 1965 by Australian Patsy Ann Noble. She came from a
musical family: father a well known comedian/ singer, mother a choreographer. Patsy delivered a tasty version, with soulful organ and chorus.
Johnny Nash performing it in 1965 on TV:
The song finally was made a US-hit in 1967 by the Casinos, who had heard the version of Johnny Nash on the radio.
Their version was a sugar-sweet castrate belcanto of lead-singer Hughes drowning in a pool of orchestral arrangements.
And it was this recording that finally appealed to American taste and made it big on the charts.
Afterwards even worse versions were cut by all sorts of crooners.
→Cover of the 1967 Casinos LP on the Fraternity label.
Picture cover release by Toby Beau (Cashbox #68 hit in 1979) and a Mexican release from 1968 by Los Blue Angels, who sang it as
Despues me dices adios.
Also seems to exist a cover of the song titled Ma's Tatou Kriz, no idea who sang it, sounds like Asian to me
Lyrics:
Kiss me each morning for a million years
Hold me each evening by your side
Tell me you love me for a million years
Then if it don't work out
Then if it don't work out
Then you can tell me goodbye
Sweeten my coffee with a morning kiss
Soften my dreams with your sigh
After you've loved me for a million years
Then if it don't work out
Then if it don't work out
Then you can tell me goodbye
If you must go I won't grieve
If you just wait a life-time before you leave
If you must go I won't say "no"
Just so we can say that we tried
Tell me you love me for a million years
Then if it don't work out
Then if it don't work out
Then you can tell me goodbye
John D Loudermilk (1963 RCA 41657 (South Africa), 1965 RCA 8579 (US))
Johnny Tillotson (1964, LP Tillotson Touch)
Johnny Nash (1964, Argo 5479)
Patsy Ann Noble (1965, Columbia 4560 Australia, Col 7472 UK)
Sandy Mason (1965, MGM 13393)
Al Martino (1965, LP We Could)
The Staccatos (1966, PYE PY69, South African group)
The Casinos (1967, Fraternity 977, #6 pophit)
Jalopy Five (1967, Hit Records 283, in fact Bobby Russell recording for Nashville budget label!)
Frank Ifield (1967, Hickory 1486)
William Bell (1967, LP Stax SRAX719)
Lawrence Welk (1967, Dot 17001)
Lou Rawls (1967, LP Too Much!)
Andy Williams (1967, LP Born Free)
The Spiffys (1967, LP US Naval Academy)
David Garrick (1967, LP Don't Go Out Into The Rain)
The Generation Combo (1967, LP Meet The Generation Combo)
Martha y Los Ventura (1967, Mexican cover "Puedes decirme adiós")
Little Joe & the Latinaires (LP Unbeatable!, Tejano music from Texas)
Eddy Arnold (1968, RCA 9606)
Billy Vera (1968, LP With Pen In Hand)
Solomon Burke (1968, LP I Wish I Knew)
Anita Ortez (1968, LP Catch The Wind, Canada)
Los Blue Angels (1968, EP RCA MKA-1028, Mexican version: "Despues Me Dices Adios")
Bettye Swann (1968, LP The Soul View Now!)
The Bye-Laws (1968, PYE 7N 1748, Ireland)
The Ray Charles Singers (1968, Command 4103)
The Red Dogs (1968, cd Live at The Red Dog Inn 1968, Kansas garage band)
The Coconuts (LP Palmares des vacances, French West-Indies)
The Emery's (45 rpm on Clifton Records)
Jack Greene (1969, LP Until My Dreams Come True)
Billy Vaughn Orchestra (1969, LP Nashville Saxophones)
The 5th Dimension (1960s, prev. unreleased, cd Ultimate Collection)
Stan Hitchcock (1969, LP Honey I'm Home)
Bobby Hutton (1969, Philips 40601, soul, not the Black Panther martyr;
don't know why, but this 45 is often being sold for ridiculous prices at eBay, $150 and more,
though it isn't rare -being offered a few times a year-, it seems to be a Northern-soul collectors item...)
Cornelia (1969, RCA 42103, South African cover)
Bil Medley (1969, LP Soft and Soulful)
James Brown (1969, LP Say It Loud I'm Black And I'm Proud,
in a medley with (appropriate!) "Don't play that song, don't play t no more")
Gene Rondo (1969, Down Town 431, good juicy reggae version)
Joe White & Fugitives (1969, GayFeet 7109, another Jamaican "If It Don't Work Out")
Pat Kelly (1969, GAS 125, reggae hit version, label title on the UK 45rpm "If It Dont Work Out" by "Pat Kelley" (sic!) )
Jeff Barnes (1970, Jackpot 758, as "Work Out" a funny talk over record over the Pat Kelly hit)
Arthur Prysock (1970, LP Fly My Love, warm dark-brown voiced crooner)
Dennis Alcapone (1971, LP Guns Don't Argue, good Bunny Striker Lee product, "If It Don't Work Out")
Ace Cannon (1975, LP The Very Best)
Glen Campbell (1970, Capitol 4245, C&W #4, medley coupled with Don't Pull Your Love)
Otis Waygood Band (1970, Decca F13760, Rhodesian band with a UK released 45 rpm)
The Buckinghams (cd Everlasting Love (Sessions))
Danny White (1970, Grand Prix 4 45 rpm)
Barbara Lynn (cd Crazy Cajun Recordings, early 1970s recording)
The Mohawks (1971, Pama 324, UK Reggae)
The Thirteenth Amendment (1971, Whit 6910)
Slim Smith (1972, GreenDoor 4058, another reggae "If It Dont Work Out", Slim used the same backing track as Pat Kelly did in 1969)
Mack Allen Smith (1972, LP Saturday Night With Mark Allen & Flames)
Hank Williams Jr & Lois Johnson (1972, LP Send Me Some Lovin')
Gene and Debbe (1972, Hickory 1643)
Maurice Ward (1973, Lashawn 009, by WRAP deejay a.k.a The East Coast Rapper)
Perry Como (1975, LP Just Out Of Reach)
Freddy Fender (1975, LP Before The Next Teardrop Falls), Freddy also sang it as "Entonces Me Dices Adios"
Nancy Tabb Marcantel (1975, LP Ma Louisiane, bayou-French version Et puis tu peux me dire adieu)
Wolfman Jack (1975, LP Fun & Romance, Wolfman Jack sings..., a duet with Merry Clayton)
Bobby Rydell (on div compilation cd's)
Dora Hall (LP The Country Hits Series 2)
Gene Hughes (1975, King 2002, former Casinos lead singer doing it again)
Johnny Clarke (1975, Micron 2408, another "If It Don.t Work Out" shufflin' reggae")
Merv George (1977, LP Recorded Live)
Roman Stewart (1978, Harrie J Records 809, as "If It Don't Work Out", Jamaican disco 12 inch)
Sammi Smith (1978, LP New Winds, All Quadrants)
Soft Thunder (LP Soft Thunder)
David Simmons (1978, LP Hear Me Out, soul)
The Manhattans (1978, LP There's No Good In Goodbye)
Toby Beau (1979, RCA 11670)
Sal Anthony & Du Wop Shop (1980, Sal-James Records 1)
Jim Ritchey (on a 45 rpm)
Taffy McElroy (1981, MCA 51160)
Victor Tavares (1981, Polydor 2095-386 (Belgium), former Tavares singer)
Mark Thomsen (1982, LP New Beginning)
The Blues Boys (1980s, LP Greatest Hits Vol 1, New Orleans all star band backing up mayor Aaron Broussard of Kenner, LA)
Oscar Perry (1983, Red Sun Records 10-113, cajun blues)
Mickey Gilley (1983, LP You've Really Got A Hold On Me)
Darlene Austin (1984, 45 rpm Blue Myrtle Rec.)
John Holt (1984, LP A Love I Can Feel)
Van Broussard (1960s?, cd Bayou Boogie Fever)
Tracy (Huang) (1986, LP Paradise In My Heart)
Johnny Mathis (1989 cd In The Still Of The Night)
Fern K. White (1990, Clouds CLS 017, 12" single)
Maria McKee & Lone Justice (1993, cd A Collection of Rarities 1992-96)
Susan Jacobsen (1994, cd Timeless)
We B-50 (1995, cd WE-B 50)
Neal McCoy (1996, Atlantic 70535, top 10 hit)
Joe Bean Esposito (1996, cd Treated and Released)
Dean Chance K. (1996, cd Tonight)
Robbie Cumming (1997, cd Wild Geese, UK country)
David Hasselhoff (1997, cd Hooked On A Feeling)
Daniel O'Donnell (1998, cd Love Songs, Irish clean cut crooner)
Holiday Band (1999, cd Shotgun Boogie)
The Fabulous Hupcaps (1999, cd Silver Anniversary)
Donny Gerrard (1999, cd The Romantic, ex-Skylark singer)
Streetside (1999, cd HAPP-E-2-C-U-A-GINN, US acapella doo-wop group)
Chicory Tip (2000, cd Chicory Tip in 2000, reunion of the 1970s UK teeny bopper band)
Bruce Caldwell (2000, cd Evening Songs)
Dobie Gray (2000, cd Soul Days)
Ian Griffin (cd In the Penny Arcade, from Wales)
The Attractions (NC Showband)
Doc Scanlon's Rhythm Boys (2000, cd Rumble Seat)
The Wolf River Band (2001, cd From Pow Wows To Honky Tonks, native American country)
Rhodes Tavern Troubadours (2001, cd Americana Motel)
Phil Edwards (2001, cd Wild and Free, France retro rocker)
Johnny Rivers (2001, cd Last Train To Memphis, with a parlando)
Joe Barbieri (2002, cd Times Revisited, Italy)
Buddy Jewell (2003, cd Nashville Star)
Dennis Caplinger (2003, cd Pickin' On Buddy Jewell, instrumental)
John D Loudermilk (1962, 12 sides of John D Loudermilk)
Jim Nabors (1965, LP Shazam! Gomer Pyle U.S.M.C.)
Bill Carlisle (1968, Hickory 1502)
Boyce Hawkins (1968/69, RCA 9700)
Commerce Street & 6th Avenue North
Though words and music are registered as Loudermilk's,
music is in fact the traditional standard Great Speckled Bird / Wild Side of Life;
lyrics refer to a location in downtown Nashville
←Covered in French by beat group Les Lionceaux. They tried to give Google Eye in French the meaning of a dance,
"c'est le vrai Google Eye, un serie de pas compliqués" so a girl asks
help with the dance but the singer refuses... Funny song, driven beat, more interesting than what the Nashville Teens made of the song.
John D Loudermilk (1962, 12 sides of John D Loudermilk)
Sheb Wooley (1962, LP That's My Pa And That's My Ma)
Big Pete Deuchar & His Country Blues (1963, Fontana 267278, German)
Ramsey Kearney (1964, Hickory 1251)
Nashville Teens (1964, London 9712, Decca F12000 (UK), top 10 UK, US bubbling under)
The Jaybirds (1964, Embassy 663, UK band with 19 years old Alvin Lee before 10 Years After)
Dandy Swingers (1965, HMV X 8465, Danish beatgroup)
Les Lionceaux (1965, Mercury 154038, "Le vrai Google Eye" version in French)
Los Zignos (1965, RCA 76-2194, Mexican version "El escritor criminal")
Rangers (1969, cd 21x Plavci Potreti, Czech)
John D Loudermilk (1971, LP Elloree, WB version)
The Hillsiders (1975, LP To Please You, UK country)
Roger Whittaker (1975, MFP 10054)
Plavci (1980, LP On The Country Road)
Clint Miller (1993, mini-cd Spirit of the Flag, former rockabilly artist of "Bertha Lou" fame recording once more, at the time Clint was Judge and running for Governor of Virginia!)
The Little Lunch Box
This song could well be written end 1950s, is there an earlier recording?
George Hamilton IV (1963, LP Abilene)
Thou Shalt Not Steal
Another songtitle inspired by the Bible.
Lyrics On a Kitty Wells compilation on the Bulldog label her Thou Shalt Not Steal
was mistakenly attributed to JDL, but she sang another song: the same titled 1954 Don Everly composition.
←The hit version: by Dick (Richard St. John Gosting) and DeeDee (Mary Sperling), here on a cover of French EP.
Dick died in 2003 (after a fall from a ladder), DeeDee has made
a great web site
John D Loudermilk (1962, RCA 7993, Billboard #73)
The Newbeats (1964, LP Bread and Butter, Hickory 1539 in 1969 bubbling under)
Dick & Dee Dee (1964, WB 5482, took the song from the Newbeats 1964 LP; Billboard hit #13)
Glenda Collins (1965, HMV POP 1475 UK)
I Campioni (1965, CGD N9559, Italian group with their cover version "Vieni Al Mare")
The Staccatos (1966, PYE PY115, South African group)
Mack White (1976, Commercial 1315)
Kangaroo
First lines: "Way down in Australia they do a dance
that'll really slay ya, called the Kangaroo, Hop, hop!" Fast song, "twist tempo".
More information about singer Cynthia Muse in section below.
Cynthia Muse (1962, Dot 16335)
Who was Cynthia Muse, who recorded this hopping dance song, Kangaroo? I did some research, but all in vain,
until Cynthia herself found my site and mailed me! She sent a 1962 promotion picture of hers and wrote:
My aunt Olive "discovered" me when I lived in Florida in late 1961.
My favorite singer was Brenda Lee at the time and I would listen and sing every song that she recorded.
My aunt heard me singing. She was a friend of the President of DOT Record Co., Randy Wood, contacted him and said,
"you must listen to my niece Cynthia".
From there, it went very fast. The next thing I knew I was back in Tennessee and practicing in the studio of
Beasley Smith in Nashville. I can remember sitting with him at his piano and singing until I was hoarse.
We recorded in Nashville, TN and in the 60's, unlike today, when you met to record everyone was there at the same time in the studio.
Later, I found out that I had the best musicians and singers at the time in the studio. The Anita Kerr Singers were
the backup singers for 'High School Play' (B-side of 'Kangaroo'). If memory serves me correctly, on 'Kangaroo' several
Jordanaires were there; the 'Hop, hop' was done by
Ray Walker.
From there, when the 45 was released, my aunt Olive and I traveled the roads of Middle Tennessee
visiting every radio station that would let us in and I frequented the 'Eddie Hill Show' many times during the remainder of 1962.
I would cringe when he introduced me as 'the little darling of tv'. I also sang at many area events with local bands.
In my small hometown of Hartsville, SC, I was a celebrity and to this day when I revisit and see people they will say
they remember my tv appearances and my record.
Cynthia recorded just this one 45 rpm record. She was a young 13 year old back then. Cynthia now is an elementary school teacher in Tennessee.
She still enjoys singing and always asked why she didn't pursue that career: "I guess the timing wasn't right", Cynthia says.
Thank you, Cynthia Muse for sharing your memories!
Baby Don't Pout
Norris began as RCA-session man, worked a lot with JDL; later used the name "Norro Wilson",
famed as co-author of "The Most Beautiful Girl".
The catchy song Baby Don't Pout was a KDWB Top 40 hit in the Twin Cities region of Minnesota.
Original title was The Little Bird, later to become the more natural This Little Bird.
Hit all over the world.
Lyrics
←1965 English sheet music to Marianne Faithfull's hit. In the UK it was a top 5 hit, in the US it reached the #32 position.
→EP with the French version Et s'en vient le temps by Richard Anthony.
John D Loudermilk (1962, 12 sides of John D Loudermilk)
Nashville Teens (1965, MGM 13357, Decca 12143 UK)
Marianne Faithfull (1965, London 9759, "This Little Bird")
Marianne Faithfull (Italian version: "Un Piccolo Cuore")
Barron Knights (1965, Columbia DB 7780, part of pop parody medley "Merry Gentle Pops part 1")
Richard Anthony (1965, EP Columbia 1687, French version: Et s'en vient le temps,
a 1996 cd lists composer: John Loudermilq !)
Anki (Lindqvist) (1965, Columbia 121 as Pieni Lintu, hit in Finland)
Marion Rung (1965, Philips 340717 Pieni Lintu)
Joe & Eddie (1965, LP Walkin' Down The Line, Joe Gilbert & Eddie Brown, popular black folk duo)
Johnny Kongos & The G-Men (1965, LP Oh Boy!)
The Lions (1965, Triola TDL 211, Danish beatgroup)
←The 1980 single release by French punk cult artist
Hermine Demoriane.
An interesting person, she married English poet Hugo Williams,
played in the punk movie Jubilee (1977), recorded a few records (like Nico, her inability to sing was a charming advantage),
studied and practiced tightrope walking and wrote a book "Tightrope Walker" about it, designed her own character font, etc.
Her debut 'Torture' originally was intended to be released by Virgin, but the deal went down.
The story goes that already 20,000 sleeves had been printed. Hermine crossed out 'Virgin',
stamped "Salome Disc" instead (dedicated to Lou Andreas Salome) and stamped the song titles on the blank record labels.
This way 2,000 copies were made as a private label release.
Hermine used the remaining 18,000 sleeves to decorate her house.
Kris Jensen (1962, Hickory 1173, #20 Billboard)
Tony Rocco (1962, Parlophone 4946 UK)
Petula Clark (1962/63, French: "Coeur Blessé", later she recorded it in Italian: "Pagherai" and Spanish "Tortura", see below)
Carmen Déziel (1963, Meteor 328, Canadian release "Coeur Blessé")
Sally Wills (1963, Ronnex 20323 as "Zo'n Verdriet", Belgium)
Alberto Cortez (1963, Hispavox EP HH17-232, as "Tortura" by Argentinian "Mr Sucu Sucu")
Margot Eskens (1963, Polydor 52095, German version "Coeur Blesssé, Armes Herz")
Petula Clark (1963/64, Vogue 45 rpm, her Italian version "Pagherai", an Italian #16 chart hit in 1964)
Cocky Mazzetti (1963, Primary 45 rpm, another Italian "Pagherai")
Betty Curtis (1964, another "Pagherai")
Everly Brothers (1964, WB 5478, good version)
Petula Clark (1965, EP Vogue HV 27-135, Petula's Spanish version "Tortura")
Hi-Spots (Swedish beat group)
The Mark Two (1966, HMV EA4779, Australia)
Robert Gordon (1980, LP Bad Boy)
Hermine (1980, Salome Disc, see story ←)
Butch Baker (1984, Mercury 818379)
Kim Salmon & Surrealists (1988, LP Hit Me With The Surreal Feel, Australian arty-alternative pop)
Tav Falco (1991, New Rose 155)
D.B. Harris & His Men Of Action (2004, cd Contagious Heartache, duet with Susanna Van Tassel)
Chile Nights
Instrumental.
The Minute Men (who were they actually?) brass orchestral, Jerry Byrd a steel guitar version
Minute Men (1963, MGM 13132)
Jerry Byrd (1966, LP Potpourri)
Linda With The Lonely Eyes
Belgian Sophie Pascal
covered it in French, "Les larmes aux yeux"; on the B-side also a Loudermilk song,
"La petite grive", cover of The Little Grave.
First lines: I guess I've got a good excuse for being special blue,
'cause it's not every day you lose someone as special as you etc.
probably unreleased
You're Cool
Rita Faye Wilson was a daughter of hillbilly artist Smiley Wilson.
In 1953, age 9, she had a hit with the popular "I Fell Out Of A Christmas Tree". In the sixties Rita recorded a few pop songs.
On "You're Cool" she sounds soulful and black. She also played autoharp on
Patsy Cline's and Grandpa Jones' recordings. Rita married songwriter Earl Sinks and they made pretty good money in music business.
Song about popular TV series Dr Ben Casey, see
lyrics The JDL single was a top 10 hit in Finland (#7, December 1962);
that makes it as far as I know the only place in the world where JDL as a singer himself had a national top 10 hit single!
The record also charted locally in Brisbane, Australia (10 weeks top 40, highest position 10, 1 week top 10).
John D Loudermilk (1962, RCA 8054, #83, Billboard)
Erkki Pohjanheimo (1963, Fontana 271557, "Kutsukaa Tri Casey" in Finland)
Ismo's (1999, cd Kiitos ja hyvää yötä, another "Kutsukaa Tri Casey")
←Cashbox add for Sue Thompson's 'fifth smash in a row, climbing on all charts'. Sue's record peaked #17 pop (Billboard).
Lyrics
→An Austrian release by Hanne Wieder, daughter of a general and singer, actress, comedienne.
Translated as James halt die Leiter grade, at the end of the song she falls down the ladder...
Sue Thompson (1962, Hickory 1183)
Carol Deene (1962, HMV POP 1086 UK,
Deene later sang "I'll tell you how I know I'm ready- I'd have gone if James held that ladder steady" in her song Growin' Up)
A. Starr (1962, Curio 10, US budget cover)
Kay Barry (1962, Embassy 534, UK budget cover)
Ria Valk (1962, Fontana, Dutch version)
Gitte Mona (=Greetje Mona) (1962, Palette 40147, version in German)
Helle Wilke (1962, Triola TD-162, German version: "James halt die Leiter gerade")
Helle Wilke (1962, Triola TD-167, Danish version: "James er du klar med stigen?")
Hanne Wieder (1962, Jupiter 178, German version "James, halt die Leiter grade")
Carolyn Young (1960s?, Aussie girl pop)
Ellis (1984, TipTop 101, another Dutch translated cover)
Susan Maughan (1997, cd Bobby's Girl, prev. unreleased 1960s by UK lady)
Barbara Lee (2007, cd Even Now, prob. rereleased ±1980 recording by country singer)
Bad news travels like wildfire
Good news travels slow
They all call me, "Ole Wildfire,"
'Cause everybody knows that I'm bad news
Ev'rywhere I go
Always gettin' in trouble
And leaving little girls who hate to see me go
I've picked peaches down in Georgia
Lumberjacked up in Maine
I've been hired and jailed
In every state you can name
'Cause I'm bad news...
From north to south, from east to west
The story is the same
From one state to the other
I have to change my name
'Cause I'm bad news...
Now, they tried to hang me down in Oakland
And they did in San-Frisco
But I wouldn't choke and I broke their rope
And they had to let me go
'Cause I'm bad news...
A great song! An inspiration to the song has been what his father (also a John D, died in 1960) told
him about thumbing to get work during the Depression.
Interstate 40 in fact is the road to travel from Durham, JDL's birthplace, to Nashville Tennessee.
Sue Thompson (1963, Hickory 1204, Billboard bubbling under)
Cut Me Down (From Your Whipping Post)
Kris Jensen once more tortured (see lyrics),
but failed to follow up his hit Torture,
Peter 'Kris' Jensen, remained a one-hit wonder. In the 1980s he worked as a tune-screener for a publisher in California and
later is reported being traveling around as a promotor of Buddhist religion in America.
Kris Jensen (1963, Hickory 1203)
The Guitar Player (a.k.a: Her And Him)
Lyrics
, song with a Ben E King/ Spanish Harlem sort of arrangement
To Loudermilk bio & link page
←The song was covered by Brazilian Ronnie Cord (Ronald Cordovil), a singer from Sao Paulo who had a smash hit
with Brian Hyland's Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie.... After having recorded pop covers in English,
he later joined the Jovem Guarda movement and scored hit records in Portugese.
Everly's tear jerker reached #8 on Billboard.
Billboard add for Luman's 45 release
←Add in music magazine Billboard
Jimmy Bell, (← in the studio with Boudleaux Bryant and Floyd Cramer).
Jimmy was in fact Jimmy Sweeney, a black Nashville R&B singer/ songwriter who sang in the 1940s with the Five Bars
and later worked for Hickory Records. As 'Jimmy Bell' he had a big hit in Canada, doing
the original "She Wears My Ring", a song later to be covered by Elvis. It was the Boudleaux/Bryant adaptation
of the old Italian "La Golondrina". "Lunch in a Bucket" was intended to be the follow-up.
← Dorsey Burnette's release in a 1962 Dutch picture sleeve release.
←EP by popular Swedish guitar band The Spotnicks
←the original 45 rpm on ACME, a small but interesting Kentucky label
A French-Canadian cover by by Michèle Richard, singer and tv-star.
Indo-rocking girl Greetje Mona, born Greetje Bozelie in Tiel, Netherlands, covered the song for the Dutch and Belgian market
on the Palette label. A good version, with an exotic touch of steel guitar. She also recorded as Gitte Mona a German version.
A later 1972 cover by Bob Smit (another indo singer) & Duke City Sextet, 'n Trieste Film, bears the mark of a Pierre 'Smurfing Father Abraham' Kartner production.
Teen hit all over the world.
Three European sixties covers: Sweden (as "Charlie"), France (as "Gontran") and Germany (just "Norman").
←First release was in the fall of 1962 by Don Cherry on the Verve label, a subsidiary label of MGM. The 45 did not sell.
←Second American release is the cover by Johnny Tillotson on his 1964 album, recorded as a country song.
→Sheet music for the early Australian and UK-release in 1965 by Australian Patsy Ann Noble. She came from a
musical family: father a well known comedian/ singer, mother a choreographer. Patsy delivered a tasty version, with soulful organ and chorus.
And it was this recording that finally appealed to American taste and made it big on the charts.
Afterwards even worse versions were cut by all sorts of crooners.
←Covered in French by beat group Les Lionceaux. They tried to give Google Eye in French the meaning of a dance,
"c'est le vrai Google Eye, un serie de pas compliqués" so a girl asks
help with the dance but the singer refuses... Funny song, driven beat, more interesting than what the Nashville Teens made of the song.
My aunt Olive "discovered" me when I lived in Florida in late 1961.
My favorite singer was Brenda Lee at the time and I would listen and sing every song that she recorded.
My aunt heard me singing. She was a friend of the President of DOT Record Co., Randy Wood, contacted him and said,
"you must listen to my niece Cynthia".
←The 1980 single release by French punk cult artist
Belgian 
←Cashbox add for Sue Thompson's 'fifth smash in a row, climbing on all charts'. Sue's record peaked #17 pop (Billboard).
→An Austrian release by Hanne Wieder, daughter of a general and singer, actress, comedienne.
Translated as James halt die Leiter grade, at the end of the song she falls down the ladder...
Kris Jensen once more tortured (see