songtitle:
composer words & music John D Loudermilk unless otherwise specified |
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covers:
blue=got the vinyl or mp3,
black=ain't got the music |
Short On Love |
Gus Backus is ex Del Vikings and made fame in Germany and Australia.
On the Burl Ives' Bear cd-set the track Short on Love erroneously is credited as a Loudermilk composition,
it is another song.
Lyrics |
Gus Backus (1963, MGM 13134; Polydor 52912, Austr, Gen Amer 821)
Kingsize Taylor & the Dominoes (1964, LP Twist Time im Star Club Hamburg Vol 2)
The Newbeats (1966, Hickory 1387)
Webb Wilder (2001, cd Town & Country)
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Ernest had the original version of the song...
and Tillotson charted world-wide |
Original a C&W #1 hit by country singer Ernest Ashworth ( Ernie Ashworth after 1966). On the
pop charts his record got as high as #101 bubbling under (Billboard).
This very catchy song would become a world wide hit in many covers and languages.
In the US two versions were recorded for the pop market: by Debbie Stuart for Philips and Johnny Tillotson for MGM.
Debbie's black, soulful rendition sounds a little better than the smoothly orchestrated product Tillotson recorded.
Debbie's version was picked up in Sydney, Australia where it became a #25 hit in september 1963.
It was to be her 'one hit wonder record'. In the US it didn't get any attention.
Finally, winter 1963, the Tillotson version was discovered by US radio and it became a #7 US pop hit in 1964,
and from there on hit all over the world.
Clip of Tillotson lip synching his hit song:
(← Click image to play the clip)
Lyrics:
Ev'ry day our love's a battle royal
Dear, it seems that fighting is all we do
But if I let you know how much I love you
You'll do things to me you shouldn't do
So talk back trembling lips
Shaky legs, don't just stand there
Don't let her know she's getting through to you
Talk back trembling lips
Burning eyes, don't start crying
Heart, don't let her know that you're breaking in two
Everytime you up and hurt my feelings
I pretend it couldn't matter less
I'm just hiding all of my emotions
Behind my broken heart, I guess
(source: Standard Songs Pop/ Country/ Blues/ Folk/ Instumentals/ Novelty, Acuff-Rose Publications Inc. 1956-1973)
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Ernest Ashworth (1963, Hickory 1214)
Little Roy Wiggins (cd Ernie Ashworth And Friends, version by Ashworth's steel guitarist)
Ben Colder (1963, MGM 13197, persiflage: "Talk Back Blubberin' Lips")
Johnny Singer (1963, Country & Western Hits 216, Nashville budget label cover)
Mel Stover (1963, Seeburg 7019, budget C&W label)
Dusty King & His Country Cats (1963, LP Top 16 C&W Hits, Canada budget cover)
Debbie Stuart (1963, Philips 40126)
Adrian Ussher (1963, W&G 5-1693, Australia)
Kevin Shegog (1963, W&G 45rpm, Australian C&W)
Johnny Tillotson (1963, MGM 13181)
Tim Reynolds (1963, budget cover, released on various labels Twin Hits 043 (Australia), Lion Tops 106
(Lion Tops was a Dutch margarine brand that had stamps that could be collected to order their vinyl 45's),
Cash 1701 (Belgium))
Fouryo's (1963, Decca AT 10041, Dutch version "Speel met mij geen spel")
Don Baker (1963, Discofoon 2524, Dutch budget label cover)
Shirley Field (1963, LP Two Sides of Shirley Field, Canadian yodeling lady)
Helle Wilke (1963, Triola TD 218, Danish version "Gemt er ikke glemt")
Goldie Hill (1964, LP Country Hitparade)
Norma Jean (1964, LP Porter Wagoner In Person, live)
Kitty Wells (1964, LP Especially For You)
Johnny Reimar (1964, Philips 355 297 2F, Danish version: "Kom så gamle dreng")
Hank Smith (LP Ten Golden Years of Country)
Cheryl Ann (LP Big Country, budget vinyl release)
Bobby Denver (LP Bobby Denver Sings Country And Western No.1 Hits of the 60's, Canadian budget covers)
Paul Kuhn (LP Blaue Wildleder Shuh', German version: "Abends Muss Ich Tanzen")
Roger Miron (1964, Rusticana 240, French-Canadian version: "Dis-moi quelque chose")
Bruce Clark & The Rockers (ca. 1964, LP Rockin' Like Wow! Dad, Australia)
Wilburn Brothers (1964, LP Never Alone)
Roy Drusky (1964, LP Pick of the Country)
Liberty Street (Freedom Rec 10178, a local Ohio 45)
Bill Black's Combo (1965, LP Mr Beat)
Tommy Adderley (1965, LP Tommy, New Zealand)
The Kentucky Colonels & Ernest Ashworth (1965, in the movie The Farmer's Other Daughter)
George Jones (1966, LP Love Bug)
Buddy Williams (1966, LP Family Album, OZ country)
Roy Acuff Jr & Sue Thompson (1970, Hickory 1558)
Willie Lamothe (1971, French lyrics "Donne-moi ma chance", Canada)
Flamingo Kvintetten (1973, "Hemma Hos Mig Igen", Swedish version)
Longines Symphonette Recording Society (1974, LP box set Country Strings & Voices)
Happiness (1974, Stuk 14, another Danish "Kom så gamle dreng")
Hugo Duncan (LP Isle of Innisfree, Irish)
Bobby & Lorraine Rice (LP Rice Family Album)
Connie Francis (1978, LP Who's Happy Now?)
Charlie Bandy (1981, Soundwaves 4596)
Barbara Kramer (45 rpm on Pro-Tal RE347, no clue about date, label or singer)
Bobby Lewis (1983, Ventura 206)
Roger Tibbs (1985, LP Chestnuts, New Zealand country)
Becky Hobbs (1988, Curb 76853)
Daniel O'Donnell (1990, cd The Last Waltz, popular Irish crooner)
Fiddlin' Tom Cameron (cd A Feast of Irish Country Music)
Ronna Reeves (1991, cd Only the heart)
Christina Lindberg (1992, cd Gyllene år, Swedish version "Lyckan står på spel")
Joe Wright & Fiends (cd Steelin' Country Classics Vol 3)
Eddie Blazonczyk & Versatones (1995, cd Polkatime)
Jerry Springer (1995, cd Dr Talk, duet with Ernest Ashworth)
Kentucky Blue (cd Eighteen Years Ago)
Freddy Holcomb (1998, cd Don't Call Me From A Honky Tonk)
Jim Monsen (2000, cd Have I Got A Night For You, polka-accordeon)
Foster & Allen (2001, 2cd Something Special, Australian 60s pop hits medley)
Justin (2001, cd Country Legends)
Cindy Foss (2002, cd Next Time)
Tony Barge (2002, cd Empty Places)
The Rich Family (2003, cd Family Album)
Mark Chesnutt (2003, cd I Don't Want To Miss A Thing)
James Quinn (2005, cd Talking To The Wrong Man)
Jason Richison (2006, cd From a Jack to a King)
Randolph Michaud (2006, cd They Have A Mission)
Lonnie Dee (2006, cd Dreamin' My Dreams, C&W from Denmark)
Bobby Flores (2007, cd Neon Nights)
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This Weird Sensation |
Sinx Mitchell was a ps. for Earl Sinks.
Lyrics |
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The File |
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Forth Worth, Dallas or Houston |
Hamilton recorded the song in August 1963. By the time the record came out,
the radio stations weren't keen on playing a cheerful song about Dallas, due to the Kennedy tragedy in Dallas.
An altenative version, entitled "Texarkana, Pecos or Houston", was recorded in December 1963, but release was renounced.
Lyrics |
George Hamilton IV (1964, RCA 8392)
Streaplers (1969, LP Om igen!, Swedish version "Var finns der där romantiken?")
Bloojacks (1970, 45rpm, another Swedish version: "Det raraste här på Jorden")
George Hamilton IV (1995, Bear cd-box, prev. unreleased alternative version
Texarkana, Pecos or Houston)
Bugges Firo (2000, cd På Dansefot, Norwegian version "Romantikken")
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Find Out |
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Porter Wagoner (1963, RCA 8257, and live-version on his 1964 LP In Person)
Chase Webster (1965, Hickory 1303)
Sue Thompson (1974, Hickory 318)
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Life Can Have Meaning |
← Canadian sheet music edition.
Bobby Lord, a singer songwriter and most of all known as the host of TV shows. In the mid 1960s
The Bobby Lord Show was aired all over the world.
Lyrics |
Bobby Lord (1963, Hickory 1232)
Chase Webster (1964, Hickory 1283)
Adrian Ussher (1964, W&G-1980, good, slow version from Australia)
Geezinslaws (1979, LP If You Think I'm Crazy Now)
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December 1963: tours Johannesburg, Cape Town, Durban, Pretoria...
In the footsteps of other RCA artists, like Jim Reeves, Floyd Cramer and Chet Atkins, John D. toured South Africa.
He played on a 3 weeks tour together with Duane Eddy. Simultaneously a special South African LP was released,
"Presenting John D. Loudermilk".
For the album, John had recorded in Nashville a couple of new songs in October 1963.
Some additional songs from his 1961 and 1962 US albums completed the LP.
Amongst the new songs were The Little Grave and No Playing in the Snow, 2 songs proper for Christmas time,
Nothing To Gain, The Wife, Run On Home Baby Brother and That Ain't All. All these songs were first released in South Africa and
would get its US releases much later.
What makes this South African album special, is that it contains a unique song, "La La Mop Away", that was never again released
elsewhere. It is also lacking in the cd-compilations that Bear Family made of John D.'s recordings.
Listen to a sample of La La Mop Away.
Track listing of the album: 1-Then You Can Tell Me Goodbye, 2-Everybody Knows, 3-Run On Home Baby Brother,
4-La La Mop Away, 5-You Reap What You Sow, 6-Oh How Sad, 7-Nothing to Gain 8-No Playing in the Snow Today,
9-That Ain't All, 10-The Wife, 11-The Little Grave, 12-Calling Dr. Casey.
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La La Mop Away (Another Guy's Girl) |
The sheet music spells the title "Mopoway", but on the album release it's "Mop Away"
A rare song, only released on the South African Loudermilk LP |
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No Playing In The Snow Today |
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John D Loudermilk (1963, LP Presenting John D. Loudermilk)
John D Loudermilk (1966, LP Sings a Bizarre Collection)
Pat Boone (1969, LP Departure)
Streaplers (1969, LP Valentino, Swedish version "På väg till dej")
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Nothing To Gain |
Pic sleeve of the German 45.
Lyrics Nothing to Gain
Lyrics Th' Wife |
John D Loudermilk (1963, LP Presenting John D. Loudermilk)
John D Loudermilk (1964, RCA 8389)
Lonnie Donegan (1965, Hickory 1345)
Archie (Campbell) & Lorene (Mann) (1968, LP Tell It Like It Is)
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Th' Wife |
John D Loudermilk (1963, LP Presenting John D. Loudermilk)
John D Loudermilk (1964, RCA 8389, C&W Cashbox #31)
Waylon Jennings (1965, Bear cd Live at JD's)
Per Myrberg (1965, in Swedish as "Min fru", text by Cornelis Vreeswijk)
Joe Brown (1966, PYE 7NH 119)
Bill Carlisle (1967, Hickory 1483)
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Run On Home, Baby Brother |
Lyrics
advising not to join the US marines! |
John D Loudermilk (1963, LP Presenting John D. Loudermilk)
Bob Luman (1964, Hickory 1266)
John D Loudermilk (1966, RCA 8826)
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That Ain't All |
Lyrics predict: "if we're a-living in 1995, they all have the pill
by then to keep us both alive" |
John D Loudermilk (1963, LP Presenting John D. Loudermilk)
Perry Como (1965, LP The Scene Changes)
John D Loudermilk (1965, RCA 8579)
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The Little Grave |
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John D Loudermilk (1963, LP Presenting John D. Loudermilk)
George Hamilton IV (1964, RCA 8462)
Sophie Pascal (1965, Palette 40230, Belgium-French cover "La Petite Grive")
Country Gentlemen (1974, LP Remembrances & Forecasts)
Charlie Waller (2002, cd 45 Years of Memories, Country Gentleman recording it again, good version)
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Terry |
Record produced by Norro (=Norris Wilson).
Magnasound was a subsidiary of Monument record comp. |
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I Know My Place |
The last 'brain-washed' verse of the original song ( lyrics)
has been replaced on the Browns' recording by some less inspiring lines |
The Browns (1964, RCA 8348)
Os Incríveis (1966, LP Os Incríveis, Brazilean group)
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Dream Of Him (And He'll Come Back To You) |
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(My Baby's Got) A Paper Doll Harem |
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A Dixie Cup Of Sand |
Sad teenage summer love song, lyrics |
Jana Louise (1964, Dot 16618)
Skeeter Davis (1966, LP Singin' in the summerrain)
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Going Down Town (To See My John) |
Jana Louise
(born Janice Louise Hansen) was a 19 year old step dance queen, launched as America's Sweetheart.
She recorded a complete album with songs JDL wrote for her. Three 45 releases flopped.
Besides her releases on DOT, she did not record any more. She taught Irish dancing for a number of years,
and only sings at family functions and charity events. She has three kids and her husband is a retired pilot.
Lyrics of You're Jealous |
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The Cryin' Kind |
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The Heart I Have To Live With |
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The Magic Circle |
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Up To My Knees In Happiness (up to my heart in love) |
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You're Jealous |
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They'll Love You |
Dorinda Duncan was a former member of the folk group Briarwood Singers |
Jana Louise (1964, LP A Dixie Cup Of Sand)
Dorinda Duncan (1965, Ascot 2174)
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He Reminds Me Of Me |
This 1964 written song was first (?) released in 1966.
lyrics
Sue did " She Reminds Me Of Me" |
Mark Dinning (1966, Hickory 1404)
Sue Thompson (1966, LP Sue Thompson with Strings Attached)
Cyro Aguiar (1967, LP Inspiração as "Fany" in Portugese)
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I Count My Sheep |
Dublin born Carmel Quinn, best known for her Irish songs,
unsuccesfully tried an album for the C&W market in 1965.
One side was filled with JDL songs, the other side Country standards |
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Lullaby Of Love |
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Wonderful World of my Dreams |
Carmel Quinn (1964, Dot 16667)
Sean Dunphy & Hoedowners (1966, PYE 17056, a #5 hit in Ireland)
George Hamilton IV (1968, RCA 9637)
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Everything's Alright |
Lyrics
, catchy song with a good beat, hit in Europe.
Good info on the Newbeats, who as a group or solo covered 6 Loudermilk songs,
on the Newbeats fan site.
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The Newbeats (1964, Hickory 1282)
The Roamers (1964, Hit Records 158, Nashville budget cover with Bobby Russell trying hard to copy Larry Henley's high pitched lead)
Pete Lancaster & Upsetters (1965, German cover: "Alles Ist Allright")
The 16 Strings (1965, cd Swiss pop&rock anthology, "Alles Ist Allright")
The Shakers (1965±, Platina 119, Sweden)
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I'd Be A-Lyin' |
Henley solo in a very Newbeats way |
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Losin' You Is Something New |
Music strongly reminds of country standard "Gotta Travel On" |
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 Pic.cover Dutch release
Also exists an Italian cover: Pappamolla
Lyrics |
Sue Thompson (1964, Hickory 1284)
Sue Thompson (1965, CBS 1858D, German 45rpm: Sue singing "Blonder Tiger")
Ingela Brander (1965, Philips 345833PF, "Blonder Tiger" by Swedish born blonde actress)
Mona Baptiste (1965, Jupiter 45 rpm, another German "Blonder Tiger")
Dave 'Baby' Cortez (1965, LP Organ Shindig)
Lecia & Lucienne (Danish sisters)
Muriël (1965, Palette 40224, French-Belgium cover "C'est Dommage")
Tiny Yong (1965, EP Rigolo 18728, another French version "Le Tigre"
by Cambodia born singer Tiny Yong)
Ginette Sage (1965, Fantastic 3616, another "Le Tigre", Canadian release)
Cathy Rich (1966, World Pacific 77913, version of Buddy Rich's daughter)
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The Worst Mistake |
Lyrics,
up-tempo song with some brass arranged sounds |
Carmel Quinn (1964, Dot 16667)
Sandy Mason (1966, MGM 13494)
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What I'm Needin' Is You |
 Dutch release.
Lyrics What I'm Needin'... |
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Stop Th' Music |
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Tears From Out Of Nowhere |
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Thank The Devil For Hideaways |
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Go On Home Boy |
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It's Been A Long, Dry Spell |
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That's Love |
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Johnny Tillotson (1964, LP She Understands Me)
Bobby Lord (1965, Hickory 1361)
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What'll I Do? |
not the Irving Berlin song!
Chorus: What'll we talk about, how can I impress him, what if he holds me and asks to kiss me etc. |
probably unreleased |
Cloudy and Cool |
Instrumental |
Chet Atkins (1965, RCA 8492)
Jerry Krahn (2007, cd Tell Me I'm Crazy, entitled "Partly Cloudy and Cool")
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Give Me A Sweetheart |
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Everly Brothers (1965, WB 5611)
Sandy Mason (1967, Hickory 1442)
Gene & Debbe (1968, LP Hear & Now, by swampy duo Gene Thomas & Debbe Neville)
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Fan Club |
Lyrics mention
"Colonel Glenn and Roy Orbison have a fan club too" |
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Paper Back Books |
A song about the evil influence of Mickey Spillaine on honest loving wives...
see lyrics
Gene Kennedy (born 1933, Florence SC) recorded in 1960-62 for Old Town records out of New York as Gene Kennedy & The Dons
(see picture, Gene on the right). Later he moved to Nashville. Gene Kennedy now still is active running his own label
which is Door Knob Records.
In fact the oldest Independent Record company in Nashville now. Gene and his wife Karen had a duet titled
"A Thing or Two on my Mind" which went to #49 in the country charts in Billboard in 1976. |
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Countin' The Hours,
Countin' The Days |
Music based on a cajun standard which also inspired
Route 90 (Clarence Garlow), The Promised Land (Chuck Berry) etc
On the Bare release the 3d verse of the original lyrics
is aborted and the song is being faded out prematurely... |
Bobby Bare (1965, LP Constant Sorrow)
Von belts (1976, LP Ölandsbron, Swedish version "Ta mej me")
Curt Haagers (1997, cd Ta mej me', another Swedish "Ta mej me' (Hem till dej)")
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I Love You, Lucy |
A local break out in Clovis, New Mexico, KCLV top 10, June 1965.
I have no information about singer
Don Argo. |
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It Only Hurts When I'm Laughing |
Maria Dallas was a New Zealand country singer recording in Nashville |
Bobby Lord (1966, Hickory 1389)
Maria Dallas (1967, LP Tumblin' Down)
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Wait |
Three 1965 recordings, released on the 1979 Bear 4-LP set
"A Milestone in R&R Music" (I would not consider Kris Jensen Rock & Roll, and surely not a Milestone...).
All three songs in the same idiom as Kris' hit Torture: jealousy, heart break and teenage misery |
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Revenge |
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Spying |
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Just Kiss Me |
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Sue Thompson (1965, Hickory 1340)
Dani (1966, French version "C'est toi", EP Garçon Manqué)
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I'm Looking
(For A World) |
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Sue Thompson (1965, Hickory 1359)
John D Loudermilk (1966, LP Sings a Bizarre Collection Of The Most Unusual Songs)
Skeeter Davis (1967, LP What Does It Take)
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Jack And Jill's New House |
Gene's recording was produced by Huey P Meaux, the Crazy Cajun |
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A big hit in South Africa by Hilary.
Tracy Ullman's 1984 hit version. |
Lyrics Sunglasses
Skeeter Davis first recorded it. She remembers:
"This was a hit for me that really was recorded in record-breaking time. Chet produced the session,
and we had only three songs with arrangements thinking that's all we'd get done in session time.
When the time was just about up almost everybody left. There was about fifteen minutes left and Chet said,
I've got a song for you that John Loudermilk wrote, let's record that.
I told him I couldn't learn it in five minutes.
He assured me that I could.
When he came back from getting the song from his desk, we had only four or five musicians.
He got his guitar, started picking, and we recorded Sunglasses in just a few minutes. He was right- it was a hit,
and I received all kinds of sunglasses as gifts- big ones, little ones and even sunglasses with transistor radios in them."
In South Africa, singer Hilary made it the best selling song over 1968.
Comedian Al Debbo (picture left, at age 80+ still active as a comedian) turned it into a popular parody in Afrikaans,
Lirieke Sonbrilletjies
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Skeeter Davis (1965, RCA 8642, RCA 1474 UK)
Sheila (1965, EP Tous Les Deux, French version "Dans La Glace")
Michèle Richard (1965, TransCanada 3140, another version in French "Verres Fumés")
Johnny Lion (1966, LP Zeg maar John tegen Lion, Dutch cover "Per Express")
Sandy Posey (1967, MGM 4480)
Hilary (1968, Philips 40563 (US))
Al Debbo (1968, hit in South Africa, a parody in Afrikaans: Sonbrilletjies) Natércia Barreto (1969, titled: "Óculos De Sol", Portuguese hit version)
Tracy Ullman (1984, Stiff 205, hit single)
Leif Bloms (1984, LP Som en Saga, Swedish cover "Mörka Glas")
Cora Marie (1991, another Afrikaans version "Sonbrilletjies")
Saranti Reeders (cd Loskruit, another "Sonbrilletjies" by theater cabaret artist)
Sindy Claassens (2004, cd Hou My Dop, again Afrikaans "Sonbrilletjies")
Manuel Escorcio (2005, cd Timeless, despite the singers' Spanish name, another Afrikaans "Sonbrilletjies")
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You're Ruinin' My Life |
Intro of the song reminds of Lee Dorsey's classic
"Working In A Coal Mine". Lyrics |
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Where Have They Gone |
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You're The Guilty One |
Great song! The Yancy Bond cover was produced by Huey P Meaux aka The Crazy Cajun.
Lyrics |
John D Loudermilk (1966, RCA 8973)
Yancy Bond (1967, MGM 13765)
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Brown Girl |
Sad love story,
"a true story that happened back in the '40s in my hometown of Durham, NC. Both parties
involved eventually went mad due to the social pressure of both sides. I haven't seen the man
in years, but occasionally one will spot the figure of Bessie May Brown, shopping bag on her arm,
stooping over to pick up a chewing gum wrapper or an old cigarette pack", JDL wrote about the song
on the liner notes of 1969 his album. The Jordanaires are doing the background vocals.
Lyrics |
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Givin' You All My Love |
A cover of this song may have been released around 1966
(but who sang it...?), before the unreleased original by JDL emerged on the Bear Family cd.
Lyrics |
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To Hell With Love |
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John D Loudermilk (1966, LP Sings a Bizarre Collection)
Robin Lee (1967, Tee Pee 45 rpm)
Adam Faith (1967, Parlophone 5649)
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You're Lookin' |
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Honeymoons Must Be Spent Alone |
The label mistitles the song "Honeymoons SHOULD be spent alone"
see label shot
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Who was this Jerry Channing, who wrote and recorded a few sides for MGM? I had no idea and could find anything about him.
So I asked for more information about this singer/ songwriter here on the site.
It was a great surprise that Jerry himself mailed me to answer! It turned out he even recorded a Japanese version of
the Loudermilk song. How they got that to happen?
Jerry Veneskey (real name), wrote me:
"I was a singer and guitar player in a rock band in high school and continued after I graduated.
Sometime thereafter, while playing at one of the clubs we worked, I was approached by Henry George
who worked for the Musician's Union in Cleveland, Ohio. He had some connections with people at MGM
and got them interested in my music. MGM liked some of the songs I wrote and offered me a contract.
Henry basically handled all of the negotiations. I was young then and not interested in the business end of things,
all I wanted to do was sing and write songs. Long story - short, I wind up in Nashville at the Columbia studios
to record Little Girl In The Magazine. One of the stipulations in my doing the session was
that I had to record Honeymoons for the "B" side of the record. They gave me a demo of John D. Loudermilk singing the song
and I had to learn the song the day of the session, which I did.
The session players included Floyd Cramer on piano and Grady Martin on guitar.
These people were very professional and we did each song in probably one or two takes. The producer was Jim Vienneau."
"Nipponese Publishing somehow got a hold of a copy of Little Girl In The Magazine and took an interest in the song.
Fast forward to New York at the Columbia studios there. I'm singing my song and Honeymoons in Japanese.
I am a Martial Artist" and I was already familiar with the Japanese language.
With the help of a language coach, the session, again was completed in a short period of time.
The record was released in Japan and I was told it was doing very well there, I used to get royalty checks a couple of times a year.
The English version did fairly well in Cleveland and on the west coast and I got some nice write-ups in both locations.
There was some talk about going to Japan (which I would have loved) but that never happened.
I had a two year contract with MGM, which ran out. By that time the English sound was in and a lot of American acts were suffering.
I recorded five songs under my contract: Little Girl, Honeymoons, Lonely Just Like Me,
When You Loved Me and Lonely Crowd. I wrote Little Girl with my friend (even to this day), Bob Turek.
The other songs were mine, with exception of "Honeymoons" of course.
What am I doing now? My profession - Private Investigator. My spare time: Martial Arts instructor and a
Classical Rock band called Sub-rosa."
Thank you Jerry for the MGM promotion photograph and the information! |
From Nashville With Love |
Instrumental. Chet's version reached as
high as #132 Bubbling Under Billboard's Hot 100 |
Chet Atkins (1966, RCA 8781)
Sounds Orchestral (cd Sounds Rare, piano version)
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I Wish It Were Me |
Acuff Jr obviously didn't inherit the talent of Sr.
Loudermilk gave a few good songs to Roy Jr, but his mediocre covers failed to make hits out of it
Lyrics |
Roy Acuff Jr (1966, Hickory 1398)
Sam the Sham & Pharaos (1966, LP The Best of Sam the Sham & Pharaos)
Homer Henderson (1994, cd Turban Renewal, tribute to Sam the Sham)
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Stalling For Time |
From the first Allman session, produced by JDL.
Released after Duane died.
Lyrics |
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You Deserve Each Other |
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Allman Joys (1966, Dial 4046)
Robert Mitchum (1967, Monument 453)
Sue Thompson (1968, Hickory 1512)
Daimi (1973, LP Balladen om Klante Kofoed, surprising Danish cover entitled "I ska' bare ud a' klappen")
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A Nice Place To Visit |
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If Tears Had Color In Them |
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What A Woman In Love Won't Do |
Song originally written and recorded in 1966, but not released;
music and lyrics one year later completely re-written
and re-recorded and a hit was born |
Sandy Posey (1967, MGM 13702, Billboard #31 hit)
Arlene Harden (1972, Columbia 45577)
Sue Thompson (1972, Hickory 1622, London 10363 UK)
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He Can Be Your Baby |
Bobbi Staff
was born in NC as Barbara Grindstaff. She debuted age 10 in talent shows, traveled around the world singing,
performed for queen and president (LBJ), and recorded 6 sides for RCA, of which Chicken Feed was a minor C&W-hit.
He Can Be Your Baby, a good song, was the follow up but did not chart.
Lyrics |
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Clip of John D performing Break My Mind, 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)
The song was never released on any of John D's own albums. Lyrics:
Baby, oh, baby
Tell the man at the ticket stand
That you've changed your mind
Let me run on out and tell the cab
To keep his meter flying
'Cause if you say goodbye to me, babe
You're gonna break my mind
Break my mind, break my mind
No, I just can't stand to hear them big jet engines whine
Break my mind, break my mind
If you leave you're gonna leave a babalin' fool behind
Baby, oh, baby
Let me take your suitcase
Off the scales in time
Tell the man that you've suddenly developed
A thing about flyin'
'Cause if you say goodbye to me, babe
You know you're gonna break my mind
© 1966 and 1967, Acuff-Rose Publ. Inc.
(source: Standard Songs Pop/ Country/ Blues/ Folk/ Instumentals/ Novelty, Acuff-Rose Publications Inc. 1956-1973) John D. tells about the song: I wrote that song one day when I was foolin' with a rubber band, and it broke.
I said, a heart breaks like a rubber band, if you stretch it too far. And I said, could mine break too...?
Roy Orbison picture sleeve Dutch release
Pat Boone used the song (and 2 more Loudermilk songs) for his LP Departure,
which was a try to give the smooth clean-cut singer a new image of a pop artist. The album was sponsored
with the help of Ry Cooder, Judy Henske, Phil Ochs, Jack Nitzsche and Larry Knechtel, but failed to sell.
The name Pat Boone was too much branded as corny and outmoded and the album was ignored by the progressive music scene.
That is, except for Germany...
Picture: the German 45 picture sleeve release. |
George Hamilton IV (1967, RCA 9239, C&W #4 hit)
Bobby Wood (1967, MGM 13797, cashbox #96)
Box Tops (1967, LP Letter/Neon Rainbow 1967)
Jan Howard (1967, LP This Is Jan Howard Country)
Glen Campbell (1968, LP Hey Little One)
Debbie Lori Kaye (1968, Columbia 44311)
Dick Nolan (1968, LP I Want To Live, Canada country artist)
Jerry Lee Lewis (1968, LP Another Place Another Time)
Benny Barnes (45 rpm by Texan honky tonk singer)
The Piano, Orchestra & Voices of Larry Butler (1968, Imperial 66277)
The Four Blazers (Buddy 140, not the doowop group)
Sammy Davis Jr (1968, Reprise 0757)
Tommy Collins (1968, LP On Tour)
Sixteenth Avenue Singers Society (1968, TRX 5008)
Jean Shepard (1968, Scorpion 157)
John Drummond (1968, Page One 85)
Johnny Darrell (1968, LP Son Of Hickory Holler's Tramp)
Danny Gatton (1968, LP Bobby Charles Invades The Wells-Fargo Lounge)
Ann Margret & Lee Hazlewood (1969, LP The Cowboy and The Lady)
Buddy Knox (1969, LP Gypsy Man)
Hank Snow (1969, LP Hits Covered By Snow)
Jordanaires (1969, LP Monster Makers)
Linda Ronstadt (1969, LP Hand Sown Home Grown)
Pat Boone (1969, Tetragrammaton 1516, with Ry Cooder on guitar)
The Carter Family (1969, Columbia 44982)
Margie Bowes (1969, LP Today's Country Sound)
Tommy Lee (1969, LP Tommy Lee Sings The Country Greats)
Mac Curtis (1969, Epic 26419)
Duane Eddy (1969, CBS 3962 UK)
Pawnee Drive (1969, Forward 103, a local #19 KQWB-hit in Fargo, NC)
Iain Campbell (former Ian Campbell Folk Group) (1969, MajorMinor 639, UK)
Gary Buck (1969, LP Tomorrow Today, Canada)
Jimmy Wakely (1969, LP Please Don't Hurt Me Anymore)
Roy Drusky (1969, LP My Grass Is Green)
Deep Water Reunion (1969, Jerral S80-1186)
Roy Orbison (1969, London FLX-3240 (NL), EP London 7594 (OZ))
Inspirations (1969, Triola TD-383, Denmark)
Clifford Curry (1969±, Elf 90033)
Joy McKean & Slim Dusty (EP Things We Sing On Tour, live by Australian couple)
Al Hirt (1969/70?, GWP 519)
Caney Creek Reunion (1970, APT 26007)
Anne Murray (1970, LP Snowbird)
Emerson & Waldron (1970, LP Invite You To A Bluegrass Session)
The Byrds (1970, cd Ash Grove, live recording with Linda Ronstadt doing vocals on this track)
Barbara Mandrell (1971, Columbia 45391)
Wanda Jackson (1971, LP I've Got To Sing)
The Hagers (1971, LP Motherhood, Apple Pie & The Flag)
The Shades (1971, LP The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down, Al Shade & Jean Romaine)
Ann-Louise Hanson (1971, LP Ann-Louise, Swedish version: "Håll Min Hand")
Cymarron (1971, LP Rings)
Colin Butler (1972, LP Canada's Young Singing Sensation, 11 years old child star)
Vilhjálmur Vilhjálmsson (1972, LP Gluggin hennar Kötu, Islandic version: "Var það ást")
Don Sohl Trio (Shoe 1970)
Petr Spálený (1972, Czech version "Mně Se Zdá", duet with Miluse Voborníková)
Julie Byrne & Nashville Cats (1972, LP The Nashville Sound, UK band)
Roy Simon (1972, LP Giving You The Best, Nashville recorded album by Canadian)
Frank Yonko & Everglades (1972, LP Live at the Nashville Room London, UK C&W)
Dale Crider (1972, LP White Springs Bluegrass Festival)
Richard & Linda Thompson (1972 live bonus track on the cd reissue Once Brave Henry)
Jerry Tuttle (1973, LP A Touch Of Music Row)
Alex Fraser Combo (±1973, LP At Home with the Alex Fraser Combo, Canada)
Flying Burrito Brothers (1974, LP Close up the Honky-Tonks)
The Cousins (1974, LP Country Cousins)
Fumble (1974, LP Poetry In Lotion, UK 70s rock)
Susy Rose (45 on Rome RF-877, Ohio girl singer)
The Hillsiders (1975, LP To Please You, UK country)
Glenmarks (1975, LP Glenmarks två sidor, live version in Swedish as "Håll min hand")
Paddy Cole's Superstars (1975, LP Paddy Cole's Superstars, Irish Showband)
Al Barrett's Linemen (1975, LP Open Country, UK Country)
George Moody (LP Especially For You, UK Country)
Mike Fox (LP Country Boy's Memories, Australian country)
Sydney Devine (1976, 2LP Double Devine)
South Tampa Horn Band (1977, LP South Tampa Horn Band, instrumental Florida brass funk)
Magnus (Gustavsson) (1977, LP Country Magnus 2, Swedish country band)
Vern Gosdin (1978, Elektra 45532)
Brendan Boyer (1979, LP Irish Showband)
Wreckless Eric (1980, LP Big Smash, UK punk version)
Bohannon (1981, LP Alive)
Joe Sun (1981, LP Storms Of Life)
Warren Storm (±1982, LP Heart 'n' Soul)
Month of May (Melon 004, might be British 45 rpm 1980s)
Richard Thompson (cd Nocturnal Emissions, live broadcasts and demos 1980-82)
Oak Ridge Brothers (1983, MCA 52488)
Jiri Brabeg & George Hamilton IV (1983, LP George Hamilton IV & Jiri Brabeg & Country Beat)
Teddy Nelson (1989, cd Millions of Miles, Norwegian C&W)
Taxmeni (1993, cd Vrata Vyskocil, Yvonne Prenosilova, another Czech version "Zůstávám")
Poacher (cd Poacher, UK band)
Crystal Gayle (1993, cd Best Always)
Barbados (1995, cd Barbados, another Swedish cover "Håll Min Hand")
Jayhawks (1995, cd Bad Time)
Kenji Nagatomi (cd Country Dream Duets, dentist-singing cowboy from Kyoto, duet with George Hamilton IV)
Iris DeMent (1996, unreleased live GAMH)
Petr Spálený (1998, cd Nová nahrávka, once more recorded by popular Czech country artist)
Brit Lyng (2002, cd Western Boots, Norway)
|
The Frayed and Frazzled Loose Ends Of Our Love |
|
probably unreleased |
The Punk |
Weird lyrics 'bout an old World War 2/ Korea veteran,
gettin' a drafted long haired punk drunk in Vietnam....
Wonder who ever recorded this one, love to hear it! |
probably unreleased |
There's Gotta Be More To Life (than loving a man) |
Good up-tempo, steel guitar flavoured song,
a Lament of a red-dishwater-handed Housewife, see
lyrics |
|
In 1967 the LP Suburban Attitudes in Country Verse was released.
While Loudermilk's first three LP's were more a collection of songs put together on an album,
this is an album release on it's own. May be Loudermilk's best album.
It won a 1967 Grammy Award. Not for the music, but for "the best album notes". It was the only Grammy Loudermilk ever won.
The album was also nominated for 1967 "Best Album Cover, Photography", but this Grammy went to Dylans Greatest Hits album.
|
You're Takin' My Bag |
|
John D Loudermilk (1967, Suburban attitudes in country verse)
Lou Rawls (1967, LP Too Much!)
Paul & Linda (1969, Page One 140, Paul McNeil and Linda Pettifer;
Linda later married to and recorded with Richard Thompson; label spells Laudermilk as composer)
|
Bahama Mama |
Lyrics
Song originally written on a bar mat of the British Colonial hotel, Nassau, Bahamas. |
John D Loudermilk (1967, RCA 9189)
Sheb Wooley (1982, Wild And Wooley)
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Bubble Please Break |
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Do You? |
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John D Loudermilk (1967, Suburban attitudes in country verse)
George Hamilton IV (1968, LP Gentle Country Sound of GHIV)
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I Chose You |
|
John D Loudermilk (1967, Suburban attitudes in country verse)
Tompall Glaser & Glaser Brothers (1968, LP Through The Eyes Of Love)
|
|
One of Loudermilk's best songs
Lyrics |
John D Loudermilk (1967, RCA 9189)
George Hamilton IV (1968, RCA 9519)
Jody Miller (1968, Capitol 2187, C&W hit)
The Shacklefords (1968, LHI 1211, Lee Hazlewood's group on Lee's label)
Everly Brothers (1968, WB 7192)
Frank Ifield (1969, Hickory 1550, Decca 12966 UK)
Dolly Parton (1969, LP Good Old Days)
Lynn Anderson (1970, LP No Love At All)
Fesáci (1975, LP Ostrov Fesáku, in Czech as "Podzimní Zpráva")
Mary McCaslin (1975, LP Prairie in the Sky)
Jim Ringer (1977, LP Tramps and Hawkers)
Jimmie Rodgers (1978, 2LP Today-Yesterday)
|
The Wind Knows The Truth |
Good song, nice acoustic rendition,
lyrics |
John D Loudermilk (1967, Suburban attitudes in country verse)
John D Loudermilk (1971, LP Elloree, an alternative recording on WB)
V.A.A.G. (2006, cd Hè hè...! by Dutch acoustic band)
|
They're Tearing Away The Old Place |
|
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What Is It |
Loudermilk wrote this song inspired by Marijohn Wilkins' favourite expression What is it?,
see lyrics |
|
You're Up To Your Same Old Tricks Again |
|
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If It Weren't For You |
|
probably unreleased |
Joey Stays With Me |
|
|
It's Daytime |
born Nancy Gail Shivel, Ashland, KY, jazzy soul-singer |
|
Unkind Words |
chorus: "Sticks and stones can't
break my bones like your unkind words" |
probably unreleased |
We Wasted Our Time |
|
|
Rubbin' it in |
not the Chely Wright song |
probably unreleased |
Those Thoughts Keep Poppin' Up In My Mind |
|
probably unreleased |
Little World Girl |
Hamiltons version, a tiny C&W hit, contains a strange, intrumental sitar break, probably unique in country music
Lyrics |
George Hamilton IV (1967, RCA 9385)
Neal Ford & Fanatics (1968, Hickory 1500)
|
Be Careful with That Little Drink Before Dinner |
more a little sermon than a song |
|
|
The melody of the song is based on an old song. It goes back to the Happy Home Waltz, at least as old as 1850.
Fifty years later it was known as Birmingham Jail (or Down In The Valley), and recorded first in 1927 by Darby & Tarlton on
Columbia. Recorded by artists like the Weavers, Andrew Sisters, Slim Whitman and many, many more.
Loudermilk wrote new lyrics, see below. On his own 1971 version, he adds a few lines of the old source
Down in the valley, Hear the wind blow.
I Wanna Live was a hit in the USA, Canada, Ireland, France, Sweden, and the rest of the world.
Loudermilk recalls a trip to Dublin: "I was surprised to hear a
park full of Irish Protestants and Catholics singing I Wanna Live during a peace demonstration.
You never know where a country song may end up being heard"! Lyrics:
Flowers have blooms, the ocean has waves
The sky has clouds, people have babes
I wanna live till I get old
I wanna watch all of this grow
I wanna live, live and let live
I want all the love this life has to give
I wanna smile and be friendly with you
I wanna live and let you live some, too
Rover is big, Tabby is small
Betty is short, Jimmy is tall
They wanna live, live and let live
They want all the love this life has to give
They wanna smile and be friendly with you
They wanna live and let you live some, too
© 1968, Acuff-Rose Publ. Inc.
(source: Standard Songs Pop/ Country/ Blues/ Folk/ Instumentals/ Novelty, Acuff-Rose Publications Inc. 1956-1973) The song has been recorded in three versions with different French lyrics.
First version "Je veux vivre", was by Canadian pop group Cesar & Romains (1968).
In 1973 Canadian singer Richard Huet first heard the song on the radio in a taxi cab, in Roy Orbison's version
and he instantly fell in love with the song. The same day, he wrote his French lyrics "Tu peux partir", a hit in Quebec.
In France the song became a big seller for Michel Chevalier ("Je veux t'aimer", a text of Georges Aber). |
Glen Campbell (1968, Capitol 2146, C&W #1 hit)
Ed Hardin (1968, Hit Records 329, Nashville budget label cover)
Ray Griff (1968, LP Ray Of Sunshine, a Canadian, Nashville based country songwriter)
Dick Nolan (1968, LP I Want To Live, Canada country artist)
Campton Brothers (1968, LP Off The Top)
The Piano & Orchestra of Larry Butler (1968, LP Thing Called Love)
Kitty Wells (1968, LP Cream Of Country Hits)
Arlene Harden (1968, LP What Can I Say)
Cornelia (1968, LP Picking Up Pebbles, South Africa)
Tony & Graduates (1968, Pye 7N17578, Ireland)
César et les Romains (1968, Citation CN 9055, Canadian cover: "Je veux vivre")
Little Tony (1968, EP Durium 759, soundtrack comedy Donne, Botte e Bersaglieri)
Svante Thuresson (1968, Metronome J45-784, Swedish hit version: "Leva Mitt Lev")
Towa Carson (1968, Mercury 131404, another Swedish cover "Leva Mitt Lev")
Wenche Myhre (1968, Polydor NH 59762, another Swedish version: "Allt Det Du Gav" by popular Norwegian singer)
Anette (1968, Triola TD-358, Danish "Giv mig et liv")
Daimi (1968, Metronome B-1710, Danish "Leve mit liv")
Lawrence Reynolds (1969, LP Jesus Is A Soul Man)
John D Loudermilk (1971, LP Elloree)
Don Gibson (1970, Hickory 1588)
Life Cycle (1971, TRX 5026, instrumental)
Roy Orbison (1973, MGM 14626)
Richard Huet (1973, Polydor 45 rpm, another Canadian cover, "Tu peux partir")
Michel Chevalier (1973, Aber 87100, another cover in French: "Je veux t'aimer", big hit in France)
Tommy Oliver (1973, South Africa's #3 hit, shamelessly credited as Tommy Oliver's own composition,
though lyrics are different, the music is stolen from JDL's song!)
Eddy Raven (1976, Dot 17618, cajun bilingual version)
Nashville West (1978, group with Clarence White and Gene Parsons)
Johnny Rodriguez (1979, LP Rodriguez Was Here)
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|
This powerful song should have deserved a decent hit cover.
Lyrics |
Roy Acuff Jr (1968, Hickory 1505)
Chaparral Brothers (1968, Capitol 2323)
Don Fardon (1971/2, Young Blood 1027)
|
The Odd Folks of Okracoke |
Instrumental.
Okracoke is a small harbortown in North Carolina
label shot |
John D Loudermilk (1968, RCA 9592, RCA 1761 UK)
Chet Atkins (1969, RCA 10346)
Laif Møller Lauridsen (1996, cd I naturen, Danish classical guitar album)
Jim Coleman (2001, cd The Guitar That Made America Great, a Chet Atkins tribute)
Edward Powers (2008, cd Acoustic Kisses Vol. 1)
|
Baby, Goodbye |
May be these 3 songs were unreleased songs of the sessions for the "Open Mind" LP |
probably unreleased so far |
Hell No, He Hasn't |
Nobody Says I Love You |
In 1969 the LP The Open Mind Of John D Loudermilk was released. A very intense, personal album
with great songs, album in a beautiful psych cover. In the liner notes John Loudermilk wrote:
"This is an album I've always wanted to make for years but have been holding off waiting
for the right time. Included in this collection are songs that may be offensive to some, but the majority of people feel this
album has been needed for quite a while.
Some of these selections have been recorded for as long as three years but "kept in the can," as recording people put it.
My close friends know, I have dedicated my life to reaching into the contemporary thinking of the man on the street, pulling
out passing moods and opinions and preserving them within the framework of the home-made musical composition. I've
tried to use instruments that reflect today.
The only place I may have failed is in my vocal performances, but, as has happened with songs in albums past, younger and
more serious singers will pick them up and have hit after hit with them."
This last remark would not come true. Hardly any of the songs was picked up for a cover by another artist
and sure none became a hit. Still, the album is a very fine collection of good songs. |
More Than He'll Have To Give |
|
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Peace Of Heart |
Bitter song about modern times, see
lyrics |
|
Nassau Town |
Song "written in Room 209 of the British Colonial Hotel in Nassau, Bahamas".
Loudermilk does all instruments and voices, overdubbed on the recording.
Lyrics |
|
The Jones' |
A protest song, criticizing tv and journalism, see lyrics |
Neal Ford & Fanatics (1968, Hickory 1506), a Don Gant production
John D Loudermilk (1969, The Open Mind of John D Loudermilk)
John D Loudermilk (1971, LP Elloree, the alternative WB-recording)
|
To Ann |
Instrumental, dedicated to Ann Askew, young art student doing secretary
work for JDL. Ann died in an automobile accident, june 1968. |
John D Loudermilk (1969, LP The Open Mind of John D Loudermilk)
Chet Atkins (1975, LP The Night Atlanta Burned)
|
Ain't It Going To Hell On A Sled? |
Norris Wilson and Pete Sayers doing the vocal parts which later
seem to have been an inspiration to Ray Stevens on his hit 'The Streak'.
Lyrics mocking on drugs, Vietnam war, modern church.
"I did a lot of research before writing this particular song", JDL jokes on the liner notes of the album. |
|
Poor Little Pretty Girl |
Dedicated to "those poor female creatures who are prettier than they are intelligent",
see lyrics |
|
War Babies |
|
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Geraldine |
|
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Laura |
Laura, what a beautiful aura you have on today,
JDL in a hippie mood, lyrics.
Only instrument to the song is the Hammond chord organ JDL plays. |
|
Sidewalks |
|
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The Knock |
Boy, what a shock to hear from someone inquiring about "The Knock",
that was the first record I ever recorded as an individual artist.
I cut it in 1973 in San Antonio, Texas on Teardrop Records out of Houston, Texas
and got minimal airplay but it was a boost to my bookings back then.
I loved the song for it simplicity and loved the session because of the steel player (Tiny Williams)
who was a 400 pound genius.was what Sandy mailed me.
Nowadays she is an active gospel-performer.
A good country ballad. The song was copyrighted 1968, so there might be an earlier version than Sandy's release of 1976
on the local San Antone label Teardrop Records.
|
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All The Crying In The World |
Sentimental song with an overkill of orchestration |
Jody Miller (1969, Capitol 2398)
Jeris Ross (1976, Dot 17615)
|
Fine Wine (must be sipped slowly) |
Gary Lemel started off playing Jazz, and ended up as a big shot
in soundtrack music industry (president of Warner Bros). This one odd single for Capitol was an inbetween 45. |
|
Take A Little Time |
|
Eddy Arnold (1969, LP Songs Of The Young World)
Sue Thompson (1970, Hickory 1587)
|
