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John D. LoudermilkJohn D. Loudermilk was born on March 31, 1934 in Durham, NC.
One of the most productive Nashville songwriters in the 1960s, he acquired a prominent place in the rock, teen, pop and country music. He passed away September 21, 2016 in Nashville, age 82 → click to play video of John D. performing his signature song, Tobacco Road (BBC-TV, 1984) → |
On this page: JDL writes his Bio
Recent news
Discography
and more...
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part 1: 1956-1960 The Colonial, Columbia, Universal-Cedarwood years |
part 2: 1960-1963 RCA, Hickory, Nashville, teen, hillbilly and novelty |
part 3: 1963-1969 RCA, Hickory, Nashville, bizarre and open minded, country and singer-songwriter songs |
part 4: 1970 & later MIM, England, back in the US, years of retirement |
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Search my Loudermilk pages: |
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October 2023, a new compilation cd
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The Paul Leslie Hour interview
On a new Facebook Group of Mike Griffiths I found a link to a lengthy interview with John D. from 2016, a few month before he passed away. John had my internet site on his computer in front of him as he spoke to interviewer Paul Leslie on the telephone. About my site, John said: "You can't believe all web sites, but I can believe this one, cause I lived this one"! Right you were, John! | |||
Tribute release Sept. 2017
An all-Star Tribute to John D. Loudermilk released. Emmylou Harris, Rosanne Cash, Ricky Skaggs, Rodney Crowell, Tommy Emmanuel and Norro Wilson are among the artists featured on A Tribute to John D. Loudermilk, an album recorded in 2016 during a concert at the Franklin Theatre in Franklin, Tennessee. The project was released Sept. 2017. CMT News, track list | |||
R.I.P. John D Loudermilk
Today I received the sad news from Nashville that John D passed away September 21, 2016 at 7:30am Nashville time, age 82. My condolences to the family. A great songwriter has gone, may he rest in peace. His songs will live on and keep on giving us joy and happiness. Read the great obituary that Edd Hurt wrote for the Nashville Scene, and Alan Cackett's obituary. Newspapers: The Tennessean New York Times Los Angeles Times | |||
Most played on Spotify
A recent update of the most popular Loudermilk songs, ordered by most played on Spotify these days. | |||
1. Turn Me On - Norah Jones
2. Then You Can Tell Me Goodbye - Bettye Swann 3. Tobacco Road - David Lee Roth 4. Turn Me On - Nina Simone 5. Tobacco Road - Eric Burdon & War 6. Road Hog (O Calhambeque) - Roberto Carlos 7. Then You Can Tell Me Goodbye - Joss Stone 8. Tobacco Road - Nashville Teens 9. Sunglasses - Tracey Ullman 10. Indian Reservation = Paul Revere & Raiders |
11. Bad News - Johnny Cash
12. Abilene = George Hamilton IV 13. Ebony Eyes - Everly Brothers 14. Sad Movies - Sue Thompson 15. Tobacco Road - Jack McDuff 16. Windy and Warm = Doc (& Merle) Watson 17. Tobacco Road - Lou Rawls 18. Break My Mind - Carter Family (Johnny Cash) 19. Then You Can Tell Me Goodbye - Perry Como 20. Norman - Sue Thompson | ||
Windy and Warm, with lyrics!
Loudermilk's guitar classic Windy & Warm must have been played by thousands of pickers all over the world and has been recorded and released on album by over 100 artists. And each year the number of covers increases. So far, it has always been an instrumental. Till now. On her 2014 album, Eagles Calling, Miriam Allen delivers the song with lyrics. Hear a sample of the song. (Lyrics by Don Humphries) Well here I sit, caught in the middle, I can't find a dobro, can't play fiddle, been playing this song since I was little - trying to play 'Windy and Warm.' I heard Chet play it when I was just a youngun. Old Doc played it long and strong, and here I sit, longer and longer, trying to play 'Windy and Warm.' You see what I mean, it's a real tough one. I gotta get it right, there ain't no bluffing. And when I get it right, I'll be the stuffing, when I get the 'Windy and Warm.' When I get old and ain't worth a damn, give my finger to Uncle Sam, Scatter my ashes up on the farm, up there where it's windy and warm. When I get to heaven and they give me a harp, I hope it's tuned in C#, I'll be playing it right from the start, trying to play 'Windy and Warm,' | |||
Now on YouTube: complete BBC 1984 show
The intro instrumental is titled "Classical Country String Ensemble" and for the rest we hear the hits: Tobacco Road, Ma Baker's Little Acre, Google Eye, Abilene, Road Hog and Break My Mind. Guests on the show are The Furies | |||
A lot more Viva NashVegas Radio goodies
On the site of George Hamilton V's Viva NashVegas Radio Show a lot more clips are featured of John D.'s visits to the show. See and listen to:
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Million Dollar Quartet
Like Sun in Memphis had its Million Dollar Quartet when Cash, Perkins, Lewis and Presley got together, here's a songwriter's Million Dollar Quartet, 10 years later in Nashville: Shel Silverstein, John D. Loudermilk, Harlan Howard and Chet Atkins. Great picture, taken from Harlan Howard Songs facebook page.
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John D and George IV on the Viva NashVegas Radio Show
This footage is from Saturday 23 February 2012. It's John D and George Hamilton IV on George Hamilton V's Viva NashVegas Radio Show. It was a hoot, streamed live as a podcast. Later on, maybe late spring or summer, John D and George IV will do one with their two sons (George V and Mike Loudermilk). George and John tell the story about the recording of Rose and Baby Ruth, their first song. | |||
Most played covers updated
I have updated the listing of the most played -over the last 5 years, all over the world- Loudermilk-songs. Source: play and scrobble on Last.fm and Spotify. Favourite is the song Turn Me On, in Norah Jones' hit version. It is by far the most played song, and even the #2 spot is for the same song, in Nina Simone's version. There's a lot of Tobacco Road in the listing. Most played now is the version by Jefferson Airplane. It's a bit sad to see, how little the original songs performed by the composer himself are played. In the top 100 listing, John D. scores with only 2 songs: Language of Love at #49 and John's own, killer original version of Tobacco Road is at #79. | |||
1. Turn Me On = Norah Jones
2. Turn Me On = Nina Simone 3. Tobacco Road = Jefferson Airplane 4. Tobacco Road = David Lee Roth 5. Tobacco Road = Nashville Teens 6. Tobacco Road = Blues Magoos 7. A Rose and a Baby Ruth = Marilyn Manson 8. Sittin' In The Balcony = Eddie Cochran 9. This Little Bird = Marianne Faithfull 10. Then You Can Tell Me Goodbye = The Casinos |
11. Tobacco Road = Eric Burdon & War
12. Indian Reservation = Paul Revere & Raiders 13. Road Hog (O Calhambeque) = Roberto Carlos 14. Bad News = Johnny Cash 15. Talk Back Tremblin' Lips = Johnny Tillotson 16. Waterloo = Stonewall Jackson 17. Abilene = George Hamilton IV 18. Indian Reservation = Don Fardon 19. Indian Reservation (National Reservation) = Laibach 20. Windy and Warm = Doc Watson | ||
New compilation cd
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Betty McQuade
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A remarkable cover
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Induction Hall of Fame
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Hugh Morton photo's
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More new covers
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Recently added ...
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Interview about songwriting
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JDL visited Chapel Hill, Feb 27+28th - performing with George Hamilton IV
Picture by Mike Spicer. |
Picture: John D. and George Hamilton IV performing last year in Chapel Hill, NC, June 17th 2006. To commemorate that they recorded their first hit, A Rose and a Baby Ruth 50 years ago. Picture by Mike Spicer. Higher resolution format to be found
at Flickr.
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As published by JDL, telling about the start of his career, source the Acuff Rose Song Folio Book, publ. ca. 1964 Back in 1934 on the last day of March... I was born.
My early religious influences were mostly along the gospel or holiness line.
Singing to the accompaniment of "Stringed Instruments", Horns, Tamborines, Hand Clapping
and the Big Bass Drum was my first conception of music... and a lasting one.
Shouting at prayer meetings and giving one's own personal testimony was The Rule Of The Day.
My folks had always wanted me to become a preacher, but when I became a teenager instead,
they became aware that I had become aware of a certain thing called social pressure.
So I turned in my Christmas bell and uniform and started singing and playing more "Pop" type stuff
on the guitar... the guitar that mother and the Salvation Army had taught me how to play.
On graduation from high school I went to work at my hometown television station
painting sets and doing commercial art work. I was also on the air an hour a day playing
bass fiddle in the Studio Combo and doing an occasional tune with my guitar on camera.
It was during this time that I discovered the works of Kahlil Gibran, the Far Eastern poet
and philosopher, who inspired me to try my hand at writing.
I had always wanted to go to college so off I went -down to a little junior college
in the eastern part of the state. It was here that I wrote "Sittin' In The Balcony"
(which was later to become Eddie Cochrans first hit record.)
John's saturday night's band in the early 1950s: the Carolina Pinetoppers.
Young John D in the center with fiddle.
Picture from a local NC newspaper (picture courtesy Mike Spicer).
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John D. only had 2 hit songs in the US:
His own chart results seem nothing though, compared to what other artists made out of his compositions, covering the songs.
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Discography based on PragueFrank's overview, with a few additions.
US 45 rpm SINGLES 1956-57 as by Johnny Dee, for Colonial Records out of Chapel Hill, NC
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Albums (vinyl LP) |
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In red font the essential albums (US releases with new material), | ||
others (sampler, compilation) in blue font |
Side 1: |
Side 2: |
Language Of Love Oct 1961 |
Darling Jane |
Mister Jones |
12 Sides Of John D. Loudermilk Sep 1962 * new recording, different from the Columbia-45 version |
All Of This For Sally |
Road Hog |
Blue Train
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Blue Train (Of The Heartbreak Line) |
Bad News |
Presenting John D. Loudermilk
* with strings, different from the 1967 US-version |
Then You Can Tell Me Goodbye * |
Nothing To Gain |
John D. Loudermilk Sings A Bizarre Collection Of The Most Unusual Songs Dec 1966 |
To Hell With Love |
Talkin' Silver Cloud Blues |
Suburban Attitudes In Country Verse May 1967 |
Bahama Mama |
You're Up To Your Same Old Tricks Again |
Country Love Songs Plain And Simply Sung Aug 1968 |
Blue Eyes Crying In The Rain |
I Can't Stop Loving You |
The Open Mind Of John D. Loudermilk Feb 1969 |
More Than He'll Have To Give |
Goin' To Hell On A Sled |
The Best Of John D. Loudermilk
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Blue Train |
The Language Of Love |
Volume 1 - Elloree May 1971 * new recordings, different from the RCA-versions |
Ricky's Tune |
The Lament Of The Cherokee Reservation Indian * |
Encores
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More Than He'll Have To Give |
Talkin' Silver Cloud Blues |
The Rockin' Styles Of John D. Loudermilk, Vol.1
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Sittin' In The Balcony", It's Gotta Be You, Somebody Sweet, They Were Right, A-Plus In Love, In My Simple Way, That's All I've Got, Asiatic Flu, Thousand Conrete Blocks, Teenage Queen, Red Headed Stranger, This Cold War With You, Yo-Yo, Lover's Lane, Yearbook, Midnight Bus, Goin' Away To School, Happy Wanderer, Susie's House, Tobacco Road |
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The Rockin' Styles Of John D. Loudermilk, Vol.2
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Jimmy's Song, Darling Jane, Rocks Of Reno, You Reap Just What You Sow, What Would You Take For Me, Mary's No Longer Mine, It's My Time, He's Just A Scientist, Rhythm And Blues, Th' Wife, Nothing To Gain, Guitar Player, Run On Home Baby Brother, Song Of The Lonely Teen, Thou Shalt Not Steal, Oh How Sad, What Is It, Callin' Dr Casey |
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Volume 2 - Just Passing Through Feb 1979 |
I'll Never Be The Same |
Every Day I Learn A Little More About Love |
That's All I've Got
* spelling error in song title |
That's All I've Got |
Susie's House |
Compact Discs |
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Blue Train
* previously unissued track |
Blue Train (Of The Heartbreak Line), Mister Jones, Language Of Love, Jimmie's Song, Angela Jones, The Bully Of The Beach, Rhythm And Blues, What Would You Take For Me?, The Great Snowman, Everybody Knows, Google Eye, Darling Jane, Song Of The Lonely Teen, All Of This For Sally, Road Hog, He's Just A Scientist (That's All), The Rocks Of Reno, Big Daddy, Callin' Dr Casey, You Reap Just What You Sow, The Little Wind Up Doll *, Two Strangers In Love, Th' Wife, Bad News, Run On Home Baby Brother, Oh How Sad |
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It's My Time
* previously unissued track |
It's My Time, No Playing In The Snow Today, The Little Grave, I'm Looking For A World, What Is It?, Bubble Please Break, Ma Baker's Little Acre, Mary's No Longer Mine, To Hell With Love, Talkin' Silver Cloud Blues, Joey Stays With Me, The Lament Of The Cherokee Reservation Indian, The Jones', You're The Guilty One, Where Have They Gone, The Little Bird, Brown Girl, Givin' You All My Love *, I Chose You, Honey, That Ain't All, Interstate 40, Do You, Tobacco Road |
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Sittin' In The Balcony
* previously unissued track |
Sittin' In The Balcony, A-Plus In Love, It's Gotta Be You, Teenage Queen, 1000 Conrete Blocks, In My Simple Way, That's All I've Got, Asiatic Flu, Somebody Sweet, They Were Right, Yearbook, Susie's House, Yo-Yo, Lover's Lane, Goin' Away To School, This Cold War With You, Please Don't Play No Nine *, The Angel Of Flight 509 *, Midnight Bus, The Red Headed Stranger, Tobacco Road, The Happy Wanderer (Val-De-Ri, Val-De-Ra), March Of The Minute Men * |
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Language Of Love
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Tracks same as the 1961 LP plus bonus tracks: Thou Shalt Not Steal, Callin' Doctor Casey, Road Hog |
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The Open Mind of John D Loudermilk
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Tracks same as the 1979 LP plus bonus tracks: To Hell With Love, Ma Baker's Little Acre, No Playing In The Snow Today, Bad News, The Little Grave, Talkin' Silver Cloud Blues, I'm Looking For a World, The Lament Of The Cherokee Reservation Indian, Interstate 40, Where have They Gone, The Little Bird, Tobacco Road, Bubble Please Break, It's My Time, That Ain't All |
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Most covered songs... as far as I found covers, updated Dec 2013:
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Most covering artists... 1. Sue Thompson (26 covers, an idea to release a cd with those songs?!)
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Most played songs, 2007-2012, (source) and the most prominent artists
1. Turn Me on (Norah Jones, Nina Simone)
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Many thanks for giving additional informations and corrections:
Bill Aldred, Damien Avelange, Tommy Bengtsson, John W Beveridge, Chris Bishop,
Jens Bohn, Mark Bridgland, Kees Brinkerink, Josh Brown,
Jim Callahan, David Caudell, Art Chartrand, Vic Chinn, Keith O'Conner Murphy, Glenn Dean, John DeAngelis, Phil Dirt,
Enrique Dufau, John Engstrom, Hans Evers, Record Exchanger,
Stuart Fraser, Rob Giesbertz, Marco Giunco, Henk Gorter, Paul Griffiths, Meridian Green, Dirk Grossiels, Rich Grunke,
Hansi Hammer, Bob Hayden, Dik de Heer, Dietrich Heitz, Paul Hennessey, Rainer Holzhauer,
'Butcher' Pete Hoppula, Richard Huet, Edd Hurt, Cathy Illman,
Ruud de Jonker, Ben Joosten, Albert Keijser, Gene Kennedy, Klaus Kettner, Fedor Kiebert, Chris Kimberley, Corey Kleinbauer,
Kåre and Edvin Kristiansen, Alexander Kurochko, Andre Landgraf, Sven Libaek,
John Laursen, Florent Lavoie, Bill Littleton, Steve Lonsdale, Tertius Louw, Sandy Mason, Bas Möllenkramer, Hugh Moore,
Holly Moors, Ayrton Mugnaini, Cynthia 'Kangaroo Girl' Muse,
Julio Niño, Barry Nostradamus Sher, Joe Novak, Zbigniew Nowara,
Neil Packman, Country Paul Payton, Jean-Pierre Piellen, Fred Poet, Johannes Potgieter, Austin Powell, Chris Quaedvlieg, Ulf Reissberg,
Peter Roberts, Paul Robin, Åke Roos, Bernd Rüttgers, Hans De Ruyck, Sandy Samples,
Erwin Schapendonk, Gerd Scheffold, John Schelp, Siegfried Schneeweiß, Hartmut Schulla, Jan Sigurd, Henri Smeets,
Ian Sparrow, Joe Specht, Ed Steklasa, Helm Stone, Luis Torres, Mike Turner, Henrik Uhlin, Paul Urbahns,
Tapio Vaisanen, Jaroslav Vener, Jerry A. Veneskey, Henk Verhulst, Jukka Voudinmäki, Wilfried Weiler,
Klaas Vonk, Peter Vreeburg, Wolfgang Wittmann, Bob Wynne, Pascal Yvernel, Gustavo Zamora, Greg Zechman, Ben Zehnder
And sure a lot of thanks for the kind help of John D, Susan C and Rick Loudermilk! Mail to Kees van der Hoeven Last update Oct 2023 John D Loudermilk Londermilk, John Dee Loudermilk, John E Loudermilk, JD Loudermilk, J D Loudermilk, John D Laudermilk, John D Lowdermilk, Loudemilk, J Loudermilk Lowdemilk Lautemilk Lautermilch Lowdemilk |