Talk
about a mammoth task ! From 1950 to 1956, Speedy is said to have played on
6,000 records by 177 different artists. Hank Penny, who was a close friend
of Speedy's, had memories of West rushing out of a Hollywood studio and loading
his equipment into a truck only to unload it minutes later at another location
in order to cut a new session. Hey, they all wanted the Man with the triple-neck
Bigsby pedal steel guitar and the otherworldly sound ! Yet, he never seemed
to be tired or bored ; he always played with his usual fire and taste.
I would even add that a sizeable portion of the best Country Boogies & Hillbilly Boppers stemming from the West Coast indeed features Speedy's energetic stylings.
A good majority of the 'outside' recordings he played on also featured Jimmy Bryant on lead guitar and most of the Cliffie Stone Gang (Harold Hensley, Billy Liebert, Roy Harte, Billy Strange, Eddie Kirk...) ; we'll add all session details if & when available.
Your additions & corrections will be dearly appreciated.
Copyright PAUL VIDAL * France * April 2003/October 2004
|
Rex Allen |
DECCA |
- |
- |
|
The Billy
May Orchestra |
CAPITOL |
- |
- |
|
Johnny Bond |
COLUMBIA |
20808 |
RHCO-4446
Sick, Sober And Sorry RHCO-4447 Tennessee Walking Horse |
| 20844 |
RHCO-4448
Keep Your Cotton Pickin' Hands Off My Gal RHCO-4513 Ten Trips To The Altar |
||
| 20876 |
RHCO-10004
In Old New Mexico RHCO-10006 Broke, Disgusted And Sad |
||
| 20902 |
RHCO-4511
I Found You Out RHCO-10007 Alabama Boogie Boy |
||
| 20948 |
RHCO-10157
The Man Behind The Throttle RHCO-10158 Louisiana Lucy |
||
| UNISSUED
TRACKS |
RHCO-4449
The Son Of Old Casey (03/13/51) RHCO-10005 Unknown title (August 1951) RHCO-10159 Tears (March 1952) |
||
|
Jimmy Boyd |
COLUMBIA |
- |
- |
| Rosemary
Clooney |
COLUMBIA |
- |
- |
|
Bing Crosby |
DECCA | 28969 |
L 7461 Y'All Come ? |
|
Eddie DEAN |
CAPITOL |
- |
- |
|
Ramblin' Jimmie Dolan |
CAPITOL | 1322 |
6834
Y Hot Rod Race 6835 Z Walkin' With The Blues |
| 1633 |
5612
Z I'll Sail My Ship Alone 6834 Y Hot Rod Race |
||
| 1720 |
7677
Y Jukebox Boogie 7672 Z Sailor's Blues |
||
| 2713 |
12125
Tool Pusher On A Rotary Rig 12126 If I Could Look Inside Your Heart |
||
| 2830 |
12127
Looka Here Baby 12124 I'll Never Go Sailing Again |
||
|
Tommy Duncan |
INTRO |
- |
- |
|
Terry Fell |
X |
0010 |
E4LW-3040
Truck Drivin' Man E4LW-3041 Don't Drop It |
|
0078 |
E4LW-3038
You Don't Give A Hang About Me E4LW-4460 Get Aboard My Wagon |
||
|
0114 |
E4LW-3039
Mississippi River Shuffle E4LW-4461 He's In Love With You |
||
| Speedy
does not play on 'Get Aboard My Wagon' and 'He's In Love With You' -
both come from an August 20, 1954, session featuring Ralph Mooney on
steel and Joe Maphis
on lead gtr. The X label was a subsidiary of RCA Victor. |
|||
|
CAPITOL At
Capitol, Speedy probably backed up Tennessee Ernie more than anybody
else. Ernest J. Ford was a super singer as well as a talented writer
whose humorous lyrics, combined with the high degree of musicianship
brought by Speedy and the whole Cliffie Stone Gang, turned his Country
Boogies into instant classics. They're now all sought after even by
Rockabilly collectors. Really, who could argue that 'Blackberry Boogie'
('52) and 'Catfish Boogie' ('53) aren't 'proto-Rock' affairs ? As for
'The Shot Gun Boogie' ('50), it has been covered and plagiarized ad
infinitum. Good versions include those by Jesse Lee Turner (GNP
188) and Hawkshaw Hawkins (King 932). The above painting of Tennessee Ernie appeared on the cover of his 'Sixteen Tons' LP in 1960 (Capitol T 1380) - which contained a dozen of his best songs. |
15400 |
3893
I've Got The Milk'Em In The Morning Blues ? |
|
| 15430 |
3984
Country Junction ? |
||
| 40212 |
4601
Smokey Mountain Boogie ? |
||
| 40258 |
5062
Anticipation Blues 5108 Mule Train |
||
| 40280 |
5359
Cry Of The Wild Goose ? |
||
| 985 |
5598
My Hobby 5600 I've Got The Feed'Em In The Mornin' (Change'Em), Feed'Em In The Evenin' Blues |
||
| 1275 |
6629
Y Leetle Juan Pedro 6630 Z Bryant's Boogie -> top side, duet with Eddie Kirk |
||
| 1295 |
6458
Y The Shot Gun Boogie 6457 Z I Ain't Gonna Let It Happen No More |
||
| 1349 |
6767
Y Tailor Made Woman 6768 Z Stack-O-Lee -> with Joe 'Fingers' Carr, both sides |
||
| 1470 |
7308
Y The Strange Little Girl 7309 Z Kentucky Waltz |
||
| 1567 |
7537
Y Ocean Of Tears 7538 Z You're My Sugar -> duet with Kay Starr, both sides |
||
| 1623 |
6168
Z I'll Never Be Free 6169 Y Ain't Nobody's Business But My Own -> with Kay Starr ; reissue of Capitol # 1124 |
||
| 1695 |
5359
Cry Of The Wild Goose 5108 Mule Train -> reissue of songs from # 40258 and # 40280 |
||
| 1775 |
7924
Y The Kissin' Bug Boogie 7925 Z Woman Is A Five Letter Word |
||
| 1809 |
Hey
Good Lookin' Cool Kisses -> duet with Helen O'Connell, both sides |
||
| 1911 |
7922
Rock City Boogie 7923 Streamlined Cannon Ball -> with The Dinning Sisters, both sides |
||
| 2017 |
9776
Hambone ? Gandy Dancers Ball |
||
| 2042 |
9830
Everybody's Got A Girl But Me 5061 Put Your Arms Around Me |
||
| 2066 |
9832
Snowshoe Thompson ? Fatback Louisiana, USA |
||
| 2170 |
10308
Blackberry Boogie 10307 Tennessee Local |
||
| 2179 |
3984
Country Junction 4601 Smokey Mountain Boogie -> reissue of songs from # 15430 and # 40212 |
||
| 2215 |
10392
I'm Hog-Tied Over You 10393 False Hearted Girl -> duet with Ella Mae Morse, both sides |
||
| 2338 |
I
Don't Know Sweet Temptation |
||
| 2443 |
11227
Hey, Mister Cotton Picker 11228 Three Things (A Man Must Do) |
||
| 2473 |
11160
Don't Start Courtin' In A Hot Rod 11161 We're A-Growin' Up -> duet with Molly Bee, both sides |
||
| 2602 |
11709
Catfish Boogie 11688 Kiss Me Big |
||
| 2809 |
12454
This Must Be The Place 12455 The Honeymoon's Over -> duet with Betty Hutton, both sides |
||
| 3058 |
13544
The Ballad Of Davy Crockett ? Farewell |
||
|
Jeanne Gayle |
CAPITOL | 2144 |
10026
I'm Movin' On 10028 Mr. Fly By Night |
|
Monte Hale |
M G M | - |
- |
| Johnny Horton | ABBOTT |
108 | Somebody's
Rockin' My Broken Heart * Betty Lorraine (Betty Lou) * duet with Billy 'Hillbilly' Barton |
| 109 | Bawlin'
Baby * Rhythm In My Baby's Walk * duet with Billy 'Hillbilly' Barton |
||
There's been controversy over the years about
the above session, which took place in Hollywood on February 13, 1952.
Steeler Jimmy Day, who later played with Horton, said that Speedy never
played on any Johnny Horton recording session (cf. 'Goldmine', March
1981 issue) ; however, aural evidence is there to prove him wrong :
Speedy tears it up, especially on the fantastic 'Rhythm In My Baby's
Walk' ! |
|||
|
Red Ingle |
CAPITOL | - |
- |
| Spike
Jones |
R C A Victor | - |
- |
|
Eddie Kirk
|
CAPITOL | 40285 |
5376
Y A Year Of City Livin' 5377 Z Away Out On A Mountain |
| 1287 |
?
Blue Bonnet Blues ? In The Shambles Of My Heart |
||
|
Skeets Mc
Donald |
CAPITOL | 1518 |
7385
Scoot, Git And Be Gone 7401 Blues Is Bad News |
| 1570 |
7386
Bless Your Little Ol' Heart (You're Mine) 7400 Today I'm Movin' Out |
||
| 1771 |
7563
I'm Hurtin' 7585 Ridin' With The Blues |
||
| 1890 |
7544
Fuss And Fight 7545 Baby Brown Eyes |
||
| 1967 |
9584
Tell Me Why 9585 Be My Life's Companion |
||
| 1993 |
9586
The Love That Hurt Me So 9734 Wheel Of Fortune |
||
| 2073 |
9861
Please Come Back 9863 Curtain Of Tears |
||
| 2216 |
9583
Big Family Trouble 10486 Don't Let The Stars Get In Your Eyes |
||
| 2326 |
9864
I'm Sorry To Say I'm Sorry 10793 Let Me Know |
||
| BEAR
FAMILY |
BFX
15195 |
9733
Heartbreaking One -> unissued from the 'Wheel Of Fortune' session, held on February 6, 1952 |
|
| BCD 15937 | 9862
You Made Me Cry -> unissued from the April 7, 1952, session which also produced masters # 9861/3 & 4 |
||
|
Merrill Moore |
CAPITOL | 3311 |
14621
Cooing To The Wrong Pigeon 14623 Down The Road Apiece |
| 3397 | 15136
Rock Island Line 15137 King Porter Stomp |
||
| 3536 | 14622
Gotta Gimme What'Cha Got 14624 She's Gone |
||
| 3721 | 16595
Barrel House Bessie 16596 Tuck Me To Sleep (In My Old 'Tucky Home) |
||
| 3788 | 16593
Buttermilk Baby 16594 Nursery Rhyme Blues |
||
| Buddy
Merrill |
DOT | ? | Goin'
Away San Antonio Rose -> a rare 1959 release |
| George
Morgan |
CAPITOL | 15391 | 3891
Candy Kisses ? |
|
Ella Mae Morse |
CAPITOL |
2072 |
9737
Oakie Boogie 9301 Love Ya' Like Mad ! |
| BEAR FAMILY | BCD
15956 |
9374 Oakie Boogie (with horns ; without Jimmy Bryant ; unissued cut from December 12, 1951) | |
|
Moon Mullican |
KING |
1137 |
Pipeliner
Blues ? |
| 1164 |
Ooglie,
Ooglie, Ooglie (The Tokyo Boogie) ? |
||
|
Helen O'Connell |
CAPITOL | 1837 |
9024
Slow Poke 9025 I Wanna Play House With You |
| 1895 |
9310
Crazy Heart 9311 Any Time |
||
| 1944 |
9355
Come What May 9515 Baby, We're Really In Love |
||
| 1976 |
9313
There's Been A Change In Me 9540 Stingy |
||
|
Doye O'Dell |
INTRO | 6047 |
RR
1867 Diesel Smoke RR 1859 If Tears Were Gold |
| Gene O'Quin Another Capitol artist who had a distinctive vocal style. He also had the unique privilege of having Speedy available at each & every recording session ! Between '50 and '52, Gene would cut many classic boogies such as the single on the right (Capitol # 1508), which comes from a March 8, 1951 date. In 1987, Speedy told me that he really liked Gene despite his personal problems and that, ugly as he was, he was always seen with pretty girls around him !! After Capitol, he had two releases on Intro (without Speedy). His last single appeared in the '70s on the Unicorn label. |
CAPITOL 
|
1148 |
6382
The Pinball Millionaire 6383 The Hard Way |
| 1219 |
6381
Keep A-Talkin' Baby 6384 (You're Gonna Have To Stop) That Low Down Running Around |
||
| 1315 |
6802
Devil On My Shoulder (And An Angel In My Arms) 6803 You're Smiling At Another |
||
| 1346 |
6801
I Get The Blues 6804 Butane Blues |
||
| 1433 |
7067
You Played Around With My Heart 7069 Heads You Win (Tails I Lose) |
||
| 1508 |
7194
Y No Parking Here 7195 Z Boogie Woogie Fever |
||
| 1708 |
7068
Triflin' Woman (You're Gonna Have To Settle Down) 7648 Texas Boogie |
||
| 1821 |
7066
It's No Use Talkin' Baby 7192 I'm Lonesome For You |
||
| 1943 |
7193
Let Me Change Your Name 7650 I'm Gonna Find Another Sweetheart |
||
| 2050 |
7649
You Better Change Your Ways 9676 Come Around To Me |
||
| 2075 |
9677
I'll Never Be The Same 9679 Mobilin' Baby Of Mine |
||
| 2210 |
9678
You're Gonna Be Sorry 10423 Tennessee Talkin' Doll |
||
| 2344 |
10339
Close Your Eyes (And I'll Be There) 7647 I'm Gonna Take My baby Dancing |
||
| 2490 |
10338
I Don't Want Your Kisses (If I Can't...) 11070 I'll Stop Loving You |
||
| 2655 |
11069
I Believe In Lovin' 11071 I Wish It Was Only A Dream |
||
| 2715 |
12200
I Specialize In Love 12201 Too Hot To Handle |
||
| 2843 |
10337
I'm Gettin' Rid Of You 11068 Tired |
||
| 2935 |
12955
You Name It (She's Got It) 12956 It's No Wonder |
||
| BEAR FAMILY |
BCD
16194 |
12202
I Don't Know Anything About Love 12203 I Can't Stand The Thought Of Losing You -> unissued cuts from the December 29, 1953, session which produced Capitol # 2715 |
|
| 12957
Stand Back And Let Me At That Gal 12958 Someone's Gonna Be Lonely -> unissued cuts from the August 24, 1954, session which produced Capitol # 2935 |
|||
|
Hank Penny |
KING | 795 |
2879
Hillbilly BeBop 2623 Sweet Talkin' Mama -> Speedy plays on 'Hillbilly BeBop' only |
| 813 |
2878
We Met Too Late 2214 My Inlaws Made An Outlaw Outta Me -> Speedy plays on top side only |
||
| 828 |
2877
I was Satisfied 2880 Bloodshot Eyes |
||
| DECCA | 29926 |
9127
Southern Fried Chicken 9129 Rock Of Gibraltar |
|
| 30179 |
9130
Wham! Bam! Thank You, Ma'Am 9174 Texas Never Would-A Made It |
||
| UNISSUED
|
9128 I'd Rather Pick A Guitar -> from the April 5, 1956, L.A. session which produced 'Rock Of Gibraltar' among others |
||
|
Bob Roubian |
CAPITOL | 3373 |
15011
Blue Suede Shoes 15012 Candy Coated Kisses |
| Jean
Shepard |
CAPITOL | 2358 |
10697
Twice The Lovin' (In Half The Time) 10698 Crying Steel Guitar Waltz |
| 2502 |
Dear
John Letter I'd Rather Die Young |
||
| 2586 |
Forgive
Me John My Wedding Ring |
||
| 2791 |
Two
Whoops And A Holler Why Did You Wait |
||
| BEAR FAMILY | BCD
15956 |
10699
Keep It A Secret 10700 Nobody Else Can Love You Like I Do -> unissued cuts from the same September 30, 1952, session which produced Capitol # 2358 |
|
|
The Sons Of The Pioneers |
R C A Victor | 47-4639 |
E2VW-5288
Diesel Smoke E2VW-5289 Almost |
| BEAR FAMILY | BFX
15283 |
E2VB-5288-1
Diesel Smoke -> unissued version cut on March 14, 1952 |
|
|
Cliffie Stone
|
CAPITOL | 1496 |
?
Jump Rope Boogie ? Hokey Pokey |
| 2362 |
10846
Listen To The Mockingbird 10848 When The Bloom Is On The Sage |
||
| 2910 |
12901
Please, Please 12903 Blue Moon Of Kentucky -> vocal by Homer Esk, both sides |
||
| 3131 |
12902
Barracuda 13384 The Popcorn Song -> vocal duet by Speedy West & Billy Strange on 'Barracuda' ; other side sung by Bob Roubian |
||
|
Billy Strange |
CAPITOL | 2032 |
9811
Almanac Song 9812 Diesel Smoke |
| 2112 |
10065
I Love You 24 Hours A Day 10066 Hell Train |
||
| 2797 |
12220
Am I Seeing Things 12222 The Devil In Me |
||
| DESIGN | DLP-622 | 'HOME
ON THE STRANGE' -> 1965 LP featuring The Speedy West Orchestra |
|
|
Hank Thompson |
CAPITOL | 2063 |
9365
Waiting In The Lobby Of Your Heart 9366 Don't Make Me Cry Again |
|
Merle Travis |
CAPITOL | - |
- |
|
Wesley
Tuttle |
CAPITOL | - |
- |
|
Slim Whitman |
IMPERIAL |
8163 |
IF-374
An Amateur In Love IF-380 By The Waters Of The Minnetonka |
| 8189 |
IF-375
Song Of The Old Water Wheel IF-466 Restless Heart -> Speedy's present on top side only |
||
| Jess Willard | CAPITOL | 1562 |
7513
Hang On The Ball And Chain 7514 Honky Tonk Hardwood Floor |
| 1755 |
7512
Java Junction 7624 Oil The Hinges On Your Door |
||
| 2235 |
7606
Gonna Take That Fast Train 9774 Honky Tonkin' All The Time -> Speedy's present on top side only |
||
| BEAR FAMILY | BCD
16256 |
7623
Boogie Woogie Preachin' Man -> unissued cut from the June 6, 1951, session which produced masters #7606 and # 7624 |
|
|
Tom 'Red' Wilson |
CREST | 1007 |
CR-1007-Z
Can You Bop ? CR-1007-Y Hillbilly Parade |
|
Sheb Wooley |
M G M |
11910 |
54-XY-3048
38-24-35 54-XY-3049 I Flipped |
