Coming Round The Mountain (A 1013) Bill McHardy: You know, I sort of expect a banjo/fiddle feel to this song…and this record doesn’t deliver.
Cajun Swomp (Flip Called P) (RMR 2004): With a name like this, the music should be cajun-flavored…and it is.
Just To Walk Away (AR 109) Andy Finch: This is an Aaron Tippin song off his What This Country Needs album.
Before The Next Teardrop Falls (TAR 107) Herb Franklin: I associate this with Freddy Fender, but the song appears on a bunch of albums. There’s another square dance version of it.
Love Is Our Business (CRC 140) Steve Jacques: A John Michael Montgomery song off his Home To You album.
Old Time Preacher Man (RYL 814) Randy Dougherty: “Daddy was an Old Time Preacher Man,” an Essential Dolly Parton/Porter Wagoner song, co-written by Dolly.
Carolina Girl (TAR 108) Tom Wallace: I couldn’t find anything on a song named “Carolina Girl” (but there sure are a lot of Carolina Girl Scout Councils). This sounds like it’s based on beach/shag music…it’s got that kind of feel.
Always (SSR 211) Larry Shipman: You can add this to your collection of waltzes turned into square dance music. It’s an old classic, done up here in Hammond organ/roller rink style.
My Maria (RYL 237) Tony Oxendine/P Carnathan. Originally a hit by B.W. Stevenson in 1973, it was also a hit for Brooks and Dunn more recently. This version sounds more like Shakedown (Pat Carnathan) than Royal (Tony Oxendine)…both in the instrumentation and in the fact that the melody line isn’t emphasized…so you’d better be able to sing without it (which, of course, both Tony and Pat can do).
I’d Really Love To See Ya Tonight (GMP 804) Bronc Wise: An England Dan/John Ford Coley song from 1976. Interesting coincidence department: I did a Google search on England Dan and John Ford Coley and Bob Lafleur’s Music – Artist Index was the first site to pop up. As many of you may know, Bob Lafleur had one of the first caller listings on the internet. He’s taken down all his square dance stuff and now refers people to Western Square Dancing, but he apparently has his extensive music collection (non-square-dancing, if you can imagine) on line.
Here are the lyrics: I’d Really Love To See You Tonight (Parker McGee)
Looks like John Ford Coley is still performing; I don’t know whether to be embarassed or pleased that I recognize none of his “hits”. I think it mainly shows that I didn’t pay attention to pop music in the seventies (or, for that matter, the eighties and nineties).
Celebration (S2K 2005) Jack O’leary: One of Kool and the Gang’s All-Time Greatest Hits. I was looking forward to hearing this, and while I’m a little disappointed in the instrumentation, I’ll probably get it anyway.
Lazy, Hazy, Crazy Days Of Summer (SSR 212) Ed Kremers: This one surprised me; I didn’t know that the original version was done by Nat “King” Cole. The song is on several albums, but I have to say that this one looks like a real winner: Patio Pool Party, put out by Nick At Night. It includes such fabulous songs as Afternoon Delight and Sunshine Superman.
Here’s a website that talks about Nat and the song: Those Lazy Hazy Crazy Days of Summer, and here are lyrics.
This version has a sort of honky-tonk piano style. I could get into it.
I Would Love You More Than I Do (GMP 931) Ken Bower
Don’t Think Of Me (CC 61) Jack Burg & Curt Braffet
Goodbye My Lady Love (GR 12179) Brian Hotchkies: This is an early 1900’s vaudeville song. Here’s a cylinder recording of it: www.tinfoil.com – 08/97 Cylinder of the Month. I have to say that this is the first song on the tape that’s made me smile.
Tomorrow Night In Baltimore (Maryland) (PIO 133): A Roger Miller song from the 70’s
Picking Strings/Front Porch Fiddle (BMV 29)
Repressings
Popps Hoedown/Popps Hoedown(Rhythm)(Repress) (YR 102) One of my all time favorite patter records. There are lots of different tunes; it’s fun to work with the music.
Pirates And Poets (CD 223) Wayne Baldwin: Rich Reel considers this “a very nice little song” (My Square Dance Record Collection) I think Rich goes by the “if you can’t say anything nice, don’t say anything at all” theory; his ratings range from 7 (good) to 9 (the very best). He gives Pirates and Poets an 8 (excellent).
Rounds
Slow Boat To China (GR 17252)
Dear World (Rerelease) (ST 177)
Rereleases
Amarillo By Morning (Texas) (RR 147) Wade Driver: A George Strait song. Here are the lyrics.
Georgia On My Mind (RB 3002) Mike Hoose: Looks like just about every singer has made an attempt at this song, co-written by Hoagy Carmichael. Some big names: Louis Armstrong, Hoagy Carmichael, Ray Charles, James Brown, Nat King Cole, Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday, Tom Jones, Jerry Lee Lewis, Willie Nelson, Righteous Brothers, Dinah Shore, Lawrence Welk. So any vocal style you want to use would probably be appropriate. For lyrics, check here: Georgia On My Mind
The Georgia Online! website’s url is “gomm.com”.
Justin (Flip Called P – Ping Pong Circulate (ST 187) Jack Lasry: Typical Square Tunes patter record; the melody sounded familiar.
If You’re Gonna Play In Texas (SD 205) Tim Pepper: An Alabama song, with lyrics here: If You’re Gonna Play in Texas. I thought it was a little weird that the only fiddle was in the intro phrase, although maybe they use a fiddle in the middle break or closer.
Love Bug (FR 0003) Ken Perez: A George Jones song. This song took on a whole new meaning this month, with the “I Love You” virus, also called the Love Bug, which shut down computer systems all over the world.
Oh Why Must We Ever Say Goodbye (RYL 304) Story & Letson: Pretty typical Royal record.
Oh Lonesome You (JPESP 331) Mark Turner: A 1992 Trisha Yearwood song, off her Hearts In Armor album.
Take Me Out To The Ballgame (BM 193) Mac McCullar: This is a classic song, so maybe you’d like some alternative lyrics to pep things up. Here’s “Take Me Out To The Restaurant”. Here is the original chorus and a couple of variations:Take Me Out To The Ballgame
Top Of The World (RBS 1341) Don Coy: Carpenters alert!
Hot Chile/Hot Chile Con Carne (Flip Cld P) (RIV 508) Gary Carnes: Cute…caller’s name is Carnes; called patter side is “con Carne”.
My Bonnie Lies Over The Ocean (SDT 003) Jack Murtha
Hold Me (TB 181) Bob Bennettappend
Swinging Little Guitar Man (C-C 564) Jim Congleton: This song was written and performed by Isaac Guillory
Better Class Of Loser (RMR 107) Wayne Morvent: 1991 Randy Travis song.
San Luis Ramble/Handy (SC 312)
Gospel Medley (SIR 203) Ingvar Pettersson & Bjork: Bill forgot to put the vocal side on the tape, but it sounded like “This Little Light of Mine”, and “Will the Circle be Unbroken” among others.
Good Mornin’ Lovin’ (ST 158) Bob Poyner
School Days (HH 5191) Wayne Mc Donald: A Chuck Berry song.
W. Lee O’daniel (4-B 6089) Bill Volner: Found it on a Johnny Cash album. W. Lee O’Daniel was a governor of Texas and a U.S. Senator, as well as a band leader (The Light Crust Doughboys, which featured Bob Wills, and the Hillbilly Boys). See Music Hall – Early History for some additional info on W. Lee.