by Colin Escott
HAPPY ROVIN’ COWBOY (Bob Nolan) Mercury 314517862
PAN AMERICAN Polydor 422823695
LOVESICK BLUES (Irving Mills / Cliff Friend) Polydor 422823695
ARKANSAS TRAVELER (Jerry Rivers solo) (Trad.) Mercury 314517862
I SAW THE LIGHT Polydor 422823695
SALLY GOODIN (Jerry Rivers solo) (Trad.) Mercury 314517862
SHOW 7
HAPPY ROVIN’ COWBOY (Bob Nolan) Mercury 314517862
MIND YOUR OWN BUSINESS Polydor 422823695
WEDDING BELLS (Claude Boone) Polydor 422827531
COTTON-EYED JOE (Jerry Rivers solo) (Trad.) Polydor 422827531
I’VE JUST TOLD MAMA GOODBYE (Curley Kinsey /
Sunshine Slim Sweet) Mercury 314517862
SALLY GOODIN (Jerry Rivers solo) (Trad.) Mercury 314517862
SHOW 8
HAPPY ROVIN’ COWBOY (Bob Nolan) Mercury 314517862
I CAN’T GET YOU OFF OF MY MIND Polydor 422827531
I’M SO LONESOME I COULD CRY Polydor 422827531
FISHERMAN’S HORNPIPE (Jerry Rivers solo) (Trad.) Mercury 314517862
THY BURDENS ARE GREATER THAN MINE (Pee Wee King / Redd Stewart) Polydor 422827531
SALLY GOODIN (Jerry Rivers solo) (Trad.) Mercury 314517862
Note: These shows were overdubbed in 1961 and 1962 to form the core of two “live” albums. Occasionally, session masters were used in their place, overdubbed with applause. The issue numbers cited above are the first undubbed issues.
AFRS 103, November 12, 1949.
Unknown band.
YOU’RE GONNA CHANGE (OR I’M GONNA LEAVE) MGM MG-1–5019
Demos probably recorded 1950.
I’M GOING HOME (1) (“When my work here is o’er…”) I’M GOING HOME (2) (“When my work here is o’er…”) LAST NIGHT I DREAMED OF HEAVEN HOW CAN YOU REFUSE HIM NOW? HELP ME UNDERSTAND MGM E-3850 Mercury 314536077 Polydor 831633 Polydor 833749 CMF 06
JESUS IS CALLING (Hank Williams / Charles Monroe) THERE’S NOTHING AS SWEET AS MY BABY Mercury 314536077 CMF 06
WEARIN’ OUT YOUR WALKIN’ SHOES (1) WEARIN’ OUT YOUR WALKIN’ SHOES (2) SING, SING, SING (aka I’M GONNA SING, SING, SING) MESSAGE TO MY MOTHER Polydor 833752 Unissued Mercury 314536077 Polydor 831634
Session: January 9, 1950 (2:00–5:00 p.m.): Castle Studio, Nashville.
Jerry Rivers (fiddle); Don Helms (steel guitar); Bob McNett (lead guitar); Jack Shook (rhythm guitar); Ernie Newton (bass).
LONG GONE LONESOME BLUES MGM 10645
WHY DON’T YOU LOVE ME? MGM 10696
WHY SHOULD WE TRY ANYMORE? MGM 10760
MY SON CALLS ANOTHER MAN DADDY MGM 10645
Session: January 10, 1950 (2:00–5:00 p.m.): Castle Studio, Nashville.
Don Helms (steel guitar); Hillous Butrum (bass); probably Owen Bradley or Fred Rose (organ).
TOO MANY PARTIES AND TOO MANY PALS* (Billy Rose / Mort Dixon / Ray Henderson) MGM 10718
BEYOND THE SUNSET* (Blanche Kerr Brock / Virgil P. Brock / Albert Kennedy Rowswell) MGM 10630
THE FUNERAL* (Poem: Will Carleton; music: Fred Rose) MGM 10630
EVERYTHING’S OKAY* MGM 10718
AFRS 116, February 18, 1950.
Unknown band.
I JUST DON’T LIKE THIS KIND OF LIVING MGM MG-1–5019
LOVESICK BLUES (Irving Mills / Cliff Friend) MGM MG-1–5019
Radio station WSLI, Jackson, Mississippi, February 21, 1950.
Milton Beasley (mandolin); Red Pleasant (rhythm); Junior Stanley (lead guitar); Miller Lowther (steel guitar); Wayne “Pedro” Stanley (bass); “Farmer Jim” (James Houston Neal, emcee).
LOST HIGHWAY (Lone Payne) Conversation with Farmer Jim. Mercury 314536077
I’M A LONG GONE DADDY Conversation with Farmer Jim. Mercury 314536077
LONG GONE LONESOME BLUES Conversation with Farmer Jim. Mercury 314536077
Audrey Williams session: March 28, 1950: Castle Studio, Nashville.
Same personnel as January 9, 1950, except Audrey Williams (vocal) and Hugh Cherry (vocal) on 76048; probably Hank Williams (guitar).
76046 MY TIGHTWAD DADDY (Unknown) Decca 46264
76047 MODEL T LOVE (Audrey Williams) Bear Family BFX 15346
76048 HELP ME UNDERSTAND Decca 46275
76049 HOW CAN YOU REFUSE HIM NOW? Decca 46275
As above, except Cherry out. April 1, 1950.
76066 WHAT PUT THE PEP IN GRANDMA (Jethro Burns / Mel Foree) Decca 46233
76067 I LIKE THAT KIND (Audrey Williams) Decca 46264
76068 HONKY TONKIN’ Decca 46233
AFRS 130, June 10, 1950.
Unknown band.
LONG GONE LONESOME BLUES MGM MG-1–5019
WHY DON’T YOU LOVE ME? Mercury 314536077
Session: June 14, 1950 (12:00–3:30 p.m.): Castle Studio, Nashville.
Same personnel as January 9, 1950, except Sammy Pruett replaces McNett. Jack Shook possibly replaced by Rusty Gabbard (rhythm guitar).
THEY’LL NEVER TAKE HER LOVE FROM ME (Leon Payne) MGM 10760
HONKY TONK BLUES Unissued / lost
Radio show, August 4, 1950.
With Red Foley, Grady Martin (guitar); others unknown.
THEY’LL NEVER TAKE HER LOVE FROM ME (Leon Payne) Mercury 314536077
AFRS 139, August 12, 1950.
Unknown band.
WHY DON’T YOU LOVE ME? MGM MG-1–5019
Dialogue with Minnie Pearl. MGM MG-1–5019
THEY’LL NEVER TAKE HER LOVE FROM ME (Leon Payne) MGM MG-1–5019
Dialogue with Minnie Pearl. MGM MG-1–5019
Session: August 31, 1950 (2:00–5:00 p.m.): Castle Studio, Nashville.
Jerry Rivers (fiddle); Don Helms (steel guitar); Sammy Pruett (electric guitar); probably Jack Shook (rhythm guitar); Ernie Newton or “Cedric Rainwater,” aka Howard Watts (bass); Fred Rose or Owen Bradley (organ); possibly Farris Coursey (drums) on “Moanin’ the Blues.”
NOBODY’S LONESOME FOR ME MGM 10832
MOANIN’ THE BLUES MGM 10832
HELP ME UNDERSTAND* MGM 10806
NO, NO, JOE* (Fred Rose) MGM 10806
AFRS (unknown show), probably October 1950.
Unknown band.
MOANIN’ THE BLUES Mercury 314536077
AFRS 151, November 11, 1950.
Unknown band.
MOANIN’ THE BLUES MGM MG-1–5019
NOBODY’S LONESOME FOR ME MGM MG-1–5019
Unknown location, probably WSM; probably fall 1950 March of Dimes.
Announcer, Ralph Christian.
Spoken pitch by Hank. ACM 3
MOANIN’ THE BLUES ACM 3
HELP ME UNDERSTAND* ACM 3
WHEN GOD DIPS HIS LOVE IN MY HEART (Cleavant Derricks) ACM 3
Session: December 21, 1950 (7:15–9:50 p.m.): Castle Studio, Nashville.
Jerry Rivers (fiddle); Don Helms (steel guitar); Sammy Pruett (electric guitar); Chet Atkins (rhythm guitar); Ernie Newton or “Cedric Rainwater,” aka Howard Watts (bass).
COLD, COLD HEART MGM 10904
DEAR JOHN (Tex Ritter / Aubrey Gass) MGM 10904
JUST WAITIN’* (Hank Williams / Bob Gazzaway) MGM 10932
MEN WITH BROKEN HEARTS* MGM 10932
TITLE (COMPOSER[S])
Shows for Mother’s Best Flour and other sponsors: January–March 1951, and possibly other dates.
Jerry Rivers (fiddle); Don Helms (steel guitar); Sammy Pruett (electric guitar); “Cedric Rainwater,” aka Howard Watts (bass). Note: Every show opens and closes with a chorus of “Lovesick Blues.” Note: No title was issued legitimately, although a few have appeared on bootleg compilations.
SHOW 1-A1
THE BLIND CHILD (Ida B. Mercer)
BLUE STEEL BLUES (Don Helms solo) (Ted Daffan)
WHEN GOD DIPS HIS LOVE IN MY HEART (Cleavant Derricks)
1-A2
WHERE THE OLD RED RIVER FLOWS (Jimmie Davis) MOONLIGHT WATERS (Don Helms solo) (Trad.) HOW CAN YOU REFUSE HIM NOW?
1-B1
MOANIN’ THE BLU
ES
HONKY TONKIN’ (Audrey Williams solo)
I’LL HAVE A NEW BODY (Unknown)
1-B2
ALABAMA WALTZ
FIRE ON THE MOUNTAIN (Jerry Rivers solo) (Trad.)
LORD BUILD ME A CABIN (Unknown)
2–1A
NOBODY’S LONESOME FOR ME
TWIN GUITAR POLKA (Sammy Pruett and Don Helms solo) (Unknown) GATHERING FLOWERS FOR THE MASTER’S BOUQUET (M. D. Baumgardner) EIGHTH OF JANUARY (Jerry Rivers solo) (Trad.)
2-A2
A MANSION ON THE HILL
I LIKE THAT KIND (Audrey Williams solo) (Audrey Williams)
HOW CAN YOU REFUSE HIM NOW?
2-B1
EVERYTHING’S OKAY
WHY SHOULD I CRY (Audrey Williams solo)
I HEARD MY MOTHER PRAYING FOR ME (Hank and Audrey Williams)
3-A1
MOVE IT ON OVER
I’M SATISFIED WITH LIFE (Audrey Williams solo) (Unknown)
I SAW THE LIGHT
3-A2
SEAMAN’S BLUES (Talmadge Tubb / Ernest Tubb)
BLUES IN MY MIND (Audrey Williams solo)
SOMETHING GOT A HOLD OF ME (Hank and Audrey Williams) (Warren Caplinger)
3-B1
BLUE EYES CRYING IN THE RAIN (Fred Rose)
BONAPARTE’S RETREAT (Audrey Williams solo) (Pee Wee King / Redd Stewart)
I’VE JUST TOLD MAMA GOODBYE (Curley Kinsey / Sunshine Slim Sweet)
3-B2
ON THE BANKS OF THE OLD PONTCHARTRAIN (Hank Williams / Ramona Vincent) BLUE LOVE IN MY HEART (Audrey Williams solo) (Fred Rose) CALLING YOU
4-A1
MY SWEET LOVE AIN’T AROUND
MODEL T LOVE (Audrey Williams solo) (Audrey Williams)
WHERE THE SOUL OF MAN NEVER DIES (William M. Golden)
4-A2
PINS AND NEEDLES (IN MY HEART) ("Floyd Jenkins,” aka Fred Rose)
FOUR FLUSHER (Audrey Williams solo) (Unknown)
I HEARD MY MOTHER PRAYING FOR ME (Audrey Williams)
4-B1
MIND YOUR OWN BUSINESS
I LIKE THAT KIND (Audrey Williams solo) (Audrey Williams)
WHEN GOD DIPS HIS LOVE IN MY HEART (Cleavant Derricks)
4-B2
MAY YOU NEVER BE ALONE
MY LOVE FOR YOU (Audrey Williams solo)
DEAR BROTHER (Hank and Audrey Williams)
5-A1
THEY’LL NEVER TAKE HER LOVE FROM ME (Leon Payne)
(LAST NIGHT) I HEARD YOU CRYING IN YOUR SLEEP (Audrey Williams solo)
WAIT FOR THE LIGHT TO SHINE (Fred Rose)
WHISTLIN’ RUFUS (Band only) (Trad.)
5-A2
COOL WATER (Bob Nolan)
ORANGE BLOSSOM SPECIAL (Jerry Rivers solo) (Ervin Rouse)
LONELY TOMBS (J. E. Mainer)
5-B1
I JUST DON’T LIKE THIS KIND OF LIVIN’
YOU DON’T HAVE TO BE A BABY TO CRY (Audrey Williams solo)
(Bob Merrill / Terry Shand) JESUS REMEMBERED ME
5-B2
COLD, COLD HEART
HONKY TONKIN’ (Audrey Williams solo)
SALLY GOODIN (Jerry Rivers solo) (Trad.)
Hank Williams and Louie Buck call square dance.
6-A1
DEAR JOHN (Aubrey Gass / Tex Ritter)
I’M SATISFIED WITH LIFE (Audrey Williams solo)
SOMETHING GOT A HOLD OF ME (Hank and Audrey Williams) (Warren Caplinger)
6-A2
AT THE FIRST FALL OF SNOW (Lorene Rose)
I LIKE THAT KIND (Audrey Williams solo) (Audrey Williams)
WHEN GOD DIPS HIS LOVE IN MY HEART (Cleavant Derricks)
6-B1
WEDDING BELLS (Claude Boone)
MY TIGHTWAD DADDY (Audrey Williams solo)
WHERE THE SOUL OF MAN NEVER DIES (William Golden)
6-B2
WHY DON’T YOU LOVE ME?
BLUE LOVE (Audrey Williams solo) (Fred Rose)
DEAR BROTHER (Hank and Audrey Williams)
7-A1
FADED LOVE AND WINTER ROSES (Fred Rose) FIRE ON THE MOUNTAIN (Jerry Rivers solo) (Trad.) I HEARD MY SAVIOR CALL (Unknown)
7-A2
JUST WHEN I NEEDED YOU (Johnnie Wright / Jack Anglin / Clyde Baum) I CAN’T TELL MY HEART THAT (Johnnie and Jack) (Johnnie Wright /
Jack Anglin / Jim Anglin) FARTHER ALONG (Rev. W. B. Stevens)
7-B1
MOVE IT ON OVER
DARKTOWN STRUTTERS BALL (Sammy Pruett solo) (Shelton Brooks)
THY BURDENS ARE GREATER THAN MINE (Redd Stewart / Pee Wee King)
7-B2
THERE’S NOTHING AS SWEET AS MY BABY TURKEY IN THE STRAW (Jerry Rivers solo) (Trad.) WAIT FOR THE LIGHT TO SHINE (Fred Rose)
8-A1
I CAN’T HELP IT
PANHANDLE RAG (Drifting Cowboys) (Trad.)
GATHERING FLOWERS FOR THE MASTER’S BOUQUET (M. D. Baumgardner)
BILL CHEATAM (Jerry Rivers solo) (Trad.)
8-A2
WHERE THE OLD RED RIVER FLOWS (Jimmie Davis) BLUE STEEL BLUES (Don Helms solo) (Ted Daffan) THIRTY PIECES OF SILVER (Unknown)
8-B1
ON TOP OF OLD SMOKY (Trad.)
COLUMBUS STOCKADE BLUES (Sammy Pruett solo) (Jimmie Davis)
THE PRODIGAL SON ("Floyd Jenkins,” aka Fred Rose)
8-B2
MAY YOU NEVER BE ALONE
ARKANSAS TRAVELER (Drifting Cowboys) (Trad.)
HOW FAR TO LITTLE ROCK (portion)
I’LL HAVE A NEW BODY (Unknown)
9-A1
NEXT SUNDAY DARLING IS MY BIRTHDAY (Syd Nathan / Arthur Q. Smith) OLD JOE CLARK (Jerry Rivers solo) (Trad.) DECK OF CARDS (T. Texas Tyler)
9-A2
TENNESSEE BORDER (Jimmie Work)
BLUE BONNET RAG (Don Helms solo) (Unknown)
DEAR BROTHER
WHISTLIN’ RUFUS (Jerry Rivers solo) (Trad.)
9-B1
PICTURES FROM LIFE’S OTHER SIDE SALLY GOODIN (Jerry Rivers solo) (Trad.) SING, SING, SING
9-B2
JUST WAITIN’ (Hank Williams / Bob Gazzaway) PARADISE ISLAND (Don Helms solo) (Unknown) WHEN THE FIRE COMES DOWN FROM HEAVEN (Milton Estes / Wally Fowler / Paul Kinsey / Tommy Harrell)
10-A1
MY SWEET LOVE AIN’T AROUND
I CAN’T TELL MY HEART THAT (Jimmie Skinner solo) (Jim Anglin /
Jack Anglin / Johnnie Wright) WHERE THE SOUL OF MAN NEVER DIES (William Golden)
10-A2
I CAN’T HELP IT
PANHANDLE RAG (Don Helms solo) (Unknown)
DRIFTING TOO FAR FROM THE SHORE (Charles E. Moody)
10-B1
JUST WHEN I NEEDED YOU (Jack Anglin / Johnnie Wright / Clyde Baum) STEEL GUITAR STOMP (Don Helms solo) (Unknown) I’LL FLY AWAY (Albert E. Brumley)
10-B2
COLD, COLD HEART
UNKNOWN FIDDLE TUNE (Jerry Rivers solo)
OLD COUNTRY CHURCH (John Whitfield Vaughn)
11-A1
MOANIN’ THE BLUES
BLUE STEEL BLUES (Don Helms solo) (Ted Daffan)
I DREAMED ABOUT MAMA LAST NIGHT (Fred Rose)
11-A2
I HANG MY HEAD AND CRY (Gene Autry / Fred Rose) TENNESSEE WAGONER (Jerry Rivers solo) (Trad.) AT THE CROSS (Ralph E. Hudson)
11-B1
I DREAMED ABOUT MAMA LAST NIGHT (Fred Rose) BLACK MOUNTAIN RAG (Jerry Rivers solo) (Trad.) I HEARD MY SAVIOR CALL (Johnnie Bailes)
11-B2
LOW AND LONELY (Fred Rose)
FOOLISH QUESTIONS (Big Bill Lister solo) (Arthur Smith)
STEAL AWAY / THE FUNERAL (Trad.)
12-A1
WHERE THE OLD RED RIVER FLOWS (Jimmie Davis) ORANGE BLOSSOM SPECIAL (Jerry Rivers solo) (Ervin Rouse) WHERE HE LEADS ME I WILL FOLLOW (E. W. Blandly / J. S. Norris)
12-A2
IF I DIDN’T LOVE YOU (with recitation by Louie Buck) PANHANDLE RAG (Don Helms solo) (Trad.) WAIT FOR THE LIGHT TO SHINE (Fred Rose)
12-B1
I JUST DON’T LIKE THIS KIND OF LIVIN
’
TENNESSEE WAGONER (Jerry Rivers solo) (Trad.)
THE PALE HORSE AND HIS RIDER (Johnnie Bailes / Ervin Staggs)
12-B2
HEY, GOOD LOOKIN’
ALABAMA JUBILEE (Jerry Rivers solo) (Jack Yellen / George Cobb)
SEARCHING FOR A SOLDIER’S GRAVE (Roy Acuff)
13-A1
I’VE BEEN DOWN THAT ROAD BEFORE
LITTLE ANNIE (Don Helms / Jerry Rivers duet) (Stephen Foster)
I’VE GOT MY ONE WAY TICKET TO THE SKY (Johnnie and Walter Bailes)
13-A2
CALIFORNIA ZEPHYR
DOWN YONDER (Jerry Rivers solo) (L. Wolfe Gilbert)
SOFTLY AND TENDERLY (Will Thompson)
13-B1
LONESOME WHISTLE (Hank Williams / Jimmie Davis)
ROADSIDE RAG (Don Helms solo)
I’M BOUND FOR THE PROMISED LAND (Dr. Samuel Stennett)
13-B2
I CAN’T TELL MY HEART THAT (Jim Anglin / Jack Anglin / Johnnie Wright) GEORGIA STEEL GUITAR (Don Helms solo) (Unknown) TAKE MY HAND, PRECIOUS LORD (Rev. Thomas A. Dorsey)
14-A1
JUST WAITIN’ (Hank Williams / Bob Gazzaway) EIGHTH OF JANUARY (Jerry Rivers solo) (Trad.) FROM JERUSALEM TO JERICHO (Rev. W. M. Robison)
14-A2
CHEROKEE BOOGIE (Moon Mullican / Chief William Redbird) COLUMBUS STOCKADE BLUES (Don Helms solo) (Jimmie Davis) BEAUTIFUL HOME (H. W. Elliott / Emmett S. Dean)
14-B1
LONESOME WHISTLE (Hank Williams / Jimmie Davis) I DON’T LOVE NOBODY (Jerry Rivers solo) (Lew Sully) GREAT JUDGMENT MORNING (Shadduck / Picke)
14-B2
I’LL SAIL MY SHIP ALONE (Henry Bernard / Morry Burns / Syd Nathan /
Henry Thurston) LITTLE ANNIE (Don Helms / Jerry Rivers duet) (Stephen Foster) I’LL HAVE A NEW BODY (Unknown)
