twang club episode 4 - juneteenth edition

This episode is in recognition of Juneteenth.  I decided to highlight some of the connections between country music and African American artists.  I am far from an authoritative voice but have long been fascinated by the topic.  The real ear opener for me was the box set "From Where I Stand: The Black Experience in Country Music" from 1998.  I got it right when it came out and it was my first introduction to a lot of the artists in this episode.  In 2024 the Country Music Hall of Fame launched an expanded version of the box set as an interactive website with even more information.  So, you should check that out for more detailed information and to hear the complete tracklist.  I will keep my comments brief and focused on songs and not repeat biographical information you can find elsewhere.

The first three pieces of background music are by Deford Bailey, one of the Grand Ole Opry's first super stars who played harmonica and opened every show from 1927-1941.  He only made a few recordings during his lifetime.

The other background music is from early string bands from when the line between blues and country wasn't quite so clearly delineated. 

We start off with tunes by early string band and blues artists that later became standards of country music and other genres.

The first is an early version of The Wabash Cannonball made famous by the Carter Family.  It is played by Lesley Riddle, the black musician who influenced Mother Maybelle's guitar playing and collaborated with AP Carter on most of the songs in their catalog.

The other three tunes are all standards of western swing that have expanded into other genres.  Versions of "Keep A Knockin" have been recorded by just about everyone.  This is probably the first version but there have been so many variations it's hard to really say.  Milton Brown and Bob Wills both had early western swing versions and of course Little Richard had the hit which really brought it into rock and roll.

"Corrine Corrina" is another song whose origin is almost impossible to trace especially since the copyright was filed by someone who probably had nothing to do with it's creation.

          BG: Deford Bailey - Fox Chase - 1928

Lesley Riddle - The Cannon Ball - 1993*

James “Boodle It” Wiggins - Keep A Knocking - 1928

Charlie McCoy & Bo Chatham - Corrine Corrina - 1929

Mississippi Sheiks - Sitting On Top of The World - 1930

This set features straight country tunes by mostly black country artists but also one by the hard to categorize Ted Hawkins and also the Pointer Sisters. 

This is not the Otis Williams from The Temptations but Otis Williams from The Charms, another doo wop group. He later formed an all black country band, however this album was recorded with studio musicians.  

O.B. McClinton started as a songwriter and had penned some hits for soul artists like Otis Redding and James Carr but was signed by Stax as a country artist and released several albums for one of their imprints and other labels.

Stoney Edwards is probably the second most successful black country singer before the modern era.  He was backed by Asleep At The Wheel in his first session and he had a few hits. He was an incredible songwriter and you should check out “Blackbird" especially which I could and would not include for an obvious reason.

Big Al Downing started as a piano player backing up artists including Wanda Jackson.  He had a few country hits but his biggest hit was “I'll Be Holding On” which was #1 on the disco charts.

You know who Charley Pride is and Linda Martel's story has been told a lot in recent years which is awesome.

Ted Hawkins was a street performer who was "discovered" several times but never had a consistent music career.  He was a little folk, a little soul, and a little country.  His country side is mostly known from his cover off Webb Pierce's "There Stands The Glass" but this song is pure honky tonk genius.  

The story of the Pointer Sisters being on the Grand Ole Opry has also become better known lately but it really is a killer song.

          BG: Deford Bailey - John Henry - 1932

Otis Williams & The Midnight Cowboys - I Wanna Go Country - 1971

O.B. McClinton - Country Music That’s My Thing - 1972

Stoney Edwards - Hank and Lefty Raised My Country Soul - 1975

Big Al Downing - Beer Drinkin' People - 1982

Charley Pride - Best Banjo Picker - 1967

O.B. McClinton - The Unluckiest Songwriter In Nashville - 1973

Stoney Edwards - I Want The Real Thing - 1976

Linda Martell - Bad Case of the Blues - 1970

Ted Hawkins - Cold & Bitter Tears - 1987

The Pointer Sisters - Fairy Tale - 1974

This set is made of artists from the 40s through the 60s in the R&B, soul, and rock genres who subtly incorporated aspects of country music.  While obviously much of society was segregated at the time music did cross boundaries with black and white artists influencing each other.  These are all covers of country songs but you can also hear country influence in their other music.

Wynonie Harris’s version of this tune is probably the better known now but it was originally by the western swing star Hank Penny.  Hank was also clearly influenced by jump blues bands and like most western swing artists had some blues tunes in his repertoire.

Ivory Joe Hunter covered many country songs over the years including full albums worth.  There is a clear country influence in his vocals even on his blues tunes.  “Worried Mind” was originally by Ted Daffan but was covered by many major country artists and later by pop and rock artists.

The next two songs are two my personal favorite Hank Williams covers.  Hank Williams was of course one of the biggest stars in the world for most of his brief career.  Like Jimmie Rodgers before him he was a big enough star that everyone knew him , not just white or country fans.  

Fats Domino had a similar country influence on his vocals to Ivory Joe Hunter and often spoke of his love for country music,

“Little” Esther Phillips’ first album was entirely made up of country songs and she continued to cover them throughout her career.  Here she is doing a song that was written by Sonny James but covered countless times.

The last 4 songs were also oft covered tunes across genres.

          BG: Deford Bailey - Alcoholic Blues - 1927

Wynonie Harris - Bloodshot Eyes - 1951

Ivory Joe Hunter - Worried Mind - 1958

The Pearls - Your Cheatin’ Heart - 1957

Fats Domino - Jambalaya - 1961

Esther Phillips - I’ve Forgotten More Than You’ll Ever Know About Him - 1962

Bobby Hebb - A Satisfied Mind - 1966

LaVern Baker - Don’t Let The Stars Get In Your Eyes - 1963

Solomon Burke - I Really Don’t Want To Know - 1962

Arthur Alexander - I Wonder Where You Are Tonight - 1963

The first four songs of this set are country soul or funk.  Candi Staton’s connection to country is most famously through her covers of “Stand By Your Man” and “Jolene” but I really love this version of a Merle Haggard tune from 2006.

Joe Simon is probably the greatest country soul singer of all time who also did deep funk and some disco.  He won a Grammy for his version of the Harlan Howard penned “Chokin Kind” that was originally recorded by Waylon Jennings but the album this song is from “Simon Country” is my favorite of his.  

If Joe Simon isn’t the greatest country soul singer of all time then it’s probably Joe Tex.  He didn’t record as many country songs as Joe Simon but that’s because he wrote so many of his own songs that fused country and soul into something different.  So many artists known as country artists now took a lot of what they do from Joe Tex.  

Or maybe OC Smith is the greatest country soul singer of all time.  This tune was originally recorded by Wynn Stewart but not released.  It was then recorded by lots of people but this could be the definitive version.

Ugh, maybe Dobie Gray is the greatest country soul singer of all time.  I give up.  Dobie didn’t actually record many country covers but the influence is there.

The last track here didn’t fit anywhere else.  It’s the original version of a song that would become one of Wanda Jackson’s signature songs.

          BG: Mississippi Sheiks - Fingering With Your Fingers - 1934

Candi Staton - You Don’t Have Far To Go - 2006

Joe Simon - She Went A Little Bit Father - 1969

Joe Tex - Honey - 1968

O.C. Smith - Long Black Limousine - 1968

Dobie Gray - There’s A Honky Tonk Angel (Who’ll Take Me Back In) - 1973

Annisteen Allen - Fujiyama Mama - 1955

The last set is country covers in a straight soul, funk or R&B style.  

Tina Turner’s first solo record was a collection of country covers including this version of a Hank Snow classic.

Ray Charles’s two albums of country tunes are well known classics but he continued to cover country songs throughout his career.

The Supremes also record an album of country songs with a few pop tunes mixed in that was a pretty major flop.

The last track here is a random record I picked up cheap from a friend.  Ona Watson was a local singer and club owner in Birmingham Alabama but this seems to be his only recording.

          BG: Memphis Jug Band - Gator Wobble - 1934

Dorothy Moore - He Thinks I Still Care - 1990

Tina Turner - I’m Movin’ On - 1974

Ray Charles - Ring of Fire - 1970

Joe Simon - You Don’t Know Me - 1973

The Supremes - Funny How Time Slips Away - 1965

Etta James - Almost Persuaded - 1968

Ona Watson - Take This Job and Shove It - 1978

          BG: Taylor’s Kentucky Boys - Forked Deer - 1927