Faron Young and Marty Robbins newsletter — 10 March 2010

FIRST RECORDING SESSIONS FOR FARON YOUNG AND MARTY ROBBINS
Faron Young’s first Capitol recording session took place at the Castle Studio in Nashville’s Tulane Hotel on March 1, 1952. Faron hadn’t yet moved from Shreveport to Nashville. Sidemen included Floyd Cramer on piano and Jimmy Day on steel guitar, with Ken Nelson as producer. “Have I Waited Too Long” and “Tattletale Tears” were released April 7 as the two sides of his first single. Marty Robbins still lived in Phoenix, and his first Columbia session had been in Hollywood three months earlier. His second session, with Don Law as producer, would take place in Dallas at the Jim Beck studio in June. He would record “I’ll Go On Alone.”

NEW MARTY ROBBINS RELEASE
Hux Records in Great Britain has issued a new Marty Robbins CD of two Columbia albums, I’ve Got a Woman’s Love (1972) and Have I Told You Lately That I Love You (1974). I fact-checked the liner notes for author Jon Philibert. Thanks to Brian O’Reilly at brian@huxrecords.com for sending me the new CD. His note said, “If you have any suggestions for country reissues, please do let me know.” So I asked if I should put that request in my newsletter. His response: “We’re always looking for suitable reissue suggestions.  So yes – please do mention it in your newsletter.” The website is http://www.huxrecords.com/cdsales112.htm

LETTERS
David Corne writes from the UK, “I am so pleased that in your last note you gave a link to Marty and Bill Johnson on youtube with ‘The Shoe Goes On The Other Foot Tonight.’ I am Tarquin 45 and it’s a real thrill for a long time fan of one of the great singers of all time to know that people all over the world see what I’ve done in tribute to him out of reverence to his sheer greatness. I would also like to thank Ronny Robbins for never ‘pulling the plug’ on showing the clips from the ‘Best Of Marty Robbins Show’ that I put up on youtube. Regarding Bill Johnson, perhaps someone who reads this could answer why Marty never recorded ‘A Wound Time Can’t Erase.’ Such a great, great song sung superbly by Stonewall Jackson, but oh, to have heard Marty sing the song. I could have actually asked Marty himself when he came to the UK and I met him on a few occasions, but at the time I was unaware that the Johnson accredited to the song’s authorship was actually Bill, Marty’s steel player. I caught Marty on the ‘Porter Wagoner Show’ which aired over here last week on Sky and he sang ‘Singing The Blues’ and partly ‘How’s The World Treating You’ and ‘Make The World Go Away.’ Two more songs he really should have cut in a studio!”

Correction: I erred in reporting the steel guitar in Bill Johnson’s estate as the one he played while with Marty Robbins. It was custom made for Bill in 1978, several years after he left Marty.

Alan Anderson says, “I first met Marty Robbins when I was about 14 years old. My friend’s father owned a country music radio station and sponsored concerts. We were driving Mr. Robbins to his hotel in a large Suburban. Mr. Robbins said, ‘This is a beautiful vehicle, Henry, I sure wish I could afford one of these.’ Mr. Hilton replied that with his money he could get any vehicle he wanted. Mr. Robbins answered, ‘My music pays for my race cars and doesn’t leave much left over.’ What impressed me with Marty Robbins was how comfortable he was with anyone and could talk about anything with them, even around 14 year old boys. There was no sense of self worth (Hey, I’m a celebrity). I look forward to your book.”

Helen Shields writes, “I am a lifetime fan of Martin David Robinson (Marty) and no one will ever surpass his beautiful voice. I am now 63 and have been a fan since first hearing him at the age of nine or 10 and fell in love with ‘a voice’….not knowing who it was….(Carl Smith was a close 2nd). I still enjoy putting on one of his songs (believe it or not, prefer listening to the old vinyls instead of the new cd’s…..sound and memories are everything). Arizona still does a tribute to him every year in Sept (his birth month)….and the El Paso airport still plays ‘El Paso’ over the PA. He was and still is #1.”

Maheen Wickramasinghe says, “I was sorry to read the news about Bud Zoch’s passing. I sincerely hope there will be some more fan clubs of classic country stars like Faron, Marty, Carl Smith and so many, many more. You’re doing an unbelievable job with your writings Diane, keep up the great, excellent work.”

Stu Weiss reports, “I was in my car today listening to country music on my satellite radio. They ran a 2007 interview where Bill Anderson had you as a guest while talking about Faron Young and your book on Faron’s life. It was most interesting and enjoyable.”

Tom Biddlecombe writes, “I have ordered your book and today heard your interview with Bill Anderson. I am a huge Faron Young fan and have most of his CDs and albums. I saw him twice in person. Maybe you can help me. I cannot find a CD with my favorite FY song, ‘Crutches.’ Also, I can’t find ‘Yellow Bandana’ and ‘Johnny Rondo’ on any CD.  Can you help? Will you let me know where I might find these songs on a CD?” And a later note: “I just finished your book on Faron. I read it in two days and it was great. Please let me know when I can order the book on Marty Robbins. I saw Faron twice in person, once on a package show in 1966 in Davenport, Iowa, and once in the early 80s in a club in Des Moines. Both times I had a drink with him and had no problem. I also had my picture taken with him which I have hanging on the wall. On page 171 of your book, it says the song ‘Crutches’ was recorded in an album titled That Young Feelin’.  As of right now, I can’t find it anywhere but I will keep trying. Again, great book.”

Response: I couldn’t find evidence that “Crutches” and “Johnny Rondo” have appeared anywhere except on their original albums. See above, Tom, and send a request to Hux Records.

Carolyn Babin writes, “Somewhere in my keepsakes I have pictures of the house Faron lived in when he and I were steady. It was a big two story plantation type home on acreage. I do not think they owned it, but his Dad kept cows for a dairy and in later years they owned and operated a dairy. They then lived in a nice brick home that I think Faron helped buy for them. I have a picture of me that Dorothy Young took in that backyard. It was long after Faron and I were not together anymore & he lived in Nashville. I do remember Dorothy, Faron’s sister, had her bedroom upstairs in that old house on Jefferson Paige Road and I think Faron’s was downstairs & where Oscar slept, too, before he died. They had a huge kitchen and I drank many a cup of coffee with Mama Young at the long dinner table.”

Thanks to Diane Jordan for sending me the DVD of the excellent show, That’s Country.  I enjoyed watching the A Team perform in the studio, and Ronny Robbins and Diane sing, and Carl Smith riding his horse. Diane tells me, “Hillous Buttram is the one who called me to be in the movie. I was doing ‘I Believe In Music’ in my shows at the time and loved singing it, so I chose to do that one, rather than a song I’d written. We were filming at night, and permission to use the song couldn’t be obtained until the next day. Mac Davis wrote the song and his publisher charged $8,000 to use the song. I don’t know if the publisher knew we had already filmed it and he could name his price, or if that was the fee for using a song in a movie, at the time. Anyway, it worked out well for me because the producer decided to use the song a lot in the movie, to get their money’s worth. Besides my performance, it was also used instrumentally. At the end, I was shown again, singing it, and my vocals continued over the credits. Pretty cool!”

LOOKING FOR IDEAS
I’m thinking about designing a service, either free or for a charge, to provide customized information to classic country fans. It couldn’t be music, because I don’t have facilities or copyright permission. Also, there are several newsletters already that offer great tidbits of information. What else would you like to know about? My newsletter has improved in style and content, thanks to reader suggestions, and I’m wondering what I should do next. Besides get Marty’s biography published, of course. I’d like to post some of my interviews to my website, but that goes back to facilities and copyrights. Any suggestions?

Live Fast, Love Hard:The Faron Young Story
Navy Greenshirt: A Leader Made, Not Born
A Farm In the Hidewood: My South Dakota Home
Your gift shopping made easy with Mary Kay
Cashflowing real estate ownership
Read Diane’s speeches and articles

One Response to “Faron Young and Marty Robbins newsletter — 10 March 2010”

  1. Ken Johnson Says:

    In response to Tom Biddlecombe regarding the Faron Young songs that he is searching for:

    “The Guns Of Johnny Rondo” was reissued in 2009 on an import CD from the British Hux label. Originally released on Faron’s 1970 album “Occasional Wife,” that LP has now been paired with “Here’s Faron Young” from 1968 as a “two-fer.” (Hux 105) Hux did a superb job remastering both Mercury albums in stereo from the original master tapes. Great vintage Faron honky tonk. You will LOVE this CD!

    “Yellow Bandana” is available on two different Faron Young hit compilations – “Golden Hits” (Mercury 526254) from 1995 and “The Hits” (Mercury 558082) released in 1998.

    You are correct that “Crutches” is only available at this time on the 1978 vinyl LP or cassette “That Young Feeling” (Mercury SRM-1-5005) No CD release so far.

    A good source for brand new CD’s priced right (with NO SHIPPING CHARGES) is http://www.deepdiscount.com
    Of course eBay is always a good place to search for used vinyl, cassettes and CD’s (new & used)

    Ken

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