Bob Wills and his Texas Playboys - New San Antonio Rose

Okeh 05694, 1940

This was my dad's favorite tune.  I know this because he he enlisted my help to hunt down the original recording back when I still lived with my parents. Every time I came back from record shopping, he'd stop me with "any luck finding that Bob Wills?".

The song was very popular in its day and Bob Wills re-recorded it a few times in his career, as I came to find out.  "No, this isn't the one" was the verdict for the first few attempts. Finally, a double-LP compilation on Columbia that I special ordered from Ryburn's did the trick. Unmistakably 1940s-sounding, and well situated with most of his other sides from that period.

That LP compilation is in my possession now, and repeated listens over the years have led me to appreciate Bob Wills' particular brand of Western Swing.

All the better to appreciate finding the original 78, by chance, a few years ago.

Sanford Clark - The Fool

Dot 15481, 1956

His first and only hit.

Chuck Berry - No Money Down

Chess 1615, 1955

His third single for Chess, and he's already livin' large. I'm surprised he didn't ask for GPS.

Wanda Jackson - It's The Same World (Wherever You Go)

Decca 29677, 1955

One of her first records, recorded at Decca after initially being turned down by Capitol. She's still singing fairly straight Country here, something that would change after a few more tours with Gene Vincent and Elvis.

Muddy Waters - I'm Ready

Chess 1579, 1954

This disc obviously had a hard life, but it still delivers the goods.

It's been said that you weren't really a Chess artist in the fifties until Willie Dixon wrote your signature tune.  This certainly was Muddy's.

Willie's on here of course (his upright bass really cuts through the decades of wear), along with the usual suspects at the time: Little Walter, Jimmy Rogers, Otis Spann, Fred Below.