Look Up Darling While I Aim This .38

Carol Waggoner - Look Up Darling While I Aim This .38 (2:40)

When country songs address the topic of murder, the violent party is most often a man as you probably already know. But there are exceptions to this rule....

The Urn On The Mantel (Country MP3)

Tex Williams - The Urn On The Mantel (2:23)

From 1951, here is Tex Williams' irresistible debut on RCA Victor.

Jackass Blues

Elton Britt - Jackass Blues (2:09)

Elton Britt's 1952 barnyard classic proves his amazing vocal talents extended way beyond his trademark yodel.

Does Steppin' Out Mean Daddy Took A Walk (MP3)

Red Sovine - Does Steppin' Out Mean Daddy Took A Walk (3:03)

This week's "Country MP3 Of The Week" isn't pulled off a 45; instead it comes from Red Sovine's 1976 Teddy Bear LP. The song, rendered with Sovine's trademark deadpan panache, is delivered from the perspective of a little kid who is struggling to understand all the neighborhood gossip about his horndog of a dad.

The neighbors have been doing plenty of gum-flapping on the topic, but some of the language is just beyond the kid's grasp so he comes to mom with questions like:

"Does stepping out mean daddy went out walking?"

"Does two-timing mean daddy stepped out twice?"

"Does ladies man mean daddy's a sissy?"

Image via Dr. Tabouli's Flickr stream.

Phantom 309 (MP3)

Edgar Buchanan - Phantom 309

I'm of the opinion that nobody could ever top Red Sovine's definitive version of Phantom 309, a spooky and dramatic recitation with a truck-driving theme composed by singer and songwriter Tommy Faile.

But Edgar Buchanan (Uncle Joe from TV's Petticoat Junction) has nothing to hang his head about.

Next week: Red Sovine himself makes an appearance with a song about about infidelity.

Another Skid Row Joe (Country MP3)

Carl Dean - Another Skid Row Joe (2:22)

The unknown (to me) Carl Dean executes a pretty fair Jerry Lee Lewis rip in this ode to everyone's favorite alcoholic. And check out that beautiful ARCH label, headquartered in St. Louis just as you'd expect. For more tales of winos in a tailspin, check out the extensive collection of Skid Row songs posted recently on WFMU's Beware Of The Blog.

Next week: Edgar Buchanan (Uncle Joe from Petticoat Junction) dips his toe into the Red Sovine songbook.

Code Alarm 7 (Country MP3)

Vern Stovall - Code Alarm 7 (2:47)

Tip: any record that starts with the words "The ambulance screamed out Highway 11" is very unlikely to have a happy ending. I hope y'all have your crying towels handy.

Next week: the further adventures of Skid Row Joe.

Country Fuzz - Who's Gonna Mow Your Grass (MP3)

Here is Sue Thompson's version of Buck Owens' Who's Gonna Mow Your Grass. As with the ear-grabbing Buck Owens original version, this one features some blazing fuzztone guitar sounds.

Sue Thompson - Who's Gonna Mow Your Grass (2:25)

To hear Buck Owens' original version of Who's Gonna Mow Your Grass (and a whole lot more country fuzz), head over to this Beware Of The Blog post.

Next week: a gut-wrenching "death on the highway" record.

Hell Bound Train (MP3)

Marie Roberson - Hell Bound Train

16 Tons - - - Go Go Version

Tennesse Ernie Ford boldly reinvents Merle Travis' 16 Tons for the Hollywood Palace tv show, which aired May 22, 1965.

Hell Train (MP3)

Billy Strange - Hell Train (2:34)

Billy Strange is a name you may or may not recognize, but I guarantee you've heard his work with frequency. The multi-talented Strange is most often heard as session guitarist, who managed to lay down memorable licks for an astonishing array of artists including Tommy Collins (All Of The Monkeys Ain't In The Zoo), the Super Stocks (Thunder Road), the Rip Chords (Hey Little Cobra), the Every Brothers, the Hondells (Cycle Chase), Jack Marshall, Hal Blaine & the Young Cougars, Jan & Dean, Tennessee Ernie Ford, Ricky Nelson, the Partridge Family (I Think I Love You), Nancy Sinatra, Frank Sinatra, Skeets McDonald and Doris Day among many others.

In addition to releasing numerous records under his own name and being one of the west coast's premiere session guitarists, he was also a talented composer, arranger and producer. Check out his amazing discography here. Hell Train was released in 1952.

Love Bug (MP3)

George Jones - Love Bug (1:57)

Woman Hungry (MP3)

Porter Wagoner - Woman Hungry

"When a man gets woman hungry, he'll find a meal somewhere."

This brilliant track, from songwriter Gene Chrysler (sometimes Crysler), pushes food/sex metaphors to their limit and was a minor hit for Porter Wagoner in late 1967.

Southern Fried Chicken (MP3)

Hank Penny - Southern Fried Chicken (2:24)


And while on the subject of chicken, I'll never have a better excuse for blogging this photo depicting country entertainers Johnny Russell and Kenny Price in the aftermath of a 1975 fried chicken eating contest held in Akron, Ohio. Price won handily, wolfing down 18 pieces to Russell's 15.

Happy Hour 45rpm (MP3)

Tony Booth - Happy Hour (2:34)

Honky-tonker Tony Booth released a string of top notch hard country LPs in the early 1970s. Those of you who dig the classic Ray Price shuffle sound will surely enjoy this track. More information about Booth can be found at his Wikepedia page. Booth stills plays gigs with some frequency, mostly around Texas so check out his calendar if you're so inclined.

Tennessee Rooster Fight (MP3)

Howington Brothers - Tennessee Rooster Fight (2:13)

Lord only knows how the Howington Brothers were able to convince the good folks at Decca to release a cockfighting 45.

Speaking of cockfighting, below is a picture I snapped while having breakfast at South Of The Border in Dillon, SC last summer. Not too many restaurants are willing to put velvet cockfighting paintings on the wall for their customers to enjoy so I thought it would be worth noting.

Streets Of Baltimore (MP3)

Tompall & The Glaser Brother - Streets Of Baltimore (3:10)

Streets Of Baltimore, a top 10 hit for singer Bobby Bare in 1966, remains one of hist best known numbers. Here's a version by the song's author Tompall Glaser (who shared writing credit with legendary songwriter Harlan Howard) that is heard far less frequently.

Like a lot of people, I suppose, the first version I ever heard, back when I was first dipping my toe into the world of country music, was the one recorded by Gram Parsons in the early 1970s. Later, I heard the Bobby Bare version, which was, in fact, the original. Glaser, despite being one of the song's authors, did not record it until several months after Bare's song had already peaked on the charts. Plenty of others have recorded the song as well, including Emmylou Harris, Charley Pride, and contemporary honky-tonkers Red Meat. For my money, though, the Tompall Glaser version remains the best of the bunch. Give a listen to his soulful trembling baritone as he reveals the sad truth about his crumbling marriage to a woman who ultimately dumps him to lead the life of a party girl.

Goin' Ape (MP3)

Jimmy Martin & The Sunny Mountain Boys - Goin' Ape (2:50)

Sorry, but this week's 45 is rather hammered.



More Lance Link photos from the LIFE archives

Blues Over Ice (MP3)

The bigwigs running the show here at Ichiban have generously offered to double the value of my contract if I cough up one honky-tonk MP3 per week. Who doesn't like free money?



Gene Crawford - Blues Over Ice (2:24)

I Love Your Pizza

Homer & Jethro - I Love Your Pizza (2:49)