Charline Arthur, Kermit

Charline Arthur. Gal could go. Like no other in her time. Brassy ol' voice and an attitude to match.

CHARLINE ARTHUR- Just Look, Don't Touch, He's Mine (RCA-Victor 6428)

Right after her Bullet label debut in 1949, featuring "I've Got the Boogie Blues" on the a-side which she had penned at the weary ol' age of 12, Charline and husband Jack left the Big D for Kermit where she found a spot on KERB (This is the same KERB that would employ Fred Crawford for MANY years). KERB is also where Charline cut her lone release for Imperial and caught the attention of a man named Colonel.

The next five years would be a whirlwind of tours and honky tonks, a move to Dallas, a picture with Roy Orbison, Saturday nights at the Big D Jamboree, and trips to Nashville to record. By the time "Just Look, Don't Touch, He's Mine" was recorded in the fall of 1955 Charline was nearing the end of her recording career. Backing was staid, a common problem for Charline's Nashville dates, but Charline herself is ON.

If you want to stay real healthy, then you'd better listen hard
Just keep all your attention for the guys in your own yard
I'm not the kind to worry, but I am the kind to fight
And I get to be a buzzsaw if the situation's tight
I like your taste in men, but this here menu's not for sale
So stay away from him, because I don't like the chow in jail

Charline got one more shot with RCA. Rock n' roll was right around the corner and though she had the oomph that the new sound called for, ol' Charline might have been just a bit too country. Her last release on RCA-Victor took in Jean Chapel's "Welcome To the Club". She may have helped build that club, but she didn't get to stay.

____________________________________

Much deeper bit on Charline at the Rockabilly Hall of Fame. And make sure you pick up a copy of the Bear Family release "Welcome to the Club". Great stuff!