Johnny Lynn, Del Rio

JOHNNY LYNN AND THE DEL RIO TEXANS- Love Me, Brown Eyes (Bo-Kay 102)

The second release on Jesse Smith's Lamesa-based Bo-Kay Records, sandwiched discographically speaking b'twixt the two hep Dietzel singles, came from a fellow named Johnny Lynn. Going by combo name alone it would seem that Johnny traveled a fair stretch from down on the border to catch the attention of Smith. "Love Me, Brown Eyes", a gutteral bopper laced with fiddle, almost certainly lacks hit potential, be it's certainly odd enough to stick around long after the tone arm has returned to its resting spot.

If not a Del Rio artist, then perhaps the fiddle comes from one of those Hayes brothers who were running around the Odessa area with Freddy Franks and Billy Thompson at the time.

Winter of '57 release?

(Del Rio, Tejas ca. 1950-something)

Bob Smith, Big Spring

BOB CLET & HIS BOBCATS- Honky Tonkin Baby (Clet 1001)

Little is known about Bob Smith of Big Spring, Texas other than his owning the Clet label and his being police officer for the Big Spring police department. "Honky Tonkin' Baby" was Bob's 2nd of 4 releases on the label. Though released in either late 1961 or early 1962 "Honky Tonkin' Baby" was already behind the times in its sound. Which is a a bit of a Hank Williams vibe, set to a tilted rhythm that tends to drift sideways.

And FYI... this Bob Smith is of no relation to radio personality Bob "Tumbleweed" Smith, also of Big Spring.

Gary Reeves & the Nomads, Lubbock

GARY REEVES & THE NOMADS- Shortening Bread (Nomad 100)

"Shortenin' Bread" has a had one hell of a long life. Of southern origins- a field holler?- it's been around the block and around the block dozens of times since the the turn of the 20th century, most famously by Paul Chaplain. And sadly its probably done been hollered just about it's last time.

There were at least two versions of the standard waxed here in West Texas, one by Amarillo's Ding Dong Daddies (YES!) and this 1965 RCA-custom press from the Hub City, Lubbock.

According to Bill Griggs's West Texas Rock n' Roll Music Gary Reeves was raised in Lubbock and became involved with music pretty early on. There was a group called the Shams that included future Four Teen Larry Welborn and then a combo called the Twisters which included future Nomads Bobby Brown (guitar) and Jerry "Hamp" Hampton (bass).

Don & Jon Price, Alamogordo

I woulda figured my first Alamogordo, New Mexico related post would feature something from Calvin Boles' Yucca label. Instead it's an acoustic psych piece I owned years back and just reacquired...

DON & JON- In the Back of My Mind (Beelee 100)

The psychedelic sound of post-'66 was headed in one of two directions as the 70s dawned... it was either getting harder and crunchier or getting more twee and soft. For the Price Brothers of Alamogordo the direction was certainly soft. This release from May of 1969 features originals by the brothers on both sides, both being in the same acoustic style, though "In The Back of My Mind" bears more instrumentation. And both are fairly strong efforts for 16 or 17 year olds. Not too hard to imagine the two perched atop stools at the Spring 1969 talent show in the Alamogordo High auditorium.

(The Sacramento Mtns. to the east of Alamogordo)

The Price Twins were picked up by Capitol where they did some songwriting and there was a faith-based lp released in the 70s. The tropically attired brothers were last seen serenading vacationers on the beaches of sunny Cozumel, Mexico.

Peanuts Wilson, Odessa

PEANUTS WILSON- Cast Iron Arm (Brunswick 9-55039)

Johnny "Peanuts" Wilson moved to Odessa, Texas with his family in the 1950s. It was here that he joined up with Roy Orbison's rockin' Teen Kings in 1955, touring and recording with the group until the break-up at the Sun session for "Sweet and Easy" at the end of the year.

The following May Johnny had the first of two sessions in Clovis with Norman Petty. Of the 1/2 doz. songs spread between the two trips only the Orbison-penned "Cast Iron Arm" and Johnny's own "You've Got Love" saw release at the time. Most of the others were finally issued on Ace's excellent West Texas Bop compilation 10 years ago.

With Jimmy Seals (maybe?) on sax, Roy Orbison's lead guitar (maybe?), Jack Kennelly's bass slaps, and a hep vocal by Wilson "Cast Iron Arm" is tops in the field of cat music. The whole idea of a cast iron arm... real or imagined... tuff stuff.

(14th & Grant, Odessa... today home of Odessa's best pool hall)

Johnny would have one additional release, a two-sided reverb'd rocker on the Coronodo label in 1963, which I'll stomp at some point. Johnny would find greater fame as songwriter before passing away in 1980 at the age of 40.