ROGER YOUNG- The Reason Why (Chateau Permian 101)
The Chateau Club was a Midland, Texas bar/lounge that happened to dabble in releasing singles by local performers on their own Chateau Permian Records. This particular single by Midland's Roger Young was issued in the middle of 1970. It's easily a country record, but rather than getting its legs in a Texas honky tonk it has been filtered through a west coast ballroom, and then flavored by a campfire guitar pull or three. Then there's the dissonant strain of northern Mexico mariachi sounds heard in the muted and slightly out of step fiddle and the rhythm anchored by what sounds almost like a bass guitarron. And the guitar is picked in an almost bajo sexto style. If the sound had been born any further north it might have had a more pronounced bluegrass feel. But as it comes from where it does it sounds so completely west Texas. Given the opportunity "The Reason Why" has grown on me and I've found myself humming and singing the opening verse countless times
The flip of "The Reason Why" would be redone for a 45 on Roger Young's own label (picture sleeve below) and there would be a self-released lp as well, featuring band photos taken in the mesa and caprock areas down towards Fort Stockton.
Addition: Roger Lee Young Passed away near Davis, Oklahoma on April 6, 2010.
6 comments:
Roger was pretty prolific - have some later recordings of his, as well as the Chateau release: "Fiddle Sam" / "Skip a Rope" and "A Hurtin' Situation" on the Dessa label. Very cool post. Keep up the great work.
Thanks for the info, Lisa. I'll definitely keep my eyes open for those. Is "Skip A Rope" the Henson Cargill song?
Folks should check out Lisa's excellent "Pueblo City Limits" blog (check the Regional Blog listing above)
Yes sir'ee, same Cargill ditty. Also keep an eye out for that wide lapel, black cowboy hat, long haired cowboy "Hurtin' Situation" picture sleeve of his.
Thanks for the shout out - definite mutual admiration society going on here.
My late husband, Joe Halford, and I danced many a mile to Roger Young and the Yellow Rose Band in Odessa and Midland in late 70's and early 80's.
Loved "Fiddle Sam" but my personal favorite was "Restless Woman."
I was saddened to learn this week that Roger had died from esophageal cancer.
Would love to get some of his music if anyone knows where it might be available.
Cathe,
No idea where to find any of Roger's music in the digital era as my search is relegated to stacks of vinyl records left behind by others. But thanks for posting. I was completely unaware of Roger's passing.
my daddy was lead guitar for Roger young and the reason why in the early 70's, Barry Ramsey, I have a couple of his records and restless woman is one of them, pretty scratchy but would love to get some of his other music if anyone knows how. So sorry to hear of his passing
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