In my 14 years of West Texas livin' I've fallen in love with the area's incredible musical history. From the hoakum swing of Bob Skyles and His Skyrockets to Buddy Holly to the funkiness of El Paso's Soul Ones... it's all so very amazing. But for every Buddy Holly or Roy Orbison there were a hundred Fred Crawfords plying their trade as well. It's these forgotten folks who slaved away in the honky tonks, teen centers, roller rinks, and dance halls of the region that will be served and documented here.
What is West Texas? For this blog's purposes the eastern boundary runs southwest from Wichita Falls along HWY 87 and then down HWY 277 to Abilene on through San Angelo and down to Del Rio on the border. That also ropes in spots in the road such as Amariller, Lubbock, Midland, Odessa, Big Spring, El Paso, and Tahoka.
Eastern New Mexico? Southeastern New Mexico might be a better description geographically as I'm concerned with the area that is bordered by HWY 70 which runs from Clovis southwest to Las Cruces.
This is a labor of love. The sounds are part of that love. If you are a copyright owner for a song I've posted and would rather it not be here please contact me and I will remove it.
Top 5 Listens at Rancho Westex
1. Where'd You Go- ROD CROSBY & THE INTRUDERS
2. Breakin' In A Brand New Girl- SONNY CURTIS (unreleased demo ca. '67)
3. Saddle Tramp - JAY BOY ADAMS (fr. his 2nd Atlantic lp)
4. Anything by JOSEPH BRUNELLE
5. The Last Ride - THE BEACH NUTS (a-side of Coronado 45)
10 Westex Wants: Actual Records I'm On the Hunt For
The Great Grannies- Sugar Man (Corridor) Sisters from Odessa, last name Toone. Also their other 45 on Corridor.
Big Martha on Espirit - Just found out about this one... shoutin' Midland r&b prod. by Ted Groebl & Ray Rush
Cliff Blakley- Get Offa My Toe (Starday) Jimmy Blakley's brother. From Roswell.
Sammy & the ?????- I have no idea on this. It's a chicano doo wop number out of Roswell and it's on a red label. Probably a 1962 or 1963 release.
Lewis Brothers- Sally Johnson (RCA-Victor) Hot sides recorded at an El Paso Baptist church in '29
the Night Crawlers- Let's Move (Shadow) Lubbock combo. What 60s punk should sound like... CLASSIC!
Epic Five- I Need Your Lovin' (Sully) Outstanding! From San Angelo, but on the Amarillo label run by Ray Ruff.
Bob Tucker and the Sky Riders- Quit Draggin' Your Feet(State) Swingin' cat outta Clovis that ran the Caron label.
(DONE 9/25/11)Orville Fox- Honey You Talk Too Much (Ellis) Some dern'd happy to have finally layed by claws on this one. Story to come.
(DONE 6/20/11)Johnny Trujillo and the Knightsmen- Pistol Packin' Mama (Bocaldun), El Paso area Chicanos on Odessa label (a flat copy would be great through)
(DONE 10/12/10)Friends of Mind- Movin' Through Your Mind (InSounds) Folk record with a psych production. California label, Odessa duo... Thanks Greg Oblivion!
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