Richard Patterson, San Angelo

RICHARD PATTERSON - I'm Shy b/w More Of A Woman (Sangelo 101)

Sangelo seemed to be Ron Newdoll's country label. Ron is probably most famous for recording the "Last Kiss" session for J. Frank Wilson & the Cavaliers at his Accurate Sound Studio in San Angelo. From this same studio he also ran the teen-oriented Askel label, home to top notch discs from the Chevelle V, Outcasts, Tune Masters, and the Remaining Few.

Despite Texas Sound etchings in the deadwax that identify this as being from October of '65 this release from Richard Patterson sounds much earlier (and despite the 101 on the label this was not the first Sangelo release... Dean Beard's "Party Party", which has no #, was reviewed in Billboard at the beginning of 1965). Richards' band has got a super-primitive stomp to it and- if this be his regular combo- they could probably shake 'em down sumpin' fierce at San Angelo's Boots n' Saddle Club or wherever else they may have roamed. I'm trying to picture these guys- cowboy hats and western shirts with the sleeves rolled up or knock off Nude suits with rhinestone bolos.

"I'm Shy" chugs along with a hypnotic and ringing single picked lead and an almost guttural tongue-twisting moan from Patterson. As mentioned this COULD be 1965. Or it could have just as easily been 1960. Regardless, this ain't no slicked up Nashville sound for sure. Sounds much more like a group that's stood their time behind a chicken wire fence or two while watching a west Texas barroom full of roustabouts and cowpunchers blow off a week's worth of steam. The boastful "More Of A Woman" echoes the blues and is no less primitive, though perhaps not as catchy.

The Gore Brothers & Cool Water, Lubbock

Another old post from a few years back...

Who'd think that bluegrass would find a home in- of all places- West Texas?



GORE BROTHERS AND COOL WATER - "Hope In the Country" and "Knocking On Heaven's Door" (self-titled, Gore Brothers Records)

It has and carries a devoted following as can be seen in the many bluegrass festivals scattered all over the region at all times of the year. Up at South Plains College in Levelland they actually host a summer camp AND even offer college credit in the field of pickin' n' a'grinnin'. Odessan Billy Myrick played out in front of the Mayfield Brothers in Lubbock in the 50s. The boys got big and were were well on their way to gettin' bigger at the Louisiana Hayride before father Bill Monroe came along drafted himself a feller from the combo. Big Spring boy Tex Logan made a good run of bluegrass fiddling on the east coast when he was plus'ing and dividing numbers. (More on West Texas bluegrass and Texas bluegrass in general can be read HERE in an article by Rod Moag in the Journal of Texas Music History... great photo of Abilene's Black Mountain Boys stumping with the elder Bush on a campaign stop in the 1960s)

And yet there's not actually that much out here to actually hear. I'm not aware of any acts in the area breathing new life and lyrics into the style. Local groups bide their time running through the same set of standard breakdowns, waltzes, and hymns. Very little original music comes from the scene. I don't suppose that's any different from most other areas outside of Baltimore/D.C. and them old Kentucky hills.

The Gore Brothers and Cool Water worked out of Lubbock in the 1970s and 80s. At the time of this 1978 recording the band included Ron Gore on mandolin, his brother Gary on bass, Bruce McBee on banjo, and Glenda Knipher on guitar. According to "The History of Early Bluegrass in Texas" (linked above), the group was not a bluegrass combo in the strictest sense... as much as they were bluegrass they were also pop and easy country (Gary Gore can be seen "hiding" an electric bass behind Knipher in the photo above). On their self-titled release Cool Water does run through a couple of standards, but sounds like a folk-influenced newgrass group as you get "Hot Burritto (sic) Breakdown" rubbing shoulders with "Sitting on Top of the World". Side 2 opens with Bob Dylan's "Knockin' on Heaven's Door", a tired dog to be sure, but I really enjoy Ron Gore's mandolin leads here.

Gary Gore turns in the strongest cut on the album, an original titled "Hope In the Country"... counting the blessings of a simple life out away from that hectic Hub City life. Funny how that idea of an easy life in the country is always around. The more things change...

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Caprock photo above 'borrowed' from HERE and run through an iPhone app.

Fred Crawford, Monahans

FRED CRAWFORD - Go Green Go/Monahans Vs. Dumas (Lobo ML-100)

Texans are nuts for their high school football. Like seriously. On Friday nights from the late summer through late fall tiny and big stadiums all across the state are full of frito pie eatin' Texans cheering on their boys. No matter the heat and no matter the cold the fans are there. I've often heard it described as a religion and during the season that's really not too far off. It's not something you can really describe to the uninitiated. Until you've been it's really hard to grasp. And some people are extraordinarily dedicated followers of their hometown boys. I can't count the number of times I've seen gruff ol' men sit themselves down with complete strangers for coffee and breakfast after one of them is asked "How about them _______ last night?" .

Fred Crawford is best known to LSS readers for his incredible string of records for Starday... I'm certainly not alone in the thinkin' that Fred might have been the most consistent artist in that deep yellow-hued catalog. In addition to country music, Fred was also a big supporter of his beloved Monahans High School football team. I recall hearing from one source or another that during the 60s Fred called the games as announcer. The "Go Green Go" single on Lobo features one side about a match up with Dumas (heard here) and another about a game against Vernon(sounds just about the same). Under the cheers you can hear a pretty good guitarist, but I'm not sure who that might have been. I have no idea on a date, but based on the look of the label I would guess early 60s. The deadwax provides no real clues other than a handwritten scribble of "Nashville Matris"(sic).
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Lobo logo and Lobo Mascot both 'borrowed' from the website for the Monahans Class of '65.