Curt & Faye Bartmess, Midland by of way of Oklahoma

CURT & FAYE BARTMESS - The Downward Road b/w Walking By the Sea (State 4001)

Curt & Faye Bartmess were based out of Oklahoma in the mid-50s where at some point they became associated with the presumably Texas-based State label. While the label is far from well known, it did turn out a great release from general East New Mexico/West Texas gadabout Bob Tucker & his Sky Riders. State 4002 features the swingin' "Little Red Wagon" update "Quit Draggin' Your Feet" and a nice vocal from Virgil Hume who would go on to work the Amarillo, Tx honky tonk and radio circuit for a in the mid- to late- 50s. (both sides of Bob Tucker disc can be heard HERE at the fine n' dandy Wired For Sound blog.)

On their own State release Curt and Faye update two standards from the gospel community, both featuring fine mandolin. "Walking The Sea" is based on the story of Jesus walking the stormy Sea of Galilee to find his disciples gripped with fear. The origins of the heavy handed "The Downward Road" stretch back further as a black spiritual. In the hands of the Bartmess duo "The Downward Road" is powerful piece of old timey mountain gospel and not too far off from the sound that would make the the mighty Louvin Brothers so popular a few years later.

Curt and Faye would later issue a single on their own Evangelistic Records, pressed by Starday in 1955. Malcolm Chapman featured this later release on his Starday Custom blog a few years back (read it HERE) and notes that the liners for the Flyrite cd Hillbilly Gospel make mention of Evangelistic being formed as a result of non-payment from a Texas record label they had previously been associated with. I would guess it to perhaps be this State release from which the Bartmess's saw no return. Somehow the Bartmess's were broadcasting over KJBC radio in Midland, Texas at around the same time of the Evangelistic single. I found this particular 78 in Midland recently... no idea if there is any actual physical connection between Curt & Faye and the Tall City. It's quite possible that the couple KJBC offerings wered disc'd up and shipped out from Oklahoma each week.

Faye has since passed on, but Curt is still involved in various ministerial capacities in east central Oklahoma.