Classic Recording Sessions - On This Date (7/1)

George McCormick - 56 years ago

Thursday, July 1, 1954 (1:30 pm - 4:30 pm)

Castle Studio, The Tulane Hotel, 206 8th Ave. North, Nashville 3, TN

George McCormick: vocal, guitar; Sam Pruett: lead guitar; Don Helms: steel guitar; Jerry Rivers: fiddle; Cedric Rainwater: bass.

Producer: Fred Rose

Today's recording session may be of particular interest to Hank Williams fans. George McCormick was a Nashville musician that played with a variety of bands in the late '40s and early '50s including a gig with Big Jeff Bess (the husband of Tootsie of Orchid Lounge fame) and his Radio Playboys. George was eventually featured on occasional solo vocals emulating his favorite, and recently deceased country singer, Hank Williams. While the Radio Playboys were playing a run at the Starlite Club in Nashville, George was heard by Jimmy Rule who was a songwriter and the co-author with Hank Williams of his book on country songwriting. Rule brought McCormick to the attention of his employer Fred Rose who was impressed enough to sign McCormick to MGM Records and give him songs that were planned for Hank Williams. Rose produced at least three sessions on George McCormick - two in 1953, and the one from today in 1954. McCormick's MGM records were obvious and conscious nods to Hank Williams, but this third session recorded today is particularly Williams-like in that it utilized Hank's Drifting Cowboys, including the great Don Helms on steel guitar who co-wrote "Don't Fix Up The Doghouse" which was intended for Hank as a followup to "Move It On Over" (much after the fact, as "Move It" was originally recorded in 1947). None of these songs were hits, but I think they're thoroughly enjoyable recordings that have a definite Hank Williams sound to them. I hope you enjoy them too...

Classic Radio Broadcasts - On This Date (6/18)

Hank Williams - 61 years ago

Saturday, June 18, 1949 (first Prince Albert Opry appearance)

Ryman Auditorium, 116 5th Ave. North, Nashville, TN

Hank Williams: vocal, guitar; Red Foley: emcee; other musicians unknown.

As country music fans, I think we're incredibly lucky to have had a performance as important as Hank Williams's first nationally broadcast appearance on the Grand Ole Opry preserved for all time. And that's what we're presenting for today's post. We all are probably too familiar with Hank's up and down relationship with WSM and the Grand Ole Opry, but to hear him on these performances, he's confident and ready to take on the world. His first #1 hit, "Lovesick Blues," has put him on top and his followup single, "Wedding Bells," is just hitting the charts. We're fortunate to have both songs as performed on the Ryman Auditorium stage 61 years ago today. I hope you enjoy this Opry broadcast as much as I do...

Classic Recording Sessions - On This Date (6/13)

Castle Studio, Tulane Hotel

206 8th Ave. North, Nashville 3, TN

Friday, June 13, 1952 - 58 years ago

Hank Williams

Hank Williams: vocal, guitar; Chet Atkins: guitar; Jack Shook: guitar; Don Helms: steel guitar; Charles Wright: bass; Jerry Rivers: fiddle.

(10:00 am - 1:00 pm)

Jim & Jesse McReynolds

Jim McReynolds: vocal, guitar; Jesse McReynolds: vocal, mandolin; Curley Seckler: guitar; Hoke Jenkins: banjo; Bob Moore: bass; Sonny James: fiddle.

(2:00 pm - 5:00 pm) & (7:00 pm - 9:00 pm)

The first of Nashville's recording studios began in 1946 when three of WSM's engineers, Carl Jenkins, George Reynolds, and Aaron Shelton started Castle Recording Studios. Their initial recordings were done in WSM's studios, but by 1947 they had moved their operation to the Tulane Hotel. Today we have three back-to-back sessions recorded at Castle Studios. A morning session with country music legend Hank Williams, and afternoon and evening sessions with up-and-coming bluegrass artists Jim & Jesse McReynolds.

These are two acts in almost opposite phases of their careers. Hank is on top, and has only two sessions after this left for MGM before his passing at the end of the year. This session yields three significant hits for him, including one of his biggest, "Jambalaya." Jim and Jesse McReynolds, on the other hand, are at the very beginning of their recording career. They had previously recorded with Larry Roll as the Virginia Trio for the small Kentucky label in 1951, but these are their first bluegrass recordings as Jim & Jesse & The Virginia Boys. Today they recorded two sessions for Capitol Records. Among the songs they recorded today was the Louvin Brothers composition "Are You Missing Me" which was to became a standard for Jim & Jesse.

It's an interesting opportunity to reconstruct a day at the famous Castle Studios in the early years of the Nashville recording scene. And what an amazing it day it was too! I hope you enjoy these recordings as much as I do...