Various Artists
The Hickory Records Story Vol. 1
Audium Records

by William Michael Smith

Every once in a while I take out the long narrow box that holds my 45 rpm discs, usually in the interests of informing and educating my guitar-playing son about some forgotten sound nugget. There are quite a few records in that box that are marked with the Hickory Records black-on-white label. I didn't realize until I received a copy of the newly released The Hickory Records Story Vol. 1 just how many fine Hickory nuggets I had and what an important part Hickory had played in my musical upbringing.

Hickory was the recording and retail arm of the omnipresent Acuff-Rose Publishing Company of Nashville. A venture of country legend Roy Acuff and songwriter Fred Rose, the company was the first publishing company formed as an outlet strictly for country music songwriters. The massive popularity of Hank Williams was one of the goldmines that led Acuff-Rose to become the giant of country music publishing houses and led to both Mr. Acuff and Mr. Rose becoming very wealthy men. Eventually Acuff-Rose and Hickory Records branched out into pop and rock music as times and trends changed. I didn't realize how broad their reach was until I looked at the track list on this new compilation.

The compilation includes an astonishing array of artists and musicians, from country crooner Don Gibson to one-hit wonders like Gene & Debbie ("Playboy"). While every song included was a Top Ten hit at one time, not all of them have stood the test of time or are even particularly memorable at this late date. But among the novelties and also-rans, which are interesting enough, there are indelible classics like the original recording of Rusty and Doug Kershaw's "Louisiana Man," Ernie Ashworth's often covered monster country hit, "Talk Back Trembling Lips," and the widely popular Gibson's "Touch the Morning" and "Country Green." But for a child of the 60's like me, what really makes this a special compilation is the inclusion of The Newbeats' classic, "Bread and Butter," which with its ultra-high male vocal stands as one of the most distinctive sounds in the annals of rock.

The compilation also contains one of the quirkiest, cutesy-est tracks of the 60's era, Sue Thompson's "James, Hold The Ladder Steady" (you either loved it or you couldn't stand it!). The highly talented and artistically flexible Ms. Thompson is also included for her bubble-gummy pop ballad "Sad Movies" and a serious country duet with Don Gibson, "Rings of Gold."

Country artists proved they could get in on the quirky novelty market too. Leona Williams had a hit for Hickory with "Country Girls With Hot Pants On" while little remembered Glen Barber charted with "Don't Worry 'Bout The Mule."

Everly Brother Don Everly is included with his "Yesterday Just Passed My Way Again," and the great but generally forgotten country singer Bill Carlisle scored with "No Help Wanted." Country star Bob Luman's "The File" is also included here. Old time country act Wilma Lee and Stony Cooper scored with "There's A Big Wheel."

While Hickory was primarily a country label, it also put out one of the strangest hits of the 60's rock era, "Morning Girl" by one-hit wonders Neon Philharmonic. "Morning Girl" is still a regular item on Oldies radio, as is "Bread and Butter."

If you remember the era (these are primarily hits of the early to late '60s), The Hickory Records Story Vol. 1 gathers a number of artists and songs that will be instantly familiar. For curiosity seekers, it offers glimpses at music trends that have since gone the way of dinosaurs. While Hickory certainly didn't have the MGM or Decca touch in the country field, they did sell volumes of records that stand up well as part of that wonderful era in music. This first in the series of Hickory compilations also shows how willing Hickory was to take chances with outside the mainstream acts, as many of these tracks became hits because they were in fact so different than the norm.

* The Hickory Records Story Vol. 1 can be purchased through the leading e-tailer outlets.


Contact William Michael Smith at: wms-at-rockzilla.net

 
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