Wednesday, August 26, 2026

Herman and Sharlet with the Tennessee Valley Boys

 


Herman and Sharlet with the Tennessee Valley Boys

LP Promotional PLP 190

Rimrock pressing from late sixties

 

tracklist

1 - Will The Circle Be Unbroken.mp3    
2 - Just A Closer Walk With Thee.mp3   
3 - The Amen Corner.mp3                
4 - How Beautiful Heaven Must Be.mp3   
5 - I'll Never Die.mp3                 
6 - Satisfied.mp3                      
7 - Give Mother My Crown.mp3           
8 - How Great Thou Art.mp3             
9 - The Third Man.mp3   

Last track (If  I Could Hear My Mother Pray Again) is missing.

From the back cover :

In the years I have worked with and around country musicians, I have encountered groups with names like *The Blue Ridge Mountain Gang*, *The Kentucky Ramblers*, etc. Almost invariably, the members turn out to be from New York, Los Angeles, or Minneapolis — everywhere but the Blue Ridge Mountains or Kentucky!  So when I met the Tennessee Valley Boys in Anderson, Indiana, I was surprised to find that, besides being five of the finest performers of country and gospel music I've ever heard, they are exactly what the name suggests.

Well — almost, that is.  If Sharlet Sexton is a Tennessee Valley "boy," she's the prettiest one I've ever seen!   Born only eighteen years ago in Union County, Tennessee, Sharlet has already recorded three singles and is a veteran performer on television and radio. This exuberant young lady has loved music her entire life and considers herself one of Waylon Jennings' biggest fans.  
As you'll realize when you hear this record, Sharlet’s strong vocal ability is matched only by the spirit and sincerity with which she sings.

John and Jimmy Flatford, heard respectively on mandolin and bass, are equally at home playing country, bluegrass, and gospel music.   The fine lead guitar player, Bud Wall, is the group's only native Hoosier — but he’s just one generation removed from Tennessee.

Herman Hatfield, from Knoxville, Tennessee, has appeared on shows such as the *Tennessee Barn Dance*, the *Midday Merry-Go-Round*, and the *Renfro Valley Barn Dance*.   This album marks Herman's fifth recording venture, and all who have heard the tapes are enthusiastic that it will certainly not be his last!

Each of these musicians has brought something special — individual excellence — to the group. The result is something even more special: a blending of parts into a unified whole.  
What you'll hear on this record is a group with its own personality — its own identity — something more than just five people making music together.

Working with this group has been a real pleasure, and I feel confident your pleasure in listening to them will be just as great.
 

 

               

 

 

Tuesday, August 25, 2026

The Purse

 


The Purse (direct link)

From the album “Live in the Alabama Women's Prison”  recorded
at The Julia Tutwiler Prison For Women, Wetumpka, Alabama, USA

Mega Records, 1970 

 The full album is available HERE

 

Note: Rest assured, sensitive souls, women behind the bars photographied by Bill Forshee were not actual inmates. They were models. 

On January 13, 1968 Johnny Cash recorded his legendary concert album “At Folsom Prison” within the walls of that California penitentiary. It is considered by many to be the greatest live concert recording ever released.  Hoping to replicate Cash’s success, rockabilly performer Mack Vickery traveled to Wetumpka, Alabama in 1970 and recorded a live concert album at the Julia Tutwiler Prison for Women.

Mad Magazine, in Septembre 1971, published a two-page funny parody describing six imaginary "Prison" record albums of the future featuring Jim Nabors at the Lexington Narcotics Center), Wayne Newton at the Charles St. Police Station in Greenwich Village, Englebert Humperdick at the Berkeley Jail, Connie Francis at the Philadelphia Home for Wayward Girls, Kate Smith at a Georgia Chain Gang and The King Sisters at Matawan Prison For the Criminally Insane.

For tracklisting, see pictures below.

 

 


As predicted, several albums recorded in prison followed : B.B. King, John Lee Hooker, Freddy Fender, Big Mama Thornton, Leona Williams and Sonny James, to name but a few.   

But in 1971, Glen Sherley made history as the first person to record an album inside a prison as a prisoner

 

Women of Music volume 27

 


 Women of Music volume 27

 

Bernice Tubb  - Johnny Wait For Me_.mp3
Betty Rogers - Tears Tears Tears .mp3
Carol (Luke) Price - Weeping Room.mp3
Deborah Harry - Don't Be Cruel.mp3
Diana Lee - You Upset Me.mp3
Etta James - Good Lookin'.mp3
Janet Moore - I Need My Man To Love Tonight.mp3
Jeannie Carson - Stupid Cupid.mp3
Mabel King - Alabama Rock 'n' Roll.mp3
Miss Ann Fleming - You're Just One Man.mp3
Monica Törnell - I´m In Love With A Big Blue Frog.mp3
Pam Hanna - Rebel Child.mp3 

 

Monday, August 24, 2026

When Life Is Over



 
When Life Is Over
direct link

The Fraley Trio
Glen Fraley, Lead, Guitar / Dorothy Fraley, Alto / Patty Fraley, Soprano

Bassett Recording Service
Springfield, Ohio

B-1386


The Fraley Trio had a previous record in 1962. For details see Gloryland Jubilee, A Discography of Sacred & Gospel Music, 1943-1969
 

 

The Starfires on B and V Records

 

 

The Starfires first record

Record listed at RCS (no location, no evaluation, not comped)
Location found : Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania



The Starfires, later known as The Star Fires on Laurie Records in 1966, were a garage rock band from Wilkes-Barre, PA.  The group was originally formed by junior high school friends Richard Grumbravich (drummer) and Rodger Griffith (bassist). Next to come on board were Bob Gardner (saxophone); Howard Dymond (piano); Freddie Kirkendall (guitar); and Charlie McCuen (vocalist). In their college years Eddie “Day” Pashinski joined as vocalist and John Hall replaced Kirkendall (later Richard Rodieger replaced Hall). 

The Starfires gained notoriety in the area during the sixties. They backed up national acts like Frankie Valli, Chubby Checker, and Freddy Cannon. 

Vocalist Eddie "Day" Pashinski was elected in 2006 as a Pennsylvania State Representative in the United States Congress. See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eddie_Day_Pashinski


 Please Come Back (direct link)

  

You're My Only Love (direct link)