Will the real Gin Gillette please stand up?

 

"Train To Satanville" by Gin Gillette is a song that had intrigued a lot of people, wondering who she was. There was some speculation about Gin Gillette being actually Robie Lester, owner of the Musikon label, but, as we'll see and hear, it's not the case.

Born Virginia Boyle in 1931 at her father's ranch just outside Gillette, Wyoming. By the time she was nine years old she was riding in rodeos throughout Wyoming and Montana. By now people were stopping to listen to the voice of the little rodeo queen. In 1952 she joined the Special Service Unit of the 7th Army and toured Germany where she met and married in 1955 Kenneth "Thumbs" Carllile (Carlisle), a guitarist from Missouri who performed in the same Special Services division. Together, they appeared later on ABC-TV's Ozark Jubilee in Springfield, Missouri from 1956–57, both as a soloist and with Bill Wimberley's Country Rhythm Boys with whom Virginia recorded on the Morton Levand's Tex label. In the late 50s, Virginia and "Thumbs" performed in Billings, Montana and appeared on KOOK-TV.

For Musikon Records of 3456 Floyd Terrace, Los Angeles, she only recorded two tracks as Gin Gillette in 1961. The conductor listed on the label was Jessie Sales, who at first known as that great Dixieland drummer from Denver, and when in California, he became an essential part of the recording scene for blues and R&B on the West Coast. Sailes has been described by studio bassist Carol Kaye as being a bit more of an outsider on the L.A. studio scene,  Sailes' greatest and most personalized appearance on a rock record would have to be on the single that many fans consider one of the great classic rock hits of all time, "Let's Dance" by Chicano rocker Chris Montez.

 In 1961, her husband Thumbs Carllile met guitarist Les Paul. Impressed by Carllile's skill and his wife's songwriting, Les Paul recorded  the duet at his home studio in Mahwah, New Jersey (Les Paul on bass, Mary Ford on rhythm guitar, and Gene Paul on drums) The record, issued on Epic Records as by Thumbs Carlyle and Ginny O'Boyle, was advertised in a Billboard full page in June 1962 (Les Paul and Mary Ford proudly present their sensational new discoveries)  

Please read this interesting story from 2018 here by Gabriel Owens "Meet Virginia, a Kroger employee with a country music past"

Gin/Ginny/Virginia Carllile/O'Boyle/Gillette discography:

Virginia Carllile -  Where Are You (Tex, 1955)
Virginia Carllile - Tired Of Your Honky-Tonk Love (Tex, 1955)
Gin Gillette - She'll Never Let Him Go (Musikon, 1961)
Gin Gillette - Train To Satanville (Musikon, 1961)
Thumbs Carlyle & Ginny O'Boyle - Indian Girl, Indian Boy (Epic, 1962)
Thumbs Carlyle & Ginny O'Boyle - Now that you're leavin' me (Epic, 1962)

Hear Virginia, Gin & Ginny
(the keyword is satanville)

Ginny in 2018

 

Uruguay

 

Flecker and the Countdowns
Scotty GQP-424

1963

Uruguay

Unlisted early release on the Scotty label, a division of Gateway Recordings of Pittsburgh. Composed and produced by Jack Withum (John F. Withum), who may be Flecker in person. On the flip, Flecker is backed by The Vincentians ("There Shouldn't be Roses").

 

I'm In Love With A Mutant

Sonny Adams

 

 I'm In Love With A Mutant

 Cique Records 101

1961

 

Samuel T. Adams, Jr. (1928-2016)

Sam, also known as "Sonny" Adams, was a fixture on the local New Oleans entertainment scene. Managing to earn a living not only as a pianist and clarinetist, but also as a humorist, puppeteer, and TV "Bozo the Clown".  He is best known, to his chagrin, as one of the perpetrators of "Nobody Likes A Smart Ass," the irreverent satirical cabaret show that somehow ran successfully for 15 years in the French Quarter during the 1960s and 1970s.

Older fans might remember him best for his song parodies, which were almost always topical, clever and achingly funny, but sometimes teetered on the boundaries of good taste. He was hilarious and unfiltered, and let his quirky thoughts lead him wherever they might. While he had a Masters Degree in Zoology, his Korean War Army service led to a stint at the Navy School of Music, which he credits with honing his longtime interest and skills in music. He ultimately received a Masters Degree in Music and taught briefly before heading out to entertain the world.  

During his Army service, Sam involuntarily participated in "Operation Upshot-Knothole". An atmospheric nuclear blast at the Nevada Test Range, which he credits his life long relationship with skin cancers and dermatologists. . He recorded a full album on the RPC custom label about skin conditions, titled "The Derma-Disc". The album can be downloaded here

According to his obit, Sam Adams, "The Prince of Parody," announced in 2016 that he has completed his 88-year gig on planet Earth, and was available for other engagements.

 

Devil Named Sue

 

Windy Craig
Cevetone 518
1963
 
 


Devil Named Sue


Love Me



 Wendell "Windy" Craig (1940-2020)

Wendell won a guest disc jockey contest at WATS in Sayre, PA, in his senior year in high school which inspired him to change his major from Engineering to Radio and Television. He worked at Syracuse University radio station WAER, and after graduation he was a popular DJ in Ithaca and Syracuse, where he was known as the "Weird Beard" at radio station WOLF. He set a world record for riding the Ferris Wheel at Suburban Park in Manlius, NY, stepping off the wheel after 183 hours at 4:02 pm on September 6th, 1964.

Trying To Get To You

 Ersel Hickey

Trying To Get To You

Toot 45-602
1967
Arranged by Trade Martin
 

Bio : http://www.rockabillyhall.com/ErselHickey.html