In the early to mid-1950s, the antecedents of what is today termed "Country Music" were known as "Hillbilly," "Cowboy" and "Western Swing." Only in the late 1950s did these three distinct types of (mainly) white rural music become "homogenized" into the relatively bland product currently being peddled as "Country."
Bonnie Lou (real name Mary Jo Kath) was a "Hillbilly" artist who made a short venture into the realm of Rock 'N' Roll. This CD, released in 2000 by England's WestSide label, presents some of her work in both genres.
Many of the same record labels that served the black "Blues" or "Rhythm and Blues" market served the white "Hillbilly" market as well. Cincinnati's King label was a significant player in these markets, although today it seems best remembered for its work in the "negro" market.
In those days it was also a common practice in the industry for artists of one genre to "cover" a song that was getting attention in another genre. This CD contains examples of several songs which illustrate this phenomenon. Bonnie Lou's "original" Seven Lonely Days which was covered for the R&B market by Viola Watkins and the Crows and for the pop market by Georgia Gibbs is among the tracks you'll find here. Bonnie Lou's covers of Perry Como's pop market hit Pa-Paya Mama and of Laverne Baker's R&B market hit Tweedle Dee can also be heard.
Bonnie Lou did crack into the Rock 'N' Roll market with her biggest hit: Daddy-O in late 1955 - early 1956. Of course, she was "covered" by the Fontane Sisters on the Dot label. But hers is the "authentic" Daddy-O, with a hint of a yodel in her voice.
Add this to your collection as an example of musical "cross-pollenization."
Track listing:
1. Just Out Of Reach (Of My Two Empty Arms) (King # 1192) - 1953
2. Seven Lonely Days (King # 1192) - 1953
3. Dancin' With Someone (King # 1213) - 1953
4. Tennessee Wig Walk (King # 1237) - 1953
5. Pa-Paya Mama (King # 1272) - 1953
6. Don't Stop Kissing Me Goodnight (King # 1318) - 1954
7. Huckleberry Pie (Take 1) (unreleased take) - 1954
8. Blue Tennessee Rain (King # 1365) - 1954
9. Two Step, Side Step (King # 1373) - 1954
10. Train Whistle Blues (King # 1414) - 1954
11. Tennessee Mambo (King # 1414) - 1954
12. Drop Me A Line (King # 1476) - 1955
13. Tweedle Dee (Take 1) (unreleased take) - 1955
14. Daddy-O (King # 4835) - 1955
15. The Banyard Hop (King # 1506) - 1955
16. Dancing In My Socks (King # 4835) - 1955
17. Lonesome Lover (King # 4919) - 1956
18. Little Miss Bobby Sox (King # 4895) - 1956
19. No Rock 'N' Roll Tonight (King # 4948) - 1956
20. Bo Weevil (King # 4900) - 1956
21. I Want You (King # 5009) - 1957
22. Kit 'N' Kaboodle (Take 1) (unreleased take) - 1957
23. Teenage Wedding (King # 5033) - 1957
24. La Dee Dah with Rusty York (King #5063) - 1958
25. Kit 'N' Kaboodle (Take 2) (King # 5033) - 1957
26. Tweedle Dee (Take 3) (King # 1436) - 1955
