Dim Lights, Thick Smoke and Hillbilly Music: 1967

by N/A

Overview

Charley Pride is featured on the front cover of the 1967 volume of Bear Family's excellent, ongoing country music series Dim Lights, Thick Smoke and Hillbilly Music: Country & Western Music Hit Parade, and his presence suggests how things were changing. Charley was the first African-American country music superstar, a pop icon perfectly suited for the Civil Rights era, but he was positively conservative compared to other singers who charted in 1967. Some of Pride's peers tackled controversial topics -- Tammy Wynette's "I Don't Wanna Play House" addressed divorce in a clear, unsentimental fashion, while her duet with David Houston on "My Elusive Dreams" chronicled a uniquely '60s futility -- while others rode the zeitgeist coming out of California, with Waylon Jennings sharply navigating rock and soul on his "Mental Revenge" and "The Chokin' Kind." Merle Haggard was quickly eclipsing his benefactor Buck Owens via such nervy, finely etched songs as "Branded Man" and "Sing Me Back Home," while George Jones dug in his heels with "Walk Through This World With Me," about as exquisite a single as Nashville ever produced. Elsewhere, there were straightforward honky tonk hits -- none better than Jim Ed Brown's beer-drinking anthem "Pop A Top" -- and lively, winking, referential cuts like Jerry Reed's "Guitar Man," but nothing signaled the shifting tides like John Hartford's "Gentle on My Mind," Bobbie Gentry's "Ode to Billie Joe," and, especially, Glen Campbell's "By the Time I Get to Phoenix," the latter splitting the difference between the folk narrative of Hartford and the Hollywood symphony of Gentry. This was the sound of the late '60s, and it remains vivid, cinematic, and haunting. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine

Product Details

Release Date:	09/24/2013
Label:	Bear Family Records
UPC:	5397102172625
Rank:	70867

Tracks

1. Ode to Billie Joe  - Bobbie Gentry  - Jimmy Haskell
2. Ruby (Don't Take Your Love to Town)  - Johnny Darrell  - Mel Tillis
3. Mental Revenge  - Chester B. Atkins  - Jerry Carrigan  - Fred Jr. Carter  - Dorothy Ann Dillard  - Bobby Dyson  - Jerry Reed Hubbard  - Priscilla Ann Hubbard  - Roy Jr. Huskey  - Waylon Jennings  - Charles R. "Charlie" McCoy  - Louis Dean Nunley  - Harold R. "Ray Stevens" Ragsdale  - Hargus "Pig" Robbins  - Velma Williams Smith  - Mel Tillis  - William Guilford Jr. Wright
4. I Won't Come in While He's There  - William Paul Ackerman  - Chester B. Atkins  - Brenton Banks  - Cecil Bower  - Gene Davis  - Dorothy Ann Dillard  - Solie Isaac Fott  - Lillian Vann Hunt  - Jerry Glenn Kennedy  - Anita Kerr  - Bob Moore  - Wayne Moss  - Louis Dean Nunley  - William Whitney Pursell  - Jim Reeves  - Hargus "Pig" Robbins  - William Guilford Jr. Wright
5. Break My Mind  - Joseph T. Babcock  - Jerry Carrigan  - Fred Jr. Carter  - Ray Edenton  - Mary E. Greene  - George IV Hamilton  - Jerry Reed Hubbard  - Roy Jr. Huskey  - John D. Loudermilk  - Charles R. "Charlie" McCoy  - Sandra L. Posey  - Hargus "Pig" Robbins  - Hurshel Wayne Wiginton
6. Laura (What's He Got That I Ain't Got)  - Leon Ashley  - Margie Singleton  - Don Tweedy
7. Branded Man  - Roy Edward Burris  - Glen Campbell  - George Jr. French  - Merle Haggard  - William Robert Mize  - Ken Nelson  - Roy Nichols  - Charles "Fuzzy" Ow  - Bonnie Owens
8. What Kind of Girl (Do You Think I Am)?  - Harold Ray Bradley  - Owen Bradley  - Ray Edenton  - Murrey M. "Buddy" Jr. Harman  - Roy Jr. Huskey  -  Jordanaires  - Loretta Lynn  - Thomas Grady Martin  - Hargus "Pig" Robbins  - Harald Rugg  - Teddy Wilburn
9. Pop-A-Top  - Joseph T. Babcock  - David Briggs  - Jim Ed Brown  - Jerry Carrigan  - Pete Rodis Drake  - Ray Edenton  - Roy Jr. Huskey  - Felton Jarvis  - Glenn Keener  - Wayne Moss  - June Evelyn Page  - Sandra L. Posey  - Jerry "Chip Young" Stembridge  - Nat Stuckey  - Hurshel Wayne Wiginton
10. Danny Boy  - Harold Ray Bradley  - Pete Drake  - Frank Jones  - Don Law  - Thomas Grady Martin  - Farrell Morris  - Cameron L. Mullins  - Ray Price  - William Whitney Pursell  - Norman Keith "Buddy" Spicher  - Fred Weatherly  - Joe Zinkan
11. Little Ole Wine Drinker Me  - Harold Ray Bradley  - Floyd Cramer  - Ray Edenton  - Fred Foster  - Murrey M. "Buddy" Jr. Harman  - Jerry Reed Hubbard  - Dick Jennings  - Charles R. "Charlie" McCoy  - Hank Mills  - Robert Mitchum  - Wayne Moss  - Norbert Putnam
12. Gentle on My Mind  - Jerry Carrigan  - John Hartford  - Felton Jarvis  - Norbert Putnam
13. By the Time I Get to Phoenix  - Glen Campbell  - Al DeLory  - Jimmy Webb
14. Tonight Carmen  - Bob Johnston  - Marty Robbins
15. Life Turned Her That Way  - Paul Cohen  - Harlan Howard  - Roy Jr. Huskey  - Mel Tillis
16. Where Does the Good Times Go  - Thomas Rexton Brumley  - Willie Cantu  - Donald R. "Ritchie" Frost  - Doyle Floyd Hendricks  - Robert D. "Bob" Morris  - Buck Owens  - Jelly Sanders  - Donald "Don Rich" Eugen Ulrich
17. What Does It Take (To Keep a Man Like You Satisfied)  - Skeeter Davis  - Jim Glaser
18. The Chokin' Kind  - Chester B. Atkins  - Jerry Carrigan  - Fred Jr. Carter  - Dorothy Ann Dillard  - Bobby Dyson  - Harlan Howard  - Jerry Reed Hubbard  - Priscilla Ann Hubbard  - Roy Jr. Huskey  - Waylon Jennings  - Charles R. "Charlie" McCoy  - Louis Dean Nunley  - Harold R. "Ray Stevens" Ragsdale  - Hargus "Pig" Robbins  - Velma Williams Smith  - William Guilford Jr. Wright
19. Jackson  - Norman Blake  - June Carter  - Johnny Cash  - Marshall Grant  - W.S. Holland  - Robert L. Johnson  - Frank Jones  - Don Law  - Charles R. "Charlie" McCoy  - Carl Perkins  - Luther Perkins  - Gaby Rodgers  - Billy Wheeler
20. Sing Me Back Home  - Merle Haggard  - Ken Nelson  - Charles "Fuzzy" Ow
21. Tears Will Be the Chaser for Your Wine  - Harold Ray Bradley  - Dale Davis  - Leroy Goates  - Lloyd Green  - Murrey M. "Buddy" Jr. Harman  - Wanda Jackson  - Mary Johnson  -  Jordanaires  - Millie Kirkham  - Thomas Grady Martin  - Charles R. "Charlie" McCoy  - Bob Moore  - Weldon Myrick  - Ken Nelson
22. Guitar Man  - Chester B. Atkins  - Jerry Carrigan  - Fred Jr. Carter  - Jerry Reed Hubbard  - Roy Jr. Huskey  - Wayne Moss  - Jerry Reed  - Jerry D. Smith
23. Jackson Ain't a Very Big Town  - Jerry Carrigan  - Anita Carter  - Pete Rodis Drake  - Dolores Edgin  - Roy Jr. Huskey  - Mack Magaha  - Vic McAlpin  - George W. McCormick  -  Norma Jean  - Hargus "Pig" Robbins  - Buck Trent  - Herman Bland "Pete" Wade
24. Walk Through This World with Me  - Harold W. "Pappy" Daily  - George Jones  -  Jordanaires  - Melba Montgomery  - Bob Moore  - Kay Savage  - Sandra Seamons
25. My Elusive Dreams  - David Houston  - Curly Putman  - Billy Sherrill  - Tammy Wynette
26. It's Such a Pretty World Today  - David William Allen  - Jimmy Collins  - Robert "Bobby Wayne" Edrington  - Dennis Hromek  -  Kerr  - Dale Noe  - Robert Jim Pierce  - Wynn Stewart
27. Sam's Place  - Thomas Rexton Brumley  - Willie Cantu  - Doyle Floyd Hendricks  - Robert D. "Bob" Morris  - Ken Nelson  - Buck Owens  - Red Simpson  - Donald "Don Rich" Eugen Ulrich
28. I Don't Wanna Play House  - Billy Sherrill  - Glenn Sutton  - Tammy Wynette
29. Does My Ring Hurt Your Finger?  - Chester B. Atkins  - Jack Clement  - Jan Crutchfield  - Felton Jarvis  - Charley Pride  - Don Robertson
30. Cold Hard Facts of Life  - Bill Anderson  - Jerry Carrigan  - Pete Drake  - Bob Ferguson  - Mary E. Greene  - Jerry Reed Hubbard  - Roy Jr. Huskey  - Mack Magaha  - George W. McCormick  - Sandra L. Posey  - Buck Trent  - Porter Wagoner  - Donald C. Warden
31. Nashville Cats  - Steve Boone  - Joe Butler  - Erik Jacobsen  -  Lovin' Spoonful  - John Sebastian  - Zal Yanovsky

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Mel Tillis   Primary Artist,Vocals
John Hartford   Primary Artist,Guitar,Vocals
June Carter   Primary Artist,Vocals
Leon Ashley   Primary Artist,Vocals
Tammy Wynette   Primary Artist,Vocals
Marty Robbins   Primary Artist,Vocals
Norma Jean   Primary Artist,Vocals
Jim Reeves   Primary Artist,Guitar,Vocals
Buck Owens   Primary Artist,Guitar,Vocals
George Hamilton IV   Primary Artist,Guitar,Vocals
George Jones   Primary Artist,Vocals
Jerry Reed   Primary Artist
Jim Ed Brown   Primary Artist,Guitar,Vocals
Porter Wagoner   Primary Artist,Vocals
Merle Haggard   Primary Artist,Guitar,Vocals
Glen Campbell   Primary Artist,Guitar,Vocals
Wynn Stewart   Primary Artist,Guitar,Vocals
Skeeter Davis   Primary Artist
Wanda Jackson   Primary Artist,Vocals
Johnny Cash   Primary Artist,Vocals
Loretta Lynn   Primary Artist,Vocals
Robert Mitchum   Primary Artist,Vocals
The Anita Kerr Singers   Primary Artist
The Lovin' Spoonful   Primary Artist
Bobbie Gentry   Primary Artist
Charley Pride   Primary Artist
Waylon Jennings   Primary Artist,Vocals
Johnny Darrell   Primary Artist,Vocals
David Houston   Primary Artist,Vocals
Ray Price   Primary Artist,Vocals
William Whitney Pursell   Piano,Vibraphone
Robert L. Johnson   Guitar
Norman Blake   Guitar
Dennis Hromek   Bass
George French, Jr.   Piano
Harold R. "Ray Stevens" Ragsdale   Vibraslap
Doyle Floyd Hendricks   Guitar
Donald R. "Ritchie" Frost   Percussion
Pete Rodis Drake   Guitar (Steel),Guitar (String)
Joe Butler   Drums
Jerry Glenn Kennedy   Guitar
Jerry "Chip Young" Stembridge   Guitar (Electric)
June Evelyn Page   Choir/Chorus
Thomas Grady Martin   Guitar
Charles R. "Charlie" McCoy   Organ,Harmonica,French Harp
Harold Ray Bradley   Bass,Guitar,Guitar (Rhythm)
Herman Bland "Pete" Wade   Guitar
Jerry D. Smith   Harpsichord
Velma Williams Smith   Guitar (Rhythm)
Murrey M. "Buddy" Harman Jr.   Drums
Donald "Don Rich" Eugen Ulrich   Guitar (Electric)
Hurshel Wayne Wiginton   Choir/Chorus
Norman Keith "Buddy" Spicher   Fiddle
Sandra L. Posey   Choir/Chorus
Mary Johnson   Choir/Chorus
Thomas Rexton Brumley   Guitar (Steel)
Robert Jim Pierce   Piano
Robert D. "Bob" Morris   Bass
William Robert Mize   Guitar,Vocal Harmony
Donald C. Warden   Guitar (Rhythm)
Bonnie Owens   Vocal Harmony
Farrell Morris   Percussion,Vibraphone
The Jordanaires   Choir/Chorus
Jerry Reed Hubbard   Guitar,Vocals,Guitar (Electric)
Roy Edward Burris   Drums
Jimmy Collins   Guitar (Steel)
Millie Kirkham   Choir/Chorus
Melba Montgomery   Vocals
W.S. Holland   Drums
Anita Carter   Choir/Chorus
George W. McCormick   Guitar,Guitar (Rhythm)
Glenn Keener   Guitar
Mary E. Greene   Choir/Chorus
Dorothy Ann Dillard   Choir/Chorus
Joseph T. Babcock   Choir/Chorus
David Briggs   Piano
David William Allen   Drums
Cecil Bower   Violin
Bob Moore   Bass
Robert "Bobby Wayne" Edrington   Guitar
William Paul Ackerman   Drums
Roy Huskey Jr.   Bass
Roy Nichols   Guitar
Norbert Putnam   Bass
Ray Edenton   Guitar
Red Simpson   Guitar
Harald Rugg   Guitar (Steel)
Dolores Edgin   Choir/Chorus
Lillian Vann Hunt   Violin
Anita Kerr   Choir/Chorus
Buck Trent   Banjo
Willie Cantu   Drums
Zal Yanovsky   Guitar
Bobby Dyson   Bass
Carl Perkins   Guitar
Floyd Cramer   Piano
John Sebastian   Vocals,Guitar (Steel)
Hargus "Pig" Robbins   Piano
Luther Perkins   Guitar
Joe Zinkan   Bass (Acoustic)
Lloyd Green   Guitar (Steel)
Marshall Grant   Bass
Jerry Carrigan   Drums
Steve Boone   Bass
Brenton Banks   Violin
Louis Dean Nunley   Choir/Chorus
Fred Carter, Jr.   Guitar,Guitar (Electric)
Weldon Myrick   Dobro
Wayne Moss   Guitar,Guitar (Electric)
Mack Magaha   Fiddle
Priscilla Ann Hubbard   Choir/Chorus
Jelly Sanders   Guitar
Solie Isaac Fott   Violin
William Guilford Wright, Jr.   Choir/Chorus
Pete Drake   Guitar (Steel)

Technical Credits

Mel Tillis   Composer
Harold W. "Pappy" Daily   Producer
Thomas Grady Martin   Leader
Harold Ray Bradley   Leader
Fred Weatherly   Composer
Jack Clement   Composer,Producer
Jimmy Webb   Composer
Felton Jarvis   Producer
Fred Foster   Producer
Jerry Reed Hubbard   Leader,Composer
Jim Glaser   Composer
Richard Weize   Discographical Information
Marty Robbins   Composer
Jim Reeves   Leader
Buck Owens   Leader,Composer
George Hamilton IV   Leader
George W. McCormick   Leader
Juergen Crasser   Mastering
Billy Wheeler   Composer
Russ Wapensky   Discographical Information
Andreas Merck   Photo Scanning
R.A. Andreas   Photography,Illustrations
Don Tweedy   Arranger
Jim Ed Brown   Leader
Norbert Putnam   Leader
Merle Haggard   Leader,Composer
Owen Bradley   Producer
Red Simpson   Composer
Charles "Fuzzy" Owen   Producer
Cameron L. Mullins   String Arrangements
Hank Mills   Composer
Dale Davis   Composer
Al DeLory   Orchestra Contractor,Orchestral Arrangements
Glenn Sutton   Composer
Harlan Howard   Composer
Dale Noe   Composer
Margie Singleton   Composer
Wynn Stewart   Leader
Bob Ferguson   Producer
Carl Perkins   Leader
Erik Jacobsen   Producer
John Sebastian   Composer
Leon Ashley   Composer,Producer
Billy Sherrill   Composer,Producer
Leroy Goates   Composer
Sandra Seamons   Composer
Colin Escott   Liner Notes,Photography,Illustrations,Reissue Producer
Curly Putman   Composer
Teddy Wilburn   Composer
Bob Johnston   Producer
Bill Anderson   Composer
Bobbie Gentry   Composer
Ken Nelson   Producer
Paul Cohen   Producer
Vic McAlpin   Composer
Frank Jones   Producer
Don Law   Producer
Gaby Rodgers   Composer
Don Robertson   Composer
Gene Davis   Composer
Jan Crutchfield   Composer
John D. Loudermilk   Composer
John Hartford   Composer
Loretta Lynn   Composer
Chester B. Atkins   Producer
Otto Kitsinger   Discographical Information
Dick Jennings   Composer
Jimmy Haskell   Producer
Nat Stuckey   Composer
Kay Savage   Composer