The Honky Tonk Years (1950-1966)

by Ray Price, Ray Price & the Cherokee Cowboys

Overview

The Honky Tonk Years (1950-1966) is an accurate title for this mammoth ten-disc set. Tracing Ray Price's career through his heyday in the '50s and stopping in the late '60s, just as he abandoned honky tonk for country-pop, the set documents one of the finest singers and bandleaders in country music. During this era, Price had a long, impressive string of Top Ten singles -- including "Don't Let the Stars Get in Your Eyes," "I'll Be There (If You Ever Want Me)," "My Shoes Keep Walking Back to You," "City Lights," and the massive hit "Crazy Arms" -- and led a band that featured, at various times, such musicians as Willie Nelson, Johnny Paycheck, and Roger Miller. Price and his band were talented enough to make weak material, which helps make this exhaustive set interesting; after all, there's bound to be a few lesser cuts in a box that runs over 260 tracks. Though the strict chronological session order is occasionally tedious, the quality of the music far outweighs the flaws in presentation. For serious listeners and musicologists, The Honky Tonk Years is an essential purchase, since it offers a complete picture of one of the biggest figures in country music. Neophytes and casual listeners, however, are advised to stick with the single-disc collection The Essential Ray Price, simply because it is far easier to digest. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine

Product Details

Release Date:	12/12/1995
Label:	Bear Family Records
UPC:	4000127158437
Rank:	85770

Tracks

Disc 1

1. Jealous Lies
2. Your Wedding Corsage
3. If You're Ever Lonely Darling
4. I Saw My Castles Fall Today
5. You've Got My Troubles Now
6. I Get the Short End Every Time
7. Hey La La
8. The Answer to "The Last Letter"
9. Till Death Do Us Part
10. Beyond the Last Mile
11. Heartaching Blues
12. Weary Blues from Waitin'
13. I Made a Mistake and I'm Sorry
14. We Crossed Our Heart
15. Your Heart Is Too Crowded
16. I Lost the Only Love I Knew
17. I've Got to Hurry, Hurry, Hurry
18. Talk to Your Heart
19. I Know I'll Never Win Your Love Again
20. The Road of No Return
21. You're Under Arrest (For Stealing My Heart)
22. Move on in and Stay
23. I Can't Escape from You
24. Won't You Please Be Mine
25. Don't Let the Stars Get in Your Eyes
26. My Old Scrapbook

Disc 2

27. The Price for Loving You
28. That's What I Get for Loving You
29. Cold Shoulder
30. You Weren't Ashamed to Kiss Me Last Night
31. The Wrong Side of Town
32. Time
33. Start the Music
34. Gone Again
35. The Way You've Treated Me
36. Time
37. The Wrong Side of Town
38. Who Stole That Train
39. Let Your Heart Decide
40. You Always Get By
41. Leave Her Alone
42. The Wall Around Your Heart
43. Release Me
44. I'll Be There (If You Ever Want Me)
45. The Last Letter
46. Much Too Young to Die
47. I Love You So Much, I Let You Go
48. I Could Love You More
49. What If He Don't Love You (Like I Do)
50. If You Don't, Somebody Else Will
51. I'm Alone Because I Love You
52. Oh Yes, Darling
53. One Borken Heart (Don't Mean a Thing)

Disc 3

54. Sweet Little Miss Blue Eyes
55. The Way She Got Away
56. Let Me Talk to You
57. Call the Lord and He'll Be There
58. A Man Called Peter
59. As Strange as It Seems (I Still Love You)
60. I Can't Go Home Like This
61. Don't You Know Me Any More
62. I Don't Want It on My Conscience
63. Run Boy
64. You Will Never Be True
65. Don't Tempt Me
66. Slowly Dying
67. Crazy Arms
68. You Done Me Wrong
69. Wild and Wicked World
70. Crazy
71. Are You Wasting My Time
72. Fallin', Fallin', Fallin'
73. Wasted Words
74. Fallin', Fallin', Fallin'
75. Wasted Words
76. I've Got a New Heartache
77. Don't Do This to Me

Disc 4

78. Letters Have No Arms
79. I'll Sail My Ship Alone
80. A Mansion on the Hill
81. I Can't Help It (If I'm Still in Love With You)
82. Remember Me (I'm the One Who Loves You)
83. I Saw My Castles Fall Today
84. Let Me Talk to You
85. Please Don't Leave Me
86. Blues Stay Away from Me
87. Pins and Needles (In My Heart)
88. I Love You Because
89. Many Tears Ago
90. I'll Be There (When You Get Lonely)
91. It's All Your Fault
92. My Shoes Keep Walking Back to You
93. Faded Love
94. Gone
95. Bye Bye Love
96. Four Walls
97. A Fallen Star
98. It's All Your Fault
99. My Shoes Keep Walking Back to You
100. Don't Do This to Me
101. Wall of Tears
102. Curtain in the Window
103. Talk to Your Conscience

Disc 5

104. There'll Be No Teardrops Tonight
105. Driftwood on the River
106. Deep Water
107. I'll Keep on Loving You
108. I Love You So Much It Hurts
109. I Told You So
110. Ice Cold Heart
111. I've Got to Have My Baby Back
112. Please Don't Leave Me
113. Talk to Your Heart
114. I'm Tired
115. Wondering
116. Walking the Floor over You
117. Invitation to the Blues
118. I've Got to Know
119. Heartaches Must Be Your Name
120. City Lights
121. Kissing Your Picture (Is So Cold)
122. That's What It's Like to Be Lonesome
123. Punish Me Tomorrow
124. Heartaches by the Number
125. Wild and Wicked World
126. Beyond the Last Mile
127. The Same Old Me
128. Under Your Spell Again
129. Broken Hearts Will Haunt Your Soul
130. One More Time
131. Who'll Be the First
132. City Lights

Disc 6

133. The Old Rugged Cross
134. In the Garden
135. How Big Is God?
136. Until Then
137. Help Though My Unbelief
138. When I Take My Vacation in Heaven
139. Faith
140. Rock of Ages
141. Softly and Tenderly
142. When the Roll Is Called up Yonder
143. Just as I Am
144. Where He Leads Me (I Will Follow)
145. Now the Day Is Over
146. I Can't Run Away from Myself
147. I Wish I Could Fall in Love Today
148. Heart Over Mind
149. The Twenty-Fourth Hour
150. I'm Walkin' Slow (And Thinking 'Bout Her)
151. Soft Rain
152. Here We Are Again
153. You're Stronger Than Me
154. This Cold War With You
155. Soft Rain
156. Imagination's a Wonderful Thing
157. I'm Walkin' Slow (And Thinking 'Bout Her)
158. Soft Rain

Disc 7

159. Intro/San Antonio Rose
160. A Maiden's Prayer
161. My Confession
162. Whose Heart Are You Breaking Now?
163. Roly Poly
164. Bubbles in My Beer
165. Home in San Antone
166. You Don't Love Me (But I'll Always Care)
167. You Don't Care What Happens to Me
168. Time Changes Everything
169. The Kind of Love I Can't Forget
170. Hang Your Head in Shame/Outro
171. Intro/Night Life
172. Lonely Street
173. The Wild Side of Life
174. Sittin' and Thinkin'
175. A Girl in the Night
176. There's No Fool Like a Young Fool
177. If She Could See Me Now
178. Bright Lights and Blonde Haired Women
179. Are You Sure?
180. Let Me Talk to You
181. This Cold War With You
182. I've Just Destroyed the World (I'm Living In)
183. I'm Walkin' Slow (And Thinking 'Bout Her)
184. Pride

Disc 8

185. Big Shoes
186. Walk Me to the Door
187. You Took Her Off My Hands (Now Take Her Off My Mind)
188. Be a Good Girl
189. Make the World Go Away
190. I'll Find a Way (To Free Myself from You)
191. Make the World Go Away
192. Let Me Talk to You
193. I'll Find a Way (To Free Myself from You)
194. I've Still Got Room (For One More Heartache)
195. That's All That Matters
196. Burning Memories
197. Each Time
198. A Way to Free Myself
199. How Long Is Forever
200. This Cold War With You
201. Take Me as I Am (Or Let Me Go)
202. All Right (I'll Sign the Papers)
203. I Fall to Pieces
204. Please Talk to My Heart
205. Cold, Cold Heart
206. Still
207. I Don't Know Why I Just Do
208. Same Old Memories
209. Here Comes My Baby Back Again
210. Together Again
211. A Thing Called Sadness
212. Soft Rain
213. Release Me

Disc 9

214. Devil's Dream
215. Linda Lou
216. Crazy Arms
217. Lil' Liza Jane
218. Rubber Dolly
219. Burnt Fingers
220. Twinkle Twinkle Little Star
221. Maiden's Prayer
222. Your Old Love Letters
223. Spanish Two Step
224. Liberty Bells
225. Sing a Sad Song
226. The Other Woman (In My Life)
227. Tearful Earful
228. The Last Letter
229. Born to Lose
230. Just Call Me Lonesome
231. Don't You Ever Get Tired (Of Hurting Me)
232. Funny How Time Slips Away
233. Rose Colored Glasses
234. Unloved, Unwanted
235. An Eye for an Eye
236. Too Much Love Is Spoiling You
237. After Effects (From Loving You)
238. Let Me Talk to You
239. I'm Not Crazy Yet
240. A Way to Survive

Disc 10

241. Another Bridge to Burn
242. A Legend in My Time
243. Take These Chains from My Heart
244. Don't Touch Me
245. Go Away
246. I'd Fight the World
247. I Want to Hear It from You
248. It Should Be Easier Now
249. Don't You Believe Her
250. Healing Hands of Time
251. Too Late
252. Each Time
253. Touch My Heart
254. There Goes My Everything
255. It's Only Love
256. You Took My Happy Away
257. I Lie a Lot
258. Enough to Lie
259. Swinging Doors
260. Am I That Easy to Forget
261. The Same Two Lips
262. Just for the Record
263. Touch My Heart
264. I'm Still Not over You
265. I Let My Mind Wander
266. Danny Boy

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Ray Price & the Cherokee Cowboys   Primary Artist
Ray Price   Primary Artist,Guitar,Vocals
Cherokee Cowboys   Primary Artist
Harold Carmack   Piano
Jimmy Dennis   Drums
Stephen F. Bess   Drums
Howard Watts   Bass
Bob Moore   Bass
T. Tommy Cutrer   Drums
E.A. "Highpockets" Busse   Accordion
Buddy Griffin   Guitar,Vocals,Guitar (Rhythm)
Lightnin' Chance   Bass
Douglas Kirkham   Drums
Darrell McCall & Johnny Bush   Guitar (Rhythm)
Jack Pruett   Guitar
William Paul Ackerman   Drums
Marvin H. Hughes   Piano
Herman Wade   Guitar
William Whitney Pursell   Piano
Jimmy Rollins   Guitar
Gene Gasaway   Fiddle
Martin Kathan   Violin
"Papa" John Gordy   Piano
Francis Keith Coleman   Fiddle
Robert E. Preston   Drums
Len "Snuffy" Miller   Drums
Vernal E. Richardson   Violin
Roby I. Story   Violin
W.O. Collins   Viola
Kenneth Carlisle   Bass
Milburn Winston "Bernie" Annett   Piano
Sherman Collins   Guitar,Guitar (Rhythm)
Jerry Glenn Kennedy   Guitar
Loren Otis Shook   Guitar
James "Jim" Biggar   Guitar (Steel)
Eddie Martin   Guitar (Steel)
Grady Martin   Guitar,Guitar (Nylon String)
Rusty Gabbard   Guitar
Walter Haynes   Guitar
Hargus "Pig" Robbins   Piano
Johnny Gimble   Fiddle
Jerry Rivers   Fiddle
Jack Shook   Guitar
Hank Cochran   Guitar
Thomas Lee Jackson Jr.   Fiddle
Howard Carpenter   Violin
Wilda Tinsley   Violin
Velma E. Williams Smith   Guitar
Solie Fott   Violin
Lillian Vannhunt   Violin
Ernest Ernie Newton   Bass
James "Jimmie" Selph   Guitar
Johnnie Manson   Fiddle
Jim Belken   Fiddle
Jan Kurtis Skugstad   Drums
Don Poole   Bass
Art Bishop   Guitar
Jack Evins   Guitar (Steel)
Pete Burke, Jr.   Bass
Buddy Emmons   Guitar (Steel)
Buddy Spicher   Fiddle
George Binkley III   Violin
Harold Bradley   Bass,Guitar
Chet Atkins   Guitar (Electric)
Willie Nelson   Guitar
Thomas Williams   Fiddle,Guitar
Buddy Harman   Drums
Buddy Killen   Bass
Gordon Stoker   Piano
Hank Garland   Guitar
Gordon Terry   Fiddle
Dale Potter   Fiddle
Benny Martin   Fiddle,Guitar
Floyd Cramer   Piano
Wayne Moss   Guitar
Eddie Duncan   Bass
Farris Coursey   Drums
Joe Zinkan   Bass,Bass (Acoustic)
Leon Rhodes   Guitar
Cecil Brower   Fiddle
Jimmy Day   Guitar (Steel)
Pete Drake   Guitar (Steel)
Ray Edenton   Guitar,Guitar (Rhythm)
Owen Bradley   Piano
Grover Lavender   Fiddle
Farrell Morris   Percussion,Vibraphone,Vocals (Background)
James Day   Guitar (Steel)
Roger Miller   Guitar
Earl Scruggs   Banjo
Charlie Harris   Guitar
Wade Ray   Fiddle
Johnny Bond   Guitar
Paul Buskirk   Mandolin
Byron Bach   Cello,Violin
Brenton Banks   Violin

Technical Credits

Darrell McCall & Johnny Bush   Photography,Illustrations
Rich Kienzle   Discography,Biographical Information
Richard Weize   Discography,Tape Research,Reissue Producer
Van Howard   Composer
Wayne Stewart   Composer
R.A. Andreas   Artwork,Photography,Illustrations
Geraldine Hamilton   Composer
Frank Davis   Composer
Dave Burgess   Composer
Seal   Composer
Ray King   Composer
Carl Stutz   Composer
Herman Wade   Artwork,Photography,Illustrations
Merle "Red" Taylor   Composer
Gerd Weiler   Artwork
Lars Lundgren   Artwork,Photography,Illustrations
Robert Yount   Composer
Dub Williams   Composer
Charlotte Elliot   Composer
Herb Wiener   Composer
Eddie Skelton   Composer
Sid Kessel   Composer
S. Nelson   Composer
Louise Ulrich   Composer
Frederick Edward Weatherly   Composer
Marvin Moore   Composer
Eddie Miller   Composer,Composer
Don Rollins   Composer
Grady Martin   Leader
Glenn Gould   Composer
Charlie Louvin   Composer
Joe Werner   Composer
Rusty Gabbard   Composer
Lili Fest   Composer
Sandy Richards   Composer
Peter Hammill   Composer
Johnny Bush   Composer
Johnny Paycheck   Composer
Wayne Raney   Composer
Marty Robbins   Composer
Raymond Jackson   Composer
Arlie Carter   Composer
Tommy Duncan   Composer
Buck Owens   Composer
George Jones   Composer
Hank Thompson   Composer
Hank Cochran   Composer
Dallas Frazier   Composer
Henry Glover   Composer
William Warren   Composer
Will L. Thompson   Composer
Jimmy Beck   Producer
Johnny "Country" Mathis   Composer
Jim Fields   Composer
Sylke Holtrop   Artwork
William B. Bradbury   Composer
Donald D. Davis   Composer
Bud Deckelman   Composer
Lou Wayne   Composer
E. Nelson   Composer
R.E. Winsett   Composer
Dugg Collins   Composer
James Joiner   Composer
James Black   Composer
Kenny Sowder   Composer
Leon Payne   Composer
Moneen Carpenter   Composer
Morry Burns   Composer
Todd Cerney   Composer
Bradley Ulrich   Composer
Duncan Cowell   Mastering
Hank Williams   Composer
Hank Mills   Composer
Herbert Buffum   Composer
Stuart Hamblen   Composer
Anita Cochran   Composer
Billy West   Composer
Irene Stanton   Composer
Willie Nelson   Composer
Moon Mullican   Composer
Arbie Gibson   Composer
Tompall Glaser   Composer
Tommy Jackson   Composer
Joseph Barnby   Composer
Stu Davis   Composer
Buddy Killen   Composer
Bud Powell   Composer
George Campbell   Composer
Harlan Howard   Composer
Helen Carter   Composer
Darrell McCall   Artwork,Photography
Henry Bernard   Composer
Henry Thurston   Composer
Danny Dill   Composer
John Scofield   Composer
Wynn Stewart   Composer
Bob Alan   Composer
Bob Jones   Dubs,Mastering
Bobby Emmons   Composer
Billy Jack Wills   Composer
J.D. Miller   Composer
Jimmie Davis   Composer
Conway Twitty   Composer
Felice Bryant   Composer
Benny Martin   Composer
Don Helms   Composer
Ekko Whelan   Composer
Gregg Allman   Composer
Floyd Jenkins   Composer
Johnnie Lee Wills   Composer
Ernest Tubb   Composer
Charles Tobias   Composer
Joe Young   Composer
M. Christian   Composer
Jay Johnson   Composer
Homer Banks   Composer
Jeff Tyzik   Composer
John Klenner   Composer
Jeannie Seely   Composer
Wayne Walker   Composer
Dick Glasser   Composer
Marie Wilson   Composer
Hy Heath   Composer
Hugh Banton   Composer
Huddie Ledbetter   Composer
Lois Mann   Composer
Jim Howell   Composer
Jimmy Key   Composer
Saul Roche   Composer
Justin Tubb   Composer
Nat Stuckey   Composer
Nancy Montgomery   Composer
Rabon Delmore   Composer
Jenny Carson   Composer
Vernon Claud   Composer
Nellie Wallace   Composer
Ralph Mooney   Composer
Jesse Ashlock   Composer
Mark Wilder   Dubs,Mixing
Jerry Organ   Composer
Ray Kennedy   Composer
Roy Rogers   Composer
Richard Thompson   Composer
Marvin J. Moore   Composer
Rex Griffin   Composer
Vern Stovall   Composer
Mel Tillis   Composer
Ray Price   Leader,Arranger,Composer
Merle Haggard   Composer
Merrial   Composer
Red Murrell   Composer
Red Bailey   Composer
Betty Sue Perry   Composer
Bob Foster   Composer
Autry Inman   Composer
Baker Knight   Composer
Bobby Bare   Composer
Bob Miller   Composer
Bob Wills   Composer
Jimmy Lee Fautheree   Composer
Bobby George   Composer
Charlie Walker   Composer
Boudleaux Bryant   Composer
Chet Atkins   Composer
Ira Louvin   Composer
Chuck Howard   Composer
Chris Youlden   Composer
Jimmy Wakely   Composer
Chuck Rogers   Composer
Chuck Seals   Composer
Cindy Walker   Composer
Lance Guynes   Composer
Jackie DeShannon   Composer
Joe Hayes   Composer
Fats Domino   Composer
Joe Allison   Composer
Eddie Kirk   Composer
Roger Miller   Composer
Donny Young   Composer
F. Jenkins   Composer
Dusty Rhodes   Composer
Carl Smith   Composer
Frankie Brown   Composer
George Bennard   Composer
Frank Jones   Producer
Carl Belew   Composer
Fred Rose   Composer
Fred Carter, Jr.   Composer
Don Law   Producer
Charlie Rich   Composer
Alton Delmore   Composer
Don Gibson   Composer
Fuzzy Owen   Composer
Lee Ross   Composer
Dottie West   Composer
Lefty Frizzell   Composer
Floyd Tillman   Composer
W.S. Stevenson   Composer
Ted Daffan   Composer
Webb Pierce   Composer
Johnny Bond   Composer
Stan Munsey   Composer
Traditional   Composer
Shirley Jones   Composer
Skeets McDonald   Composer
Slim Willet   Composer
Smokey Rogers   Composer
Shorty Long   Composer
Benny Thomasson   Composer
Bill Anderson   Composer
Aubrey Mayhew   Composer