Various Memphis Rockabilly, Hillbilly & Honky Tonkers Vol.6 (CD)

(Stomper Time Records) 40 tracks, incl. 20-page booklet!

A generous 40 tracks from the repertoire of Gene Williams' West Memphis-based Cotton Town Jubilee Record Company. One of the last Memphis labels to release a proper reissue, Cotton Town Jubilee released a great range of R'n'R, rockabilly and hillbilly from 1962 until its closure in 1971. The 20-page booklet contains rare photos and a complete discography!
In the grand scheme of music history, the name Gene Williams may not mean much to many people, but it is fair to say that this man from Dyess, Arkansas, and former neighbor of Johnny Cash, certainly has a story to tell. Determined to make it in show business, Gene literally talked his way into a radio show at KWAM in Memphis in 1957. His work as a DJ lit up the airwaves, the show was extended and he also became sales manager of the station. Always ambitious, in January 1962 Gene hosted the “Cotton Town Jubilee”, a live radio show that aired every Saturday night on KWAM, which led him to found the Cotton Town Jubilee Record Company later that year and start with the excellent Sonny Williams, his first artist.
The CTJ radio show featured various singers and musicians who became regulars on the show and recorded a large number of singles for the label. However, there were exceptions, including Jay Chevalier from Louisiana, who became known for his political songs and a song about the well-known footballer Billy Cannon. Jay was with CTJ for two years, producing singles and an LP. He still works today. Another radio and record star from Memphis was Slim Rhodes, who began broadcasting his family band in the 1930s. Slim's greatest claim to fame today is that he recorded a series of strong sides for Sam Phillips at Sun, which are highly sought after in today's world of Sun Records collectors. In 1963, Slim recorded a “live” LP at the studio for CTJ, three of the hottest tracks of which are included here.
While the radio show was flourishing, Gene started his long-running “Country junction TV Show”, which had the same line-up as the radio show, but with a few more guest stars of the time such as Merle Haggard and Ray Price. In 1968, the big screen lured Gene and several members of his show were featured in “The Sound of Country Music” with Marty Robbins, Faron Young, Webb Pierce and Ray Price. In 1969, Gene financed his own film, Country Music Jamboree, which featured only the singers and musicians at the anniversary celebration. A soundtrack LP was released, but Gene had already decided to shut down Cotton Town Jubilee Records because there were no hits and only local sales were generated. This CD features 40 of the best recordings made for the label. There is a taste of rock and roll, rockabilly, hillbilly, honky tonk and a spectacular 1.20” long bluegrass track. I believe only three of these tracks have been released in the UK before, so this CD is a breath of fresh air for the music market, albeit a long way from Arkansas.
DAVE TRAVIS - Stomper Time Records