People always ask me if I’ll ever do another installment of my “Report From The Country” series from a few years back. “More Connie Eaton,” they say. “More ‘Pass The Biscuits, Please.’” I guess I’ve been dragging my heels because the artist I want to honor is getting along in years, and I don’t want to jinx him right into the ground. But it’s almost criminal that Jim Ed Brown’s solo albums remain out of print, so I’ve decided to take my chances.
Despite lavish reissues devoted to his early work in The Browns with his sisters Bonnie & Maxine, and easy access to his duets with Helen Cornelius, Jim Ed Brown’s steady stream of solo albums from the late sixties and early seventies remains elusive to all but the most patient of Usenet users. One of two have shown up on the occasional share blog, but the majority are still out of reach.
The Browns were one of the first country artists to enjoy cross-over success, helping to define country music’s space in the mainstream. Hits like “Scarlet Ribbons,” The Old Lamplighter” and their smash folk-pop version of Edith Piaf’s “The Three Bells” were just as popular on college campuses as they were in Nashville. As a solo, Jim Ed Brown was a regular on the Grand Ole Opry, and even hosted his own syndicated television program for a few years. In 1967, his cheerful anthem to alcoholism, “Pop A Top,” became an instant classic.
After that, the hits were harder to come by. Unfortunately for Jim, he recorded for RCA-Victor and was often assigned to mainstay Elvis Presley producer, Felton Jarvis. Like Elvis, Jim’s records were suffused with the bland surface gloss that marks most of that label’s country fodder from the period. Just as they did with Elvis, RCA was content to churn out collection after faceless collection of commercial filler, overexposing the artist and bleeding his fans until the revenue stream dried up. But also like Elvis, Jim rose above the limitations of his output. The effect of Jim’s smooth control and sweet tone wedded to the wistful dark material provided for him produced unearthly performances of an odd ambivalence that sometimes borders on the surreal.
But don’t let my perverse assessment put you off these great records. The gems are plentiful and offer deep rewards. Even if all you ever hear is “Sunday In The Country,” “Barroom Pals and Good Time Gals,” or the essential “Ginger Is Gentle And Waiting For Me,” you’ll be better prepared to face the world. But if you want to mainline a full-on Jim Ed Brown overdose, you’ve found the right place.
(thanks to the LP Discography site for the cover scans.)
Hey Derrick,
Your blog is great, unique among a sea of similarity.
I’m sure you get these kinda emails all the time, but let me say my piece.
I’m a HUGE meat puppets fan, its just too bad that I got turned on to them too late (late 90s) by a random checkout at my local library of the masterpiece “forbidden places”.
I know you have your reasons for leaving the pups, but I consider it a crime against humanity that a drummer with the talent of Bonham and Frank Beard’s love child to check out of the music industry.
But life is short so I guess you gotta follow your own path, a path with heart.
OK I’m wandering…..its just that the new Puppets drummer lacks dynamics, and I dont hear the unified organic, otherworldly grooves of the puppets in the 90s.
If the world were a rational place, you 3 would be jamming with the Allman Bros or Neil Young next weekend at the Rock n roll hall of fame, announcing a new tour.
OK I’ll shut up now, thanks for the music !
More reports from the country? You wouldn’t be tryin’ to put the shuck on me now would you Bostie?
I learned two new things here. Well, three things if you count what I learned about Jim Ed Brown.
(1) lpdiscography.com is a very cool site.
(2) The Clash’s “Londing Calling” cover is an homage to Elvis Presley’s 1956 RCA self-titled album cover.
Thanks Derrick.
And, damn! Wouldn’t you know it. Immediately after making my post I went to Wikipedia to read a bit more about the cover to “London Calling” and, guess what, there is the cover to Elvis’s album! Damn! I thought I had done some real research here.
Good work all the same, Matt!
Hi guys, and thank you all.
Petr, producer and master of the LP Discography sites.
Evening and Brown is Blue are both linked to other albums. I just had the time to finally review them. An early stand out for me is She’s Leaving with the auld ang sign overlay.
Thanks again!
Thanks, Sander. The links are fixed now.
So, I found some postings of Jim Ed Brown music on you tube. I listened to “Indian Love Call” and realized that this song was parodied in an old cartoon from my youth and I never have forgotten the melody. Thanks, Bos
I believe it was actually Slim Whitman who had the hit with “Indian Love Call.”
Derrick, new post please! Got nothing to do at work!!
Consider yourself lucky. Where I work, Bostworld is Websensed.
Ouch!
Hey Derrick,
Lots of great stuff on this site. I just recently rediscovered it after downloading and loving the ‘Sock it to me country style’ compilation a couple of years ago. Are the other ‘reports from the country’ online anywhere? The links here are dead and I’ve searched a few other sites but no joy!
Thanks for all the effort you put into these, they look great.
Shane
Thanks Shane –
Sadly, I’m not likely to repost any of these files.
That’s a pity…