A Compilation By Brian Page
I dig honky tonk songs about that place between diminished and extinguished capacity. I chose these because in general they’re less well-known, the music’s good, and they were made in my favorite period of 1960 to the late 1970s. And I have them on listenable 45s.
1. Booze And Wine
By: Ben “Queenie” Stewart and the Tune-Drifters
Note: On the Scarlo label from Elmhurst, Illinois.
2. One Too Many
By: Clay Allen
Note: “Guess I’d better drive, ’cause I’m too drunk to walk”
3. Dim Lights, Thick Smoke
By: Leon Rausch
Note: An update of the perennial Rose Lee & Joe Maphis song
4. Empty Bottle
By: Wade Jackson
5. Out Of Control
By: Lattie Moore
Note: Co-written and recorded by both Moore and George Jones
6. Blues Over Ice
By: Gene Crawford
7. Prayers Can’t Reach Me
By: Leon Ashley
Note: “grows numb with the wine”
8. Just Leave The Bottle
By: Dave Linkus
9. Searching Every Tavern
By: Gig Dry
10. Thanks To The Wine
By: Jerry Dunaway
Note: The song I will sing at my Academy Award acceptance speech.
11. The Stool Next To Me
By: Willie Samples
12. Bottle In My Hand
By:Earl Scott
13. Fools Come In Three Different Sizes
By: Bobby Buttram
14. The Bottle And Me
By: Ellis Kirk
15. More Booze
By: Teddy Vaughn
Note: A universal drinking-to-forget theme.
16. Til I See The Dawn
By: Pet Hasty
17. You Reach For The Bottle
By: Donna Fargo
Note: Before Fargo’s “Happiest Girl” pop stardom.
18. A Pretty Face And A Glass Of Wine
By: Dickie Mauldin
Note: The combination I’m looking for . . .
19. Drinking Up The Wine
By: Michael Brandon
20. Those Beer Drinkin’ Songs
By: Bob Zimmerman
Note: The folks at Bud should “print the words on labels so we all can sing along”
21. Two Beers To Go
By: Wendell Austin
Note: On the Wreck label and the flip to the great “L S D”!
22. Brewer’s Art
By: Lynn Echols
Note: “Friends that shook my hand now laugh at my hand shaking”
23. Drinking Again
By: Rusty Adams
24. Billy Beer Drinkin’ Fan
By: Rick Pilgreen
Note: Jimmy Carter’s brother’s beer had a fan?
25. Frost On The Glass
By: Jack Nelson
26. Here I Am Drunk Again
By: Becky Richard
Note: A femme version of the Clyde Beavers gem with added Cajun lyrics
27. Who Will Buy The Wine
By: Jimmy Griggs
Note: “Not long ago you held our baby’s bottle, but the one you’re holding now’s a different kind”
28. Brought On By The Wine
By: Vern Stovall
29. Changing Her Thinking
By: Johnny Dollar
30. Seat Belts On The Bar Stools
By: Russ Mann
Note: An invention whose time has come.
31. The Man They Sweep Up Off The Floor
By: Sunny Lee
Note: Used to sweep her off her feet.
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From the Beachwood jukebox to Obama Radio, we have the playlists you need to be a better citizen of the Rock and Roll Nation.
Posted on May 12, 2009