The Melody Boys
It's A Simple Little Town
year: ?If it isn't obvious, I purchased this because it was released by "Dixie Record Co., Baltimore, MD." I couldn't find anything about The Melody Boys (well, not
these "Melody Boys" anyway), Dixie Record Company (well, not the one in Baltimore, MD anyway), or songwriting credit "Nello McQuigg" (He or she is probably he only person named that ever, and yet Google yields nothing).
It's a scratchy sounding record, a boring ass song with some
Hawaiin Guitar and easy listening vocals. Zzz.
Why do I do this again? Well if someone searches for the Dixie Record Company in Baltimore and writes to me, it'll all be worth it.
Speaking of which, I forgot to mention that I received an email from
Tompall Glaser's cousin, Dennis Glaser, who had this to say:
"Actually, Harlan Howard is a co-writer on Baltimore. The legend is that TP had written a dozen verses, then appeared in Harlan's office one day, tossed it on his desk, and said, "Here, fix this." And Harlan did. He was the No. 1 writer in Nashville during that pivital time in Nashville when country music changed from studio-controlled slush to honest, individual expression.
I was told that the lyrics were used in a college textbook as an example of story-telling songs. But I do not have first-hand knowledge.
You might also add that I worked with Tompall and Waylon Jennings during the seminal years of country music change--the 70s--and since retiring, have authored a memoir, "A Geezer's Guide to the Universe," and am completing a second volume, "My Music City Memories," in which I recount some tales about people I met and things I experienced during that era."
Thanks dude!
Labels: baltimore
