Dick Curless "A Tombstone Every Mile" (Bear Family Records, 1996)
A 7-CD box set...
Dick Curless "Hard, Hard Traveling Man" (Bear Family Records, 2000)
A 4-CD set...
Dick Curless "The Drag 'Em Off The Interstate, Sock It To 'Em Hits" (Razor & Tie Records, 1998)
Dick Curless "The Long Lonesome Road" (Omni Recordings, 2011)
Maine's rural crooner Dick Curless was one of the great regionally-based country stars of the 1950s and '60s... Initially his base of popularity was in New England, where he worked as a radio host and performer; in 1965 he broke through nationally with the somber novelty single, "A Tombstone Every Mile," one of the all-time great trucker tunes. Along with Dave Dudley and others, Curless rode the trucker-song fad, but also recorded heartsongs, cheating songs and gospel tunes... This disc is a much-welcome collection of classic material; as with other Omni albums it makes some unconventional choices along with the hits and favorites... Highly recommended!
Dick Curless "Songs Of The Open Country" (Tiffany Records, 1959) (LP)
Dick Curless "Singing Just For Fun" (Tiffany Records, 1961)
Dick Curless "I Love To Tell The Story" (Tiffany Records, 1962)
Dick Curless "Tombstone Every Mile" (Capitol/Tower Records, 1965)
A regional success up in New England, Maine's country croaker Dick Curless hit the Top 5 back in '65 with "Tombstone Every Mile," a classic tune that remains one of the best trucker songs ever recorded. Whether he really had what it takes to sustain a national career after that is debatable... As this album shows, he certainly had his limitations as a singer, and yet he also had a certain gravitas that could pull you in. On the sparser, more folk-oriented songs, he often ran out of juice, but with a good, solid, thumping backup behind him, he sounded pretty darn good. This disc is certainly worth checking out... and Curless's fans will be quite pleased to see this back in print as a reissue.
Dick Curless "Hymns" (Tower Records, 1965) (LP)
Dick Curless "The Soul Of Dick Curless" (Tower Records, 1966) (LP)
Dick Curless "Travelin' Man" (Tower Records, 1966) (LP)
Dick Curless "At Home With Dick Curless" (Tower Records, 1966) (LP)
Dick Curless & Kay Adams "A Devil Like Me Needs An Angel Like You" (Tower Records, 1966) (LP)
Dick Curless "All Of Me Belongs To You" (Tower Records, 1967) (LP)
Dick Curless "Ramblin' Country" (Tower Records, 1967) (LP)
Dick Curless "The Long Lonesome Road" (Tower Records, 1968) (LP)
Dick Curless "The Wild Side Of Town" (Tower Records, 1968)
Dick Curless "Hard, Hard Traveling Man" (Capitol Records, 1970) (LP)
Dick Curless "Doggin' It" (Capitol Records, 1971) (LP)
Dick Curless "Comin' On Country" (Capitol Records, 1971) (LP)
Dick Curless "Stonin' Around" (Capitol Records, 1972) (LP)
Dick Curless "Live At The Wheeling Truck Driver's Jamboree" (Capitol Records, 1973) (LP)
Dick Curless "The Last Blues Song" (Capitol Records, 1973) (LP)
Dick Curless "End Of The Road" (Hilltop Records, 1974) (LP)
Dick Curless "Traveling Through" (Rounder Records, 1995)
Dick Curless (1932-1995) was one of the great regionally-based country stars of the 1950s and '60s... Initially his base of popularity was in New England, where he worked as a radio host and performer; in 1965 he broke through as a national star with the somber smash hit, "A Tombstone Every Mile," one of the all-time great trucker tunes. Along with Dave Dudley and others, Curless rode the trucker-song fad, but also recorded heartsongs, cheating songs and gospel tunes... Health problems dogged him throughout his life, and often caused him to put his career on hold; nonetheless Curless is one of those artists with a very devoted fan base... Here's a quick look at his work...
