Gene Davis "My Kind Of World" (Toppa Records, 1964) (LP)
This is a strong album, packed with rootsy, earthy material and plenty of originals, giving some sense of what the Palomino's nightly jam sessions must have been like, back in the day. Includes tunes such as "Night Club Romeo," "I Think I'd Better Take You Home" and "That First Mistake" -- the songs "A Hundred Years From Now" and "When He Lets Her Forget" also came out as a single.
Gene Davis & The Star Routers "All Together" (Toppa Records, 1974) (LP)
(Produced by Gene Davis & Lee Carroll)
As detailed in the liner notes by LA country music deejay Larry Scott, Gene Davis branched out after his Palomino days, setting up shop in San Diego as owner of Gene's Lion's Gate restaurant, and also back home in Missouri as owner of a music venue called the Indian Foot Lake Resort, in Pevely, MO, just south of St. Louis. He was also heading the Star Routers as the house band at a San Diego club called the Alamo, just for good measure, and recorded this album there. Alas, the boys in the band, although pictured on the cover are not mentioned by name. Oh, well. But this album is notable for the wealth of original material: all but one of the songs are credited to Davis's own Jay-Gene publishing, and the remaining track, on Mixer Music, is probably original to this album as well.
Gene Davis "Lovin' And Hurtin' " (OL Records, 1982) (LP)
(Produced by James Burton & Randy Davis)
How or when Gene Davis got hooked up with Overton Lee's oddball, mega-DIY OL label, I have no idea... But I would hazard a guess that this is perhaps the best record they ever put out, particularly with the input from fabled superpicker James Burton, a longtime West Coast icon who anchored Elvis Presley's Vegas band and had more recently starred in the Emmylou Harris Hot Band. Also included are the Gentry Sisters backing vocalists... a lot of talent here!
Bo Davis (Crest Records, 1956-?) (#1027-Y/Z) (7")
A: "Let's Coast A While" (c: Bo Davis)
B: "Drownin' All My Sorrows (c: Bo Davis)
(Producer not identified)
Rugged, rockabilly-era twang from the Hollywood-based Crest label. According to Discogs, this was one of several aliases used by Gene Davis during his long career. (See the Links section below.)
Gene Davis (King Records, 1957-?) (#45-5052) (7")
A: "Sweet Victory" (c: Gene Davis)
B: "I Won't Tell Anybody But My Lord (c: Gene Davis)
(Producer not identified)
Gene Davis/Chuck & Gene (R-Dell Records, 1958-?) (#107) (7")
A: "Curfew" (c: Gene Davis)
B: "No Rockin' And Rollin' " (c: Gene Davis & Chuck Mills)
(Producer not identified)
A swell slab of teen-themed rock'n'roll novelty numbers, cut for the short-lived Ardell label... As far as I know, this was the only pairing of Davis and Wells billed as the "Chuck & Gene" duo.
Gene Davis (Challenge Records, 1960-?) (#45-474/476) (7")
A: "Facts Of Life" (c: Gene Davis)
B: "My Only Prayer" (c: Gene Davis)
(Producer not identified)
Gene Davis & His Star Routers (Toppa Records, 1964-?) (#45-1110) (7")
A: "When He Let's Her Forget" (c: Gene Davis)
B: "I Won't Care (A Hundred Years From Now)" (c: Gene Davis)
(Producer not identified)
Gene Davis (Liberty Records, 1964-?) (#55658) (7")
A: "I'll Tell Her Tomorrow" (c: Gene Davis)
B: "I'm In The Book (c: Gene Davis)
(Produced by Tommy Allsup)
Gene Davis & Harold L (Palomina Records, 1965-?) (#P-101) (7")
A: "I'm Stuck On You" (c: Harold Sliger)
B: "We Got Love (c: Gene Davis & Harold Sliger)
(Producer not identified)
Here we see Davis and his band backing Midwestern honkytonker Harold Sliger, who also cut at least one single as "Harold L. & The Offbeats," and later recorded an entire album of trucker tunes using his full name. The label name is obviously a nod towards Gene Davis's gig at the Palomino Club, and although this single gives an address in Peoria, Illinois, it looks as if Mr. Sliger may have tried his luck in LA: both songs were published by a California-based publishing company.
Gene Davis (Columbia Records, 1967-?) (#4-43994) (7")
A: "An Open Letter To Country Music DJs" (c: Gene Davis)
B: "Hobo Boy (c: Gene Davis)
(Produced by Ray Baker)
Gene Davis (Dee-Jay Records, 1971) (#DJ-1045-A/B) (7")
A: "I Need Help" (c: Gene Davis)
B: "I Gotta Finish That Dream (c: Gene Davis)
(Producer not identified)
The original release of this single came on a label based in Oklahoma City...
Gene Davis (Metro Country Records, 1972) (#MC-45D-2009) (7")
A: "I Need Help" (c: Gene Davis)
B: "I Gotta Finish That Dream (c: Gene Davis)
(Producer not identified)
This would appear to be the same single as above, re-licensed to Nashville-based Metro Country.
Gene Davis (Metro Country Records, 1972) (#MC-45D-2011) (7")
A: "Callin' On The Phone" (c: Gene Davis)
B: "The Spoiler (c: Gene Davis)
(Producer not identified)
Gene Davis (Artco Records, 1974) (#C-5006-L) (7")
A: "Letter To A Trucker's Wife" (c: Gene Davis)
B: "Haulin' Steel" (c: Gene Davis)
(Produced by Gene Davis)
Gene Davis (Artco Records, 1974) (#C-5010-L) (7")
A: "It's Alright" (c: Gene Davis)
B: "It's Alright" (c: Gene Davis)
(Produced by Tom Hartman)
Gene Davis & Loryn Tramill (Artco Records, 1974) (#C-5015-L) (7")
A: "If I Ever Forget" (c: Gene Davis & J. Davis)
B: "The Promise That I Made To Her, I'll Keep" (c: Gene Davis)
(Produced by Tom Hartman)
Gene Davis (Maverick Records, 1976) (#MVK-301-1/2) (7")
A: "Oh Those Texas Women" (c: Gene Davis)
B: "She Says It With Love" (c: Gene Davis)
(Produced by David Barnes & Gene Davis)
Gene Davis (Maverick Records, 1977) (#MVK-302-1/2) (7")
A: "Fiddle Rag" (c: Gene Davis)
B: "Two Pages Long" (c: Gene Davis)
(Produced by Randy Davis & Gene Davis)
Gene Davis & Shelly Townes (OL Records, 1982) (#OLR-45-103) (7")
A: "Let's Build Us A Heaven" (c: Gene Davis)
B: "Love Unfulfilled At Home" (c: Gene Davis)
(Produced by James Burton & Overton Lee)
Guitarist-singer Gene Albert Davis (1927-2000) was a true stalwart of the Southern California county-rock scene, cutting singles back in the 1950s while appearing on local TV programs such as Cal Worthington's popular show, Cal's Corral. Originally from Saint Louis, Missouri, Davis is probably best known as the early-to-mid 1960s bandleader at North Hollywood's fabled Palomino nightclub, where hot country pickers and talented sidemen such as James Burton, Jerry Cole, Sneaky Pete Kleinow, Jay Dee Maness, Johnny Meeks, Red Rhodes and many others cycled through the club's revolving door during the early heyday of LA's live rock scene. Davis's tenure at the Palomino came before the club shifted to a more rock-oriented focus, but there was certainly some crossover, and an awful lot of talent passed through his band. Here's a quick look at his work, including some of his singles...
Gene "Bo" Davis "Let's Coast Awhile" (Hydra Records, 2010) (CD)
