Bob Luman "Bob Rocks!" (Bear Family Records, 2008)
Bob Luman "Classic Country" (Scimitar Entertainment, 1998)
This disc seems to be the only single CD collection of his work, spanning from his first hit, the bouncy, cheerfully anti-tragedy "Let's Think About Living" to later countrypolitan weepers such as "Neither One of Us (Wants to Be the First to Say Goodbye)" and "Lonely Women (Make Good Lovers." If you can track this down, it's highly recommended.
Bob Luman "Let's Think About Living: 1955-1967" (Bear Family Records, 2006)
This 4-CD set covers Luman's rockabilly years, and his migration into the slower-paced world of honkytonk crooning... Cool stuff, though probably more of interest to rockabilly fans and completists.
Bob Luman "Ten Years: 1968-1977" (Bear Family Records, 2000)
Hmm. It says that this 5-CD set covers Luman's last ten years of work, but it seems to include a bunch of his earlier songs as well. Re-recordings, perhaps? Well, at any rate, it's a much-welcome look back at this sorely underrated honkytonk crooner. If I get the chance to pick this set up and suss it all out, I'll be sure to let you know.
Bob Luman "The Great Snowman: 1959-1963" (Canetoad Records, 2002)
Bob Luman "Red Hot: 1956-1957" (El Toro Records, 2008)
Bob Luman "Bob Luman Rocks: His 1950s Recordings" (Sparkletone Records)
Bob Luman "Loretta" (Sundown Records, 2000)
Bob Luman "Rockabilly Classics" (Rockabilly Records, 2009)
Bob Luman "Let's Think About Living -- The Best Of Bob Luman" (Smith & Co., 2007)
Bob Luman "...At Town Hall Party" (Bear Family Records, 2003) (DVD)
Original Albums
Bob Luman "Let's Think About Livin' " (Warner Brothers, 1960) (LP)
Bob Luman "Livin' Lovin' Sounds" (Hickory Records, 1965) (LP)
Bob Luman "Ain't Got Time To Be Unhappy" (Epic Records, 1968) (LP)
Bob Luman "Come On Home And Sing The Blues To Daddy" (Epic Records, 1969) (LP)
Bob Luman "Gettin' Back To Norma" (Epic Records, 1970) (LP)
Bob Luman "Is It Any Wonder That I Love You" (Epic Records, 1971) (LP)
Bob Luman "Chain Don't Take To Me" (Epic Records, 1971) (LP)
Bob Luman "When You Say Love" (Epic Records, 1972) (LP)
Bob Luman "Lonely Women Make Good Lovers" (Epic Records, 1972) (LP)
Bob Luman "Neither One Of Us" (Epic Records, 1973) (LP)
Bob Luman "Still Loving You" (MGM-Hickory Records, 1974) (LP)
Bob Luman "Red Cadillac And Black Moustache" (Epic Records, 1974) (LP)
Bob Luman "A Satisfied Mind" (Epic Records, 1976) (LP)
Bob Luman "Alive And Well" (Epic Records, 1977) (LP)
Bob Luman "Bob Luman" (Polydor Records, 1978) (LP)
Bob Luman "Bob Luman's Greatest Hits" (Epic Records, 1974) (LP)
Links
Hick Music Index
I admit, I came to appreciate Bob Luman (1937-1978) fairly late in the game. I was dimly aware of his roots as a rockabilly second-stringer, and always figured his later work on Epic was sort of a sad, last-ditch effort. But finally, one day I spotted a bunch of his old '60s/'70s LPs at the right price, picked them up, and was (of course) totally won over. Luman was a hard country crooner, more rugged than old-timers like Jim Reeves or Eddy Arnold, but not quite as hard-edged as Johnny Cash or Buck Owens. Perhaps not surprisingly, Luman, who died in the 1970s, shared a lot in common stylistically with Conway Twitty and Charlie Rich, also former rockers who fell under the sway of the slick Nashville studio scene, but managed to retain some vigor and individuality in their work. Luman mainly sang love songs, often with a steamy, Twittyesque afternoon-delight edge to them. Here's a quick look at his career...