Crackerjim Stafford "Welcome To Maddox Country" (Southern Mother Records, 1968) (LP)
Stafford's first album was an uber-indie souvenir of his early years working the comedy circuit under the stage name Crackerjim Stafford. Released on a label in College Park, Georgia, the record was half spoken-word standup, with the second side devoted to novelty songs, all of which were presumably composed by Stafford himself (though there are no composer credits). The album title was a reference to Southern segregationist Lester Maddox, who Stafford briefly pokes at on the back cover as well. Though most of the songs were basic, dopey hillbilly humor, the set also includes a topical number, "I'm A Hippie," and closes with "The Perfect Song,"
Jim Stafford "Jim Stafford" (Sharyn-Shag Records, 1971) (LP)
Another live souvenir album from Stafford's early career, recorded live at a Sarasota, Florida nightclub called The Elbow Room in February, 1971... Less ambitious perhaps than his first LP, or at least with less original material, this looks like more of a picker's album, kicking off with a guitar medley, along with versions of "Cripple Creek," "Malaguena" and a tune called "Old Banjo." The comedic material includes covers of Johnny Cash's "Boy Named Sue" and the Hank Snow oldie "I've Been Everywhere," as well as the routine "Welcome To Florida," which may have been written by Stafford himself. Back in the old days I used to see copies of this floating around in the Record Hut quarter bins, but I assumed it was a bootleg best-of, and not a private-press rarity. Ooops. Oh, well.
Jim Stafford "Jim Stafford" (MGM Records, 1974) (LP)
(Produced by Lobo, Phil Gernhard, Michael Lietz & Tony Scotti)
This was Stafford's commercial peak, a ubiquitous quarter-bin album which showcases some fo his best work... There is, of course, the hit single, "Spiders And Snakes," an unstoppably catchy novelty number which was all over the radio in the summer of '74, and propelled Jim Stafford into the entertainment industry's A-list for the next couple of years. The set also includes his version of "Swamp Witch," which had been a minor hit the previous year, as well as another novelty number, "I Ain't Sharin' Sharon," which was a holdover from his first album, where it was called "I Ain't Sharin' Karen." Jim Stafford is the album's utility player, performing on banjo, guitar and harmonica, while the studio crew was a mix of pop and country studio musicians, includng twangsters such as guitarist Richard Bennett and bassist Emory Gordy, who both later worked closely with Emmylou Harris... Also of note is the producer's credit for pop star Lobo (aka Kent LaVoie) who was Stafford's old buddy from Florida: they were once in a high school garage band called The Legends, along with future hit songwriter Bobby Braddock and alt-twang pioneer Gram Parsons(!). I don't think The Legends cut any records or demo tapes, but it sure would be cool if they had!
Jim Stafford "Not Just Another Pretty Foot" (MGM Records, 1975) (LP)
(Produced by Lobo, Phil Gernhard, Michael Lietz & Tony Scotti)
This was, alas, Jim Stafford's commercial swan song, recorded on the heels of his massive national success, yet a flop that failed to elevate him out of the comedy/novelty number niche market. A lot of the same pickers and production team, including repeat performances from Richard Bennett and Emory Gordy, although the label brought in several slick, big-name session players such as guitarists Larry Carlton and Lee Ritenour, as well as keyboardists Michael Omartian and Marty Paich's son, David Paich. Of note to country fans will be the backing vocals by fellow Floridans David Bellamy and Howard Bellamy, who were just on the cusp of breaking through with their 1976 debut as The Bellamy Brothers. This disc features a lot of comedy material, including several tracks that tapped into the druggie vibe of the times, such as "Midnight Snack," "Making Love With The Headphones On," and "I Got Stoned And I Missed It." It's possible that if Stafford had leaned into his musical side rather than keeping in the comedy lane that his 'Seventies successes might have been prolonged, but as it was, there was about a twenty year gap between this album and the next, so make of that what you will.
Jim Stafford "Live!" (1991-?)
One of Stafford's first souvenir albums released after opening the Jim Stafford Theatre, in Branson, Missouri. This live set touches on several of his old hits -- "My Girl Bill," "Swamp Witch" and of course, "Spiders And Snakes," as well as crowd pleasers such as Mason Williams' "Classical Gas." There's no date on the artwork, but based on the numbering system used on his other indie albums, I'm fairly confident that this one -- #CD-9104 -- came out in 1991. Possibly this was a cassette-only release, but don't quote me on that.
Jim Stafford "New Deal" (Strats Publishing, 1993)
(Produced by Rodney Dillard & Hank Tilbury)
Here Stafford teams up with bluegrass legend and Ozarkian hometown hero Rodney Dillard, who had returned to Missouri and found work in the mini-opry ecology many years earlier, notably with a long residency at the Silver Dollar City amusement park. This set was recorded in Branson at the Carvell Studios, though alas I couldn't find any information about the backing band. It's worth commenting here on Stafford's continuation of the long tradition of Ozark "oprys" releasing souvenir albums for their audiences to buy and bring home... and while The Jim Stafford Theater was a relatively late entry into the field, it soon became a fixture on what is considered the "modern" era of the Branson/Lake Of The Ozarks regional scene.
Jim Stafford "Live In Branson! Double The Fun...Double The Jim..." (1995)
(Produced by Ann Stafford & Jim Stafford)
This set is basically a string of medley tracks -- not my favorite musical form, but pretty common on Branson opry albums. The musicians were presumably the then-current cast at the Jim Stafford Theater, some of whom were Ozark opry veterans: the group included Steve Bach, Janice Copeland, Tamara Holden, James Ingle, Rick McEwen, Rod Phillips, Doug Reid and Mickey Springstein. They are mostly unknowns for me, though Rick McEwen played with the Dillards for a while and James Ingle was also in the '80s country-rock band Flat Creek, as well as the Hee Haw Opry show, and in Shoji Tabuchi's band.
Jim Stafford "Guitar Gold" (Jim Stafford Theatre, 1996)
Jim Stafford "Jim Stafford's Gospel Guitar" (Jim Stafford Theatre, 1996)
Jim Stafford "Jim Stafford Plays Harmonica" (Jim Stafford Theatre, 1997)
Indeed he does...!
Jim Stafford "Don't Tell Mama I'm A Guitar Picker (She Thinks I'm Just In Jail)" (Strats Publishing, Inc., 2002)
A quintessential one-hit wonder, Florida-born Jim Stafford had some success as a songwriter in the early 1970s, but is best known for his irresistible 1974 novelty hit, "Spiders And Snakes," which hit #3 on the pop charts and brought an unmistakable country twang into America's Top Forty mainstream. Though he never repeated that success, Stafford worked steadily through the rest of the decade, becoming a frequent guest on talk shows and TV specials while also getting bit roles on various TV dramas and B-movies. He briefly hosted his own musical variety show in the summer of '75, and later became a television host in Nashville.
Jim Stafford "Greatest Hits" (Curb Records, 1995)
