The Wichita Linemen "Meanwhile, Back At The Ranch" (High Fidelity Recording Studios, 1972) (LP)
(Produced by Don Powell)
This was the Lineman's first album, notable for a wealth of original material, packed with comedic novelty songs, including several written by Mike Oatman, Terry Burford and Don Walton. Despite the band's pedigree and long-lived duration, this debut LP wasn't really all that great. This edition of the band included lead singer Don Powell, drummer Robin Harris, guitar picker Carl Hendricks, and 21-year old bassist Greg Stevens, who emerged as the band's lead singer for much of the early 'Seventies... Sometimes the vocals are flat-out not very good, and the guitar pickers tend to go a little note-happy... Probably the best singer in the group was Terry Burford, who sings lead on a couple of tunes, though he struggles to find a groove inside the clunky rhythms of the band. As with the performances, the songwriting is also rather iffy. In general, editing seems to have been a problem on this project, although they do tackle the sessions with gusto, and for those of you out there who are into so-bad-it's-good Schadenfreude, this disc would be rather rewarding. Worth a spin, just to satisfy your curiosity, but don't get your hopes up too high. That said they definitely sharped themselves over the years and became a pretty solid live act.
The Wichita Linemen "The Wichita Linemen" (Linemen Records, 1977-?) (LP)
(Produced by Don Walton & The Wichita Linemen)
I'm not sure how many albums the Linemen wound up making (or singles -- there were quite a few of those as well, along with a few other commemorative projects commissioned by KFDI that the band also took part in...) Anyway, there were at least a couple of self-titled "Wichita Linemen" LPs, and this record should not be confused with the one below. This mid-'Seventies set was notably heavy on R&B songs from outside the country canon... maybe they were trying to get on the same train as guys like Joe Stampley and Billy Crash Craddock? Along these lines they covered soul hits from guys like Paul Gayden ("But I Do"), Lloyd Price ("Personality," "Where Were You On Our Wedding Day"), Sammy Turner ("Lavender Blue"), as well as (perhaps more frighteningly) Barry Manilow's 1974 hit, "Mandy." From the twangier side of town there's a version of "Paint Me A Rainbow," an locally-written tune that Wynn Stewart recorded as a single back in '72, as well as several songs credited to various bandmembers: Carl Henricks contributes "Lifetime Girl," while Robin Harris composed two more, "Tommy," and one co-written with Greg Stevens called "They Ain't Got Nothing Like You," and finally "I Think I Feel A Good Love Comin' On," a song co-written and copyrighted in 1976 by Don Powell and Nashville songsmith Dewayne Orender. Like all the Wichita Linemen albums, there's no date on the disc, but I think it's likely this was a little on the earlier side of things, possibly as early as 1976 or '77.
The Wichita Linemen "The Wichita Linemen" (Lineman Records, 1978-?) (LP)
(Produced by Jim Strattan & Don Walton)
A pretty lackluster album, showcasing an edition of the band made up of Robin Harris, Carl Hendricks, steel player Jerry Sisk and Greg Stevens who, according to his liner notes, had been in the band for nine years at the time this disc came out. Though their musical sensibilities seem stuck in the word of early 'Seventies countrypolitan, replete with sluggish, self-important vocals, this record is nonetheless notable for its wealth of original material, democratically credited to all the guys in the band. Notable tracks include a goofy cover of Rod Stewart's 1976 hit, "Tonight's The Night," as well as a topical tune by Carl Hendricks called "Freedom Bus," which seems to be a muddled commentary on federal school busing mandates, apparently taking the position that the mandates were surprising but ultimately good for freedom and America. Well, okay... sure, I guess! More on the plus side are album highlights "Little White Dove," a fine instrumental showcasing Mr. Sisk's considerable ability (which is otherwise subsumed on rather bland arrangements) and a tune called "Halfway Out Of My Mind," which is a genuinely good pop-country number about two people who, well, you know... just can't stop thinking about one another all the time. Maybe not the Linemen's finest effort, but it has its moments.
The Wichita Linemen "Alive And Pickin' At Piqua" (Linemen Records, 197--?) (LP)
(Produced by Don Walton)
For the few of you out there who don't already know, Piqua, Kansas is a teeny-tiny little town about a hundred miles east of Wichita, perhaps best known as the birthplace of silent film comedian Buster Keaton. Apparently the Wichita Linemen had a long-standing engagement playing the local Knights Of Columbus hall, a Saturday night gig they started in 1970, and kept up for several years thereafter. The band kicks this album off by flattering the locals with an original novelty number, "Pickin' At Piqua," then swiftly move into a rambunctious set dominated by covers of early 'Seventies hits, stuff by guys like Larry Gatlin, Eddie Rabbitt and, on Side Two, a couple of tunes from Willie & Waylon, as well as an oddly earnest cover of Tompall Glaser's faux-sexist anthem, "Put Another Log On The Fire." This live album is certainly one of the stronger Linemen records, and shows how they had real musical chops and were a pretty tight, capable band... although perhaps the stage banter leaves a bit to be desired. The unidentified singer/emcee has a truly manic, overly aggressive vibe, and seems to have had just a bit too much coffee before the show. Add to that a small peppering of sexist and homophobic asides, and there are a few moments that may ruffle feathers among more enlightened listeners. ("We'd like to dedicate this next song to all the pretty women here tonight... All the ugly ones, too! We don't want to say your names, but you know who you are!" That sort of thing.) Anyway, the picking is pretty good, and surprisingly so. For example, on their laid-back rendition of the 1940's oldie, "When My Blue Moon Turns To Gold," they hit a fluid groove that sound remarkably like Jerry Jeff Walker backed by early-'70s Asleep At The Wheel. In addition to the "Piqua" song, they play another original, "Spread My Wings," which seems to be credited to all the guys in the band -- who are otherwise not named on the album -- Carl Hendricks, Robin Harris, Jerry Sisk and Greg Stevens. Much like the onstage banter, this version of their original song is a little too manic and rushed, though he mentions it's on another record (either a single or an album?) so there's probably a calmer studio version out there as well. Also worth noting: Don Walton produced the album and contributes the liner notes, though says that by this time he was an ex-member of the band.
The Wichita Linemen "Live From The Cowboy" (Lineman Records, 1979-?) (LP)
(Produced by Don Walton & Jim Strattan)
A live souvenir album from a gig at The Cowboy country bar, which at the time was a rural venue located on Highway 54, outside of the Wichita city limits. The Linemen plow through a robust set of modern outlaw anthems and country classics, with the newer tunes including stuff like Rusty Weir's "Don't It Make You Wanna Dance," "Mamas Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up To Be Cowboys," Larry Gatlin's "I Just Wish You Were Someone I Love," "Poke Salad Annie," and the Mel Tillis tune, "I Got The Hoss." Although the liner notes say this was recorded on location at the bar, it kinda doesn't feel like it, mostly because of some overly aggressive tape splicing from some eager-beaver editor in the mixing studio who wanted to make everything sound slick and clean... Still, you can hear what a competent band the Linemen were, seasoned pickers with pretty good taste in the tunes they covered. Alas, the boys in the band are not called out by name, though it's likely that pretty much the same lineup remained in place through most of the late 'Seventies.
The Wichita Linemen "Live At Fox Canyon" (Linemen Records, 1981-?) (LP)
(Produced by Don Walton & Jim Strattan)
This recording was made at the Fox Canyon Club, one of several venues in Wichita and in nearby Hutchinson, Kansas that were owned by businessman William C. Selby (1931-2010), including the Brookside Club, Fox Canyon and McGraw's. Selby is identified as the "M. F. W. I. C." -- which is in keeping with some of the saltier language used in the stage patter between songs. I'm also assuming the gal the liner notes call Mama Fox was Mr. Selby's wife... Anyway, the more I hear from the Wichita Linemen, the more I gotta recognize what a solid band there were. There's some swell pickin' on here particularly the fiddle and the steel guitar, which are nicely showcased on several tracks, notably the lively versions of "Cotton Eye Joe" and "Orange Blossom Special" which kick off each side of the record... Though I find the lead singer lays it on a little thick with his roughneck/good ole boy persona, this is still a pretty solid live album. Particularly noteworthy is the strong song selection, which is heavy of outlaw-era hits such as Bobby Bare's "Drunk And Crazy," Hoyt Axton's "Rusty Ol' Halo," "I Got The Hoss," and a couple of JJ Cale classics, "Clyde" and (of course) "Tulsa Time" and a tune called "I Came Here To Party," which was the flipside of Waylon's version of "Clyde." (The funniest moment comes with their cover of "You Never Even Called Me By My Name," where the Linemen add an extra layer of meta by repeating the David Allan Coe original's spoken interlude, but go one step further by including David Allan Coe as a character in the story, as in, "Steve Goodman sent this song to David Allan Coe, who then wrote back and said..." It's not quite as absurd as Don Bowman's word-for-word, album-length cover of "Alice's Restaurant, but it's in the same ballpark...) Anyway, this is a pretty good record by these Midwestern musical pluggers, even if they do swear sometimes between the songs. No release date, but it was at least from 1980 or later.
The Wichita Linemen (Kanwic Records, 197--?) (#HFCS-178-1/2) (7")
A: "Hen Pickin' " (c: Carl Hendricks)
B: "Dadgummit" (c: Don Powell)
(Produced by Don Walton)
I suspect there may be other Wichita Linemen singles out there, but these are the ones I've come across so far... Though undated, this one is the earliest, one of many early 'Seventies singles released by regional Kansas powerhouse Kanwic Records. The B-side, "Dadgummit," also appeared on the band's first LP, Meanwhile, Back At The Ranch, though I'm not sure which came out first, the single or the album, or if these are different versions or the same recording.
The Wichita Linemen (Kanwic Records, 1977-?) (#773) (7")
A: "Everyday Of My Life" (c: Robin Harris, Carl Hendricks, Jerry Sisk, Greg Stevens)
B: "Everyday Of My Life" (c: Robin Harris, Carl Hendricks, Jerry Sisk, Greg Stevens)
(Produced by Don Walton)
The Wichita Linemen (Linemen Records, 1978) (# NR-5605-1/2) (7")
A: "Lavender Blue" (c: Larry Morey & Eliot Daniel)
B: "I'm Just Teasing Me" (c: Harold Logan, John Patton & Lloyd Price)
(Produced by Don Walton)
The Wichita Linemen (Linemen Records, 19--?) (# NR-6704-1/2) (7")
A: "I Think I Feel A Good Love Coming On" (c: Don Powell & Dewayne Orender)
B: "They Ain't Got Nothin' Like You" (c: Robin Harris & Greg Stevens)
(Produced by Don Walton)
The Wichita Linemen (NSD/Linemen Records, 1978) (# NR-9292) (7")
A: "Tommy" (c: Robin Harris, Carl Hendricks, Jerry Sisk & Greg Stevens)
B: "Tonight's The Night" (c: Rod Stewart)
(Produced by Don Walton)
The Wichita Linemen (Linemen Records, 1979) (# NR-910838) (7")
A: "You're A Pretty Lady, Lady" (c: Gene Cleamer)
B: "Magic Hands" (c: Bob Schnur)
(Produced by Don Walton)
The Wichita Linemen (NSD Records, 1980) (# NSD-56-1/2) (7")
A: "Tommy" (c: Robin Harris)
B: "Welcome To My Comin' Down" (c: )
(Produced by Don Walton)
The Wichita Linemen (NSD Records, 1983-?) (# NR14860) (7")
A: "Key Largo" (c: B. Higgins & S. Limbo)
B: "I Can't Tell You How I Hurt (Without Cryin')" (c: )
(Produced by Linemen Productons)
One of several bands to name themselves after Glen Campbell's global 1968 hit single, the Kansas-based
Wichita Linemen had a better claim to the name than most folks... Originally formed as the house band for the powerful AM/FM radio station, KFDI, Wichita, a regional powerhouse which was one of the most influential country music outlets in the Midwest. Formed by a couple of DJs and their friends, the group started in 1969 and recorded several LPs as well as a number of commemorative 7" singles. They toured for over three decades until disbanding in the year 2000, including residencies in several local country bars, with a stage show also originally included old-school cornpone humor of the Hee Haw variety but in later years took on a more outlaw-ish, roughneck tone, as heard on several live albums. The lineup changed a few times over the years, but core members included singer Don Walton and steel guitarist Don Powell. Here's a quick look at their work...
Various Artists(?) "TAKING PRIDE IN WICHITA" (KFDI/Impact Broadcast Marketing Inc., 1989) (LP)
