Roger V. "The Roger V Show" (Variety Records, 197--?) (LP)
(Produced by Paul B. English)
An ambitious lounge singer mixing pop and countrypolitan material... The "V" stands for Vazquez, and this robust young fella was a protege of golfer Lee Trevino who helped him along his career... This isn't really a "country" record, per se, though he was from Texas and he covers "I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry" and "San Antonio Rose," so you get a few twang points for that. This set was recorded at ACA studios in Houston with a band that was heavy on brass -- tubas, trombones and whatnot -- along with one guy playing steel guitar. Covering all the bases, right? I guess it worked, because Vazquez landed a gig playing at the Opryland Hotel in Nashville, which is where his next album was recorded.

Roger V. "Live From Nashville" (Variety Records, 1978-?) (LP)
(Produced by Johnny Rosen & Bill Harris)
This album memorialized Mr. V's stint at the Opryland Hotel, backed by a band of guys who were largely unknown to me. Although most of his repertoire was pop-oriented, Vazquez made a big effort to ingratiate himself with country fans: the back cover features snapshots taken with several members of country royalty -- Bill Anderson, Roy Clark, Barbara Mandrell, Ronnie Milsap, Kenny Rogers and even old Ernest Tubb, though those celebs don't entirely reflect his act, other than a "Salute To The Grand Old Opry Stars" imitation routine and a cover of Milsap's 1977 hit, "It Was Almost Like A Song," as well as "Malaguena," which was one of Roy Clark's showcase numbers. Meanwhile, there's a big-band oldies medley, and a ten-minute "Tribute To America" tacked on at the end as the big finale. The disc also includes a couple of Vazquez originals, "Don't Fool Around With Me" and "Please Don't Promise Me Forever," which was recorded at RCA Studios (and may have been released as a single?).

Roger V. "Andrea" (Variety Records, 1983-?) (LP)
(Produced by Bob Moore & Roger Vazquez)
Mr. Vazquez had returned to Houston, Texas by the time he cut this LP, though he still had connections in Music City... This set includes eight songs written by Vazquez, with some tracks recorded at Willie Nelson's Pedernales, Texas studio and others in Nashville... The Texas sessions seem to have included his own band, though I'm not sure about the Music City set...

Jackie & Arlen Vaden "Just As The Sun Went Down" (Vaden Records, 19--?) (LP)
Pioneers of the Ozark indie scene, Arlen and Jackie Vaden were local Arkansas gospel singers who self-released their own music and sold it by mail, but soon branched out into secular styles, releasing several noteworthy rockabilly and R&B singles in the late 1950s. These two gospel LPs collect several older singles, including tracks that featured artists such as Ray Baker, Onie Wheeler and Bobby Trammell. The songs seem to have been recorded in the late 1950s, though don't quote me on that, okay?

Jackie & Arlen Vaden "Gospel Favorites, Volume One" (Vaden Records, 19--?) (LP)
As with the previous LP, what caught my eye with this album was the presence of other artists such as hillbilly bopper Onie Wheeler and the Bailes Brothers, a family-act duo whose post-war recordings kept alive the haunting, pre-bluegrass style of the Delmore Brothers and the Blue Sky Boys. I think several of these tracks were actually originally released under the "guest" artists' names, so this may actually be more of a compilation album.

The Vagabonds "Play Old Time Country" (Custom KNOF Recordings, 19--?) (LP)
(Produced by Jim Reynolds)
This is, unexpectedly, one of my new favorite records... one of those "old time" records from the Great Lakes region which mixed polka and waltz dance tunes with country covers, a subgenre which I normally avoid, though I'm starting to rethink that policy. Guitarists Archie Heikkila and Paul Schultz, along with accordion player Eino Kolu, were mine and mill workers from around Saint Paul, Minnesota who got together to jam, and cut this album just for kicks. According to the liner notes, they performed in local retirement homes, which helps explain the diverse musical selections... But it's the raw, unapologetic anachronism of this album that's so compelling: when these guys played 1950s hits such as "Pick Me Up On Your Way Down" or "The Wild Side Of Life" (here titled as "Honk Tonk Angel") they stripped the songs of all modernity and placed them in a stark, barren, pre-WWII musical context, as if they'd originally been some kind of Depression-era Appalachian folk ballads, an impression greatly enhanced by the creaky old-man vocals. These guys were the real deal, and they made no concessions to contemporary taste -- they just banged away and played what they liked. I'm not saying it's a great record in technical terms, but measured by rural authenticity alone, it's a doozy. I dig it. Not sure when this came out, though it seems to have been a mid-to-late 'Seventies kinda thing, one of the later releases by KNOF Recordings, an eccentric regional label which was affiliated with a local gospel radio station.

Jeff Valdez "Jeff Valdez" (Teardrop Records, 1979) (LP)
(Produced by Jeff Valdez)
Can't tell you much about this one... It was recorded in Dallas, and is all country covers, and all pretty well known hits and oldies. No info about any backing musicians or technical stuff either...

Lenny Valen "Lenny Valen" (Lenny Valen Enterprises/MRP Records, 19--?) (LP)
(Produced by Dennis A. Baird, A. J. Rhodes & Ronnie Light)
Though the album cover shows guitar picker Lenny Valen getting ready to knock on the door of the Grand Ole Opry, he actually seems to have been from Scranton, Pennsylvania or thereabouts: a newspaper blurb from 1986 lists him and his partner, pianist Denise Whaley, holding down a gig at a place called the Promised Land, and scheduled to play the 19th Annual Summer Festival in Honesdale, a tiny borough about ten miles outside of town. This disc spotlights a bunch of original material, with about a third of the tracks written by Valen, along with others by Mark Swindell and Dennis Baird, and a couple of cover songs, such as a version of Jimmie Driftwood's "Battle Of New Orleans." This was recorded in Hendersonville, Tennessee with a slew of Music City A-listers and unknowns; I wasn't able to find much info about Valen himself, but this looks like an interesting record. Release date unknown.

The Valley Boys "Old-Time And Country-Western Music From The St. Croix Valley" (Audiotek Records, 1971-?) (LP)
These fellas were from the Great Lakes region, hailing from the tiny town of Hudson, Wisconsin, on the state line right across the river from Minneapolis -- so when they say "old-time music," what they mean is polkas, not Appalachian twang, with accordions and brass at least as prominent in their sound as electric guitars. Founded in 1958 by accordionist Steve Feyereisen, the Valley Boys played together for thirty years, officially disbanding in 1988, with slow changes in a lineup mostly anchored by the Feyereisen family. This edition of the band included drummer Arlyn Benoy (1933-2021), Steve Feyereisen (accordion) and his son Charles Feyereisen (tuba and bass), Dennis Thorsen (guitar) and Dave Waughtal on trumpet. Side One of this LP is devoted entirely to polkas, while Side Two shows their devotion to classic country, with tips of the hat to Johnny Cash ("Folsom Prison Blues"), Merle Haggard ("Sing Me Back Home") and George Jones ("Walk Through This World With Me"). They also cover some contemporary material such as "Kiss An Angel Good Morning" and "Never Ending Love," two hits from 1971 which (probably) place this as a 1971 or '72 release.

The Valley Boys "Volume II: Western Wisconsin's Valley Boys" (Audiotek/VB Records, 197--?) (LP)
The same lineup, and same format: polka on the first side, country on the flip. The country covers are again heavy on contemporary hits, such as "For The Good Times" and "Me And Bobby McGee," and "The Key Is In The Mailbox," similarly suggesting a release date around 1971-72, though it could have been a few years later. (Footnote: David Feyereisen, who joined the band in 1978 later, along with his brothers, formed a '90s country band called Stampede; the group recorded an album in 1991. After the Valley Boys broke up, guitarist Dennis Thorsen started a less formal group called Hunyuks, which also played in the Hudson/River Falls area.)

The Valley Boys "Volume Three: Twenty-Five Years" (JBM Sound Production, 1982) (LP)
One side polka, one side country. Along with oldies by Merle Travis ("Sioux City Sue") and Ernest Tubb ("Waltz Across Texas") they cover Waylon Jennings' "Good Hearted Woman" and other faves. The back cover shows the band posed outside the same barn they first performed at twenty-five years earlier in 1957, including their newest member, drummer David Feyereisen, who had joined the group three years earlier.

The Valley Hayriders "Headed For Bluegrass" (Lark Records, 1982) (LP)
A nice set by a scrappy little country-and-bluegrass variety band from Warm Springs, Virginia, The Valley Hayriders spotlighted various soloists, notably banjo and guitar picker Richard Blankenship, square dance caller Tommy Carpenter, gal singers Peggy Ralston and Lisa Roberts, as well as bandleader Jay Hiner, whose indiebilly anthem, "Everybody Wants To Go To Nashville But Me," is an album highlight. The Hayriders followed the same formula as many regional "opry" bands, though there's no info on this album about whether they were attached to any particular venues. Later, in the 1990s, Blankenship and friends helped found a regional community radio station, WCHG, part of the Allegheny Mountain Radio network.

Gary Van & The Western Caravan "Meet Gary Van" (Justice Records, 1966-?) (LP)
(Produced by Leo Teel)
Gary Van (nee Gary Vanlandingham, 1939-1980) was a late-'50 rockabilly rebel and '60s/'70s honkytonk bandleader from Dallas, Texas who exemplified the hard-working, below-the-radar Texas twangsters of the pre-outlaw era. Born in microscopic Point, TX, Gary Van crisscrossed the Lone Star State, toured regionally and nationally, did county fairs, prison shows, NCO tours and the like, while also starting his own label (Justice Records) and hosting a syndicated TV show. His band on this album was packed with East Texas locals, including Billy Braddy, Al Posey, Tommy Hargrove and Mac McRae. They play mostly cover tunes of old heartsongs and honkytonk classics, with just one original song, co-written by Gary Van, the timely and topical "Never From Viet Nam," which is basically a patriotic recitation song. Van can be an iffy singer, getting a little "jazzy" while singing along with the electric guitar riffs and not always nailing the rhythm correctly. But still, it's a charming and undeniably authentic real-folks country record. I haven't been able to determine exactly when this album came out, but I think the most recent song on it was Dottie West's "What's Come Over My Baby," which came out in 1966, so I'd guess '66 or '67 on this one.

Gary Van "My Favorites" (Justice Records, 19--?) (LP)

Gary Van "Country Feeling" (Justice Records, 1966) (LP)

Gary Van "Gary Van" (Justice Records, 1971-?) (LP)
(Produced by Artie Glenn, Leo Teel & Gary Van)
According to the liner notes, this was the Western Caravan's sixth album and the second one released that year. Alas, no actual date is provided, but some of the songs they chose provide a few clues: the set list highlights late 'Sixties/early 'Seventies standards such as "For The Good Times," a Ray Price hit in 1970, along with Ray Stevens' "Everything Is Beautiful" and Merle Haggard's "Today I Started Loving You Again," both released the same year. Gary Van dips into some pretty poppy material, including covers of "Games People Play," "Raindrops Keep Falling On My Head," late 'Sixties gems which were still very much on the radio at the time. The bandmembers aren't called out by name, though co-producers Artie Glenn (1915-1994) and Leo Teel (1924-2010) were Texas old-timers who worked with a lot of independent artists on the Dallas scene.

Van Dyke "Deal Me In" (Polydor/Change Records, 1977) (LP)
Canadian country, apparently... Looking forward to checking it out someday.

Bruce Van Dyke "Self Portrait" (Van Dyke Records, 1982) (LP)
A self-released album by a guy from Biglerville, Pennsylvania with covers of some country oldies ("Crazy," "Rocky Top") some rockabilly stuff, one tasty roadhouse tune (Delbert McClinton's "Two More Bottles Of Wine") and one really scary, run-quick!! pop song (Lionel Richie's "Lady," doubtless acquired via Kenny (Sauron) Rogers...) There are also two original songs written by Van Dyke, "Cat In The Long Black Dress" and "Soft Eyes," each co-written with his pal Oscar Spicer and tucked away unobtrusively at the end of Sides One and Two. In the '70s, Spicer and Van Dyke -- whose day jobs were as the local district attorney (and later country judge) and probation officer -- composed several musicals together, including a Bicentennial-themed rock opera, so it's a musical partnership that went back quite a ways. This was, I think, their most country-oriented project.

Bruce Van Dyke "It's In The Touch" (Van Records, 1987) (LP)
(Produced by Jim Allison & Danny Chauvin)
Oh, man, just look at that album art! None of that old-fashioned haybales and wood fence iconography for this country boy: he was a strictly modern, well-groomed, nicely coiffed, finely appointed manly-man, in the Earl Conley/Eddie Rabbit/Gary Morris mode. Oh, sure, he might hit the bars with the boys or pop a top when the game is on, but he cleans up nice and knows how to act when company comes over. Sensitive, too, I bet. Despite his Top Forty aspirations, though, Mr. Van Dyke remained a hometown hero, holding down the fort in Englerville, PA. While his previous album was heavy on cover songs, this one is packed with original material, including songs by Jim Allison, Rory Bourke, and others. He might not have tore up the charts, but he sure knew the image he was looking for -- impressively slick-looking for an indie album.

William Van Dyke "I'm A Nomad" (Cactus Saloon, 19--?) (LP)
(Produced by Robert F. Greenle)
Anyone who might've considered, oh, say, David Allan Coe to be a big old poseur might wanna check this guy out... The shaggy-ass William Van Dyke comes straight out of central casting, a hog-ridin' balladeer who sang at the Cactus Saloon in Daytona Beach, Florida, Van Dyke has recorded several albums worth of for-real biker music in which he name-dropped several motorcycle clubs. By the way, does anyone know when this first album actually came out? There's no date on the album, and I've seen it listed as being from the '70s, but a website hosted by one of the guitarists on these sessions says it as early '80s, and I have to say that looks right, based on the graphics. But I can't say for sure. Van Dyke's website isn't very clear about the details, either. Anyone know for sure? Or about his other albums?

William Van Dyke "Hog Ridin' Fool" (Brotherhood Records, 19--) (LP)

William Van Dyke "Combat Zone" (Combat Zone, 19--) (LP)

The Van Hofwegen Brothers "...Present Their All-Time Favorites" (19--?) (LP)
(Produced by Marvin Van Andel)
A traditional/old-timey set by a family band from Bellflower, California, near Anaheim. The Van Hofwegens performing on this album were seven brothers from a family of thirteen(!) siblings who originally lived around Sioux City. A couple of decades before they made this album, the family moved from Colton, South Dakota to Bellflower, which for many years was a Dutch-American enclave. Although the liner notes by producer Marvin Van Andel make constant reference to Christianity and God, this is not a religious album -- the songs are secular, sentimental tunes from an older era, stuff like "Conscience I'm Guilty," "Home Sweet Home," "Little Rosa," "Red River Valley," and "Old Log Cabin For Sale." Most of the tracks are instrumentals, many anchored by John Van Hofwegen on accordion, an instrument with historical resonance in both the upper Midwest and the Southern California country scene. The rest of the band included his brothers Arie (on bass), Bill (rhythm guitar) Bob (electric guitar), Carl (banjo), Herm (dobro) and Mart (rhythm guitar). Although this album is secular, they did play religious concerts, as well as on radio and TV -- a 1974 notice for a show in Long Beach mentions them as "recording artists," so I would guess this came out around then, or not long before.

John Van Horn "Out Back Music" (Mercury Records, 1972) (LP)
(Produced by Jay Leer)
This is one of those only-in-the-Seventies style albums... Van Horn was apparently a longtime cohort of Link Wray's, an on-and-off member of his band, starting as far back as 1963, and also played lead guitar in the spinoff group, The Pack, a band that was basically the Wraymen with a minor facelift... Here, he was in sort of a latter-day, oddball jugband mode, with a hint of boogie-band rock, but a definite hippiebilly twang in there as well... A very rough, unpolished singer, he nonetheless landed a contract with a major label, and seems to have been the musical conduit for the stream-of-consciousness lyrics of one Kevin Fitzmorris (who I have no info about at all...) But even with the connection to Wray, it's hard to know just why this record was actually made. It's not quite weird enough to be an oddball super-classic, but it's goofy and unique enough that I'm hanging onto it for a while. Apparently Van Horn has continued playing rockabilly for years, releasing solo work at least as late as 1999... I imagine that this hippiedelic disc was a bit off the beaten track for him.

Townes Van Zandt - see artist discography

Virel Vance "Country? Jazz?" (Custom Records, 1969-?) (LP)
(Produced by Curtis Kirk)
A swing-twang thang from guitar picker Virel Lee Vance (1919-2010). A longtime resident of of Palestine, Texas, Mr. Vance is backed by O. B. Davis on drums, Dick Gimble thumping the bass, Texas legend Johnny Gimble on violin and James Taylor playing piano. Along with some standards like "Perdido" and "Sweet Georgia Brown," there are several original compositions by Virel Vance, as well as one called "Headin' For The Barn," credited as a Johnny Gimble tune. As far as I know this was Vance's only album, probably recorded in the late 1960s, perhaps around 1968 or '69.

The Vanwinkle Family "Sings Country Gospel" (Central Recording Studio, 198-?) (LP)
(Produced by Delbert Barker)
The presence of old-school, 1950s hillbilly twangster Delbert Barker is what caught my eye on this one -- apparently he settled down in Ohio and started his own recording studio at some point. The clients for this project were Mr. Arnold Van Winkle, his wife Rosella Van Winkle (1945-2019) and their brood, a flock of sons including Frank (playing lead guitar), Greg and Vance. They were residents of Greensfork, Indiana and initially only cut a 45 single at Barker's studio back in 1980, but were so pleased with the results they returned and recorded a whole album. About half the songs are originals written by Mrs. Van Winkle, with the lads playing all sorts of stringed instruments, getting a little help from Barker's in-house studio crew, drummer Roy Cook, Steve Lake on bass, and Dave Zornes on pedal steel. The family name is apparently misspelled on the album, and was Van Winkle on their earlier single, as well as in Mrs. Van Winkle's obituary; no mention of music or this album was given, so they probably weren't an active band and just made this record for fun.

Darlene Vance & J. D. Smith "Just The Two Of Us" (Transworld Records, 19--?) (LP)
Although this record label was from Bristol, Virginia, I believe James D. Smith and Darlene Smith Vance were a brother-sister duo originally from Pike County, Kentucky. By the time Mrs. Vance passed away in 2001, she and the rest of her family, including JD and her other siblings, had moved to Fort Wayne, Indiana. Not sure when this album came out, but it has an early/mid-'80s look. Although it's mostly cover songs ("One Day At A Time," "Rocky Top," "You Gave Me A Mountain"), there are a couple of originals written by James Smith, "She Took My Heart," and "That's How Love Hurts."

Dwain Varnell & The Southern Comforts "Pickin' It Your Way" (Hill Records, 19--?) (LP)
(Produced by Roger Hill)
A rough-edged country singer and a real-deal farmer from the heartland, Dwain Varnell grew up in Arkansas and moved to Galveston, Indiana in the 1960s. He started playing in local bands back in the 'Seventies and released at least one single, as well as this album. In 1999 Mr. Varnell formed a new group with his sons Billy and Rod Varnell, called Four On The Floor, which played at the local American Legion's weekly jam sessions, though I don't think they ever made a record.

Kin Vassy "Do I Ever Cross Your Mind?" (Mad Bird Records, 1978) (LP)
(Produced by Lelan Rogers & Mike Settle)
Probably best known as a songwriter, Georgia-born Charles Kindred Vassy (1943-1994) started out in the pre-fab folk-pop band the Back Porch Majority, then he joined the Kenny Rogers' hitmaking country-pop band, the First Edition. Vassy collaborated with Rogers over the years although he also recorded some solo singles in the early '70s, as well as this full-length LP. Backing him are several members of the LA country-rock elite, including on-again/off-again Burrito Brothers John Beland and Thad Maxwell, as well as former First Edition-er Mike Settle. With the Kenny Rogers pedigree, this one could have gone either way -- theoretically, it's possible for this to have been a hidden country-rock gem, but alas, no. This is a horrifically over-the-top, overly orchestrated, super-cheesy soft-pop mess, one of those records where the artist is trying to show off their chops, and just doesn't know when to stop. Just awful. I mean, if you really dig Dave Loggins or Seals & Croft, you might get a kick out of this album, but don't count on it. Interestingly, although Vassy was known as a songwriter, most of these tracks are from other composers, including a couple by producer Mike Settle, and only a couple by Mr. Vassy, "Let's Be Alone Together" and "How I Wish You Were Here." For twangfans, the most interesting track would probably be his cover of Red Lane's "One Foot In The Gravel," which is given a gooey, soft-pop gloss, but remains a great song. The album's title track cracked into the Country Top 100, though later singles a couple of years later would briefly bring him into the Top 40. After a successful career as a composer and producer, Kin Vassy died young in 1994, felled by lung cancer.

Eric Vaughan "...With Judy And The Kosmic Kowboys" (Top Productions, 1976) (LP)
(Produced by Wayne Walters)
A lot better than I thought it would be! The album art looks incredibly dorky, but these Hays, Kansas cowpokes made some nice music, working in a variety of styles. There's a folk-country-meets-AOR vibe that's on the iffier end of things: Vaughan's partner Judy Herman tilts towards a Linda Ronstadt/Judy Collins folk-ish style that can be a little too precious, but when they get twangier, there's some really nice stuff on here. A lot of good original material, too, notably "Keep Playing That Good Country Music," one of two songs written by lead guitarist Lain Wendler, and "Sarah Leigh," the only one written by Vaughan. Other highlights include "Food, Phone, Gas And Lodging," an ode to the Howard Johnson restaurant chain (a song with special resonance for anyone who's driven interstate in the Midwest!) Some nice picking, too, particularly the pedal steel by Doug Ramsey. There's no year given on the album, but the local newspaper The Hays Daily News gave the record a nice plug in August of 1976, so I guess it was a Bicentennial celebration from the heartland... Anyone know more about these guys?

Jada (Vaughan) "Introducing... Jada" (Coyotee Records, 1978) (LP)
(Produced by Gary Beck)
Singer Jada Vaughan was born in Searcy, Arkansas but grew up in South Texas and was working in Corpus Christi, Texas when she cut this album. It features four songs written by Ms. Vaughan -- "Haven't Heard A Good Love Song," "I Want You To Know," "Never Been Alone," and "Where Are You Waylon" -- as well as several by producer-arranger Gary Beck: "I'm Trying," "I've Quit Hurting Over You," and "Tell Me Why Why Why," rounding things out with a Hank Williams medley. The band seems like they were all Lone Star locals including Gary Beck on keyboards, Richard Clover (fiddle), Allan Hunt (lead guitar), Richard Painter (bass), Randy Rolando (banjo), Johnny Rinehart (guitar) Tommy Roots (steel guitar), Ronnie Tanner (drums), and Jason Wakefield on guitar. They had a pretty rootsy sound for the times, particularly the tracks that spotlight Rich Clover's bright, brisk Texas fiddling. Ms. Vaughn had a pretty husky voice, with honkytonker Melba Montgomery as perhaps a close comparison... I'm not sure about the contours of her career or how much success she had outside of her local scene... She was still doing shows in and around Corpus Christi in the late '80s, but I'm not sure where she went from there.

Jada (Vaughan) "Long Road Home To Texas" (Coyotee Records, 1981) (LP)
(Produced by Gary Beck & Jack Gilmer)
Still working with producer Gary Beck, Ms. Vaughan stuck to her same basic sound -- modern-yet-rootsy Texas twang, with a liberal dose of fiddle and steel -- although the lineup of her backing band changed considerably. Recording this one in Nashville, Gary Beck took more of a backseat role, letting pianist Ray Cobb take over the keyboardist role, while the rest fo the studio crew included bassist Rod Helm, Cliff Parker (lead guitar), John Stacy (drums), Jim Vest (steel guitar), and Tommy Williams on fiddle, as well as Bobby Hardin and the Hardin Trio on backup vocals. The set list includes three repeats from Jada's previous album, presumably re-recordings: her outlaw anthem, "Where Are You Waylon," Beck's "I've Quit Hurting Over You" and Ronnie Tanner's "Night Feelings," with a couple of other Gary Beck originals and a couple of tunes penned by Merrill Lane, notably the album's saucy opener, "I Wanna Ride In Your Rodeo."

Jack Vaughn "The First Time Around" (Jester Records, 1976-?) (LP)
(Produced by Bob Hale)
Though originally from Etowah, Tennessee, singer Jack Vaughn was living up around Billings, Montana when he recorded this set at Bob Hale's studio, Jester Sounds, methinks around 1976. He covers tunes by Dave Dudley and others, though also contributes a few originals such as his song, "John And Mary." Among the musicians backing him are bass player Red Austin, Jimmy Dressler (drums), Grace Fillmore (backing vocals), Bob Hale (rhythm guitar), Fred Halls (bass), Charlie Highsmith (rhythm guitar), Alan Meade (pedal steel), Jimmy Nichols (lead guitar), Suzie Schultz (backing vocals), Frank Skidmore (fiddle), Flynn Tobber (synthesizer), Danny Tryan (drums), with several of the guys -- Austin, Dressler, Meade -- part of a Jester Records house band that backed other artists around the same time. As far as I know, this was Mr. Vaughn's only album, though he also cut a single or two.

Sammy Vaughn "This Time Around" (Oak Productions, 1978) (LP)
A handsome young Texan who first headed out to Hollywood to make it as an actor, Sammy Vaughn got into country music after he met Freddy Hart and did some stuff with him. He eventually made he way out to Nashville, though like many hopefuls before and after, he found it pretty hard to make it big in Music City. This album includes an early version of his song, "Victim Of The Pretty Things In Life," which he recorded on all three albums listed here.

Sammy Vaughn "Sammy Vaughn: Audiograph Live" (Audiograph Records, 1982) (LP)
(Produced by Ron Demmans & Don Kunselman)
For a brief time in the early '80s, the upstart Audiograph label tried to position itself as a viable indie, although most of their clients seem to have been Nashville old-timers who had lost their footholds in the increasingly corporate-oriented 1970s country scene. Audiograph also signed some genuine hopefuls, such as this guy, who really could have made it, as a sort-of George Strait-style neo-tradder. This album is pretty standard fare, mid-tempo material with not-too-rough vocals, in line with what established singers like Moe Bandy and Ronnie McDowell were pumping out at the time. The songs are kind of a mish-mosh of old hits and newer tunes that were, in effect, being demo-ed by Audiograph, and a new version of Vaughn's "Victim Of The Pretty Things In Life," the only song credited under his name. In keeping with the label's "live" vibe, they even mixed in some obviously dubbed "applause" to give the impression that this was a concert album... Ah, those were the days!

Sammy Vaughn "Songs From The Heart" (Audiograph Records, 1982) (LP)
(Produced by Roy Callaway)

Scott Vaughn "Wanted: Scott Vaughn's Ideas" (It's Just Country, 1980) (LP)
(Produced by Norman Petty)
Another mystery disc, and certainly a tantalizing one. Country songwriter Scott Vaughn was one of countless folks who recorded at independent producer Norman Petty's New Mexico studio, a place that most famously launched the career of rock icon Buddy Holly, but continued on for a couple of decades after those salad days came to an end. Vaughn seems to have been in Petty's orbit for several years before this album was made: an archival release from the Nor-Va-Jak vaults has him playing an original song called "Tell You In The Morning," back in 1974... a song that's not included here, but was a good hint of what was to come. This album is packed with original material, with all songs registered through Petty Publications. Six songs were Scott Vaughn originals, with three more provided by Brad Maule, and one each by Rick Martinez, Norman Mezey, and Monty Sasser. Unfortunately, there are no musician credits, though it's possible these other guys played on this album, although they also could have just been tunes that Mr. Petty was pushing at the time. There's one other tangential connection between Maule and Vaughn: both guys had songs covered on an album by the Montana-based Gairrett Brothers -- but again, that was another Norman Petty-produced project, and the two songwriters might have known each other, or maybe not. Because his name is fairly common, I couldn't track down any biographical information about Mr. Vaughn, though it seems likely he was from somewhere in Colorado, if not New Mexico. Any information is welcome!

Bill Vega "You Turned My Whiskey Into Milk" (Gringo Records, 1982) (LP)
(Produced by Harold Bowen Jr., Cleo Price & Bill Vega)
A pretty mysterious record from Southern California... Recorded at the Bo-Mac Records studios in Monrovia, California, this was a country set featuring all-original material credited to pianist-singer Bill Vega, whose biography remains a bit elusive. The musicians were Bill Vega (piano and vocals), John Espinoza (lead and rhythm guitar), Michael Gregory (lead and rhythm guitar), Mark Webster (drums) with vocal backing that included a fella named Cleophus (Cleo) Price. The Bo-Mac label was apparently a black gospel imprint that had a handful of other releases, including two albums and several singles by producer/owner Harold Bowen, with Cleophus Price as one of his main collaborators.

Rose Vegas "Wild Flowers In The Sun" (Golden Rose Records, 1972) (LP)
Not a ton of info about this country gal of yesteryear, a husky-voiced singer who was in the thick of the country music industry, although her own career never really took off. I suspect she may have done some time as a backup singer, possibly even working with Elvis Presley's TCB band. She was kinda-sorta signed to MGM Records around the time this album came out, releasing a 1972 single on a custom imprint owned by the label, though perhaps her deep-toned, Wynonna Judd-ish vocals were a poor match for the more girly-girl vibe of the countrypolitan era. Rose "Vegas" Waters (d. 2020-?) may not have had much success as a solo artist, but she seems to have had a head for business: for several years she served as the secretary of the Academy Of Country Music, and in the 1990s she became Merle Haggard's manager, helping pull him out of a deep financial abyss, and squaring his accounts with the IRS. A few years later, around 2004 she went into business with another country old-timer, helping Ray Price set up a record label, though I'm not sure much came of that venture. Ms. Waters may have passed away around 2020, though I haven't been able to track down an official obituary to confirm her passing.

Robert Thomas Velline "Gates, Grills And Railings" (Liberty Records, 1969)
Robert Veline was the given name of '60s pop singer Bobby Vee, who let his hair down and recorded a couple of country-rock albums in the early '70s. I'm curious about this one, but can never quite bring myself to buy it... Someday... someday.

Robert Thomas Velline "Nothin' Like A Sunny Day" (United Artists, 1972)
(Produced by Dallas L. Smith)

The Velvets "The Velvets" (Vel Records, 197-?) (LP)
(Produced by The Velvets)
An early-1970s frat rock/vocal group from San Antonio, Texas whose repertoire included covers of hippie-era pop songs such as "Born On The Bayou," "Work Together" and "Let It Be," as well as some R&B oldies ("Got My Mojo Working") and some country stuff too, like "The Kind Of Love I Can't Forget" and "I Thought I Heard You Calling My Name." The group included James Farek, Don Florus, Tony Florus, Abel Rodriguez, David Simper, and Joe Woods -- this same lineup remained stable through several albums self-released on the Vel label.

The Velvets "Volume Two" (Vel Records, 197-?) (LP)
(Produced by The Velvets)

The Velvets "Volume Three" (Vel Records, 1972-?) (LP)
(Produced by The Velvets)
The same original lineup cruises through country songs including Hoyt Axton's "Never Been To Spain," "By The Time I Get To Phoenix," "Kiss An Angel Good Morning," and "Release Me," as well as rock tunes like "Brown Sugar," "Tupelo Honey" and Neil Diamond's "Red Red Wine." As with their other albums, there's no date on this disc, but several of the songs were hits in 1971, so I'd guess late '71 or '72.

The Velvets "Kickin' 'N' Rockin' " (Vel Records, 1973-?) (LP)
(Produced by The Velvets)
Apparently this was their fourth album, recorded in Houston with the band once again taking credit as producers, and featuring the original lineup intact from their first album, with the addition of "guest musician" Ross Whiteside. Several covers of popular contemporary country and rock/pop hits: the Charlie Rich classic, "Behind Closed Doors," "Stuck In The Middle" from Steelers Wheel, Billy Preston's "Will It Go Round In Circles," "Your Mama Don't Dance" by Loggins & Messina, and others... You could imagine having a pretty good time at one of their shows. I also appreciate the album cover, illustrating there cultural range between "kickin'" (cowboy boots and bolo ties) and "rockin'" (peace sign patches and spats, or whatever kind of fancy city slicker shoes those were...)

Dan Vernon "Welcome To The World Of Dan Vernon" (NowSound Records, 1975) (LP)
(Produced by Dan Vernon, Joe Deaton & Jim Cox)

Kenny Vernon - see artist discography

The Vestich Brothers "Live At Wolfendale's" (Eclipse Records, 1979) (LP)
(Produced by Jim Haydon & Ed Klamar)
Joe and Mark Vestich were rural rockers from Pennsylvania who recorded this album while doing a gig at Wolfendale's, a bar in the tiny town of Indiana, PA (hometown of Jimmy Stewart!) They cover songs by John Fogerty, Ray Wylie Hubbard, The Dead and Jerry Jeff Walker, including "Friend Of The Devil," "I Heard It Through The Grapevine," "Up Against The Wall, Redneck Mother," and others. No originals, though, alas. The siblings were joined by Ed Chapman, George Harris, John O'Conner (bass), Al Sartori and Frank Tuzi. Not sure how long the band played in its original incarnation, but they've played periodic reunion shows, including one as recently as May, 2018. They've also recorded other stuff, including a solo album or two.

Joyce Vetter "Walkin' On The Sunnyside" (Wild Rose Records, 1987) (LP)
(Produced by Joyce Vetter)
Although her Wild Rose label gave an address in Winnemucca, Nevada, it would be hard to pin Ms. Vetter down to one locale... In addition to her music career, she worked as a wilderness guide in Idaho, Nevada and Northern California, as well as an author, aviator, and video director. Vetter made other records, though as far as I can tell, this one was the rootsiest, with versions of "Bump Bounce Boogie" and "Dolly's Dive." I guess, on balance, I'd peg her as a California gal, since she wound up working on yachts in Sausalito, CA, across the Bay from SF. A rambler and rounder, to be sure!

Mack Vickery "Live At The Alabama Women's Prison" (Mega Records, 1970)
A gender-flipped send-up of the famous Johnny Cash prison concert albums: the cover art shows Alabama-born Mack Vickery (1938-2004) strutting in front of a cell full of love-starved female convicts at the Julia Tutwiler Prison For Women, in Wetumpka, Alabama. Pretty goofy, but there is some great music on here, including some of his originals such as "Alabama Women's Prison Blues" and "A Woman Who Walks On The Wild Side." Vickery was a successful songwriter with a background in the same Sun Records scene that brought fame to Johnny Cash and Jerry Lee Lewis, and went on to pen hits for '70s outlaws and '80s neo-trads alike. He wasn't much of an album artist, though he did also release a string of singles, some of which charted, though obviously most of his success came through the versions cut by his better-known buddies. This album has rather helpfully been reissued on CD by the folks at Bear Family Records, back around 2008.

Mack Vickery "Greatest Hits, Volume One" (Airways Records, 1980) (LP)
(Produced by Mack Vickery)
Wondering which hits Mack Vickery wrote? This album includes a few that might turn your head: "I'm The Only Hell My Momma Ever Raised," which was a big one for Tanya Tucker, the Jerry Lee Lewis anthem, "Rockin' My Life Away" (and his more notorious, less radio-friendly "Meat Man") and "Cedar Town Georgia," a murder ballad Vickery co-wrote with Sammi Smith which was a minor hit for Waylon Jennings. There are also songs like "Brass Buckles" and "A Cardboard Pillow," as well as "Honky Tonk Wine," which was one of Mickey Gilley's best songs of the '70s. Vickery may have only had middling success as a chart artist, but as a songwriter, he really kicked some butt.

Mack Vickery "Greatest Hits, Volume Two" (Airways Records, 1980) (LP)
(Produced by Mack Vickery)
Another two LP's worth of material... Despite minimal graphics, this double-album provides maximum bang for the buck... or it did, back when it came out. Good luck tracking it down now!

Mack Vickery "Mack Vickery" (Sapphire Records, 1984) (LP)
(Produced by Alex Zanetis)

Victims Of Chance "Goin' Home Blue" (No Label, 1971)
(Produced by Johnny Kitchen)
A challenging, kooky, oddball hippie-era album that mashes up roots music, rock and avant-psych... Musically far-flung and starry-eyed, this band featured both female and male lead vocals... I dunno much about this band, though I gather it's legendary on the acid-folk circuit, and was produced by a guy from LA called Johnny Kitchen, who put out a bunch of weird private-press records around the same time. This album was digitally reissued by Essential Media Group in 2011, so it's not as impossible to find as it once was...

The Villagers "On Such A Night" (Friar Tuck's Productions, 1976-?) (LP)
A jaunty though amateurish folk quartet, three guys and one gal singing a variety of material at a club called Friar Tuck's, located in Maumee, Ohio, a suburb of Toledo. This was primarily a string-swing kinda thing, with some material from the country, bluegrass and roots genres. The country songs include renditions of "Coal Tattoo," "Rollin' In My Sweet Baby's Arms" as well as several less twangy options such as a 1940s medley and an acoustic cover of Jefferson Airplane's "White Rabbit." The musicians aren't identified on the album, though signed copies give their first names as Joe, John, Patty and Steve -- turns out Patty and Joe were the Morans, who opened Friar Tuck's as a folk-oriented cabaret in 1973 and operated the venue through most of the 1980s. Not the smoothest or slickest or twangiest-sounding group, though their admittedly awkward cover of "The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down" might be of interest.

The Villagers "Homemade" (Friar Tuck's Productions, 19--?) (LP)
Not sure which of these albums came first, though this one is definitely more firmly in the folk camp. Also, a different lineup: this edition of the Villagers included Patty and Larry Hays, Joe Moran, Mike Robarge, and Steve Scharren, with some other Toledo locals credited in the liner notes for their contributions.

Gene Vincent "Gene Vincent/If Only You Could See Me Today" (Kama Sutra, 1970) (LP)
(Produced by Tom Ayres & Dave Hassinger)
A founding member of the original 1950s rock'n'roll explosion, Gene Vincent (1935-1971) recorded this slightly nutty country-rock-folk album in a bid to remain relevant in the acid-soaked hippie era. The album was released under two different titles, Gene Vincent and If Only You Could See Me Today. It's kind of a fun record, with several notable pickers thanked in the liner notes (and presumably backing him on the tracks) including roots music renaissance man Chris Darrow and Augie Meyers of the Sir Douglas Quintet. Many tracks sound a little loose-knit and spaced-out, though also groovy and relaxed... Meyers contributes two tunes, the kooky nine-minute, stream-of-consciousness jam "Slow Times Comin'," and the bouncy, ultra-Dylanesque title track... It's tempting to write this one off as a "nice-try-but" kinda record, but you gotta give Vincent credit for working with a pretty hip band, and letting them go off in a pretty funky direction. Sadly, this was one of the last recordings by the hard-living, hard-drinking Vincent, who died from a severe ulcer the following year. If "Be-Bop-A-Lula" is the only song of his you know, you might wanna give this a spin.

Don Vinson "A Rose Without Any Thorns" (Masterphase Records, 1986) (LP)
(Produced by Doyle Grisham & Don Vinson)
This appears to be the lone album by South Carolina songwriter Don Vinson, a guy who recorded a string of singles over several decades and made a few inroads into Nashville though mostly seems to have remained a local Carolinian artist. Not a ton of info about this guy out there... Assuming it's all the same Don Vinson, he started cutting singles back in the late 1950s, and was active at least up through the 'Nineties. Mr. Vinson wrote one song, "The Hobo And The Rose," which was recorded by Webb Pierce in 1965, and cut singles for a major label (MGM) as well as several Nashville indies. This appears to have been his only full album, though he had an impressive lineup of talent backing him, including Doyle Grisham on guitar, dobro and steel, Benny Kennerson (keyboards), Richie Simpson (drums), and Glen Worf playing bass. Somewhere along the line, a few years before this came out, Vinson somehow got roped into composing about half the songs on an 1981 album by a really kooky character from Scottsdale, Arizona, named Dennis Smith -- one of many people who claimed to be the secret love-child of Elvis Presley... Despite his long career, there's very little biographical info about Mr. Vinson online -- at least little that I could find.

Smith Vinson "One Time For The Cow" (Playboy Records, 1973) (LP)
(Produced by Ray Harris & Kenneth Christian)
A nice, laid-back set of bluesy, acoustic Southern folk-rock featuring Tupelo, Mississippi guitarist Smith Vinson, who was also featured on other Playboy albums by David Lee Daniels, Tim Tutor and in the band called Doc Kirby & Co. The songs are relaxed and mellow, easygoing, whimsical tunes by a guy who clearly just liked kicking back and picking out tunes. Nothing dazzling, but totally enjoyable, sort of a mix of David Bromberg and Jonathan Edwards. It's also cool that the backing musicians all seem to be locals, instead of the usual-suspect studio crews of the era. I don't know much else about this guy, other than that he was part of the Mississippi longhair music scene back in the '60s and early '70s. Anyone have more info about him?

Virgil & Bill "I'm Gonna Sing" (Hi-Spot Records, 1979) (LP)
(Produced by Tom Claiborne & Bill Belknap)
An exemplary country gospel set -- joyful, exuberant and full of true twang. Starting in 1953, Virgil Glenn and Bill Thorton hosted a popular country music program on KOAM-TV, in Pittsburg, Kansas, and they sound as confident and relaxed as you'd expect from such seasoned veteran performers. They trucked on down to nearby Tulsa, Oklahoma to record this disc, backed in the studio by the Danny Gilliand band, with Danny Gilliand on banjo, Terry Brown (guitar), Mike Bruce (steel guitar), Mike Dinsmore (bass), Shelby Eicher (fiddle and mandolin) and Doyle Speer on drums. The band really gets into it as well -- maybe they get a little note-happy at times, but overall this is just a fun, joyful record. Highly recommended!

Virgil Caine "The Great Lunar Oil Strike, 1976" (Fulcrum/Time Lag Records, 1971) (LP)
This is apparently a legendarily obscure lo-fi rock album with strong roots-music influences. Originally issued on the microscopic Fulcrum label in Virginia, this was (briefly) reissued, though it remains pretty elusive even in that edition.

Otto Voegele & The Valley Troopers "Otto Voegele And The Valley Troopers" (Jomar Records, 19--?) (LP)
A mix of country and polka from multi-instrumentalist Otto Voegele, a resident of Dodge, North Dakota, who had day jobs working at a coal mine in Beulah, ND and as an auctioneer. Playing accordion, banjo guitar and piano, Mr. Voegele had led or been in local bands for about thirty years before cutting this album. He formed the Valley Troopers sixteen years earlier, with backing here by Stanley Johnson (lead guitar), LeRoy Reinhardt (drummer) (and professional auctioneer, since 1979) Erwin Wiesz (piano and accordion) and a little assistance in the studio from Kurt Tibor on bass and Harvey Tibor playing banjo and steel guitar. No date on this one, but the liner notes mention that Mr. Reinhardt had become a professional auctioneer in 1979... So I'm guessing early '80s(?)

Otto Voegele & The Valley Troopers "Album No. 2" (Jomar Records, 19--?) (LP)

The Vogt Family "Footprints Of Jesus/All Aboard" (Praise Records, 19--?) (LP)

The Vogt Family "Back Home" (Praise Records, 19--?) (LP)
(Produced by Irene Carter)
A family band from Pomeroy, Washington with Bud and Ruth Vogt joined by their three children, Bill, Jan and Jon. Jon plays piano and several non-family locals backing them, including lead guitar by George Palmer, some steel guitar from Lee Knight, and Ken Fuller playing the Hammond Organ. The Vogts were not professional musicians -- from the looks of the cartoony cover art, they were an actual farming family -- but they did play some infrequent shows around Spokane and Seattle, playing mainly gospel music.

Howard Vokes "Mountain Guitar And Other Favorites" (Del-Ray Records, 1962) (LP)
Originally billed as "Cowboy Howard Vokes," this Pennsylvania twangster enjoyed his time in the spotlight, particularly while recording for the nationally-distributed Starday label, in the mid-1960s. Vokes's true legacy was as a record producer and promoter, though, shepherding countless regional musicians into the recording booth at Vokes Studios, and tirelessly plugging their custom-made singles in the '60s and '70s. This was his first full LP, drawing in part on previously released singles, and showcases Vokes playing both modern-day honkytonk and older-style sentimental songs such as "Down In The Hollow," and "Willie Roy, The Crippled Boy." It's the novelty numbers that leap out at you, though, kooky tunes such as "Keep Cool But Don't Freeze" and "Polka From Outer Space," which was in keeping with the post-Sputnik vibe of the times.

Howard Vokes "Tragedy And Disaster In Country Songs" (Starday Records, 1964) (LP)
(Produced by Tommy Hill)
The peak of his performing career came when Vokes snagged a deal with Starday Records, culminating in this album old old-school tragedy ballads, ala the Louvin Brothers. There's plenty of gloom, despair and agony to be heard in this blend of murder ballads, topical songs, and maudlin weepers, tunes such as "Old Shep," "The Death Of Little Kathy Fiscus," "Death On The Highway," and "The Sinking Of The Titanic." A digital-era reissue added a couple of tracks that originally were separately released on a seven-inch single.

Howard Vokes "Pennsylvania's King Of Country Music Sings Songs Of Broken Love Affair" (Folk Variety Records, 1977) (LP)
This late-'70s offering brought to light some great sessions that were originally recorded in 1969, with D.J. Fontana on drums, Joe Hayes (fiddle), Al Gore (guitar), Billy Linneman (bass) and Jeff Newman (steel guitar, lead guitar). Folk Variety was a West German label, and apparently the prototype of Binge Disc/Cattle Records, an excellent reissue label that first got traction in the 1980s, reissuing material from obscure American artists, including a number of albums drawing from the vaults of Howard Vokes' various endeavors. The music on this LP is all pretty sweet -- Vokes was understated, but undeniably rootsy and steeped in country music tradition and lore. He wrote or co-wrote most of the tunes on here, with songwriting partners that include Marian Kaye, Billy Wallace and Louise Webb; there are also contributions from artists he published on his Lark Music company, notably Rudy Thacker and Bob Strack, who wrote "Keep Cool But Don't Freeze," which Vokes recorded on his 1962 debut. Such unreconstructed hillbilly twang was, obviously, out of favor in the early-'70s countrypolitan era of Billy Sherrill, so it's not hard to see why this music went unissued for nearly a decade, but it sure sounds sweet now that all the sequins have fluttered to the ground and blown away over the years. Recommended!

Howard Vokes "Tears At The Grand Ole Opry" (Folk Variety Records, 1979) (LP)
This is basically a reissue of his 1962 LP, Mountain Guitar And Other Favorites, with a few extra tracks added to round things out.

John Volinkaty "Right On Time" (ASI Records, 1976) (LP)
(Produced by David Rivkin & John Volinkaty)
A native Minnesotan, songwriter John Volinkaty (d. 1992) struck gold with his song, "Satin Sheets," a smash hit when it was first recorded by Jeanne Pruett in 1973, and a country standard ever since. Volinkaty, an accountant by trade, played in a local rock band called the Shags while he was in college, and dabbled with songwriting for years before "Satin Sheets" came to him like a bolt from the blue... Following the song's runaway success, he set up his own recording studio in Minnesota, and continued to write new material, although he only copyrighted a couple dozen songs; as far as I know this was his only album.

Volunteers "Volunteers" (Arista Records, 1976) (LP)
(Produced by Jim Mason & Val Garay)
This is not a country record -- not by a longshot -- but it deserves mention here because this was a rejiggered edition of the country/rock band formerly known as Timber. I say "country/rock" rather than "country-rock" because of Timber's slightly schizophrenic sound, split between the twangy tendencies of singer-pianist George Clinton and the pop-rock dreams of singer-guitarist Wayne Berry. On this album, Berry wins out: the record starts out in a pure disco mode, and shifts into slick '70s AOR-pop, with Michael McDonald-esque whiteboy soul vocals, with the band clearly changing its image and aiming for a hit. Side Two gets slightly rootsier, sounding like Little Feat or The Band on "Gypsy Thief (Who Do You Trust)" while getting kind of goofy on "Lost In The Hills Of Hollywood." They still have lap steel in the mix (played by bassist Jerry Vilicich, who looked like a Spinal Tap replacement drummer) and Sneaky Pete Kleinow plays steel on one track... But it's not clear why they bothered to have the country touches -- this was a straight-up '70s pop outing, with some Southern soul in there as well. Probably worth a spin if you're into it, though not much here for twangfans to get excited about.

Lee Voorhies "Keep On Truckin' America" (Eagle Records, 1980) (LP)
(Produced by Leonard Needham)
Dwain Lee Voories (1926-1999) was a farm kid from Lancaster, Missouri, up in the northerneastern end of the state, right up near the Iowa border. He had a super-nasal, ultra-rural vocal style, backed here by a sparse, primitive, guitar-based arrangement -- real hillbilly stuff! This local label, Stardust Records, is not to be confused with the more prolific label from New Mexico, which came along a couple of decades later... Apparently Mr. Voorhies also recorded some more rockabilly-oriented material for the Kansas City-based Westport label, using the name Lee Finn. I don't know if he also played in any of the local music shows, but it seems likely. This album appears to have been recorded in Nashville, with an unknown compliment of studio musician, though fiddler(?) Benny Martin is credited as having helped with the arrangements. All the songs are Voorhies originals. A single was also issued containing the first two tracks off the album; intriguingly, the label on the single gave his name as "D. L. Voorhies," though on some copies these initials were covered over with a handwritten "Lee," to keep it consistent with the album cover and earlier releases.

Sonny Voss "Stoned Country" (S & R Records, 1980) (LP)
(Produced by Dave Wooten)
As outlaw albums with druggie references go, this one really delivers the goods... Nearly every song on this Oregon bad-boy's album has a controlled-substance theme, including cheerful ditties such as "Cocaine For My Brain," "Get High, Get Stoned, Get Drunk," "Stoned Again At Club 756" and "My Daddy Is A Country Junky." Yee-haw!! Voss might be laying it on a bit thick, but devotees of stoner twang will definitely want to check this one out.

Jim Voytek "Volume 1" (Autumn Hill Productions, 1978) (LP)
(Produced by Jim Voytek)
This was the lone album by Miami, Florida's Jim Voytek, a onetime rockabilly singer who is best known for recording, "Sweetest Gal In Town," a demo track that was eventually released on an Ace rockabilly collection. He started his own label in the '70s, releasing a few singles by other artists, including several songs by Jack Blanchard & Misty Morgan, late in their career. This album includes novelty material such as "The Ballad Of Thirteen Wives," as well as more straight country material... Voytek died of a heart attack in 1980, leaving several other Autumn Hill projects unreleased.

• More '70s Oddball Country Letters "W"

Hick Music Index