Billy Barton

John Grimes, *21-11-1929 London, KY, +08-10-2011
by Dick Grant with acknowledgements to Ian Saddler, Wayne Russell, Dave Sax, Adriaan Sturm, Adam Komorowski, Udo Frank, Tom Mindte, Al Turner, Russell Sims, the late Ivan Tribe, Arien den Dulk
SESSIONS
1951 [demo session] American Music, Inc., Los Angeles, CA - Johnnny Horton & Billy Barton (Johnny” Horton [vcl/ac gt], John “Billy Barton” Grimes [vcl/rh gt]. Producer: Sylvester Cross)
00001 SOMEBODY’S ROVKIN’ MY BROKEN HEART Stampede STRCD-5001
1951 [demo session] Los Angeles, CA - Johnnny Horton & *Billy Barton (Johnny Horton [vcl(vcl/ac gtr); Billy Barton [vcl*/rh gt], poss Speedy West [steel] + unknown ld gt, bass, fiddle, piano. Producer: Fabor A. Robison)
00000 SOMEBODY’S ROCKIN’ MY BROKEN HEART Bear Family BFX-15289 BCD-16258
00002 SOMEBODY’S ROCKIN’ MY BROKEN HEART* BFX-15289 BCD-16289 Stampede SPRCD-5001
00000 BETTY LORRAINE BFX-15289BCD-16289
1951 [demo session] American Music, Inc., Los Angeles, CA - Johnnny Horton & Billy Barton (Johnny” Horton [vcl/ac gt], John “Billy Barton” Grimes [vcl/rh gt]. Producer: Sylvester Cross)
00003 BAWLIN’ BABY Stampede SPRCD-5001
13 February 1952 Abbott Studio, Escondido Canyon, Malibu, CA - Johnny Horton, * & Billy Barton
001 BAWLIN' BABY* 109/CST 290 CMH 220/Custom CS-1018 CCL-1121 BFX-15289 BCD-15936 BCD-16258, Properbox 103 Indigo IGOTCD-2556 BACM CD D-087 HBRCD-078, Membran CD-231964Membran CD-605168
002 SOMEBODY'S ROCKIN' MY BROKEN HEART* 108/CST 290 CST-485 Custom CS-1018 CS-1072 CMH 220 CCL-1172 Bear Family BFX-15289 BCD-16258 P-Vine PCD-2467 BACM CD D-087 Hillbilly Researcher HBRCD-078
000 BETTY LORRAINE (BETTY LOU) 108/CST 290 CMH 220 Crown CST-290 CST-485 Custom CS-1018 CCL-1121 BFX-15289 BCD-16259 Castle Pulse CD-823 Varese 302 066684-2
000 RHYTHM IN MY BABY'S WALK 109/Crown CST 290 CST-485 CMH 220 CS-1018 CCL-1121 BFX-15289 BCD-16258 P-Vine PCD-2467 BACM CD D-087 Varese 302 066685-2
1952 [demo session] unknown - Johnnny Horton & Billy Barton (Johnny” Horton [vcl/ac gt], John “Billy Barton” Grimes [vcl/rh gt])
00201 I’LL FILL A DRUNKARD’S GRAVE Stampede SPRCD-5001
1952 [demo session] American Music, Inc., Los Angeles, CA - Billy Barton (solo vcl/gt). Producer: Sylvester Cross)
00202 STRANGE AFFECTION Stampede SPRCD-5001
ca March 1952 Abbott Studio, Escondido Canyon, Malibu, CA - Billy Barton (unknown musicians. Producer: Fabor Robinson)
003 STRANGE AFFECTION Abbott 110/Hillbilly Researcher HBRCD-078
004 SHE’S A GOOD OLE GAL Abbott 110/HBRCD-078
005 NO INTEREST (NOTHING BUT A GIRL) Abbott 111/HBRCD-078
006 NEVER SATISFIED 111/HBRCD-078
1952 [demo session] American Music, Inc., Los Angeles, CA - Billy Barton (solo vcl/gt). Producer: Sylvester Cross)
00601 BLUES IN THE BLUE OF THE NIGHT Stampede SPRCD-5001
Fall 1952 Abbott Studio, Escondido Canyon, Malibu, CA - Billy Barton, * & The Coircle O Ranch Boys (unknown musicians. Producer: Fabor Robinson)
007 MY DARLIN’ LIZA LOU Abbott 113/Hillbilly Researcher HBRCD-078
008 YOU MADE ME LOVE YOU 113/HBRCD-078
009 BLUES IN THE BLUE OF THE NIGHT* Abbott 117 Grande 117/White Label WLP-2816 Hillbilly Researcher HBRCD-078
010 YOU WILL ALWAYS BE IN MY HEART* Abbott 117 Grande 117
There probably were TWO sessions held late 1952, one of them at KSIJ Radio Station Studio, Gladewaterm TX. At this two-tracks session issued on Abott Burton Harris played. (Info send by Arie den Dulk, Jim Reeves Fan Club)
1953 prob. Bakersfield, CA - Bill Woods & His Orange Blossom Playboys with Hillbilly Barton (unknown musicians)
011 NO HELP WANTED Mar-Vel MV-101
012 A HEARTBREAK AGO Mar-Vel MV-101
1952/1953 [demo sessions] Hollywood, CA - Billy Barton
01201 BLUE EYES YOU TURNED ME BLUE Stampede SPRCD-5001
01202 AGGRAVATING LOVE SPRCD-5001
01203 MY LOVE KEEPS TRAVELING ON SPRCD-5001
01204 IS MY HEART JUST A TOY? SPRCD-5001
01205 IT’S ALL WRONG SPRCD-5001
01206 SEND ME YOUR LOVE IN A LETTER SPRCD-5001
01207 CAN’T GET RID OF THE MEMORY SPRCD-5001
01208 THE BLUE OF YOUR LOVE IS DYING SPRCD-5001
01209 FADED ROSES SPRCD-5001
01210 THE OLD SPANISH WALTZ SPRCD-5001
01211 BABY I’M TAKING A RIDE SPRCD-5001
01212 ROLLIN’ ON SPRCD-5001
1953 [demo session] American Music, Inc., Los Angeles, CA - Billy Barton & Wanda Wayne/*Wanda Wayne
01313 A DEAR JOHN LETTER
01314 THE WAY SHE SAID I LOVE YOU Stampede SPRCD-5001
01300 WHO WILL YOU CRY TO THEN* SPRCD-5001
01315 BROKE SPRCD-5001
2 November 1953 Hollywood, CA - Billy Barton aka Johnny Grimes, + & Wanda Wayne/*Wanda Wayne (unknown musicians)
014 K3688 WHO WOULD YOU CRY TO 45-1291/ BACM CD D-093
015 K3689 THESE THREE LITTLE WORDS+ 45-1291/Hillbilly Researcher HBRCD-078
000 K3690 DON'T FORGET TO WRITE* 45-1290/Hillbilly Researcher HBRCD-078
000 K3691 TAKE YOUR TEARS (TO THE ONE WHO TOOK YOUR KISSES)* 45-1290/Hillbilly Researcher HBRCD-078
ca January 1954 Hollywood, CA - Wanda Wayne [recitation Billy Barton]/*BillyBarton/+Wanda Wayne & Billy Barton (unknown musicians)
016 I CRIED MY EYES OUT OVER YOU Abbott 155-45/Hillbilly Researcher HBRCD-078
017 WHAT’S THE MATTER WITH ME* 155/HBRCD-078
018 YOU’RE YOU* Abbott 166/HBRCD-078
019 THAT WORD CALLED LOVE+ 166/HBRCD-078
14 January 1955 King Recording Studio, 1540 Brewster Ave., Cincinnati, OH - Billy Barton, * & Wanda Wayne/+Wanda Wayne (Oscar James “Jimmy” Stoneman [fiddle] & unknown musicins)
000 K3927 I GOTTA GET MY BABY+ 45-1437/HBRCD-078
000 K3928 LIGHT ACROSS THE RIVER+ 45-1437/HBRCD-078
020 K3929 THE SONG YOU JUST PLAYED* 45-1440/HBRCD-078
021 K3930 PARDON ME, OLD BUDDY 45-1457/Cactus CACT-5001, Cactus CAKING CD-3 HBRCD-078
022 K3931 WHAT GOD HAS PUT TOGETHER 45-1457/HBRCD-078
023 K3932 WHY DON'T YOU LEAVE HER ALONE 45-1440/HBRCD-078
1957 Hollywood, CA - Billy Barton
024 H80W-2188 NO TOMORROW Stars Inc. #548
025 H80W-2189 TEN WHEELS #548
ca June 1958 Hollywood, CA - Billy Barton
026 ∆24166 CRAZY LOVER Vidor Pub. Inc. 1007/Flame LP-008, Flame CD-005
027 ∆24167 DAY LATE AND A DOLLAR SHORT 1007/Legend LP-1003 Mima MLP-002
1958 Hollywood, CA - Billy Barton
028 ∆24746 THE DEVIL, MY CONSCIENCE AND I Fire 1008/Radio 117-45
029 ∆24747 DOORWAY TO HEAVEN 1008/117-A-45
(possibly recorded on previous session)
1961 Nashville, TN or Florida - Billy Barton
030 S-1280 BLUE LOVER Gulf 1001 Gulf Reef 1001
031 S-1281 MONKEY BUSINESS Gulf 1001 Gulf Reef 1001
1961 Hollywood, CA or Bakersfield, CA - Carolyn Johnson, * & Billy Barton (Bill Woods Orchestra. Producer: Les Geeting)
032 TWO KIDS IN LOVE* Gulf 1004
033 WHY DO I LOVE YOU 1004
early 1962 Nashville, TN - Billy Barton aka Laurel London (Producer: Billy Barton)
034 DKTR- DON’T KNOCK THE ROCK Gulf Reef GR-1007/White Label WLP-8959 Jan/Star Club CD-1979/9911
035 MCAI- MY CONSCIENCE AND I Gulf Reef GR-1007
1964 Nashville, TN - Billy Barton (Producer: Russell Sims)
036 EVEN STEVEN Sims 176
037 REMEMBERING 176
1964 Nashville, TN - Billy Barton (Producer: Russell Sims)
038 AFTER THE BOY GETS THE GIRL Sims 209
The flipside of the above record was by Little Louis with “Short Trip” which was also released in Canada on Reo 8807
1964 Nashville, TN - Billy Barton & Janet McBrode
039 LETTER TO A FOOL Sims 244
040 ARMS OF A CHILD 244
unknown Nashville, TN - Billy Barton aka Johnny Grimes
041 POVERTY STRICKEN DIESEL Ka$h 0004
042 TINY RED HEARTS 0004
Early 1980s Nashville, TN - Billy Barton & Hattie Grimes aka Johnny & Hattie Grimes (Producer: Russell Sims)
043 I’LL BE ALRIGHT IN THE MORNING Sims 102
044 WHAT DO THEY KNOW ABOUT BEING NO GOOD 102

ALBUMS
By Dick Grant with acknwledgements to Mario Manciotti
Stampede CD-5001 Johnny Horton/Billy Barton: [Johnny Horton & Billy Barton:] Bawlin' Baby; [Johnny Horton:] Honky Tonk Jelly Roll Blues; Give Me Back My Picture; Devilish Lovelight; I'll Fill A Drunkhard's Grave (No.1)' Go And Wash Those Dirty Feet (No.1); Egg Money; It's A Long Rocky Road; Banks Of The Beautiful Nile; In My Home In Shelby County; Talk, Gobbler, Talk; Confusion; First Train Headin' South; Go And Wash Those Dirty Feet (No.2); I'm A Fishin' Man; [Johnny Horton & Billy Barton:] I'll Fill A Drunkard's Grave (No.2); [Billy Barton:] Blue Eyes You Turned Me Blue; Aggravating Love; My Love Keeps Travelling On; Is My Heart Just A Toy?; It's All Wrong; Send Me Your Love In A Letter; Can't Get Rid Of The Money; The Blue Of Your Love Is Dying; Faded Roses; The Old Spanish Waltz; Strange Affection; Blues In The Blue Of The Night; Baby I'm Taking A Ride; Rollin' On; Somebody's Rockin' My Broken Heart; The Way She Said I Love You; [Wanda Wayne:] Who Will You Cry To Then; [Wanda Wayne & Billy Barton:] Broke - 07
Hillbilly Researcher [UK] HBRCD-078 Billy Barton & Wanda Wayne: Somebody's Rockin' My Broken Heart (with Johnny Horton); Bawlin' Baby (with Johnny Horton); Strange Affection; No Interest; She's A Good Ole Gal; Never Satisfied; My Darlin' Liza Lou; You Made Me Love You (With A Twinkle In Your Eye); You Will Always Be In My Heart; Blues In The Blue Of The Night; Who Would You Cry To; These Three Little Words; Don't Forget To Write; Take Your Tears (To The One Who Took Your Kisses); I Cried My Eyes Out Over You; What's The Matter With Me; You're You; That Word Called Love; I Gotta Go Get My Baby; The Light Across The River; The Song You Just Played; Pardon Me, Old Buddy; What God Has Put Together, Let No Man Tear Apart; Why Don't They Leave Her Alone; Do You Love Me, Do You Love Me; I'm Turning Over A New Leaf; Turn Your Fire Down; Catch Your Lover - ca 08

SINGLES
Abbott (1952)
108 Somebody Rocking In My Broken Chair / Betty Lorraine - 03-52 w. Johnny Horton
110 She¢s A Good Ole Gal / Strange Affection - 04-52
111 Never Satisfied / No Interest (Nothing But A Girl) - 04-52
113 You Made Me Love You / My Darlin¢ Liza Lou - 12-52
117 You Will Always Be In My Heart / Blues In The Blue Of The Night - 02-53 (also on Grande 117)
Mar Vel (1953)
MV 101 No Help Wanted / A Heart Break Ago - 53 w. Bill Woods
King (1953)
45-1291 Who Would You Cry To / These Little Three Words [w. Wanda Wayne] - 12-53
Abbott (1954)
155 What¢s The Matter With You / I Cried My Eyes Out Over You - 02-54 w. Wanda Wayne
166 You¢re You / That World Called Love - ca. 06-54 w. Wanda Wayne
King (1954)
45-1440 Song You Just Played / Why Don¢t They Leave Her - 19-01-55
45-1457 Pardon Me, Old Buddy / What God Has Put Together - 04-04-55
45-1478 Do You Love Me / I¢m Turning Over A Brand New Leaf - 06-55
Stars Inc. (1957)
548 No Tomorrow / Ten Wheels - 57
Vidor Pub. (1958)
1007 Crazy Lover / Day Late And A Dollar Short - 58 (reissued on Billy Barton 1007 in 1959)
Fire (1958)
1008 Doorway To Heaven / The Devil, My Conscience. And I - 08-58 (reissued on Radio 117-45 possibly in October same year)
Gulf Reef (1961)
GULF-1001 Monkey Business / Blue Lover - ca 10-61 (also as Gulf 1001)
1004 Two Kinds Of Love (w. Carolyn Johnson) / Why Do I Love You (Carolyn Johnson) - ca 61
GR-1007 Don¢t Knock The Rock / My Conscince And I - 02-62 as by Laurel London
Sims (1964)
176 Eve Steven / Remembering - 05-64
209 Easy Street / (Little Louis:) Short Trip - ca. 10-64
244 Letter To A Fool / Arms Of A Child - ca. 05-65 w. Janet McBride
Ka$h
0004 Poverty Stricken Diesel / Tiny Red Hearts
Sims
102 I'll Be Alright In the Morning / What Do They Know About Being No Good - Johnny & Hattie Grimes