Gene O‘ Quin

3rd version
by Al Turner & Dick Grant with acknowledgements to Phil Tricker, Dave Sax, Richard Weize, Henk Scholts, Wolf-Ruediger Sommer, Thieu Van De Vorst & Praguefrank
Original Story & Discography appeared in The Hillbilly Researcher #1 - Autumn 1988.
SESSIONS
Fall 1948 Sellers Co. Studio, 2102 Jackson St., Dallas, Tx – Boots & His Buddies (Boots Borquin [vcl-1/ld gt], Eugene “Gene” O’Quin [vcl-2], prob. Jimmy Eller [rh gt] or [bjo]. Producer: Jesse Erickson)
001 128/1949 NEXT SUNDAY DARLING IS MY BIRTHDAY -2 Talent 708/Krazy Kat KKCD-21 Rollercoaster RCCD-3049, Dragon Street DCD-70102
000 129/1950 POOR LITTLE JOE -1 Talent 708
TALENT 708 was pressed by 4 STAR Records hence 4 Star Masters nos. KRAZY KAT KKCD-21 PLAYBOY BOOGIE (UK); ROLLERCOASTER RCCD-3049 THE GUYS & GIRLS OF THE BIG D JAMBOREE (UK, 2002); DRAGON STREET DCD-70102 THE GUYS OF THE BIG D JAMBOREE (2002)
ca August 1949 Seller’s Co. Studio, 2102 Jackson St.,Dallas, TX - Gene O’Quin With Al Turner’s Big “D” Jamboree Barn Dance Gang (Gene O‘ Quin [vcl], Buster White or Leon Rhodes [gt], poss. Buddy Griffin [rh gt], poss. Jimmy Kelley [steel], poss. Otis West or Buzz Burnham [bass], poss. Williams Jack “Billy Jack” Saucier [fiddle]. Producer: Jesse Erickson)
002 240 PENNIES FOR PAPA Talent 741
003 241 BLUES COME AROUND 741/White Label WLP-2814
WHITE LABEL WLP-2814 BOPPIN’ HILLBILLY, Vol.14, THE STAR TALENT LABEL (NED, 1990)
Spring 1950 [demo session] Capitol Recording Studio, 5515 Melrose Ave., Hollywood, CA – Gene O‘ Quin (Gene O‘ Quin [vcl/gt]. Producer: Leland Jame “Lee” Gillette)
00301 unknown title
00302 unknown title
00303 unknown title
00304 unknown title
13 July 1950 [no. 1841, 15:00-18:00] Capitol Recording Studio, 5515 Melrose Ave., Hollywood, CA – Gene O‘ Quin (Gene O‘ Quin [vcl], Ivy “Jimmy” Bryant [el ld gt], Edward “Eddie” Kirk [rh gt], Wesley Webb “Speedy” West [steel], Clifford Gilpin “Cliffie Stone” Snyder [bass], Harold Hensley [fiddle], William “Billy” Liebert [pno]. Producer: Lee Gillette)
004 6381-4 KEEP A-TALIN’ BABY Capitol F1219/Barnyard LP-5208 Castle LP-8211 Bear Family BCD-16194
005 6382-1 THE PINBALL MILLIONAIRE* Capitol F1148/Castle LP-8108 Bear Family BCD-16194
006 6383-1 THE HARD WAY* F1148
007 6384-1 (YOU’RE GONNA HAVE TO STOP) THAT LOWDOWN RUNNIN’ AROUND Capitol F1219/Barnyard LP-5208, Castle LP-8211 Bear Family BCD-16194
*initial pressing of F1148 issued as by Jene O‘ Quin
Late Summer 1950 [The Smiley Burnette Show-Radio Station KWTO] Springfield, MO – Gene O‘ Quin (Gene O‘ Quin [vcl/gt] + Smiley Burnette’s Whippoorwill’s: Roy Lanham [ld gt], Gene Mobeck [rh gt], Douglas “Doug” Dalton [mand], Dusty Rhodes [bass])
00701 THE HARD WAY Castle LP-8108 Rollercoaster RCCD-3049 Dragon Street DCD-70102
2 November 1950 [no. 1965, 15:30-19:00] Capitol Recording Studio, 5515 Melrose Ave., Hollywood, CA – Gene O‘ Quin (Gene O‘ Quin [vcl], Merle Robert Travis [ld gt], Eddie Kirk [rh gt], Speedy West [steel], Cliffie Stone [bass] Harold Hensley [fiddle], Billy Liebert [pno]. Producer: Lee Gllette)
008 6801-5 I GET THE BLUES Capitol F1346/Castle LP-8108 Charly CR-30255 BCD-16194, Cactus CAPCD-4
009 6802-6 DEVIL ON MY SHOULDER (AND AN ANGEL IN MY ARMS) Capitol F1315/Castle LP-8108 BCD-16194
010 6803-4 YOU’RE SMILING AT ANOTHER F1315/LP-8108 BCD-16194
011 6804-6 BUTANE BLUES F1346/LP-8108, Charly CR-30255
CHARLY CR-30255 TOO HOT TO HANDLE (UK,1986); CACTUS CAPCD-4 CAPITOL HILLBILLY, Vol.4
2 February 1951 [no. 2046, 14:30-17:30] Capitol Recording Studio, 5515 Melrose Ave., Hollywood, CA – Gene O‘ Quin (Gene O‘ Quin [vcl], Eddie Kirk [ld gt], Speedy West [steel], Cliffie Stone [bass], Harold Hensley [fiddle], Billy Liebert [piano]. Producer: Kenneth F. “Ken” Nelson)
012 7066-3 IT’S NO USE TALKIN’ BABY F1821/Castle LP-8108, Bug/Capitol CI-91346
013 7067-2 YOU PLAYED AROUND WITH MY HEART F1433/Barnyard LP-5208 Castle LP-8211 BCD-16194
014 7068-7 TRIFLIN’ WOMAN (YOU’RE GONNA HAVE TO SETTLE DOWN) F1708
015 7069-8 HEADS YOU WIN (TAILS I LOSE) F1433/Barnyard LP-5208 LP-8211 BCD-16194
BUG/CAPITOL CI-91346 HILLBILLY MUSIC…THANK GOD, Vol.1 (1990)
8 March 1951 [no. 2074, 20:00-23:00] Capitol Recording Studio, 5515 Melrose Ave., Hollywood, CA – Gene O‘ Quin (Gene O‘ Quin [vcl], Eddie Kirk [ld gt], Speedy West [steel], Cliffie Stone [bass], Muddy C. Berry [drums], Harold Hensley [fiddle], Billy Liebert [piano]. Producer: Ken Nelson)
016 7192-1 I’M LONESOME FOR YOU F1821/Castle LP-8108
017 7193-6 LET ME CHANGE YOUR NAME F1943/Castle LP-8108 Bear Family BCD-16194 Cactus CAPCD-3
018 7194-7 NO PARKING HERE Capitol F1508/Barnyard LP-5208 Castle LP-8211 BCD-16194, Cactus CAPCD-2
019 7195-6 BOOGIE WOOGIE FEVER F1508/Barnyard LP-5208 Castle LP-8211 Charly CR-30215 BCD-16194 Disky DC-885772
CHARLY CR-30215 BOOGIE WOOGIE FEVER (UK, May 1982); CACTUS CAPCD-2 CAPITOL HILLBILLY, Vol.2; DISKY DC-885772 A CAPITOL ROCKABILLY PARTY, Part.3
11 June 1951 [no. 2109, 14:30-18:00] Capitol Recording Studio, 5515 Melrose Ave., Hollywood, CA – Gene O‘ Quin (Gene O‘ Quin [vcl], Eddie Kirk [gt], William “Billy” Strange [gt], Speedy West [steel], Cliffie Stone [bass], Muddy Berry [drums], Harold Hensley [fiddle], Billy Liebert [piano]. Producer: Ken Nelson)
020 7647-16 I’M GONNA TAKE MY BABY DANCING F2344/BC-16194 Cactus CAPCD-2
021 7648-7 TEXAS BOOGIE F1708/EC-50062 Charly CR-30215 BCD-16194 Disky DC-885712
022 7649-5 YOU BETTER CHANGE YOUR WAYS F2050/Castle LP-8108
023 7650 I’M GONNA FIND ANOTHER SWEETHEART F1943/LP-8108
? EC-50062 WANTED; DISKY DC-885712 A CAPITOL ROCKABILLY PARTY, Part.2
30 January 1952 [no. 2514, 14:30-17:30] Capitol Recording Studio, 5515 Melrose Ave., Hollywood, CA – Gene O‘ Quin (Gene O‘ Quin [vcl], Jimmy Bryant [ld gt], Billy Strange [gt], Speedy West [steel], Cliffie Stone ]bass], Muddy Berry [drums], Harold Hensley [fiddle], Billy Liebert [piano]. Producer: Ken Nelson)
024 9676-8 COME AROUND TO ME F2050/Castle LP-8108 Bear Family BCD-16194
025 9677-5 I’LL NEVER BE THE SAME F2075/LP-8108
026 9678-7 YOU’RE GONNA BE SORRY F2210/LP-8108 El Toro ETCD CH-102
027 9679-10 MOBILIN’ BABY OF MINE F2075/LP-8108 BCD-16194 Cactus CAPCD-1
EL TORO ETCD CH-102 COLLECTOR’S CHOICE-CAMPUS BOOGIE; CACTUS CAPCD-1 CAPITOL HILLBILLY, Vol.1.
21 June 1952 [no. 2762, 14:30-17:30] Capitol Recording Studio, 5515 Melrose Ave., Hollywood, CA – Gene O‘ Quin (Gene O‘ Quin [vcl], Jimmy Bryant [ld gt], Billy Strange [gt], Speedy West [steel], Paul Toenniges [bass], Muddy Berry [drums], Harold Hensley [fiddle], Leslie “Les” Taylor [piano]. Producer: Ken Nelson0
028 10337 I’M GETTIN’ RID OF YOU F2843/Barnyard LP-5203 Castle LP-8211 Charly CR-30256
029 10338-9 I DON’T WANT YOUR KISS’ES (IF I CAN’T HAVE YOUR HEART) F2490/LP-5203 LP-8211 BCD-16194
030 10339-6 CLOSE YOUR EYES (AND I’LL BE THERE) F2344
031 10423-12 TENNESSEE TALKIN’ DOLL F2210/Castle LP-8108 Charly CR-30255
032 FALLIN’ IN LOVE unissued
CHARLY CR-30256 OAKIE BOOGIE (UK, 1986)
27 January 1953 [no. 2905, 14:30-17:30] Capitol Recording Studio, 5515 Melrose Ave., Hollywood, CA – Gene O‘ Quin (Gene O‘ Quin [vcl], Jimmy Bryant [ld gt], Billy Strange [gt], Speedy West [steel], Herman “Herman The Hermit” Snyder [bass], ? [drums], Harold Hensley [fiddle-1]. Producer: Ken Nelson)
033 11068-3 TIRED-1 F2843/Barnyard LP-5203 Castle LP-8211 BCD-16194
034 11069-3 I BELIEVE IN LOVIN’ ‘EM F2655/Barnyard LP-5203 LP-8211 Charly CR-30255 BCD-16194 Disky DC-885772
035 11070-4 I’LL STOP LOVING YOU -1 F2490/Barnyard LP-5203 Castle LP-8211 BCD-16194 Cactus CAPCD-5
036 11071-4 I WISH IT WAS ONLY A DREAM -1 F2655/Barnyard LP-5203 Castle LP-8211
CACTUS CAPCD-5 CAPITOL HILLBILLY, Vol.5
27 January 1953 [no. 3278, 19:00-22:00] Capitol Recording Studio, 5515 Melrose Ave., Hollywood, CA – Gene O‘ Quin (Gene O‘ Quin [vcl], Quilla Hugh “Porky” Freeman [gt], Billy Strange [gt], Speedy West [steel], Allen Williams [bass], Harold Hensley [fiddle]. Producer: Ken Nelson)
037 12200-5 I SPECIALIZE IN LOVE Capitol F2715/BCD-16194
038 12201-7 TOO HOT TO HANDLE F2715/Charly CR-30255 BCD-16194 Disky DC-885772
039 12202-15 I DON’T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT LOVE unissued
040 12203-7 I CAN’T STAND THE THOUGHT OF LOSING YOU Bear Family BCD-16194
24 August 1954 [no. 3511, 15:00-18:00] Capitol Recording Studio, 5515 Melrose Ave., Hollywood, CA – Gene O‘ Quin (Gene O‘ Quin [vcl], Walley Nix [gt], Billy Strange [gt], Speedy West [steel], Joyce Wayne “Red” Murrell [bass], Roy Harte [drums], Harold Hensley [fiddle]. Producer: Ken Nelson)
041 12955-16 YOU NAME IT (SHE’S GOT IT) F2935/Barnyard LP-5203 Castle LP-8211 BCD-16194
042 12956-8 IT’S NO WONDER F2935/Barnyard LP-5203 LP-8211 Bear Family BCD16194
043 12957-10 STAND BACK AND LET ME AT THAT GAL Bear Family BCD-16194
044 12958-7 SOMEONE’S GONNA BE LONELY BCD-16194
24 August 1954 [14:00-17:00] Capitol Recording Studio, 5515 Melrose Ave., Hollywood, CA – Gene O‘ Quin (Gene O‘ Quin [vcl], Jimmy Bryant [ld gt], Harold Rodcay [gt], Billy Strange [gt], Gerald “Jerry” Miller [steel], Allen Williams [bass], Homer Escamilla [drums], Harold Hensley [fiddle], Les Taylor [pno]. Producer: Ken Nelson)
045 CAP 2550/IM 4396 JOE, JOE, JOE Intro 45-6089/LP-5208 LP-8211 BCD 16194
046 CAP 2551/IM 4397 CONVICTED Intro 45-6089/LP-5208 LP-8211 BCD 16194
047 CAP 2552/IM 4398 I SEARCHED THE CROWD Intro 45-6090/BCD 16194
048 CAP 2554/IM 4399 THAT'S MY DESIRE Intro 45-6090/BCD 16194
1964 Dallas, TX – Boots & His Buddies (Boots Borquin [vcl], Gene O’Quin [vcl/gt] + unknown musicians)
049 RK4M-7187 OUT OF MY MIND Vandan VR-7187
050 RK4M-7188 NEXT SUNDAY DARLIN’ IS MY BIRTHDAY VR-7187
1975 Hollywood, CA – Gene O’Quin (unknown musicians. Producer: Cliffie Stone & Steve Stone)
049 I'M GONNA LIVE THE LIVE THEY SING ABOUT (IN ALL THOSE COUNTRY SONGS) Unicorn UR-7502
050 OUR HOUSE IS BURNING DOWN Unicorn UR-7502

ALBUMS
Barnyard [GER] LP-5208 Star Of The Big "D" Jamboree (1950-1954): You Name It (She's Got It); It's No Wonder; Tired: I'm Gettin' Rid Of You; I Don't Want Your Kisses (If I Can't Have Your Heart); I Believe In Lovin'; I Wish It Was Only A Dream; Boogie Woogie Fever; No Parking Here; Convicted; Joe Joe Joe; That Low Down Running Around; Keep A-Talkin' Baby; Heads You Win (Tails I Lose; You Played Around with My Heart - 75 (reissued in 1982 on Castle LP-8211 Country Music Retrospect, vol. 5)
Castle [GER] LP- 8108 The Late Gene O'Quin - A Hillbilly At Heart: Pinball Millionaore; You're Amiling At Another; You're Gonna Be Sorry; Tennessee Talking Doll; Let Me Change Your Name; I'm Gonna Find Another Sweetheart; I'm Lonesome For You; It's No Use Talking Baby (I'm Through); Mobilin´ Baby Of Mine; I'll Never Be The Same; You Better Change Your Ways; Come Around To Me; Butane Blues; I Get The Blues; Devil On My Shoulder; Intro/The Hard Way (w.Whippoorwills of the Smiley Burnette Show) - 81
Bear Family [GER] BCD-16194 Boogie Woogie Fever: Boogie Woogie Fever; The Pinball Millionaire; Mobilin´ Baby Of Mine; You Name It (She's Got It); Devil On My Shoulder; Too Hot To Handle; I Believe In Lovin´; Someone's Gonna Be Lonely; Texas Boogie; Heads You Win (Tails I Lose); Keep A-Talkin´ Baby; I'm Gonna Take My Baby Dancing; That's My Desire; I Specialize In Love; No Parking Here; I'll Stop Loving You; It's No Wonder; Come Around To Me; Tired; I Get The Blues; I Don't Know Anything About Love; Let Me Change Your Name; Convicted; You Played Around With My Heart; Stand Back And Let Me At That Gal; That Low Down Running Around; I Can't Stand The Thought Of Losing You; Joe; Joe; Joe; You're Smiling At Another; I Searched The Crowd - 14-03-00

SINGLES
Talent (1948-49)
708 Next Sunday Darling is My Birthday / Poor Little Joe – ca. 48 as by Boots & His Buddies
741 Pennies For Papa / Blues Come Around – 49 (adv. September 4)
Capitol (1950-54)
F1148 The Pinball Millionaire / The Hard Way – 08-50
F1219 Keep-A-Talkin' Baby / (You’re Gonna Have To Stop) That Lowdown Runnin’ Around – 09-50
F1315 Devil On My Shoulder (And An Angel In My Mind) / You're Smiling At Another – 12-50
F1346 I Get The Blues / Butane Blues – ca. 08-01-51
F1433 You Played Around With My Heart / Heads You Win (Tails I Lose) – 03-51
F1508 Boogie Woogie Fever / No Parking Here – 05-51
F1708 Texas Boogie / Triflin' Woman (You’re Gonna Have To Settle Down) – 15-08-51
F1821 It's No Use Talkin' Baby (I'm Through) / I'm Lonesome For You – 10-51
F1943 Let Me Change Your Name / I'm Gonna Find Another Sweetheart – 01-52
F2050 You Better Change Your Ways / Come Around To Me – 04-52
F2075 I'll Never Be The Same / Mobilin' Baby If Mine – 05-52
F2210 Tennessee Talkin' Doll / You're Gonna Be Sorry – 11-09-52
F2344 Close Your Eyes (And I'll Be There) / I'm Gonna Take My Baby Dancing – 01-53
F2490 I Don't Want Your Kisses (If I Can’t Have Your Heart) / I'll Stop Loving You – 06-53
F2655 I Believe In Lovin' / I Wish It Was Only A Dream – 16-11-53
F2715 I Specialize In Love / Too Hot To Handle – 01-02-54
F2843 Tired / I'm Getting Rid Of You – 06-54
F2935 You Name It (She's Got It) / It's No Wonder – 10-54
Intro (1955)
6089 Convicted / Joe, Joe, Joe – 11-55
6090 I Searched The Crowd / That's My Desire – 11-55
Vandan (1964)
7187 Next Sunday Darling Is My Birthday / Out of My Mind - 64 "Boots" and His Buddies
Unicorn (ca 1975)
UR-7502 I'm Gonna Live The Live They Sing About (In All Those Country Songs) / Our House Is Burning Down – ca 75