Texas Bill Strength

2nd version
by Dick Grant, Al Turner & Adam Komorowski with acknowledgements to Graham Fincher, Xavier Maire, Michel Ruppli, Martin Hawkins, Colin Escott & Dave Sax.
originally published in THE HILLBILLY RESEARCHER #9 -1991.
SESSIONS
1949 Houston, TX – Jerry Irby and His Texas Ranchers/*Texas Bill Strength aka David Grey and His Texas Ranchers [Gerald F. “Jerry” Irby [vcl-1/rh gt], William Thomas “Texas Bill” Strength [vcl-2/gt], ? [ld gt], poss. Ernest “Deacon” Evans [steel], Peter ? [bass], ? [drums-7], Anthony “Tony” Sepolio [fiddle],“Pete” Burke [pno-6])
000 101-A YOU CAN’T TAKE IT WITH YOU -1 Cireco 101
000 101-B ALMOST EVERY TIME -1 101-B
000 102-A 49 WOMEN -1-6-7 Cireco 102/Collector CLCD-2851
001 102-B LITTLE I AND BIG YOU -2 102-B/BACM CD D-186
COLLECTOR CLCD-2851 BOPPIN’ HILLBILLY SERIES-JERRY IRBY (NED)
1949 Houston, TX – Texas Bill Strength
002 BUTTON AND BOWS Cireco unissued?
003 COWBOY’S SWEETHEART Cireco unissued?
004 EL RANCHO GRANDE Cireco unissued?
ca May 1949 poss. ACA Studio, 612 Westheimer, Houston, TX – “Texas“ Bill Strength and His Saddlepals
005 3176 PLEASE DON’T EVER FORGET ME 4 Star 1334
006 3177 IF I COULD BUY YOUR LOVE 1334
ca November 1949 poss. ACA Studio, 612 Westheimer, Houston, TX – “Texas“ Bill Strength and His Saddlepals
007 3431 ACTION SPEAKS LOUDER THAN WORDS 4 Star 45-1402
008 3432 MR. MOON SAILING HIGH 1402
ca April 1950 poss. ACA Studio, 612 Westheimer, Houston, TX – “Texas“ Bill Strength and His Saddlepals (Texas Bill Strength [vcl/gt] + unknown ld gt, steel, bass, fiddle)
009 3625 WHO’S THE LUCKY ONE 4 Star 45-1465/BACM CD D-186
010 3626 BLACK COFFEE BLUES 4 Star 45-1465/Krazy Kat KKCD-11 BACM CD D-186
KRAZY KAT KKCD-11 WANDERERS SWING-TEXAS DANCE HALL MUSIC (UK)
ca May 1950 poss. ACA Studio, 612 Westheimer, Houston, TX – “Texas“ Bill Strength and His Saddlepals
011 OP-103/3739 SHALL WE GATHER AT THE RIVER No Label OP-102 4 Star X-36 4 Star 45-1499
012 OP-104/3738 WE WILL OVER COME OP-102 X-36 45-1499
ca September 1950 poss. ACA Studio, 612 Westheimer, Houston, TX – “Texas“ Bill Strength and His Saddlepals (Texas Bill Strength [vcl/gt] + unknown ld gt, steel, bass, fiddle, piano)
013 3885 I’M DOING A PEACH OF A JOB 4 Star 45-1532/Castle LP-8204 BACM CD D-186
014 3886 IT COULD BE A WONDERFUL WORLD 45-1532/LP-8204 BACM CD D-186
015 3887 FROWN ON THE MOON 4 Star 45-1554/BACM CD D-186
016 3888 I’M WALKING IN HEAVEN 45-1554
26 November 1951 Castle Studio, The Tulane Hotel, 206 8th Ave. North, Nashville, TN - Texas Bill Strength (Texas Bill Strength [vcl/ac gt], Grady Martin [gt], Billy Byrd [gt], Ernie Newton [bass], Owen Bradley [piano-1] + vocal chorus [-2]. Producer: Paul Cohen)
017 81932/NA 2546 I WAS ONLY TEASING YOU -1 Coral 9-64133
018 81933/NA 2547 PAPER BOY BOOGIE -1 Coral 9-64133/Charly CR-30244 BACM CD D-186 Jasmine JASMCD-3562 Cactus CORCD-1
019 81934/NA 2548 IS SOMEONE ELSE THE LUCKY ONE TONIGHT Coral 9-64133/Castle LP-8204
020 81935/NA 2549 CHERRY PIE -2 Coral 9-64133/Castle LP-8204 BACM CD D 186
CHARLY CR-30244 BLUE RIBBON BOOGIE (UK, 1985); JASMINE JASMCD-3562 HILLBILLY BOP, BOOGIE & THE HONKY TONK BLUES, Vol.2. 1951-193 (UK, Oct. 21, 2005)
27 June 1952 Castle Studio, The Tulane Hotel, 206 8th Ave. North, Nashville, TN - Texas Bill Strength (Texas Bill Strength [vcl/ac gt] + unknown musicians. Producer: Paul Cohen)
021 83021/NA 2746 IT'S A SHAME Coral 9-64139/BACM CD D 186
022 83022/NA 2747 RAIN OR SHINE Coral 9-64152
023 83023/NA 2748 HEART DON'T COMPLAIN Coral 9-64152
024 83024/NA 2749 I FOUND MY LOVE AND LOST MY HEART Coral 9-64139/BACM CD D 186
21 November 1953 Castle Studio, The Tulane Hotel, 206 8th Ave. North, Nashville, TN - Texas Bill Strength (Texas Bill Strength [vcl/ac gt] + unknown ld gt, steel, bass, drums, fiddle, piano-1. Producer: Paul Cohen)
025 85526/NA 3170 NICE TO BE LIVING Coral 9-61284/BACM CD D 186
026 85527/NA 3171 ALONE Coral 9-61171/Castle LP-8204 BACM CD D 186
027 85528/NA 3172 NOBODY KNOWS THIS MORE THAN ME Coral 9-61284
028 85529/NA 3173 COUNTRY LOVE -1 Coral 9-61171/Castle LP-8204
8 April 1954 Bradley Studio, 21st Street, Hillsboro Village, Nashville, TN - Tabby West. * & Texas Bill Strength (Texas Bill Strength [vcl-2/narration-5/ac gt], Phyllis “Tabby West” Spain [vcl-1] + unknown ld gt, banjo[-6], steelm bass, fiddle. Producer: Paul Cohen)
029 86196/BR-9022 LET'S MAKE LOVE OR GO HOME -1-6 Coral 9-64177/Castle LP-8204 Cactus CORCD-1
030 86197/BR-9023 YOU CAN'T HAVE MY LOVE* -1-2-5 Coral 9-64177/Castle LP-8204
29 July 1955 [no.3927] Capitol Recording Studio, 5515 Melrose Ave., Hollywood - Texas Bill Strength (Texas Bill Strength [vcl/ac gt] + unknown ld gt, steel, bass, drums, fiddle, piano. Producer: Ken Nelson)
031 14278 TURN AROUND Capitol F3282/Castle LP-8204 BACM CD D 186 Cactus CAPTCD-5
032 14279 CRY, CRY, CRY F3217/Castle LP-8204 BACM CD D 157 Cactus CAPTCD-4
BACM CD D-157 COUNTRY MUSIC ON CAPITOL (UK); CACTUS CAPTCD-4 CAPITOL HILLBILLY, Vol.4; CACTUS CAPTCD-5 is titled “CAPITOL HILLBILLY, Vol.5
29 July 1955 [no.3934] Capitol Recording Studio, 5515 Melrose Ave., Hollywood - Texas Bill Strength (Texas Bill Strength [vcl/ac gt] + unknown ld gt, steel, bass, drums, fiddle, piano, vl chorus-1. Producer: Ken Nelson) (Producer: Ken Nelson)
033 14280 THE YELLOW ROSE OF TEXAS -1 F3217/Castle LP-8204 BACM CD D 186
034 14281 WHEN LOVE COMES KNOCKIN‘ F3282/Castle LP-8204 BACM CD D 186 Cactus CAPTCD-2
CACTUS CAPTCD-2 CAPITOL HILLBILLY, Vol.2
23 February 1956 [no.4218] Capitol Recording Studio, 1750 North Vine St., Hollywood, CA - Texas Bill Strength (Texas Bill Strength [vcl/ac gt] + unknown ld gt, steel, bass, drums, fiddle, piano. Producer: Ken Nelson)
(Producer: Ken Nelson)
035 15051 WHERE DID MY HEART GO? F3477/Castle LP 8204 BACM CD D 186
036 15083 WHEN THE BRIGHT LIGHTS GROW DIM F3394 BACM CD D 186
037 15084 GOTTA LOTTA LOVE F3477 /Castle LP 8204 BACM CD D 186
038 15085 IT AIN'T MUCH BUT IT'S HOME F3394 BACM CD D 186
3 August 1956 [no.4490] Capitol Recording Studio, 1710 North Vine St., Hollywood, CA - Bill Strength,*aka Texas Bill Strength (Texas Bill Strength [vcl/ac gt] + unknown ld gt, steel, bass, drums, fiddle, piano. Producer: Ken Nelson)
039 15751 NORTH WIND F3568 7P-88/ BACM CD D 186
040 15752 I WANNA RIDE, RIDE, RIDE (ON YOUR MERRY-GO-ROUND)* F3701/Castle LP-8204 BACM CD D 186
041 15753 BUT DO YOU THINK I'M HAPPY F3568 7P-88/ BACM CD D 186
042 15754 I.O.U. unissued
CAPITOL 7P-88 released in Japan 1956 on both Black & Red Vinyl.
25 February 1957 [no.4832] Capitol Recording Studio, 1750 North Vine St., Hollywood, CA - Texas Bill Strength, ,*aka Texas Bill Strength (Texas Bill Strength [vcl/ac gt] + unknown ld gt, banjo, bass, maracas-1, fiddle, piano. Producer: Ken Nelson)
043 16638 CLOUD 13 unissued
044 16639 SIX FOOLS* -1 F3701/Castle LP-8204 BACM CD D 186
1958 unknown – Texas Bill Strength
045 unknown title - MGM unissued
046 unknown title - unissued
047 unknown title - unissued
048 unknown title - unissued
1960 Hollywood, CA – Bill Strength
049 PICTURE ON MY HEART Toppa 1021
050 WATCHING THE WORLD GO BY 1021
19 July 1960 Sun Studio, 639 Madison Ave., Memphis, TN - Texas Bill Strength,* & Gene Lowery Singers (Bill Strength [vcl], Scotty Moore [gt], ? [steel], R.W. Stevenson [bass], D.J. Fontana [drums], Larry Mohoberac [piano] + Gene Lowery Singers)
051 U-410 GUESS I'D BETTER GO* Sun 346/Sun LP-120 Charly CR 30150 SUN BOX 109
052 U-411 SENORITA 346/
053 NO MORE LISTENING unissued
054 NOTHING IS SWEETER THAN YOU unissued
055 TIMBER MAN unissued
056 YOU CAN'T HURT ME ANYMORE unissued
057 CALL OF THE WILD Charly CR 30150 SUN BOX 109
It is possible that some of the above recordings may have been recorded at a session held at 639 Madidon Avenue on Monday 15th May 1961. Alternatively this may have been an overdub session.
SUN LP-120 MEMPHIS COUNTRY (1970); CHARLY CR-30150 SUN SOUND SPECIAL-TENNESSEE COUNTRY (UK, 1979); SUN BOX 109 SUN INTO THE SIXTIES (UK)
1963 prob. Minneapolis, MN – Texas Bill Strength
058 KB-3316-A LET THE CHIPS FALL Golden Wing GW-3013/Re-Car RC-2022
059 KB-3316-B FOOLISH PRETENDER GW-3013/RC-2022
1963 prob. Minneapolis, MN – Texas Bill Strength
060 TEARS IN MY BEER Golden Ring GR-3023
061 LET’S MAKE LOVE GR-3023/Re-Car RC-2022
1965 prob. Minneapolis, MN – Texas Bill Strength
062 KB-4710A BELLS OF MEMORY Bangar BA-0649/Re-CAR RC-2022
063 KB-4710B PAPER BOY BOOGIE BA-0649/RC-2022 Doghouse CD-002
BANGAR BA-0649 pressed by KAY BANK. DOGHOUSE CD-002 COWBOY HIT PARADE, Vol.2 (GER)
1965 prob. Minneapolis, MN – Texas Bill Strength
064 AS MUCH AS YOURS AS MINE Twin Town 704/Re-Car RC-2022
065 THE PROMISE 704
1965 prob. Minneapolis, MN – Texas Bill Strength
066 5-5692A CALL OF THE WILD Twin Town 712/Re-Car RC-2022
067 5-5692B LAKE LONELY 712/RC-2022
June 1966 prob. Minneapolis, MN – Texas Bill Strength
068 8127/ZTSB-120279 THE MOMENT I FOUND YOU Nashville NV-5291/Re-Car RC-2022
069 8128/ZTSB-120280 BEST THING IN LIFE IS LOVE NV-5291/RC-2022
1971 prob. Minneapolis, MN – Texas Bill Strength
070 S-9272* HILLBILLY HADES Re-Car 9001 Starday 45-927*
071 S-9273* NERVOUS AS A CAT 9001 45-927*
1971* prob. Minneapolis, MN – Texas Bill Strength
072 I’M GONNA CATCH YOU BABY Re-Car RC-2022
073 BETTY LOU Re-Car RC-2022
*Both tracks may have been recorded at previous sessions
1973 unknown – Texas Bill Strength
074 SOMEHOW, SOMEDAY, SOMEWAY Brite Star 2448
075 NOTHING IS SWEETER THAN YOU 2448

ALBUMS
Re-Car RC 2022 Texas Bill Strength - Greatest Hits: Let The Chips Fall; Foolish Pretender; The Moment I Found You; The Best Thing In Life Is Love; As Much Yours As Mine; Call Of The Wild; Lake Lonely; I'm Gonna Catch You; Betty Lou; Let's Make Love; Bells Of Memory; Paper Boy Boogie - 71
Castle [GER] LP-8204 Country & Western In The 40’s and 50’s, vol. 4 - Texas Bill Strength: Turn Around; When Love Comes Knockin’; Gotta Lotta Love; Where Did My Love Go; Six Fools; I Wanna Ride, Ride, Ride On Your Merry-Go-Round; The Yellow Rose Of Texas; Cry, Cry, Cry; Country Love; Alone; Is Somebody Else The Lucky One Tonight; Cherry Pie; It Could Be A Wonderdul World; I'm Doing A Peach Of A Job; Let's Make Love Or Go Home One (w. Tabby West); You Can't Have My Love (w. Tabby West) - 82
BACM [UK] CD D 186 When Love Comes Knockin’: Gotta Lotta Love; Where Did My Heart Go; Turn Around; When Love Comes Knockin'; North Wind; But Do You Think I'm Happy; It Ain't Much But It's Home; When The Bright Lights Grow Dim; It's A Shame; I Found My Love And Lost My Heart; Yellow Rose Of Texas; Country Love; Alone; It Could Be A Wonderful World; Is Someone Else The Lucky One Tonight; Cherry Pie; Let's Make Love Or Go Home; You Can't Have My Love; Six Fools; I Wanna Ride On Your Merry Go Round; Black Coffee Blues; Paper Boy Boogie; Little I And Big You; Who's The Lucky One; Frown On The Face Of The Moon - 07

SINGLES
Cicero (1949)
102 Little I And Big You / (Jerry Irby) - 49
Four Star (1949-51)
1334 If I Could Buy Your Love / Please, Don't Ever Forget Me - 07-49
45-1402 Action Speaks Louder Than Words / Mister Moon, Sailing High – 31-12-49
45-1465 Who's The Lucky One / Black Coffee Blues - 05-50
OP-102 We Will Overcome / Shall We Gather At The River - 50 (reissued on 4-Star 45-1499 in July 1950 and on X-36 in January 1952)
45-1532 I'm Doin' A Peach Of A Job / It Could Be A Wonderful World - 10-50
45-1554 From On The Moon / I'm Walking In Heaven - 03-51
Coral (1951-54)
9-64117 Cherry Pie / Is Someone Else The Lucky One Tonight – 05-02-52
9-64133 Paper Boy Boogie / I Was Only Teasin' You – 05-06-52
9-64139 I Found My Love And Lost My Heart / It's A Shame – 20-03-53
9-64152 Rain Or Shine / Heart, Don't Complain – 20-01-54
9-64171 Alone / Country Love – 20-06-54
9-64177 Let's Make Love Or Go Home / You Can't Have My Love (w. Texas Bill Strength) - 20-06-54 Tabby West
9-61284 Nice To Be Living / Nobody Knows This More – 05-11-54
Capitol (1955-57)
F3217 Cry, Cry, Cry / The Yellow Rose Of Texas – 29-08-55
F3282 Turn Around / When Love Comes Knockin' – 07-11-55
F3394 It Ain't Much But It's Home / When The Bright Lights Grow Dim - 02-04-56
F3477 Where Did My Heart Go? / Gotta Lotta Love – 02-07-56
F3568 But Do You Think I'm Happy? / North Wind – 15-10-56 (Japan issue on 7P-88, released on black & red vinyl)
F3701 Six Fools / I Wanna Ride, Ride, Ride On Your Merry-Go-Round - 04-57
Toppa (1960)
1021 Picture Od Heart / Watching The World Go By - 60
Sun (1960)
346 Guess I'd Better Go / Senorita – 12-09-60 w. Gene Lowery Singers
Golden Wing/*Golden Ring (1963)
GW-3013 Let The Chips Fall / Foolish Pretender – 63
*GR-3023 Tears In My Beer / Let’s Make Love - 63
Bangar (1965)
BA-0649 Paper Boy Boogie / Bells Of Memory - 65
Twin-Town (1965-66)
704 As Much Yours As Mine / Promise - 65
712 Call Of The Wild / Lake Lonely - 66
Starday-Nashville (1967-71)
NV-5291 The Moment I Found You / The Best Thing In Life Is Love - 67
Re-Car (1971)
9001 Nervous As A Cat / Hillbilly Hades - 71 (reissued on starday 45-927)
Brite Star (1973)
2448 Somehow, Someday, Someway / Nothing Is Sweeter Than You - 73