Shelly Lee Alley

*06-07-1894 Alleyton, TX, +1964

2nd version
By Tony Russell, Praguefrank, Mario Manciotti, Al Turner, Vaclav Zpatecka

SESSIONS

23 June 1937 Brunswick Warehouse, Dallas, TX – Lummie Lewis and His Merry Makers (Columbus “Lummie“ Lewis [vcl-1/poss. yodel-2/gt], Shelly Lee Alley [vcl-3], ? [vcl-4], band [vcl-5], Aldan “Wimpy“ Hutson [banjo], Dick Haltom or Pinky Dawson [bass], George Hutinger [fiddle], Mac Register [piano])
L01 DAL 448-1 IT WORRIES ME -4-5 Vocalion 03696
L02 DAL 449-2 THOSE MEAN MAMA BLUES -2-3 03855
L03 DAL 450-2 SAVE IT FOR ME -3 03632/KKCD-34
L04 DAL 451-1 TRAVELIN‘ BLUES -1 03696
L05 DAL 452-2 SWEETHEART OF MINE -3 03855
L06 DAL 453-1 MERRYMAKERS STOMP –instr.- 03632/KKCD-34
4 November 1937 San Antonio, TX – Shelly Lee Alley and His Alley Cats (Shelly Lee Alley [vcl-1/fiddle], Chuck Keeshan [gt/vcl -2], Ted Daffan [steel], Jack Moran [bass], Cliff Bruner [fiddle], Anthony Scanlin [clarinet/sax/piano], Don Law [washboard])
001 SA 2887-1 LET ME BRING IT TO YOUR DOORS -1 Vocalion 03975
002 SA 2888-1 I’M STILL IN LOVE WITH YOU -2 Vocalion 03975
003 SA 2889 SHE’S SO DIFFERENT -1 unissued
004 SA 2890 ALONE -1 unissued
005 SA 2891 WHY ARE YOU BLUE? -1 unissued
006 SA 2892 HOUSTON BLUES -1 unissued
007 SA 2893-1 YOU’VE GOT ME WORRIED NOW -1 Vocalion 03939/KKCD-34
008 SA 2894 NONIE -1 unissued
009 SA 2895 DON’T YOU CARE -1 unissued
010 SA 2896 DEEP CONGRESS AVENUE -1 unissued
011 SA 2897-1 MY PRECIOUS DARLING -1 Vocalion 03891
5 November 1937 San Antonio, TX – Shelly Lee Alley and His Alley Cats (Shelly Lee Alley [vcl/fiddle], Chuck Keeshan [gt], Ted Daffan [steel], Jack Moran [bass], Cliff Bruner [fiddle], Anthony Scanlin [clarinet/sax/piano], Don Law [washboard])
012 SA 2898-1 TRAIN WHISTLE BLUES Vocalion 04451/ KKCD-34 HMC
013 SA 2899-1 WOMEN, WOMEN, WOMEN Vocalion 03939/ KKCD-34 HMC
014 SA 2900 YOU CAN MAKE ME HAPPY unissued
015 SA 2901-1 YOU’VE MADE A DREAM COME TRUE Vocalion 03891
016 SA 2902 SHE’S MY RED HOT GAL unissued
10 May 1938 Dallas, TX – Shelly Lee Alley and His Alley Cats (Shelly Lee Alley [vcl/fiddle], Chuck Keeshan [gt], Ted Daffan [steel], Cliff Bruner [fiddle], Lester Voss/Pinkie Dawson [bass], Douglas Blaikie [piano], Anthony Scanlin [clarinet/sax])
017 DAL 478-1 I’LL GET IT Vocalion 04371/ KKCD-34
018 DAL 479-1 NINE OR TEN TIMES Vocalion 04371/ KKCD-34
019 DAL 480-1 TRY IT ONCE AGAIN Vocalion 04145
020 DAL 481 MY STEPPIN‘ GAL unissued
021 DAL 482-1 DEEP CONGRESS AVENUE Vocalion 04276/ KKCD-34 HMC
022 DAL 483 SHE’S MY RED HOT GAL unissued
023 DAL 484-1 SHE’S SO DIFFERENT Vocalion 04276/ KKCD-34
024 DAL 485-1 HOUSTON BLUES Vocalion 04201/ KKCD-34 HMC
11 May 1938 Dallas, TX – Shelly Lee Alley and His Alley Cats (Shelly Lee Alley [vcl/fiddle], Chuck Keeshan [gt], Ted Daffan [steel], Cliff Bruner [fiddle], Lester Voss/Pinkie Dawson [bass], Douglas Blaikie [piano], Anthony Scanlin [clarinet/sax])
025 DAL 486 YOU CAN MAKE ME HAPPY unissued
026 DAL 487 WHY ARE YOU BLUE? unissued
027 DAL 488-1 YOU‘VE GOT IT Vocalion 04145/ KKCD-34 HMC
028 DAL 489-1 YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN Vocalion 04451/ KKCD-34
029 DAL 490 ALONE unissued
030 DAL 491-1 BRING IT ON HOME TO GRANDMA Vocalion 04201/ KKCD-34
031 DAL 492 BLONDE HEADED MAMA BLUES unissued
5 December 1938 Dallas, TX – Shelly Lee Alley and His Alley Cats (Shelly Lee Alley [vcl/fiddle], Gus Plant[gt], Ernest Evans [steel], Leon Selph [fiddle], Chet Miller [bass], Ralph Smith [piano], Smoky Miller [clarinet/sax])
032 DAL 715-1 SHE JUST WIGGLED AROUND Vocalion 04600/ KKCD-34
033 DAL 716-1-2 I GOT THE BLUES unissued
034 DAL 717-1-2 I SEE THAT CERTAIN SOMETHING IN YOUR EYE unissued
035 DAL 718-1 SHE WOULDN’T Vocalion 04793/ KKCD-34
036 DAL 719-1 WHAT’S THE MATTER NOW? Vocalion 04879
037 DAL 720-1 DON’T YOU CARE? Vocalion 04670
038 DAL 721-1 WHY SHOULD I WORRY NOW Vocalion 05391
6 December 1938 Dallas, TX – Shelly Lee Alley and His Alley Cats (Shelly Lee Alley [vcl/fiddle], Gus Plant [gt], Ernest Evans [steel], Leon Selph [fiddle], Chet Miller [bass], Ralph Smith [piano], Smoky Miller [clarinet/sax])
039 DAL 729-1 WHAT SIZE DO YOU NEED Vocalion 04879
040 DAL 730 THOSE LOVING LIES unissued
041 DAL 731-1 SHE LOVES IT SO Vocalion 04728/ KKCD-34
042 DAL 732-1 NEW MEAN MAMA BLUES Vocalion 05256/ KKCD-34 HMC
043 DAL 733-1 I’LL TAKE YOU BACK AGAIN Vocalion 04728
044 DAL 734-1 I’M SO USED TO YOU Vocalion 04670/ KKCD-34
045 DAL 735-1 CAN’T NOBODY TRUCK LIKE ME –instr.- Vocalion 04793/ KKCD-34
046 DAL 736-1 ALLEY CAT STOMP –instr.- Vocalion 04600/ KKCD-34
12 June 1939 Saginaw, TX – Shelly Lee Alley and His Alley Cats (Shelly Lee Alley [vcl-1/fiddle], Chuck Keeshan [gt/vcl-3],Gus Plant [gt], Howard Oliver [banjo], Ted Daffan [steel/vcl-2], Leon Selph [fiddle], Chet Miller [bass], Ralph Smith [piano], George Ogg [clarinet/sax])
047 DAL 772-1 I’VE GOT THE BLUES NO.2 -1 Vocalion 05053/ KKCD-34 HMC
048 DAL 773-1-2-3 BIG HOUSE BLUES -1 unissued/ KKCD-34 H,C
049 DAL 774-1 I’M WONDERING NOW -1 Vocalion 05106
050 DAL 775-1 IT MAKES A LOT OF DIFFERENCE NOW -1 Vocalion 05106 Conqueror 9306
051 DAL 776-1 I WISH I’D NEVER LEARNED TO LOVE -1-3 Vocalion 04986
052 DAL 777-1 TIRED OF YOU -2 Vocalion 05391
053 DAL 778-1 LET’S DO IT HONEY -1 Vocalion 05053/ KKCD-34
054 DAL 779-1 MY TEXAS SWEETHEART -1-3 Vocalion 05322
055 DAL 780-3 TWO MORE YEARS (AND I'LL BE FREE) -3 Vocalion 04986
056 DAL 781-1 HANG YOUR PRETTY THINGS BY MY BED -1Vocalion 05202
057 DAL 782-1 MY LITTLE DREAM GIRL -1 Vocalion 05322
058 DAL 783-1 GOODBYE FOREVER -3 Vocalion 05256
059 DAL 784-1 I’LL KEEP THINKING OF YOU -1-3 Vocalion 05202
29 April 1940 Dallas, TX – Shelly Lee Alley and His Alley Cats (Shelly Lee Alley [vcl/fiddle], Gus Plant [gt], Howard Oliver [banjo], Ernest Evans [steel], Leon Selph [fiddle], Chet Miller [bass], Ralph Smith [piano])
060 DAL 1088-1 I’M SMILING-JUST TO HIDE A BROKEN HEART Okeh 05667
061 DAL 1089-1 HOW CAN YOU TREAT ME THIS WAY Okeh 05738
062 DAL 1090-1 DON’T LEAVE ME WITH A BROKEN HEART Okeh 05667
063 DAL 1091-2 OH WHAT A FOOL I’VE BEEN Okeh 05930
064 DAL 1092-1 I JUST CAN’T FORGET THE PAST Okeh 05930
065 DAL 1093-2 IT WON’T BE LONG Okeh 05738/HMC
066 DAL 1094-2 IT DOESN’T MATTER NOW Okeh 05585
067 DAL 1095-1 IT TOOK MY BREATH AWAY Okeh 05585/ KKCD-34
9 October 1941 Dallas, TX – Shelly Lee Alley and His Alleycats (Harry Choates [steel] + more unknown musicians)
068 BS-071142-1 ANSWER TO MY PRECIOUS DARLING Bluebird B-8888
069 BS-071143-1 BEER JOINT BLUES B-8934/ KKCD-34 HMC
070 BS-071144-1 THE BIG HOUSE BLUES B-8934/ KKCD-34 H,C
071 BS-071145-1 WHY ARE YOU BLUE unissued
072 BS-071146-1 MY LOVE B-8888
073 BS-071147-1 SWEETHEART OF MINE unissued
1945 poss. Dallas, TX – Shelly Lee Alley (Shelly Lee Alley [vcl], Clyde Brewer [fiddle] + unknown musicians)
074 APP 13A SOLDIER'S RETURN Globe 112
075 LOW DOWN BLUES Globe 112/HMC
ca. March 1955 ACA Studio, 5522 Washington Ave., Houston, TX – Shelly Lee Alley an The Jet Staff Band
076 ACA 3193 SOME HOW Jet 1916
077 ACA 3194 COLD COLD WAYS 1916


ALBUMS
Krazy Kat [UK] KKCD-34 Alley Cat Stomp 1937-1941: Save It For Me; Merrymakers Stomp; You've Got Me Worried Now; Train Whistle Blues; Woman, Woman, Woman; I'll Get It; Nine Or Ten Times; Deep Congress Avenue; She's So Different; Houston Blues; You've Got It; You Know What I Mean; Bring It On To Grandma; She Just Wiggled Around; She Wouldn't; She Loves It So; New Mean Mama Blues; I'm So Used To You Now; Can't Nobody Truck Like Me; Alley Cat Stomp; I've Got The Blues; Big House Blues; Let's Do It Honey; It Took My Breath Away; Beer Joint Blues; The Big House Blues – 21-02-06
BACM [UK] CD D  401 Shelly Lee Alley And His Alley Cats: Mean Mama Blues;  Sweetheart Of Mine;  Let Me Bring It To Your Door;  I'm Still In Love With You;  My Precious Darling;  Nine Or Ten Times;  What's The Matter Now;  Don't You Care;  Why Should I Worry Now;  What Size Do You Need;  I'll Take You Back Again;  Tired Of You;  My Texas Sweetheart;  Two More Years;  Hang Your Pretty Things By My Bed;  Goodbye My Little Dream Girl;  How Can You Treat Me This Way;  Don't Leave Me With A Broken Heart;  Oh What A Fool I've Been;  I Just Can't Forget The Past;  Answer To My Precious Darling;  My Love;  Soldier's Return;  Low Down Blues;  Somehow;  Cold Cold Ways;  Little Home Of Long Ago – 13

HMC ? Texas Western Blues: Train Whistle Blues;  Women, Women, Women;  Deep Congress Avenue;  Houston Blues;  You've Got It;  New Mean Mama Blues;  I've Got the Blues #2;  Big House Blues;  I Won't Be Long;  Beer Joint Blues;  The Big House Blues;  Low Down Blues – (private issue)

 


SINGLES
Vocalion
03891 My Precious Darling / You’ve Made A Dream Come True – 01-38
03939 You’ve Got Me Worried Now / Women, Women, Women – 02-38
03975 Let Me Bring It To Your Doors / I’m Still In Love With You – 03-38
04145 Try It Once Again / You‘ve Got It – 06-38
04201 Houston Blues / Bring It On Home To Grandma – 07-38
04276 Deep Congress Avenue / She’s So Different – 08-38
04371 Nine Or Ten Times / I’ll Get It – 10-38
04451 Train Whistle Blues /You Know What I Mean - 11-38
04600 She Just Wiggled Around / Alley Cat Stomp – 01-39
04670 Don’t You Care? / I’m So Used To You – 03-39
04728 She Loves It So / I’ll Take You Back Again – 04-39
04793 She Wouldn’t / Can’t Nobody Truck Like Me – 05-39
04879 What’s The Matter Now? / What Size Do You Need – 07-39
04986 I Wish I’d Never Learned To Love / Two More Years (And I’ll Be Free) - 08-39
05053 I’ve Got The Blues No.2 / Let’s Do It Honey – 09-39
05106 I’m Wondering Now / It Makes A Lot Of Difference Now - 10-39
05202 Hang Your Pretty Things By My Bed / I’ll Keep Thinking Of You – 11-39
05256 New Mean Mama Blues / Goodbye Forever – 12-39
05322 My Texas Sweetheart / My Little Dream Girl – 01-40
05391 Why Should I Worry Now / Tired Of You – 03-40
05585 It Doesn’t Matter Now / It Took My Breath Away – 06-40
OKeh
05667 I’m Smiling-Just To Hide A Broken Heart / Don’t Leave Me With A Broken Heart – 07-40
05738 How Can You Treat Me This Way / It Won’t Be Long – 08-40
05930 Oh What A Fool I’ve Been / I Just Can’t Forget The Past – 12-40
Conqueror
9306 It Makes A Lot Of Difference Now / [Light Crust Doughboys]
Bluebird
B-8888 Answer To My Precious Darling / My Love - 41
B-8934 Beer Joint Blues / The Big House Blues - ca 42
Globe (1945)
112 Soldier's Return / Low Down Blues - 45
Jet (1955)
1916 Some How / Cold Cold Ways – 09-55 (rev. Sept. 10)

 

Billy Vest

By Tony Russell (Country Discography 1921-1942), Praguefrank
SESSIONS
16 April 1930 Atlanta, GA – Billy Vest (The Strolling Yodler) (Billy Vest [vcl/gt])
001 W150239-2 SHE'LL NEVER FIND ANOTHER DADDY LIKE ME Colmbia 15669-D
002 W150240-2 I LOVED YOU BETTER THAN YOU KNEW 15669-D
19 September 1930 Columbia Recording Studio, 1819 Broadway, New York City – Billy Vest (The Strolling Yodler) (Billy Vest [vcl/gt])
003 W150287-2 YODELING HOBO 15602-D
004 W150288-3 A MESSAGE FROM HOME 15602-D
17 April 1931 New York City – Billy Vest (The Strolling Yodler) (Billy Vest [vcl/gt])
005 W151521-2 BILLIE'S BLUE YODEL 15692-D
006 W151522-2 SHE DIED LIKE A ROSE 15692-D
007 W151523 THE CLUB HELD A MEETING unissued
008 W151524 LITTLE GIRL‘S PLEA unissued
009 W151525 A CROWN OF SOFT BROWN HAIR unissued
010 W151526 OH! SIR I WAS ONLY FLIRTING unissued
10 June 1931 Gennett Recording Studio, Starr Piano Company Building, Whitewater Gorge Park, Richmond, IN – Billy Vest (Billy Vest [vcl/gt], Kyle Roop [gt], Aubry Smith [fiddle])
011 17813 WEEPING WILLOW TREE Gennett unissued trial recording
11 April 1933 New York City – Billy Vest (Billy Vest [vcl/gt])
012 13224-1 THE BIG CITY JAIL Banner 32762 Melotone 12691 Perfect 12911 Oriole 8231 Romeo 5231 Conqueror 8235
013 13225 WHEN ITS HONEYSUCKLE TIME unissued
014 13226-1 THE LAST GOODBYE Conqueror CQ8236
015 13227 DARK EYES PLEA unissued
016 13228-2 FRANKIE AND JOHNNY NO.2 Banner 32762 Melotone 12691 Perfect 12911 Oriole 8231 Romeo 5231 Conqueror 8235
017 13229-1 THE TRAMP'S LAST RIDE Vocalion 5494 Conqueror 8236
26 August 1935 New York City – Bob Vest with Billy Vest (Billy West [vcl/gt], Bob West [duet vcl-1/gt])
018 18007-1 THERE'S ROOM IN MY ALBUM FOR YOUR PICTURE -1 Conqueror 8574 ARC labels 5-12-54
019 18008-1 DEAR OLD TEXAS Conqueror 8574 ARC labels 5-12-54
020 18009 COWBOY PRISONER unissued
021 18010 ELECTRIC CHAIR BLUES unissued

SINGLES
Columbia (1930)
15602-D Yodeling Hobo / A Message From Home - 30
15669-D She'll Never Find Another Daddy Like Me / I Loved You Better Than You Knew - 31
15692-D Billie's Blue Yodel / She Died Like A Rose - 31
ARC
Banner/Melotone/Pefect/Oriole/Romeo
32762/12691/12911/8231/5231 The Big City Jail / Frankie And Johnny No.2 - 33
5-12-54 There's Room In My Album For Your Picture / Dear Old Texas - 12-35
Conqueror
8235 The Big City Jail / Frankie And Johnny No.2
8236 The Tramp's Last Ride / The Last Goodbye
8574 There's Room In My Album For Your Picture / Dear Old Texas
Vocalion
5494 The Tramp's Last Ride / [Jack Harper]