Sonny Burns

4th version
By Dick Grant, Al Turner, Dave Sax, Phil Watson, Praguefrank, Mario Manciotti, Michel Ruppli, Phil Tricker; Adam Komorowski Ray Topping, Larry Davis, Henk Scholts
SESSIONS

1953 [demo session] Houston, TX – Sonny Burns

four unknown titles for HJA (?) Records

booklet (BCD 16877] notes by Andrew Brown say about the HJA session, his first recordings: "Sonny might have cut a session at ACA Studios in Houston, and Bill Holford, the owner, could have played the tape for Starns at one of the latter's early sessions there, before Starns finished setting up his own studio later that year.  Holford is known to have similarly plugged other local artists, and Burns' recollections to Bob Allen that he had recorded for HJA (Allen's mishearing of Burns' thick pronunciation  of ACA  prior to Starday would seem to support this scenario).

July or August 1953 ACA Sound And Film Studio, 5520-22 Washington Ave., Houston, TX – Sonny Burns  (Sonny Burns [vcl/gt], DeArmand A. “Eddie” Noack [rh gt], Joseph “Joe” Brewer [steel], Buck Henson [bass], Edward “Eddie” Caldwell [fiddle], Theron Petite [piano]. Producer“ Jack Starns)
001 ACA 2652 THO‘ YOU’RE IN MY ARMS Starday 45-114/ SB-1 Righteous PSALM 23:34   BCD-16877
002 ACA 2653 BLUE, BLUE, RAIN 45-114/ SB-1 Righteous PSALM 23:34  BCD-16877

mastered August 5, 1953, also tracks below may have been recorded at this session
ca. October 1953 ACA Sound And Film Studio, 5520-22 Washington Ave., Houston, TX - Sonny Burns (Sonny Burns [vcl/gt], DeArmand A. “Eddie” Noack [rh gt], Joseph “Joe” Brewer [steel], Buck Henson [bass], Edward “Eddie” Caldwell [fiddle], Theron Petite [piano])

003 ACA 2696 POWDER AND PAINT 45-118 Quality K-1203/SB-1 Righteous PSALM 23:34  BCD-16877
004 ACA 2697 TOO HOT TO HANDLE 45-118 K-1203/SB-1 STACD-1 Righteous PSALM 23:34  BCD-16959 BCD-16877

mastered October 30, 1953

BEAR FAMILY BCD-16959 COUNTRY and WESTERN HIT PARADE 1954-DIM LIGHTS, THICK SMOKE AND HILLBILLY MUSIC (GER); CACTUS SB-1 THE STARDAY RECORDINGS (2009); CACTUS STACD-1 STARDAY HILLBILLY, Vol.1 (2009)

February 1954 Jack Starns home studio, 11325 Voth Road, Beaumont, TX - Sonny Burns and The Western Cherokees (Sonny Burns [vcl/gt] + The Western Cherokies:  Robert Larry “Blackie” Crawford [ld gt],  poss. George Jones [rh gt], poss Corlue Bordelon [steel], prob. Bob Heppler or Buck Crawford [bass], Olen “Big” Red” Hays [fiddle], Kenneth “Little” Red” Hays [fiddle], Milburn Annett [piano]. Producer: Jack Starns). [*overdubbed applause]

005 ST-2067-1 IT‘S SO EASY TO LOVE SO HARD TO FORGET  unissued  [alt.] unissued BCD-16877

006 ST-2068-1 A PLACE FOR GIRLS LIKE YOU 45-131/SB-1 SLP-254* Righteous PSALM 23:34   BCD-16877
007 ST-2069 WALTZING WITH SIN 45-152 K-1284/SB-1 Righteous PSALM 23:34   BCD-16877
008 ST-2070 I’M NOT LONG FOR THIS WORLD Starday unissued/ BCD-16877 [echo added:] Diplomat DS-2603 Guest Star GS-1492
009 ST-2071 HEART LIKE A DOLLAR SIGN 45-131/ SB-1 Righteous PSALM 23:34   BCD-16877
010 ST-2072-2 INVITATIONS (TO YOUR WEDDING) 45-175 / SB- Righteous PSALM 23:34  BCD-16877 [take-1] unissud

STARDAY SLP-264 THE BIG “D” JAMBOREE (1964); GUEST STAR G-1492/GS-1492 STARS and GUEST OF THE LOUISIANA HAYRIDE; DIPLOMAT D-2623/DS-2623 ALL STAR COUNTRY and WESTERN

March 1954 Jack Starns home studio, 11325 Voth Road, Beaumont, TX - Sonny Burns and The Western Cherokees (Sonny Burns [vcl/gt] + Western Cherokies:  Robert Larry “Blackie” Crawford [ld gt], Jimmi Biggar  [steel], Bob Heppler or Buck Crawford [bass], Olen “Big” Red” Hays or Bob Heppler [fiddle], Kenneth “Little” Red” Hays [fiddle], Mukburn Annett [piano]. Producer: Jack Starns).

011 ST-2098 WON’T YOU LEAVE HIM ALONE unissued/BCD-16877

012 ST-2099-2 GOD KNOWS I TRIED unissued/BCD-16877 [take-1] unissued

013 ST-2100 ANOTHER WOMAN LOOKING FOR A MAN 45-152 (1) K-1284/Cactus CACD-5001 SB-1 Righteous PSALM 23:34   BCD 16877

013A ST-2100-RE1 ANOTHER WOMAN LOOKING FOR A MAN 45-152 (2)/BCD-16877

CACTUS CACT CD-5001 ROCKIN' HILLBILLY Vol.2. (2003)
April 1954 Goldstar Recording Studio, 5628 Brock St., Houston, TX or Jack Starnes home studio, 11325 Voth Road, Beaumont, TX – George Jones and Sonny Burns (George Jones [vcl/gt], Sonny Burns [vcl/gt] + prob. Jimmy Biggar [steel], Bob Heppler [bass], Red Hayes [fiddle], Milburn "Burney" Annett [piano]. Producer: Jack Starnes and Pappy Daily)
014 ST-2134 WRONG ABOUT YOU 45-146/ SB-1 Righteous PSALM 23:34   BCD-16877

ca. June 1954 Goldstar Recording Studio, 5628 Brock St., Houston, TX –  Sonny Burns, *and George Jones  (George Jones [vcl*/gt], Sonny Burns [vcl/gt] + prob. Jimmy Biggar [steel], Bob Heppler [bass], Red Hayes [fiddle], Milburn "Burney" Annett [piano]. Producer: Pappy Daily)
015 ST-2142-2 LET’S CHANGE SWEETHEARTS 45-175/ SB-1 Righteous PSALM 23:34  BCD-16877 [take-1] unissued

016 ST-2143 JUST A TOKEN unissued/BCD 16877

017 ST-2146 CLOSE YOUR EYES unissued /BCD-16877
018 ST-2147-1 TELL HER 45-165/ SB-1 Righteous PSALM 23:34  BCD-16877 [take-2] BCD-16877
019 ST-2148-1  HEARTBROKEN ME* SLP-125 SB-1 Righteous PSALM 23:34  Golden Stars GSS-5602 [take-2] 45-165/BCD-16877

STARDAY SLP-125 THE CROWN PRINCE OF COUNTRY MUSIC (1961, issued twice with defferent record sleeves)
January 1955 Goldstar Recording Studio, 5628 Brock St., Houston, TX –  Sonny Burns (Sonny Burns [vcl/gt], Hal Harris or Glenn Barber [gt], pro. Herb Remington [steel], ? [bass], Ernie Hunter [fiddle], Doc Lewis or Dewey Meadows [piano].  Producer: Pappy Daily)
020 ST-2238 SIX FEET OF EARTH 45-189/ SB-1 Righteous PSALM 23:34   BCD-16877
021 ST-2239 YOU’LL LOOK A LONG TIME 45-189/ SB-1 Righteous PSALM 23:34   BCD-16877

022 ST-2240 IT’S EASIER SAID THAN DONE Starday unissued/Ace LTD-603 BCD-16877

ACE LTD-603 STARS OF THE TEXAS HONKY TONK (UK)
 August 1955 Goldstar Recording Studio, 5628 Brock St., Houston, TX - Sonny Burns (Sonny Burns [vcl/gt], Hal Harris [gt], prob. Herb Remington [steel], ? [bass], Ernie Hunter [fiddle], Doc Lewis [piano]. Producer: Pappy Daily)
023 ST-2343/ST-46 A REAL COOL CAT 45-209 /SDLP-850  SB-1 Righteous PSALM 23:34  Texas Gold TG-932 Properbox 122 BCD-16877
024 ST-2344/ST-43 SATAN’S A-WAITIN‘ 45-223/Cactus CACT-CD-5007 SB-1 Righteous PSALM 23:34   BCD-16877
025 ST-2345/ST-44 FROWN ON THE MOON 45-209/ SB-1 Righteous PSALM 23:34   BCD-16877
026 ST-2346/ST-45 GIRL OF THE STREETS 45-223/ SB-1 Righteous PSALM 23:34   BCD-16877
SD SDLP-850 CHICKEN BOP (1991); TEXAS GOLD TG-932 THE STARDAY STORY Vol.2 (1993); CACTUS CACT CD-5007 ROCKIN' HILLBILLY Vol.8. (2004) ; PROPER PROPERBOX 122 CLASSIC ROCKABILLY (UK, 2007)
February 1956 Goldstar Recording Studio, 5628 Brock St., Houston, TX – Sonny Burns Sonny Burns [vcl/gt], prob. Hal Harris [gt], prob. Herb Remington [steel], ? [bass], prob. Ernie Hunter [fiddle], prob.  Doc Lewis [piano]. Producer: Pappy Daily)

027 ST-2401 THINK AGAIN 45-254 / SB-1 Righteous PSALM 23:34  BCD-16877
028 ST-2402 REMEMEBER AND REGRET unissued /BCD-16877
029 ST-2403 IF YOU SEE MY BABY 45-254/Cascade DROP-1004 SB-1 Righteous PSALM 23:34  BCD-16877
CASCADE DROP-1004 20 GREAT COUNTRY RECORDINGS OF THE 50's and 60's (1983)
1959 unknown – Sonny Burns
030 LEAVE THE DOOR OPEN TNT-171 Glenco 702 / BCD 17154
031 BOTTOM OF THE BOTTLE TNT-171 Glenco 702 / BCD 17154
ca October 1961 Bradley Film and Recording Studio, 804 16th Ave. South, Nashville, TN – Sonny Burns (Sonny Burns [vcl/gt], George Glenn Jones [hmny vcl-1], Johnny Mathis [] + unknown musicians. Producer: Pappy Daily)

032 ZTSP-69548 PATCHES ON MY HEART UA 395 / BCD 17154
033 ZTSP-69549 BLUE HOUSE PAINTED WHITE -1 UA 395/UAS-6309 UA-1066 BCD 17154

UNITED ARTISTS UAL-3309/UAS-6309 GEORGE JONES AND HIS COUNTRY COUSINS SALUTE THE GRAND OLE OPRY (1963, rev. Nov. 30)
ca April 1962 Columbia Recording Studio, 804 16th Ave. South, Nashville, TN – Sonny Burns (Producer: Pappy Daily)

034 ZTSP-69680 AND THEN SOME UA 461 / BCD 17154
035 BRICKS AND MORTAR UA 461 / BCD 17154
036 DEVIL'S DISCIPLE UA 520/ BCD 17154
037 I'M LOSING MY MIND  UA 520 / BCD 17154
ca February 1963 Columbia Recording Studio, 804 16th Ave. South, Nashville, TN – Sonny Burns (Producer: Pappy Daily)

038 WHERE NO ONE ELSE IS ALLOWED UA 580 / BCD 17154
039 TAKE A GOOD LOOK UA 580 / BCD 17154
040 NEVER, NEVER LAND UA 634 / BCD 17154
041 I JUST SLIPPED YOUR MIND UA 634 / BCD 17154
ca March 1964 Columbia Recording Studio, 804 16th Ave. South, Nashville, TN – Sonny Burns (Producer: Pappy Daily)

042 ∆52080/ZTSP-91129 MUST I LEAVE IT THERE UA 719/Cascade DROP-1011 BCD 17154
043 ∆52080X THE ROOM NEXT TO ME UA 719 / BCD 17154
044 ZTSP-95003 PENNY LOVE UA 779 / BCD 17154

045 ZTSP-95004 LITTLE CAR DRAGGIN' THE SHOES UA 779 / BCD 17154
CASCADE DROP-1011 20 GREAT COUNTRY RECORDINGS OF THE 50’s and 60’s Vol.2 (UK)

11 October 1968 poss. Columbia Recording Studio, 804 16th Ave. South, Nashville, TN – Sonny Burns
046 N 50809 SET DOWN ON A BEAR TRAP MGM unissued /BCD 17154
047 N 50810 I LEFT ONE ON THE BAR MGM unissued / BCD 17154
049 N 50811 LEAVE THE LEAVING UP TO ME MGM unissued / BCD 17154 [alt.:] BCD 17154
050 N 50812 I SPREAD MY WINGS AND FLY MGM unissued / BCD 17154

ALBUMS
Cactus SB-1 Starday and TNT Recordings: A Place for Girls Like You; A Real Cool Cat; Another Woman Lookin' For a Man; Blue Blue Rain; Bottom of the Bottle; Frown On the Moon; Girl of the Streets; Heart Like a Dollar Sign; Heartbroken Me; I'm Not Long For This World; If You See My Baby; Invitations (To Your Wedding); It's Easier Said Than Done; Leave the Door Open; Let's Change Sweethearts; Powder and Paint; Satan's A-Waitin'; Six Feet of Earth; Tell Her; Think Again; Tho You're In My Arms; Too Hot To Handle; Waltzing With Sin; Wrong About You (Duet with George Jones); You'll Look a Long Time – ca 09
Righteous [UK] PSALM 23:34 Satan’s A Waitin‘: I'm Not Long For This World; Wrong About You; Six Feet Of Earth; A Place For Girls Like You; Girl Of The Streets; Powder And Paint; It's Easier Said Than Done; Satan's A-Waitin'; If You See My Baby; Think Again; Blue Blue Rain; Waltzing With Sin; Tell Her; Heartbroken Me; A Real Cool Cat; You'll Look A Long Time; Let's Change Sweethearts; Frown On The Moon; Invitations (To Your Wedding); Tho' You're In My Arms; Heart Like A Dollar Sign; Too Hot To Handle; Another Woman Looking For A Man - 10

Bear Family [GER] BCD-16877 A Real Cool Cat:  Powder And Paint;  Too Hot To Handle; . Tho' You're In My Arms;  Blue, Blue Rain;  Close Your Eyes;  Another Woman Looking For A Man;  I Ain't Long For This World;  Just A Token;  Think Again;  You'll Look A Long, Long Time;  It's Easier Said Than Done;  A Real Cool Cat;  Satan's A-Waitin';  Frown On The Moon;  A Girl Of The Street;  Let's Change Sweethearts;  Six Feet Of Earth;  If You See My Baby; Invitations (To Your Wedding);  Heartbroken Me (and George Jones);  Waltzing With Sin;  Tell Her;  A Place For Girls Like You;  Heart Like A Dollar Sign;  It's So Easy To Love (But So Hard To Forget);  God Knows I Tried;  Won't You Leave Him Alone;  Wrong About You (and George Jones);  Remember And Regret;  Tell Her;  Another Woman Looking For A Man – 07-11 (complete Starday)

Bear Family [GER] BCD 17154 The Devil’s Disciple: I Sat Down On A Bear Trap; I Left One On The Bar; Leave The Leaving Up To Me; Spread My Wings And Fly; Bottom Of The Bottle; Leave The Door Open; Patches On My Heart; Blue House Painted White;Where No One Else Is Allowed; And Then Some; Take A Good Look; Bricks And Mortar;Devil's Disciple; I Just Slipped Your Mind; I'm Losing My Mind; Never, Never Land; Penny Love; Must I Leave It There; Room Next To Mine; Little Car Draggin' The Shoes; Leave The Leaving Up To Me (alt) – 06-02-15                  

SINGLES
HJA (1953)

unknown single

Starday (1953-56)
45-114 Blue, Blue Rain / Tho' You're In My Arms – ca. 11-53
45-118 Too Hot To Handle / Powder And Paint – 12-53 (Bb adv. Dec. 19; Canadian issue on Quality K-1203)
45-131 A Place For Girls Like You / Heart Like A Dollar Sign – 03-54
45-146 (George Jones and Sonny Burns:) Wrong About You / (George Jones:) Play It Cool – 29-05-54 (rev. Cashbox June 19)

45-152 Another Woman Looking For A Man / Waltzing With Sin – ca. 07-54  (rev, Cashbox July 17, Bb Aug. 7, Canadian issue on Quality K-1284))
45-165 Tell Her / Heartbroken Me (w. George Jones) – 10-54   (rev. Bb Nov. 6, Cashbox Nov. 13)
45-175 Invitations / Let's Change Sweethearts – 02-55
45-189 Six Feet Of Earth / You'll Look A Long Time – 05-55
45-209 A Real Cool Cat / Frown On The Moon – 09-55
45-223 Satan's S-Waitin' / Girl Of The Streets – ca. 03-56
45-254 If You See My Baby / Think Again – 07-56 (rev. Aug. 4)
TNT (1959)
TNT-171 Leave The Door Open / Bottom Of The Bottle - 08-59 (reissued on Glenco 702 in '62)
United Artists (1961-64)
UA 395 Blue House Painted White / Patches On My Heart - 11-61
UA 461 And Then Some / Bricks And Mortar - 05-62
UA 520 Devil's Disciple / I'm Losing My Mind - 11-62
UA 580 Where No One Else Is Allowed / Take A Good Look - 03-63
UA 634 Never, Never Land / I Just Slipped Your Mind - 07-63
UA 719 Must I Leave It There / The Room Next To Me - 05-64
UA 779 Little Car Draggin' The Shoes / Penny Love - 11-64