Sunday, July 1, 2012

Dick Bodine




Side One:
Our Flag
Gave My Love a Cherry
Mr. Shorty
She's Got to be a Saint
Why Are you Marching Son

Side Two:
I'll Fly Away
The Pledge
Sixteen Tons
City of New Orleans
They're Hanging Me Tonight
Why I Love Her

This week we will celebrate our nation's 236th birthday, and I thought it fitting that I feature Dick Bodine's America LP.

Released in 1983 (Great American Records label 26101), Dick Bodine is featured on the cover--an obvious protector of the second amendment.

I knocked around these United States and this old world for over 50 years.  I've visited most countries and every continent. This album, which I hope you will enjoy as much as I enjoyed making it, tells me feelings for a people and a land.  This combination make it the greatest nation on earth, the United States of America. - Dick Bodine (liner notes)

There are a few other spoken word pieces ("Why Are You Marching Son," "The Pledge," and "Why I Love Her") that are equally patriotic, but Dick lets loose on a few folk standards.


Dick is accompanied by the musically-diverse Doc Hoffman on guitar, steel, harp, banjo, 12-string guitar, bass, mandolin, electric guitar, and harmony vocals. Marty Hill handles the electric bass, and harmony vocals.

Apparently Dick has some affiliation with the Colorado Music Network, out of Aurora, as there is an address on the back of the LP, for more information on this release.

Larry T. Coen's Tribute to Red Sovine


 Red Sovine would have been 94 years old this month, so I thought it would be appropriate that I post a tribute record from a Pueblo artist this time around.

Not a lot of info on this one.  Actually tracked down the family of the singer, Larry T. Coen, but they declined to talk about him, or his music.  I always hate it when I hit a brick wall - especially on a record this fabulous.
Listen to "How Far is the Road Up to Heaven"

Larry's ode to Red was recorded in 1984 (Red Sovine died in 1980), at the Steel City Sound Recording Studios, in Pueblo.  Joe Salazar produced the disc, and played keyboards, Bill Cohen (I'm assuming is some kin) played bass, while Jimmy Schaffer handled the fiddlin' duties.  Other credits include Chris Koroshetz on drums, while Larry is on guitar.

Reg Montano is credited for the narration.  Larry, along with Carolyn Tuttle are labeled as the vocalists.

Carolyn gets her own shot to standout, with the flip-side of the recording.


Is it just me, or does this sound completely out of place (in a good way) for 1984 country?  I mean 1984 was saturated with Alabama, Reba, and Hank Williams Jr.'s "All My Rowdy Friends..."  God bless Carolyn for not going down that path.

Unfortunately, reaching out for info on her has resulted in no additional information.