BEAR FAMILY RECORDS TEL +49 (4748) 8216-16 • FAX +49 (4748) 8216-20 • E-MAIL [email protected]
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BEAR FAMILY RECORDS TEL +49 (4748) 8216-16 • FAX +49 (4748) 8216-20 • E-MAIL [email protected] Town Hall Party 'Town Hall Party' was among the first of the country music shows to be seen on U.S. television, making its debut in early 1952 and running until early 1961. Staged every Saturday in a theatre in Compton, a suburb of Los Angeles, the stage was made up to look like an old barn, thus continuing the traditions of the various live shows that were first heard on the radio airwaves three decades earlier. Although Nashville was fast establishing itself as the commercial home of country music, the West Coast had a vast, ready audi- ence for such a show. The area had first become the new home for the Dust Bowl migrants of the 1930s and, a few years later during the war years, a further influx was made up of workers seeking jobs in the munitions and defence plants. These were all people who loved country music and, consequently, a brand new country scene was born with its own sound, artists, clubs, re- cord labels, radio shows and, in due course, television programmes. 'Town Hall Party' was created with its own cast of regular performers and musicians, boasting a house that was virtually a 'who's who' of the West Coast scene comprising such as Joe Maphis, Merle Travis, Skeets McDonald, Johnny Bond and Tommy Duncan. Jay Stewart (who later hosted the TV quiz show 'Let's Make A Deal'), and Tex Ritter were the MCs. The weekly show presented an equally impressive guest list, attracted both by the show's tremendous popularity but also by the fact that fledgling televi- sion was becoming a vitally important media for exposing their talents to brand new audiences. The many guests to appear in- cluded Johnny Cash, Patsy Cline, Eddie Cochran, The Collins Kids, Freddie Hart, Wanda Jackson, George Jones, Merle Lindsay, Bob Luman, Carl Perkins, Jim Reeves, Marty Robbins, Hank Snow and Gene Vincent. With an audience numbering up to 2000, 'Town Hall Party' was first broadcasted live over local radio station KFI, but reached a greater audience when NBC syndicated the show on radio. The broadcast was extended to three hours when KTTV-TV televised the show. The show was so popular that, in 1958, Columbia Records issued the 'Town Hall Party' album featuring various cast members. Now 'Town Hall Party' is reborn on DVD. Launched in 2002, this continuing DVD series presents both individual artists' perfor- mances, compiled from different appearances on 'Town Hall Party', and complete cast shows selected from specific dates. Com- pletely remastered, and presented with full colour booklets, these releases fully captured the atmosphere, artistry and sounds of a bygone country music age. Bear Family Records • Grenzweg 1 • 27729 Holste-Oldendorf • Germany www.bear-family.de BEAR FAMILY RECORDS TEL +49 (4748) 8216-16 • FAX +49 (4748) 8216-20 • E-MAIL [email protected] ARTIST Various TITLE Town Hall Party March 28, 1959 LABEL Bear Family Records CATALOG # BVD 20037 PRICE-CODE AT EAN-CODE ÆxAKABMRy200372z ISBN-CODE 978-3-89916-494-7 FORMAT DVD digipac with 12-page booklet GENRE Country TRACKS 30 PLAYING TIME 86:58 TOWN HALL PARTY, MARCH 28, 1959 JAY STEWART: Introduction • LEON McAULIFFE & CIMARRON BOYS: Steel Guitar Rag - Oklahoma Hills • GORDON TERRY: It Ain’t Right • JOE MAPHIS & ROSE LEE: Got Lotta Lovin' • JOHNNY BOND: The Tijuana Jail • COLLINS KIDS: Shake A Hand - Stagger Lee •FARON YOUNG: If You Ain’t Loving You Ain’t Living - Alone With You - We're Talking It Over • LEON MCAULIFFE & CIMARRON BOYS: Under The Double Eagle (Instrumental) - Song Of Old Hawaii • TEX RITTER: The Wayward Wind • JEANNIE STERLING: A Fool Such As I • SKEETS MCDONALD: Gotta Travel On • JOHNNY O'NEILL: Wagon Train • FARON YOUNG: That’s The Way It’s Gonna Be - Every Time I’m Kissing You - Goin' Steady - Last Night At The Party • COLLINS KIDS: Chantilly Lace - Shake, Rattle And Roll • CHARLIE WILLIAMS: Folsom Prison Blues • JOE MAPHIS: Talks To Leon McAuliffe • SKEETS MCDONALD (with Joe Maphis & Rose Lee): Greenback Dollar • LEON McAULIFFE & CIMARRON BOYS: San Antonio Rose - Take It Away, Leon • TEX RITTER: Have I Stayed Away Too Long • GORDON TERRY: Johnson's Old Grey Mule Bear Family Records • Grenzweg 1 • 27729 Holste-Oldendorf • Germany www.bear-family.de BEAR FAMILY RECORDS TEL +49 (4748) 8216-16 • FAX +49 (4748) 8216-20 • E-MAIL [email protected] ARTIST Various TITLE Town Hall Party July 25 & August 15, 1959 LABEL Bear Family Records CATALOG # BVD 20038 PRICE-CODE AT EAN-CODE ÆxAKABMRy200389z ISBN-CODE 978-3-89916-495-4 FORMAT DVD digipac with 12-page booklet GENRE Country TRACKS 39 PLAYING TIME 114:05 TOWN HALL PARTY, JULY 25 & AUGUST 15, 1959 TOWN HALL PARTY, JULY 25, 1959: JAY STEWART: Introduction • JOHNNY BOND, MERLE TRAVIS, BILLY MIZE & TOWN HALL PARTYCAST: Going Down The Road Feeling Bad • MERLE TRAVIS: Midnight Special • BILLY MIZE & CLIFF CROFFORD: Wake Up Little Susie - Wake Up Little Susie • JEANNIE STERLING: The Wonder Of You • GORDON TERRY w. BILLY MIZE & CLIFF CROFFORD: IGot Stripes • JAY STEWART & QUINCY SNODGRASS: Comedy • MARTHA CARSON & TOWN HALL PARTY CAST: Who Built The Ark • GENE VINCENT: Rocky Road Blues - Pretty Pearly - Be-Bop-A-Lula • JIMMY PRUETT: Guitar Instrumental • THE ROCKIN' HA- WAIIANS: Chantilly Lace - Medley • JOHNNY BOND: Oklahoma Waltz • SKEETS MCDONALD: Mona Lisa • ROSE LEE MAPHIS: Oh How I Miss You • JOHNNY O’NEILL: They Call The Wind Maria - Marianne • GENE VINCENT: High School Confidential - Over The Rainbow TOWN HALL PARTY AUGUST 15, 1959: JAY STEWART: Introduction • GORDON TERRY, BILLY MIZE, CLIFF CROFFORD & ROY LAN- HAM: Stay All Night, Stay A Little Longer • GORDON TERRY: The Tennessee Stud • JEANNIE STERLING: Hard Hearted Hannah • JIMMY PRUETT: Georgia On My Mind • BILLY MIZE & CLIFF CROFFORD: Above And Beyond • DIANE JEWETT: Chime Bells • ROY LANHAM: Talking Blues • MARTHA CARSON: I Am A Pilgrim • TEX RITTER: Ridin' Old Paint • TEX RITTER & HANK MORTON: Boll Weevil - Froggy Went A-Courtin' • TEX RITTER: Announcement • ROY LANHAM: Brown's Ferry Blues • TEX RITTER: Talks To Gor- don Terry • GORDON TERRY: Jealous Heart • TEX RITTER & JAY STEWART: Announcements Bear Family Records • Grenzweg 1 • 27729 Holste-Oldendorf • Germany www.bear-family.de BEAR FAMILY RECORDS TEL +49 (4748) 8216-16 • FAX +49 (4748) 8216-20 • E-MAIL [email protected] ARTIST Various TITLE Town Hall Party August 29 & September 5, 1959 LABEL Bear Family Records CATALOG # BVD 20039 PRICE-CODE AT EAN-CODE ÆxAKABMRy200396z ISBN-CODE 978-3-89916-496-1 FORMAT DVD digipac with 12-page booklet GENRE Country TRACKS 30 PLAYING TIME 92:03 TOWN HALL PARTY, AUGUST 29 & SEPTEMBER 5, 1959 TOWN HALL PARTY AUGUST 29, 1959 (6th Birthday Party): JAY STEWART: Introduction • TOWN HALL PARTY CAST: Lil Liza Jane • TEX WILLIAMS: Conversation With Jay Stewart - Bumming Around • SHIRLEY ADAMS: Teenage Prayer • FREDDIE HART w. BILLY MIZE & CLIFF CROFFORD: Drink Up And Go Home • FRED MADDOX: Conversation With Jay Stewart • DOREEN DALE, CHARLIE WILLIAMS, GORDON TERRY: Detour • LEFTY FRIZZELL: Cigarettes And Coffee Blues • MARTHA CARSON: Who Built The Ark • GOR- DON TERRY: A Lotta Lotta Women • HAROLD HENSLEY & ROY LANHAM: Conversation With Jay Stewart - Instrumental • BUD DOOLEY: Conversation With Jay Stewart • JIMMY PRUETT: Down Yonder (Piano Instrumental) TOWN HALL PARTY SEPTEMBER 5, 1959: JAY STEWART: Introduction • GORDON TERRY, QUINCY SNODGRASS, BILLY MIZE, CLIFF CROFFORD & TOWN HALL PARTY CAST: New River Train • GORDON TERRY W. BILLY MIZE & CLIFF CROFFORD: White Lightning • BILLY MIZE & CLIFF CROFFORD: Somebody Stole My Gal • MARTHA CARSON: Rock My Soul • SKEETS MCDONALD: Mona Lisa • GORDON TERRY, MARTHA CARSON, BILLY MIZE, CLIFF CROFFORD & TOWN HALL PARTY CAST: Precious Memories • JEANNIE STERLING: Miss Lonely Hearts • CHARLIE WILLIAMS: I Saw Your Face In The Moon • BOB LUMAN: I Got A Woman - My Baby Walks All Over Me • QUINCY SNODGRASS & SKEETS McDONALD: Guitar Blues Instrumental • CARL 'DEACON' MOORE & JAY STEWART: Conversation • BOB LUMAN & JAY STEWART: Conversation • JIMMY PRUETT: Boogie Guitar Instrumental Bear Family Records • Grenzweg 1 • 27729 Holste-Oldendorf • Germany www.bear-family.de BEAR FAMILY RECORDS TEL +49 (4748) 8216-16 • FAX +49 (4748) 8216-20 • E-MAIL [email protected] ALSO AVAILABLE ON CD: Nevertheless, the music is superb, with Bond in great form … TOWN HALL PARTY Craig Baguley, COUNTRY MUSIC PEOPLE,AUGUST 2007 BCD 16729 AH Nevertheless, a lot of this is a hoot ... You'll either watch it with 1CDwith 16-page booklet asharp grin on your face - or, like Johnny Bond, with a heavily ISBN: 978-3-89916-091-8 resigned look... JOE MAPHIS & THE TOWN HALL BAND: Town Hall Shuffle • Craig Baguley, COUNTRY MUSIC PEOPLE,MAY 2004 THE COLLINS KIDS: Just Because • FREDDIE HART: Lonesome Love • DORTHA WRIGHT: Cold, Cold Heart • JOHNNY BOND: JENKS 'TEX' CARMAN Oklahoma Waltz • JENKS 'TEX' CARMAN: Each Minute Seems AT 'TOWN HALL PARTY' AMillion Years • JOE MAPHIS & THE TOWN HALL BAND: Ten- nessee Two Step • TEX RITTER: Wagon Wheels • LES 'CARROT BVD 20006 AT TOP' ANDERSON: My Little Red Wagon • JOE & ROSE LEE MA- DVD with 12-page booklet PHIS: Sweeter Than The Flowers • BOBBY CHARLES: Kentucky ISBN: 978-3-89795-960-6 Waltz • ENTIRE CAST: Wait For The Light To Shine SEPTEMBER 27, 1958: Introduction by Jay Stewart • Dixie Can- nonball • Hillbilly Hula • DECEMBER 27, 1958: Wildwood Flo- OTHER 'TOWN HALL PARTY' DVDs: wer • Alla El Rancho Grande • JANUARY 3, 1959: Wabash Cannon Ball • Beach Of Waikiki • JANUARY 17, 1959: Don't Feel Sorry For Me • JANUARY 31, 1959: Tijuana Rose • Hillbilly Hula (& QUINCY SNODGRASS) • APRIL 11, 1959: Wabash Can- Well friends, it looks like you're just going to have to collect this nonball • Hillbilly Hula • SEPTEMBER 19, 1959: Dixie Cannon- whole series! And the show was on for years every week - no ball • OCTOBER 10, 1959: Tijuana Rose • OCTOBER 17, 1959: telling how many Bear Family will put out! My Pretty Snow Dear • NOVEMBER 14, 1959: Geisha Girl • DE- Marc Bristol, BLUE SUEDE NEWS NO.67 CEMBER 12, 1959: Build A Highway To Your Heart • Hillbilly Hula (& QUINCY SNODGRASS) Bear Family Records have branched out into the DVD market.