COUNTRY MUSIC TREASURES ON
BACM
BACM
Kent based record label boasts over 400
cd releases
cd releases
As the years pass, and country music becomes more a pop-rock
hybrid, it’s hard than ever before to seek out re-issued material, with only the
major names being afforded such releases. Fortunately there are the exceptions
to the rule and BACM Records (an
offshoot of the British Archives of Country Music) is among a
handful of much welcomed specialist outlets.
hybrid, it’s hard than ever before to seek out re-issued material, with only the
major names being afforded such releases. Fortunately there are the exceptions
to the rule and BACM Records (an
offshoot of the British Archives of Country Music) is among a
handful of much welcomed specialist outlets.
Originally known for its old-timey and traditional releases, BACM has broadened its releases in
recent years to include recordings from vintage hillbilly to the early years of
the Nashville Sound, from cajun to western swing, cowboy songs to gospel – and a
lot more that makes up the diverse realms of country
music.
recent years to include recordings from vintage hillbilly to the early years of
the Nashville Sound, from cajun to western swing, cowboy songs to gospel – and a
lot more that makes up the diverse realms of country
music.
“We are always try to be selective with our releases, yet hopefully
appealing to both mainstream country music enthusiast as well as the diehard
collector seeking out rare product” explains David Barnes,
the founder of BACM and a dedicated
collector virtually all his life. “The
realms of country music are truly vast and we try to cover all areas. At the
same time we try to keep an eye on other specialist labels and avoid duplicating
recordings that might appear elsewhere”.
appealing to both mainstream country music enthusiast as well as the diehard
collector seeking out rare product” explains David Barnes,
the founder of BACM and a dedicated
collector virtually all his life. “The
realms of country music are truly vast and we try to cover all areas. At the
same time we try to keep an eye on other specialist labels and avoid duplicating
recordings that might appear elsewhere”.
In
a catalogue that now lists over 400 cd releases, and covering the period from
the 1920s to the early ‘60s, the Kent based record label can boast a listing
that none others can match – not only in its music diversity but also in its
choice of artists, bands and musicians.
a catalogue that now lists over 400 cd releases, and covering the period from
the 1920s to the early ‘60s, the Kent based record label can boast a listing
that none others can match – not only in its music diversity but also in its
choice of artists, bands and musicians.
A
quick glance through the BACM catalogue reveals such known genre
artists:
quick glance through the BACM catalogue reveals such known genre
artists:
Australian
– Slim
Dusty, Reg
Lindsay,
Tex
Morton;
– Slim
Dusty, Reg
Lindsay,
Tex
Morton;
Bluegrass/Cajun
– Don
Reno & Red Smiley, Jimmy C. Newman;
– Don
Reno & Red Smiley, Jimmy C. Newman;
Gospel
– Martha Carson, Red Foley, Wally Fowler, Stuart Hamblen, Ernest Martin, James
Roberts;
– Martha Carson, Red Foley, Wally Fowler, Stuart Hamblen, Ernest Martin, James
Roberts;
Humour
– Hoosier Hot Shots, Homer & Jethro, Grandpa Jones, Lonzo &
Oscar;
– Hoosier Hot Shots, Homer & Jethro, Grandpa Jones, Lonzo &
Oscar;
Modern
& Nashville Sound
– Carl Belew, Jimmy Dean, “Little” Jimmy Dickens, Roy Drusky, Billy Grammar,
Goldie Hill, Johnny & Jack, George Morgan, Marvin Rainwater, Margie
Singleton, Carl Smith, Mel Tillis, Porter Wagoner, Billy Walker, Kitty Wells;
& Nashville Sound
– Carl Belew, Jimmy Dean, “Little” Jimmy Dickens, Roy Drusky, Billy Grammar,
Goldie Hill, Johnny & Jack, George Morgan, Marvin Rainwater, Margie
Singleton, Carl Smith, Mel Tillis, Porter Wagoner, Billy Walker, Kitty Wells;
Musicians
–
Tommy Jackson, Grady Martin, Fiddlin’ Arthur Smith, Merle
Travis;
–
Tommy Jackson, Grady Martin, Fiddlin’ Arthur Smith, Merle
Travis;
Vintage/Classic
– Roy
Acuff, Bill Carlisle, Carter Sisters, Vernon Dalhart, Clayton McMichen, Riley
Puckett, Wayne Raney, Carson Robison, Ernest Tubb;
– Roy
Acuff, Bill Carlisle, Carter Sisters, Vernon Dalhart, Clayton McMichen, Riley
Puckett, Wayne Raney, Carson Robison, Ernest Tubb;
Post
WWII
– Rosalie Allen, Cowboy Copas, Jenny Lou Carson, Jimmie Davis, Al Dexter,
Hawkshaw Hawkins, Pee Wee King, Bonnie Lou, Lulu Belle & Scotty, Moon
Mullican;
WWII
– Rosalie Allen, Cowboy Copas, Jenny Lou Carson, Jimmie Davis, Al Dexter,
Hawkshaw Hawkins, Pee Wee King, Bonnie Lou, Lulu Belle & Scotty, Moon
Mullican;
Singing
Cowboys/Cowboy Songs
– Rex Allen, Gene Autry, Eddie Dean, Patsy Montana,
Tex
Ritter, Roy Rogers, Tune Wranglers, Jimmy Wakely, Cindy
Walker;
Cowboys/Cowboy Songs
– Rex Allen, Gene Autry, Eddie Dean, Patsy Montana,
Tex
Ritter, Roy Rogers, Tune Wranglers, Jimmy Wakely, Cindy
Walker;
Songwriters
– Ted Daffin, Terry Fell, Don Gibson, Leon Payne, Cindy
Walker;
– Ted Daffin, Terry Fell, Don Gibson, Leon Payne, Cindy
Walker;
West
Coast
– Jeanne Black, Tommy Collins, Ferlin Husky, Rose Maddox, Jean
Shepard;
Coast
– Jeanne Black, Tommy Collins, Ferlin Husky, Rose Maddox, Jean
Shepard;
Western
Swing
– Bill Boyd, Lightcrust Doughboys, Roy Newman, Tune Wranglers,
Tex
Williams, Bob Wills.
Swing
– Bill Boyd, Lightcrust Doughboys, Roy Newman, Tune Wranglers,
Tex
Williams, Bob Wills.
Away
from the famous, add the names of many who might not warrant an encyclopaedia
entry but nevertheless made they own distinctive contributions to the music – Claude Casey (yodeller), Art Dickson (cowboy), Cousin Herb Henson (West
Coast/Bakersfield), Kenneth Houchins
(old-timey), Judy Martin (vintage),
Tim McNamara (Australia), Dickie
McBride (western swing), Mel
Price (post WWII country), Rita
Robbins (pop-country), Carl
Shrum (cowboy), Tennessee
Ramblers (cowboy/western swing), Bill Wimberly (western swing) and Skeets Yaney (country yodeller) among
the plethora of names to be found in the BACM catalogue.
from the famous, add the names of many who might not warrant an encyclopaedia
entry but nevertheless made they own distinctive contributions to the music – Claude Casey (yodeller), Art Dickson (cowboy), Cousin Herb Henson (West
Coast/Bakersfield), Kenneth Houchins
(old-timey), Judy Martin (vintage),
Tim McNamara (Australia), Dickie
McBride (western swing), Mel
Price (post WWII country), Rita
Robbins (pop-country), Carl
Shrum (cowboy), Tennessee
Ramblers (cowboy/western swing), Bill Wimberly (western swing) and Skeets Yaney (country yodeller) among
the plethora of names to be found in the BACM catalogue.
Many
of these artists have not had recordings available since the days of 78s and,
were it not for the BACM, would now
be long forgotten.
of these artists have not had recordings available since the days of 78s and,
were it not for the BACM, would now
be long forgotten.
In
addition, there’s also various artists compilations, whether featuring specific
genres or recordings from different labels (4-Star, Capitol, Dot,
Edison,
Mercury, MGM,
Panachoro
and Savannah
among others). And anyone wanting a taster of the music, the BACM has issued
regular sampler cds. Currently there’s twelve volumes
available.
addition, there’s also various artists compilations, whether featuring specific
genres or recordings from different labels (4-Star, Capitol, Dot,
Edison,
Mercury, MGM,
Panachoro
and Savannah
among others). And anyone wanting a taster of the music, the BACM has issued
regular sampler cds. Currently there’s twelve volumes
available.
Appropriately
the first cd issued by BACM featured recordings by Big Bill Campbell (aka Zeke Winters), the Canadian who moved to
Britain
and gave many BBC
Light Programme listeners their first taste of country music back in the 1940s.
the first cd issued by BACM featured recordings by Big Bill Campbell (aka Zeke Winters), the Canadian who moved to
Britain
and gave many BBC
Light Programme listeners their first taste of country music back in the 1940s.
All cds have at least two dozen tracks and come with booklets
featuring detailed biography information penned by much respected country music
historians, journalists and writers. They are available from the British Archive of Country Music,
post free, and each cost £10.00 (UK), $16.00 (USA) or €14.00 (Europe). A half-price deal is available for regular buyers thanks to a
special subscribers scheme – please contact the British Archive of Country Music for
details.
featuring detailed biography information penned by much respected country music
historians, journalists and writers. They are available from the British Archive of Country Music,
post free, and each cost £10.00 (UK), $16.00 (USA) or €14.00 (Europe). A half-price deal is available for regular buyers thanks to a
special subscribers scheme – please contact the British Archive of Country Music for
details.
BACM Records was created by collector/archivist David Barnes and stalwart country
musician Brian Golbey,
and is an offshoot of Barnes’ British
Archive of Country Music, a vast museum of recordings and
artefacts that matured out of his exhaustive 60 year personal collection. The
Archive has over 500,000 recordings and everything, including artists and songs,
is listed on its extensive database. The Archive is available for use (by
appointment) by the media, record, TV & film producers, serious collectors
and university students.
musician Brian Golbey,
and is an offshoot of Barnes’ British
Archive of Country Music, a vast museum of recordings and
artefacts that matured out of his exhaustive 60 year personal collection. The
Archive has over 500,000 recordings and everything, including artists and songs,
is listed on its extensive database. The Archive is available for use (by
appointment) by the media, record, TV & film producers, serious collectors
and university students.
Now into the second month of 2013. BACM has already a further six cds
to its’ credit:
to its’ credit:
EDDIE ZACK & His Dude Ranchers (30 tracks) – BACM CD
D400
D400
SHELLY LEE ALLEY & His Alley Cats (27 tracks) – BACM CD
D401
D401
VARIOUS ARTISTS – Custom Made Gospel (30 tracks) – BACM CD
D402
D402
CONNIE HALL – Heartache Avenue (28 tracks) – BACM CD D403
VARIOUS ARTISTS – Colorado Country (28 tracks) – BACM CD D404
THE JONES BOYS (Neal Jones & Oakie Jones) (26 tracks) – BACM CD
D405
D405