Davis Sisters

Betty Jack Davis, *1932 Corbin, KY, + 02-08-1953/Georgie Davis

Maryfrances Pennick (Skeeter Davis), *30-12-1931 Dry Ridge, KY, +19-09-04

2nd version

by Richard Weize, Michel Ruppli, Thieu Van De Vorst, Dorothy Mercer, Vaclav Zpatecka, Steve Hathaway, Murray Kirch, Mario Manciotti, Lennart Gustavsson with help of Carcitycountry.com
SESSIONS
late 1952 [WJR Radio Broadcast transcriptions] Dairy Workers Hall, 15840 Second Ave., Highland Park, Detroit, MI - Davis Sisters (Betty Jack Davis [vcl], Skeeter Davis [vcl], Paul Williams [gt], Ezra Cline [bass], Curley Ray Cline [fiddle], Roy Hall [piano])
00001 JUST WHEN I NEEDED YOU unissued/BCD 15722
00002 IT WASN'T GOD WHO MADE HONKY TONK ANGELS unissued /BCD 15722
00003 TOMORROW'S JUST ANOTHER DAY TO CRY unissued/BCD 15722
00004 JAMBALAYA unissued/BCD 15722
late1952 Fortune Studio, 3942 3rd St., Detroit, MI – Davis Sisters (Betty Jack Davis [vcl], Skeeter Davis [vcl], Leon Benson [rh gt], Cliff Southers [steel], ?  [bass], Roy Hall [piano])
001 6229* JEALOUS LOVE Fortune 170 4-Star 1630*/BCD 15722
late 1952 [demo session] poss. WJR Radio Studio, 3011 West Grand Blvd., Detroit, MI - Davis Sisters (Betty Jack Davis [vcl], Skeeter Davis [vcl], Bud White [rh gt], Harvey Griner [bass], Rusty McDonald [fiddle], Roy Hall [piano])
00101 TOMORROW I'LL CRY unissued/BCD 15722
late 1952 or early 1953 [demo session] WJR Radio Studio, 3011 West Grand Blvd., Detroit, MI - Davis Sisters (Betty Jack Davis [vcl], Skeeter Davis [vcl], ? [gt])
00102 TAKIN' TIME OUT FOR TEARS unissued/BCD 15722
early 1953 [WJR Radio Broadcast transcriptions]  Dairy Workers Gall, 15840 Second Ave., Highland Park, Detroit, MI - Davis Sisters (Betty Jack Davis [vcl], Skeeter Davis [vcl], Boots Hatfield [vcl-1], Al Allen [el gt],  Chuck Hatfield [steel], Betty Gilbert [bass], Rusty McDonald [fiddle])
RAG MOP -1 unissued/BCD 15722
YOUR CHEATIN‘ HEART unissued/BCD 15722
CRYING STEEL GUITAR WALTZ unissued/BCD 15722
early 1953 Fortune Studio, 3942 3rd St., Detroit, MI – Davis Sisters (Betty Jack Davis [vcl], Skeeter Davis [vcl],  Al Allen [el gt],  Paul Williams [rh gt], Chuck Hatfield [steel], poss. Ezra Cline [bass], Curly Eay Cline [fiddle]) [overdub sessions: [1] detail unknown]
002 HEARTBREAK AHEAD Fortune 175/BCD 15722 [1:] Fortune 175(b)/BCD 15722
early 1953 [demo session] poss. United Sound Sustems, Detroit, MI – Davis Sisters (Betty Jack Davis [vcl], Skeeter Davis [vcl], Al Allen [el gt], Dorothy Cardis [rh gt], Chuck Hatfield [steel], Boots Gilbert [bass], Victor Cardis [fiddle])
00201 SORROW AND PAIN [fast version] unissued/BCD 15722
00202 YOU'RE GONE [swinging version] unissued/BCD 15722
 early 1953 Fortune Studio, 3942 3rd St., Detroit, MI – Davis Sisters (Betty Jack Davis [vcl], Skeeter Davis [vcl], Dorothy Cardis [rh gt], Al Allen [gt], Chuck Hatfield [steel], Boots Gilbert [bass], Victor Cardis [fiddle])
003 SORROW AND PAIN Fortune 174/BCD 15722
004 KAW-LIGA Fortune 174/BCD 15722
23 May 1953 [10:00-13:30] Thomas Productions, 109 13th Ave. North, Nashville, TN – Davis Sisters (Skeeter Davis [vcl], Betty Jack Davis [vcl], Chet Atkins [gt], Velma Smith [gt], Jerry Byrd [steel], Ernie Newton [bass], Hal Smith [fiddle]. Producer: Stephen Sholes)
005 E3-VB-0668 I FORGOT MORE THAN YOU'LL EVER KNOW 47-5345 EPA 5155/CAL-818 /BCD 15722 Lee Cash 1600 KNEWCD 717 RCA  12802-2  BCD 15791
006 E3-VB-0669 SORROW AND PAIN 47-5460/BCD 15722
007 E3-VB-0670 ROCK-A-BYE BOOGIE 47-5345/BCD 15722 Rounder 1031 IGOTCD 2556 CLCD 4494
008 E3-VB-0671 YOU'RE GONE 47-5345/BCD 15722

LEE CASH 1600 A/B THE HISTORY OF COUNTRY MUSIC VOL.1 (2LP SET); KENWEST KNEWCD 717 HISTORY OF COUNTRY MUSIC THE FIFTIES VOL.1 (UK, 1993, 2  CD SET); RCA 7432 12802 2 2 RCA NASHVILLE CLASSICS THE 50'S (1994);  BEAR FAMILY BCD 15791 AND THE ANSWER IS VOL.1 (GER, 1996); ROUNDER 1031 WILD WILD YOUNG WOMEN (1987); INDIGO IGOTCD 2556 ROOTS OF ROCKABILLY 1940/1953 (UK, 2004, 3 CD SET); COLLECTOR CLCD 4491 GIRLS GIRLS ROCKIN' (NED, 2006);
1 October 1953 [19:30-22:30] Thomas Productions, 109 13th Ave. North, Nashville, TN – Davis Sisters (Skeeter Davis [vcl], Georgie Davis [vcl], Chet Atkins [gt], Velma Smith [gt], Jerry Byrd [steel], Ernie Newton [bass], Tommy Jackson [fiddle]. Producer: Stephen Sholes)
009 E3-VB-2281 TOMORROW I'LL CRY unissued
010 E3-VB-2282 TAKIN' TIME OUT FOR TEARS unissued
11 November 1953 [10:00-14:00] RCA Victor Studio 1, 155 East 24th St., Manhattan, New York City – Davis Sisters (Skeeter Davis [vcl], Georgie Davis [vcl], Chet Atkins [gt], Al Chernet [gt], Herb Johnson [steel], Charles Grean [bass], Shorty Long [fiddle]. Producer: Stephen Sholes)
011 E3-VB-2282-2 TAKIN' TIME OUT FOR TEARS unissued/BCD 15722
012 E3-VB-2497-1 GOTTA GIT A GOIN' unissued/BCD 15722
12 November 1953 [09:30-12:30] RCA Victor Studio 1, 155 East 24th St., Manhattan, New York City – Davis Sisters (Skeeter Davis [vcl], Georgie Davis [vcl], Chet Atkins [gt], Al Chernet [gt], Herb Johnson [steel], Charles Grean [bass], Shorty Long [fiddle]. Producer: Stephen Sholes)
013 E3-VB-2610-1 I'VE CLOSED THE DOOR unissued/BCD 15722
014 E3-VB-2611-1 SHE LOVES HIM AND HE LOVES ME unissued/BCD 15722
28 December 1953 [19:00-22:00] RCA Victor Studio 1, 155 East 24th St., Manhattan, New York City – Davis Sisters (Skeeter Davis [vcl], Georgie Davis [vcl], Chet Atkins [gt], Al Chernet [gt], Herb Johnson [steel], Charles Grean [bass], Shorty Long [fiddle]. Producer: Stephen Sholes)
015 E3-VB-2282-3 TAKIN' TIME OUT FOR TEARS 47-5607/BCD 15722
016 E3-VB-2497-2 GOTTA GIT A-GOIN' 47-5607/BCD 15722
017 E3-VB-2610-2 I'VE CLOSED THE DOOR unissued/BCD 15722
018 E3-VB-2611-2 SHE LOVES HIM AND HE LOVES ME unissued/BCD 15722
29 December 1953 [09:30-12:30] RCA Victor Studio 1, 155 East 24th St., Manhattan, New York City – Davis Sisters (Skeeter Davis [vcl], Georgie Davis [vcl], Chet Atkins [gt], Al Chernet [gt], Herb Johnson [steel], Charles Grean [bass], Marty Gold [piano]. Producer: Stephen Sholes)
019 E3-VB-2932 YOU WEREN'T ASHAMED TO KISS ME 47-5701/BCD 15722
020 E3-VB-2933 WHEN I STOP LOVIN' YOU unissued
10 March 1954 [13:00-16:00] RCA Victor Studio, 30 S. Michigan Ave., Chicago, IL – Davis Sisters (Skeeter Davis [vcl], Georgie Davis [vcl], Chet Atkins [gt], Homer Haynes [rh gt], Jethro Burns [mandolin], Holly Swanson [bass], Johnny Frigo [fiddle]. Producer: Stephen Sholes)
021 E4-VB-3232 FOGGY MOUNTAIN TOP 47-5701/va CAL 679 Buddha 99829-2 /BCD 15722
022 E4-VB-3233 SINGLE GIRL unissued/Buddha 99829-2 /BCD 15722

9 May 1954 [live] Robinson Memorial Auditorium, Little Rock, AR - various artists (Chet Atkins [gt], Ray Edenton [gt], Bud Isaacs [steel], Bob Moore [bass], Don Slayman [fiddle]. Producer: Stephen Sholes)
02201 ROCK-A-BYE BOOFIE LPM-3220 /BCD 15722
02202 I FORGOT MORE THAN YOU’LL EVER KNOW LPM-3220/BCD 15722
02203 GOTTA GIT A GOIN‘ LPM-3220/BCD 15722
16 August 1954 [15:00-18:00] RCA Victor Studio 1, 155 East 24th St., Manhattan, New York City – Davis Sisters (Skeeter Davis [vcl], Georgie Davis [vcl], Chet Atkins [gt], Al Chernet [gt], Herb Johnson [steel], Charles Grean [bass], Shorty Long [fiddle]. Producer: Stephen Sholes)
023 E4-VB-4963 JUST LIKE ME 47-5843/BCD 15722
024 E4-VB-4964 DON'T TAKE HIM FOR GRANTED 47-6409/BCD 15722
025 E3-VB-2610-3 I'VE CLOSED THE DOOR 47-6187/BCD 15722
17 August 1954 [14:00-17:00] RCA Victor Studio 1, 155 East 24th St., Manhattan, New York City – Davis Sisters (Skeeter Davis [vcl], Georgie Davis [vcl], Chet Atkins [gt], George Barnes [gt], Billy Mure [rh gt], Herb Johnson [steel], Charles Grean [bass], Phil Kraus [drums], Shorty Long [fiddle], Mac Ceppos [fiddle], Marty Gold [piano]. Producer: Stephen Sholes)
026 E4-VB-4965 SHOW ME 47-5843/BCD 15722
027 E4-VB-4966 CHRISTMAS BOOGIE 47-5906/BCD 15722 R2-70195
028 E4-VB-4967 FIDDLE DIDDLE BOOGIE 47-6086/BCD 15722
029 E4-VB-4968 EVERLOVIN' 47-5966/BCD 15722

RHINO R2 70195 HILLBILLY HOLIDAY (1988)
18 August 1954 [14:00-17:00] RCA Victor Studio 1, 155 East 24th St., Manhattan, New York City – Davis Sisters (Skeeter Davis [vcl], Georgie Davis [vcl], Chet Atkins [gt], Billy Mure [rh gt], Herb Johnson [steel], Charles Grean [bass], Shorty Long [fiddle]. Producer: Stephen Sholes)
030 E4-VB-4977-1 COME BACK TO ME unissued/BCD 15722
031 E4-VB-4978-1 TOMORROW'S JUST ANOTHER DAY TO CRY unissued/BCD 15722
032 E3-VB-2281-2 TOMORROW I'LL CRY 47-5906/BCD 15722
1 October 1954 [14:00-17:00] Thomas Productions, 109 13th Ave. North, Nashville, TN – Davis Sisters (Skeeter Davis [vcl], Georgie Davis [vcl], Chet Atkins [gt], Jack Shook [rh gt], Don Helms [steel], Ernie Newton [bass], Dale Potter [fiddle]. Producer: Stephen Sholes)
033 E4-VB-4977-2 COME BACK TO ME 47-6086/BCD 15722
034 E4-VB-4978-2 TOMORROW'S JUST ANOTHER DAY TO CRY 47-5966/BCD 15722
035 E3-VB-2933-2 WHEN I STOP LOVING YOU unissued/BCD 15722
3 June 1955 [22:00-01:00] RCA Victor Studio, Methodist Television, Radio and Film Commission, 1525 McGavock St., Nashville, TN – Davis Sisters (Skeeter Davis [vcl], Georgie Davis [vcl], Chet Atkins [gt], Jack Shook [rh gt], Jerry Byrd [steel], Charlies Grean [bass], Tommy Jackson [fiddle], Anita Kerr [piano]. Producer: Stephen Sholes)
036 F2-WB-3928 I'LL GET HIM BACK 47-6187/BCD 15722
037 F2-WB-3929-1 IT'S THE GIRL WHO GETS THE BLAME unissued/BCD 15722
038 F2-WB-3930 TOODLE-OOH (TO YOU) unissued/BCD 15722
27 September 1955 [20:00-23:00] RCA Victor Studio, Methodist Television, Radio and Film Commission, 1525 McGavock St., Nashville, TN – Davis Sisters (Skeeter Davis [vcl], Georgie Davis [vcl], Chet Atkins [gt], Charlie Haggman [rh gt], Joe Talbit III [rh gt], Bob Foster [steel], Ernie Newton [bass]. Producer: Stephen Sholes)
039 F2-WB-6502 BABY BE MINE 47-6291/BCD 15722
040 F2-WB-6503 BLUES FOR COMPANY 47-6409/BCD 15722
041 F2-WB-3929-2 IT'S THE GIRL WHO GETS THE BLAME 47-6291/BCD 15722
2 March 1956 [10:00-13:00] RCA Victor Studio 1, 155 East 24th St., Manhattan, New York City – Davis Sisters (Skeeter Davis [vcl], Georgie Davis [vcl], Eddie Thomas [gt], Al Chernet [rh gt], Herb Johnson [steel], Sandy Block [bass], Bunny Shawker [drums], Marty Gold [piano]. Producer: Stephen Sholes)
042 G2-WB-2427 LONELY AND BLUE 47-6490/BCD 15722
043 G2-WB-2428 LET'S GO STEADY unissued/BCD 15722
044 G2-WB-2429 LYING BROWN EYES 47-6490/BCD 15722
Spring 1956 Decoursey Baptist church, Decoursey, KY – Davis Sisters (Skeeter Davis [vcl], Georgie Davis [vcl], Ruby Williams [vcl/piano])
045 EVERYWHERE HE WENT unissued/BCD 15722
046 TAKE MY HAND, PRECIOUS LORD unissued/BCD 15722
047 DIG A LITTLE DEEPER IN GOD‘S LOVE /BCD 15722
1957 [demo session] RCA Victor Studio, Methodist Television, Radio and Film Commission, 1525 McGavock St., Nashville, TN – Davis Sisters (Skeeter Davis [vcl], Georgie Davis [vcl], Chet Atkins [gt], Sonny James [gt] Producer: Chet Atkins)
04701 IT WASN'T GOD WHO MADE HONKY TONK ANGELS unissued/BCD 15722

 


ALBUMS
Bear Family [GER] BCD-15722 Memories: I Forgot More Than You'll Ever Know; Sorrow And Pain; Rock-A-Bye Boogie; You're Gone; Sorrow And Pain [Fast Version]; You're Gone [Swinging Version]; Heartbreak Ahead [Overdub]; Jealous Love; Sorrow And Pain‘; Kawliga; Heartbreak Ahead; Rag Mop; Your Cheatin' Heart; Crying Steelguitar Waltz; Just When I Needed You; It Wasn't God Who Made Honky Tonk Angels; Tomorrow's Just Another Day To Cry; Tomorrow I'll Cry; Jambalaya; Taking Time Out For Tears; Rock-A-Bye Boogie [Alt]; Taking Time Out For Tears; Gotta Git A-Goin'; You Weren't Ashamed To Kiss Me Last Night; Foggy Mountain Top; Just Like Me; Don't Take Him For Granted; I've Closed The Door; Rock-A-Bye Boogie/I Forgot More Than You'll Ever Know/Gotta Git A-Goin'; Taking Time Out For Tears; Gotta Git A-Goin'; I've Closed The Door; She Loves Him And He Loves Me; I've Closed The Door; She Loves Him And He Loves Me; Single Girl; Show Me; Christmas Boogie; Fiddle Diddle Boogie; Everlovin'; Come Back To Me; Tomorrow's Just Another Day To Cry; Tomorrow I'll Cry Over You; Come Back To Me; Tomorrow's Just Another Day To Cry; When I Stop Loving You; I'll Get Him Back; It's The Girl Who Gets The Blame; Toodle-Oot To You; Baby Be Mine; Blues For Company; It's The Girl Who Gets The Blame; Lonely And Blue; Let's Go Steady; Lying Brown Eyes; Everywhere He Went; Take My Hand Precious Lord; Dig A Little Deeper In God's Love; Dig A Little Deeper In God's Love; It Wasn't God Who Made Honky Tonk Angels [Skeeter solo] – 07-93 (complete 1952-57)

Probably bootlegs of homemade albums

Volume 1: Baby Be Mine;  Blues For Company;  Come Back To Me; Crying Steel Guitar Waltz; Dig A Little Deeper; Don't Take Him For Granted;  Everywhere He Went;  Foggy Mountain Top;  Gotta Get A-Going; Heartbreak Ahead; I Forgot More Than You'll Ever Know; I'll Get Him Back;  It's A Girl Who Gets The Blame; Jambalaya; Jealous Love;  Just Like Me; Just When I Needed You

Volume 2:  Let's Go Steady;  Lonely And Blue;  Lying Brown Eyes;  Rock A Bye Boogie;  She Loves Him And He Loves Me;  Show Me;  Single Girl;  Sorrow And Pain;  Taking Time Out For Tears;  Tomorrow I'll Cry Over You;  When I Stop Loving You;  You Weren't Ashamed To Kiss Me Last Night

SINGLES

Fortune (1952-53) 

45-170 [The Davis Sisters with Roy Hall and His Cohutta Mountain Boys:] Jealous Love / [Roy Hall and His Cohutta Mountain Boys:] Going Down The Road Feeling Bad – 12-52 (adv. Jan. 3, 1953)
4-Star 45-1630 Jealous Love / [Jimmie Lane:] Firecracker Stomp – 03-53 (adv. March 28)
45-174 Sorrow And Pain / Kaw-Liga - 10-53 (rev. Oct. 10)
45-175 Heartbreak Ahead / [Chuck Mayfield and The Treble-Aires:] Steel Wool – 11-53 (rev. Nov. 28)
RCA Victor (1953-56)
47-5345 I Forgot More Than You'll Ever Know / Rock-A-Bye Boogie - 06-53 (rev. June 20)
47-5460 Sorrow And Pain / You're Gone - 10-53 (rev. Oct. 31)
47-5607 Takin' Time Out For Tears / Gotta Git A-Goin' - 01-54 (rev. Jan. 23)
47-5701 Foggy Mountain Top / You Weren't Ashamed To Kiss Me Last Night - 04-54 (rev. May 8)
47-5843 Just Like Me / Show Me - 09-54 (rev. Sept. 11)
47-5906 The Christmas Boogie / Tomorrow I'll Cry - 11-54
47-5966 Everlovin' (A One Way Love) / Tomorrow's Just Another Day - 12-54
47-6086 Fiddle Diddle Boogie / Come Back To Me - 04-55
47-6187 I've Closed The Door / I'll Get Him Back - 07-55
47-6291 Baby, Be Mine / It's The Girl Who Gets The Blame  - 10-55 (rev. Oct. 22)
47-6409 Don't Take Him For Granted / Blues For Company - 01-56 (rev. Jan. 28)
47-6490 Lonely And Blue / Lying Brown Eyes - 04-56 (rev. Apr. 21)

447-0586 [The Davis Sisters:] I Forgot More Than You'll Never Know / [Skeeter Davis:] Set Him Free - 60