Lawton Williams (Slim Williams)

*24-07-1922 Troy, TN, +26-07-2007
4th version
By Richard Weize, Mario Manciotti, Praguefrank, Michel Ruppli, Kurt Rokitta, Kent Heineman, Bill Daniels, Carl LaFong, Thieu Van De Vorst, Kevin Coffey , Hans Sandberg, Henk Scholts, Lennart Gustavsson
SESSIONS
1947 Detroit, MI – Lawton Williams as Slim Williams

001 FIREWATER Sultan 5000

002 HAVE MERCY ON ME Sultan 5000

1949 Detroit, MI – Lawton Williams as Slim Williams with the Sons of the Prairie
003 TENNESSEE AVENUE Fortune 116/BACM CD D 420
004 PAPER FACE Fortune 116/BACM CD D 420
1949 Detroit, MI – Lawton Williams as Slim Williams with The Tennesee Avenue Boys
005 THROWING KISSES 132/ BACM CD D 420
006 RECKON AS HOW I LOVE YOU 132/ BACM CD D 420

1950 [demo session-acetate] KCNC Radio Station, Fort Worth, TX - Lawton Williams as Slim Williams

00601 THERE’S ONLY ONE HEAVEN  BACM CD D 420
1950 Detroit, MI – Lawton Williams as Slim Williams with the Sons of the Prairie
007 KENTUCKY HIGHWAY 140/ BACM CD D 420
008 ALONE AT A TABLE FOR TWO 140/ BACM CD D 420
ca. May 1950 unknown, TX – Lawton Williams as Slim Williams
009 3706 JUST A MINUTE 4-Star 45-1509/ BACM CD D 420
010 3707 DYING BEFORE MY TIME 45-1534/ BACM CD D 420
011 3708 NO WONDER 45-1509/ BACM CD D 420
012 3709 WHAT AM I SUPPOSED TO SAY 45-1534/ BACM CD D 420
16 May 1951 Clifford Herring Sound Studio, 1705 W. 7th St., Fort Worth, TX - Slim Williams
013 81054 HALF WAY TO HEAVEN Coral 9-64111/ BACM CD D 420
014 81055 EVERLASTING LOVE Coral 9-64099/ BACM CD D 420
015 81056 THAT’S ALL YOU GOTTA DO  Coral 9-64111/ BACM CD D 420
016 81057 LOVIN‘  OVERTIME Coral 9-64099/ BACM CD D 420
29 November 1951 Clifford Herring Sound Studio, 1705 W. 7th St., Fort Worth, TX - Slim Williams
017 81924 AWAY Coral 9-64121/BACM CD D 420
018 81925 DUSTING OFF YOUR LOVE LETTERS Coral 9-64137/ BACM CD D 420
019 81926 OUT RUNNING AROUND Coral 9-64121/ BACM CD D 420
020 81927 YOXE OF OXEN Coral 9-64137/ BACM CD D 420
October 1952 Clifford Herring Sound Studio, 1705 W. 7th St., Fort Worth, TX – Lawton Williams as Ed Lawton
021 IF-402 ONCE BEFORE Imperial 45-8194/ BACM CD D 420
022 IF-403 THEN YOU’LL KNOW 45-8171/ BACM CD D 420
023 IF-404 EMERGENCY CALL unissued/ BACM CD D 420
024 IF-405 HAVE MERCY ON ME 45-8194/ BACM CD D 420
14 October 1957 [19:30-22:30] RCA Victor Studio, Methodist Television, Radio and Film Commission, 1525 McGavock St., Nashville, TN – Lawton Williams (Lawton Williams [vcl], Grady Martin [ld gt], Velma Williams Smith [rh gt], Buddy Emmons [steel], Junior Huskey [bass], Tommy Jackson [fiddle], Floyd Cramer [piano]. Producer: Chet Atkins)
025 H2-WB-5676 DON'T BURN THE BRIDGE BEHIND YOU RCA Victor 47-7105/BFX-15177
026 H2-WB-5677 FOREIGN LOVE 47-7105/BFX-15177
027 H2-WB-5678 BLUEGRASS SKIRT unissued/BFX-15178
028 H2-WB-5679 TRAIN OF THOUGHTS unissued/BFX/15178
10 February 1958 [19:00-22:00] RCA Victor Studio, 1611 Hawkins St., Nashville, TN – Lawton Williams (Lawton Williams [vcl], Chet Atkins [gt], Jimmie Selph [rh gt], Jerry Byrd [bass], Buddy Harman [drums], Floyd Cramer [piano]. Producer: Chet Atkins)
029 J2-WB-0387 RHINELANDER WALTZ unissued/BFX-15178
030 J2-WB-0388 CASINO ON THE HILL 47-7188/BFX-15178
031 J2-WB-0389 IF YOU‘RE WAITIN’ ON ME 47-7188/BFX-15178
032 J2-WB-0390 I‘LL STILL LOVE YOU unissued/BFX-15178
ca. May 1959 [demo session] Fort Worth, TX - Lawton Williams (Lawton Williams [vcl] + unknown musicians. Producer: Lawton Williams)
03201/033 K2-WB-2803 MOON JOE 47-7580/BFX-15178
03202/034 K2-WB-2804 LIGHTNING JONES 47-7580/BFX-15178
10 July 1958 Bradley Film and Recording Studio, 804 16th Ave. South, Nashville, TN - Lawton Williams (Lawton Williams [vcl] + unknown musicians. Producer: Owen Bradley)
035 105315/NA 10316 IRON CURTAIN Decca 9-30839
036 105316/NA 10317 TEXAS VS. ALASKA 9-30709/Charly CR-30251
037 105317/NA 10318 DON'T LET ANYBODY TELL YOU 9-30709
038 105318/NA 10319 HOUSE FULL OF LOVE 9-30839
ca. December 1959 poss. Clifford Herring Sound Studio, 1705 W. 7th St., Fort Worth, TX – Lawton Williams (Lawton Williams [vcl], unknown musicians)
039 1288 I DON'T CARE WHO KNOWS D 1120/BACM CD D 420
040 1289 SATAN'S BELL D 1120/ BACM CD D 420
ca. May 1960 poss. Clifford Herring Sound Studio, 1705 W. 7th St., Fort Worth, TX – Lawton Williams (Lawton Williams [vcl], unknown musicians)
041 LB-5205 MAMA DOLL Le Bill 304 Allstar 7212/ BACM CD D 420 BCD 17692
042 LB-5206 FAREWELL PARTY Le Bill 304 Allstar 7212/ BACM CD D 420
BEAR FAMILY BCD 17692 THAT'LL FLAT GIT IT VOL.43/ROCKABILLY AND COUNTRY BOP FROM THE VAULTS OF ALLSTAR RECORDS (GER, 2024)
January 1961 Bradley Film and Recording Studio, 804 16th Ave. South, Nashvile, TN – Lawton Williams (Lawton Williams [vcl], Jerry Kennedy [gt] + unknown musicians. Producer: Shelby Singleton)
043 YW-20308 JOHN AND MARY DOE Mercury 71780
044 YW-20309 THE BIG FIRE Mercury 71780
Split session with Leroy Van Dyke
ca. July 1961 Bradley Film and Recording Studio, 804 16th Ave. South, Nashvile, TN – Lawton Williams (Lawton Williams [vcl], Jerry Kennedy [gt] + unknown musicians. Producer: Shelby Singleton)
045 YW-21063/PS-814 IN THE APPLE TREE unissued
046 YW-21064/PS-815 PLOUGHED GROUND 71867
047 YW-21065/PS-816 ANYWHERE THERE'S PEOPLE 71867
048 YW-21066/PS-817 DROP ME GENTLY unissued
7 March 1962 Dallas, TX – Lawton Williams (Lawton Williams [vcl], unknown musicians)
049 none/K 11100 SHAME ON ME Longhorn LO 520 King 45-5626
050 none/K 11101 LUCKY HEART Longhorn LO 520 King 45-5626
7 August 1962 [09:30-12:30] RCA Victor Studio, 1611 Hawkins St., Nashville, TN – Lawton Williams (Lawton Williams [vcl], Jerry Kennedy [gt], Velma Williams Smith [gt], Henry Strzelecki [bass], Louis Dunn [drums], Floyd Cramer [piano] + The Jordanaires: Gordon Stoker, Neal Matthews, Raymond Walker, Hoyt Hawkins. Producer: Chet Atkins)
051 N2-WW-0840 CARPETBAGGERS Groove 58-0011/BFX-15178
052 N2-WW-0841 DON’T DESTROY ME 47-8142
053 N2-WW-0842 MAMA PINCH A PENNY Groove 58-0011/BFX-15178
November 1962 RCA Victor Studio, 1611 Hawkins St., Nashville, TN – Lawton Williams (Lawton Williams [vcl], unknown musicians. Producer: Chet Atkins)
054 N2-WW-5125 IN LOVE WITH YOU 47-8203
055 N2-WW-5126 MOUNTAIN OF A MAN 47-8203
056 N2-WW-5127 IT LOOKS LIKE YOU LOVE ME 47-8300
057 N2-WW-5128 ROCK OF GIBRALTAR 47-8142

16 October 1963 [19:00-22:00] RCA Victor Studio, 1611 Hawkins St., Nashville, TN – Lawton Williams (Lawton Williams [vcl], Jerry Kennedy [gt], Ray Edenton [gt], Henry Strzelecki [bass],  Buddy Harman [drums], Floyd Cramer [piano], Charlie McCoy [harmonica] + The Jordanaires: Gordon Stoker, Neal Matthews, Raymond Walker, Hoyt Hawkins. Producer: Chet Atkins)
058 PWA4-0510 STAY ON THE BALL 47-8359/BFX-15178
059 PWA4-0511 I‘M NOT ALL HERE 47-8359 74-0109
060 PWA4-0512 SQUAWLEIN 47-8300/BFX-15178
22 June 1964 [09:00-12:00] RCA Victor Studio, 1611 Hawkins St., Nashville, TN - Lawton Williams (Lawton Williams [vcl], Harold Bradley [gt], Ray Edenton [gt], Bob Moore [bass],  Buddy Harman [drums], Hargus Pig Robbins [piano], Anita Kerr, Dorothy A. Dillard; Louis D. Nunley, William
061 RWA4-1281 EVERYTHING'S O.K. ON THE LBJ 47-8407/BFX-15178
062 RWA4-1282 DON'T LOOK DOWN 47-8407
063 RWA4-1283 BIG JIM unissued
Late December 1964 RCA Victor Studio, 1611 Hawkins St., Nashville, TN - Lawton Williams (Lawton Williams [vcl] + unknown musicians. Producer: Bob Ferguson)
064 RWA4-1651 WAR ON POVERTY 47-8514
065 RWA4-1652 BIG JIM unissued
066 RWA4-1653 THE POWER OF LOVE 47-8514
9 January 1969 [overdub session] RCA Victor Studio, 1611 Hawkins St., Nashville, TN - Lawton Williams (Lawton Williams [vcl]. Producer: Chet Atkins)
061A XWA4-1208 [RWA4-1281]  EVERYTHING'S O.K. ON THE LBJ, PART 2 74-0109/BFX-15178
ca. February 1970 Singleton Sound Studio, 3106 Belmont Blvd., Nashville, TN – Lawton Williams (Producer: Lawton Williams and Shelby Singleton)
067 711-964 THE BALLAD OF MORGAN PL-64/OMNI 124
068 711-965 THE PREACHER AND THE MOVIE PL-56/OMNI 124
069 711-966 AIN'T THAT BAD ABOUT MRS. JONES PL-56 PL-64/OMNI 124

OMNI OMNI 124 PLANTATION GOLD (AUS, 2009)
January 1971 Nashville, TN – Lawton Williams (Producer: Brad McCuen)
070 M1AS-1152 ASPHALT COWBOY 615-0035/M31-1004
072 BALLAD OF JIM BLYNN M31-1004
073 HEADIN' DOWN THE WRONG HIGHWAY M31-1004
074 TENNESSEE BORDER M31-1004
075 I'D RATHER DRIVE A TRUCK M31-1004
071 M1AS-1157 COLD, COLD HANDS 615-0035/ M31-1004
076 SYBIL WRITES M31-1004
077 HIGHWAY TO NOWHERE M31-1004
078 TRUCK DRIVER'S BLUES M31-1004
079 BIG WHEEL CANNONBALL M31-1004
ca June 1972 Nashville, TN – Lawton Williams
080 DON'T PLAY ANGEL WITH ME Discus 912
081 THE MCNARRY COUNTY SHERIFF Discus 912
1978 Nashville, TN – Lawton Williams
082 MOCKINGBIRD MANSION Mockingbird 101/Tima CD 1035 Mending Fences
un

083 DRIVE ME HOME 101/Time 11 H
084 THE LAST TRUMPET Mockingbird 101 Caddo 1118 Mending Fences
085 NEON NIGHTS Caddo 1118/Mending Fences
TIMA 1 1H LIVING LEGENDS
unknown info - poss. Fort Worth, TX – Lawton Williams
086 528-7 EVERY LITTLE BIT HURTS X 101/Mending Fences
087 528-7 GOLDEN CIGARETTE LIGHTER X 101/Mending Fences
2002 JT Soundlabs, Martindale, TX – Floyd Tillman and Lawton Williams
088 IT JUST TEARS ME UP Heart of Texas HOTR-105
Summer 2003 Dallas, TX – Lawton Williams
089 ADAM AND EVERETT
090 LORD FORGIVE
091 MENDING FENCES
092 SHE SANGT HIM GOODBYE
093 THE SUN IS GONNA SHINE
094 WORLD
Tracks above issued on album Mending Fences

ALBUMS
Mega M31-1004 Between Truck Stops: Cold, Cold Hands; Asphalt Cowboy; Ballad Of Jim Blynn; Headin' Down The Wrong Highway; Tennessee Border; I'd Rather Drive A Truck; Sybil Writes; Highway To Nowhere; Truck Driver's Blues; Big Wheel Cannonball – 04-71 (Australian issue on RCA Camden CAS 7199)
Bear Family [GER] BFX-15178 Lightning Jones: Blue Grass Skirt; Foreign Love; I'll Still Love You; Casino On The Hill; Train Of Thoughts; If You're Waiting On Me; Don't Burn The Bridge Behind You; Rhinelander Waltz; Moon Joe; Lightning Jones; Carpetbaggers; Squawlein; Stay On The Ball; Mama Pinch A Penny; Everything's O.K. On The L.B.J. – 85
TIMA ? Mending Fences: Mending Fences; The Last Trumpet; Lord, Forgive; The Mcnairy Country Sheriff; Golden Cigarette Lighter; The Sun's Gonna Shine Again; Neon Nights; Adam and Everett; World; Don't Play Angel with Me; Every Little Bit Hurts; Mockingbird Mansion – 08-10-05

BACM [UK] CD D 420 Slim Pickings: Tennessee Avenue; Paper Face; Throwing Kisses; Reckon As How I Love You; Kentucky Highway; Alone At A Table For Two;  Just A Minute Ago; Dying Before My Time; No Wonder; What Am I Supposed To Say; Half Way To Heaven; Everlatsing Love; That’s All You Gotta Do; Lovin‘ Overtime; Away; Dusting Off Your Love Letters; Out Running Around; Yoke Of Oxen; Once Before;  Then You‘ll Know; Emergency Call;  Have Mercy On Me; There’s Only One Heaven; I Don't Care Who Knows; Satan's Bell; Mama Doll; Farewell Party – 13


SINGLES
Sultan (1947) as Slim Williams
5000 Firewater / Have Mercy On me - 47

Fortune (1949) as Slim Williams
116 Tennessee Avenue / Paper Face – 49
132 Throwing Kisses / Reckon As How I Love You – 50
140 Kentucky Highway / Alone At A Table For Two – 04-50 (rev. Apr. 8)
4-Star (1950) as Slim Williams
45-1509 Just A Minute / No Wonder – 50
45-1534 Dying Before My Time / What Am I Supposed To Say – 50
Coral (1951-1952)
9-64099 Everlasting Love / Lovin‘ Overtime – 07-51
9-64111 Halfway To Heaven / That’s All You Gotta Do – 12-51
9-64121 Out Running Around / Away – 03-52
9-64137 Yoke Of Oxen / Dusting Off Your Love Letters – ca 07-52
Imperial (1953) as Ed Lawton
45-8171 Then You‘ll Know / Have Mercy On Me - 53
45-8194 Once Before / Have Mercy On Me - ca 05-53
RCA Victor (1957-58)
47-7105 Don't Burn The Bridge Behind You / Foreign Love - 12-57
47-7188 Casino On The Hill / If You're Waitin On Me - 02-58 (rev. March 3)
47-7580 Lightning Jones / Moon Joe - 07-59
Decca (1958-59)
9-30709 Texas Vs. Alaska / Don't Let Anybody Tell You – 31-07-58
9-30839 Iron Curtain / House Full Of Love - 02-59
D (1960)
1120 I Don't Care Who Knows / Satan's Bell – 04-01-60
Le Bill (1960)

304 Mama Doll / Farewell Party - 06-60 (rev. July 4, reissued on Allstar 7212 in Sept. 1960)

Mercury (1961)
71780 The Big Fire / John And Mary Doe - 02-61 (rev. Feb. 13)
71867 Anywhere There's People / Plowed Ground - 08-61
Longhorn (1962)
LO 520 Shame On Me / Lucky Heart – 62 (reissued on King 45-5626 same year)
Groove (1962) / RCA Victor (1963-69)
58-0011 The Carpetbaggers / Mama Pinch A Penny – 09-62 (rev. Sept. 29)
47-8142 Rock Of Gibraltar / Don't Destroy Me - 09-02-63
47-8203 Mountain Of A Man / In Love With You - 06-63 (rev. June 22)
47-8300 Squawlin / It Looks Like You Love Me - 01-64
47-8359 Stay On The Ball / I'm Not All Here - 04-64 (rev. May 2)
47-8407 Everything's O.K. On The LBJ / Don't Look Down - 08-64
47-8514 The Power Of Love / War On Poverty - 02-65 (rev. Feb. 20)
74-0109 Everything's O.K. On The LBJ, Part 2 / I'm Not All Here - 03-69 (rev. Apr. 12)
Plantation (1970)
PL-56 The Preacher And The Movie / Ain't That Bad About Mrs. Jones - 70
PL-64 Ballad Of Morgan / Ain't That Bad About Mrs. Jones - 10-70
Mega (1971)
615-0035 Cold, Cold Hands / Asphalt Cowboy - 07-71 (rev. July 17)
Discus (1972)
912 Don't Play Angel With Me / McNairy County Sheriff - 08-72
Mockingbird (1978)
101 Mockingbird Mansion / Drive Me Home – 78

101 Mockingbird Mansion / The Last Trumpet - 78

Caddo
1118 The Last Trumpet / Neon Nights – 78?

X (ca 1980s)
X-101 Golden Cigarette Lighter / Every Little Bit Hurts

RADIO TRANSCIPTIONS DISCS
United States Air Force - Country Music Time # 126:  Geisha Girl;  Casino On The Hill;  Country Wedding Day [Bobby Sykes]; Don’t Burn The Bridge Behind You – 60 (airdate early 1960)