Billy Jack Wills

*26-02-1926 Memphis, TN, +02-03-1991

3rd version
By Michel Ruppli, Henk Scholts, Lillies Ohlssen, Praguefrank, Marc Alesina, Thieu Van De Vorst, Mario Manciotti
SESSIONS See also Bob Wills
ca. March 1951 Hollywood, CA – Billy Jack Wills and His Western Swing Band (Billy Jack Wills [vcl], Kenneth Lowery [rh gt], Vance Terry [steel], Tiny Moore [el mandolin], Dick McComb [trumpetpt/bass], poss Tommy Perkins [drums], Cotton Roberts [fiddle])
001 4045 WATER BABY BOOGIE X 11/Lenox 1016/ BCD 17644
002 4046 unknown title
003 4047 unknown title
004 4048 unknown title
005 4049 ROPED AND TIED X 11/TRG-50105 Lenox 1016 PROPERBOX 83 BCD 17644
006 4050 unknown title
LENOX 1016 HILLBILLY ROCK VOL.3 (FRA, 1994); PROPER PROPERBOX 83 STOMPING SINGERS/WESTERN SWINGERS - MORE FROM THE GOLDEN YEARS OF WESTERN SWING  (UK, 2004, 4CD);
ca. April 1951 Hollywood, CA – Billy Jack Wills and His Western Swing Band
007 4074 CATTLE CALL 1589
008 4075 LILLY DALE X18 1575/ET 101 JASMCD 3585
009 4076 DOWN IN OLD MEXICO 45-1575/JASMCD 3585
010 4077 TOBACCO CHEWING BOOGIE X18/JASMCD 3585 BCD 17644
011 4048 NOW THAT WE HAVE SAID GOODBYE 1589 ET 101 JASMCD 3585
16 March 1953 Radio Recorders, 7000 Santa Monica Blvd., Hollywood, CA – Bob Wills and His Texas Playboys (Billy Jack Wills [vcl-1], Eldon Shamblin [el gt], Jay Roberts [gt], Billy Bowman [steel], Jack Lloyd [bass], Luke Wills [bass], Jack Greenback [drums], Skeeter Elkins [piano], Jesse Ashlock [fiddle])
012 53-S-3016/53-XY-3033 SHE‘S A QUARTER HORSE TYPE (OF A GAL) -1 K11709/ TRG-50105 BFX 15179 BCD 16550 BCD 17644
013 53-S-3019/53-XY-3036 BOTTLE BABY BOOGIE -1 K11635/MG2-5303 TRG-50105 BFX 15179 BCD 16550 JASMCD 3585 Revival 4002  BCD 17644
(only vocal tracks by BJW listed, see also Bob Wills)
REVIVAL 4002 ROCKABILLY BOOGIE RARE ITEMS VOL.2 (DEN,1987)
9 March 1954 Radio Recorders, 7000 Santa Monica Blvd., Hollywood, CA – Bob Wills and His Texas Playboys (Eldon Shamblin [gt], Claude Powell [banjo], Billy Bowman [steel], Billy Jack Wills [bass/vcl-1], Johnny Megetto [drums], Bob Wills [fiddle], Louis Tierney [fiddle/sax])
014 54-S-3038/54-XY-3018 CADILLAC IN MODEL "A" -1 K11883/E 3352 MS 594 BFX 15179 BCD 16550 TRG 50105 JASMCD 3585 Chief CCD 1156501  BCD 17644
(only vocal track by BJW listed, see also Bob Wills)
CHIEF CCD 1156501 ULTRA RARE ROCKABILLY’S VOL.1 (NED, 1995);
24 May 1954 [14:30-17:00] Radio Recorders, 7000 Santa Monica Blvd., Hollywood, CA – Billy Jack Wills and His Western Swing Band
015 54-S-3067/54-XY-3037 FOR THE CHILDREN'S SAKE K11907/ TRG-50105
016 54-S-3068/54-XY-3038 OUT OF GAS K11807/ TRG-50105 JASMCD 3585 BCD 17644
017 54-S-3069/54-XY-3039 TEARDROPS ON A DIARY K11907/ TRG-50105
018 54-S-3070/54-XY-3040 I DON'T WANT TO LIVE ALONE K11807/ TRG-50105 JASMCD 3585
26 January 1955 [14:30-17:30] Radio Recorders, 7000 Santa Monica Blvd., Hollywood, CA – Billy Jack Wills and His Western Swing Band (Billy Jack Wills [vcl/gt], Kenneth Lowery [gt], Billie H. Moore [mandolin/fiddle], Vance Terry [steel], Thomas Freddy Warner [bass], Claude Harris Spencer [drums], Herman Wilkerson Roberts [fiddle], Clifford Melvin Elkin [piano])
019 55-S-17/55-XY-9 RED MITTENS K11966/ TRG-50105
020 55-S-18/55-XY-10 HEY LULA (HEY LU-LA) K12034/ TRG-50105 JASMCD 3585 BCD 17644
021 55-S-19/55-XY-11 FOUR BEERS AND FORTY TEARS K12034/ TRG-50105
022 55-S-20/55-XY-12-2 THERE‘S GOOD ROCKIN' TONIGHT K11966/ TRG-50105 BCD-15789 JASCD 796 BCD 17644
BEAR FAMILY BCD-15789 THAT’LL FLAT GIT IT, VOL. 7 (1996); JASMINE JASCD 796 MGM ROCKABILLY COLLECTION (UK, 2014, 2 CD)
24 October 1955 [14:15-17:15] Radio Recorders, 7000 Santa Monica Blvd., Hollywood, CA – Billy Jack Wills and His Western Swing Band (Billy Jack Wills [vcl/gt], Kenneth Lowery [gt], Billie H. Moore [mandolin/fiddle], Thomas Fredy Warner [steel], John M. Kelleher [bass], Gwyn Merle Nichols [drums], Herman Wilkerson Roberts [fiddle], Roy James Roberts [fiddle], Clifford Melvin Elkin [piano])
023 55-S-77/55-XY-69 MY SHOES KEEP WALKING BACK TO YOU K12302/ TRG-50105 BCD 17644
024 55-S-78/55-XY-70 WHEN A NEW LOVE IS BORN K12172 TRG-50105
025 55-S-79/55-XY-71-7 ALL SHE WANTS TO DO IS ROCK K12172 TRG-50105 BCD 15789 Revival 4003 Chief CCD 1156511 BCD 17644
026 55-S-76/55-XY-68 WILL YOU MISS ME WHEN I’M GONE K12302/ TRG-50105
REVIAL 4003 ROCKABILLY BOOGIE RARE ITEMS VOL.3 (DEN, 1987);
CHIEF CCD 1156511 ULTRA RARE ROCBAILLY’S VOL.11 (NED, 1995);
BEAR FAMILY BCD 15789 THAT’LL FLAT GIT IT VOL.7 (GER, 1996);
JASMINE JASCD 796 MGM ROCKABILLY COLLECTION (UK, 2014, 2CD);
25 July 1956 [14:00-17:00] Radio Recorders, 7000 Santa Monica Blvd., Hollywood, CA – Billy Jack Wills and His Western Swing Band
027 56-S-165/56-XY-165 I LOVED AND LOST K12444/ TRG-50105
028 56-S-166/56-XY-166 NOT VERY LONG K12559/ TRG-50105
029 56-S-167/56-XY-167 HEY MISTER MAILMAN K12444/ TRG-50105 BACM CD D 231 BCD 17644
030 56-S-168/56-XY-168 TROUBLES (THOSE LONESOME KIND) K12559/ TRG-50105 Revival 4003 R2 71900 JASCD 796 BCD 17644 BCD 17652
BACM CD D 231 COUNTRY MUSIC ON MGM (UK, 2008); REVIVAL 4003 ROCKABILLY BOOGIE RARE ITEMS VOL.3 (DEN, 1987); RHINO R2 71900/A 261608 HILLBILLY FEVER VOL.1 LEGENDS OF WESTERN SWING (1995);
JASMINE JASCD 796 MGM ROCABILLY COLLECTION 2 CD (UK, 2014); BEAR FAMILY BCD 17652 THAT'LL FLAT GIT IT VOL.40 / ROCKABILLY AND ROCK AND ROLL FROM THE VAULTS OF MGM, CUB AND METRO RECORDS (GER, 2022)



RADIO TRANSCRIPTIONS
1952-1954 [World Radio Transcriptions] Radio Station KFBK, Sacramento, CA – Billy Jack Wills (Billy Jack Wills [vcl/drumsl], Tiny Moore [vcl/el mandolin/fiddle], Kenny Lowery [gt], Vance Terry [steel], Cotton Roberts [bass, fiddle], Dick McComb [trumpet/ bass])
LONESOME HEARTED BLUES Western 2002 Joaquin 2503 BCD 17644
DIPSY DOODLE – instr - Western 2002 Joaquin 2503 BCD 17644
JOHNSON RAG – instr - Western 2002 Joaquin 2503
MR COTTON PICKER – Western 2002 Joaquin 2503 BCD 17644
AIR MAIL SPECIAL – instr - Western 2002 Joaquin 2503 BCD 17644
BASIN STREET BLUES – Western 2002 Joaquin 2503
I DON´T KNOW – Western 2002 Joaquin 2503 BCD 17644
WOODCHOPPER´S BALL – instr - Western 2002 Joaquin 2503 BCD 17644
TEARDROPS FROM MY EYES – Western 2002 Joaquin 2503 BCD 17644
TUXEDO JUNCTION – instr -Western 2002 Joaquin 2503
TWIN GUITAR SPECIAL – instr - Western 2002 Joaquin 2503
ST. LOUIS BLUES – Western 2002 Joaquin 2503
BLUE GUITAR STOMP – instr - Western 2002 Joaquin 2503
SUMMIT RIDGE DRIVE – instr - Western 2002 Joaquin 2503
ROCK CITY BOOGIE – Western 2002 Joaquin 2503
C JAM BLUES – instr - Western 2002 Joaquin 2503 BCD 17644
GET ALONG HOME, CINDY Joaquin 2503
STEEL GUITAR STOMP Joaquin 2503
CARAVAN Joaquin 2503
CADILLAC IN MODEL "A" Western WS-2004 Joaquin 2505 BCD 17644
FOR YOU, MY LOVE Western WS-2004 Joaquin 2505 BCD 17644
JELLY ROLL BLUES Western WS-2004 Joaquin 2505 BCD 17644
SKIDDLE DEE BOO Western WS-2004 Joaquin 2505
ROCK-A-BYE BABY BLUES Western WS-2004 Joaquin 2505 TRG 50115 BCD 17644
SUGAR BLUES Western WS-2004 Joaquin 2505 BCD 17644
STARDUST Western WS-2004 Joaquin 2505
SLOW DRIVE Western WS-2004 Joaquin 2505
CRAZY, MAN, CRAZY Western WS-2004 Joaquin 2505 BCD 17644
MILK COW BLUES Western WS-2004 Joaquin 2505 BCD 17644
SWEET GEORGIA BROWN Western WS-2004 Joaquin 2505 BCD 17644
KENTUCKY MEANS PARADISE Western WS-2004 Joaquin 2505 BCD 17644
KISSIN' BUG BOOGIE Western WS-2004 Joaquin 2505 BCD 17644
JAZZ ME BLUES Western WS-2004 Joaquin 2505
I LAUGH HOW I THINK HOW I CRIED OVER YOU Western WS-2004 Joaquin 2505
TAKE ME BACK TO TULSA Western WS-2004 Joaquin 2505
ROCK-A-BYE-BABY BLUES Western WS-2004 Joaquin 2505
INTRO: TINY MOORE bootleg CD
CRIPPLE CREEK bootleg CD
MAY YOU NEVER BE ALONE bootleg CD
ANYTIME bootleg CD
PANHANDLE RAG bootleg CD
OUTRO bootleg CD



ALBUMS
Western WS-2002 Billy Jack Wills and His Western Swing Band: Lonesome Hearted Blues; Dipsy Doodle; Johnson Rag; Mr. Cotton Picker; Air Mail Special; Basin Street Blues; I Don't Know; Woodchopper's Ball; Teardrops From My Eyes; Tuxedo Junction; Twin Guitar Special; St. Louis Blues; Blue Guitar Stomp; Summit Ridge Drive; Rock City Boogie; C Jam Blues – 82 (see also Joaquin 2503)
Western WS-2004 Crazy, Man, Crazy - 1952-54: Cadillac Un Model "A"; For You, My Love; Jelly Roll Blues; Skiddle Dee Boo; Rock-A-Bye Baby Blues; Sugar Blues; Stardust; Slow Drive; Crazy, Man, Crazy; Milk Cow Blues; Sweet Georgia Brown; Kentucky Means Paradise; Kissin' Bug Boogie; Jazz Me Blues; I Laugh How I Think How I Cried Over You – 82 (see also Joaquin 2505)
Joaquin 2503 Billy Jack Wills and His Western Swing Band: Lonesome Hearted Blues; Dipsy Doodle; Johnson Rag; Mr. Cotton Picker; Air Mail Special; Basin Street Blues; I Don't Know; Woodchopper's Ball; Teardrops From My Eyes; Tuxedo Junction; Twin Guitar Special; St. Louis Blues; Blue Guitar Stomp; Summit Ridge Drive; Rock City Boogie; C Jam Blues; Get Along Home, Cindy*; Steel Guitar Stomp*; Caravan* – 07-11-96 (reissue of Western 2002 with *bonus tracks)
Hound [UK] TRG-505105 There’s Good Rockin’ Tonight: Rock-A-Bye Baby Blues; Bottle Baby Boogie; She’s A Quarter Horse Type (Of A Gal] [w. Bob Wills]; Cadillac In Model “A” [w. Bob Wills]; Out Of Gas; I Don’t Want To Live Alone; Teardrops On A Diary; For The Childrens Sake; There’s Good Rockin’ Tonight; Red Mittens; Hey Lula (Hey Lu-La); Four Beers And Forty Tears; Hey Mr. Mailman; I Loved And Lost; My Shoes Keep Walkin’ Back To You; Will Miss Me When I’m Gone; Troubles (Those Lonesome Kind); Not Very Long; Cadillac In Model “A”; Blues For You My Love; Lonesome Hearted Blues; Rock-A-Bye Baby Blues; Milkcow Blues; Lonesome Hearted Blues; Roped And Tied – 96 (MGM,4 Star tracks + transcriptions)
Joaquin 2505 Crazy, Man, Crazy - 1952-54: Cadillac Un Model "A"; For You, My Love; Jelly Roll Blues; Skiddle Dee Boo; Rock-A-Bye Baby Blues; Sugar Blues; Stardust; Slow Drive; Crazy, Man, Crazy; Milk Cow Blues; Sweet Georgia Brown; Kentucky Means Paradise; Kissin' Bug Boogie; Jazz Me Blues; I Laugh How I Think How I Cried Over You; Take Me Back To Tulsa*; Rock-A-Bye-Baby Blues* – 25-02-99 (reissue of Western WS-2004 with *bonus tracks)

Jasmine [UK] JASM-CD-3585 Dog House Blues: San Antonio Rose; Out Of Gas (Bob Wills and Billy Jack); I'll Never Worry You; I've Got A New Road Under My Wheels (Bob Wills and His Texas Playboys); I Just Can't Take It Any More (Tommy Duncan and His Western All Stars); Down In Old Mexico (Bob Wills and Billy Jack); Mirror On The Wall; Bottle Baby Boogie; (Bob Wills and His Texas Playboys); Sending Your Picture Back; Hey Lula (Hey Lu-La) (Bob Wills and Billy Jack); Somebody's Pushin'; I Hit The Jackpot (When I Won You) (Bob Wills and His Texas Playboys); Lilly Dale (Bob Wills and Billy Jack); Walkin' In The Shadow Of The Blues (Tommy Duncan and His Western All Stars); Now That We Have Said Goodbye (Bob Wills and Billy Jack); My Son My Son; I Don't Want To Live Alone (Bob Wills and Billy Jack); The Parting Of The Ways (Tommy Duncan and His Western All Stars); Cadillac In Model "A" (Bob Wills and His Texas Playboys); Leavin' Today; Dog House Blues (Bob Wills and His Texas Playboys); Tobacco Chewing Boogie (Bob Wills and Billy Jack); Wastin' Your Life Away - 03-08

Bear Family [GER] BCD-17644 Cadillac In Model 'A' - Gonna Shake This Shack Tonight: Kentucky Means Paradise; There's Good Rockin' Tonight; Crazy Man Crazy; Cadillac In Model 'A' ; Out Of Gas; Hey Lula (Hey Lu-La); Air Mail Special; For You My Love; All She Wants To Do Is Rock; Kissin' Bug Boogie; Roped And Tied; C-Jam Blues; Sweet Georgia Brown; Water Baby Boogie; I Don't Know; Sugar Blues; Bottle Baby Boogie; Milk Cow Blues; Jelly Roll Blues; Troubles (That Lonesome Kind); Woodchopper's Ball; Rock-A-Bye Baby Blues; She's A Quarter Horse Type (Of A Gal); Lonesome Hearted Blues; Dipsy Doodle; Tobacco Chewing Boogie; Mr. Cotton Picker; Hey Mr. Mailman; Teardrops From My Eyes; Cadillac In Model 'A' (MGM); My Shoes Keep Walkin' Back To You - 12-08-22       

SINGLES
4-Star (1951)

X-11 Roped And Tied / Water Baby Boogie - 51
X-18 Lilly Dale / Tobacco Chewing Boogie  - 51
45-1575 Lily Dale / Down In Old Mexico - 09-51 (rev. Sept. 15)
45-1589 Cattle Call / Now That We Have Said Goodbye – 01-52
MGM (1953-56)
K11807 I Don't Want To Live Alone / Out Of Gas – 09-54 (rev. Oct. 16)
K11907 For The Children's Sake / Teardrops On A Diary – 01-55 (rev. Jan. 15)
K11966 Red Mittens / There's Good Rockin' Tonight - 04-55 (rev. Apr. 9)
K12034 Hey Lula (Hey Lu-La)  / Four Beers And Forty Tears – 07-55 (rev. July 16)
K12172 When A New Love Is Born (An Old Love Dies) / All She Wants To Do Is Rock - 01-56
K12302 Will You Miss Me When I'm Gone /  My Shoes Keep Walkin' Back To You – 07-56
K12444 Hey Mr. Mailman / I Loved And Lost – 03-57
K12559 Troubles (Those Lonesome Kind) / Not Very Long - 10-57