Riley Crabtree

*19-02-1912 Mount Pleasant, TX, +01-04-1984
3rd version
by Dick Grant, Al Turner, Roy and Eileen Link, Dave Sax, Adam Komorowski,Tom Sims, Phil Tricker, the late “Country” Johnny Mathis, Burton Harris, Elton Ray Crabtree, Jon Ingman, Kevin Coffey, John Beecher, Gary Huggins, Thieu Van De Vorst, Henk Scholts
SESSIONS
fall 1948 Jim Beck Studio, 1101 Ross Ave., Dallas, TX ¬- Riley Crabtree  (poss Ray Key, Burton Harris, “Smokey” Cal, Johnny Mathis [steel]. Producer: Jim Beck)
(Talent/4-Star master numbers)
001 118/1957  WAITING FOR A TRAIN Talent 715 T-101 [78 RPM album] /Hillbilly Researcher HBRCD-042 Cattle Compact CCD-317
002 119/1958  BLUE YODEL # 5 Talent 715 T-101 [78 RPM album] /HBRCD-042 CCD-317
003 120/1959  IN THE JAILHOUSE NOW Talent 716 T-101 [78 RPM album] /HBRCD-042 CCD-317
004 121/1961  AWAY OUT ON THE MOUNTAIN Talent 717 T-101 [78 RPM album] /HBRCD-042 CCD-317
005 122/1963  T. B. BLUES Talent 718 T-101 [78 RPM album] /HBRCD-042 CCD-317
006 123/1962  MULE SKINNER'S BLUES (A BLUE YODEL) Talent 717 T-101 [78 RPM album] /HBRCD-042 CCD-317
007 124/1964  T FOR TEXAS - A BLUE YODEL Talent 718 T-101 [78 RPM album] /HBRCD-042 CCD-317
008 125/1960  BLUE YODEL # 1 Talent 716 T-101 [78 RPM album] /HBRCD-042 CCD-317
Fall 1948 Jim Beck Studio, 1101 Ross Ave., Dallas, TX ¬- Riley Crabtree  (unknown musicians. Producer: Jim Beck)
(Talent/4-Star master numbers)
009 127/1945  IF I COULD BUY YOUR LOVE Talent 720/HBRCD-042 CCD-317
010 128/1946  A LIFETIME OF REGRET Talent 720/HBRCD-042 CCD-317
Early 1949 Jim Beck Studio, 1101 Ross Ave., Dallas, TX ¬- Riley Crabtree  (unknown musicians. Producer: Jim Beck)
011 136  YOU HAD TO STRAY Talent 719 Colonial 110/Cowgirlboy LP-5116 HBRCD-042 CCD-317
012 137  SHACKLES AND CHAINS Talent 719 Colonial 110/Cowgirlboy LP-5116 HBRCD-042 CCD-317
ca April 1949 Jim Beck Studio, 1101 Ross Ave., Dallas, TX ¬- Riley Crabtree  (Bob hale [* recitation] unknown musicians. Producer: Jim Beck)
013 194  LONELY WORLD  Talent 724/HBRCD-042 CCD-317
014 195  FLOWERS ON MY MOTHER'S GRAVE* Talent 724/HBRCD-042 CCD-317
Summer 1949 poss. Sellers Co. Studio, Co. 2102 Jackson Street, Dallas, TX.  - Audrey Jean Crabtree (daughter of Riley)
A01 236 LITTLE PAPER BOY    742
A02 237 OUR BABY'S GONE TO JESUS   742
Summer 1949 Sellers Co. Studio, 2102 Jackson St., Dallas, TX  ¬- Johnny Mathis [-1]/ Johnny Bee [-2]/Riley Crabtree [3] (Riley Crabtree [vcl-3/ac gt], Johnny Mathis [vcl-1/steel], Johnny "Bee: Balducci [vcl-2] +   unknown musicians. Producer: James “Pappy” Sellers )
015 242 OZARK WALTZ -3 Star Talent 756/HBRCD-042 CCD-317
000 243 unknown title
000 244 TELL ME WHY -1 738/KKCD 21
000 245 BEFORE YOU CALL -1 738
000 246 LOOKING FOR A FLOWER (THAT NEVER BLOOMS) –2  744
000 247 HANG-OVER BLUES  -2  744
000 248 unknown title
000 249 unknown title
016 250 IF MY TEARS WERE GOLD -3 Star Talent 756/HBRCD-042 KKCD-21 CCD-317
January or February 1950 Jim Beck Studio, 1101 Ross Ave., Dallas, TX ¬- Riley Crabtree  (Jimmy Rollins [ld gt], Joe Knight [rh gt], ? [steel], ? [bass].. Producer: Jim Beck)
017 355  FREE FROM SHACKLES AND CHAINS Star Talent 761/HBRCD-042 CCD-317   
018 356  BROKEN HEART - FALLING TEARS Star Talent 761/HBRCD-042 CCD-317
16 November 1950 Jim Beck Studio, 1101 Ross Ave., Dallas, TX ¬- Riley Crabtree  (Jimmy Rollins [ld gt], Joe Knight [rh gt], ? [steel], ? [bass].. Producer: Jim Beck)
019 HCO 4350  YOU’RE WASTING YOUR TIME  Columbia 4-20803/Cowgirlboy LP-5116
020 HCO 4351  GET AWAY FROM IT ALL  20778/CCD-317
021 HCO 4352  SHACKLES AND CHAINS  20778/CCD-317
022 HCO 4353  I ALWAYS PLAY A LOSING HAND  4-20803/Cowgirlboy LP-5116
1950 [KWKH show-The Louisiana Hayride] Municipal Auditorium, Shreveport, LA - Riley Crabtree
02201    SHACKLES AND CHAINS     Proper Properbox 110
5 May 1951 Jim Beck Studio, 1101 Ross Ave., Dallas, TX - Riley Crabtree (? [fem hmny vcl*], Poss Jimmy Rollins [ld gt], Joe Knight [rh gt], ? [steel], ? [bass], ? [fiddle], Harold Carmack [piano])
023 CO 45876/JB-28  ALWAYS TOGETHER* 4-20873/Cowgirlboy LP-5116
024 CO 45877/JB-29  IT’S YOU OR MAYBE IT’S ME  4-20873/Cowgirlboy LP-5116
025 CO 45878/JB-30  HANDFUL OF NICKELS 4-20831/Cowgirlboy LP-5116
026 CO 45879/JB-31  YOU’RE BREAKING MY HEART  4-20831/Cowgirlboy LP-5116
13 October 1951 Jim Beck Studio, 1101 Ross Ave., Dallas, TX - Riley Crabtree (poss Jimmy Rollins [ld gt], Joe Knight [rh gt], ? [steel], ? [bass], ? [fiddle], Harold Carmack [piano])
027 CO 46980/JB-61?  I LIVE WITH MEMORIES (THAT BLESS AND BURN) 4-20970/Cowgirlboy LP-5116
028 CO 46981/JB-62?  I STOOD AND WATCHED YOUR LOVE GROWN COLD  4-20970/Cowgirlboy LP-5116
029 CO 46982/JB-63?  BETWEEN THE PAGES OF THE BIBLE  4-20901/CCD-317
030 CO 46983/JB-64?  INFORMATION PLEASE  4-20901/CCD-317
15 July 1952 Clifford Herring Sound Studio, 1705 W. 7th St., Fort Worth, TX - Riley Crabtree (poss Jimmy Rollins [ld gt], Joe Knight [rh gt], ? [steel], ? [bass], ? [fiddle], Harold Carmack [piano])
031 CO 48234/FW 12  IF I HAD SOMEONE TO CALL MY VERY OWN  4-21030/Cowgirlboy LP-5116
032 CO 48235/FW 13  LOVE SONG OF THE HILLS  4-21030/Cowgirlboy LP-5116
033 CO 48236/FW 14  AN ORCHID IN MY BOUQUET  4-21073/CCD-317
034 CO 48237/FW 15  TONIGHT  4-21073/CCD-317
13 November 1953 Jim Beck Studio, 1101 Ross Ave., Dallas, TX - Riley Crabtree (poss Jimmy Rollins [ld gt], Joe Knight [rh gt], ? [steel], ? [bass], ? [fiddle], Harold Carmack [piano])
035 CO 50459/JB 100/ZSP-30543  WHEN HANK WILLIAMS MET JIMMIE RODGERS  4-21218/CCD-317
036 CO 50460/JB 101/ZSP-30544  I’LL MAKE YOU WANT ME  4-21218/CCD-317
037 CO 50461/JB 102/ZSP-30545  WHEN THIS WORLD CHANGES HANDS  4-21268/Cowgirlboy LP-5116
038 CO 50462/JB 103/ZSP-30546  LET ME WALK THROUGH THE VALLEY  4-21268/Cowgirlboy LP-5116
late June or early July 1955 Hollywood, CA - Riley Crabtree (Eddie Cochran [ld gt-1], Hank Cochran[rh gt] + unknown steel, bass,fiddle.     Producer: C.G. “Red” Matthews)
039 MEET ME AT JOE'S-1  Ekko 1019/CCD-317 BACM CD D 567
040 DON'T TURN AWAY FROM ME  Ekko 1019/CCD-317 BACM CD D 567
1956/1957[live KCAR Radio Station "Absolute Security Radio Shows"] Burton Harris Studio, Mt. Pleasant, TX - Riley Crabtree (Burton Harris [el gt], Hugh Blair [steel], Dean martin [bass], Max Carey [pno].Producer: Burton Harris)
04001 GO CAT GO (Version 1 -1:50) Dragon Street DCD-70102 Rollercoaster RCCD-3049 Bronco Buster CD-9061
04002 SOMEONE REMINDS ME OF YOU Dragon Street DCD-70102 Rollercoaster RCCD-3049
04003 IF YOU DON’T BELIEVE I LOVE YOU, JUST TRY ME Bronco Buster CD-9061
04004 DON’T CRY OLD PAL      CD-9061
04005 ONCE A DAY AND TWICE ON SUNDAY   CD-9061
04006 TILL THE END OF THE WORLD     CD-9061
04007 SO DOGGONE LONESOME CD-9061
04008 HEY GOOD LOOKIN’    CD-9061
04009 TRUST AND OBEY    CD-9061
04010 WHISPERIN’   CD-9061
04011 A HANDFUL OF NICKELS  CD-9061
04012 WALKIN’ THE STREETS   CD-9061
04013 I DON’T WANT TO BE THERE   CD-9061
04014 TENNESSEE WALTZ    CD-9061
04015 I SAW YOUR FACE IN THE MOON)  CD-9061
04016 MY MOTHER WAS A LADY CD-9061
04017 JUST CALL ME LONESOME   CD-9061
04018 PACK UP YOUR CLOTHES AND COME ON DOWN    CD-9061
04019 HANG YOUR HEAD IN SHAME   CD-9061
04020 YOU DON’T HAVE TO BE A BABY TO CRY   CD-9061
04021 LET ME BE THE ONE CD-9061
04021 DON’T GIVE ME NO BACK TALK CD-9061
04022 SHACKLES AND CHAINS   CD-9061 
04023 EAT, DRINK AND BE MERRY (TOMORROW YOU’LL CRY) CD-9061
04024 THAT’S WHAT I LIKE  CD-9061
04025 ROCKIN’ ALONE (IN AN OLD ROCKIN’ CHAIR)   CD-9061
04026 GO, CAT, GO (Version 2)   CD-9061
1957 Dallas, TX - Riley Crabtree (unknown musicians.Producer: Bill D’Angelo)
041 TATTLE TATTLE TALE Country Picnic 602X45/White Label WLP-2805 Collector CLCD-2877 BACM CD D 567
042 SOMETHING TELLS ME Country Picnic 602X45/Dragon Street DCD-70102 Rollercoaster RCCD-3049 BACM CD D 567
November 1958 Burton Harris Studio, Mt. Pleasant, TX - Riley Crabtree (Burton Harris [el gt], Hugh Blair [steel], Dean Martin [bass]. Producer: Burton Harris)
043 ∆-26473  SHE LOVES ME BETTER Security 45-111/ Dragon Street DCD-70102  Rollercoaster RCCD-3049 BACM CD D 567
044 ∆-26474  HAVE PATIENCE HEART Security 45-111   BACM CD D 567
1959 Burton Harris Studio, Mt. Pleasant, TX - Riley Crabtree (Burton Harris [el gt], Dean Martin [bass]. Producer: Burton Harris)
045 29146 SOMEONE REMINDS ME OF YOU  45-112(b)
046 29147? I’VE LIVED TWO DAYS IN ONE Security 45-112(a,b)/Collector CLCD-2873 BACM CD D 567
047 29148 DON’T CRY OLD PAL 45-112(a) – 59 BACM CD D 567
1960 KSST Radio Station Studio, Sulphur Springs, TX - Riley Crabtree (Bobby Floyd [bass], Mickey Huggins [drums])
048 GUN FIGHTIN’ MARSHAL* C AND W 45-201/Cowgirlboy LP-5116 BACM CD D 567
049 WHY DARLING WHY C AND W 45-201/Cowgirlboy LP-5116  BACM CD D 567
*issued twice - as Riley Crabtree and His Western Paraders and as Riley Crabtree and The Star Dusters
1960 poss. Dallas, TX - Riley Crabtree and The Star Dusters (unknown musicians)
050     CARELESS CHANCE     C AND W 45-201/ BACM CD D 567
051     SHACKLES AND CHAINS     C AND W 45-202/ BACM CD D 567
052     TRY ME 45-202/Cactus CACT CD-5005 BACM CD D 567
Summer 1962 Dallas, TX - Riley Crabtree (unknown musicians)
053 N80W-2904 WATCHING THE CLOCK Vandan 609V-2904/ BACM CD D 567
054 N80W-2905 SOMEONE REMINDS ME OF YOU  609V-2904. BACM CD D 567
1963 Dallas, TX - Riley Crabtree (unknown musicians)
055 P4KM-5111 POISON MIND York Bros. Records Inc. 101 Vandan  609V-5111/ HBRCD-056 BACM CD D 567
056 P4KM-5112 SHACKLES AND CHAINS York Bros. Records Inc. 101 Vandan 609V-5111/ HBRCD-056 BACM CD D 567
1963 Dallas, TX - Riley Crabtree (unknown musicians)
057 P4KM-5177  BIG MAN York Bros. Records Inc. 102/ HBRCD-056 056 P4KM-5111 POISON MIND York Bros. Records Inc. 101 Vandan  609V-5111/HBRCD-056 BACM CD D 567
058 P4KM-5178 I WOULDN’T EXCHANGE MY HEARTACHE York Bros. Records Inc. 102/ HBRCD-056 056 P4KM-5111 POISON MIND York Bros. Records Inc. 101 Vandan  609V-5111/ HBRCD-056 BACM CD D 567
all 4 York tracks possibly recorded at one session
1963 San Antonio, TX - Riley Crabtree (unknown musicians)
059 WHEN THIS WORLD CHANGES HANDS Country Hit CH-230
060 LET ME WALK THROUGH THE VALLEY CH-230/ BACM CD D 567
14 January 1964 Texas Sound Studio, San Antonio, TX - Riley Crabtree (unknown musicians)
061 I LIVE IN A CRAZY WORLD Country Hit CH-232/ BACM CD D 567
062 CAN SWEET LIPS LIE?   CH-232/ BACM CD D 567
15 January 1964 Texas Sound Studio, San Antonio, TX - Riley Crabtree (unknown musicians)
063 TIRED OLD SINGER Country Hit CH-231/ BACM CD D 567
064 THE RIO GRANDE WALTZ   CH-231/ BACM CD D 567
9 July 1964 Texas Sound Studio, San Antonio, TX - Riley Crabtree (unknown musicians)
065 SHE LOVES ME BETTER Country Hit CH-337/Collector CLCD-2858
066 HAVE PATIENCE HEART   CH-337
Collector CLCD-2858 Kickin’ The Hillbilly
1965 Dallas, TX - Riley Crabtree (unknown musicians)
067 SK4M-1879  DOORWAY TO MY HEART Cheatham C-117
068 SK4M-1880  MEMORIES TIED DOWN    C-117
1966 Dallas, TX - Riley Crabtree (unknown musicians)
069 T4KM-5805  ROAD TO NOWHERE Cheatham C-126
070 T4KM-5806  CAJUN QUEEN     C-126
Unknown info [acetate] unknown – Riley Crabtree
STOLEN ROMANCE BACM CD D 567

ALBUMS
Cowgirlboy [GER] LP-5116 Love Songs Of The Hills: A Handful of Nickels; Always Together (Never Apart); Gun Fightin' Marshal.; I Always Play a Losing Hand; I Live with Memories (That Bless and Burn); I Stood and Watched Your Love Grow Cold; If I Had Someone to Call My Very Own; Let Me Walk Through the Valley; Love Song of the Hills; Maybe It's You or Maybe It's Me; Shackles and Chains; When this World Changes Hands; Why, Darling, Why; You Had to Stray; You're Breaking My Heart Dear; You're Wastin' Your Time – 94
Hillbilly Researcher [UK] HBRCD-042 Talent / Star Talent Recordings: (tracks in sessions list, exact order unknown) Waiting For A Train; Blue Yodel # 5; In The Jailhouse Now; Out Away On The Mountain; T. B. Blues; Mule Skinner's Blues - A Blue Yodel; T For Texas - A Blue Yodel; Blue Yodel # 1; If I Could Buy Your Love; A Lifetime To Regret; You Had To Stray; Shackles And Chains; Lonely World; Flowers On My Mother's Grave; Ozark Waltz; If My Tears Were Gold; Free From Shackles And Chains; Broken Heart - Falling Tears. - 01
Cattle Compact  [GER] CCD-317  When Hank Williams Met Jimmie Rodgers: A Lifetime To Regret; An Orchid In My Bouquet; Away Out On The Mountain; Between The Pages Of The Bible; Blue Yodel No. 5; Blue Yodel No.1; Broken Heart - Falling Tears; Don't Turn Away From Me; Flowers On My Mother's Grave; Free From Shackles And Chains; Get Away From It All; I'll Make You Want Me; If I Could Buy Your Love; If My Tears Were Gold; In The Jailhouse Now; Information Please; Lonely World; Meet Me At Joe's; Muleskinner Blues (a Blue Yodel); Ozark Waltz; Shackles And Chains; Shackles And Chains (2nd Version); T For Texas; T. B. Blues; Tonight; Waiting For A Train; When Hank Williams Met Jimmie Rodgers; You Had To Stray -  06
Bronco Buster CD-9061 The Rare Riley Crabtree Radio Sessions: If You Don't Believe I Love You, Just Try Me; Don't Cry Old Pal; Once A Day And Twice On Sunday; Till The End Of The World; So Doggone Lonesome; Hey Good Lookin'; Trust And Obey; Whisperin' <Inst.>; A Handful Of Nickels; Walkin' The Streets; I Don't Want To Be There;  Tennessee Waltz; I Saw Your Face In The Moon; My Mother Was A Lady; Just Call Me Lonesome; Pack Your Clothes And Come On Down; Hang Your Head In Shame; You Don't Have To Be A Baby To Cry; Let Me Be The One;  Don't Give Me No Back Talk;  Shackles And Chains; Eat, Drink And Be Merry (Tomorrow You'll Cry); That's What I Like;  Rockin' Alone (In An Old Rockin' Chair); Go, Cat, Go – 07
BACM [UK] CD 567 1955-1963 Recordings: Meet Me At Joe's;  Don't Turn Away From Me;  Tattle Tattle Tale; Something Tells Me;  She Loves Me Better; Have Patience Heart;  I've Lived Two Days In One; Don't Cry Ole Pal;  Gun Fightin' Marshall; Why, Darling, Why; Careless Chance; Shackles And Chains; Try Me; Watching The Clock; Someone Reminds Me Of You; Poison Mind;  Shackles And Chains -2; Big Man; I Wouldn't Exchange My Heartache; Let Me Walk Through The Valley;  Tired Old Singer; The Rio Grande Waltz; I Live In A Crazy World; Can Sweet Lips Lie; Stolen Romance – 07-17


SINGLES
Talent- Star Talent (1948-)
719 You Had To Stray /  Shackles And Chains - 23-04-49
720 If I Could Buy Your Love / A  Lifetime Of Regret - 25-06-49
724 Lonely World / Flowers On My Mother's Grave - 14-05-49 (rev. Aug. 13)
756 Ozark Waltz / If My Tears Were Gold - 24-09-49 (reissued in February 1950, rev. Feb. 25)
715 Waiting For A Train /  Blue Yodel # 5 - 49
716 In The Jailhouse Now / Blue Yodel # 1 - 49
717 Away Out On The Mountain / Mule Skinner's Blues (A Blue Yodel) - 05-11-49
718 T. B. Blues / T For Texas - A Blue Yodel - 11-49  (rev. Nov. 12)
761 Free From Shackles And Chains / Broken Heart - Falling Tears – 11-49 (adv. Dec. 3)
Columbia (1950-53)
4-20778 Get Away From It All / Shackles And Chains – 15-01-51
4-20803 I Always Play A Losing Hand / You're Wasting Your Time – 12-03-51
4-20831 You're Breaking My Heart, Dear / Handful Of Nickels – 18-06-51
4-20873 Always Together / It's You Or Maybe It's Me – 12-10-51
4-20901 Information Please / Between The Pages Of The Bible – 22-02-52
4-20970 I Love With Memories / I Stood And Watched Your Love Grow Cold – 27-06-52
4-21030 If I Had Someone To Call My Very Own / Love Song Of The Hills – 24-10-52
4-21073 An Orchid In My Bouquet / Tonight – 13-02-53
4-21218 When Hank Williams Met Jimmie Rodgers / I'll Make You Want Me – 22-02-54
4-21268 Let Me Walk Through The Valley / When This World Changes Hands – 21-06-54
Ekko (1955)
1019 Meet Me At Joe's / Don't Turn Away From Me - 10-55 (rev. Oct. 22)
Country Picnic (1957)
602x45 Tattle TattleTale / Something Tells Me - 57
Security (1959)
45-111 She Loves Me Better / Have Patient Heart – 59
45-112 I’ve Lived Two Days In One / Don’t Cry Old Pal – 06-59 (rev. June 15)
45-112 I’ve Lived Two Days In One / Someone Reminds Me Of You – 59
C + W (1960)
201 Gun Fightin' Marshall / Why, Darling, Why - 60
201 Gun Fightin' Marshall / Careless Chance - 60
202 Shackles And Chains / Try Me - 60
VanDan (1962)
609V-2904 Someone Reminds Me Of You / Watching The Clock – 08-62 (rev. Aug. 18)
609V-5111 Shackles And Chains / Poison Mind - 63
York Brothers (1963)
101 Shackles And Chains / Poison Mind - 05-63 (reissue of Vandan 609V-5111)
102 Big Man / I Wouldn't Exchange My Heartache - 63
Country Hit (1963-4)
CH-230 When This World Changes Hands / Let Me Walk Through The Valley - 63
CH-231 Tired Old Singer / The Rio Grande Waltz - 03-64
CH-232 I Live In A Crazy World / Can Sweet Lips Lie? - 64
CH-237 She Loves Me Better / Have Patience Heart - 64
Cheatham (1965-66)
C-117 Doorway To My Heart / Memories Tied Down - 65
C-126 Road To Nowhere / Cajun Queen - 66