Buffalo Johnson

 W.B.Johnson
2nd version

 by Dick Grant, Dave Sax, Michel Ruppli, Al Turner, Dick Spottswood, Pete KuyKendall, Phillip J. Tricker, Ronald Keppner,  Johan Lofstedt, Thieu Van De Vorst

SESSIONS
1946 unknown - Buffalo Johnson and His Melody Rangers (Producer: James Hobart “Jim” Stanton)
001 6969 ALONE AND BLUE Rich-R’-Tone 403
002 6991 RANGERS RAG 403
003 7007 I’LL ALWAYS FIND A WAY Rich-R’-Tone 401
004 7202 COME BACK AGAIN 401
1947 unknown - Buffalo Johnson
005 7196 SOMETHING WITHIN ME Rich-R’-Tone 405
006 6700 WHERE ARE YOU NOW 405
007 3118 I JUST DROPPED IN TO SAY GOODBYE Rich-R’-Tone 408 (unissued)
008 7203 HOME IN SAN ANTONE Rich-R’-Tone 408 (unissued)
1947 unknown - Buffalo Johnson
009 8001 THE FOOLISH ONE Rich-R’-Tone 409
010 8003 THE SWEETEST DREAM 409
ca. July 1948 WROL Radio Station Studio, 500 Block Gay St., Knoxville, TN - Buffalo Johnson
011 1850 MY ANGEL SWEETHEART 6123
012 1851 BETWEEN THE LINES 6123
013 1852 THAT‘S WHY I‘M NOBODY‘S DARLING 6178
014 1853 COME BACK TO ME 6178
015 1854 SOMEHOW I CAN¢T FORGET unissued
016 1855 A PETAL FROM A FADED ROSE unissued
017 1856 I KNOW WHAT IT MEANS TO BE LONELY unissued
018 1857 LIVE IN MEMORIES unissued
ca February 1949 WETB Radio Station, Johnson City, TN - Buffalo Johnson (Producer: James Hobart “Jim” Stanton)
019 4108 THE LOSER PAYS Rich-R’-Tone 434 (unissued)
020 4109 COME BACK AGAINRich-R’-Tone 430 (unissued)
021 3101 ALONE AND BLUE 430 (unissued)
022 4120 I DREAMED MY DADDY CAME HOME Rich-R’Tone 434 (unissued)
1949 WETB Radio Station, Johnson City, TN - Buffalo Johnson (poss. Dusty Rose, Guy Pealer, Sterling Simpson. Producer: James Hobart “Jim” Stanton)
023 FAIRY TALES Rich-R’-Tone 442
024 UNTRUE LOVE 442 458
025 4135 unknown title
026 3134 LEFT MY GAL IN THE MOUNTAINS Rich-R’-Tone 458
* Billboard dated 1st October 1949 stated that Buffalo Johnson and His Melody Rangers, Mercury and Rich-R’-Tone recording artists, formerly with WETB, Johnson City, Tenn., are making personal appearances in Cincinnati and vicinity, band members include Dusty Rose, Guy Pealer and Sterling Simpson.
1950 unknown - Buffalo Johnson
027 WHISPER GOODBYE Rich-R’-Tone 702
028 GOODBYE BOOGIE 702
1951 unknown - Buffalo Johnson
029 1306 LET’S LIVE A LITTLE Rich-R’-Tone 1013
030 1404 YOU SURE LOOK LONESOME 1013
* The Billboard edition of the 14th April 1951 stated that BUFFALO JOHNSON had signed a new 5 year deal with Rich-R’-Tone
1951 unknown - Buffalo Johnson
031 1407 FRANKIE AND JOHNNY Rich-R’-Tone 1016/WLP 2824 HBRCD-028
032 1309 NO LOVE NO MORE 1016/HBRCD-028
COLLECTOR WLP 2824 BOPPIN' ILLBILLY VOL.24 (NED, 1991); HILLBILLY RESEARCHER HBRCD 028 RICH-R-TONE (UK, 2001)
27 October 1951 unknown - Buffalo Johnson and The Church Brothers and their Blue Ridge Ramblers (Buffalo Johnson [vcl-1], William Cears “Bill” Church [vcl-2/gt], Arthur Ralph Church [tenor vcl-2/mandolin], Arthur Ward Eller [vcl/gt], John McKinley “Johnny” Nelson or James Garfield “Gar” Bowers [banjo], John Ralph Pennington [bass]. Producer: James Hobart “Jim” Stanton)
033 ROLL IN MY SWEET BABY’S ARMS Rich-R’-Tone unissued/GHP LP-900 Rounder 1020 Juneberry CDR MP3-201
034 1312 DAY DREAMING -1 Rich-R’-Tone 1019/LP-900 Juneberry CDR MP3-201 [alt.] unissued
035 1410 I DON’T KNOW WHAT TO DO -1-2 Rich-R’-Tone 1019/Juneberry CDR MP3-201 [alt.] unissued
* According to DRUSILLA ADAMS SMITH, a second RICH-R’-TONE recording session was held about summer 1950 in Kingsport, Tennessee. It is uncertain if any of the forgoing masters were recorded there
1952 unknown - Buffalo Johnson and His Herd
036 1316 JOHN HENRY Rich-R’-Tone 1023
037 1414 NINE POUND HAMMER 1023
1952 Cincinnati, OH - Buffalo Johnson and His Herd (James “Jimmie” Ballard [vcl/gt + unknown musicians.Producer: Carl J. Burkhardt)
038 TAIN’T BIG ENOUGH Kentucky 4-520 520/HBRCD 028 JASMCD 3576
039 TAPPIN’ BOOGIE 4-520 520-B/ Cactus CACT CD-5006 HBRCD 028
HILLBILLY RESEARCHER HBR-CD-028 KENTUCKY LABEL (UK, 2000); CACTUS CD-5006 ROCKIN' HILLBILLY Vol.7 (UK, 2004); JASMINE JASMCD 3576  GRIDDLE GREASING DADDIES DIRTY  (UK, 2007)
1952 Cincinnati, OH - Harry Adams and Buffalo Johnson (unknown musicians.Producer: Carl J. Burkhardt)
040 MILK BUCKET BOOGIE Kentucky 45-521
041 ARKANSAS TRAVELER 45-521
1952 Cincinnati, OH - Harry Adams and The Her with Billy Thomas Old Time fiddler (poss. Buffalo Johnson [?], William "Billy" Thomas [fiddle]. Producer: Carl J. Burkhardt)
000 7017 GIVING EVERYTHING AWAY Kentucky 525
000 7018 WILDWOOD FLOWER Kentucky 526
000 7019 unknown title
000 7020 unknown title
000 7021 unknown title
000 7022 unknown title
000 7023 BOIL THE CABBAGE DOWN Kentucky 525
000 7024 FOGGY MOUNTAIN TOPKentucky 526
1952 unknown – Buffalo Johnson
042 DON’T STAY AWAY Queen City 12  
043 DON’T JUST STAND THERE Queen City 12   
044 LADIES MAN Queen City 12  
045 GOLD RUSH IS OVER Queen City 12 /BACM CD D 511
BACM CD D 511 HILLIBLLY ON A BUDGET VOL.2 (UK, 2015)
1960s unknown – Buffalo Johnson
046 8001 COME BACK AGAIN 8001/8002
047 8002  TIME DON'T MEAN MUCH ANYMORE 8001/8002
1960s Champ Recording Studio, Johnson City, TN – Buffallo Johnson
048 LONG CHAIN CHARLEY 8036
049 LET THE COLD WINDS BLOW 8036
050 ANOTHER MILE TO NASHVILLE 8040  
051 THESE SUMMER DAYS 8040



EPs
Queen City 12 Big 4 His: Don’t Stay Away; Don’t Just Stand There / Ladies Man; Gold Rush Is Over - 52


SINGLES
Rich-R-Tone (1946-47)
401 I’ll Always Find A Way / Come Back Again - 20-12-46
403 Alone And Blue / Rangers Rag - 27-02-47
405 Something Within Me / Where Are You Now - 10-08-47
408 I Just Dropped In To Say Goodbye / Home In San Antone - unissued
409 The Foolish One / The Sweetest Dream - 29-12-47
Mercury (1948)
6123 My Angel Sweetheart / Between The Lines - 07-08-48
6178* That’s Why I’m Nobody’s Darling / Come Back To Me - 19-03-49
* Mercury 6178 was used twice (see also Don Gibson/Sons of The Soil)
Rich-R-Tone (1949-52)
430 Come Back Again / Alone And Blue - unissued
434 The Loser Pays / I Dreamed My Daddy Came Home - unissued
442 Fairy Tales / Untrue Love - 11-06-49
458 Untrue Love / Left My Gal In The Mountains - 28-02-50
702 Whisper Goodbye / Goodbye Boogie - 50
1016 Frankie And Johnny / No Love No More - ca 51
1019 Day Dreaming / I Don’t Know What To Do - 11-51 w. Church Brothers
1013 Let’s Live A Little / You Sure Look Lonesome - ca 02-52
1023 John Henry / Nine Pound Hammer - 52
Kentucky (1952)
4-520/45-520* Tain’t Big Enough / Tappin’ Boogie - 52 (*second issu on white label)
45-521 Milk Bucket Boogie / Arkansas Traveler - 52 w. Harry Adams
Rich-R-Tone
8001/8002 Come Back Again / Time Don't Mean Much Anymore – 6-
8036 Long Chain Charley / Let The Cold Winds Blow – 6-
8040 Another Mile To Nashville / These Summer Days – 6-

Buffalo Johnson (by Dick Grant)

BUFFALO JOHNSON

SESSION DISCOGRAPHY

BUFFALO JOHNSON AND HIS MELODY RANGERS

                                                                                                                                                                                                                             1946

(vcl/gtr); Unk (gtr); Unk (stg bs);

                                                                                                                               Producer: James Hobart “Jim” Stanton

6969                   ALONE AND BLUE                                                                          Rich-R’-Tone 403-A

                          ()

6991                   RANGERS WALTZ                                                                                                 403-B

                          ()

7007                   I’LL ALWAYS FIND A WAY                                                               Rich-R’-Tone 401-A

                          (Buffalo Johnson)

7202                   COME BACK AGAIN                                                                                               401-B

                          (Buffalo Johnson)

NB(1): RICH-R’-TONE 401 released Friday 20th December 1946.

NB(2): RICH-R’-TONE 403 released Thursday 27th February 1947.

BUFFALO JOHNSON

                                                                                                                                                                                                                             1947

(vcl/gtr); Unk (gtr); Unk (stg bs);

                                                                                                                               Producer: Jim Stanton

7196                   SOMETHING WITH ME (IS TELLING ON YOU)         Rich-R’-Tone 405-A

                          (Johnson-Stanton)

6700                   WHERE ARE YOU NOW                                                                                         405-B

                          ()

3118                   JUST DROPPED IN TO SAY GOODBYE                                            Rich-R’-Tone 408 (Uniss)

                          ()

7203                   HOME IN SAN ANTONE                                                                                         408 (Uniss)

                          ()

NB(1): Billboard Advance Releases Saturday 19th July 1947-RICH-R’-TONE 405.

NB(2): RICH-R’-TONE 405 released Sunday 10th August 1947.

NB(3): RICH-R’-TONE Records Advert Billboard Saturday 18th October 1947-RICH-R’-TONE 405.

NB(4): RICH-R’-TONE 408 not released.

BUFFALO JOHNSON

                                                                                                                                                                                                                             1947

(vcl/gtr); Unk (gtr); Unk (stg bs);

                                                                                                                               Producer: Jim Stanton

8001                   THE FOOLISH ONE                                                                         Rich-R’-Tone 409-A

                          (Hobart Stanton)

8003                   THE SWEETEST DREAM                                                                                        409-B

                          (Lester Smith)

NB(1): Billboard Advance Releases Saturday 27th December 1947-RICH-R’-TONE 409.

NB(2): RICH-R’-TONE 409 released Monday 29th December 1947.

NB(3): Billboard Advance Releases Saturday 7th August 1948.

BUFFALO JOHNSON

                                      Radio Station WROL, 500 Block Gay Street                        Knoxville, Tn:                                                            ca. July 1948

(vcl/gtr);

                                                                                                                               Producer:

1850                   MY ANGEL SWEETHEART                                                               Mercury 6123

                          ()

1851                   BETWEEN THE LINES                                                                                   6123

                          ()

1852                   THAT’S WHY I’M NOBODY’S DARLING                                             Mercury 6178

                          ()

1853                   COME BACK TO ME                                                                                       6178

                          ()

1854                   SOMEHOW I CAN’T FORGET                                                           Mercury (Uniss)

                          ()

1855                   A PETAL FROM A FADED ROSE                                                      Mercury (Uniss)

                          ()

1856                   I KNOW WHAT IT MEANS TO BE LONELY               Mercury (Uniss)

                          ()

1857                   LIVE IN MEMORIES                                                                        Mercury (Uniss)

                          ()

NB(1): MERCURY 6123 released Monday 9th August 1948.

NB(2): MERCURY Records Advert Billboard Saturday 19th March 1949-MERCURY 6178.

NB(3): Billboard Advance Releases Saturday 19th March 1949-MERCURY 6178.

NB(4): MERCURY 6178 released Monday 21st March 1949.

BUFFALO JOHNSON       Radio Station WETB                                                         Johnson City, Tn:                                                                  1949

(vcl/gtr);

                                                                                                                               Producer: Jim Stanton

4108                   THE LOSER PAYS                                                                           Rich-R’-Tone 434 (Uniss)

                          ()

4109                   COME BACK AGAIN                                                                        Rich-R’-Tone 430 (Uniss)

                          ()

3101                   ALONE AND BLUE                                                                                                 430 (Uniss)

                          ()

4120                   I DREAMED MY DADDY CAME HOME                                             Rich-R’-Tone 434 (Uniss)

                          ()

NB(1): RICH-R’-TONE 430 not released.

NB(2): RICH-R’-TONE 434 not released.

BUFFALO JOHNSON       Radio Station WETB                                                         Johnson City, Tn:                                                                   1949

(vcl/gtr); prob Guy Pealer (el gtr); Dusty Rose (); Sterling Simpson ();

                                                                                                                               Producer: Jim Stanton

                          FAIRY TALES                                                        Rich-R’-Tone 442

                          ()

                          UNTRUE LOVE                                                                             442, Rich-R’-Tone 458

                          ()

4135                   Unknown Title                                                        Rich-R’-Tone (Uniss)

                          ()

3134                   LEFT MY GIRL IN THE MOUNTAINS                                                 Rich-R’-Tone 458

                          ()

NB(1): RICH-R’-TONE 442 possibly Tuesday released 3rd May 1949.

NB(2): Billboard Advance Releases Saturday 18th June 1949-RICH-R’-TONE 442.

NB(3): Billboard Advance Releases Saturday 25th June 1949-RICH-R’-TONE 442.

NB(4): RICH-R’-TONE 458 released 28th February 1950.                  

NOTE: Billboard Saturday 1st October 1949-stated that Buffalo Johnson and His Melody Rangers , Mercury and Rich-R’-Tone recording artists, formerly with WETB, Johnson City, Tenn., are making personal appearances in Cincinnati and vicinity, band members include Dusty Rose, Guy Pealer and Sterling Simpson.

BUFFALO JOHNSON                                                                                               1950

(vcl/gtr); poss Guy Pealer (el gtr); Dusty Rose (); Sterling Simpson ();

                                                                                                                               Producer:

                          WHISPER GOODBYE                                                                      Rich-R’-Tone 702

                          ()

                          GOODBYE BOOGIE                                                                                                702

                          ()

NB(1): RICH-R’-TONE 702 released Monday 24th April 1950.

NB(2): Billboard Advance Releases Saturday 6th May 1950-RICH-R’-TONE 702.

BUFFALO JOHNSON                                                                                               1951

(vcl/gtr);

                                                                                                                               Producer: Jim Stanton

1306                   LET’S LIVE A LITTLE                                                                        Rich-R’-Tone 1013

                          ()

1404                   YOU SURE LOOK LONESOME                                                                                1013

                          ()

1407                   FRANKIE AND JOHNNY                                                                  Rich-R’-Tone 1016, Hillbilly Researcher HBRCD-028

                          ()

1309                   NO LOVE NO MORE                                                                                              1016,                                 HBRCD-028

                          (Stanton-Johnson)

NB(1): RICH-R’-TONE 1013 released ca. Monday 17th September 1951.

NB(2): RICH-R’-TONE 1016 released Monday 17th September 1951.

NB(3): Billboard Advance Releases Saturday 29th September 1951-RICH-R’-TONE 1016.

NB(4): HILLBILLY RESEARCHER HBRCD-028 “RICH-R’-TONE RECORDS” released United Kingdom

BUFFALO JOHNSON & THE CHURCH BROS. & their BLUE RIDGE RANGERS

                                                                                                                                                                                          Saturday 27th October 1951          

(vcl-1/gtr); William Cears “Bill” Church (vcl-2/gtr); Arthur Ralph Church (tnr vcl-2/mand); John McKinley “Johnny” Nelson (bjo) or James Garfield “Gar” Bowers (bjo); Arthur Ward Eller ((vcl/gtr); John Ralph Pennington (stg bs).

                                                                                                                               Producer:

                          ROLL IN MY SWEET BABY’S ARMS                                                  Rich-R’-Tone (Uniss), GHP LP-900, Rounder 1020

                          (P.D.)

1312                  DAY DREAMING -1                                                Rich-R;-Tone 1019-A,          LP-900

                          (Gladys Goble)

                          DAY DREAMING (Alt)-1                                          Rich-R’-Tone (Uniss)

                          (Gladys Goble)

1410                   I DON’T KNOW WHAT TO DO                                 -1-2                    Rich-R’-Tone 1019-B

                          (Gladys Goble)                                                                               

                          I DON’T KNOW WHAT TO DO                                 (Alt)-1-2              Rich-R’-Tone (Uniss)

                          (Gladys Goble)

NB: RICH-R’-TONE 1019 released ca. Monday 17th September 1951.

NOTE: According to DRUSILLA ADAMS SMITH, a second RICH-R’-TONE recoding session was held about summer 1950 in Kingsport, Tennessee. It Is uncertain if any of the foregoing masters were recorded there.

NOTE: Billboard 24th November 1951 stated that RICH-R’-TONE issued its first 2 artists disc. It issued BUFFALO JOHNSON & THE CHURCH BROTHERS.

BUFFALO JOHNSON And His Herd                                                                                                                                                                              

                                                                                                                                                                                                                             1951

(vcl/gtr);

                                                                                                                               Producer:

1316                   JOHN HENRY                                                       Rich-R’-Tone 1023

                          (Traditional)

1414                   NINE POUND HAMMER                                                                                         1023

                          (Traditional)

NB: RICH-R’-TONE 1023 released ca. Monday 17th September 1951.

BUFFALO JOHNSON And his Herd Vocal Jimmie Ballard-1

HARRY ADAMS With Buffalo Johnson-2                                                                   Cincinnati, Oh:                                                                       1952

(gtr): James “Jimmie” Ballard (vcl-3/gtr); Harry Adams (vcl-4/gtr);

                                                                                                                               Producer: Carl J. Burkhardt

520-A                  TAIN’T BIG ENOUGH                                             -1-3                    Kentucky 520-A, Kentucky 4-520-A

                          (Montgomery) (Gateway Publications)

520-B                  TAPPIN’ BOOGIE -1-3                                                             520-B,                 4-520-B, Cactus CACT-5006

                          (Hart-Burk) (Gateway Publications)

521-A                  MILK BUCKET BOOGIE                                          -2-4                    Kentucky 521-A, Kentucky 45-521-A

                          (Shipley-Murray) (Cherio Music BMI)

521-B                  ARKANSAS TRAVELER                                          -2-4                                    521-B,                 45-521-B

                          ()

NB(1): KENTUCKY 520 released 1952.

NB(2): KENTUCKY 520 re-released with different label design.

NB(3): KENTUCKY 4-520 released

NB(4): KENTUCKY 521 released 1952.

NB(5): KENTUCKY 45-521 released

NB(6): CACTUS CACT-5006 “ROCKIN’ HILLBILLY, Vol.7.” released 2004.

HARRY ADAMS And The Herd with Billy Thomas Old Time Fiddler-1

HARRY ADAMS-2

DARLENE ADAMS And The Country Boys-3                                                             Cincinnati, Oh:                                                                       1952

poss Buffalo Johnson (gtr); Harry Adams (vcl-4/gtr); Darlene “The Hi Neighbor Girl” Adams (vcl-5/yodel-6); William “Billy” Thomas (fdl);The Herd (hmny vcl-7);         Producer: Carl Burkhardt

7017                   GIVING EVERYTHING AWAY                                  -1-4                    Kentucky 525

                          ()

7018                   WILDWOOD FLOWER                                           (Inst)                  Kentucky 526

                          ()

7019 ?                IF I COULD ONLY LEARN TO YODEL                      -3-5-6                                 526

                          ()

7020 ?                TEARDROPS ARE MY ROSARY                              -3-5                                    526

                          ()

7021                   Unknown Title                                                        Kentucky (Uniss)

                          ()

7022                   Unknown Title                                                        Kentucky (Uniss)

                          ()

7023                   BOIL THE CAGGAGE DOWN                                  -1-4-7                 Kentucky 525

                          ()

7024                   FOGGY MOUNTAIN TOP                                                                 Kentucky 526

                          ()

NB(1): KENTUCKY 525 released Monday 5th May 1952.

NB(2): KENTUCKY 525 reviewed Billboard Folk Record Reviews Saturday 24th May 1952.

NB(3): KENTUCKY 526 by HARRY ADAMS released Monday 5th May 1952.

NB(4): KENTUCKY 526 by DARLENE ADAMS released Monday 5th May 1952.

NB(5): KENTUCKY 526 by DARLENE ADAMS reviewed Billboard Folk Record Reviews Saturday 24th May 1952.

BUFFALO JOHNSON                                                                      Johnson City, Tn:                                                                                          1960s

(vcl/gtr);

                                                                                                                               Producer: Hobart Stanton

                          COME BACK AGAIN                                                                        Rich-R-Tone 8001

                          (Hobart Stanton) (Cedarwood Pub. BMI)

                          TIME DON’T MEAN MUCH ANYMORE                                                                    8002

                          (Hobart Stanton) (Cedarwood Pub. BMI)

NB: RICH-R-TONE 8001/8002 released

DISCOGRAPHY compiled by DICK GRANT, DAVE SAX & AL TURNER with acknowledgements to DICK SPOTTSWOOD, PETE KUYKENDALL, PHIL TRICKER, RONALD KEPPNER, JOHAN LOFSTEDT & MICHEL RUPPLI.

2000-2014.