Lester Alvin Burnett, *18-03-1911 Summum, IL, +16-02-1967
3rd version
By Praguefrank, Tony Russell, Dick Grant, Mario Manciotti, Thieu Van De Vorst
SESSIONS
17
April 1933 Furniture Mart Building, 666 Lake Shore Drive, Chicago, IL – Gene
Autry (and his Trio: Jimmy Long, Smiley Burnette [vcl], ? [gt], Bob Miller
[celeste])
001 C 558 IN
THE VALLEY OF THE MOON Conquerer 8152
002 C 559 WHEN THE MAIL MAN SAYS NO MAIL TODAY unissued
003 C 560 WHEN THE HUMMING BIRDS ARE HUMMING Conquerer 8152
29 May 1934 New York City - Smiley Burnette aka Smilie Burnette (Smiley Burnette
[vcl/accordion],? [gt], Roy Smeck [gt/banjo], Bob Miller [piano])
004 15261-1 MAMA DON'T LIKE MY MUSIC BA33082 ME13046 CQ8387 OR8344 RO5344
PE13011
005 15263-1 HE WAS A TRAVELIN' MAN BA33082 ME13046 CQ8387 OR8344 RO5344 PE13011
006 15265 THE LONE COWBOY unissued
31 May 1934 New York City - Smiley Burnette aka Smilie Burnette (Smiley
Burnette [vcl/accordion],? [gt], Roy Smeck [gt/banjo])
007 15267-1 PEG LEG JACK BA33104 ME13072 CQ8493 PE13018 OR8354 RO5354
008 15268-2 MATILDA HIGGINS BA33104 ME13072 CQ8493 PE13018 OR8354 RO5354
16 January 1935 ARC Recording Studio, 55W, 16th St., New York City – Smiley
Burnette , * and Gene Autry (Smiley Burnette [vcl/accordion], Gene Autry [vcl],
Prairie Ramblers: Salty Holmes [gt], Chick Hurt [mandolin], Jack Taylor [bass],
Tex Atchison [fiddle]. Producer: Art Satherley)
009 16578 RIDIN' DOWN THE CANYON* ARC 351018 Conqueror 8483
010 16579 MINNIE THE MOOCHER AT THE MORGUE unissued/[va] CSP P4-15542
011 16580 I CAN DO WITHOUT YOU IN THE DAYTIME unissued
17 January 1935 ARC Recording Studio, 55W, 16th St., New York City – Gene Autry
and Jimmy Long and Smiley Burnette (Prairie Ramblers: Salty Holmes [gt], Chick
Hurt [mandolin], Jack Taylor [bass], Tex Atchison [fiddle]. Producer: Art
Satherley)
012 16581 WAGON TRAIN Conqueror 8483 ARC 351018
11 October 1937 Los Angeles, CA – Gene Autry and His String Band (Jimmy Long
[vcl], Smiley Burnette [vcl], ? [gt], Frank Marvin [steel], ? [bass], Carl
Cotner [fiddle])
013 LA 1451 THE ONE ROSE Vocalion 03262 ARC 71058 (2) Conqueror 8879
014 LA 1452 BLUE HAWAII OKeh 05693 Columbia 20681
015 LA 1453 DUST ARC 80458 Vocalion 04172 Columbia 20681
016 LA 1454 RHYTHM OF THE RANGE Vocalion 03291 ARC 71260 Conqueror 8882 9513
017 LA 1455 EYES TO THE SKY Vocalion 04091 Conqueror 8983 9428
15 October 1937 Los Angeles, CA – Gene Autry and His String Band (Jimmy Long
[vcl], Smiley Burnette [vcl], ? [gt], Frank Marvin [steel], ? [bass], Carl
Cotner [fiddle], Hymie Gunkler [clarinet])
018 LA 1456 OLD BUCKAROO GOODBYE Vocalion 03291 ARC 71260 Conqueror 8882 9444
019 LA 1457 DOWN IN THE LAND OF THE ZULU Vocalion 03317 ARC 71261 Conqueror
8960
020 LA 1462-C IT'S ROUNDUP TIME IN RENO 03317 ARC 71261(2) CQ8946; [t.A] ARC
71261 (1)
021 LA 1463 WERE YOU SINCERE OKeh 05693 Conqueror 8960
022 LA 1464 END OF MY ROUND-UP DAYS Vocalion 04146 Conqueror 8946 Columbia
37004 20030
18 October 1937 Los Angeles, CA – Gene Autry and His String Band (Jimmy Long
[vcl], Smiley Burnette [vcl], ? [gt], Frank Marvin [steel], ? [bass], Carl
Cotner [fiddle])
023 LA 1469 MY STAR OF THE SKY Vocalion 04340 Conqueror 8880 9442
024 LA 1470 WHEN THE TUMBLEWEEDS COME TUMBLING DOWN AGAIN Vocalion 04091ARC
80458 CQ8982
025 LA 1471-B WHEN IT'S SPRINGTIME IN THE ROCKIES 03448 (2) ARC 80351 CQ8982
4-20865; [t.1] 03448 (1)
026 LA 1472 I WANT A PARDON FOR DADDY Vocalion 04146 Conqueror 8933 Columbia
37004 20030
027 LA 1473-B TAKE ME BACK TO MY BOOTS AND SADDLE 04172 CQ8933 20681 /[t.A]
CK-48957
24 November 1937 Los Angeles, CA – Gene Autry and His String Band (Jimmy Long
[vcl], Smiley Burnette [vcl], ? [gt], Frank Marvin [steel], ? [bass], Carl
Cotner [fiddle])
028 LA 1451-D THE ONE ROSE (THAT‘S LEFT IN MY HEART) Columbia 37702 20281
029 LA 1530 THERE'S A GOLD MINE IN THE SKY Conqueror 8960 ARC 80251 Columbia
37003 20029
030 LA 1531 SAIL ALONG SILV'RY MOON Conqueror 8960 ARC 80251 Columbia 37003
20029
031 LA 1532 AT THE OLD BARN DANCE Conqueror 8983 ARC 80351 Vocalion 03448
19 May 1938 Los Angeles, CA – Smiley Burnette and His Tad-Poles (Smiley
Burnette [vcl/accordion], unknown musicians)
032 LA 1641-A THAT‘S HOW DONKEY‘S WERE BORN unissued
033 LA 1642-A I CAN WHIP ANY MAN BUT POPEYE unissued
034 LA 1643-A I‘M DOOMED TO FOLLOW THE BUGLE unissued
035 LA 1644-A TUMBLEWEED TENOR unissued
036 LA 1645-A FROG TUPLETS unissued
1 December 1938 Los Angeles, CA – Smiley Burnette (Smiley Burnette
[vcl/accordion],unknown musicians)
067 DLA 1601-A STEAMBOAT BILL Decca 5685
068 DLA 1602-A UNCLE FRALEY’S FORMULA 5633
069 DLA 1603-A LAWYER SKINNER 5685
070 DLA 1604-A DOWN BY THE CANE BREAK 5633
ca April 1945 Radio Recorders, 7000 Santa Monica Blvd., Hollywood, CA -Smiley
Burnette and Sunshine Girls
071 ARA 1010 IT'S MY LAZY DAY ARA 4002/LP-5050
072 ARA 1011 I HOPE YOU'RE HAVING FUN HURTING ME ARA 4003
073 ARA 1012 I'M A STRANGER HERE MYSELF ARA 4003
074 ARA 1013 DO YOU WANT MY HEART ARA-4002/LP-5050
ca August 1945 Radio Recorders, 7000 Santa Monica Blvd., Hollywood, CA -Smiley
Burnette and Sunshine Girls
075 ARA 1069 FOGGY, FOGGY DEW ARA 4004
076 ARA 1070 COOL WATERARA ARA 4004
077 ARA 1071 TEN GALLON HAT (FROM POWDER RIVER) ARA 4005
078 ARA 1072 HOMINY GRITS ARA 4005
1945 Radio Recorders, 7000 Santa Monica Blvd., Hollywood, CA - Smiley Burnette
079 ARA-1106 CATFISH TAKE A LOOK AT THAT WORM ARA 4008
080 DO YOU WANT MY HEART ARA-4025
081 ARA-1109 PEG LEG BANDIT ARA 4008
Late 1946
Hollywood, CA – Smiley Burnette and His Crackers
082 SMART ALEC CROW Rancho 701
083 COURTIN' CRICKET Rancho 701
084 THIEVIN' BURRO Rancho 701
085 GRAND DADDY FROG Rancho 701
086 HITCH HIKIN' INDIAN Rancho 702
087 PRAIRIE DOG LAMENT Rancho 702
088 BLUE BOTTLE FLY Rancho 702
089 BANG, BANG, BANG Rancho 702
090 IT’MY LAZY DAY R 707
091 CATFISH TAKE A LOOK AT THAT WORM R 707
092 HOPE YOU’RE HAVING FUN HURTING ME R 708
093 SWAMP WOMAN BLUES R 708
ca.
April 1948 unknown – Smiley Burnette
094 IT'S A LAZY DAY Bullet 654
095 HOMINY GRITS Bullet 654
096 V603A SWAMP WOMAN BLUES Bullet 655
097 V603B CATFISH TAKE A LOOK AT THAT WORM Bullet 655
ca. February 1949 unknown – Smiley Burnette
098 HOUSE TRAILER BLUES Bullet 676
099 I HOPE YOU'RE HAVING FUN HURTING ME Bullet 676
24 May 1949 [no.1248] Radio Recorders, 7000 Santa Monica Blvd., Hollywood, CA –
Smiley Burnette (Smiley Burnette [vcl], with Orchestra arr. and cond. by Billy
May: Alvino Rey [gt], Don Whitaker
[bass], John Cyr [drums], Buddy Cole [piano], Jules Kinsler [sax], Arthur
"Skeets" Herfurt [sax], Art Fleming [sax/bassoon], and strings: Ed
Cramer,Ivan Eppinoff,Dave Gelfand [violin], Maurice Perlmutter [viola])
100 3687 SMART ALEC CROW Capitol 30129
101 3688 GRAND DADDY FROG 30130
102 3689 BLUE BOTTLE FLY 30129
103 3690 COURTIN' CRICKET 30130
December
1949 [Promotional recordings] Hollywood, CA – Smiley Burnette
10301
5355 INTRODUCING "SMART ALEC CROW"
10302
5356 INTRODUCING "BLUE BOTTLE FLY"
18 May 1950 [no 1717-C: overdub session] Hollywood, CA - Smiley Burnette (tracks
recorded by Francis Scott and His Orchestra in April 1950)
104 5882 I WISH THAT I'D SAID THAT F30131
105 5887 THE DONKEY ENGINE F30131 / BACM CD D 080
106 5888 THE SWISS BOY F30133 32110 CAS 3160
107 5889 RUDOLPH THE RED-NOSED REINDEER F30133 32110 CAS 3160
8 June 1950 [no. 1756-A: overdub session] Capitol Recording Studio, 5515
Melrose Ave., Hollywood, CA – Smiley Burnette (tracks recorded by Billy May
Orchestra on May 16, 1950, 20:00-23:00: Alvino Rey [gt], Phil Stephens
[bass], John Cyr [drums], Edwin
"Buddy" Cole [piano], Uan Rasey,John Best,Irvin Shulkin
[trumpets], Ed Kusby,James Priddy
[trombones], Arthur "Skeets" Herfurt, Jules Kinsler, Gordon Green,
Arthur Fleming [woodwinds])
108
6035-2 JACKASS TRAIL F1165
109 6036-2 CATFISH,TAKE A LOOK AT THE WORM F1165
110 6037-2 PERKY LITTLE PERCH unissued
111 6038-1 DOIN' TOMORROW unissued
27 October 1950 [no 1960] Capitol Recording Studio, 5515 Melrose Ave.,
Hollywood, CA – Smiley Burnette and Ewing Sisters
112 6781 IT'S MY LAZY DAY F1347
113 6782-4 ROSIE THE ELEPHANT F1304
114 6783-2 YOU PUT ME ON MY FEET F1304/ BACM CD D 080
115 6784-8 HOMINY GRITS F1347
30 March 1951 [no 2116] Capitol Recording Studio, 5515 Melrose Ave., Hollywood,
CA - Smiley Burnette
116 7353-12 DO THE PINES GROW GREEN IN THE VALLEY? F1520 / BACM CD D 080
117 7354-9 I AIN'T DONE NOTHIN' TO YOU F1746 / BACM CD D 080
118 7355-5 CAN'T GO ON F1746 / BACM CD D 080
119 7356-6 I CAN’T BE HONEST WITH YOU F1520 / BACM CD D 080
ca.
January 1954 poss. Western Recorders, 6000 Sunset Blvd., Hollywood, CA – Smiley
Burnette (Producer: Fabor Robinson)
120 MUCHO GUSTO Abbott 154-45/ BACM CD D 080
121 CHUGGIN' ON DOWN '66 154-45 /BACM CD D 080
122 THAT LONG WHITE LINE 161-45/ BACM CD D 080
123 LAZY LOCOMOTIVE 161-45 / BACM CD D 080
1959 poss. Los Angeles, CA – Smiley Burnette (+ Cricketone Chorus and Orchestra And Playhour Players)
124 THIEVIN BURRO CR-11
125 NO KIDS: PRAIRIE DOG LAMENT CR-11
126 DEEP FROGGY BLUES CR-11
127 CLEMENTINE Cricket C-113 CEP-20
127A RED RIVER
VALLEY/CLEMENTINE (MEDLEY) CR-11
128 BOSS OF THE TOWN Cricket C-113 CEP-20/CR-11
129 SMART ALEC CROW C-119 CEP-20/CR-11
130 GRAN'PA FROG C-119 CEP-20/CR-11
131 BUFFALO GALS
CEP-20
131A BUFFALO
GALS/COMIN ROUND THE MOUNTAIN (MEDLEY)
132 WAY DOWN LOW/I WISH THATI'D SAID
THAT (MEDLEY) CR-11
133 PUSSY FOOT CR-11
ca. February 1962 Starday Sound Studio, 3557 Dickerson Road, Nashville,
TN – Smiley Burnette (Smiley
Burnette [vcl], Kelso Herston [gt], Jimmy Capps [ld gt], Roy M. Huskey, Jr.
[bass], Willie Ackerman [drums], Marvin Hughes [piano])
134 ST-5277 CATFISH TAKE A LOOK AT THAT WORM SLP-191
135 ST-5278 LILAC LANE SLP-191
136 ST-5279 OLD FISHIN‘ POLE Starday 586/SLP-191
137 ST-5280 BROOMSTICK BUCKAROO SLP-191
138 ST-5281 I LIED BLUES SLP-191
139 ST-5282 IT'S MY LAZY DAY 586/SLP-191 SLP-237
140 ST-5283 EVERYBODY MAKES ME FEEL AT HOME SLP-191
141 ST-5284 THAT'S ALL BROTHER THAT'S ALL SLP-191
142 ST-5285 LIL' INDIAN SLP-191
143 ST-5286 SWISS BOY SLP-191
144 ST-5287 WAY DOWN LOW SLP-191
145 INTRODUCTION-COMEDY SLP-191
1964 unknown - Smiley Burnette and Rufe Davis
146 △59270
STEAM, CINDERS AND SMOKE Rancho 1001
147 △59270-X
CLICKITY CLACK 1001
unknown details – Smiley Burnette, * w. Gene Autry
901 THAT'S WHY I AM AT THIS BAR TONIGHT CCD-203
902 I'M NOT THE FORGETTING KIND CCD-203
903 UNCLE NOAH'S ARK*
CCD 203
RADIO TRANCRIPTIONS
incomplete
1951-
[radio show RadiOzark Smiley Burnette Show] unknown – Smiley Burnette and The
Whipporwills Band
BROOMSTICK
BUCKAROO SBShow No. 6/LP-5050
IF I
WAS THE BOSS OF THE TOWN SBShow No. 11/Cowgirlboy LP-5050
CECIL
COULD YOU SEE WHAT HE WANTED TO SEE SBShow No. 17/Cowgirlboy LP-5050
THAT’S
ALL, BROTHER SBShow No. 18/LP-5050
CATFISH,
TAKE A LOOK AT THE WORM SBShow No. 19/Cowgirlboy LP-5050
THE
SWISS BOY SBShow No. 28/Cowgirlboy LP-5050
JUST
COME ON IN SBShow No. 31/Cowgirlboy LP-5050
RAMBLIN‘ BLOOD IN MY VEINS SBShow No. 34/Cowgirlboy
LP-5050
MAMA
DON’T ALLOW IT SBShow No. 35/Cowgirlboy LP-5050
THE
DEEP FROGGY BLUES SBShow No. 47/Cowgirlboy LP-5050
I
DON’T WANT NOTHIN‘, I’M JUST LOOKIN‘SBShow No. 51/Cowgirlboy LP-5050
NO
TIME SBShow No. 56/Cowgirlboy LP-5050
THREE
HERMITS SBShow No. 57/Cowgirlboy LP-5050
SWAMP WOMAN BLUES SBShow No. 66/Cowgirlboy LP-5050
ALBUMS
Cricket CR-11 Smiley Burnette and His Rodeo Songaree: Gran'ap Frog; Thievin Burro; No Kids:
Prairie Dog Lament; Deep Froggy Blues; Red River Valley/Clementine (Medley);
Boss Of The Town; Smart Alec Crow; Way Down Low/I Wish Thati'd Said That
(Medley); Pussy Foot; Buffalo Gals/Comin‘ Round The Mountain (Medley) – 07-59
Starday SLP-191 Ole Frog: It's My Lazy Day; Lilac Lane;
Broomstick Buckaroo; Old Fishin' Pole; I Lied Blues; Catfish Take A Look At
That Worm; Introduction-Comedy; Everybody Makes Me Feel At Home; Swiss Boy;
That's All Brother That's All; Lil' Indian; Way Down Low - 62 (reissued on King 6104 in 1997 and on Gusto
GT7-2242-2 in 2011)
Cowgirlboy [GER] LP-5050 A Lazy Day In The
Country: It’s My Lazy Day; Do You Want My Heart?; Broomstick Buckaroo; If I
Was The Boss Of The Town; Cecil Could You See What He Wanted To See; That’s
All, Brother; Catfish, Take A Look At The Worm; The Swiss Boy; Just Come On In;
Ramblin‘ Blood In My Veins; Mama Don’t
Allow It; The Deep Froggy Blues; I Don’t Want Nothin‘, I’m Just Lookin‘; No
Time; Three Hermits; Swamp Woman Blues – 91
Simitar 5570 Collector's Edition: Ramblin' Blood;Red River Valley - Clementine;Gran'pa Frog;That's All Brother That's All;Thievin' Burro;Way Down Low - I Wish That I Said That;Smart Alec Crow;No Kids/Prairie Dog Lament;Deep Froggy Blues;Buffalo Gals - Comin' round The Mountian;Boss Of The Town;Magic Guitar – 02-98
Cattle Compact [GER]
CCD 203 Smiley Burnette - Gentle Genius Of Country Music (1934-47): Swamp
Woman Blues; Catfish, Take A Look At That Worm; Ten Gallon Hat; Foggy, Foggy
Dew; Peg Leg Jack; Steamboat Bill; Down In The Cane Brake; Uncle Fraley's
Formula; Hominy Grits; Do You Want My Heart; It's My Lazy Day; House Trailer
Blues (Need A Woman 'Round Here); That's Why I Am At This Bar Tonight
(Previously Unissued); I'm Not The Forgetting Kind (Previously Unissued); Cool
Water; He Was A Travelin' Man; Mama Don't Allow It (Mama Don't Like Music); I'm
A Stranger Here Myself; Lawyer Skinner; I Hope You're Having Fun Hurting Me; Uncle
Noah's Ark (Previously Unissued Duet With Gene Autry) – 98
BACM [UK] CD D 080
Country Songs And Comic Cuts: Chuggin’ On Down 66; Mucho Gusto; That Long
White Line; Lazy Locomotive; Do The Pines Grow Green In The Valley; You Put Me
On My Feet; Donkey Engine; You Ain’t Done Nothin’ To Me; Can’t Go On; I Can’t
Be Honest With You; Blacker Black; Eat It Up Wear It Out Make It Do; Full Steam
Ahead; I Can Whip Any Man But Popeye; Keep Your Eye On A Shootin’ Star; Rabbit
Business; Ring Eye; Tonight’s My Night To Howl; When A Country Girl Loves You; Wooing
Of Kitty McQueue; If I Thought I’d Make A Hit With You; Poor Baby; My Ring Eyed
Pony; Harmonica Bill; Rich Get Richer And the poor Get Poorer; Dentist Song; Hat
Check Girl; It Ain’t Much Help; Calleop; I Don’t Like Work; Gordy The Little
Pea From; Just Like A Rainbow After The Rain – 04 (singles + radio
tramscriptions)
EPs
Rancho R-701 Smart Alec Crow; Courtin' Cricket / Thievin'
Burro; Grand Daddy Frog – 01-47 w. His Georgia Crackers (78 RPM, rev. Jan. 25)
Rancho R-702 Hitch Hikin' Indian; Prairie Dog Lament / Blue
Bottle Fly; Bang, Bang, Bang - 01-47 w.
His Georgia Crackers (78 RPM, rev. Jan.
25)
Cricket CEP-20 Smiley Burnette and His Rodeo Songaree, vol.
1: Clementine; Boss of the town; Smart Alec Crow; Gran'Pa Frog; Buffalo Gals – 10-59
(rev. Oct. 19)
SINGLES
ARC (1934)
Meloton/Banner/Romeo/Oriole/Perfect
13046/33082/5344/8344/13011 Mama Don't Like My Music / He Was A Travelin' Man -
07-34
13072/33104/5354/8354/13018 Mathilda Higgins / Peg Leg Jack 07-34
13452/33485/5489/8489/13159 (Gene Autry and Jimmy Long:) My Cross-Eyed Girl /
Uncle Noah's Ark (w. Gene Autry) – ca. 08-35
Melotone
M351018 Ridin' Down The Canyon / Wagon Train – 10-35 w. Gene Autry
M5-12-53 Old Covered Wagon / Silver Haired Mother Of Mine – 12-35 w. Gene Autry
Decca (1938)
5633 Down In The Cane Brake / Uncle Fraley's Formula - 12-38
5685 Steamboat Bill / Lawyer Skinner - 05-39
Ara (1945-46)
4002 Do You Want My Heart / It's My Lazy Day – 05-45
4003 I'm A Stranger Here Myself / I Hope You're Having Fun Hurting Me – 05-45
4004 Foggy Foggy Dew / Cool Water – 22-09-45
4005 Homini Grits / Ten Gallon Hat – 11-03-46 w. Sunshine Girls (rev. June 1)
4008 Catfish Take A Look At That Worm / Peg-Leg Bandit – 06-46 (rev. June 22)
4025 It's My Lazy Day / Do You Want My Heart –
47
Rancho
R 707 It’My Lazy Day / Catfish Take A Look At That Worm – 01-47
(rev. Jan. 18)
R 708 Hope You’re Having Fun Hurting Me / Swamp Woman Blues –
01-47 (rev. Jan. 18)
Bullet (1948-49)
654 It's A Lazy Day / Hominy Grits - 05-48 (rev. June 19)
655 Swamp Woman Blues / Catfish Take A Look At That Worm - 48
676 House Trailer Blues / I Hope You're Having Fun Hurting Me - 03-49
Capitol (ca. 1950-51)
F30129 Blue Bottle Fly / Smart Alec Crow – 01-50 (rev. Jan. 28)
F1165 Catfish Take A Look At That Worm / Jackass Mail - 05-50
F30133 Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer / The Swiss Boy – 11-50 (rev. Dec. 9)
F1304 Rosie The Elephant / You Put Me On My Feet (When You Took Her Off My
Hands) - 11-50
F1347 Hominy Grits / It's My Lazy Day - 01-51
F1520 Do The Pines Grow Green? / I Can't Be Honest With You - 05-51 (rev. May
12)
F1746 I Ain't Done Nothin' To You / Can't Go On - 08-51 (rev Aug. 18)
CASF 3160 Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer / The Swiss Boy –
11-52 (reissue)
Abbott (1954)
154-45 Mucho Gusto / Chuggin' On Down '66 - 02-54 (rev. Feb. 20)
161-45 Lazy Locomotive / That Long White Line - 05-54
Cricket (1959)
C-113 Clementine / Boss of the town - 59
w. Cricketone Players and Orchestra
C-119 Smart Alec Crow / Gran'Pa Frog – 59
Starday (1962)
45-586 It's My Lazy Day / Old Fishin' Pole - 04-62
Rancho (1964)
1001 Steam, Cinders and Smoke / Clickity Clack - 64 w. Rufe Davis