Blues In The Blue Of The Night
was
released on Billy Barton’s own Bakersfield-
based Grande label, even though the exact
same recording had already been issued on
Abbott Records (also as #117), to which
Barton was likely still contractually obligated.
The singer was, in essence, bootlegging his
own product to sell out of the trunk of his car
at his personal appearances, allowing him to
pocket all the money. The song was recorded
in Shreveport, Louisiana in January of 1953,
at the same set of sessions where Barton’s
Abbott labelmate Jim Reeves recorded his #1
hit
Mexican Joe
. Both were produced by the
label’s Fabor Robison, and both featured ‘The
Circle O Ranch Boys,’ which consisted of
1.
Blues In The Blue Of The Night
(Billy Barton)
Abbott 117 / Grande 117
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