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S e s s i o n A p r i l 1 6 , 1 9 5 4
April 16, 1954 • Jim Beck Studio, 1914 Forest Avenue, Dallas, Texas • Producer: Don Law
Rosa Lola Lee 'Rose' Carter Karnes: soprano vocal; Effie Juanita 'Anna' Carter Gordon: alto vocal; David P. 'Dad'
Carter: tenor vocal; Roy Carter: bass vocal; Howard Gordon/guitar
*Rosa Lola Lee 'Rose' Carter Karnes: soprano vocal; Effie Juanita 'Anna' Carter Gordon: alto vocal; David P. 'Dad'
Carter: tenor vocal; Roy Carter: bass vocal; Howard Gordon/guitar
109. Co 51400
I Want To Be Ready To Meet Him
Co 21338 Ha HL 7161
JB 169 (G.T. 'Dad' Speer) BCD 17348-5/1
110. Co 51401
I've A Precious Friend
Co 21338 Ha HL 7161
JB 170 (Thomas R. Wilson - C. M. Webb) BCD 17348-5/2
111. Co 51402
In My New Home
Co 21379 Ha HL 7161
JB 171 (Fred Woodruff) BCD 17348-5/3
112. Co 51403*
In The Garden
Co 21379, Co B 2816 Ha HL 7161
JB 172 (C. Austin Miles) BCD 17348-5/4
113. Co 51404-2
I'll Shout And Shine
Co 21410, Co B 2816 Ha HL 7161
JB 173 (Eugene Wright - J.B. Coats) BCD 17348-5/5
114. Co 51405-2
Wonderful Saviour
Co 21410, Co B 2816 Ha HL 7161
JB 174 (A.B. Taylor) BCD 17348-5/6
115. Co 51406
After Awhile
Co B 2816 Ha HL 7161
JB 175 (J.R. Baxter, Jr. - Floyd A. Formby) BCD 17348-5/7
116. Co 51407
Joshua Led God's Children
B 2815 Ha HL 7161
JB 176 (V.B. 'Vep' Ellis) BCD 17348-5/8
For approximately three years prior to this session, the Chuck Wagon Gang had
been performing on stage with different personnel than was heard on their
records. Though Jim had quit performing, he was still playing guitar and singing
bass in the studio. This session brought the sound of their recordings in line with
what was heard at their live performances.
Howard Gordon, Anna's husband, had been playing guitar with the unit ever since
Jim had quit traveling with the group. It seems as though Howard started out play-
ing acoustic guitar like Jim had done. Pictures of the group from the early '50s
show Howard playing a new Martin D-28 acoustic guitar, but sometime in the early
'50s he started playing electric guitar. Though not documented, it is safe to assume
that Howard starting playing electric in order to be heard better on stage. Pictures
show him playing a Gibson L-5 CE hollow body electric as well as a Gibson Super
400 hollow body electric into a Gibson GA-50 amplifier. It stands to reason that
one of these guitars most likely is heard on this session and the remainder of this
compilation.
This session also brought the first change vocally on record for the Chuck Wagon
Gang in the voice of brother Roy Carter. After Jim quit traveling, Jim Waits and
Haskell Mitchell both sang bass for the Gang on the road, respectively. After
Haskell left the group, the Gang was preparing to send another Carter brother,
Clellan, to singing school so he could fill the bass position. Roy Carter had been
working in Louisville, KY selling insurance, so Dad Carter was very surprised and
pleased when he received a call from Roy saying he was coming home and wanted
to sing. By 1954, Roy had already been singing bass for the group on stage for at
least a year, but this was his first debut on record. Roy's singing brought a more
commercial timbre to the singing of the group, and through the years, he would
become the manager and main stay of the Chuck Wagon Gang.
78
RPM
single C
OLUMBIA
21379
45
RPM
single C
OLUMBIA
4-21379
45
RPM
radio single C
OLUMBIA
4-21410
45
RPM
single C
OLUMBIA
4-21410