Songs Of Hank Williams Played By Billy Mure

 

Ramblin' Man

Songs Of Hank Williams Played By Billy Mure's Guitar & Orchestra

Everest STEREO SDBR-1072

1960

From the back cover: Billy Mure was born and raised a long way from the section of the country that first took Hank Williams to its heart. A New York boy, he graduated from Morris High School. His first instrument was the violin; he later learned to play the tuba, string bass and guitar.

Shortly before World War II, Mure got his first professional job with Mickey Alpert's band – on violin – and then "band-hopped" until he was drafted. Assigned to an Air Force band, he began to write arrangements and added mastery of the tuba and guitar to his list of accomplishments.

Mure joined Station WNEW of New York as staff guitarist in 1947. During his ten years at the station, he wrote songs and continued his arranging. Kim Novak sang his first song in the Columbia Pictures, "Five Agains The House;" he next wrote the title song for the movie "No Down Payment" and then had a novelty click with Got A Match. More recently, Mure has penned Trumpet Cha-Cha and String Of Trumpets, and has written arrangements for two hit recordings – Della Resse's And That Reminds Me and Don Rondo's White Silver Sands.

When asked about his albums, Mure answered: "I enjoyed arranging and playing the melodies of Hank Williams. They're simple and straightforward. In keeping with this, they were done in a manner that parallels this quality.

"I believe I should point out that the instrumentation I used for this album is a little bit different," he continued. "On six of the tunes, there were four guitars, bass and two percussionists – one played drums and the other, bongos or vibes; on the other half-dozen, I retained the same instrumentation and added six voices. Voices blend well with guitars." (ed. note – Mr. Mure played lead guitar and took all the solos in this program.)

The sound, as is the rule with Everest Records, is excellent and distortion-free. Billy Mure, his "Supersonic Guitars," his rhythm and vocal assistants, and the music of Hank Williams, come through clear as a bell. – Burt Korall

From Billboard - February 22, 1960: The top-flight guitarist styles a gourd of the famed cleffer's tunes with attractive backing from the ork. Included are such gems as "Jambalaya (on the Bayou)," "Cold, Cold Heart" and "Your Cheatin' Heart." His approach is thoughtful and inventive, and the set can get wide appeal. Sound is a plus factor.

Jambalaya (On The Bayou)

Hey, Good Lookin'

Honky Tonk Blues

I Can't Help It (If I'm Still In Love With  You)

I'm A Long Gone Daddy

Baby, We're Really In Love

Cold, Cold Heart

Kaw-Liga

Your Cheatin' Heart

Ramblin' Man

There'll Be No Teardrops Tonight

Moanin The Blues