Souvenir Album - Red Foley

 

Satisfied Mind

Souvenir Album

Red Foley

Decca Records DL 8294

1956

From the back cover: This is the story of Red Foley, a bashful country boy, who came to the city and made good in a big way.

Long before Red became known as the soft-voiced, mild-mannered folk star of the WSM-NBC Grand Ole Opry, he made his musical beginnings humming his favorite tunes in the blackberry patch region around the little community of Blue Lick, Kentucky. When Red was still knee-high to a chigger, Red obtained his first guitar. It was an antiquated instrument which a customer had turned in as part payment on an account at the general store run by Red's father. But by his seventh birthday, little Red could pick out fold tunes.

After he fished the fourth grade, Red's family moved to nearby berea, Kentucky, where he lived for several years. He attended berea High School and became a track and basketball star. At this time Red's mother decided his voice showed great promise, sho she engaged a singing teacher. Her faith in him was required when at the age of 17 he entered a statewide Atwater-Kent singing contest. Red, of course, won the first prize.

Since then Red's rise to phenomenal success as a country singer has been rapid. He has three daughters, Shirley Lee, Julie Ann and Jennie Lou. The children are all musical and delight in singing trios and harmony parts – so talented, in fact, that they have recorded several songs with their father on Decca Records.

One of the things Red is most proud of is the role he played during World War II. He and his Grand Ole Opry radio troupe toured overseas and entertained over 150,000 AFF personnel. His records were extraordinarily popular with the Armed Forces, to the extent that his programs were transcribed and re-broadcast all over the world, via the Armed Forces Radio Service. Wherever the records of Red Foley are heard by American citizens overseas, their morale-building qualities are invaluable. The home-spun humor, the American rural scene reflected in the music, and the feeling of nostalgia make the kind of music Red Foley sings appreciated everywhere it is heard.

Despite the numerous offers Red has had to go into the popular market, he says he will never leave the field of folk music. "I was born and raised on it," he says. "It's music that comes straight from he heart, the kind that expresses our real emotions."

In this group of songs, the title "Red Foley Souvenir Album" well expresses the character of the selections. These songs are Red's favorites as well as being extremely popular with his huge number of admirers. It is interesting to note, and a commendable thing it is, that a man like Red, a native of Kentucky, shows in his selection of songs such brotherly feeling toward his neighboring state, Tennessee. Four of the songs including the collection mention "Tennessee" in the title. And for a son of Kentucky, that's going some!

And that's Red Foley, the country boy who made good.

From Billboard - August 25, 1956: This is what the title implies, a reminiscent collection of Red Foley songs, including some of his greatest hits. The package is one of three new Decca LP's featuring Foley and this one should certainly hold its own. Tunes include "Satisfied Mind," "Little Boy Of Min," Tennessee Saturday Night," "Hearts Of Stone," etc. Foley fans will want this package and and dealers would be ready to handle the demand.

Old Shep

Tennessee Saturday Night

Midnight

Don't Let The Stars Get In Your Eyes

Pin Ball Boogie

That Little Boy Of Mine

Satisfied Mind

Hearts Of Stone

Tennessee Border

Sunday Down In Tennessee

As Far As I'm Concerned

Tennessee Polka