Carl Belew

Walter Stettner · Post by **Walter Stettner** » 26 Nov 2005 9:27 am

One of the underrated singers and songwriters of the 60's - I just noticed that a new CD is out titled "Hits Plus Ones I've Written" with 19 tracks from the 60's incl. "Am I That Easy To Forget", "Boston Jail", "Don't Squeeze My Sharmon" and others. Sadly, "Lonely Street" is missing, but I noticed that his version of this classic never made the charts, stil it would have been nice to include it as track #20...

Kind Regards, Walter

www.lloydgrentribute.com
www.austriansteelguitar.at.tf

Smiley Roberts · Post by **Smiley Roberts** » 26 Nov 2005 9:40 am

Walter,
This ("Lonely Street") is one of my FAVORITE songs to play. Our band does it.

I have the recording,on an RCA "45" by Dave Rich.(circa 1955) The writers listed are:
K. Sowder-E.Hearn-C. Belew,in that order.

I've been told that the order of songwriters on a recording are in the order in which they contributed to the writing of the song. (somebody correct me if I'm wrong.)

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mm if it ain't got that twang.
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[This message was edited by Smiley Roberts on 26 November 2005 at 09:41 AM.]

Craig Mckinnon · Post by **Craig Mckinnon** » 26 Nov 2005 9:59 am

Hi Walter,
This CD is also on my list to buy in the near future. I see it also includes Crystal Chandeliers. I was wondering if the track "I spent a week there one day" was the same song as "I spent a week there Last Night"?.
Are these songs performed in a shuffle style do you know?Suppose i'll just have to buy it & find out.
I understand Carl Belew also wrote "Stop the world & Let Me off"

Walter Stettner · Post by **Walter Stettner** » 26 Nov 2005 12:24 pm

Craig,

Carl's 60's recordings were either classic country style, mostly w/Pete Drake or Weldon Myrick on steel. Some recordings, like "Boston Jail" were following the novelty/saga song style of the era, comparable to Johnny Horton, Claude King etc..

Yes, he wrote or co-wrote several well-known songs (I also noticed that he wrote "Even The Bad Times Are Good" with Clyde Pitts), "Lonely Street" I have him listed a co-writer with W.S. Stevenson and Kenny Sowder. "Chrystal Chandeliers" was written by Ted Harris.

Carl Belew never had too much chart success, his biggest hit was "Hello Out There" which went to #8 in 1962.

Kind Regards, Walter

www.lloydgreentribute.com
www.austriansteelguitar.at.tf

Walter Stettner · Post by **Walter Stettner** » 27 Nov 2005 2:46 am

PS: The CD is available at Amazon...already ordered it!

Kind Regards, Walter

www.lloydgreentribute.com
www.austriansteelguitar.at.tf

Jerry Hayes · Post by **Jerry Hayes** » 27 Nov 2005 9:16 pm

Walter, I noticed the name W.S. Stevenson listed as one of the writers of Lonely Street. He was one of those persons who got songs "placed" for a price, usually a piece of the song and never wrote anything as far as I've ever heard. Others that come to mind in that same mold are Jimmy Bryant (Ivy J. Bryant) who's listed as writing "Only Daddy That'll Walk the Line" recorded by Waylon. That song was actually written by a guy named Jim Alley who had the first recording of the tune and had his own name on the record as writer. Others which come to mind are Chuck Seals listed as a co-writer on "Crazy Arms" with Ralph Mooney and Snuff Garrett listed on tunes like "Send Me Down to Tucson" recorded by Mel Tillis and others written by Cliff Crofford to name one. Buck Owens also had his name on songs which were written by Red Simpson. I asked Red about that once and he said that in that time frame, half of a Buck Owens cut was worth more than 100% of one by Joe Blow or whoever.....JH in Va.

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Don't matter who's in Austin (or anywhere else) Ralph Mooney is still the king!!!

Mitch Drumm · Post by **Mitch Drumm** » 27 Nov 2005 9:59 pm

Jerry:

W. S. Stevenson is nothing more than a fake name for the notorious Bill McCall, who owned the 4 Star family of labels in LA dating from just after the war into the 60s. He had a lot of great artists like the Maddox Brothers, T Texas Tyler, Jerry Irby, Carl Belew, Patsy Cline, etc and was widely renowned for taking co-ownership of songs in exchange for having one of his artists record the song. He never wrote a lick. I think J Cash recorded a song in his honor called "Smilin' Bill McCall". He had some sort of deal with Patsy very early in her career where she was supposedly restricted to his songs. He really tried to tie her up.[This message was edited by Mitch Drumm on 27 November 2005 at 10:00 PM.]

Jack Stoner · Post by **Jack Stoner** » 28 Nov 2005 3:33 am

I have a friend (in Kansas City) that did some recording at Ray Pennington's, before his "Step One" days. He recorded some original songs he wrote and on one song, Pennington suggested he change one word and then told him "that one was free, the next one will cost you" - meaning he would have been listed as a co-writer and got some (potential) royalties out of it.

Walter Stettner · Post by **Walter Stettner** » 28 Nov 2005 9:50 am

Thanks for the great info, guys!

I remember Mel Tilis telling the story of him writing a song (don't remember which one) when Webb Pierce walked into the office. He heard the tune and asked Mel what he wanted if he (Webb) would show up as co-writer. Mel looked at Webb's fancy cowboy boots and replied that he just wanted a pair like that. Well, the song became a million-seller - Mel said that was the most expensive pir of cowboy boots he ever had!

Don't know if it is a true story, but it is a good one!

Kind Regards, Walter

www.lloydgreentribute.com
www.austriansteelguitar.at.tf

Lyle Clary · Post by **Lyle Clary** » 28 Nov 2005 10:28 am

I do not know if they ever wrote many songs but Carl and Pearl Butler did some classic country back in the 60's such as "Don't let me cross over, love's cheating line." You can't get more country than that. I am fortunite tobe able to listen to an FM station that plays real country music from time to time.

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1969 ZB Custom D10, BMI S10, 1981 Peavy Musician Mark III, 15 Inch Black Widow, custom enclosure