Diesel Sniffing - Part Three: Red Sovine

Red Sovine was the last giant of truck driving music. Sovine trudged through the country and western world for decades as a modest singer songwriter, but it was the song that hit shortly before his death, the saccharine, trucker befriends crippled-boy tale, Teddy Bear, that he will always be remembered for. The self-proclaimed "King of the Narrations" with his languid accounts about truck driving are regarded as quintessential trucker jukebox selections. Never mind that I've never seen a Red Sovine song on a truck stop jukebox, never mind that I've never seen a jukebox at a truck stop. Before we go any further, may I implore you to follow this link that will treat you to a poverty-row television advertisement for a posthumous Red Sovine collection.

Now we're in the right frame of mind! I'll spare you the many varied details of Red's career which you can surely find almost anywhere else on the internet and instead just stick with the most interesting facts. It was in 1949 while performing regularly on Radio KWKH's Lousiana Hayride that the already powerful Hank Williams convinced his label, MGM Records, to sign Sovine (today the legendary KWKH's website brags "Paul Harvey - Three Times a Day!"). The Saturday night Hayride was the closest thing to competition for the famed Saturday night Grand Ole Opry, and in many ways it acted as a farm team for up and coming Opry talent. When Hank Williams left his headline position at the Hayride to join the GOO full time, it was Sovine who would fill his cowboy boots when he left.

Sovine released several singles for MGM from 1949-52, and they were compiled as an LP after he left the label, the self-titled Red Sovine in 1956. The liner notes strongly emphasized Red's previous success as a superintendent at The Gotham Hosiery Company. His career with MGM went all of nowhere, but his friend Webb Pierce was able to arrange a contract for him with Decca where he would find his first hits. Throughout the fifties Sovine had five singles that charted nicely, including a duet with one of the most under rated country performers of all time, Miss Goldie Hill (soon to be Mrs. Carl Smith). 1956 was the year of Sovine's biggest hit to date, a cover of George Jones' Why, Baby, Why which you can watch a Sovine reprise of here. The newfound chart success would result in Sovine graduating to the Opry the same year. Simultaneously, Sovine briefly joined another country music revue in the same style as the Hayride and the Opry called The Philip Morris Country Music Show. Sovine appears on the sensational Columbia soundtrack LP of the same name. The record featured the legendary rockabilly magnate and "marijuana addict" Ronnie Self not to mention a cover with a giant silver streamlined bus decorated with pictures of Philip Morris cigarettes.

In 1959 Red Sovine joined one of the greatest country music labels ever, Starday Records. Starday was not only responsible for jump starting the careers of many future country giants but its kitschy art direction left us with some of the most memorable record covers of all time. Starday was the label where Red would first dip into the truck driving genre after the craze had taken off. He covered Dave Dudley's Six Days On the Road at the end of 1964 and recorded his famous trucker track Giddy-up Go the following year. The coolest thing about Giddy-up Go was that it inspired an answer song from country comedienne Minnie Pearl titled Giddy-up Go Answer. Sovine's trucking songs/talks and albums are surely familiar to the majority of our readers here, so may I just direct you to a few links if you need further information. The complete Red Sovine singles discography is here and for LPs go here. Even more Red Sovine trucker stuff here.

In 1974 the LP It'll Come Back by Red Sovine and The Girls was released. The Girls, as featured on the cover, were terrifying blonde haired triplets, around eight years old, dressed in nightgowns, crawling all over their uncle Red. The unnerving images on the record sleeve conjure up the notion of what The Shining would've been like had it taken place not in a lavish hotel, but at a filthy truck stop instead. The Girls do not just creep us out on the cover, however, but also join in on several songs. The strangest track is probably Red's So Fine (HA! Get it!?), in which the horror movie triplets sing about how "fine" their uncle is. Sovine seemed to have a slightly morbid fascination with odd afflictions. Other than utilizing young shrill blonde haired triplets, Sovine sang/talked tunes about dead truckers, blind truckers, blind children, paralyzed children, and suicidal depressives.

                                                              RED SOVINE FUN FACTS!

His son Roger Sovine was a one-time president of both the Country Music Association as well as the vice president of writer/publisher relations for BMI.

The picture that blazons the top of the official Red Sovine website does not treat us to the famous gap tooth smile, it has apparently been Photoshopped away.

Red Sovine is credited with "discovering" Charley Pride, the only African-American star of country music, and persuaded him to come to Nashville.

You can buy a copy of Red Sovine reciting the pledge of allegiance (unfortunately it is not the high-pitched voice of a school-boy aged Sovine) for only one measely dollar here. Buy it now before you realize what you're doing!

RED SOVINE LINKS OF NOTE

You may want to wait until Christmas to listen to it, but the always-excellent bubblegum-machine.com has a depressing Red Sovine Christmas tune to kill yourself to.

What? It's New Year's and you haven't killed yourself yet? Try again. More depressing Red Sovine Christmas dreck.

The band backing up Red Sovine in this clip seems to have decided that it doesn't matter what music they play in the background while Red tells the story of Phantom 309. Red seems a bit thrown off at the start.

Don't forget those Red Sovine Ringtones (!?) for your cellular telephone.

A bizarre blog site of faux-Red Sovine type narratives can be found here.

Here is a sample of the Decca Records era of Red Sovine: Juke Joint Johnny & No Thanks Bartender.

Take part in that strange YouTube phenomenon of watching audio with Giddy Up Go and Minnie Pearl's Giddy Up Go Answer.

Red Sovine performing I Didn't Jump the Fence on YouTube and a cover version of In the Jailhouse Now featuring Sovine and Webb Pierce.

A sample of musician Tom Lambert's composition A Trucker's Tribute to Red Sovine.

A sample of Tom Waits' cover of Phantom 309.

The painting of Red Sovine at the top of the article was done by artist Jesse Wiedel.                                                                      

                                          NEXT WEEK: PART FOUR - THE MOVIES

Comments

[tony c]

Red Sovine always reminds me of listening to AM radio in the Buick w/ Dad as we drove to the Town & Country department store. Is it just my imagination that it always seemed to be a rainy day when "Teddy Bear" or "Phantom 309" was on the radio? Probably. But if you told me that Red Sovine when played over AM Radio produces storm clouds, I would believe you.

I remember my late father telling me back in the 70's, "One of these days you'll give up on Kiss and Led Zeppelin and start listening to Hank Williams and Johnny Cash." How right he was. And he lived to see that day. I now realize that there is no heavier metal than a steel guitar.

One of the happiest times of my life was a few years ago when I discovered my local record store in Boston had received a giant stash of country LP's. Attractively priced at $1 or $2 each, my roommate and I snatched up about 75 records, many on the Starday and King label. (How can you not love a label that markets music described as Hillbilly, Sacred, & Race?)

Two things I learned: Cowboy Copas is underrated, and '60's Johnny Paycheck kicks ass. As Eugene Chadborne once said, "If you measure the greatness of a country song by the body count, then Johnny Paycheck is the greatest country songwriter of all time.

[jesse]

http://www.jessewiedel.com/red-sovine.jpg

what a great article! i'm a big fan of red sovine. my dad used to play red sovine records when i was a kid. i thought it was the most hideous thing i'd ever heard back then, but i've grown to love his music now. if you ever need to clear out a party, just put on a recitation by red. it works like magic.
thanks for putting my portrait of red on your blog. i put a link to another, more ghoulish drawing i did of red awhile back.
my favorite red sovine song is "the king's last concert", that describes his nightmarish elvis presley visitation, after falling asleep at the wheel "for an hour or more".

[Chris R.]

"Teddy Bear" might be the most depressing song ever. I have the "Teddy Bear" LP, but at my parties it comes out to make people laugh & stay longer...

[Fatherflot]

Shouldn't that be "diesel sniffing"?

[Andrew]

I vividly recall coming home from a family christening in a blizzard in early 1976, with "Giddy-up Go" blaring from the AM radio.

As Noel Coward said, "Extraordinary how potent cheap music is."

[Red Neckerson]

Red never met a sad recitation he couldn't make a little sadder. My first introduction to Red was when I was a Kid riding in a Tractor Trailer with my Dad and listening to Red's Giddy Up Go on a crackling AM radio with the roar of the engine out the window, just the way I think he intended it to sound. Red's Duet with Webb Pierce on Little Rosa (Decca) is a must have for anyone with an urge to drink. Red recorded a tribute to the Duke (John Wayne) Shortly After John's death. I posted a couple of Red's oddities and folklore on my blog. check em out!

[tony c]

Oh man, I forgot about "Little Rosa"!

Also: it's strangely comforting to hear of other dads out there inflicting Red Sovine on their kids.

[Dale Hazelton]

Great series! As kids we were assaulted with either country or polka records on the console. When my mother passed away a few years back I proclaimed dibs on the record collection, but unfortunately they all looked like they had been ice skated on and were pretty much unplayable (except for the Christmas albums pu out by Firestone, which rarely ever got played). The only thing I walked away with was the cardboard sleeve from a Homer & Jethro album.

It was neat seeing Red on the Porter Wagoner show. Back in 1989 when I took a trip to Graceland and Opryland, there was an exhibit of Porters Nudie suits and guitars at the GOO that was worth the journey all by itself.

The 70's were full of those cheesy commercials, Roy Orbison, The Everly Brothers, Kenny Rogers teaches you how to play guitar, a Mersy Beat collection that starred that Boadway "Buzz-Buzz" girl in a micro skirt and go-go boots...Thank God YouTube can bring those suckers back.

[Wampus]

I always thought Teddy Bear would've tired being lifted in and out truck trailers after the third or fourth one. I remember saying that to my jazzbo dad when it was on the radio and he said, "You think that's the only problem with that song?"

[Cliff]

As collaborator and illustrator of the Red Sovine "Tales from the Truckstop" blog that you reference above ("A bizarre blog site of faux-Red...") I'll just say thanks for the link. Our idea is that Red's world is so ridiculous, the only way it can get weirder is if Red's various bits of inspiration happened as a mix of supernatural and X-Files-type adventures. So, each story explores something stupid that led Red to write a song, and Red remains generally clueless about what's actually going on around him.

Love the page! Long live Red! (or not, since he's dead)

[Casey Worden Beavin]

OMG! What you wrote about 'Red Sovine and the Girls' just cracked me up, However, you are not correct... Funny but incorrect. How do I know this? I AM ONE OF THE 'GIRLS'! On the album cover, I am the 3rd 'girl' poised on Red's left.

* We are not triplets, as a matter of fact, we range 1-3 years apart in age. Born in: 1964, 1965, 1967.

* Only one of us had blonde hair at the time. Mickie, the youngest of us. Kelly and I are brunettes.

* Those dresses are NOT night gowns. They are in fact 'dresses'.
We had no part in deciding what we were going to wear. Mom did that. And the Dingo boots were REAL, too.

* We weren't 'crawling all over Red'. The photographer told us to 'grab his arms like we were giving him a bear hug'.

* You failed to mention that 'It'll come back' went doulble gold in the Country Music Charts, AND that album still hangs in the Country Music Hall of FAME!!! (not to mention in MY KITCHEN)

While I think your writing is creative, funny and rather opinionated, I am happy to see someone actually still cares. ?

Red was like a second father to us. He was a sweet, warm and wonderful man. he did for country music, what Ray Charles did for the blues.

Rest in peace, Red.
Respectfully submited,
Casey 'A Girl'

[Listener Kliph]

Thanks so much for checking in Casey - and for not taking offence! I am a huge Red Sovine fan and always will be - and am thrilled to hear from one of the girls on the cover!

[kelly jo worden demsey]

I , too, am one of the girls that sang with Red Sovine.

Hey , as my little sister , Casey said, any publicity is good publicity. However, I am the mean sister.
So get ready. Here it goes, hotshot ....

You sound like you really were checking out those"little 8 year old triplets in nightgowns..". You sound like a "perv". Why don't you come on back and talk to teddy bear now!!
We are all grown up. I believe, as one of the "little girls" that you just trash talked, I could take you on! Bring it. Wimp.

What were you doing when you when 8 years old???? Picking your nose, and getting hung by your underwear in the locker room, no doubt. Geek.

You messed with the wrong "girls".

It did come back.... Just like Red said. You are a loser!!

[Mickie Worden Magnuson]

I am the last of the "worden" sisters to post a comment. And might I add, the blonde one.

My sister Casey was right on. Red was a warm, caring, and great man. May he rest in peace!

One of the best times in my life was having the chance to sing with Red Sovine, as well as, Dolly Parton! I'll never forget it.

It is amazing how so many people still remember Red and his music. Some may like it, some not. It doesn't bother me in the least, those negative critics don't have a Gold Star at the Country Music Hall of Fame!!!!

Kudos for keeping Red's legend alive,
Mickie (One of the girls)

[Shawn Worden (The Girls Brother)]

I am pretty sure that one of the above so called singers with Red Sovine is not whom she says she is. Most likely a worn out street person who found a computer in a public library or bathroom and started blogging.

Nevertheless I informed the remaining sisters, of your Keeping the Red legend alive,
and wish to also inform you, that the Girls also did backup with Dolly Parton.
That album was "Harvest Gathering" the song was "Take Me There" 1976.
And Dolly didn't require the night gowns.

I think one of them worked closely with Pee Wee Herman on underground music.and still wears her nightgown quite often

[naked lady at a public library computer]

Some people will laugh, some people get angry.
But one will hang on tightly to the coat tails ..or "nighties"
of their sisters.

how sweet of you to remember and keep this so alive
maybe you can start a reunion reality show of the girls.
since you are so into dredging this up, and making sure you get credit for
doing nothing. (by the way, you were at home playing atari pong when we were singing.)

hey, maybe we should recount votes from a certain election that was unreal, shall we.
hmmm, oh , you still lost that one.

boorah!!!

[Shawn Worden (The Girls Brother)]

That must of been the sister at the public library !

[close friend of Donna Lee Amato Worden]

who do you think this is???
never in a million years will you figure this out.

why are you all allowing this common yet unknown radio jock to rip apart what was important to your mom, Donna??
you all act like this person followed your lives. did he??? who is he???

when Donna passed away, your family went separate ways.
all that is left is memories....
and this radio "dio" is making money off ridiculing you and yours... this is a pity!!

do you all think a record deal is coming your way through his demeaning venue??
think again...why stroke his ego??

stand up for what you believe in.. and big brother....act like one.
this radio god made strong remarks regarding your parents discretion, young sisters talents
and lead us all to believe red sovine had poor moral standards. this moment in time was Donna's crowning moment, one of her proudest accomplishments.

stand together like a family. defend the works of Donna.( at the least)

I knew her, and this article sickens me.

p.s. she wrote"red's so fine"... read the cover.
She lived for her children..and would never have allowed her "girls" to be written about in this manner by a parasite, money hungry "blogger".

never in a million years, get over it!

You need to get a grip dude, life is for happy things not dead people.

[Frank]

Do not be ashamed of your past life Iknow you were a exotic person chin up kid

[toby k.]

girls, people are hateful
hang in there.
my prayers go out to you all.
in the fathers name i pray for you and your families.
peace.

toby and friends

[ralph cramden]

you all are freaks

[Flo]

ralph,
kiss my grits!!!!!!!!

[ralph cramden]

I might catch a std