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From the Vault...
01/12/2014
#1394 |
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info
Jack Guthrie
"Oklahoma Hills"
© Bear Family Records
Year of Release: 1991
Rating:
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track listing
Oklahoma Hills
When The Cactus
Is In Bloom
Next To The Soil
Shame On You
I'm Brandin' My Darlin'
With My Heart
Careless Darlin'
Oakie Boogie
In The Shadows
Of My Heart
For Oklahoma I'm Yearing
No Need To Knock
On My Door
Shut That Gate
I'm Tellin' You
Chained To A Memory
Look Out
For The Crossing
Dallas Darlin'
Colorado Blues
Welcome Home Stranger
I Still Love You
As I Did Yesterday
Oklahoma's Calling
The Clouds Rained
Trouble Down
Amswer To Moonlights
And Skies
Please Oh Please
I Loved You Once But I
Can't Trust
You Now
Out Of Sight Out Of Mind
I'm Building A Stairway
To Heaven
Ida Red
I Told You Once
San Antonio Rose
You Laughed And I Cried
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Jack Guthrie
"Oklahoma Hills"
Country artist Jack Guthrie's claim to fame was a #1 Country hit in 1945, "Oklahoma Hills." Another interesting fact, was he was the cousin
of Woody Guthrie. "Oklahoma Hills" was originally written by Woody Guthrie, and Jack rewrote some of the words. Although Woody Guthrie never
claimed a #1 song in his career, Jack did. However, the name "Jack Guthrie" certainly will not be on everyone's memory, such as other popular Country
artists at the time, preferably Hank Williams Sr.
Like Williams Sr., Jack Guthrie's music is compared to Hank, even the yodeling. Another comparison is that of Webb Pierce. Germany's Bear Family
Records does a fine job in showcasing 29 tracks from Guthrie's short career, 1945-1947.
The two brothers (Woody and Guthrie) worked together in music. Woody would focus more on his music, as he would become more popular as a folk artist
in the 1950/1960s. Jack was focused on his family, having a wife and one child. Jack would join the army, and this is where his popularity in music
began, as his song "Oklahoma Hills" was increasingly popular. He would develop a good friendship with another Country superstar, Ernest Tubb.
As Tubb included him on his tours. Although his marriage was not a joyful one, he loved his son, Jerry, and tried to be with him as often as he could.
His success in Country music was in full swing by 1946. But the following year would be the beginnings of what would become his short life.
In July, 1947, he developed tuberculosis, and towards the end, all doctors were telling Jack there was no hope, and he would die. He recorded more, but
he was too sick as he made these recordings. He would later be admitted to a sanitarium, where his health declined rapidly. He passed away on January 15,
1948.
During his brief and short career, Jack Guthrie had eight recording sessions, of which 33 songs were recorded. 8 were not released, two were issued on
LP, marred by a drum overdub. The remaining 6 are available on this compilation.
In summary, his short popularity in Country music is easily compared to the many (and would be more popular than Jack) artists: Hank Sr, Ernest Tubb,
Lefty Frizzell, Webb Pierce (the very early years of Country Music). Called it Country or Hillbilly, Guthrie's roots in music was obvious; he was related
to one of the most popular Folk music artists, his cousin Woody Guthrie. We can only imagine if Jack's career would have continued onward, and become as
popular as Hank Sr. and the likes. Jack Guthrie's life was cut short by tuberculosis, and back then, alot of medical remedies were far and unheard of, like
it is today.
Yet for those who remember his music back then, and for those discovering it for the first time, it is Country music at it's early years finest.
As described on the back of the insert booklet of the Oklahoma Hills CD, it says it all: "Many a month has come and gone, Since I wandered from
from my home, In those Oklahmoma hills where I was born. Many a page of life has turned. Many a lesson I have learned, While I feel like in those hills
I still belong." These lines are from the pen... and heart... of Jack Guthrie. They are from his own composition, "Oklahoma Hills" ... Jack's first
recording... a national favorite of the very moment he was serving with our Armed Forces in the storming of Okinawa. When Jck returned from the war, he
found himself hailed as one of America's favorite folk artists. Deserverdly so. These six inspired recordings tell you why: "Oklahoma Hills," "When The
Cactus Is In Bloom," "Chained To A Memory," "This Troubled Mind Of Mine," "Oakie Boogie," "Oklahoma's Calling." This album is a spledid tribute to the
life and work of a fine man and a great artist... Jack Guthrie.
Good mention, he made Oklahoma (his childhood home state) proud.
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