It’s another one of the endless stream of the company’s
catch-all Music of America series. There are well over 100 in all; no
one has yet been able to fully catalogue them, although Phil Milstein’s
long-dormant American Song-Poem Music Archives made a valiant effort some years
ago: http://www.songpoemmusic.com/labels/columbin.htm
The cover – and I have several featuring an identical front
sleeve – would lead you to believe that this dis was issued around 1976, in
time to mark America’s bicentennial. In fact one of the songs on the album, U.S.A.
(Garden of Roses) is bicentennial-themed, so how can I be so sure that the
album was issued in 1981 when I’ve already admitted that no reliable catalogue
exists? For the simple reason that one of the songs, To Yoko, was
written about the assassination of John Lennon, which took place on 8 December
1980.
For sure, it could have come out in 1982 or 83, but there is
no way that this album could possibly predate 1981. Unless the lyric for To
Yoko had been composed by Criswell, that is. As a Beatle, Yoko and
song-poem fan, finding and purchasing this album was essential. And it did not disappoint…
as you are about to discover.
The tracks below feature Columbine regular Sonny Cash, who also
appeared on the label as Ralph Lowe, as well as recording for MSR under the names
of Dick Castle and Dick Kent. The singer’s real name was Elmer Plinger: no wonder
he used a pseudonym. Plinger had been recording since at least 1940: in
February of that year, as vocalist of the Modern Mountaineers, he recorded a
couple of sides for RCA’s Bluebird imprint, which were also available via mail
order retail pioneer Montgomery Ward. As Buddy Ray, he recorded a couple of
vocals for the magnificently odd "Night-Club Music" Las Vegas
& Country Western, by Ken ‘Nevada’ Maines, in the early 70s, and by the
time these cuts were laid down in the studio he had been working as a
professional vocalist for over 40 years.
Here’s Sonny/Elmer/Buddy/Dick with To Yoko and the
rather wonderful Psychic Cigarette.
Enjoy!
Download Yoko HERE
Download Cigarette HERE
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