The VFW in Minneapolis hosts a record show once every 8 weeks, which I try to attend. Just average people and dealers selling their collections, some of them bring portable turntables which is very convenient and adds to the atmosphere. It also sparks conversations. So I was going through a box of 45s and listening to the ones I thought might be good, and found one by Chuck Carson. I had never heard of him, but by the sound of the title, it sounded like country. So I put it on, and a woman standing behind me spoke up and said "hey, that's my dad!" Turns out Chuck was from Minnesota and she started relating some of his story to us. She had come to look for his records, wanting to eventually put out a cd of his songs. Who knows how she happened to be standing behind me at the exact moment I was listening to that record. I usually don't even listen to all of the song, so it is even more unlikely that it happened the way it did. I told her about this blog and that I would love to post the record, if she would allow it. So we exchanged emails and information and voila, here is the record for all to listen. She asked me not to post it for download, so I'm afraid all you can do is listen. But who's to stop you from listening a hundred times?!
The pictures she sent me, as you can tell, are fantastic. I was blown away by the picture with Elvis. Pretty cool to have a picture of your dad with Elvis. Not everyone has one of those in their family album. She also sent an article from a newsletter, about his life and times. In the newsletter, if you look closely you'll see on the side a picture of a bunch of singers on stage. One of them is Hurricane Barb Huber, who I posted about 3 months ago.
As you can see, the record was put out by the Gaity label, based out of Mpls. I'm told they're rare, but I got this one for 3 bucks.
Here's a link to image scans of the article (2 pages = 2 images)
Page 1
page 2
Gaity 6112
Hominy Grits
b/w Laughing Girl
12 comments:
Fascinating stuff!!!
Thanks for posting
Pete in Oz
cool post, thanks. did you get my e-mail?
Holy Crap!! I was all set to here a cover of a Smiley Burnette Cover and then find its a Battle of New Orleans rip Off!! Awesome!
Thanks for listening Red. Maybe Chuck just wrote some new lyrics, but that's alright I guess. Half of dylan's first 3 records were other people's melodies.
Is this the Chuck Carlson who is credited as co-author with Bill Monroe for three songs Monroe recorded in 1962: "There Was Nothing We Could Do," "I Was Left On The Street," and "Cheap Love Affair"?
NVR
This is a response I got from Chuck's daughter after I posted this record:
Hi Derik,
Back then, as you probably know, it was not unusual for many artists to "borrow" the music, maybe not use the same lyrics, and re-record lyrics to the original song. It seems to me I had heard this before about Hominy Grits. At the time the copyrights, trade marking, patents etc were not real effective. So I guess it would not surprise me if this had happened. Chuck Carson wrote many of his own songs, co-wrote with other artists and sang for other writers as well & the labeling was not always correct. I guess this why we are somewhat reluctant to release to many of his recordings until we have time to investigate further & protect them properly. Seems like they become public domain & that is a problem. And, I don't want my family ticked at me! Thanks
and a response to the question by NVR about songwriting credits:
Left on the street. w & m Chuck Carson (words & music)
There was nothing we could do. w & m Chuck Carson. (words & music)
Cheap love affair. w & m Bill Monroe, Chuck Carson (words & music)
Laughing girl. w & m Bud Auge (Henry Joseph Auge, Jr.) & Chuck Carson
We do have many of the songs he wrote. Being that he was inducted into the Minneota Rock & Country Hall of Fame in 2005 (which has a new name now, Mid-America Music Hall of Fame)
Hi Dreik,
I am Chuck Carson's niece. It's great to finally find information and music from him. I have one of his records packed away, they are very hard to find. Thanks for the memories!
About Chuck Carson I found an old 78 acetate recorded at Kay Banks studios called "Squaws along the Yukon" I believe it may be CC doing a hilarious cover of Hank Thompsons hit. Does Chucks Daughter have any idea if her dad did "Squaws along the Yukon" I know he recorded at the Kay Bank studios in Minneapolis and was on SOMA records for a bit in the 50s???
Thanks Rick Whitehurst
Yes he worked with Bill Monroe. I have the contracts...along with quite a few of his records.I wish my half sister Linda would contact me.
Carson Krenz. krenzcar88@yahoo.com
Chuck had eight children. The two that continually are left out are the two that are most important to me.
Would you please explain your title "Some Local Loser?"
Please see this for an explanation of the blog title:
http://somelocalloser.blogspot.com/2011/08/some-clarification.html
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