My Babe - Ramrods

3 years ago
73

I'm not big on African sayings but a couple are worth noting. One says that it is a happy man that marries the girl he loves, but a happier man who loves the girl he marries. Another says that we spend our lives looking forward but to understand and appreciate our lives, we must look back in time. So, look back with me in appreciation of some things I experienced in the 1960s but did not appreciate at the time. First is a song by The Ramrods. In the late 60s I played bass guitar with this group one summer. We performed at a club on the Bessemer Super Highway but I do not recall the name of the club. Hopeful someone will recall the club because it was very popular and always packed on the weekends. Popular radio D.J. Duke Rumore does the introduction on this recording.
A few years before that, I was playing with the Vikings and co-wrote this second song in 1965 and it was released in 1966. This was recorded at Boutwell Studies and Bill Lowery who is now in the Music Hall of Fame was our manager which is another story for another time. Again, Duke Rumore and Rumore Record Rack promoted the song but back then, I was going too fast to appreciate much of anything. A few years ago I learned that Cargo Records in California had picked up the song and had included it in their series on popular Garage Bands of the 60s. And now, I found out that after over 50 years, the song is on a current DJ Dance Club play list in Soho England, near London. This is the You Tube link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oQ4ow7Um4V8 The young lady in the video has a copy of the original 45 record but I have no idea how it ended up in England over 50 years later. Her web site is on the video and you can contact her there so please send her a note of appreciation for keeping our music alive. So, the African saying proves to be true but it is really a shame that we have to look back in time to truly appreciate the many things and many wonderful people in our lives.
Also recording at Boutwell Studies the same year were The Allmon Brothers Band (Duane and Gregg) and soon to be a star, Tammy Wynette. At the time Tammy was on TV in the mornings on The County Boy Eddie Show and sitting in with our band on the weekends. I have posted her singing with our band "Don't Touch Me If You Don't Love Me" on my Sound Cloud page. Tammy, before becoming "The First Lady of Country Music" recorded her demo songs at Boutwells and included "Don't Touch Me" on her first album. But, all this is another story for another time. So, enjoy this old song by the Ramrods, "My Babe".
Oh, and Skeet Waites, I think I remember seeing somewhere that you were associated with The Birmingham Record Collectors. A really great group of people.

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