Despite being inducted on the Rockabilly Hall of Fame and being honoured by the Madison Square Garden Museum in Phoenix, Arizona, Jimmy Spellman never had until now a record packaging his recorded sides from September 1955 to March 1960, what make 28 sides including unissued recordings. That CD had come shortly before the passing of Loy Melford Clingman, another Arizona Hayride’s member, on February 20, 2011. Here that’s music from Arizona a state better know for the Grand Canyon but deeply rooted in country and western tradition with artists like Marty Robbins, Billy Barnett, Jimmy Dell, Jimmy Johnson or Doug Harden.

Before paying tribute to Loy, let’s get back in the 50’s when Jimmy’s folks settled to Phoenix, Arizona, moving from Ohio in 1954. Jimmy had already cut his teeth to banjo uke and soon joined a television show as did Wayne and Jerry Newton later know for them “Baby, Baby, Baby” issued on ABC Paramount 9806. In the four next years, Jimmy’s family will back to Ohio quite a few times so Jimmy make the choice to wed his Phoenix’s teenage sweetheart, Frankie, on April 1958. By 1954, Jimmy became a local heart throb on KRUX radio and TV being featured act on the Arizona Hayride and the Hillbilly Hit Parade where his backing band was The Sunset Riders with Al Casey and Jimmy "Cat Daddy" Johnson on guitar. Jimmy was also on tour with Faron Young, Brenda Lee, Jimmy & Johnny, Marty Robbins, Wanda Jackson and other top acts.

On September 1955, Jimmy was bring in studio with his backing to cut two sides for Lee Hazlewood’s Viv record. "Give Me Some of Yours (and I’ll Give You Some of Mine" is a very nice fast Hillbilly while "No Need To Cry Anymore" is an unsurprising weeper. Both sides were issued on Viv 1000 and another session was set in March of the following year giving us "It’s You, You, You" and "That’s All I Need", two nice country ballads in the fashion of the time issued on Viv 1002. Another single was issued few months later with "(She Wants) a Lover Man", a great recording with a superb guitar, and "No Escape" a straight hillbilly ballad. Those three records get some action locally but nothing strong enough even with the support of a Fan Club. In March 1957, Lee Hazlewood produced a session in Hollywood and two songs found them way on Dot 15565 the following month. "Here Am I" and "Make Up Your Mind" are two emotional ballads well sung with the support of Jack Halloran Singers, Pat Boone’s vocal group. The next session done at the same place occurred on June 1957 and produced an unissued ballad "I’ll Never Smile Again" but without vocal support, a bouncing ditty "Trouble In Mind" and the classic rockin’ boppin’ "Doggonit", his best waxing that was issued on Dot 15807.

On January 2, 1958, Jimmy signed a "Rev" recording and management contract and four songs were cut almost immediately. "Why Try To Be Original" and "Deep Love", two songs much in smooth Ricky Nelson’s style were issued as part of a joint-venture with RCA on VIK 0320. "Guardian Angel", a very smooth performance, and "To Wonderland", a catchy song with some Gene Vincent’s overtone, stayed unmissed and are issued here for the first time. That coupling, with some extra takes, should have been the right choice in my own opinion if issued.

In June 26, 1958, five songs were recorded still much in Ricky Nelson or Bobby Vee’s style. "I Couldn’t Say" is a nice rock-a-ballad while "She Used To Be My Girl" (unissued), "Price Tag" (unissued), "What A Way to Die" and "Ladder Of Love" are teenage ballads. Right if you want to be romancing on a back seat of some Chevrolet Impala parked on lover’s lane. From unknown dates between 1958 and 1959 came 6 others unissued sides with only Al Casey on guitar. All are ballads, except “"When I Talk To Her Of Love", and close that CD that also feature two stringed sides cut in March 1960 and issued on Redstart 7322, only in 1965, under the alias of Jimmy James. The poor response lead to a new pressing under Jimmy’s real identity. Jimmy retired in 2005 and sadly lost his wife Frankie on August 13, 2009.

Like every time the booklet is packed with beautiful pictures, press clips, a great bio done by Johnny Vallis and a discography build by John Dixon and Richard Weize. A good record for you if you like the smooth style of romantic songs and rock-a-ballads popular in the late 50’s. Hardcore Hillbilly fans will goes with the six "Viv" sides and rockers with "Doggonit".

As mentioned up above, we just lost Loy Clingman who was recording, writing and performing his songs on the week end as he supported his family on a teacher’s wage for 37 years. Loy was born April 8, 1923 in William (Ar) and married when Lee Hazlewood signed him to "Viv" and issued "Uranium Blues”/”Time Wounds All Heels" (2000) in 1956. The following year, he bought the record label from Lee and will handle few others like “Yolo”. On “Viv” he produced some excellent sides by artists like Easy Deal Wilson, Benny Banta, Don Cole or The Leonard Brothers. In 1957, he had "It’s Nothin To Me”/”I’m Low, Low, Low" issued on Liberty Bell 9012 and the very good "It’s Nothing To Me" on Dot 15567, that song being also recorded by Sanford Clark (Ramco 1987). In 1958, Loy cut the great “Rockin’ Down Mexico Way” issued with “"Que Paso" on a relooked blue label Viv 45-3401 and had a release on Swan S4017 coupling "The Man Who Made and Angel Cry" and "Slown Down". "Rockin’ Down The Mexico Way", pressed at very few copies, is one of the most sought after boppin’ discs by collectors. By 1958, Loy had his own studio co-owned with Buddy Wheeler and Dick Wilson located at 311 E. Indian School Road in Phoenix.

Loy also had releases on "Capitol", his own "Elko" and various other record labels. In 1961, he friendly split from Buddy and Dick and recorded at his studio now located on 51St Drive and on its new 4-track machine the greats "King Fool" by Jack Lane (Yolo 12) and "Rain On The Mountain" by Q-Zeen Duane Turley (Yolo 15). They were really rockin’ and boppin’ in the desert as showcased on the BFX digipack BCD 16230 issued in 1999.

Through the 60’s, Climgman signed new artists to recording and management contract making recordings available on Viv, Jo-Ree, Sola, Malapi, Toltec and many other labels born and dead after a couple of releases. The Viv Studio stayed in business into the early 70’s when Loy and Hassie left the valley and moved to Northern Arizona. In 1992, the Viv masters were sold to Bear Family records and a three CDs boxset was issued as BCD 15824.

Loy Clingman was a musician, cowboy poet and a song writer. He always had a story to tell and a song to sing, but it was his generous heart that defined him. Our condolences go to his wife Hassie Pearl and family. He’s now rockin on milky white way and will be remembered !

Dominique "Imperial" Anglares - March 2, 2011.