Big Bad John

Posted by newdreams (A) on July 19, 2012 at 23:41:41

Today I found a 1961 Columbia six-eye mono recording of Jimmy Dean's "Big Bad John" LP, in very nice shape.

As you may know, the original ending lyric of "at the bottom of this mine lies one hell of a man" was almost immediately censored and new 45s rushed out with the line "at the bottom of this mine lies a big, big man". Curiously, the later Columbia two-eye "Jimmy Dean's Greatest Hits" has the "big, big man" ending. It also has "P.T. 109" and "Little Boy Lost" for those who remember Jimmy Dean.

All the recordings I've heard since on best hits and compilations have the altered lyric.

As I suspected, after fifty years of not hearing the original lyric, the original mono LP I now possess does have the original recording.

Earlier this week I also picked up a near-mint looking Columbia six-eye mono "Johnny Horton's Greatest Hits". I haven't auditioned that one yet, but have run it through my VPI record cleaning machine.

The sound on these old recordings is really quite excellent. I'm not a modern country fan, but the old-timers like Patsy Cline, Don Gibson, Marty Robbins, Johnny Cash, Johnny Horton, and others wrote and sang great story-telling songs that I still enjoy.

It's also fun telling youngsters that in our day there was one hit parade with everything from jazz to country to comedy making the top ten at times.

Learning is not compulsory... neither is survival. W. Edwards Deming (1900 - 1993)

Wikipedia on "Big Bad John" (Open in New Window)

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Topic - Big Bad John - newdreams 23:41:41 07/19/12 (9)

And I used to love (and still do) the flip side: - Doug G. 15:15:12 07/21/12 (0)

I still have.... - Doug G. 15:09:14 07/21/12 (0)

RE: Big Bad John - Hi-Fidelity 06:57:30 07/21/12 (0)

"Johnny Horton's Greatest Hits"... - J. S. Bach 06:00:05 07/21/12 (0)

I think.............. - ASHRA 05:30:05 07/20/12 (4)

"Timothy" - JimK 08:00:12 07/20/12 (0)

HE 'ET 'IM UP! - Muzikmike 07:52:20 07/20/12 (2)

Prominent violin........... - ASHRA 08:46:56 07/20/12 (1)

RE: Seriously? - amioutaline? 09:34:48 07/20/12 (0)

Big Bad John

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