Dale,

The Cartwright Brothers recording is a good'un, but it was not the earliest. The very useful Meade et alia 'Country Music Sources' indicates that the earliest was by Charles Nabell under the title 'Utah Carl' in 1925 in St Louis [OK 7009]. I have never heard of him, have you? The next was 'Utah Carroll' by Carl T. Sprague in August 1927 in Savannah - I think I have that one on vinyl somewhere. The Cartwrights recording was made in December 1928 in Dallas. The other old-time recordings were by artists unknown to me: Marc Williams 1928, Frank Wheeler and Monroe Lamb 1929, The Wyoming Cowboy (Charles Baker) 1934 and Bill Bender 1939.

--Stewie.