John D Loudermilk!!!

Subject: John D Loudermilk!!!
From: harpgirl
Date: 21 Jan 02 - 04:36 PM

I have noticed that the esteemed songwriter and old folkie John D Loudermilk has been posting! My first album of his was "John D Loudermilk: Volume I Elloree" Warner Brothers, 1971.

Songs include: The Lament of the Cherokee Reservation Indian
The Wind Knows The Truth
The Joneses
Lord Have Mercy
The Habit
I Wanna Live
Rickey's Tune
When I was Nine
Abilene
Ma Baker's Little Acre
Google Eye
Tobacco Road

What a songwriter he is!!!!

Subject: RE: John D Loudermilk!!!
From: van lingle
Date: 21 Jan 02 - 06:01 PM

Didn't he also write "Windy and Warm"? VL

Subject: RE: John D Loudermilk!!!
From: DougR
Date: 21 Jan 02 - 06:21 PM

Don't forget "Then You Can Tell Me Goodbye."

DougR

Subject: RE: John D Loudermilk!!!
From: Lanfranc
Date: 21 Jan 02 - 06:24 PM

Yes, VL, he did - 'though most only know it as an instrumental (by Chet Atkins, most notably).

Are there lyrics to it - I made some up once to make up for my lack of intrumental expertise, but it would be good to know the real ones, if they exist!

Alan

Subject: RE: John D Loudermilk!!!
From: van lingle
Date: 21 Jan 02 - 09:05 PM

Hi Alan, I don't know if there are words to it. I've only heard it as an instrumental. VL

Subject: RE: John D Loudermilk!!!
From: 53
Date: 21 Jan 02 - 10:06 PM

he's a great songwriter. BOB

Subject: RE: John D Loudermilk!!!
From: DonMeixner
Date: 21 Jan 02 - 11:23 PM

Did he also write "Tobacco Road"?

Subject: RE: John D Loudermilk!!!
From: Muskrat
Date: 22 Jan 02 - 02:19 AM

Others include "Abilene" (there's some dispute over writer credits), Ebony Eyes, Talk Back Trembling Lips, A Rose and a Baby Ruth, Waterloo, Sad Movies (Make Me Cry), Thou Shalt Not Steal, Sittin' in the Balcony, (Lament of the Cherokee) Indian Reservation, etc.

I'll let you recall the artists yourselves.

Subject: RE: John D Loudermilk!!!
From: alanabit
Date: 22 Jan 02 - 04:07 AM

"Tobacco Road" will always be one of my favourites, but "Ebony Eyes"... Still, I have had some wonderful times giving it the treatment it deserves...

Subject: RE: John D Loudermilk!!!
From: harpgirl
Date: 22 Jan 02 - 12:14 PM

I wonder if JD will get over his modesty and talk about his life and his songs so we can enjoy his stories! How about it JD???? Art Thieme does it....and we don't think he has a swelled head...LOL harpgirl

Subject: RE: John D Loudermilk!!!
From: BlueFolk
Date: 22 Jan 02 - 02:39 PM

Are you sure Johnny Dee is really postin'? Anyway, 'Windy' is an instrumental, yes. And I guess JDL tells about his life in his songs. Remember 'Mr Jones' was about his father in law, 'When I Was Nine' is about his 2d wife, and isn't he a bit Cherokee. And who do you think 'Jummie's Song' is about?

Subject: RE: John D Loudermilk!!!
From: Jim Krause
Date: 22 Jan 02 - 02:44 PM

I learned Windy and Warm from a Doc Watson recording. I'll bet he learned it from Chet A. I still like to play that tune.
Jim

Subject: RE: John D Loudermilk!!!
From: Jim Krause
Date: 22 Jan 02 - 02:45 PM

I learned Windy and Warm from a Doc Watson recording. I'll bet he learned it from Chet A. I still like to play that tune.
Jim

Subject: RE: John D Loudermilk!!!
From: beadie
Date: 22 Jan 02 - 02:50 PM

I most remember his "off-center" lyrics such as . . .

"You know it well, its going to Hell, its going to Hell on a sled."

Subject: RE: John D Loudermilk!!!
From: Lonesome EJ
Date: 22 Jan 02 - 04:30 PM

Welcome to the Mudcat, John. We do Tobacco Road in my band, and I've always liked Abilene, Language of Love, and Waterloo. I'm also a big fan of your cousins Ira and Charlie Louvin.

Any personal stories about the Louvins, Everlys, Flying Burritos, etc?

Subject: RE: John D Loudermilk!!!
From: Townes
Date: 23 Jan 02 - 12:27 AM

Welcome to the cat John. Great memories when I read the list of songs.

'Sad Movies' Sue Thompson wasn't it. Wonder whats she doing now.

Regards Townes

Subject: RE: John D Loudermilk!!!
From: DougR
Date: 23 Jan 02 - 01:14 AM

Perhaps I am too suspicious ...I hope not. But I get the feeling John really hasn't been with us.

DougR

Subject: RE: John D Loudermilk!!!
From: Cappuccino
Date: 23 Jan 02 - 03:30 AM

I, too, am suspicious, but would love to be proved wrong.

Anyway, he is one of those writers whose songs always, without fail, give me a good feeling.

So what is he/you, as applicable, doing these days?

- Ian B

Subject: RE: John D Loudermilk!!!
From: Cappuccino
Date: 23 Jan 02 - 04:16 AM

In which connection, I've just found the following summary on a music website:

"Although his music isn't exactly weird, John D. Loudermilk is one of the weirdest figures of early rock & roll. Much more famous as a songwriter than a performer (although he made plenty of records), his material was incredibly erratic. He could range from the most mindless, sappy pop to a hard-bitten, bluesy tune that rang with as much authentic grit as a Mississippi Delta blues classic."

Bit of a back-handed compliment, as we say in Britain, but he certainly did write a variety : 'Angela Jones' next to 'Tobacco Road'?!!!

- Ian B

Subject: RE: John D Loudermilk!!!
From: GUEST
Date: 23 Jan 02 - 06:04 AM

Me too, I wonder what Sue T. is doing now. When she recorded those teenage classics as Sad Movies and Norman, you imagined a young girl not over 20 years of age... In fact she was a middle aged lady then, 35-40 years old, with a teenage child, and a history of 3 marriages.

Subject: RE: John D Loudermilk!!!
From: BlueFolk
Date: 23 Jan 02 - 02:39 PM

You really imagine 67 yrs old JDL sitting in an internet Mudcat cafe...? No, you really didn't, sure right to be suspicious...

What he's doing these days... guess enjoying his royalties, sail a little, predict the weather and any other of his hobbies.
He didn't write much in the 80s and 90s. An album failed to be released, did some music producing Clarence Gatemouth Brown...

You mentioned some of his famous compositions, but what about some lesser known jewels? 'Follow your drum' (Don Fardon or Acuff jr), 'Linda with the lonely eyes' (George Hamilton IV), God Will (Cash), Interstate 40, Sunglasses (Skeeter Davis, Tracy Ullman), This Little Bird (Faithfull, Sinatra, Jewel), Midnight Bus (great cover by Bettie McQuade).

Any more...?

Subject: RE: John D Loudermilk!!!
From: DougR
Date: 23 Jan 02 - 05:23 PM

Ah so! JDL Outed.

DougR

Subject: RE: John D Loudermilk!!!
From: GUEST,DonMeixner
Date: 23 Jan 02 - 05:28 PM

Well I saw JDL a few years ago on a songwriters special on public tv. I remember he played a good guitar with a very odd harmonica holder and he did some songs I had heard and some I hadn't. I liked them all. Can't remember what they were right now except maybe "Tobacco Road".

I'd heard "Then You Can Tell Me Good Bye" for years and didn't realize who had written it.

I guess the down side of being a song writer who is known only as a writer is that no one takes then seriously as a singer. Even a singer of their own songs. I'll grant that others made it well along the way doing both jobs but I'll bet that they are exceptions rather than the rules. After all, the first time Willie Nelson recorded any of his songs, they bombed. Then Patsy does "Crazy" and Willie makes a buck.

I suppose its dumb of me to never think of looking for a JDL album. I never realized he could sing too. Then I saw him on PTV. My own personal rule is that the writer of a song usually does a better job of the song than anyone else. There are some exceptions here as well.

Well, I'm glad that John D. Loudermilk is present here in the Cafe from time to time. Probably the closest I'll come to meeting brilliance in my life. And if I could find an album or two of his music up here in the Ontario flood plane, I'd buy em.

Its never too late to support great art.

Don.

Subject: RE: John D Loudermilk!!!
From: Rick Fielding
Date: 23 Jan 02 - 07:00 PM

I remember one night many years ago in a little house on Poplar Plains avenue in Toronto, when something special happened. I'd been on George IV's Tv show a few times and considered him just about the most supportive friend a number of neophyte Canadian writers could have.

He, along with his piano player (who was blind) and bassist, came over for a couple of hours after their show at the Horseshoe. George said "listen to this, it's our next record". The three of them broke into the first line of "Break My Mind". "Oh baby...oh baby...tell the man at the ticket stand that you changed your mind..." Three part harmony....We damn near died!! That was soooo beautiful. Thanks JDL.

Gotta get back and teach

Cheers

Rick

Subject: RE: John D Loudermilk!!!
From: DougR
Date: 23 Jan 02 - 07:18 PM

Don, I think you're right about songwriters as singers. I have a few LPs by Billy Edd Wheeler, who has an excellent voice. I doubt you could find a CD by Billy Edd in any of the record stores though.

DougR

Subject: RE: John D Loudermilk!!!
From: harpgirl
Date: 23 Jan 02 - 10:19 PM

Well, of course it's Johhny D....I for one, would like to hear how one gets started in the songwriting business from the business end.

How does one sell a song in Nashville? I don't aspire to do this myself, although a few of my babies are in the Mudcat Song Book.

I would like to write a good Florida song this year for the Will McLean festival and I'm a bit stumped. Any songwriting tips to share, Mr. L???? harpgirl (a sailor myself)

Subject: RE: John D Loudermilk!!!
From: harpgirl
Date: 23 Jan 02 - 10:23 PM

and I might say that the lady songwriters I admire most are Dolly Parton, Gillian Welch, Lucinda Williams, and Dixie Hall.

Subject: RE: John D Loudermilk!!!
From: DonMeixner
Date: 23 Jan 02 - 10:39 PM

Ahoy HarpGirl,

A sailor you say? What are you boating in? I lived aboard (Stinkpots actually, a 40' Matthews stock cruiser and 30' Richardson Raised deck Cruiser)for for three years and would be still if not for three kids along the way.

I sailed mostly sloops. A Friendship type designed by Jay Benford and built by a friend and myself. Made of Ferro-Concrete. I'd like to own a Sanderling (Marshall Cat) but it would be a bouncer on Lake Ontario.

A little off topic I know but if JDL wrote some sailing songs it could come back around.

Don

Subject: RE: John D Loudermilk!!!
From: harpgirl
Date: 23 Jan 02 - 10:56 PM

Let's see if I can name them all. I was born on an "L" boat(not literally), then an Islander 32, Melody Yawl, Morgan 29 and 33, Bounty, and the folks had two Irwins after that, the last being an Irwin 46. He may have had a Soveral for a short time, also. I sailed all around the Bahamas in the Irwin 46 but never lived aboard after the Bounty, my personal favorite.

The first was the "Debbie D." Then all after that were called "Winlassie" or "Windlassie." Pop won the Mackinac race in 64 in Crusing "D" in the flush deck Morgan, I think....dam my memory is bad.

His last little boat was a a "cat" boat. I had many sailing dinghies and my favorite was a penguin. I still want an Albury sailing dinghy built by the Albury family in the Bahamas.

no stinkpots at all, mate....

Subject: RE: John D Loudermilk!!!
From: DonMeixner
Date: 23 Jan 02 - 11:04 PM

Morgans and Irwins. Nice ships. But they all sound like Chlorox Bottles. No Woodies or honest Steel in the bunch? Ah me.

I've sailed Penguins but I'd love a Pelikan myself, a bit bigger. I'd tackle some bigger water in a Pelikan than I would almost any sailing dink. Why not build a Mirror dinghy yourself? great fun to build and sail.

Subject: RE: John D Loudermilk!!!
From: GUEST
Date: 24 Jan 02 - 12:59 AM

The Government's givin' me Interstate 40
And the Good Lord give me a thumb.

Subject: RE: John D Loudermilk!!!
From: Lonesome EJ
Date: 24 Jan 02 - 01:37 AM

Hey harp. I thought everybody in the Bahamas was a member of the Albury Family! There's sure a ton of 'em!

Subject: RE: John D Loudermilk!!!
From: harpgirl
Date: 24 Jan 02 - 06:49 AM

...there's Phillips and Malones, too LEJ. Weird looking ears!

Subject: RE: John D Loudermilk!!!
From: Murray MacLeod
Date: 24 Jan 02 - 09:21 AM

This thread has awoken a memory for me.

I am practically certain that John D Loudermilk had a chart hit in Britain in the early sixties, singing one of his own songs, but I cannot remember the song, nor what it was called. None of the songs mentioned above fit the bill. Can anybody tell me what song it was?

JDL also wrote "Road Hog" as I recall.

Murray

Subject: RE: John D Loudermilk!!!
From: Snuffy
Date: 24 Jan 02 - 09:33 AM

Was it Language of Love, Murray? (Ooby dooby doo)

WassaiL! V

Subject: RE: John D Loudermilk!!!
From: Murray MacLeod
Date: 24 Jan 02 - 09:41 AM

I think it may have been, Snuffy. Strange thing is, I can't remember how the tune goes, even with your helpful "ooby dooby doo".*G* But the name does ring a bell. I will do a google search for the lyrics and see if I can jog my memory...

Murray

Subject: RE: John D Loudermilk!!!
From: Murray MacLeod
Date: 24 Jan 02 - 10:18 AM

Found the complete John D Loudermilk Discography along with lots of his lyrics.

I am sure the hit he had in Britain was in fact "Language of Love" in 1961 but although the lyrics ring a bell I still can't remember how the tune goes ....

Murray

Subject: RE: John D Loudermilk!!!
From: harpgirl
Date: 24 Jan 02 - 11:40 AM

cool, Murray...BTW, How was SFFF? Will I meet you at Will McLean festival this year?

Subject: RE: John D Loudermilk!!!
From: Murray MacLeod
Date: 24 Jan 02 - 12:13 PM

SFFF was wonderful, hg, warmer than last year, and the audience seemed to like us. It was great to hook up again with Small Potatoes !

I would say it is 90% probable that we will in fact both be going to the Will McLean Festival. I need to buy a tent, however. I commuted to the SFFF from Homestead each day, but I don't visualize doing that to Tampa ....

Murray

Subject: RE: John D Loudermilk!!!
From: BlueFolk
Date: 24 Jan 02 - 01:01 PM

Just a few things about JDL, not me, and boats. Remember the cover of 'Encores', see the link Murray McLeod has given, JDL pictured in a harbor.

And, on the liner notes of 'Just Passing Through' he tells about his booking a freighter, hauling bauxite between Texas and Surinam, being the only passenger besides officers and the crew.

He explains about the song 'Flying Fish' on that same album:
in 1971 we all helped deliver the schooner "Argosy" from north Germany to the south of France. On this long passagewe came to realize our affinity for this little fellow, whose world of sea and air is our world of sail and hull"

Subject: RE: John D Loudermilk!!!
From: BlueFolk
Date: 24 Jan 02 - 01:11 PM

One tiny addition concerning 'Road Hog':
This song is, officially, a Gwen Loudermilk / John D Loudermilk composition: he gave Gwen, his first wife, credits for making the song.
Just like 'Make Me Some Love' (aka The Kitchen Song) later was listed as a (Susan / John) Loudermilk/Loudermilk composition.
Besides, he co-wrote a lot of songs with Marijohn Wilkin. But that's another story...

Subject: RE: John D Loudermilk!!!
From: Kim C
Date: 24 Jan 02 - 02:24 PM

I used to work with his stepdaughter at the Baskin-Robbins in Hillsboro Village, but that's been a day or two ago.

Subject: RE: John D Loudermilk!!!
From: GUEST,Fortunato in the outhouse
Date: 24 Jan 02 - 02:51 PM

Mudcatter JohnD fessed up sometime ago. You guys just don't read the right threads. Regards,Fortunato

Subject: RE: John D Loudermilk!!!
From: DougR
Date: 24 Jan 02 - 06:46 PM

Yep, Fortunato, I was tempted to point out the same thing but decided to just let everybody have their fun. In my earlier I pointed out JDL outed, but I guess most folks didn't read it. :>)

DougR

Subject: RE: John D Loudermilk!!!
From: Kim C
Date: 25 Jan 02 - 10:40 AM

You have a computer in your outhouse?

Subject: RE: John D Loudermilk!!!
From: DougR
Date: 25 Jan 02 - 12:19 PM

Er, ah, no Kim I don't. Just an old Sears & Roebuck catalog.

DougR

Subject: RE: John D Loudermilk!!!
From: GUEST
Date: 25 Jan 02 - 12:34 PM

A Sick Joke indeed, perhaps an Unbalanced Mind