Johnnie Lee Wills

*02-09-1912 Jewett, TX, +25-10-1984

2nd version
by Tony Russell, Lillies Ohlsson, Praguefrank, Mario Manciotti, Michel Ruppli, Robert Platt, Thieu Van De Vorst, Marc Alesina, Steve Hathaway

SESSIONS

28 April 1941 Sound Recording Studio, Dallas, TX – Johnny Lee Wills and His Boys (Johnny Lee Wills [banjo], Cotton Thompson [vcl/fiddle], Lester "Junior" Barnard [el gt], Harley Huggins [gt], Luther Jay "Luke" Wills [bass], Millard Kelso [piano])
001 C 93697-A I WONDER WHAT I’M GOING TO DO Decca 5957/ Krazy Kat KKCD-18
002 C 93698-A I’M SORRY WE SAID GOODBYE 5948 46012/ Krazy Kat KKCD-18
003 C 93699-A DO I REALLY DESERVE IT FROM YOU? 5969/ Krazy Kat KKCD-18
004 C 93700-A MEMORIES OF YOU, DEAR 5985/ Krazy Kat KKCD-18
005 C 93701-A WHATCHA KNOW JOE 5948/ Krazy Kat KKCD-18
006 C 93702-A MILK COW BLUES 5985/ Krazy Kat KKCD-18
007 C 93703-A TOO LONG 5957/ Krazy Kat KKCD-18
008 C 93704-A TOGETHER FOREVER 6014/ Krazy Kat KKCD-18
009 C 93705-A KEEP A LIGHT IN YOUR WINDOW TONIGHT 6014/ Krazy Kat KKCD-18
010 C 93706-A DEVIL’S BLUES 5969/ Krazy Kat KKCD-18
18 April 1947 Decca Recording Studio, 5505 Melrose Ave., Hollywood, CA – Johnnie Lee Wills (Johnnie Lee Wills [fiddle], Leon Huff [vcl], Eb Gray [gt], J.L. Jenkins [steel], Son Lansford [bass], Chuck Adams [drums], Julian "Curly" Lewis [fiddle], Henry Boatman [fiddle/sax], Don Harlan [sax/clarinet], Wayne Johnson [clarinet/sax], Clarence Cagle [piano])
011 L 4411-3 QUEEN OF SAN JOAQUIN 46064/ Krazy Kat KKCD-18
012 L 4412-3 I NEVER KNEW HOW MUCH I LOVE YOU 46070
013 L 4413-3 LAZY JOHN 46054/Krazy Kat KKCD-18
014 L 4414-8 GREEN GROW THE LILACS 46064
19 April 1947 Decca Recording Studio, 5505 Melrose Ave., Hollywood 38, CA – Johnnie Lee Wills (Johnnie Lee Wills [fiddle], Leon Huff [vcl], Eb Gray [gt], J.L. Jenkins [steel], Son Lansford [bass], Chuck Adams [drums], Julian "Curly" Lewis [fiddle], Henry Boatman [fiddle/sax], Don Harlan [sax/clarinet], Wayne Johnson [clarinet/sax], Clarence Cagle [piano])
015 L 4415-2 SQUARE DANCE BOOGIE 46053/ Krazy Kat KKCD-18
016 L 4414-1 TEXAS SANDMAN 46054/ Krazy Kat KKCD-18
017 L 4417-2 WHO'S GONNA LOVE ME 46070/ Krazy Kat KKCD-18
018 L 4418-2 LATE EVENING BLUES 46053/ Krazy Kat KKCD-18
ca. December 1949 KVOO Radio Station Studio, Tulsa, OK – Johnnie Lee Wills and His Boys (Johnnie Lee Wills [vcl-1/fiddle], Leon Huff [vcl-2], Curley Lewis [vcl-3] + unknown musicians)
019 RAG MOP -1 Bullet 696/ Krazy Kat KKCD-18
020 NEAR ME -2 696
1949/1950 KVOO Radio Station Studio, Tulsa, OK – Johnnie Lee Wills and His Boys Johnnie Lee Wills [vcl-1/fiddle], Leon Huff [vcl-2],
021 PETER COTTONTAIL 700
022 SHATTERED DREAMS 700
023 I'M THAT WAY ABOUT YOU -3 710/ Krazy Kat KKCD-18
024 CHAMPAGNE POLKA -2 710
025 COYOTE BLUES 711/ Krazy Kat KKCD-18
026 BOOGIE WOOGIE HIGHBALL 711 Krazy Kat KKCD-18
027 A BAD DEAL ALL AROUND -2 717/ Krazy Kat KKCD-18
028 TOM CAT BOOGIE -2 717/ Krazy Kat KKCD-18
029 THIS ROOM IS SO CROWDED 721
030 SI TE AMO (YES I LOVE YOU) 721
ca 1951 KVOO Radio Station Studio, Tulsa, OK – Johnnie Lee Wills and His Boys
031 I LIKE YOU BEST OF ALL-2  724/KK CD 18
032 I'M LEAVING (YES INDEEDY) -2 724/ Krazy Kat KKCD-18
033 OKLAHOMA (THAT'S FOR ME) 726
034 I NEEDED YOU 726
ca. May 1951 KVOO Radio Station Studio, Tulsa, OK - Johnnie Lee Wills and His Boys (Johnnie Lee Wills [vcl-1], Leon Huff [vcl-2], Eb Gray [gt], Chuck Adams [bass], Buster Magness [steel], Clarence Cagle [piano], Don Harlan [clarinet], Curly Lewis [fiddle], Henry Boatman [fiddle], Howard Davis [drums] + vocal chorus)
035 THE BAND’S A ROCKIN’ -1 Bullet 737/Krazy Kat KKCD-18
036 I'M NOT SORRY (THAT I CRIED OVER YOU) -2 737/ Krazy Kat KKCD-18
1951 KVOO Radio Station Studio, Tulsa, OK – Johnnie Lee Wills and His Boys (Johnnie Lee Wills [fiddle], Leon Huff [vcl], unknown musicians)
037 CARELESS ME  741
038 BIG CHIEF WAMP-A-SETTI 741
039 I'LL MAKE YOU HAPPY) 743
040 LEVEE BLUES 743/ Krazy Kat KKCD-18
3 February 1952 [19:00-22:30] KVOO Radio Station Studio, Tulsa, OK – Johnnie Lee Wills (Johnnie Lee Wills [vcl], Curley Lewis [vcl/fiddle], Don Tolle [el gt], Tommy Elliott [steel], Chuck Adams [bass], Waid Peeler [drums], Henry Boatman [fiddle],James Guy "Cotton" Thompson [fiddle], Clarence Cagle [piano], Don Harlan [clarinet]. Producer: Stephen Sholes)
041 E2-VB-5605 SHE TOOK! RCA Victor 47-4570/CAL-363 BFX-15103
042 E2-VB-5606 HOT CHECK BABY 47-4721/ BFX-15103
043 E2-VB-5607 THERE AIN‘T JUST TWO I‘S IN DIXIE 47-4721/ BFX-15103
044 E2-VB-5608 THE THING-A-MA-JIG 47-4570/ BFX-15103
21 September 1952 [19:00-23:00]  KVOO Radio Station Studio, Tulsa, OK – Johnnie Lee Wills (Johnnie Lee Wills [fiddle],Cotton Thompson [vcl], Don Tolle [ld gt], Tommy Elliot [steel], Luther J. Wills [bass], Weid Peeler [drums], Curley Lewis [vcl/fiddle], Henry Boatman [fiddle], James Thompson [fiddle], Clarence Cagle [piano], Don Harlan [vcl/clarinet]. Producer: Stephen Sholes)
045 E2-VB-7362 LET ME BE 47-5114/BFX-15103
046 E2-VB-7363 TWO TIMING 47-5001/BFX-15103
047 E2-VB-7364 BEES IN MY BONNETT 47-5114 BFX-15103
048 E2-VB-7365 OO OOH DADDY 47-5243/ BFX-15103
049 E2-VB-7366 TEN LITTLE BLUEBIRDS IN MY LAPEL 47-5243/ BFX-15103
050 E2-VB-7367 BLACKBERRY BOOGIE 47-5001/CAL-363 BFX-15103
17 May 1953 KVOO Radio Station Studio, Tulsa, OK – Johnnie Lee Wills (Johnnie Lee Wills [fiddle], Bob Morris [gt], Tommy Elliott [steel], Luther J. Wills [bass], Waid Peeler [drums], Curley Lewis [fiddle], Clarence Cagle [piano], Don Harlan [clarinet], Rao De geer [clarinet]. Producer: Stephen Sholes)
051 E3-VB-1347 HONEY IN THE HORN 47-5336/Camden CAL-363 BFX-15103
052 E3-VB-1348 A-L-B-U-Q-U-E-R-Q-U-E (ALBUQUERQUE) 47-5336/ BFX-15103
11 June 1953 KVOO Radio Station Studio, Tulsa, OK – Johnnie Lee Wills (Johnnie Lee Wills [fiddle], Bob Morris [gt], Tommy Elliott [steel], Luther J. Wills [bass], Waid Peeler [drums], Curley Lewis [fiddle], Clarence Cagle [piano], Don Harlan [clarinet], Rao De geer [clarinet]. Producer: Stephen Sholes)
053 E3-VB-1399 SOLD OUT DOC 47-5449/Camden CAL-363 BFX-15103
054 E3-VB-1400 TWO STEP SIDE STEP 47-5449/ BFX-15103
2 July 1962 Pam Studios, Dallas, TX – Johnnie Lee Wills and All Of The Boys (Johnnie Lee Wills [fiddle], Autry Rutledge [ld gt], Gene Pooler [steel], Leon Rausch [bass], Bobby Collins [drums], Harvey Grossman [fiddle/trumpet], Glenn Rhees [tenor sax]. Producer: Russel Sims)

055 I WISH  YOUR PICTURE WAS YOU
056 TRAVELIN' Crown CST-565
057 BLUB TWIST Sims 129/LPS-101 Crown CST-565
058 289 MILK COW BLUES 133/LPS-101 Crown CST-565
059 YOUR LOVE FOR ME IS LOSING LIGHT 129/LPS-101 Crown CST-565 SM 101BS
060 LAZY JOHN unissued
061 I WISH YOU COULD LEARN TO LOVE ME Sims LPS-101 Crown CST-565 SM 101BS

Also May 22 as recording date listed in some discographies
6 August 1962 Pam Studios, Dallas, TX – Johnnie Lee Wills and All Of The Boys (Johnnie Lee Wills [fiddle], Autry Rutledge [ld gt], Gene Pooler [steel], Leon Rausch [bass], Bobby Collins [drums], Harvey Grossman [fiddle/trumpet], Glenn Rhees [tenor sax]. Producer: Russel Sims)
062 LAZY JOHN 133/LPS-101 SM 101BS
063 RIDIN' FOR THE RANCHO Sims LPS-101 SM 101BS
064 SUGAR IN MY COFFEE Sims LPS-101 SM 101BS
065 BABY IT MUST BE LOVE Sims LPS-101 SM 101BS
066 RAG MOP Sims LPS-101 SM 101BS
067 THE EYES OF MY HEART Sims LPS-101 SM 101BS

068 ARE YOU REALLY WORTH IT ALL Sims SM 101BS

069 DANCE TOWARD THE DOOR Sims SM 101BS

Also July 23 as recording date listed in some discographies
28 August 1963 Pam Studio, Dallas, TX – Johnnie Lee Wills and All Of The Boys (Johnnie Lee Wills [fiddle], Autry Rutledge [ld gt], Gene Pooler [steel], Leon Rausch [bass], Bobby Collins [drums], Harvey Grossman [fiddle/trumpet], Glenn Rhees [tenor sax]. Producer: Russel Sims)
070 BIG BEAVER Sims LPS-108 SM 101BS
071 TOO SOON TO WORRY Sims LPS-108 Crown CST-565 SM 101BS
072 TIME CHANGES EVERYTHING Sims LPS-108 SM 101BS
073 THIS ROOM IS SO CROWDED Sims LPS-108 SM 101BS
074 DUSTY SKIES Sims LPS-108 SM 101BS
075 WHY DO I LOVE YOU Sims LPS-108 Crown CST-565 SM 101BS
076 STAY A LITTLE LONGER Sims LPS-108 SM 101BS
077 GLASS OF PRIDE Sims SM 101BS

078 HEART OF A CLOWN Sims SM 101BS
1962 or 1963 Pam Studio, Dallas, TX – Johnnie Lee Wills and All Of The Boys (Johnnie Lee Wills [fiddle], Autry Rutledge [ld gt], Gene Pooler [steel], Leon Rausch [bass], Bobby Collins [drums], Harvey Grossman [fiddle/trumpet], Glenn Rhees [tenor sax]. Producer: Russel Sims)
079 SLUSH Sims LPS-108 Crown CST-565 SM 101BS
080 I WON'T CRY TOMORROW Sims LPS-108 Crown CST-565 SM 101BS
081 RELAXIN‘ Sims LPS-108 SM 101BS
082 RED DRESS SHE WORE Sims LPS-108 Crown CST-565 SM 101BS
083 SWEET MEMORIES Sims LPS-108 SM 101BS

3/4 April 1978 Tulsa Studios, Tulsa, OK – Johnnie Lee Wills and His Boys (Johnnie Lee Wills [vcl/fiddle], John T. Wills [vcl], Joe Holley [vcl/fiddle], Curly Lewis [vcl/fiddle], Johnny Gimble [vcl/fiddle/mandolin], Eldon Shamblin [gt], Don Tolle [gt], Roy Ferguson [gt], Gene Crownover [steel], Ted Adams [bass], Claude Clemmons [drums], Tom Montgomery [drums], Clarence Cagle [piano], Glenn Rhees [sax], Wayne Johnson [clarinet/sax], Alex Brasheare [trumpet])
084 SILVER BELLS Flying Fish FF-069
085 RAG MOP Flying Fish FF-069
086 MEMORIES OF YOU DARLING Flying Fish FF-069
087 I WISH THAT YOUR PICTURE WAS YOU Flying Fish FF-069
088 FOUR OR FIVE TIMES Flying Fish FF-069
089 ROSETTA Flying Fish FF-069
090 LA GOLONDRINA Flying Fish FF-069
091 SOUTH Flying Fish FF-069
092 IF I HAD ANOTHER CHANCE Flying Fish FF-069
093 IN A SPANISH MISSION Flying Fish FF-069
094 TALKING 'BOUT YOU Flying Fish FF-069
095 WHOSE HEART ARE YOU BREAKING NOW Flying Fish FF-069
096 MILK COW BLUES Flying Fish FF-069
097 GOODNIGHT LITTLE SWEETHEART Flying Fish FF-069
13/14 July 1980 [live] Van Buren, AS – Johnnie Lee Wills
09701 OPENING THEME Delta DLP-1132
09702 COTTON-EYED JOE Delta DLP-1132
09703 FADED LOVE Delta DLP-1132
09704 IN THE MOOD Delta 11323/DLP-1132
09705 TAKE ME BACK TO TULSA Delta DLP-1132
09706 SPANISH TWO-STEP Delta DLP-1132
09707 HONKY TONK Delta DLP-1132
09708 MILK COW BLUES Delta DLP-1132
09709 BIG BEAVER Delta 11323/DLP-1132
09710 TULSA SCHOTTISHE Delta DLP-1132
09711 BOOT HEEL DRAG Delta DLP-1132
09712 "C" JAM BLUES Delta DLP-1132
09713 "BLUB'S" TWIST Delta DLP-1132
09714 CLOSING THEME Delta DLP-1132

ALBUMS
RCA Camden CAL-363 Best Of Western Swing: [ Tex Williams:] The Urn On The Mantel (And His Picture On The Wall); Bronco Bustin' Ball; Shame On You; Miracle Waltz; [Johnny Lee Wills]: She Took; Blackberry Boogie; Honey In The Horn; Sold Out Doe; [Billy Williams:] Livin' In Western Style; My Adobe Hacienda; Yippee Ki-Aye; Lonely Corral Old Pard'ner - 58

Sims LP/LPS-101 Where There's A Wills... There's A Way: Rag Mop; Lazy John; Sugar In My Coffee; Baby It Must Be Love; Eyes Of My Heart; Ridin' For The Rancho; Your Love For Me Is Losing Light; Blub Twist; Milk Cow Blues; I Wish You Could Learn To Love Me – 62
Sims LP/LPS-108 Johnny Lee Wills At The Tulsa Stampede: Slush; I Won’t Cry Tomorrow; This Room Is So Crowded; Relaxin‘; Stay A Little Longer; Why Do I; The Red Dress; Dusty Skies; Too Soon To Worry; Time Changes Everything; Sweet Memories; Big Beaver - 63
Crown CLP-5565/CST-565 The Best Of Johnnie Lee Wills: Your Love For Me Is Losing Light; Blub Twist; Milk Cow Blues; I Wish Your Picture Was You; Travelin'; Slush; I Won't Cry Tomorrow; Why Do I Love You; Red Dress She Wore; Too Soon To Worry - 65
Rounder 1027 1950-1951 Radio Transcriptions: Opening Theme / In The Mood; Ridin' Down The Canyon / Cowboy's Dream; Southland Swing / Don't Let Your Deal Go Down; Keep A Light In The Window Tonight / Never Alone; Four Or Five Times / Leather Britches; Theme / Sally Goodin / Buffalo Gals; Silver Dew On The Bluegrass Tonight / Smoke On The Water; Boogie Woogie Highball; Love You So Much / Black-Eyed Susan Brown --Farther Along / Smith's Reel / Closing Theme - 78
Flying Fish FF-069 Reunion: Silver Bells; Rag Mop; Memories Of You Dear; I Wish That Your Picture Was You; Four Or Five Times; La Golondrina; Rosetta; South; If I Had Another Chance; In A Little Spanish Mission; Talking 'Bout You; Whose Heart Are You Breaking Now; Milk Cow Blues; Goodnight Little Sweetheart – 12-02-79
Delta DLP-1132 Dance All Night With Johnnie Lee Wills And His Boys: Opening Theme; Cotton-Eyed Joe; Faded Love; In The Mood; Take Me Back To Tulsa; Spanish Two-Step; Honky Tonk; Milk Cow Blues; Big Beaver; Tulsa Schottishe; Boot Heel Drag; "C" Jam Blues; "Blub's" Twist; Closing Theme – 01-09-80
Bear Family [GER] BFX 15103 Rompin' Stompin' Singin' Swingin': She Took; Hot Check Baby; There Are Just Two I's In Dixie; The Thingamajig; Let Me Be; Two Timing; Bees In My Bonney; Oo Oooh Daddy; Ten Little Bluebirds In My Lapel; Blackberry Boogie; Honey In The Horn; A-L-B-U-Q-U-E-R-Q-U-E; Sold Out Doc; Two Step Side Step - 83
Krazy Kat [UK] KKCD-18 The Band's A-Rockin': The Band's A Rockin'; Boogie Woogie Highball; Lazy John; Rag Mop; Milk Cow Blues; Keep A Light In Your Window Tonight; What'cha Know Joe; I'm Sorry That We Said Goodbye; Do I Really Deserve It From You; Devil's Blues; Memories Of You Dear; Together Forever; I Wonder What I'm Goin' To Do; Late Evening Blues; Too Long; Square Dance Boogie; A Bad Deal All Around; Coyote Blues; Who's Gonna Love Me; Tom Cat Boogie; Levee Blues; I'm Not Sorry (That I Cried Over You); I Like You Best Of All; The Queen Of San Joaquin; I'm That Way About You; I'm Leaving (Yes Indeedy); Texas Sandman – 96

Sims SM-101BS Where There's A Wills... There's A Way: Rag Mop; Lazy John; Sugar In My Coffee; Baby It Must Be Love; Eyes Of My Heart; Ridin' For The Rancho; Your Love For Me Is Losing Light; Blub Twist; Milk Cow Blues; I Wish You Could Learn To Love Me; Are You Really Worth It All; Dance Toward The Door; Slush; I Won’t Cry Tomorrow; This Room Is So Crowded; Relaxin‘; Stay A Little Longer; Why Do I; The Red Dress; Dusty Skies; Too Soon To Worry; Time Changes Everything; Sweet Memories; Big Beaver; Glass Of Pride; Heart Of A Clown – 98 (double, reissue of both Sims albums with bonus tracks)

SINGLES
Decca (1941-47)
5948 Whatcha Know Joe / I'm Sorry That We Said Goodbye - 05-41
5957 I Wonder What I'm Going To Do / Too Long - 05-41
5969 Do I Really Deserve It From You? / Devil's Blues - 07-41
5985 Memories Of You Dear / Milk Cow Blues - 09-41
6014 Together Forever / Keep A Light In Your Window Tonight - 01-42
46012 I'm Sorry That We Said Goodbye / Milk Cow Blues - 07-46 (reissue)
46053 Late Evening Blues / Square Dance Boogie - 06-47 (rev. June 7)
46054 Lazy John / Texas Sandman – 06-47 (rev. June 21)
46064 The Queen Of San Joaquin / Green Grow The Lilacs – 08-47
46070 Who's Gonna Love Me / I Never Knew How Much I Love You - 09-47
Bullet (1949-51)
696 Rag Mop / Near Me – 01-50
700 Petter Cotton Tail / Shattered Dreams - 02-50
710 I'm That Way About You / Champagne Polka - 04-50
711 Boogie Woogie Highball / Coyote Blues - 04-50 (rev. April 1)
717 A Bad Deal All Around / Tom Cat Boogie - 06-50
721 This Room Is So Crowded / Si Te Amo (Yes I Love You) - 10-50
724 I Like You Best Of All / I'm Leaving (Yes Indeedy!) - 12-50 (rev. Dec 16)
726 Oklahoma (That's For Me) / I Needed You - 02-51
737 The Band's A-Rockin' / I'm Not Sorry (That I Cried Over You) - 04-51 (rev. May 5)
741 Careless Me / Big Chief Wamp-A-Setti - 51
743 Levee Blues / I'll Make You Happy - 51
RCA Victor (1952-53)
47-4570 She Took! / The Thing-A-Ma-Jig - 03-52
47-4721 Hot Check Baby / There Are Just Two I's In Dixie (Two Blue Eyes That Mean The World To Me) – 05-52
47-5001 Blackberry Boogie / Two-Timing - 11-52
47-5114 Bees In My Bonnet / Let Me Be - 01-53
47-5243 Oo Oooh Daddy / Ten Little Bluebirds In My Lapel - 04-53
47-5336 A-L-B-U-Q-U-E-R-Q-U-E / Honey In The Horn - 07-53
47-5449 Sold Out Doc / Two Step Side Step - 10-53
Sims (1962)
129 Blub Twist / Your Love For Me Is Losing Light - 11-62
133 Lazy John / Milk Cow Blues – ca. 03-63
Flying Fish (1975-78)
FF-4001 Talking 'Bout You / Silver Bells – 79
Delta (1980)
11323 In The Mood / Big Beaver - 80
two more singles from album DLP-1132 probably exist (11321, 11322). Tracks unknown