B.J. Thomas And The Triumphs - Never Tell

This one is posted for my friends AZ Joe and Glen Spreen (Glen was the arranger on this record).

I have always loved this record. I first discovered it when I was about 14 years old and just getting into record collecting. This was a time when I had only around 300 45 rpm records and had the time to play both sides of every record that came into my posession. I absolutely HATED the flipside -- the top 40 hit Billy and Sue. I still hate that side to this day. Now, some people out there love Billy and Sue, but this side is far better, people. Get over it.

I later picked up the stereo pressing of his Hickory "Very Best Of" LP to find this song in nice wide stereo -- and I got rid of my old Hickory 45 at that time, this copy is a recent purchase of mine. The song is great in mono or stereo.

First issued on the Bragg record label in 1963 or 1964 (this has been the cause of many debates between a friend and I), then picked up by Warner Brothers for release in 1964 (Warner simply leased the song, WMG holds no rights to the recording today), and then finally issued on Hickory records in 1966, after B.J. started having hit records for Scepter.

A "very best of" lp was rush released on Hickory containing many of his earliest recordings, most of which made it to 45 rpm releases from mostly small unknown labels (the 45 rpm release for Viet Nam is worth several hundred dollars and I do not have one, most price guides don't even acknowledge that it exists), and that LP contained only one top 40 record, the previously mentioned crap tune Billy and Sue.

This tune, like many of B.J.'s earliest recordings, was written by the late, great Mark Raymond Charron (1942-1994), who is certainly under appreciated these days for all of the great songs he wrote.

You can hear great records like this one live every night at www.topshelfoldies.com!

Category:

Music

Tags:

• BJ
• Thomas
• with
• the
• Triumphs
• Billy
• and
• Sue
• 1963
• 1964
• 1966
• Bragg
• WB
• Hickory
• Records
• Glen
• Spreen
• Mark
• Charron
• Topshelf
• Oldies

[oldcomputers69]

Thankyou for uploading this, seems there where 2 versions, as yours is and the other was on a red label and said B J THOMAS AND THE TRIUMPHS.

I have the single, i won it at a fair ground, first record i ever owned.

Thankyou for the memorys :)

[TopshelfTom]

@oldcomputers69 The single was first issued on the Bragg record label, which had two different issues, red label and yellow label (I don't know which version came first). Then it was issued on Warner Brothers records in 1965 (first on their old red label and then quickly issued with their new orange label), and then finally issued on Hickory records. I have the orange label Warner Brothers pressing as well.

[Mr1973Rgr]

Gusto/King also seems to handle Roy Acuff's Hickory recordings as well even though many of them were branded w/ both Hickory AND MGM on the same label....any chance of posting "Billy and Sue" the flipside? I have the 45 but don't feel like digging it out lol

[TopshelfTom]

@Mr1973Rgr Much as i don't like Billy and Sue I will post it as soon as I come across either copy of the 45 I own.

[VeeFan1964]

I saw the STEREO Hickory album on Sunday for $2, and I remembered this video Tom.....thanks!!! I picked it up and the whole thing is pretty darn good!!

Great stuff and the stereo is pretty great (except for the low-fi 2 track "Garner State Park" mix, on which BJ sounds like Freddie Cannon!).

Also another great one is Viet Nam, they got a great drum sound on that and also a fabulous song.

Someone should do a comp of Billy's earlier stuff, including all those Hickory sides and more!

[TopshelfTom]

By the way, on the mono lp, from what i've heard, Garner State Park has a tambourine overdub not present in the stereo mix....i don't like it's addition there.

[carew388]

wow i love this i am from houston where bj. grew up he was huge there thanks tom

[alexandecarmen]

L O V E L Y ! I love it. His voice beautiful.

[evink909nungi]

I was friends with Mark in Nashville, I didn't know he passed, always wondered if he was for real, I guess so

[VeeFan1964]

@TopshelfTom

If I ever see a mono, I'll pick it up!

How much more "early" BJ is out there?? I saw your other video, I've Got A Feeling....great track too. Maybe we can get a CD release if there enough tracks?

[TopshelfTom]

Well youre on the money there BUT, the hit version of Billy and Sue is now owned by Highland Music (even though he re-recorded the song for Scepter... i assume they bought the master so no one else could put it on the market, and possibly the rest of his early recordings too)

[VeeFan1964]

@TopshelfTom

I'm not sure about this, but I think that most (if not all) weren't recorded for Hickory, rather small offshoot labels, and then when BJ got signed to Scepter, Hickory bought those ten masters to cash in.

Once again, not sure....just guessing.

[TopshelfTom]

I've been trying to find out WHO owns the early stuff from the Hickory LP, seems it's not Sony, who own the bulk of Hickory masters, but rather Gusto/King records/Highland Music...