Classic Tracks: I Didn't Jump the Fence (Red Sovine)

Classic Tracks ~ I Didn't Jump the Fence (Red Sovine)
Album: The Nashville Sound, Starday SLP-396
Recorded: Starday Sound Studio, Nashville, Tennessee, November, 1966.
Produced By: Tommy Hill
Written By: Gene Crysler

Red Sovine: Red was the last giant of country music's truck driving singers. Red trekked through the country music world for decades as a modest singer, but it was the song that hit shortly before his death, Teddy Bear that he will always be remembered for. The self-proclaimed King of the Narrations with his telling accounts about truck driving, are regarded as classic trucker jukebox selections.

Red Sovine was born into an impoverished family in Charleston, West Virginia. Red's mother taught him how to play the guitar. By age seventeen, Red was working professionally. In 1948 he formed his own band, The Echo Valley Boys. Red moved to Shreveport, Louisiana and began performing on KWKH's Hayride (1949 ~ 1954). While there Red met Hank Williams, who convinced his label (MGM Records), to sign Red. The Saturday night Hayride was the closest thing to competition for the famed Saturday night Grand Ole Opry (GOO) and in many ways it acted as a farm team for up and coming GOO talent. When Hank Williams left his headline position at the Hayride to join the GOO full time, Red filled the spot.


In 1959, Red signed with Starday and began touring the club circuit. During a tour in Montana (1963), Red heard Charley Pride singing at a club and urged him to move to Nashville. Sovine opened doors for Pride, but his own career hit a lull. Dream House for Sale (No. 22, 1964), charted after an eight year chart gap.


Starday was renowned for producing a level of pure, undiluted country music that was becoming increasingly rare on the major labels. Red broke into the truck driving genre after the craze had taken off. Sovine found his niche when he recorded Giddyup Go (No. 1, 1965). Giddyup Go is a story of an older long-distance truck driver who rediscovers his long-lost son driving another truck on the same highway. It was Sovine's biggest chart song, which spent six weeks atop the country charts. In 1967 Red recorded his follow-up truck driving hit Phantom 309 (No. 9, 1967).

In 1974 Red signed a recording contract with Gusto and he kicked off 1976 with one of the greatest novelty records of all time with Teddy Bear (No. 1, 1976). It sold over a million copies and was the only gold single to come out of Nashville that year. Teddy Bear, tells the tale of a disabled boy who lost his truck driver father in a highway accident and keeps his CB radio base as his only companion.

Sovine continued to record on the Starday and Gusto labels in the five year span that followed the release of Teddy Bear. During that time, Red made many recordings that showcased his exceptional vocals and highlighted his skills as one of the greatest story-tellers. Little Joe (1976) was his last big hit. On April 4, 1980, Sovine suffered a fatal heart attack while driving in Nashville.

About Tommy Hill: Tommy was one of Nashville great record producers and record executive. Hill ran Starday Record for many years and continued to produce records over the past several years. He passed away Thursday, March 21, 2002. ~RJB: Country Music Historian, 8/2010.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• movie
• 1

[wendyjeanlouis]

wh is this one idiot who hates this song. How do you hate this song. classic

[bellsheadboy56]

Thank you for sharing this. I remember hearing this on jukeboxes in truckstops 30 odd years ago when I was a young trucker just starting out. One of the first cassette tapes I ever bought was Red Sovine. Thanks for the memories.

[Blaine7555]

One of my dads favorite songs RIP DAD

[iReqGoqqLes]

I know a fellar who is no longer with us, who played and sang it better than ole Red himself~~~ His name was Tommy Johnson From Fisherville Kentucky. Played in a band called " Tommy Johnson And The Kentucky Drifters."~~~~ R.I.P. Mr Johnson~~~~ Kevy Ray

[BuickGirl1986]

Love the cover...Way literal

[MrPoptart26]

this is Great hearing this Song that My Dad had written, listen to Mr walker its all over or Let me in by porter , love ya and miss ya dad

[MrPoptart26]

this is Great hearing this Song that My Dad had written, listen to Mr walker its all over or Let me in by porter

[Adamstrang]

Fantastic, played it in the car all day yesterday! Thanks for sharing

[oscarshwartz]

I remember hearing this one many years ago. Thank you for sharing it!!---Lee

[jtls8]

Have always been a fan of Red! Thank you for keeping his music alive!!!!!!