This is the Bakersfield Rebels: Late 1960s gems featuring Clarence White, The Nashville West Band and others CD.
Big Beats successful reissue programme drawing from the vaults of Gary S Paxton's Bakersfield International Productions continues with an exciting various artists volume featuring more rare mid-late 1960s country and country rock gems, with many released for the first time.
When he moved his operation to Bakersfield in 1967, maverick producer Paxton thumbed a nose at country convention and charted his own, heavily experimental, course, installing a studio in a disused bank vault and recording country and rock acts night and day, ably abetted by his crack studio band the Reasons aka Nashville West, featuring Clarence White, Gib Guilbeau and Gene Parsons. The results were a quantity several singles and albums that generally appeared on tiny labels to little or no acclaim, despite the high quality of the material and performances.
Included here are excellent "progressive country" vocal and instrumental sides by Paxton acts like Kenny Vernon, Dennis Payne, the Spencers, Leo Leblanc and Larry Daniels & The Buckshots, as well as interesting country-rock experiments by the producer himself. We also have rare demo cuts by artists from previous volumes, The Gosdin Brothers and Guilbeau & Parsons.
Paxton was recording country long before he moved to Bakersfield however, and from his Hollywood phase come several proto-country rock titles by Dee (aka Buddy) Mize, the Dudes and Paxton's sultry-voiced wife Jan. With an extensively illustrated booklet that draws on the recollections of many involved, Bakersfield Rebel is a fascinating document of a unique period in the evolution of country rock.
Note: The version of "I'll Live Today" (which is credited to Gib & The Reasons) comes from a backing track that Gib Guilbeau, Wayne Moore, Clarence White and Gene Parsons recorded for Paxton in March 1968 and never finished. However, Alec Palao liked it so much that he asked Gib to put a vocal on it - which he kindly did!
Reissue producer: Alec Palao
Musicians:
See track by track musician listing under each song from Alec Palao.
This info is not 100 % accurate but it's closest we'll ever get!
Tracks & artists:
Ain't That A Shame (Kenny Vernon) - Kenny Vernon
Recorded in Bakersfield 1967
Probably:
Gene Parsons: drums and harmonica
Gib Guilbeau: guitar
Wayne Moore: bass
maybe Kenny Johnson too
Don't think Clarence White is on this
Buckshot (Dennis Payne) - Larry Daniels & The Buckshots
Recorded in Bakersfield 1967
Dennis Payne: guitar
probably Bob Ritchey, Jerry Hopps, Kenny Johnsons & Mike Cannon
The Conscience Of You (?) - Dennis Payne*
Recorded in Bakersfield 1968
Dennis Payne: guitars and vocals
probably Bob Ritchey, Jerry Hopps, Kenny Johnson & Mike Cannon
Gary Paxton: keyboards
Saturday Satan, Sunday Saint (Wayne Walker) - Rusty Dean
Recorded in Bakersfield 1969
Gary Paxton: vocal
unknown accopaniment but probably:
Dennis Payne: guitar
Bob Ritchey, Jerry Hopps, Kenny Johnson, Mike Cannon & Leo LeBlanc
Let's Not Pretend Anymore (Floyd Guilbeau/Wayne Moore/Darrell Cotton) - The Dudes**
Recorded in Hollywood 1966
Gib Guilbeau: vocals
Wayne Moore: vocals
Darrell Cotton: vocals
unknown accompaniment but probably:
Gib Guilbeau and Darrell Cotton: guitar
Wayne Moore: bass
Mike Deasy or Ben Benay: guitar
Jim Troxel or Toxey French: drums
Note: Alternate version without horns that are on single!
There Must Be A Someone (I Can Turn To) (Vern, Rex & Cathy Gosdin) - The Gosdin Brothers**
Recorded in Bakersfield 1967
Vern Gosdin: vocal and guitar
Rex Gosdin: guitar
Clarence White: dobro
maybe Gib Guilbeau: guitar
She's Taken Everything (Janice Paxton) - Jan Paxton*
Recorded in Hollywood 1967
Jan Paxton: vocals
unknown accompanimeant but probably:
Carl Walden: guitar
Jerry Scheff: bass
Jim Troxel or Toxey French: drums
Hugh's Brew (Hugh Brockie/Dennis Payne) - Bakersfield's Big Guitars
Recorded in Bakersfield 1968
Hugh Brockie: guitar
Dennis Payne: guitar
probably: Kenny Johnson, Jerry Ritchey, Bob Hopps & Mike Cannon
King & Queen Of Fools (Johnny MacRae/Gary S Paxton) - The Spencers
Recorded in Bakersfield 1968
Dave & Lou Spencer: vocals
Clarence White: lead guitar
Gib Guilbeau: rhythm guitar
Wayne Moore: bass
Gene Parsons: drums
Bummer (Gary S Paxton/Janice Paxton) - Gary Paxton*
Recorded in Bakersfield 1968
Gary Paxton: vocals (perhaps also on bass)
Clarence White: guitar
unknown drums
Your Gentle Ways Of Loving Me (Floyd Guilbeau) - Guilbeau & Parsons**
Recorded in Hollywood 1967
Gib Guilbeau: vocals and guitars
Gene Parsons: vocals, drums and harmonica
probably Wayne Moore or Jerry Scheff: bass
Hong Kong Hillbilly (Clarence White/Gene Parsons) - Leo LeBlanc*
Recorded in Bakersfield 1969
Leo LeBlanc: steel guitar
unknown accompaniment but probably:
Dennis Payne: guitar
Bob Ritchey, Jerry Hopps, Kenny Johnson & Mike Cannon
Who Cares What Happens (Dennis Payne/Ray Willis) - Dennis Payne
Recorded in Bakersfield 1969
Dennis Payne: vocals and guitars
probably Bob Ritchey, Jerry Hopps, Kenny Johnson, Mike Cannon
Gary Paxton: keyboards
Just Leave My World Alone (Buddy Mize) - Dee Mize
Recorded in Hollywood 1965
Buddy Mize: vocals
unknown accompaniment
possibly James Burton: dobro
I'll Live Today (Floyd Guilbeau) - Gib & The Reasons*
Recorded in Bakersfield 1968
Gib Guilbeau: vocals (recorded 2004) and guitar
Clarence White: guitar
Wayne Moore: bass
Gene Parsons: drums
Half As Much (Curly Williams) - Gary Paxton*
Recorded in Bakersfield 1968
Gary Paxton: vocals and mellotron
Clarence White: guitar
Gib Guilbeau: guitar
Wayne Moore: bass
Gene Parsons: drums
unknown piano and vibes
Ballad Of A Truck Drivers Wife (Wayne Moore) - Lorene Mercer
Recorded in Hollywood 1966
Lorence Mercer: vocals
Jan Paxton: backing vocals
unknown accopmaniment but possibly:
Carl Walden: guitar
Bakersfield Steed (Dennsi Payne) - Larry Daniels & The Buckshots
Recorded in Bakersfield 1968
Dennis Panye: guitar
unknown accompaniment but probably:
Bob Ritchey, Jerry Hops, Kenny Johnson & Mike Cannon
What A Relief, It's All Over (Flyod Guilbeau/Carrell Cotton) - The Dudes
Recorded in Hollywood 1966
Gib Guilbeau: vocals
Wayne Moore: vocals
Darrell Cotton: vocals
unknown accompaniment but probably:
Gib Guilbeau and Darrell Cotton: guitar
Wayne Moore: bass
Mike Deasy or Ben Benay: guitar
Jim Troxel or Toxey French drums
The Half That's Mine (Janice Paxton) - Jan Paxton*
Recorded in Hollywood 1967
Jan Paxton: vocals
unknown accompaniment but probably:
Carl Walden: guitar
Jerry Scheff: bass
Jim Troxel or Toxey French: drums
I'd Rather Live My Life Alone (Ray Willis) - Dennis Payne
Recorded in Bakersfield 1969
Dennis Payne: vocal and guitars
probably Bob Ritchey, Jerry Hopps, Kenny Johnson, Mike Cannon
Gary Paxton: keyboards
El Tejon Ride (Hugh Brockie/Dennis Payne) - Bakersfield's Big Guitars
Recorded in Bakersfield 1968
Hugh Brockie: guitar
Dennis Payne: guitar
unknown accompaniment but probably:
Kenny Johnson, Jerry Ritchey, Bob Hopps & Mike Cannon
Red Roses (For My Baby) (Dickie Garland)- The Sanland Brothers
Recorded in Bakersfield 1968
Sanland Brothers: vocals
Clarence White: lead guitar
Gib Guilbeau: rhythm guitar
Wayne Moore: bass
Gene Parsons: drums
Gary Paxton: backing vocals
unknown vibes
Night Blooming Jasmine (Arr. Tom LeGarde, Ted LeGarde) - The LeGarde Twins*
Recorded in Bakersfield 1968
Tom and Ted LeGarde: vocals
Clarence White: guitar
Gib Guilbeau: guitar
Wayne Moore: bass
Gene Parsons: drums
unknown vibes
Bakersfield (Jim Wattenbarger) - Gary Paxton
Recorded in Bakersfield 1969
Gary Paxton: vocals
unknown accompaniment but probably.
Dennis Payne, Bob Ritchey, Jerry Hopps, Kenny Johnson & Mike Cannon
* unissued
** alterante version