Glen Campbell and Dick Bills in Albuquerque

[admin]

Bringing this popular topic back up to the top of the All Things Glen forum again.
Also, we will have updates (lots of photos) to add to this topic soon.

[Cowpoke]

No actually he's one with the hat.

[Mike Joyce]

Great picture Cowpoke. I haven't seen that one before. Is Glen the one wearing the hat ?

[Cowpoke]

Fantastic "colorized" photo of Dick Bills and His Sandia Mountain Boys, including a young Glen.

Post by We the People Restoration & Colorization.

[Cowpoke]

Arlw thanks so much for your information. Please say thank you to your Dallas DJ from me too!

I actually found out about this single in 2009 and posted about it on the old forum early 2010 (see: https://web.archive.org/web/20100211171 ... 1264948892" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;). But the other day I found that link and decided to post it again because a lot of people might have never heard about it. Also in 2009 I corresponded with a music researcher called Al Turner who wrote a complete article about the 4Star OP (stands for Other People) custom series in American Music Magazine (Nr. 86, December 2000) of which I have a copy. It contains a complete discography with dating based on either BMI copyright registration dates and / or Billboard Magazine review dates if available. The single that was released just before Dick Bills' single, A Mansion Without Love (OP-314) / I Married Another (To Forget You) (OP-315) by Ernie Oleachea & His Blue Mountain Boys (OP-196) has a BMI registration date of June 26, 1954. That is where the date of 1954 comes from. The OP-series started around 1950 and continued until 1961. So some of those records were probably 78s but later ones where no doubt 45s. I will see if I can contact Al Turner again to ask him.

Now as to the question if Glen is playing guitar on "Beggars Can't Be Choosers", there is no way to say for sure. But, in my humble opinion, 1954 does fit the timeline perfectly. Glen I think started with Dick Bills in either 1953 or 1954. (I will share the timeline of Glen's early career I have been working on for the last few years in another post). Then the question becomes... does the solo guitar SOUND like Glen? Well in the end that's up to everyone individually. My old penpal, the late Richard Price, who researched Glen's music for most of this adult life, put it like this:

I went back and listened to both tracks again. I do think it could be Glen on "Beggars." The "noodling around" during the verses does sound like him. Oddly enough, the solo part in the bridge doesn't sound like him to my ears.

A definite maybe???

So that seems a nice conclusion to me: a definite maybe. But I am very curious to hear what all the other members think about it! Do you think it's Glen or not?

Here's that link again (it appears that I posted the wrong link earlier in this topic, sorry!):

http://www.bopping.org/four-star-op-cus ... e-1950-58/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[arlw]

Another reply from my DJ friend and quite interesting--wanted to pass this onto all of you about Dick Bills:

Because the record has the matrix code OP- that’s a clue that it was a 4-Star Records custom press, something an individual had the 4-Star plant out in California press up for them. If you can find other indie records that have adjacent numbers, you might be able to get closer to a date. (A real date for those that want it).

There is a site where you can search labels - perhaps looking for little labels from California, looking at the label pix and seeing if there is an OP- code on the record.
That’s the in-the-trenches research I do from time to time.

As you can see, this record by Jimmy & Duane is from June of 1955, and bears the number OP-356 That’s after yours so I would guess that the 78 is earlier that year or perhaps 1954.
The record is not posted but this is his email once again. I thanked him for his help--I know him 40 plus years!

[arlw]

Cowpoke,
If you and others like Dick Bills--this one is on ebay--Glen is not on here, but it is nice to have!

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Songs-From-The- ... 1515336114

9/7/2018 -- Thank you, ar!
Just a small update today to replace the old ebay link for Dick Bills' album, Songs From The Hills, to YouTube's relatively new album playlist at:

https://tinyurl.com/ybwalg6b

(The CD can still be purchased on various marketplaces online. Occasionally, the vinyl LP shows up, too!)

[arlw]

Cowpoke,

The DJ friend of mine just emailed me so will post what he said--remember it's just his research like mine. Because he is in the Dallas area, he and I were able to chat on the phone. I wanted his opinion on this record so I value what he said and wanted to pass it onto you. Below is what he emailed me!


I’ve never seen this one, but if its a 78rpm, which it appears to be, it would be mid ’57 or prior and can't find anything to back up that "Glen Campbell" is on here!

Can’t find anything on this release anywhere. If it came from a Forum, sometimes they are not accurate, just my opinion. Glad to hear from you-interesting record-my opinion-"No Glen on here, as it's a little to early by a year or two."

[arlw]

Cowpoke,
Not quite sure that is Glen Campbell- and I even listened to it----In doing some research, there are many places that say it could be, and that is only because Glen is the nephew of Dick Bills. Other sources disagree as they claim that 1954-55 is too early. My 45's date back to 1958-59 and are signed by Glen. I emailed my DJ guy here in the Dallas area. I am hoping for a reply and if he does, I will post it for sure. One way or the other, we will know! If Glen was on an early recording, like that and that would make him 17-18 years old, they used Glen for background guitar only but have to remember, they didn't release it! Thanks for the post--interesting!

[Cowpoke]

There is a lot of say about Glen's time with Dick Bills. But I think this is the first recording ever with Glen playing, a single by Dick Bills and his Arizona Drifters called "Beggars Can't Be Choosers" (released June 1954 on the 4Star custom label Vicki (named after Dick Bills' daughter)). The lead guitar licks weaved in between the verses certainly sounds like it could be a young Glen.

http://www.bopping.org/four-star-op-cus ... e-1950-58/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;