The Shelton Brothers

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The Shelton Brothers, Bob, Joe and Merle, were pioneer country musicians and renowned recording artists based out of Texas from the mid-1930s through the 1960s. They created and popularized the songs Johnson's Old Gray Mule, Deep Elm Blues, These Shoes Are Killing Me, Oh Monah, Match Box Blues and My Heart Oozes Blood For You, "What's The Matter With Deep Elm", "I'm A Handy Man To Have Around" and "Henpecked Husband Blues". The Shelton Brothers (Joe and Bob) also wrote (their names appear as co-writers, but the writer was actually, individually, Sydney Robin) and were the second to record "Just Because" (Decca 46008), a song that has since been recorded numerous times by various artists including Elvis Presley who included it on his very first album titled "Elvis Presley". The original recording was by Nelstone's Hawaiians, comprising Hubert Nelson and James D. Touchstone. The song's opening line reads: Just because you think you're so pretty, just because you think you're so hot..... "Just Because" was the Shelton's first release on Decca but, due to their popularity, they went on to cut over 150 sides for the label. They also recorded sides for Victor Records and King Records. The Shelton Brothers would become one of the most successful country acts of the era.

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The Shelton Brothers was also one of the earliest acts to appear on the famous Big D Jamboree which originated from the Dallas Sportatorium in Dallas, Texas. They later became an integral part of The Saturday Night Shindig which also originated from Dallas.

Discography

Record numberTitlesRecord label
46008Just Because / Deep Elm BluesDecca Records
46009Ida Red / SouthDecca Records
5079Beautiful Louisiana / Neath The Maple In The LaneDecca Records
5099Deep Elem Blues / Hang Out The Front door KeyDecca Records
5100Just Because / Who Wouldn't Be LonelyDecca Records
5135Message From Home Sweet Home / Will There Be Cowboys Up In HeavenDecca Records
5161Johnson's Old Gray Mule / Nothin'Decca Records
5170Answer To Just Because / That's A Habit I've Never HadDecca Records
5173New John Henry Blues / Ridin' On A Humpback Mule!Decca Records
5180Eleven Miles From Leavenworth / Budded RosesDecca Records
5190I'm Sittin' On Top Of The World / Four Or Five TimesDecca Records
5198Deep Elem Blues #2 / Daddy Don't Let No Low Down Hangin' RoundDecca Records
5219When It's Night Time In Nevada / The Black SheepDecca Records
5261Lover's Farewell / Sweet EvalinaDecca Records
5339New Trouble In Mind / Dollar Down Dollar a WeekDecca Records
5353Alone With My Sorrows / Story Of Seven RosesDecca Records
5367Just Because #3 / Giving everything AwayDecca Records
5381She Was Happy Til She Met You / A Prisoner's DreamDecca Records
5397Goodness Gracious Gracie / Nobody But My BabyDecca Records
5409Cinda Lou / I'm Here To Get My Baby Out Of JailDecca Records
5422Deep Elm Blues #3 / Go Long MuleDecca Records
5440Answer To Blue Eyes / Someone To Love When You're GoneDecca Records
5456Uncle Eph's Got The Coon / New Cindy LouDecca Records
5468That Golden Love / Answer To Prisoner's DreamDecca Records
5471I'm Gonna Fix Your Wagon / Way Down In GeorgiaDecca Records
5475Blue Kimono Blues / My Gal Is MeanDecca Records
5484I Told Them All About You / Seven Years With The Wrong WomanDecca Records
5496By The Stump Of The Old Pine Tree / Eight More Years To GoDecca Records
5508When You Think A Lot About Somebody / JealousDecca Records

See also


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