JOHNNY HORTON: THE SPECTACULAR JOHNNY HORTON

These days, Johnny Horton is remembered primarily for his "saga" songs such as "The Battle of New Orleans" and "When It's Springtime in Alaska (It's Forty Below)," but he was actually a versatile performer who could sing country, rockabilly, and ballads with equal facility. On this remastered reissue of The Spectacular Johnny Horton, which was originally released in 1960, just a few months before he died in a car wreck, he showcases all his styles. Along with these saga songs, there are ballads such as "Whispering Pines" and "All for the Love of a Girl" as well as rockabilly rave-ups like "Cherokee Boogie" and "The Golden Rocket." As an added bonus, there is a version of "The Battle of New Orleans" that was recorded from the British point of view after the BBC banned the original. Also included is "Lost Highway," which was recorded by Hank Williams. Horton believed Hank's ghost was haunting him, which might have had something to do with the fact that he married Williams' widow, Bobbie Jean. In a spooky coincidence, Horton's last concert was at the Starlite Ballroom, which was also the last place Williams played.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
So, today's trivia question, dear Forumites: Does anybody know the words to the British version of the Battle of New Orleans?

[This message was edited by Jim Cohen on 27 September 2000 at 12:18 PM.]

In 1814 we took a little trip along with Col
Packingham up the mighty Mississip

We took a little bacon and we took a little beans and we met the blooming rebels in the town of New Orleans.

Found in Ralph Emery's book
The View from Nashville

------------------
Herb's Steel Guitar Homesite

As an aside, Johnny was killed in an automobile wreck while en route to meet with Ward Bond to sign a contract for an appearance in an episode of "Wagon Train." Ward Bond died that same day.

Johnny Horton, Tommy Tomlinson, and Tillman Franks were killed outside Milano TX, on Hwy 79, just northeast of Rockdale. Also November 5, 1960. They were on their way back to Shreveport. Warren Stark, who owned the Skyline Club, was the guy the DPS called to identify the victims. The DPS officer said the driver, who was killed, wore a hairpiece. From that, Warren knew that it was Johnny that had been killed. Tomlinson and Franks were severely injured.

Warren used to tell the story of that night all the time. There was more, but that was the basic stuff.

According to Warren, Johnny and them were definitely going back to Shreveport that night. If they had been headed to Dallas, they would have taken the Old Dallas Highway, directly north from where the Skyline was. Old Dallas Highway eventually became North Lamar Blvd.

------------------
Herb's Steel Guitar Homesite

[This message was edited by Herb Steiner on 27 September 2000 at 11:06 PM.]

I don't really know one way or the other about the Johnny Horton/Ward Bond story. It's just a story I heard also. Anyway, here's a Web Site where they list Texas historian, writer, & broadcaster Tumbleweed Smith as the source of the Johnny Horton/Ward Bond story:

click here

Actually, I've never heard of Tumbleweed Smith either

[This message was edited by George Rozak on 27 September 2000 at 11:33 PM.]

One other thing Warren said: he told them to "drive safe," and Johnny allowed as how he trained his instincts to swerve into the shoulder or a bar ditch if an oncoming car crossed the center line. But the accident happened on a bridge and Horton had no room to swerve.

I usually made it a habit, when I was younger, to interview people who were involved in famous events. I got a lot of perspective that way.

------------------
Herb's Steel Guitar Homesite