lp discography - covers & lyrics

"Travelin'" is more a history of Dave Dudley's own life than probably even he realizes. This great singer of Country shows has been on the road ever since he can remember. For many years he traveled with his own band, "The Roadrunners", and appeared at top Country shows around the nation. For years too, he was featured at the famous Flame Club in Minneapolis. This album is a selection of 12 such traveling songs. They're story songs - as the best of Country and Western tunes are. Each tells of happiness, sorrow work, play, life and death. If none of this appeals to you, then of course the whole spectrum of Country and Western Music is something you should ignore. On the other hand, if you like to be happy, a little bit sad, hear the life as only the old - time Country and Western folks can tell about it, and hear it in the honest, straight forward way that only a man with a guitar can employ, then this album will offer you many hours of delight and pleasures. It was once said that a Country and Western singer is the most honest of artists. His is the type of music you can neither fake nor learn. You either have it - or you don't. Dave Dudley is a man that stands at the very top of his choosen profession. After you hear "travelin'" you'll understand why. Travelin' Man starts with a good, twanging guitar introducing that brings Dave into a song about the man with a gal in every port - or town, if you will. Waiting For A Train is about the man, hanging "all around the water tank, waiting for a train a thousand miles from home" but with no money to make the trip. It's a sad story about the wanderer who can't quite make his way. Bummin' Around starts with, "Got an old slouch hat, got my roll on my shoulder, I'm as free as a breeze, and I'll do as I please - just bumming around." A happy carefree song about the happy, carefree life. In Going Back (To My Baby), Dave sings "I'm leaving today - no more crying night and day. Dave's lonesome and he's anxious to get back to the one he left behind. Going Going Going is the song of the auctioneer as a man sells off his home. With each piece of forniture, he re-lives the past. Freight Train is the story of a fast freight to nowhere with a flight to escape the hangman's noose after a Frankie and Johnnie "type killing". He'll Have To Go is one of the great Country and Western standards. It goes: "Put your sweet lips a little closer to the phone, let's pretend we're together all alone, I'll the man to turn the juke box way down low,and you can tell your friend there with you - he'll have to go." A guy fights for the love of his gal, and Dave does it beautifully. I'm Movin' On has a familiar theme. "You're flying too high for my little ole sky," sings Dave. "I'm movin' on. The guy has had about all he can take and he's taking the next train out of town. The Miles tells the inevitable story of age: "You had the good times, I got the miles." A man keeps fighting to catch up with his girl and puts on a lot of "miles" in the process. Alabam is a bit of nostalgia about the man who is going back to his people, "eatin" chicken and drinking wine, my people."

DAVE DUDLEY

TRAVELIN' WITH DAVE DUDLEY