This record features some odd song selections that equal mixed results. While standards like "Born to Lose" and "Beautiful Dreamer" sound as if they were written for Gibson, the inclusion of "Camptown Races" and a throw away version of "Above and Beyond" leave the listener asking why.

DON GIBSON
GIRLS GUITARS AND GIBSON
(RCA Victor LSP-2361)
July/1961
Produced by Chet Atkins
Recorded Apr 5/1961, RCA Victor Studio, Nashville

Hank Garland, Chet Atkins, Harold Bradley - guitar
Bob Moore - bass
Buddy Harman - drums
Floyd Cramer - piano
The Anita Kerr Singers (Anita Kerr, Dottie Dillard, Louis Nunley, Bill Wright) - vocals

1.
LONESOME ROAD
(Gene Austin - Nat Shilkret) « © '55 Paramount Music, ASCAP / Nathaniel Shilkret Music, ASCAP »
Look down look down that lonesome road before you travel on
Look up look up and meet your Maker before Abraham blows his horn

I get weary totin' a load traveling down this lonesome road
Look down look down that lonesome road before you travel on
[ ac.guitar ] Mhm I get weary totin' such a load traveling down this lonesome road...
**********

2.

I THINK IT'S BEST (TO FORGET ME) (Don Gibson) « © '61 Acuff-Rose Music, BMI »
Don't call me anymore by now you know the score
By now you know I'm not what I seem to be
Too much you loved and too much I decieved I think it's best to forget me
Yes I'm the one who lied used every alibi
Down deep inside I think that you're really you
I must confess to you oh can't you see ah I think it's best to forget me

Oh I had no right to do the things I did I know
Should have told you this a long long time ago
No longer can I hide the hurt I feel inside no longer can I live with this misery
Too much you loved and too much I decieved I think it's best to forget me
Yes I think it's best to forget me
**********

3.

BORN TO LOSE
(Frankie Brown) « © '43 Peer International, BMI »
Born to lose I've lived my life in vain every dream has always brought me pain
All my life I've always been so blue born to lose and now I'm losing you
Born to lose it seems so hard to bear how I long to always have you near
You've grown tired and now you say we're through
Born to lose and now I'm losing you
[ whistle ] You were all the happiness I knew born to lose and now I'm losing you
**********

4.

WHITE SILVER SANDS
(Charles G. Matthews - Gladys Reinhardt) « © '59 Sharina Music, BMI »
Where the deep blue pearly waters wash upon white silver sands
Where on the brink of love I kissed her and obeyd my heart's command
Where the deep blue pearly waters wash upon white silver sands
We watched the sunset in the evening in a far and distant land

So here beneath God's blue heaven there's a place I must go
See the sunset in the evening the only love I know
Where the deep blue pearly waters wash upon white silver sands
Where on the brink of love I kissed her and obeyd my heart's command
[ ac.guitar ] So here beneath God's blue heaven there's a place I must go...
**********

5.

NO ONE WILL EVER KNOW
(Fred Rose - Mel Foree) « © '45 Milene Music, ASCAP »
No one will ever know my heart is breaking although a million teardrops start to flow
I'll cry myself to sleep and wake up smiling you've hurt me but no one will ever know

I'll tell them we grew tired of each other that I was glad the day you set me free
I'll even make believe I never loved you then no one will ever know the truth but me
[ choir ] I'll tell them I've found true love with another...
**********

6.

FIREBALL MAIL
(Floyd Jenkins) « © '43 Milene Music, ASCAP »
Here she comes look at her roll there she goes eatin' that coal
Watch her fly look at her sail let her by by by it's the fireball mail
Engineer makin' up time tracks are clear look at her climb
See that freight clearin' the rail bet she's late late late it's the fireball mail
[ ac.guitar ] Watch her go look at her steam hear her blow whistle and scream
Like a hound that's a waggin' his tail
She's Dallas bound bound boud it's the fireball mail
Now watch her swerve look at her sway get that curve out of the way
Watch her fly just look at her sail let her by by by it's the fireball mail
It's the fireball mail it's the fireball mail
**********

7.

ABOVE AND BEYOND (THE CALL OF LOVE) (Harlan Howard) « © '60 Tree Publishing, BMI / Jat Music, BMI »
Well I'll give you love that's above and beyond the call of love
And I'll never ever make you cry
I'll give you love that's above and beyond the call of love
And love's something that money can't buy

A poor boy's chances for pretty girl's glances it's sometimes very few
Though I've got no money if you'll be my honey here's what I'll offer you
I'll give you love that's above and beyond the call of love...
[ ac.guitar ] Well I'll give you love that's above and beyond the call of love...
Oh love's something that money can't buy
**********

8.

DRIFTWOOD ON THE RIVER
(Bob Miller - John Klenner) « © '58 MCA Music, ASCAP »
I'm just driftwood on the river floatin' down the tide
I don't care where this old river carries me
I keep drifting just because my heart is broken inside
And I'm tired of wishing for what cannot be
I'm just driftwood on the river and I'm drifting on
Till the weary river meets the deep blue sea
Where the deep blue sea may help me to forget someone
Yes the careless one who has forgotten me
[ ac.guitar - choir ] In my heart I don't feel bitter over what has been
I feel sorry for the one I must forget
And instead of being someone with the world to win
I'm just driftwood on the river of regret mhm
**********

9.

CAMPTOWN RACES
(Stephen Foster - Larry Fotine - Sammy Kaye) « © '59 Embassy Music, BMI »
The camptown ladies sing this song doo-dah
The camptown race track's five miles long oh doo-dah day
I came down there with my hat caved in doo-dah-
I'll go back home with my pocket full of tin oh doo-dah day
Goin' to run all night goin' to run all day
I'll bet my money on the bobtail nag somebody bet on the bay
[ ac.guitar ] The camptown ladies sing this song doo-dah...
**********

10.

BEAUTIFUL DREAMER
(Stephen Foster) « © '52 Embassy Music, BMI »
**********

11.

CUTE LITTLE GIRLS
(Pearl Woods) « © '61 Regent Music, BMI »
**********

12.

LAST LETTER
(Rex Griffin) « © '39 Anne Rachel Music, ASCAP »
Why do you treat me as if I were only a friend
And what have I done that's made you so different and cold
Sometimes I wonder if you'll be contented again
Will you be happy when you are withered and old
I cannot offer you diamonds or mansions so fine
I cannot offer you clothes your young body crave
But if you'll say that you long to forever be mine
Take off the heartaches the tears and the sorrow you'll save
[ choir - ac.guitar ] Why I am writing this letter I think of the past
And of the promises that you are breaking so free
But to this world I will soon say my farewells at last
I will be gone when you read this last letter from me
**********

petrv@yahoo.com
Don Gibson Discography