My old pal Joey Myers gave me a box of records last week in Santa Cruz and I’m just now getting a chance to listen to them. Here’s a record I knew existed, but never had a chance to see it or hear with my own eyes and ears until now.
If you’re of a certain age, you will remember the airwaves crammed full of advertisements for “Boxcar Willie” albums. Boxcar was one of the earliest investors in his own country music theater in Branson, Missouri, and became quite successful in his later life, marketing this character of a hobo tramp who rode trains.
Boxcar’s real name was Marty Martin, and this album is what started it all. It includes the song “Boxcar Willie” that set the whole thing in motion. The album was released on a tiny label from Idaho (and it must be rare, because I’ve NEVER seen a copy in the flesh, though I remember being told of its existence a few times in the past).
The album is pretty great, in that early-1960s “country music recorded at a radio station with a bunch of spring reverb added to it” lo-fi kind of way. Boxcar, I mean Marty, was obviously mining the Willie Nelson look and sound with this album.
Thanks again, Joey, this is a great one! Kind of a thrill to find out the origin story.
