Harry Johnson 'It's Nothing To Me'

Jimmy1982 · **Joined:** Tue March 10th, 2009, 21:50 GMT **Posts:** 15

Does anyone know where I can get this song? One of the best things I've heard in a while. Dylan played on his show about 'Nothing'.

twood50785

Fred@Dreamtime wrote:

The cut is from an obscure CD compilation called "God Less America: Country Music for All Ye Sinners & Sufferers" Playlist is below. Unfortunately, I can't find any info on the date of the cut or on Johnson himself.

God Less America

1. 8 Weeks In A Barroom -- Ramblin Red Bailey
2. Too Many Pills -- Arkey Blue & The Blue Cowboys
3. The Story Of Susie -- Billy Ray
4. Down And Out -- Chuck Wells
5. It's Nothing To Me -- Harry Johnson
6. Ed's Place -- Horace Heller
7. Pierce Brothers -- Pierce Brothers
8. Caryl Chessman -- Country Johnny Mathis
9. Please Don't Go Topless, Mother -- Troy Hess
10. Rock'N'Roll Killed My Mother -- Hi-Fi Guys
11. Enchanted Forest -- Mohawk And The Rednecks
12. Paralysed -- Cal Vale
13. My Neighbor The Firefighter -- Paul Barton
14. The Drunken Driver -- Granpa Joe
15. Dolores -- Eddie Noak
16. Behind The Fear -- Lum Hatcher

Jimmy1982 · **Joined:** Tue March 10th, 2009, 21:50 GMT **Posts:** 15

Thanks for this. I wonder if this CD can be purchased anywhere, I've searched a little but to no avail. Sounds right up my street.

Fred@Dreamtime

Quote:

Thanks for this. I wonder if this CD can be purchased anywhere, I've searched a little but to no avail. Sounds right up my street.

You'll occasionally see the CD offered on eBay and/or the used section of Amazon, although the prices are beginning to approach the ridiculous ($160??). I think I found my copy a couple of years ago for $35. Alternatively, you can PM me, and I'm sure we can work something out.

Jimmy1982 · **Joined:** Tue March 10th, 2009, 21:50 GMT **Posts:** 15

I've just found this song and one of my more computer competent friends is getting the album for me. Thanks again for the info.

flotser · **Joined:** Thu April 2nd, 2009, 19:36 GMT **Posts:** 1

the artist is not Harry Johnson, but in fact Sanford Clarke - a Lee Hazlewood protégé. you can find a restored version of the track minus the gunshots on Clarke's best-of compilation "shades". I assume a pseudonym was used because the subject matter was considered too violent at the time it came out.

the best track on the compilation in my book is "down and out". Chuck Wells is most likely yet another pseudonym.

Jimmy1982 · **Joined:** Tue March 10th, 2009, 21:50 GMT **Posts:** 15

Cool thanks. I'll check it out, he does a cover of 'Pledging My Love', got to hear that.

The Great Wandu · **Joined:** Mon January 28th, 2008, 20:54 GMT **Posts:** 77

Sanford Clark's the singer of the immortal "The Fool." Dylan played that on the radio show, too.

Fred@Dreamtime

flotser wrote:

the artist is not Harry Johnson, but in fact Sanford Clarke - a Lee Hazlewood protégé. you can find a restored version of the track minus the gunshots on Clarke's best-of compilation "shades". I assume a pseudonym was used because the subject matter was considered too violent at the time it came out.

the best track on the compilation in my book is "down and out". Chuck Wells is most likely yet another pseudonym.

Great info flotser. Thanks for posting.

The Great Wandu · **Joined:** Mon January 28th, 2008, 20:54 GMT **Posts:** 77

Released by Sanford Clark on Ramco in 1967 w/o gunshot overdubs.

Fred@Dreamtime

Anybody have the Sanford Clark original that they'd be willing to share with me? I'd like to do a Dreamtime on the song and Clark himself with examples of the two versions - but can't find the single by itself. Right now my finances are a little too tight to pick up "shades" for one song.

Fred@Dreamtime

The story behind this song becomes more and more interesting as I dig into it.

I found that "It's Nothing To Me" was written by one "Pat Patterson," a pen name of Leon Payne's, author of "Psycho," which also appears on the "God Less" compilation, as well as the better-known Hank Williams hit, "Lost Highway." It was apparently first released by Lee Hazlewood in 1957 on the Dot label and published by Gregmark Publishing.

I still haven't discovered where the heck the "gun shot" version came from.

CS Nielsen

Fred, you're "a mole in the ground" - "rootin' that mountain down"!

Leon Payne is getting to be my favorite songwriter. I wish more of his own recordings were available.

Fred@Dreamtime

Quote:

It was apparently first released by Lee Hazlewood in 1957 on the Dot label and published by Gregmark Publishing.

Correction on that, the song was originally recorded by yet another Lee Hazelwood protege, Loy Clingman in 19 and 57 on the Liberty Bell/Dot label and featured Al Casey on guitar.

Interestingly, The Coasters had a minor hit with their cover of the song, which they released under the changed title, "T'ain't Nothing To Me" seven years later in 19 and 64.

The damn gunshot song continues to elude me, though. :lol:

Fred@Dreamtime

I finally got around to finishing my long-planned article on "It's Nothing to Me," running the gamut from Leon Payne through The Coasters to Lee Hazlewood's 2006 coda. For those interested...

http://www.dreamtimepodcast.com/2009/06 ... stery.html

CodeExaminer · **Joined:** Fri July 14th, 2006, 00:09 GMT **Posts:** 1132

flotser wrote:

the best track on the compilation in my book is "down and out". Chuck Wells is most likely yet another pseudonym.

Is this not the same Chuck Wells http://www.dagmar-anita-binge.de/ccd318 ... wells.html

Fred@Dreamtime

CodeExaminer wrote:

flotser wrote:

the best track on the compilation in my book is "down and out". Chuck Wells is most likely yet another pseudonym.

Is this not the same Chuck Wells http://www.dagmar-anita-binge.de/ccd318 ... wells.html

Interesting. I bet he is, although I still can't find any listing for "Down and Out" in either Wells' King or Columbia discography.

CodeExaminer · **Joined:** Fri July 14th, 2006, 00:09 GMT **Posts:** 1132

The vocals on Down and Out attributed to a Chuck Wells sound very different than the rest of the known Chuck Wells songs. But Wells may just be doing his best to sound like Johnny Cash on Down and Out, and not using his regular singing voice.

bloodandblues

If nobody got it already. Here it is: God Less America. One of the best:

http://rapidshare.com/files/159291305/_ ... merica.zip

Fred@Dreamtime

Myrtie Payne (Leon's daughter) recently wrote to me and noted...

Quote:

"I remember when Daddy wrote Ain't Nothing To Me. He often would make sound effects for his songs and on the original, just him and his guitar, he did the gun shots through his mouth. I thought it was so cool!

As far as why he wrote the song, I'm not sure why. He would often write 5 or 6 songs at a time, words and music while sitting in his big oak rocking chair in the kitchen. He would then go to the den and record them all on his reel-to-reel and the next day, I would mail it to Nashville!"

MatchStriker

Fred, you've got a nose like a bloodhound. I need you on retainer!

Expecting Rain

Harry Johnson 'It's Nothing To Me'

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