In 1972 Starday-King released a country compilation LP (on their Nashville imprint) entitled, Almost Persuaded, that was strictly a ladies-only affair: Rose Maddox, Dolly Parton, Jan Howard, Dottie West, Lois Williams, Betty Amos – and Ruby Wright. Wright’s playful little rocker, “Adios Aloha” — written by June Carter and Don Davis — is the standout track for me: a sly lyric that is supported by unusually (for a Starday release) deep and warm bass tones, as well as exuberant drumming and punchy mariachi horns.
[Pssst: Click on the triangle above to play ”Adios Aloha” by Ruby Wright]
Distributed by Starday-King
As it turns out, “Adios Aloha” is not a Starday recording but rather a song originally released in 1965 on the RIC (Recording Industries Corporation) label as the A-side of a single. Starday-King must have simply leased the song – along with its flip side, “A Smile on My Lips” – for this 1972 collection of country coquettes.
Interestingly, though, Wright does have a bona fide King connection:
– Between the years 1949 and 1959, Wright, the WLW radio and TV star, was also a King recording artist.
Billboard‘s November 14, 1970 edition would reveal Ruby Wright’s Queen City connection in its regular report from Cincinnati, one of the “Music Capitals of the World‘:
Ruby Wright, widow of Barney Rapp, veteran band leader and talent booker who died of a heart attack here October 14, will continue operation of the Barney Rapp Entertainment Agency, with offices in the Sheraton-Gibson Hotel. She will be assisted in the venture by her four daughters. Miss Wright, for many years a featured singer on [local NBC TV] WLW-T here until her retirement a year ago, said last week that she will also continue with the office’s expanding tour business and the producing of the local annual Shrine Circus.
“Adios Aloha” was also covered by the former Bob & Lucille — The Canadian Sweethearts — in 1966.
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