Zero to 180 – Three Minute Magic

Discoveries of a Pop Music Archaeologist

“Anchors Aweigh”: Seafaring Strings of Steel

Countless country music fans have heard steel guitarist Lloyd Green without realizing it.  Green has played with over 500 artists and performed on 115 number one hits, as well as over 100 top ten hits.  Between the years 1965 and 1980, Lloyd averaged an astounding 400 recording sessions in Nashville a year.

Anchors Aweigh” is a Lloyd Green original from 1966 album Day for Decision, his first of two albums for the Little Darlin’ label:

Anchors Aweigh

Lloyd Green (1966)

Of the twenty-four singles released between 1967-1979, just three managed to penetrate the country chart, although Green’s version of “I Can See Clearly Now” – I am happy to report – broke into the Top 40 (#36 country) in 1973.

US cover

Canadian cover?

Lloyd Green LP-b

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Little Darlin’:

Mayhew + Paycheck

As MusicRow.com reports, record label, Little Darlin’, was a business partnership started in 1966 between producer/songwriter, Aubrey Mayhew, and country “outlaw,” Johnny Paycheck as a commercial outlet for artists such as Jeannie C. Riley, Bobby Helms,  Lloyd Green, and Paycheck himself, whose edgy country songs recorded for Little Darlin’ are widely acknowledged to be hard country classics.

Mayhew’s interests were not solely tied to music, however:

Mayhew was also one of the world’s foremost collectors of John F. Kennedy memorabilia and, at the time of his death, was embroiled in a high-profile legal battle over ownership of the window through which Lee Harvey Oswald assassinated Kennedy in 1963.  Shortly after Kennedy’s death, Mayhew produced a JFK tribute album that sold 8 million copies, and in 1970, he purchased the Texas School Book Depository Building saving it from demolition.

Also important to note that in 2005, Mayhew came out of retirement to produce honky tonk (and truck driving country) singer, Dale Watson, for his tribute album to the label, The Little Darlin’ Sessions.

Cash Box

October 22, 1966

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