The Dallas Blues Society Lost Recordings

Record Town is very proud to present “The Dallas Blues Society Lost Recordings”.

The connection to Record Town and the new release is very strong. Tom Reynolds, co- owner of Record Town is as one of the featured musicians on the LP. Once Tom discovered that the original audio tapes existed, he worked hard to get the album released. Tom, Doyle Bramhall (Big Doyle), Jim Milan, and Robert Harwell all played together as part of the fabulous Fort Worth band, The Juke Jumpers and were great friends.

The LP sound is pristine, the groove is tight, and the songs are soulful, loose, and rockin’. With the addition of Denny Freeman, Doyle Bramhall II (Little Doyle), Robin Sylar, Roger Holmes, and Steve Howard, the sound is pure Texas roadhouse rhythm and blues. Getcha some BBQ, some Lone Star longnecks and sit back and enjoy!

Bill Mecke
Record Town & Record Town Records Owner

Main Photo: “The main players for the Dallas Blues Society Lost Recordings were (L-R) Doyle Bramhall II (Little Doyle), Jim Milan, Doyle Bramhall (Big Doyle), Robin Sylar, Denny Freeman, and Tom Reynolds”.

The late singer-songwriter and drummer Doyle Bramhall is among the artists featured on "Dallas Blues Society Lost Recordings."

1991 File Photo/The Associated Press

"Dallas Blues Society Lost Recordings" features long- forgotten gems

Recorded in 1989, the treasure trove of Austin, Fort Worth and Dallas musicians has finally been released. Released in Cowtown is the new Dallas Blues Society Lost Recordings , a treasure trove of Austin, Fort Worth and Dallas musicians captured nearly 40 years ago.

While most albums are titled "lost recordings" for marketing reasons, these recordings actually disappeared.

Financed by the Dallas Blues Society in 1989 at the famed Sumet-Bernet Studios, the album centers on the late Doyle Bramhall (1949-2011). Doyle was the legendary singer-songwriter and drummer who joined Jimmie and Stevie Ray Vaughan in the great Dallas-to-Austin migration at the dawn of the '70s. As Bramhall became heavily involved with Antone's Records in Austin, the album was shelved for contractual reasons.

A few years later, the Dallas Blues Society (DBS) decided to finally release the record. But the master tapes had vanished, and the project gradually faded into memory. When DBS founder Chuck Nevitt died in 2015 at age 59, his vast music collection went to his blues-loving running mate, Scott Ferris. After years of combing through it, Ferris discovered a pristine Digital Audio Tape (DAT) copy of the '89 recording sessions.

Now, with help from Fort Worth's historic Record Town store and label, Ferris has finally brought the album to light. The 11-song vinyl LP features blues classics and originals by Dallas musicians including Bramhall's son Doyle Bramhall II - Eric Clapton's longtime guitar partner - and the late Denny Freeman, best known for his guitar work with Bob Dylan.

"After you wait 37 years and finally hear it, it's like, 'Wow! What a recording!'" Ferris said recently on YouTube's Time Signatures With Jim Ervin.

Written by Thor Christensen

Contributor, Dallas Morning News

Thor Christensen is a former pop music critic for The Dallas Morning News and The Milwaukee Journal whose work has appeared in The New York Times and several books.

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