The Plainsmen Quartet "The Plainsmen Quartet" (Word Records, 1957-?) (LP)
This was apparently the group's first album...
The Plainsmen Quartet "The Plainsmen Quartet" (Word Records, 1958) (LP)
The Plainsmen Quartet "Songs And Hymns By The Plainsmen" (Inspiration Records, 1960) (LP)
The Plainsmen Quartet "Lonely Street" (Sims Records, 1963) (LP)
Most of the Plainsmen's albums were all-gospel, though this one is a secular country set...
The Plainsmen Quartet "Touch The Hand Of The Lord" (Sims Records, 196-?) (LP)
The Plainsmen Quartet "The Plainsmen Go Heartwarming" (Heart Warming Records, 1964-?) (LP)
The Plainsmen Quartet "New And Old Gospel Songs" (Heart Warming Records, 1964-?) (LP)
The Plainsmen "...Sing Songs Of Inspiration" (Heart Warming Records, 196-?) (LP)
The Plainsmen "Wonderful Time Up There" (Heart Warming Records, 196-?) (LP)
The Plainsmen "...Singing Fresh And New" (Heart Warming Records, 196-?) (LP)
The Plainsmen "Little Is Much" (Heart Warming Records, 196-?) (LP)
(Produced by Bob Benson & Chuck Seitz)
You can hear some country picking on here, though it's mostly in the background, and definitely overshadowed by pretty corny, standard-issue southern gospel quartet vocals. This includes a lot of what I'd characterize as "trick singing," with various members of the group going for goofy, novelty sounds in an effort to pep things up and sound distinctive, occasionally including a high-pitched chorus and plenty of low, low baritone vocals. I had high hopes seeing a song credit for Albert Brumley, though his song, "I'm Poor As A Beggar," is denuded of vitality; probably the twangiest tune is "They Tore The Old Country Church Down," which kicks off Side Two and has both banjo and moderately twangy guitar. Also worth noting are a couple of tracks penned by W. Elmo Mercer, "I'd Rather Live In The Valley" and "Sittin' Around The Table Of The Lord," who was a discovery of the Benson studio and frequently promoted on their albums.
The Plainsmen "Volume One" (Canaan Records, 196-?) (LP)
The Plainsmen "Volume Two" (Canaan Records, 196-?) (LP)
The Plainsmen "Sing Country" (Lee-Mac Records, 1969) (LP)
Most of their albums were all-gospel, though this one's a mix of secular country and gospel, including tunes like the Johnny Cash hit, "Daddy Sang Bass," "Green Green Grass Of Home," "Faded Love" and "This Ole House." The Plainsmen traced their lineage back to the sprawling Stamps Quartet franchise, where their piano player Easman Napier got his start; like many Southern Gospel bands, the Plainsmen had frequent changes in lineup, and this is a fairly late edition of the band, featuring Easman Napier along with Dwight Hicks, Jay Simmons and Jack Mainord, as well as their new lead singer Jerry Venable (1925-2002). Mr. Venable led his own group, the Venable Quartet, both before and after his stint with the Plainsmen; he also worked as a radio deejay and manager of several stations in Kansas, including KFNF, KFRM and KTOW. His family owned a lumber company in Levy, Arkansas and staged an annual Levy Day festival, often in conjunction with or in support of the political machine of Governor Orval Faubus. Venable also performed with bandleader Mack Sanders, who was involved with the Plainsmen at this (late '60s) point in the band's evolution.
The Plainsmen "In Gospel Country" (Hickory Records, 19--?)
The Plainsmen "Gospel Songs For Country Folk" (Mercury Records, 19--?) (LP)
Not to be confused with Andy Parker's Plainsmen (a western band that broke up in 1956) The Plainsmen was a southern gospel vocal group from Dallas, Texas that worked as Jimmie Davis's backup band from 1961-66 and made frequent appearances on Red Foley's Ozark Jubilee in the late 1950s, as well as on the Louisiana Hayride. Like many white gospel outfits, The Plainsmen lineup changed constantly over the years, with notable members including pianist Eddie Crook, lead singer Jerry Venable (1925-2002), Rusty Goodman and radio host and bandleader Mack Sanders, who was involved with the Plainsmen during the late 1960s, when he brought them in as on-air talent during a restructure of one of his radio stations. Here's a partial discography of their work -- doubtless there are innumerable other singles and albums out there...
