The Shelton Brothers

The Shelton Brothers, Bob, Joe and Merle, were pioneer country musicians and renowned recording artists based out of Texas from the mid-1930s through the 1960s. They created and popularized the songs Johnson's Old Gray Mule, Deep Elm Blues, These Shoes Are Killing Me, Oh Monah, Match Box Blues and My Heart Oozes Blood For You, "What's The Matter With Deep Elm", "I'm A Handy Man To Have Around" and "Henpecked Husband Blues". The Shelton Brothers (Joe and Bob) also wrote (their names appear as co-writers, but the writer was actually, individually, Sydney Robin) and were the second to record "Just Because" (Decca 46008), a song that has since been recorded numerous times by various artists including Elvis Presley who included it on his very first album titled "Elvis Presley". The original recording was by Nelstone's Hawaiians, comprising Hubert Nelson and James D. Touchstone. The song's opening line reads: Just because you think you're so pretty, just because you think you're so hot..... "Just Because" was the Shelton's first release on Decca but, due to their popularity, they went on to cut over 150 sides for the label. They also recorded sides for Victor Records and King Records. The Shelton Brothers would become one of the most successful country acts of the era.

The Shelton Brothers was also one of the earliest acts to appear on the famous Big D Jamboree which originated from the Dallas Sportatorium in Dallas, Texas. They later became an integral part of The Saturday Night Shindig which also originated from Dallas.

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1935 - 1941

Roles Represented in DAHR: Musical group

= Recordings are available for online listening.
= Recordings were issued from this master. No recordings issued from other masters.

Recordings (Results 1-25 of 159 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Decca 60243 10-in. 12/19/1935 Budded roses The Shelton Brothers Musical group  
Decca 60244 10-in. 12/19/1935 I'm sitting on top of the world The Shelton Brothers Musical group  
Decca 60245 10-in. 12/19/1935 When it's night time in Nevada The Shelton Brothers Musical group  
Decca 60246 10-in. 12/19/1935 I'm thinking tonight of my blue eyes-1 The Shelton Brothers Musical group  
Decca 60247 10-in. 12/19/1935 Bury me beneath the willow-1 The Shelton Brothers Musical group  
Decca 60248 10-in. 12/19/1935 Black sheep The Shelton Brothers Musical group  
Decca 60257 10-in. 12/19/1935 'leven miles from Leavenworth The Shelton Brothers Musical group  
Decca 60258 10-in. 12/19/1935 Daddy don't low no low down hangin' around The Shelton Brothers Musical group  
Decca 60259 10-in. 12/19/1935 Deep Elem blues No.2 The Shelton Brothers Musical group  
Decca 60261 10-in. 12/19/1935 New John Henry blues-1 The Shelton Brothers Musical group  
Decca 60262 10-in. 12/19/1935 At the Shelby County fair-2 The Shelton Brothers Musical group  
Decca 60263 10-in. 12/19/1935 Rid in' on a humpback mule-1 The Shelton Brothers Musical group  
Decca 60264 10-in. 12/20/1935 Sweet Evelina The Shelton Brothers Musical group  
Decca 60265 10-in. 12/20/1935 Answer to just because The Shelton Brothers Musical group  
Decca 60267 10-in. 12/20/1935 Lover's farewell The Shelton Brothers Musical group  
Decca 60268 10-in. 12/20/1935 That's a habit I've never had The Shelton Brothers Musical group  
Decca 60269 10-in. 12/20/1935 Four or five times The Shelton Brothers Musical group  
Decca 61820 10-in. 2/17/1937 Answer to blue eyes The Shelton Brothers Musical group  
Decca 61821 10-in. 2/17/1937 I'm gonna fix your wagon The Shelton Brothers Musical group  
Decca 61822 10-in. 2/17/1937 The story of seven roses The Shelton Brothers Musical group  
Decca 61823 10-in. 2/17/1937 I'm here to get my baby out of jail The Shelton Brothers Musical group  
Decca 61824 10-in. 2/17/1937 Way down in Georgia The Shelton Brothers Musical group  
Decca 61825 10-in. 2/17/1937 Aura Lee The Shelton Brothers Musical group  
Decca 61826 10-in. 2/17/1937 Givin' everything away The Shelton Brothers Musical group  
Decca 61827 10-in. 2/17/1937 Cinda Lou The Shelton Brothers Musical group  
(Results 1-25 of 159 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Shelton Brothers, The," accessed March 28, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/343435.

Shelton Brothers, The. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved March 28, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/343435.

"Shelton Brothers, The." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 28 March 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/343435

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