Charlie Walker Close All the Honky Tonks / Wine, Women & Walker / Don't Squeeze My Sharmon / Honky Tonkin' with Charlie Walker (2-CD)

Like so many country entertainers of his era, Charles Levi Walker (born in Copeville, Texas on November 2nd 1926) grew up in rural surroundings, spending his early years picking cotton and being inspired by the sounds of country music. After short spells with Imperial, Decca and Mercury Records he secured a deal with Columbia in mid-1958 and on his first session, June 5th 1958, recorded a new song from the up-and-coming songwriter Harlan Howard, then a fork-lift driver in California. Produced by Don Law, 'Pick Me Up On Your Way Down' brought success for both singer and writer. The record climbed to #2 in the US country charts during a 22 week chart run. It also set Charlie Walker's direction in the many recordings that followed. A honky-tonk hero was born! He gained particular popularity in Las Vegas having played at the Golden Nugget Casino for 25 weeks from 1965 to 1967. The four albums in this collection dating from 1965 to 1971 bring together many of the singer's chart successes, not only of the honky tonk variety but also several with novelty and comic ingredients like the good-time 'He's A Jolly Good Fellow', 'Let's Go Fishin' Boys (The Girls Are Bitin')', 'The Man In The Little White Suit' and 'I Wouldn't Take Her To A Dogfight' ending with the climactic line 'not even if she had the chance to win'!