Wednesday, November 6, 2024

Penny Records

Picayune, Mississippi, in the 1970s

Picayune, Mississippi - a 11.000 people city in Pearl River County, Mississippi, near the Mississippi/Louisiana state border. The city's legacy in music history is limited, very limited. But it has a few contributions to offer. Country comic and Picayune native Jerry Clower recorded his live LP "Live in Picayune" for MCA at a charity event of the city's Women's Club. Allegedly also a son of the city was rockabilly and country singer Vern Pullens - although others say he was born in nearby Bogalusa, Louisiana.


However, Picayune was once home to record labels and a recording studio. Yes, more than one label - including Penny Records. The label started in the early 1970s from a house on Chateau Cove road in the northeast of the city near Highway 59. Possibly also operating from that address was Precision Recording Studio, were at least some of the label's recordings were cut. I can't tell you who the owner was but I sense a connection to Hack Kennedy's Big Howdy label, which had been originally located in the Bogalusa area but had moved to Picayune as well by the late 1960s. Some of the Penny releases bear the Big Howdy publishing stamp. Picayune country DJ B.J. Johnson also penned some of the songs released on the label and could have had a hand in it, too.


1406 Chateau Cove in Picayune, where Penny Records was located in the 1970s
Source: Google Street View

The label started around 1971 and was active at least until 1975 with thirteen known 45rpm releases. The Precision Recording Studio had its life of its own. While many of the Penny releases were recorded there, the studio served as an outlet for other local labels throughout the 1970s. The discs were mainly pressed by Atwell Record Pressing in Lafayette, Tennessee (including the Penny releases). B.J. Johnson, who appears as the songwriter on some Penny productions, also produced records at the Precision studio (e.g. Richard Banquer's LP "The Original Papa Joe's Presents Richard Banquer"), another hint to his involvement.

Discography

Label No.# Artist Credit A / B side Date
103 Wayne Morse Don’t Hide Your Heart / Pull Down the Blind’s Momma
104


105 Joe Brady You’re the Reason I’m Leaving / You Were Only Fooling
106


107 Harvey Mansfield Keep That Country Music Playing / You Destroyed My Life
108


109


110


111 Jerry Evans Catch the Wind / I’m Walking the Dog 1972
112


113


114


115 E.J. Saucier Mr. Warden / Little Girl 1972
126 Spectrum Forever and Always / Made for Me 1973
126 Country Comfort feat. Bobby Boyles Words / Got You On My Mind 1974
127 Johnnie Kirk Wicked Women / Big Bad Stuff 1974
128 Gwen Bush If You Got Leaving On Your Mind / I Don’t Want to Live (Without His Love) 1974
129


130 Billy Mulkey Give Me Freedom / Let’s Fight 1975
177 Patty Mason and the Slade Gang Constantly / Hickory Hollar’s Tramp
178 Cleat Wooley That’s Why I’m Walking / You Can’t Stop the Rain from Falling 1971
201 Jerry Evans Green, Green Grass of Home / Rhythm of the Rain 1975

See also
• Big Howdy Records
• Vern Pullens
The Pearl River Valley Jamboree

Sources
45cat entry
• Discord entries for Penny Records and Precision Sound Studio
Locals Only

3 comments:

Apesville said...

Penny (MS) 45 - 106 : Jerry Evans - Go On Home on youtube

Apesville said...

here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JDy9ZPbX02w

flip is Your old Standby labels
https://www.ebay.com/itm/325772305838

Bob said...

131 : Tommy Gray - Broken Heart Repairman/?

Picayune : Its name derives from the French "picaillon", which is itself from the Provençal "picaioun", the name of a coin from Savoy. Hence Penny Records ...