Bud Standridge on SOH (Select-O-Hits)

Bud Standridge and the Mesilla Valley Boys - What Have You Got (SOH 016), 1972

Here we have another enjoyable Memphis country record from the 1970s. It's Bud Standridge and his Mesilla Valley Boys with "What Have You Go" backed by "Morning" on SOH 016 from 1972. I looked it up, the Mesilla Valley is located in South New Mexico and West Texas along the Rio Grande from Radium Springs, New Mexico, to El Paso, Texas.

The singer's full name was probably Lloyd Victor Standridge, judging from the composer credits, and I found several Lloyd Standridges living in Arkansas but only one Lloyd Victor Standridge from Del Rio, Texas, which is more than 400 miles away from El Paso, though. He was born in Del Rio on July 25, 1935, and died there on December 26, 1992, at the age of 57. He was buried in San Miguel, Doña Ana County, New Mexico, which is indeed located in Mesilla Valley so I guess, we have the right Lloyd Victor Standridge here.

"Organ Mountains resemble a giant organ extending into the sky. These are the stately guardians
of the Mesilla Valley, through which runs the Rio Grande River" (from the back of this post card)

I don't have an answer to the question how he got to Memphis but obviously he did. Standridge had two records out on SOH, a shortcut for Select-O-Hits, which was a record store and retail shop operated by Tom Phillips, Sam Phillips' brother, on Chelsea Avenue. The company had several record labels throughout the years, including SOH, which was active from 1970 to 1974. Select-O-Hits is still in existence, though rather in the distribution field.

Back to Standridge. He returned to the Mesilla Valley region, where he and his band continued to perform. They had another release on the Goldust label, which was based in Mesilla Park, New Mexico.

Discography

SOH 014: Webb of Love / It's a Lie (ca. 1972)

SOH 016: What Have You Got / Morning (1972)
Goldust 45-5045: Party Lights / The Hands You're Holding Now

Sources

• Find a Grave entry
• Family Search entry
• Discogs
• 45cat entry for Select-O-Hits