Express Records !

Express Records 

Address - Box 538, Gainesville, Georgia, USA.

Mystery label outta Gainesville. Very hard to find any info on recording dates and release dates,  these are early 60's pressings . This is confirmed with the Preston Thornton Express release in Nov 1962 ,  Firstly by family members of Preston Thornton (who died in 1962) they confirmed to me that the record was released just before he died and also a Billboard magazine entry of release as 2nd Nov 1962 . So if anyone has any info on this label or any other releases please let me know.

All matrix pressing numbers start with the Express Records account number of # 1785 and were custom pressings by King .

1 - R. L. & Bonnie Jordan # 1001
2 - Johnny & Gerald # 1002
3 - Delane Dills # 1003 
4 - Dennis Howell # 1004
5 - Johnny & Gerald # 1005
6 - # 1006 ?
7 - Preston Thornton # 1007

8 - Helen Rowe # 1008

9 - The Porter Family # 267 EP

R.L. & Bonnie Jordan (Gospel Duet with Band)
Side A - The Straight And Narrow Way (E. Snodgrass & R. Moore)
Side B - That Beautiful Mansion (Clyde Miller)
785-45 EX 001 - Express Music Clearance - Time 1:56
785-45 EX 002 - Ralph's Radio Music - Time 2:45

1st release which shows Express Records without the steam train logo!

Johnny and Gerald & The Georgia Mountain Boys - # 1002 .
A Side - I Caught A Heartache (J. Jones)
B Side - Look For Me (J. Jones)
1785 - 45 EX 003 - Express Music Clearance BMI - Time 2:50
1785 - 45 EX 004 - Express Music Clearance BMI - Time 2:05

Some terrific Bluegrass will be found here on Express # 1002, great Mandolin and Banjo on both sides plus some sweet harmonies by Johnny and Gerald on two really really good songs. Both songs are real movers and show top drawer quality .......quite simply a superb Bluegrass 45 !

                                         

                                         

Johnny and Gerald with the Georgia Mountain Boys (early 70's)

Delane Dills - #1003 - That's My Life Without You / A Smile, A Kiss, A Broken Heart - 1961
1785- 45 EX - 5 - Express Music BMI - Time 2:35
1785- 45 EX - 6 - Express Music BMI - Time 1:51

Recorded in Gainsville 1960!

The B side is just pure heaven ! and just a perfect jaunty classic country tune, sung with ease by Mr Dills and is one of my all time fave songs. A choppy chord progression with quick changes from D to E before hitting back on the route chord A and then bam ! you get the fourth F# chord ......just magic ! . A side is straight slow country tune handled with care and love by Mr Dills.

Dennis Howell - # 1004 - You're Gonna Miss Me / Hit And Run Heart.
Both sides written by D. Howell.

1785- 45 EX - 7 - Time 2:18
1785- 45 EX - 8 - Express Music BMI Time 2:35
King Press

Johnny and Gerald & The Georgia Mountain Boys - # 1005
Side A - If We've Had The Change
Side B - Mother's Prayers Will Live On

1785-45 EX 10 - Time 2:37
1785-45 EX 09 - Time 2:12

King custom pressing!

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Preston Thornton - # 1007 - Breaking Hearts / It's A Long Way
Both written by P. Thornton.

1785 - 45 EX - 13 - Time 2;05
1785 - 45 EX - 14 - Time 2;17

Date stamped on B side label - 26th Oct 1962 but probably released in 1961.

Here we have two solid, pure country tracks written and performed by Preston Thornton, sung with plenty of gusto and delivered with heart breakin' charm. Both mid tempo songs and they sure tug at the heart strings !
Preston only started performing in his 30's and this his only ever release was recorded when he was 47 or 48 . Preston died just after this release in 1962 .

Below is the Catalogue of copyright entries

IT'S A LONG WAY © Preston Thornton Express Music 2Nov62 EU743635

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Helen Rowe # 1008 - Think Twice (Before You Go) (H. Rowe) / I'll Give The Right (Right Back To You) (Preston Thornton)

This is the only Express label to not show the label address (Box 538, Gainsville, GA)

Rite Pressing 14937/14938
Both songs Express (BMI)

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The Porter Family (Larry, Lynn & Bruce) 

Express Records # 267 - year ? 

Side A - It's Different Now - (Beatty) 2:59

               Somebody Touched Me - (O.W Denson) 2:25

Side B - He Is Mine - ( Lumpkin ) 1:53

              Oh How I Love Jesus - ( R. H Goodpastuer ) 2:43

King Custom Pressing. 1785 - MEP 267 

Gospel EP by Larry, Lynn and Bruce , three part harmonies with simple piano backing and hand clapping on some decent gospel tunes.