Charlie Louvin’s bass player in his backing band, 'The Big Men,' was Tim Stacey. Tim was also a vocalist, and had been impressed with his bosses Thunderbird recording session back in January of 1976 at Thunder Sound. It was at these sessions that he had sung harmony vocals with Pam Dickinson on one number, and then solo on Ted Brown's composition 'Especially For You.' So in April of 1976 Tim dropped in at Jim and Marlene’s house in Burford to talk about doing some actual solo
recording at Thunder Sound.
In 1971, before he had joined Charlie's band, Tim had cut a single on Alta Records, based out of Hurricane, West Virginia. Although the record didn't do anything nationally, it gave Tim some much needed experience. While at the Allison home in 1976, Jim played Tim the single that Parker Dean had released that previous March. Another song that he loved was Fred McKenna’s ‘Ten Miles From Home,’ which Roger Quick had also shown interest in.
In 1971, before he had joined Charlie's band, Tim had cut a single on Alta Records, based out of Hurricane, West Virginia. Although the record didn't do anything nationally, it gave Tim some much needed experience. While at the Allison home in 1976, Jim played Tim the single that Parker Dean had released that previous March. Another song that he loved was Fred McKenna’s ‘Ten Miles From Home,’ which Roger Quick had also shown interest in.
In April of 1976 Tim happily signed on as the 20th Thunderbird act,
unbeknownst to his employer, Charlie Louvin. In June of that year Tim convened at Thunder Sound with Jim Allison on guitar, Fred McKenna on acoustic guitar and banjo, and Desert Fox drummer Phil Scott on the skins. Tim sang and played bass. They cut four tracks, two of which were 'I Like Beer Drinking Songs And Whiskey Drinking Women' and 'Ten Miles From Home.' Parker Dean couldn't remember what the other two songs were, but he had a feeling they were also Thunderbird Roster songs.
Later that summer, Jim played Tim Stacey’s version of Parker’s 'I Like Beer Drinking Songs And Whiskey Drinking Women' for the man himself. He was surprised that Jim was able to keep it a secret until that very moment. Parker was impressed by Tim's interpretation of his song.
Unfortunately, when the Charlie Louvin album fell through about the same time as he cut his solo recordings, Tim didn’t feel it was right to release the music he'd cut, and as far as we know the four songs are still sitting in the can somewhere.
Like Charlie Louvin, Tim Stacey's romance with Jim Allison and Thunderbird Recordings was also very short. That was no one's fault but Jim's.
Later that summer, Jim played Tim Stacey’s version of Parker’s 'I Like Beer Drinking Songs And Whiskey Drinking Women' for the man himself. He was surprised that Jim was able to keep it a secret until that very moment. Parker was impressed by Tim's interpretation of his song.
Unfortunately, when the Charlie Louvin album fell through about the same time as he cut his solo recordings, Tim didn’t feel it was right to release the music he'd cut, and as far as we know the four songs are still sitting in the can somewhere.
Like Charlie Louvin, Tim Stacey's romance with Jim Allison and Thunderbird Recordings was also very short. That was no one's fault but Jim's.
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