Billy Grammer was a country singer and an accomplished guitarist, who enjoyed a successful career through the 1960s, as a mainstay of The Grand Ole Opry, until turning his attention to designing and manufacturing his famous model of “Grammer Guitar”. As a high-profile figure in country music, he delivered the invocation at the opening of the new purpose-built Grand Ole Opry House in 1974. 

This 53-track 2-CD collection comprises the A and B sides of his singles on the Scoop, Plaza, Monument, Everest, Decca and Tap labels, plus most of the tracks from his Monument album “Travellin’ On”, his Monument EP “Grammer Guitar”, and the Decca album “Gospel Guitar”. It features his No. 4 million-selling US pop hit “Gotta Travel On”, and his chart entries from these years “Bonaparte’s Retreat” and “The Kissing Tree”. 

This collection captures the first important formative years of his career, when he established his reputation, and is a nicely representative showcase for the different strands of his particular approach to country.

Tracks

CD 1
1. PART OF MY SOUL Billy Grammer (Scoop 502) 1948 
2. JEALOUS HEART Billy Grammer (Scoop 502) 1948 
3. WHEN YOU KNOW Billy Grammer (Plaza 5506) 1950 
4. I ALMOST LOST MY MIND Billy Grammer (Plaza 5506) 1950 
5. GOTTA TRAVEL ON Billy Grammer (Monument  400) 1958 
6. CHASING A DREAM Billy Grammer (Monument  400) 1958 
7. BONAPARTE'S RETREAT Billy Grammer (Monument  403) 1959 
8. THE KISSING TREE Billy Grammer (Monument  403) 1959 
9. IT TAKES YOU Billy Grammer (Monument  407) 1959 
10. WILLY, QUIT YOUR PLAYING Billy Grammer (Monument  407) 1959 
11. LOVELAND Billy Grammer (Monument  413) 1960 
12. ON THE JOB TOO LONG Billy Grammer (Monument  413) 1960 
13. A THOUSAND MILES AGO Billy Grammer (From the album "Travellin' On" Monument SM14000) 1959 
14. RUN, BOY Billy Grammer (From the album "Travellin' On" Monument SM14000) 1959 
15. MY LUCKY LOVE Billy Grammer (From the album "Travellin' On" Monument SM14000) 1959 
16. GIVE MYSELF A PARTY Billy Grammer (From the album "Travellin' On" Monument SM14000) 1959 
17. YOU KNOW I DO Billy Grammer (From the album "Travellin' On" Monument SM14000) 1959 
18. HOW'S THE WORLD TREATING YOU Billy Grammer (From the album "Travellin' On" Monument SM14000) 1959 
19. MIDNIGHT Billy Grammer (From the album "Travellin' On" Monument SM14000) 1959 
20. POOR OLD HEARTSICK ME Billy Grammer (From the album "Travellin' On" Monument SM14000) 1959 
21. ONE THOUSAND CONCRETE BLOCKS Billy Grammer (From the album "Travellin' On" Monument SM14000) 1959 
22. BARREL HOUSE BESSIE Billy Grammer (From the album "Travellin' On" Monument SM14000) 1959 
23. SWEET KITTY WELLS Billy Grammer (From the album "Travellin' On" Monument SM14000) 1959 
24. WAR PAINT Billy Grammer (From the EP "Grammer's Guitar" Monument MEP15002) 1960 
25. THREE CABARELLOS Billy Grammer (From the EP "Grammer's Guitar" Monument MEP15002) 1960 
26. LITTLE JOE'S GUITAR Billy Grammer (From the EP "Grammer's Guitar" Monument MEP15002) 1960 
27. WALTZ OF THE WATERFALL Billy Grammer (From the EP "Grammer's Guitar" Monument MEP15002) 1960 
28. BIG BIG DREAM Billy Grammer (From the EP "Grammer's Guitar" Everest 19384) 1960

CD 2
1. RIVER OF REGRET Billy Grammer (Everest 19384) 1960 
2. UNKNOWN SOLDIER Billy Grammer (Everest 19353) 1960 
3. PRINCESS OF PERSIA Billy Grammer (Everest 19353) 1960 
4. RAINBOW ROUND MY SHOULDER Billy Grammer (Decca 31226) 1961 
5. COLUMBUS STOCKADE BLUES Billy Grammer (Decca 31226) 1961 
6. HAVE A DRINK ON ME Billy Grammer (Decca 31274) 1961 
7. FINGER Billy Grammer (Decca 31274) 1961 
8. SAVE YOUR TEARS Billy Grammer (Decca 31321) 1961 
9. I'D LIKE TO KNOW WHY Billy Grammer (Decca 31321) 1961 
10. HE AIN'T MY BUDDY NO MORE Billy Grammer (Decca 31396) 1962 
11. BLUE ROLLER RINK Billy Grammer (Decca 31396) 1962 
12. I WANNA GO HOME Billy Grammer (Decca 31449) 1962 
13. THE BOTTOM OF THE GLASS Billy Grammer (Decca 31449) 1962 
14. THE OLD RUGGED CROSS Billy Grammer (From the album "Gospel Guitar" Decca DL74212) 1962 
15. DID YOU THINK TO PRAY Billy Grammer (From the album "Gospel Guitar" Decca DL74212) 1962 
16. AT CALVARY Billy Grammer (From the album "Gospel Guitar" Decca DL74212) 1962 
17. DRIFTING TOO FAR FROM THE SHORE Billy Grammer (From the album "Gospel Guitar" Decca DL74212) 1962 
18. FACE TO FACE Billy Grammer (From the album "Gospel Guitar" Decca DL74212) 1962 
19. LIFE'S RAILWAY TO HEAVEN Billy Grammer (From the album "Gospel Guitar" Decca DL74212) 1962 
20. WHAT A FRIEND WE HAVE IN JESUS Billy Grammer (From the album "Gospel Guitar" Decca DL74212) 1962 
21. THERE IS POWER IN THE BLOOD Billy Grammer (From the album "Gospel Guitar" Decca DL74212) 1962 
22. WHISPERING HOPE Billy Grammer (From the album "Gospel Guitar" Decca DL74212) 1962 
23. GOD WILL TAKE CARE OF YOU Billy Grammer (From the album "Gospel Guitar" Decca DL74212) 1962 
24. THE UNCLOUDY DAY Billy Grammer (From the album "Gospel Guitar" Decca DL74212) 1962 
25. BEAUTIFUL ISLE OF SOMEWHERE Billy Grammer (From the album "Gospel Guitar" Decca DL74212) 1962 
26. TAKE ME BACK SOUTH Billy Grammer (Tap 7031) 1962 
27. WABASH CANNONBALL Billy Grammer (Tap 7031) 1962