The Shelton Brothers, Bob, Joe and Merle, were pioneer country musicians and renowned recording artists based out of Texas from the mid-1930s through the 1960s. They created and popularized the songs Johnson's Old Gray Mule, Deep Elm Blues, These Shoes Are Killing Me, Oh Monah, Match Box Blues and My Heart Oozes Blood For You, "What's The Matter With Deep Elm", "I'm A Handy Man To Have Around" and "Henpecked Husband Blues". The Shelton Brothers (Joe and Bob) also wrote (their names appear as co-writers, but the writer was actually, individually, Sydney Robin) and were the second to record "Just Because" (Decca 46008), a song that has since been recorded numerous times by various artists including
Elvis Presley who included it on his very first album titled "Elvis Presley". The original recording was by Nelstone's Hawaiians, comprising Hubert Nelson and James D. Touchstone. The song's opening line reads: Just because you think you're so pretty, just because you think you're so hot..... "Just Because" was the Shelton's first release on Decca but, due to their popularity, they went on to cut over 150 sides for the label. They also recorded sides for
Victor Records and
King Records. The Shelton Brothers would become one of the most successful country acts of the era.
The Shelton Brothers was also one of the earliest acts to appear on the famous Big D Jamboree which originated from the
Dallas Sportatorium in Dallas, Texas. They later became an integral part of The Saturday Night Shindig which also originated from Dallas.
Discography
Record number
Titles
Record label
46008
Just Because / Deep Elm Blues
Decca Records
46009
Ida Red / South
Decca Records
5079
Beautiful Louisiana / Neath The Maple In The Lane
Decca Records
5099
Deep Elem Blues / Hang Out The Front door Key
Decca Records
5100
Just Because / Who Wouldn't Be Lonely
Decca Records
5135
Message From Home Sweet Home / Will There Be Cowboys Up In Heaven
Decca Records
5161
Johnson's Old Gray Mule / Nothin'
Decca Records
5170
Answer To Just Because / That's A Habit I've Never Had
Decca Records
5173
New John Henry Blues / Ridin' On A Humpback Mule!
Decca Records
5180
Eleven Miles From Leavenworth / Budded Roses
Decca Records
5190
I'm Sittin' On Top Of The World / Four Or Five Times
Decca Records
5198
Deep Elem Blues #2 / Daddy Don't Let No Low Down Hangin' Round
Decca Records
5219
When It's Night Time In Nevada / The Black Sheep
Decca Records
5261
Lover's Farewell / Sweet Evalina
Decca Records
5339
New Trouble In Mind / Dollar Down Dollar a Week
Decca Records
5353
Alone With My Sorrows / Story Of Seven Roses
Decca Records
5367
Just Because #3 / Giving everything Away
Decca Records
5381
She Was Happy Til She Met You / A Prisoner's Dream
Decca Records
5397
Goodness Gracious Gracie / Nobody But My Baby
Decca Records
5409
Cinda Lou / I'm Here To Get My Baby Out Of Jail
Decca Records
5422
Deep Elm Blues #3 / Go Long Mule
Decca Records
5440
Answer To Blue Eyes / Someone To Love When You're Gone
Decca Records
5456
Uncle Eph's Got The Coon / New Cindy Lou
Decca Records
5468
That Golden Love / Answer To Prisoner's Dream
Decca Records
5471
I'm Gonna Fix Your Wagon / Way Down In Georgia
Decca Records
5475
Blue Kimono Blues / My Gal Is Mean
Decca Records
5484
I Told Them All About You / Seven Years With The Wrong Woman
Decca Records
5496
By The Stump Of The Old Pine Tree / Eight More Years To Go
