Charlie Feathers

Charles Arthur 'Charlie' Feathers (June 12, 1932 – August 29, 1998) was an American country music and rockabilly musician. Born in Holly Springs, Mississippi, he recorded a string of singles like 'Peepin' Eyes,' 'Defrost Your Heart,' 'Tongue-Tied Jill,' and 'Bottle to the Baby' on Sun Records, Meteor and King Records in the 1950s. His theatrical, hiccup-styled, energetic, rockabilly vocal style inspired a later generation of rock vocalists, including Lux Interior of The Cramps.

He started out as a session musician at Sun Studios, playing any side instrument he could in the hopes of someday making his own music there. He eventually played on a small label started by Sam Phillips called Flip records that got him enough attention to record a couple of singles for Sun Records and Holiday Inn Records. He then moved on to Meteor Records and then King Records where he recorded his best-known work.

Feathers' song, 'That Certain Female' was featured on the soundtrack to Quentin Tarantino's 2003 film Kill Bill: Volume 1. His 'Can't Hardly Stand It' was featured on the follow-up Kill Bill: Volume 2 soundtrack, as well as the highly successful video game Grand Theft Auto V. A brief bit of 'Can't Hardly Stand It' was also featured in the 2013 film Only Lovers Left Alive.

(Read more at Wikipedia.)

Links to Peel
Although available show tracklistings suggest Charlie Feathers was played relatively infrequently by Peel, five different singles by the rockabilly legend were found in John Peel's Record Box of treasured 45s. This made Feathers one of only seven artists with multiple releases in the collection (the others were The White Stripes (10), Eddie & Ernie (3), Harry Nilsson (3), G.L. Crockett (2), Medicine Head (2), The Upsetters (2)).

In the TV documentary on the record box, Peel's son Tom Ravenscroft suggested that the White Stripes' high total may have reflected the band's position as a current favourite and a year later the situation could have been completely different – and it may be that the unexpected presence of so many Charlie Feathers singles was the result of a similar burst of enthusiasm or an unexpected discovery of a cache of vintage rarities from the US. He was also a long-time fan of early rock and roll.

In 1977, the veteran rocker had recorded a joint Peel session with other rockabilly stars during a UK visit to play a “Sun Sound Show” for two nights at London's Rainbow Theatre. A live album recorded at the gigs was released the following year.

Festive Fifty Entries

 * None

Sessions
One session only, with lead vocals on other tracks by Buddy Knox, Warren Smith, Jack Scott. No known commercial release. 1. First broadcast 01 July 1977. Recorded 1977-05-03.


 * Too Much Alike / Bottle To The Baby

John Peel's Record Box

 * Nobody's Darling / Deep Elm Blues (Holiday Inn Records) 1962
 * Nobody's Woman / When You Decide (King Records) 1957 (two copies)
 * Wild Wild Party / Today And Tomorrow (Memphis Recordings) 1961
 * Tongue-Tied Jill / Get With It (Meteor Records) 1956
 * Too Much Alike / When You Come Around (King Records) 1957

Other Shows Played
(The following list was compiled only from the database of this site and Lorcan's Tracklistings Archive. Please add more information if known.)


 * 1984
 * 21 May 1984: One Hand Loose


 * 1994
 * 08 July 1994: Dig Myself A Hole (7”) Norton
 * 16 July 1994 (BFBS): Dig Myself A Hole (single) Norton


 * 1998
 * 14 May 1998: Tongue Tied Jill (7”) Meteor
 * 04 August 1998: Bottle To The Baby (LP - Get With It: Essential Recordings (1954-69)) Revenant
 * 27 August 1998: Get With It (CD - Get With It: Essential Recordings (1954-69)) Revenant
 * 17 September 1998: Tongue Tied Jill (LP - Get With It: Essential Recordings (1954-69) ) Revenant


 * 2004
 * 18 March 2004: One Hand Loose (white label)