HALLLLLPPPP!!! MATILDA

Roual Ranes · Post by **Roual Ranes** » 14 Nov 2006 4:58 am

Who re-did this blues thing in the early '70s. I searched the web but I have either the name incorrect or the singer is wrong.

Bobby Bowman · Post by **Bobby Bowman** » 14 Nov 2006 7:09 am

Bobby,
Might have been Donny King.
BB
www.bobbybowman.com

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If you play 'em, play 'em good!
If you build 'em, build 'em good!
http://www.bobbybowman.com

James Pennebaker · Post by **James Pennebaker** » 14 Nov 2006 10:06 pm

If you're talking about the old Louisiana "swamp pop" hit, it's Mathilda and your spelling is missing the letter "H." Both Freddy Fender and Sleepy LaBeef had it out in the early 70's, I believe. The most popular original version was probably by Shreveport's "Cookie and The Cupcakes" but it's been done by everybody from Ace Cannon to Jerry Lee Lewis and many others. Being an old North Texas boy myself, I've had to play that tune on many a night.

JP[This message was edited by James Pennebaker on 14 November 2006 at 10:10 PM.]

Billy Wilson · Post by **Billy Wilson** » 15 Nov 2006 12:20 am

Great tune. I got to see Cookie toward the end of his life at a party at Boozoo Chavis' place in Dog Hill La. He showed up witha band that had four horn players. GREAT!! Don't know who did it in the 70's

Roual Ranes · Post by **Roual Ranes** » 15 Nov 2006 4:58 am

The version I remember had some fine steel work. I was working three jobs at the time and just never got down to pick up a copy so I dont know for sure who did it. The version I remember got a lot of play around the Dallas area but I dont know if it went national.

Gary Atkinson · Post by **Gary Atkinson** » 15 Nov 2006 8:18 am

Did Narvel Felts do a version of this song with the great steel work in it? He's got the high voice that would fit.

Chris Schlotzhauer · Post by **Chris Schlotzhauer** » 15 Nov 2006 9:53 am

Hey James, didn't Dean Charles from Ft Worth write that?

Bobby Bowman · Post by **Bobby Bowman** » 15 Nov 2006 2:49 pm

Bobby,
I'm pretty sure the one you're asking about is the version by Donny(ie)King. Fred Hinie was the steel player. It was probably cut at SoundMasters studio here in Houston and may have been produced by Pappy Dailey.
BB
www.bobbybowman.com

------------------
If you play 'em, play 'em good!
If you build 'em, build 'em good!
http://www.bobbybowman.com

Andy Volk · Post by **Andy Volk** » 15 Nov 2006 6:21 pm

Guess it wasn't ...

Hey! Matilda, Matilda, Matilda, she take me money and
run Venezuela.
Once again now!
Matilda, Matilda, Matilda, she take me money and run Venezuela.

James Pennebaker · Post by **James Pennebaker** » 15 Nov 2006 9:21 pm

Chris,

Dean Charles? Now, there's a name I haven't heard in a long time! You made me go and look it up on the All Music Guide. According to that source it was written by George Khoury and Huey Thierry. A couple of Louisiana R&B/Cajun songwriters.

Is Dean still in the Ft. Worth area?

JP[This message was edited by James Pennebaker on 15 November 2006 at 09:22 PM.]

Jody Sanders · Post by **Jody Sanders** » 15 Nov 2006 10:05 pm

As Dr. Bowman said, it was most likely Donny King. I was with Donny King and Freddie Fender at the CMA awards show and Grand Ole Opry 50th year celebration in Nashville in 1975. The song by Donny was real hot at the time. Both Donny and Freddie were being managed by Huey Meaux at the time. Had a great time. Jody.

Chris Schlotzhauer · Post by **Chris Schlotzhauer** » 16 Nov 2006 7:47 am

I don't even know if Dean is alive. I played with him a few times in the '70s, and I swore he claimed he wrote it, but you are probably right.

Cal Sharp · Post by **Cal Sharp** » 16 Nov 2006 10:04 am

I did some gigs with Donny King around Houston in the 70's, with Charlie Harris on guitar. "Mathilda" was definitely his signature song. He even named his dog after it.

C#
www.calsharp.com