Square Dances With Calls - Lee Bedford, Jr.

In 1949, Texas caller Lee Bedford released on Imperial Records a four-album set of recordings with music provided by The Big D Ranch Hands. The liner notes, written by Paul Erfer, start by noting, "The interpretation of the figures described follows the style of square dancing as dances in some parts of Texas."

Each record had a patter call on the A side (tune shown in parentheses), backed with a singing call:

1108A     Four in Line You Travel (Buffalo Gals)
1108B     The Girl I Left Behind Me
1109A      Arkansas Traveler (Arkansas Traveler)
1109B      Mademoiselle From Armentieres
1110A      Texas Star (Chinese Breakdown)
1110B      Red River Valley
1111A       Cowboy Loop (Leather Britches)
1111B       Bell Bottom Trousers

Reviewing this album in American Squares (Vol. IV, #9, June 1949), editor Charley Thomas wrote, "Lee Bedford, Jr., has a pleasing voice; the orchestra lacks bass; balance between caller and orchestra is good; arranging by Paul Erfer is line, tho there is a peculiar combination of Texan calling and eastern singing calls; and the recording is good."

Five years after this recording, Bedford was chairman of the 1954 National Square Dance Convention held in Dallas.