The Oak Ridge Boys As Back-Up Singers
(This is probably a partial
list. If you know of any that are missing here, please email the information)
All of the Wally Fowler concert albums are with the Oaks backing him. Some of the later albums may not be the same Oak Ridge Qt. as he continued using their name for a different group until he was sued and ordered to stop. The early albums are definitely the true Oak Ridge Quartet. Only the songs with him and the Oaks are listed.
Wally Fowler's All Night Singing Gospel Concert 11th Anniversary Performance..Starday 112
Wally Fowler's All Night Singing 15th Anniversary..Modern Sound 814 Wally & Oaks sing: A Wonderful Time Up There, Peace In The Valley, I'm On My Journey Home, Mama Sang A Song. November 1963. Wally Fowler All Night Singing Nashville Style..White Dove 100 "How Great Thou Art" Wally Fowler All Night Singing Georgia Style..White Dove 101 "This Ole House"Wally Fowler All Night Singing Alabama Style..White Dove 102
"Just A Closer Walk" Wally Fowler All Night Singing Florida Style..White Dove 103 "May The Lord Bless You.." Wally Fowler All Night Singing North Carolina Style..White Dove 104 "Wings of a Dove" Wally Fowler All Night Singing South Carolina Style..White Dove 105 "Faith As The Grain Of A Mustard Seed" Wally Fowler All Night Singing Kentucky Style..White Dove 106 "Where Will I Shelter My Sheep?"Wally Fowler All Night Singing Mississippi Style..White Dove 107
"The Fourth Man" Wally Fowler All Night Singing Ohio Style..White Dove 108 "Happiness is Just a Prayer Away" Wally Fowler, The Oak Ridge Qt, Sunshine Boys, Autry Inman...Songs Of Inspiration... Guest Star 1464. Little Talk With Jesus, A Satisfied Mind, Farther Along, Closer Walk With Thee Four songs with the Oak Ridge Qt. These are live cuts. The other songs are with other artists. Mid-60's. Also released as Country & Western Gospel...Diplomat 2602"Little" Troy Lumpkin Sings Just A Rose Will Do
Skylite SLRP6001 Oaks back this singer. 1962May The Lord Bless You Real Good..Big Gospel 113 May The Lord Bless You Real Good, This Ole House, He Is There, Where Will I Shelter My Sheep, Pray Pray Pray (For The USA), I Bowed On My Knees & Cried Holy, Brotherhood, Wasted Years, Wings Of A Dove, That Great Big Feeling, The Storm Of Life, Beyond The River (That Has No Bridge). Oaks voices not very distinctive. Mid 60's
Pray, Pray, Pray! for the USA..Songs of Faith 107 same songs as the above album. David Beatty & The Oak Ridge Quartet..It's Different Now..Joybell 826B-4798 David Beatty was an evangelist/singer/songwriter. Wrote "It's Different Now" and "Welcome Home" which the Oaks recorded. Smitty Gatlin arranged this recording session and the musicians. Oaks have some solo parts. With Smitty, Willie, Herman, Tommy, & Bill Golden. Has a studio group photo on the back not on their albums. (1964) John Crenshaw tells me this is Jerry Lee Lewis & Jimmy Swaggart's cousin.Jim McNeil...I'll Tell The World..Heart Warming 1928
Oaks and the singer's sisters back this singer. Cir. 1967Anna Gordon Sings Country Gospel Favorites Columbia 9650
This is a singer with the Chuck Wagon Gang backed by the Oaks on all songs. Sing mostly Oaks songs and some songs the Oaks would later record. Quite good. 1968. Her son, Greg, was a drummer for the Oaks. See The Oaks Band page. Stonewall Jackson..The Old Country Church..Columbia 10115 Jesus Hold My Hand*, The Old Country Church*, Where Could I Go But To The Lord, Something Got A Hold Of Me/Kneel At The Cross*, Save A Little Place For Me*, Wait A Little Longer Please Jesus*, A Tree For The Cross, Mama's Bible*, Farther Along*, What A Friend We Have In Jesus. *These songs with the Oak Ridge Boys. Cir. late 60's. Red Foley & The Oak Ridge Boys..Songs For The Soul..Decca 4849 Nearer My God To Thee, I'm Going Home To Jesus*, Time Has Made A Change*, Lonely Mile*, My Room Of Prayer*, Amazing Grace, I Know Who Holds Tomorrow*, When The Saints Go Marching In, Rock Of Ages, Where Could I Go*, In The Shelter Of His Arms*, Without Him* *These songs with the Oak Ridge Boys. Cir late 60's to early 70's. Oaks voices not very distinctive. Wanda Jackson..Praise The Lord..Capitol 11023 The King Is Coming, My Testimony, Didn't He Shine*, He Gives Us All His Love*, People Gotta Be Loving*, How Great Thou Art, Am I Not My Brother's Keeper*, Oh Happy Day*, He's The Man, Battle Hymn Of The Republic* *These songs with the Oak Ridge Boys. 1972 Chet Johnson..Peace In The Valley..Superior 1006 with the Oaks on back-up.Praise The Lord & Pass The Soup/Ballad Of Barbara
. With Johnny Cash & The Carter Family. Available as a single. Columbia Records 1973King Of The Hill, Good Morning Friend, What On Earth Will You Do (For Heaven's Sake)
Backup for Johnny Cash on his album "Ragged Old Flag". CBS Records S-80113 1974Together Again...The Orrells..Heart Warming 3357 Richard Sterban, Norah Lee Allen, Judy Breland & others sing back-up on 4 songs. 1975
If You Emptied Out All Your Pockets You Could Not Make The Change
. One song on this album by Maggie & Terre Roche (The Roches). The album is "Seductive Reasonings." The song with the Oaks is okay, but the rest of the album is terrible to me. Sounds like the group 4 Non Blondes singing off key. Produced by Paul Simon & Phil Ramone (only this song). Released on Columbia in 1975 and re-issued in 1981. My Head Hurts, My Feet Stink & I Don't Love Jesus Backup for Jimmy Buffet on his album "Havana Daydreamin" 1976 Roy Clark..In Concert..ABC 2054. During a Las Vegas show, the Oaks sang back-up on this album. Not very distinctive. The back of the album is an in-concert picture of Roy & The Oaks. 1976Or What
with Junior Farrington Jr. And The Possums. Available as a single. Dog Productions 100-A 1976Jesus Wasn't In It For The Dollar/For Crying Out Loud
. From the album "Planet Time" by Rockland Road (The Oaks Band's name on this album). The first song is backed by the Oaks (not very distinctive), and the next one is backed by Richard. Signatur Records Swedish release, 1977. Slip Slidin' Away. With Paul Simon. Can't hear the Oaks very distinctly. Available as a single. Columbia 1977A Piece Of The Rock
. With Even Stevens. From the album "Thorn On The Rose" Elektra Records 7E-1113 1977Broken Trust Backup for Brenda Lee on her album "Take Me Back". Available as a single. MCA 1980
Same Ole Me With George Jones off his album "The Same Ole Me." Joe commented in 1981 that they began sounding like George while singing this song. You can hear it in this song. Available as a single. Epic 1981
You Make Me Want To Sing Back up for Joe Sun, from his album "The Best Of Joe Sun". This was the only new song on the album. Elektra Records 60198 1982
Blue Moon Of Kentucky From the album "Bill Monroe and Friends." No solo parts, but Joe talks and the Oaks picture is on the cover. MCA 1983
This Old Heart (Is Gonna Rise Again). With Ray Charles, from his album "Friendship." Columbia 1984
When You Get To The Heart. With Barbara Mandrell. Richard has a short solo and Joe is pretty clear. From her album "Get To The Heart". Available as a single. MCA 1985Sleepwalk
with John McEuen from the album "John McEuen" Warner Brothers Records 25266 1985Hey Joe
with John McEuen, recorded in the same session as 'Sleepwalk', but this song remains unreleased. 1985Out Goin' Cattin' From the same album by Sawyer Brown. Only Joe is on here. Available as a single. Capitol Records 1986
Music For My Soul/ You Turn The Light On From William Lee Golden's solo album "American Vagabond" MCA 1986
Big Bad John From the Charlie Daniel's Band album "Homesick Heroes." Especially features Richard. Oaks on the chorus. Epic 1988
Grand Central Station
with The Forrester Sisters from "Family Faith". Great song featuring each of the Oaks. 1988Save Me/ Scheherazade.
Richard sings backup for Peter Cetera on these songs from "One More Story." Can hardly hear him. 1988 Ain't That Country/ Weekend From the comedy album "The Cheater's Telethon" by Gerry House. The Oaks sing the chorus on the first song and sing a verse and some solo lines on the second song along with Patty Loveless and The Gatlin Brothers. I think this is a really good album. The Oaks sound real good on their first song. MCA 1990 The Prodigal Son With Larry Gatlin & The Gatlin Brothers, "Cookin' Up A Storm." Duane then The Oaks, then Richard sing lead on one verse and with the Gatlins on the choruses. 1990Don't Fence Me In From the Roy Rogers "Tribute" recording with Roy and Lorrie Morgan. RCA 1991
Thank God For Kids From Charlie Chase's album "My Wife, My Life." Columbia 1993
I Ain't Even Left With Billy Ray Cyrus from his recording "Storm In The Heartland." Their voices aren't distinct at all. Available as a single. 1994
I Know Duane sings one verse on this Dixie Echoes' recording, "He Did It All." Morning Star 1995
Daddy Sang Bass With Leon Russell from "Legend In My Time; Hank Wilson Vol. 3" 1998
"Dance With Me" title of Jimmy Sturr's CD. 5 songs feature the Oaks with Sturr's orchestra backing them. 1998
Old Gospel Ship With Gary McSpadden from "Back Home Again" 1999
When I Was A Cowboy
With The Flying Burrito Brothers from the album "Sons Of The Golden West" Grateful Dead Records GDCD4065 1999The Long Arm Of Love With Crossway from the CD "Shout Amen: 30 of Today's Top Southern Gospel Artists And Songs" Spring Hill Music CMD1095 2005
Daddy Sang Bass With The Chuck Wagon Gang from the CD "70th Anniversary 1936-2006" New Day Records 2006
A Whole Lot Of Love (To Go Home To) With Hank Locklin from the CD "By The Grace Of God: The Gospel Album" Yell Records 2006
"John In The Jordan" with Jerry Valley from the CD "New Songs, Old Friends" Mountain Home Records MH11152 2007
Slow Train With Shooter Jennings from the album "The Wolf" Universal South Records 2007
Take The High Road With The Blind Boys Of Alabama from the album "Take The High Road" Saguaro Records 26393-D 2011
Leaving Louisiana In The Broad Daylight & I Am Strong With The Grascals from the album "Country Classics With A Bluegrass Spin" Cracker Barrel 2011
Okolona Tennessee With Kenny Vaughan from the CD "V" Spring Hill Records 2011
Gone Away With Bill Anderson - a single released in 2012
"When Country Meets Dixie" title of the Dukes Of Dixieland CD. 4 songs feature the Oaks doing Dixieland style music. Leisure Music Group 2012
Special thanks to Irl Grundy for the majority of this information