Recordings

Audio Recordings

(Click here for a complete list of ALL songs)

Unlike a lot of bands, Sawdust Charley had a dedicated sound engineer at every gig.  At every job, you could see Bob Feldner either sitting behind the mixing console, running up to the stage to fix a problem, or even on stage, singing a song with the band!  Whether it was happiness or heartache, he got the same slice of it that everyone else got.  The job did not come without a downside, though.  Being out front, exposed to the full volume of sound meant that his ears would build up a protective layer of wax which would periodically have to be professionally removed! 

On many of those performances they also had access to a reel-to-reel recorder provided by Johnny Dondlinger’s brother Pat.  Whenever possible Pat, who was also an audio engineer, would record the band and that has left Sawdust Charley with at least a dozen tapes that have survived over the years. 

Below, you can find entire performances, as well as curated collections of cacophony.

This is the earliest reel-to-reel tape found so far which dates back to April 25, 1975.  At this point in time the band was still called Sundance. Some of the songs on this tape have not been found any where else.

Here’s a recording from two nights at the King Cole Inn in Wichita on Oct. 1 & 2, 1975.  The band BIG BUX played a few songs while Sawdust Charley took a break.  

A double CD from a bootleg tape recorded at the King Cole Inn in Wichita, KS on Dec. 23, 1975.  The mics were farther out in the audience and you can really hear the crowd.

This was recorded at the Dry Dock Inn at Cheney Reservoir in October of ’76. The performances are becoming more refined, and more original music had been added.  This was a great little gig for the band.

audio, black and white, black

One of the rare studio sessions done by Sawdust Charley.  This 4 song demo tape was used by the band for promotional purposes.

After Mike and Johnny left, Sawdust Charley was down to three original members, Doug, Harry & Jamey, who were still writing songs. These demos were recorded in Jamey’s garage in Vista CA.  in early ’78.

For some reason, not all songs were captured in the live performance tapes that you see in this group.  Here are some Missing Pieces. 

Videos

Here's a promo the band did for their 2016 induction into the
Kansas Music Hall of Fame

Way back on July 4th, 1987, Sawdust Charley got together for a reunion at a pool party in Wichita KS. Jim Kent sat in on keyboards and sax, and most of the band was in casual "short shorts" style of the day.

Song List

  1. What Time Does the Band Start Playing (partial)
  2. Waiting for a Woman
  3. Stagecoach
  4. Living In A Honkytonk
  5. Santa Fe
  6. San Antonio Rose
  7. Motel Time Again
  8. Dixie Chicken
  9. Willin’
  10. Money Means More Than Love
  11. Truck Driving Song
  12. Dancing With My Lady
  13. What’s A Growing Boy To Do
  14. Lay It On The Line
  15. High Hill Country Rain
  16. Daredevil Lover
  17. I Want You
  18. Where Would I Be (Without You)
  1. Rock & Roll Medley
    • Roll Over Beethoven
    • Fun, Fun, Fun
    • Boney Maroney
    • Maybelline
    • Runaway
    • Break My Mind
    • I Saw Her Standing There
    • Land of a Thousand Dances
    • Twist & Shout
    • Dream Lover
    • Sweet Little Sheela
    • Hi-heeled Sneakers
    • Nadine
    • New Orleans
    • Peggy Sue
  2. Angel From Montgomery
  3. Moody Woman
  4. Reno
  5. You Can’t Be A Lover
  6. Last Call For Beer
  7. Redneck Mother
[whohit]Recording[/whohit]
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