Remembering Rosalie Sorrels (1933-2017)
Sue in Australia
Posted On June 15, 2017
BY SUE BARRETT
American singer/songwriter Rosalie Sorrels passed away a few days ago, in Reno, Nevada, aged 83 years.
About a decade and a half ago, Rosalie and American-born Australian singer/songwriter Joe Dolce were part of my column, ‘The Recorded Songwriter’, in Australian music magazine, Trad and Now. Rosalie even sent me, through the post, a cassette tape containing her version of Joe’s song, ‘My Home Ain’t in the Hall of Fame’, which was to be the subject of the column.
To honour Rosalie’s life and music, ‘The Recorded Songwriter’ column appears below.
The Recorded Songwriter – Rosalie Sorrels and Joe Dolce (2003)
“When somebody else does your stuff, then there’s a chance that you might actually be a songwriter.” Cris Williamson, 2001
These days, Joe Dolce lives in Melbourne (Australia) and Rosalie Sorrels lives in Idaho (USA). But back in the 1970s, they were both working in California and Rosalie recorded Joe’s song ‘My Home Ain’t in the Hall of Fame’ for her album, Whatever Happened to the Girl That Was?
Thirty years later, Joe and Rosalie reflect upon the song…
The Songwriter: Joe Dolce
Joe Dolce was born in Painesville, Ohio, USA; but has lived in Australia for many years. He has been a member of various groups (including The Headstone Circus and Skin the Wig) and is currently part of the Difficult Women performance company. Joe is probably best known for his song, ‘Shaddap You Face’ (which reached #1 on the Australian and UK charts and sold more than five million copies in 15 countries, with over 30 different foreign language cover versions).
When and where did you write, ‘My Home Ain’t in the Hall of Fame’?
I wrote the song when I lived on the Russian River in Northern California in the 1970s. I was playing full-time as a solo performer and the country-rock/country-folk scene around there was strong and influential.
What is the story behind the song?
The people I hung around with in those days and I shared a rebellious spirit about “roots” music — even country roots music — and we were attracted to Jimmy Rodgers, Hank Williams, Bill Monroe, Woody Guthrie, many unknown-but-great performers living in the mountains: basically the kind of artists that struggled most of their life with little or no recognition from the main stream media but kept doing it.
In contrast to the artists who had their eye firmly fixed on chart positions, image, “mansions on the hill” and their inbred “cult of personality” rather than the quality and depth of songs performed and real commitment to musical tradition (the past) and innovation (the future) — these were artists that would be prepared to do what they do even if commercial success eluded them or eluded them for a good part of their life.
The song was first performed (other than by me) by a group named Frontier Constabulary headed up by Mitch Greenhill who now runs Folklore Productions in Santa Monica. And the first cover recording was by Jonathan Edwards (who had a US hit song ‘Sunshine’).
Have you ever recorded the song? If not, why not?
I only recorded the song in demo form with a girl I used to sing with named Sunny Supplee. She was killed in a car crash in Maui about 10 years ago. I really don’t know why I never got around to recording it. Probably because the first professional recording I made was during the ‘Shaddap You Face’ period in 1980, and by then I had moved away from C & W music as a focus. I would like to record it one day.
What are the pros and cons of having someone else record a song that you’ve written?
Pros: it gives you exposure to a different audience than your own; it creates publishing royalties which can flow on to you for many years afterwards; it affirms that you have in fact written a song that is relevant to other artists as well; and it is an honour to have someone else sing your song, especially if that artist is also a strong songwriter — that means the song has really affected their life.
Cons: Sometimes another artist or a more technically proficient artist can “freeze” an interpretation to the song that people will identify with the song rather then your own version. (I mean, once Elvis has sung a song, can anyone imagine any other version?) For instance, J D Crowe and The New South’s version of ‘Hall of Fame’ is taken directly from Jonathan Edward’s version which preceded it. Rosalie Sorrels’ and Robert Earl Keen’s versions, however, are personal and their own.
The Recording Artist: Rosalie Sorrels
Rosalie Sorrels was born and brought up in Idaho, USA; lived for more than a decade in Salt Lake City, Utah; spent some years in California; and is now once again living in Idaho. She has been writing, collecting and recording songs for more than 40 years. In 2000, Rosalie released, No Closing Chord: The Songs of Malvina Reynolds, to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Malvina’s birth.
When and how did you become aware of Joe Dolce’s song, ‘My Home Ain’t in the Hall of Fame’?
I learned it from Joe in the first part of the ‘70s — we were both working around Sonoma and the Bay Area in California and had mutual friends.
What does the song mean to you?
I’m a maverick and never loved the music business, so it connected with my outlaw side.
Have you ever heard Joe sing the song? And, if so, how does your version relate to his version?
Yes, I have heard Joe sing the song — his version was great!
My version is my own take — recorded at Bearsville Studio with Michael Cuscuna (producer), Mitch Greenhill (lead guitar), Eric Kaz (piano), Harvey Brooks (bass), Greg Thomas (drums), Larry Packer (fiddle), Bill Keith (pedal steel) and Luden and the Cough Drops (backup vocals).
If I get a chance, I’ll put it out again — it shoulda been a hit — it still should be a hit — whoever sings it.
The Song
My Home Ain’t in the Hall of Fame
Words & Music: Joe Dolce
My home ain’t in the Hall of Fame.
You can go there but you won’t find my name.
My songs don’t belong on Top Forty radio,
I’ll keep the old back forty, for my home.
I ain’t no truck driving man,
I’ve hitchhiked all I can,
But I know the highway,
It takes me where I need to go.
And I’ve got a sunburnt thumb,
Yes, I’m just a highway bum,
I want to play my guitar
And fall in love some more.
My home ain’t in the Hall of Fame.
You can go there but you won’t find my name.
My songs don’t belong on Top Forty radio,
I’ll keep the old back forty, for my home.
I’ve left some friends behind,
Some have left me crying,
And some have stayed
Right up here by my side.
It’s good to have a home,
Sometimes it’s good to be alone,
And it sure feels good,
Just to keep your good friends high.
My home ain’t in the Hall of Fame.
You can go there but you won’t find my name.
My songs don’t belong on Top Forty radio,
I’ll keep the old back forty, for my home.
The Discography
Joe Dolce’s song, ‘My Home Ain’t in the Hall of Fame’ appears on these albums:
Jonathan Edwards, Have a Good Time for Me (1973)
Rosalie Sorrels, Whatever Happened to the Girl That Was? (1973)
J D Crowe and The New South, My Home Ain’t in the Hall of Fame (1980)
Robert Earl Keen, Gravitational Forces (2001)
The Recorded Songwriter…was created and compiled by Sue Barrett
SUE BARRETT is a music writer from Australia. Her best albums of 2000 included Joe Dolce’s FreeLoveDays and Rosalie Sorrels’ No Closing Chord: The Songs Of Malvina Reynolds.
© 2003 and 2017
