Russ Aston- Ruf-Nec

DSCN2511This was $3.00 and was autographed. It was made out to a Travis who I am guessing was the singer’s boss at some point. I worked selling oilfield equipment for 15 years of my life so I am kind of sentimental to records like this.

Drilling rig in the night

This is a collection of oilfield songs by a former roughneck, Russ Aston. Born in Indiana and raised in New Mexico. While his first love was singing, his meal ticket was oilfield, working from roughneck to toolpusher. The songs at times are clever re-workings of country standards. It was recorded in Calgary, Alberta and distributed by London Records of Canada.

Eagle Ford Drilling Rig

It should also be note that the rig on the cover was Commonwealth Drilling Rig No 26. It drilled what was the deepest hole in Canada at the time of this record, 16,540 feet. I am guessing this came out in the sixties.DSCN2512

Since this is a small record, and because it hits home, I decided to post more than a few songs for this. I like “The Old Drilling Rig” when he talks about all the places it has been, West Texas to Leduc, from Venezuela to Iran. “Easy Money in the Oilpatch” talks about the hard work involved for that easy green. “Goin’ In the Hole” is a good number. I am partial to “Oh, You Drillin’ Rig” because it calls out that old Ideco derrick (would have been Dreco derrick in the song of this album was written later). Finally, Russ sings a song about one of the most storied people ever to work the oilpatch in “The Legend of Red Adair”.

Satisfactory record for me.

DSCN2511