COUNTRY MUSIC CLASSICS
Doug Davis
Owner/Publisher/Manager/Editor/
Writer/Gopher/Chief Cook & Bottle Washer
Thursday August 9th, 2012
CHECK OUT OUR WEBSITE AT www.countrymusicclassics.com
STORY BEHIND THE SONG
According to Waylon Jennings, his 1975 number one, "Are You Sure Hank Done It This Way" was an actual slice of life on the road.
He commented, "When we were on the road and something would mess up – like maybe the bus having a flat tire – or broke down – things like that – somebody would always say "are you sure Hank done it this way?" So I guess it was natural for somebody to use that line in a song.
Waylon said he wrote the tune while driving to Jack Clement's recording studio.
"I had one hand on the wheel while I wrote down the words on the back of an envelope while on the way to the recording session. I put that envelope on the music stand in the studio and we recorded the song that afternoon. Later, somebody showed me that envelope and I couldn't read a word of what I had written," said Waylon.
Waylon's RCA Victor single of "Are You Sure Hank Done It This Way" came on the country charts September 6th, 1975 and was in the top slot the week of November 15th.
It was his 37th charted song and his third number one. It was on the charts for 16 weeks and also posted a # 60 hit on the pop music charts.
^^^^^^^^^^
A T T E N T I O N: R A D I O S T A T I O N S:
Our short form daily radio feature, "Story Behind The Song" is now available to radio stations. (NOT AVAILABLE TO INTERNET STATIONS)
The feature is available at no charge.
For information, email me at classics@countrymusicclassics.com
^^^^^^^^^^
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
Q: I heard on the radio that the Academy of Country Music is having an awards ceremony in September. I thought they already had that.
A: The 47th annual ACM Awards took place in May, but the Academy holds a separate event to recognize special honorees and off-camera category winners. The program will include presentations of awards to Emmylou Harris, Ricky Skaggs, Dwight Yoakam and songwriter-producer Billy Sherrill. Other recipients will include Vince Gill, Alan Jackson, and the late Roger Miller. The ceremony is set for September 24 at Nashville's Ryman Auditorium.
Q; The radio folks were talking about a Don Williams songwriter getting a special award. Do you know who they were talking about?
A: Bob McDill is scheduled to receive The Golden note Award from the performing rights organization ASCAP on October 29th. McDill wrote- or co-wrote - over a dozen hits for Don Williams.
Q: Do you have any information concerning a Willie Nelson recording of a Johnny Cash and June Carter Cash song?
A: The Cash's "If I Were A Carpenter" features Willie Nelson and Sheryl Crow on the CD/DVD set "We Walk The Line: A Celebration of the Music Of Johnny Cash" which was filmed in April during a Cash tribute concert in Austin, Texas.
Q: The George Strait record "Drinking Champagne" is one of my favorites. My dad says that song was a hit for some other singer years before the Strait version. Is that correct?
A: "Drinking Champagne" scored a # 35 hit for Cal Smith in 1968 before hitting the # 4 spot for George Strait in 1990. The song was written by country music radio icon Bill Mack.
Q: The radio d.j. said something about Ronnie Milsap involved in some project to give shoes to needy people. Do you have any information?
A: Through the efforts of some of country music's biggest stars, including Vince Gill, Reba McEntire and Alan Jackson, more than 30,000 people around the world, many of them children, have received a new pair of shoes - thanks to the single "The Choice," which featured those artists and more on the tune, proceeds from which benefit the nonprofit organization Soles4Souls. Also heard on the song are LeAnn Rimes, Kenny Rogers, Wynonna, Ronnie Milsap, Diamond Rio, and Randy Travis. Proceeds from each download of the song go to Soles4Souls, a nonprofit organization based in Nashville, which collects new shoes to give relief to the needy.
Q: I have an old record from back in the 50's titled "Black Land Farmer" by Frankie Miller. My cousin says that the song was on the radio by another singer years later. Is that true?
A: Frankie Miller scored a # 5 hit with "Blackland Farmer" in 1959. Starday Records re-released the same recording in 1961, which peaked at # 16. Sleepy LaBeef recorded the song in 1961, which topped out at # 67.
^^^^^^^^^
Your comments, suggestions, gripes, etc. concerning this newsletter---are welcome. Email to:Classics@countrymusicclassics.com
^^^^^^^^^^
NUMBER ONE ON THIS DATE:
1944
Is You is or is You Ain't (Ma' Baby) - Louis Jordan
1952
Are You Teasing Me - Carl Smith
1960
Please Help Me, I'm Falling - Hank Locklin
1968
Folsom Prison Blues - Johnny Cash
1976
Golden Ring - George Jones & Tammy Wynette
1984
Mama He's Crazy - The Judds
^^^^^^^^^
TODAY IN COUNTRY MUSIC HISTORY
compiled by Bill Morrison
Bonnie Campbell joined Buck Owens band in 1947, when she was fifteen years old. They were married the following year and she became Bonnie Owens.
The "Maumee Valley Jamboree," debuted on WTOD in Toledo, OH 1947.
The Stanley Brothers had their first recording session for Mercury 1953.
Cathy Fink, singer/guitarist/banjoist, born Baltimore, MD 1953.
Jesse Ashlock, age 61, songwriter/fiddle player, "Texas Playboys" died in Austin, TX 1976.
Randy Travis' album "Storms Of Life," went to #1 1986.
The Father of Bluegrass, Bill Monroe, had double heart bypass surgery 1991.
Bobby McBay, age 60, died Texarkana, Texas, in 1998 following a stroke. McBay was a
former bass player in Bob Wills' Texas Playboys.
Steve Runkle, age 49, singer/songwriter, died in Nashville, TN 2001.
Proper Records released Red Foley's album "Tennessee Saturday Night" 2002.
Hank Cochran inducted into the Mississippi Musicians Hall of Fame 2003.
Sam Hogin, songwriter, twice nominated for the CMA's Song of the Year award, died in Nashville 2004.
Courtesy Bill Morrison: http://www.talentondisplay.com/countrycalMAR.html
^^^^^^^^^^^^^
In response to many requests, YES I am on Facebook and you are welcome to become a friend—UNLESS you are one of those that posts photos of your grandkids or your pet cat every other day. I don't have the time or interest for that. SO—if that's what you do on Facebook.. just forget me !
I'm the Doug Davis with the photos of the guitars.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
RUSTY DIAMOND: A TRUE STORY.
By: Jack Blanchard
Rusty Diamond was a Country recording artist,
with releases on Starday and Stop records,
but his main talent was getting money from rich girls.
One of these angels, a very sweet buxom blonde from Chicago,
bought into Rusty's career to the tune of $48,000 in one week.
He hired me as his producer and we flew to Nashville to record some hits.
Rusty passed out $50 tips to waitresses, porters,
and anyone who had his hand out.
To Rusty the important thing was the public gesture.
In Nashville, he called up one of the finest men's stores
and had them bring a truckload of assorted clothes to our motel.
We selected a few thousand dollars worth,
and he paid the driver in cash.
Returning to Miami, a crowd awaited us at the airport.
Women stood in line to kiss Rusty while photographers flashed pictures.
Police directed traffic as we pulled away in a new rented Lincoln limo.
I found out later that Rusty had hired the whole crowd, photographers, cops and all.
Rusty moved into an oceanfront suite
and hired a valet/bodyguard, for about two grand a week...
a tough guy about six foot eight.
About this time, the blonde's father heard about her business venture
and hopped a plane for Miami, hopping mad.
He threatened everybody in sight with jail sentences,
if he couldn't arrange for the guillotine.
Rusty not only calmed the old man, but hit him for another forty grand.
The last I heard of Rusty he was broke and running from his bodyguard,
whom he had neglected to pay.
When Rusty Diamond had a buck
he made Howard Hughes look like a bum.
He never realized that just being himself would have been good enough.
Once, when we were alone, I saw him in tears,
saying that nobody really cared for him.
But he had set it up that way by acting the bigshot,
and trying to buy admiration and loyalty.
We're still getting little royalties from his old records.
Here's one of my funniest songs, recorded by Rusty Diamond...
http://soundclick.com/share.cfm?id=11172961
And we'd like to see him again, even if he's broke.
^^^^^^^^^^^
Diane Diekman Newsletter
This is part of a perodic newsletter commemorates the lives of Faron Young and Marty Robbins. The University of Illinois Press published Twentieth Century Drifter: The Life of Marty Robbins and reissued Live Fast, Love Hard: The Faron Young Story in soft cover.
FARON YOUNG TWENTY YEARS AGO
On August 7, 1992, Faron Young recorded Live in Branson, MO, USA at Gilley's Theatre. Faron said, "This is the first live album I've ever made." He usually gave onstage songs a new personality instead of wanting them to sound like the record. Listening to the CD brings me back in time, to the feeling of being at one of his shows, complete with Dean-Martin-type delivery and jokes about favorite topics: ex-wife, fat people, and being a drunk. He described the show as "Faron Young, half shot in Branson." The CD contains most of Faron's greatest hits. "Leavin' and Sayin' Goodbye" has never sounded better than with Ernie Reed on fiddle in this version. The other Country Deputies that day were Richard Bass Barish on lead guitar, Stu Basore on steel, Ray Emmett on bass, Mark Gullen on drums, and Gene Dunlap on keyboard.
LETTERS
Ronny Robbins sends this update on Marty's exhibit after the Nashville flood: "The cars are being restored and they got the instruments and suits out along with some other things. Everything in the office was wiped out though. Think they are just using the building for storage right now, since they weren't charging admission, it wasn't a money maker for them so it's not high on their priority list. I think Brenda Colladay (bless her heart) is pretty much a one-man band right now, and doing the best she can to get everything restored with little or no budget. I have to go out there soon, will try to find out a little more info."
Sad news from Jeff Chandler, former member of the Marty Robbins Band: His wife, Nancy, passed away on May 10th. She had been diagnosed with the fatal disease of ALS in July of 2010. Jeff asks, "Please keep us all in your prayers."
Wesley Scott Rose says, "You are such a great writer and I hope you will write bios on other country stars, maybe someone like Webb Pierce or Johnny Horton. There's so many life stories to tell and you would be wonderful at writing them. Thanks for writing your book on Faron Young, I enjoy it every time I read it. Now I bought your book on Marty Robbins and I know I'll enjoy it as well."
Geoff Lambert asks from England, "When my wife and I visited Nashville from the UK back in 1990 we tripped over a country shop and in the rear was a lot of Marty Robbins memorabilia including a car. We think it wasn't far away from the Jim Reeves museum which, like this country shop, we tripped over coming up a slip road off an interstate. When we found the place, I do not recall anything mentioning Marty outside and we only stopped to get something to eat and when we went inside right at the back was from memory quite a lot of Marty bits and pieces including the car. Can you help me out is that still the museum? Where was it? And if it isn't the current museum, where is the museum now?"
Response: I have no idea, Geoff. Perhaps my readers can help you.
Mike McKay writes from Youngstown, Ohio, "I have a musical question about Marty Robbins that has been bugging me for decades. I got my Communications degree in 1973, and the first radio job I found following graduation was at a country music station. I figured if I was gonna play this music, I better damn well learn to like it! And being exposed to the contemporary country music of the day whetted my appetite for its roots. I moved to a second country station that had a much deeper library of old country 45s and LPs. Somewhere in the depths of the collection was a compilation album...it might have been one prepared especially for radio stations, I'm not sure...and on that album was one of Marty's older recordings — one that predated "Singin' the Blues" and "A White Sport Coat." I can't tell you what it was, but I fell in love with the purity of the sound of Marty's minimally accompanied voice and the simple production of the music. I wanted more like this...but there was absolutely none to be found. All of Marty's Greatest Hits albums at the time started with "Singin' the Blues" and moved forward...nothing could be found of his pre-1956 recordings. And here is the crux of the matter: I could swear that somewhere in this time frame (roughly mid-1970s), I read that Marty was somehow ashamed of these earlier recordings, and personally decreed they should not be made available. There seems to be strong evidence that this decree was followed. While many other artists saw their earlier recordings available on budget label reissues (i.e., Harmony, Pickwick, etc.), there was no early Marty Robbins to be found anywhere. And believe me, I looked. I haunted garage sales and flea markets, and while I found a lot by my other country faves, there was nothing available for Marty. It was only when the German Bear Family label came out with those 1951-1955 tracks that I was finally rewarded with such beautiful songs as "I'll Go on Alone," "Sing Me Something Sentimental" and the amazing "Lorelei." So, my question to you is: in the course of your research, did you ever find any evidence that Marty made such a statement about being ashamed of his early work and/or not wanting it to be available? I can't believe I could have completely imagined the statement that was attributed to Marty (or someone close to him). I can't have just made that up out of whole cloth! I guess I'm looking for some kind of indication that I'm remembering correctly, and that the lack of availability of Marty's early Columbia recordings during his lifetime was no accident. I wonder if there is anyone else who would have any insight into this, if it's not something you've encountered before."
Response: Marty was a perfectionist, but I didn't come across any evidence that he rejected his earlier music. Readers?
Kelly Henkins (aka The Country Angel) says, "Sorry it took me longer to get the review for Marty's book on my blog (http://kellyscountry.blogspot.com). I did get it up on Amazon some time ago but some life things happened and I didn't get to the blog for awhile. I included a link to Amazon and your email address for anyone wanting to sign up for the newsletter."
Wayne Kepner writes, "Here's a little country music story to share with you about Marty. As you well know, he didn't sleep much. I was talking to Les Leverett the other day and he told me a story about Marty and Carl Butler and Pearl. They were friends and both on the Columbia label. Marty used to go to Carl and Pearl's home and spend time playing their piano into the wee hours of the morning. Carl and Pearl gave that piano and bench to Les and Dot Leverett so their daughter, Libby, could take piano lessons. When Libby married, she carried the piano to her new home. They later bought a new home but didn't have room for the piano and left it in the old house. They did return the piano bench to Libby's daddy, Les. He still has that piano bench to this day."
Wanda Anderson in Nashville offers this note in response to Linda Elliott Clark: "The Andrew Jackson Hotel was not on a hill, I feel certain that she stayed at the Maxwell House Hotel, it was at 4th Ave and Church St easy walking distance to Ryman. Seven presidents have stayed there, the hotel burned Christmas Eve 1961. The Maxwell House coffee acquired the name from this hotel plus the Maxwell family was a prominent family in Davidson County. The story goes that President Theodore Roosevelt while visiting Nashville and after drinking some of the coffee, stated it was good until the last drop."
SIDEMAN SIDEBAR
Gene Dunlap, one of the Country Deputies on Faron's live CD in Branson, played keyboard from 1991 until Faron stopped performing in 1993. "Faron was one of the most honest, forthright people I've ever met," Gene says. "He'd tell anybody what he thought, right there on the spot. And I loved him for that. I thought it was a great characteristic to have, but it didn't endear him to a lot of people." Gene and his brothers performed on the Louisiana Hayride in the mid-1950s before he moved to Nashville and worked Bob Luman and then Loretta Lynn. He still lives in the Nashville area and can be found on Facebook.
Diane Diekman
Sioux Falls, South Dakota, USA
diane@dianediekman.com
^^^^^^^^^^^
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:
Words that soak into your ears are whispered¦....not yelled.
^^^^^^^^^^
If you wish to UNSUBSCRIBE from this newsletter, send a blank email to countrymusicclassics-off@milepost1.com
^^^^^^^^^^
No comments:
Post a Comment