COUNTRY MUSIC CLASSICS
Doug Davis
Owner/Publisher/Manager/Editor/
Writer/Gopher/Chief Cook & Bottle Washer
Thursday November 15th , 2012
CHECK OUT OUR WEBSITE AT www.countrymusicclassics.com
STORY BEHIND THE SONG
A lot of hit songs have been recorded within minutes after completion while others have gathered dust on the shelf before finally making it to the studio.
John Schneider's 1986 number one "What's A Memory Like You (Doing In A Love Like This) was one of the latter.
The song was written by Charles Quillen and John Jarrard and made the rounds in Nashville - unable to attract any interest - for three years - before Schneider recorded it.
AS the story goes - the song suddenly became quite popular in recording studios about the time that Schneider recorded it. Conway Twitty and Moe Bandy recorded the song and Steve Wariner had the song on hold to record but released it to clear the way for Schneider's session.
Schneider and Jimmy Bowen produced the single which came on the country charts at number 71 on December 14th, 1985 and was at the top of the charts on March 22nd, 1986 .
The MCA single was John Schneider's 11th charted song and his 3rd number one.
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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
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QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
Q: My mom says that Johnny Cash had a record about "Katy Did" but my dad says it was Porter Wagoner. Who is right?
A: Porter Wagoner scored a number 16 hit on "Katy Did" in 1972. Johnny Cash had a number 11 hit on "Katy Too" in 1959.
Q: How many singers recorded the song "Kaw-Liga?"
A: No idea how many recorded the song - but only three of them made the charts. Hank Williams in 1953, Charley Pride in 1969 and Hank Williams Jr. in 1980.
Q: My cousin says she went to school with Margo Smith and that in those days Margo went by the name "Apple." What is her real name?
A: Margo Smith was born Betty Lou Miller. In high school, she sang in a vocal group known as The Apple Sisters.
Q: My favorite Loretta Lynn is "Spring Fever," from back in the 70's. Did Loretta write that song?
A: The 1978 number twelve hit was written by Lola Jean Dillon.
Q: I enjoy the old "Nashville On The Road" TV shows on RFD-TV. Whatever happened to the little girl who sang and played banjo on that show?
A: That little girl was Wendy Holcombe. She died in 1987.
Q: I remember a couple of guys who called themselves "Rusty & Doug" and performed on the Louisiana Hayride back in the 50's. Do you know whatever happened to them?
A: Rusty and Doug Kershaw were brothers from Tiel Ridge, Louisiana. Rusty died in 2001. Doug continues to perform.
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Your comments, suggestions, gripes, etc. concerning this newsletter---are welcome. Email to: Classics@countrymusicclassics.com
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NUMBER ONE ON THIS DATE:
1946
Divorce Me C.O.D. - Merle Travis
1954
More and More - Webb Pierce
1962
I've Been Everywhere - Hank Snow
1970
I Can't Believe That You've Stopped Loving Me - Charley Pride
1978
Sleeping Single in a Double Bed - Barbara Mandrell
1986
Diggin' Up Bones - Randy Travis
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BOB HITLER.
By: Jack Blanchard
Good bands with normal guys are hard to keep together.
This is especially true when they aren't getting paid enough.
We had lots of trouble with our road bands in the early 1970's.
I think it all started like this....
We were a seasoned and polished nightclub act,
with comedy, stories, and original songs,
when we got the number one country record "Tennessee Bird Walk".
One of our first bookings off that hit was as Special Guests of Jimmy Dean,
doing theater-in-the-round in Salt Lake City.
Jimmy roamed the revolving stage doing jokes and singing
with his big pit orchestra backing him in symphonic style.
When it was our turn, we had to run on with all our electric instruments and amps,
including a full size Lowrey organ.
A bunch of roadies (Misty calls them "roadents.) ran on with us.
Everybody carried a bunch of wires, plugs, and equipment,
and frantically attempted to set up our show,
while the audience waited in silence.
Nobody had offered to let us sing with the pit orchestra,
or we'd have brought sheet music charts and made it easy on ourselves.
The audience stared in silence while we labored frantically.
It got uncomfortable, so trying to fill the space,
I grabbed a mike and said "Isn't Jimmy Dean great?"
The audience came to life and applauded while our guys looked for missing wires.
My little comment was a mistake.
Dean's manager later yelled at me about it:
He said this:
"You should never say a word before you play a song! They don't know you!
You made it look like YOUR show! It's NOT your show! Blah, blah, blah!"
I wondered who made all these rules.
I should mention that Jimmy Dean is friendly and witty.
Then we noticed that he and his manager had a good cop/bad cop arrangement.
I can't remember the manager's name,
so let's call him "Bob Hitler".
Anyway, the audience liked us a lot and gave us an enthusiastic ovation,
which probably gave Jimmy's manager more heartburn.
Misty had taken off a boot to play the organ pedals and was carrying it in one hand
as she limped around trying to find where to get off the stage.
Did I mention that the stage went around slowly?
The next day the show was reviewed in the morning paper.
The critic thought that Jimmy Dean should have sung more and talked less.
We liked Jimmy's act and disagreed with that statement.
Then came the killing stroke that changed our life.
The reviewer said this: "We would like to have seen more of Jack and Misty."
First, Bob Hitler cut our act time to 12 minutes.
Then he called our manager
and told him that we were green and needed a lot of experience.
Our idiot manager believed it
and told our agent to cut our price and book us A LOT.
For the next year we ran all over the map,
playing big and little shows for low money,
even though we were number one in the world.
We hardly had time to get from one town to another.
It was like sending us to boot camp.
We had good musicians
but we couldn't pay them what the other stars paid their bands.
This led to a lot of tension, unrest and eventually outright revolt.
When you're a thousand miles from home
with the only musicians who know your songs,
they have the upper hand.
We replaced them all several times,
but breaking in new guys hurt our show.
Each night Misty and I would count out the cash on a motel bed,
and after paying the band and expenses we were usually in the hole.
The constant traveling wore out and damaged our vehicles and equipment,
not to mention us.
It all started when I said "Isn't Jimmy Dean Great?".
I never said it again.
Bob Hitler may have died since then, so revenge is probably not an option.
If he did die, maybe we should send a thank-you note.
Jack Blanchard
http://jackandmisty.net
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TODAY IN COUNTRY MUSIC HISTORY
compiled by Bill Morrison
Lowell Blanchard, Promoter, born Palmer, IL 1910.
William Fries, a.k.a. "C. W. McCall," born Audubon, IA 1928.
Patsy Montana was hired by WQAM radio, in Miami, FL 1950.
Hank Snow released "A Fool Such As I" 1952.
Elvis' first movie, "Love Me Tender" premiered in New York City in 1956. Elvis made a total of thirty-three movies.
Bobby Helms recorded "Fraulein," 1956, and it remained on the charts for fifty-two weeks.
Jack Ingram born Houston, TX 1970.
Albert E. Brumley, age 72, gospel songwriter, died 1977.
Alabama's "Alabama Christmas" album certified gold in 1985.
Randy Travis' "Diggin' Up Bones" was #1 on the Country charts 1986.
Capitol Nashville released John Berry's album "Things Are Not the Same" 1994.
Wynonna made her acting debut on TV's "Touched By An Angel," 1998.
Courtesy Bill Morrison: http://www.talentondisplay.com/countrycalMAR.html
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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 "Country Music Classics" logo
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THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:
Why do they put the names of football teams on baseball caps?
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