COUNTRY MUSIC CLASSICS
Doug Davis
Owner/Publisher/Manager/Editor/
Writer/Gopher/Chief Cook & Bottle Washer
Wednesday December 5th , 2012
CHECK OUT OUR WEBSITE AT www.countrymusicclassics.com
STORY BEHIND THE SONG
A lot of hit songs are actually "co-written songs," which involved several writers. But there are times when finding a "co-writer" isn't all that easy. According to songwriter Tommy Rocco, George Strait's 1984 number one, "Let's Fall To Pieces Together" was one of those tunes! Rocco says that he had mentioned the song idea to several other writers but none of them were interested in working on the song.
Then a chance meeting with Dickey Lee and Johnny Russell in a Nashville publishing company office changed all that. Rocco sang three lines of the chorus to Lee and Russell and the pair dropped the song they were writing to work on Rocco's idea.
Rocco commented, "They got excited about the idea and we wrote the song in just a few minutes. We sent the song to producer Billy Sherrill for George Jones and he turned it down.
We then sent It to producer Blake Mevis for George Strait and the rest is history.
George Strait's "Let's Fall To Pieces Together" came on the country charts June 2nd, 1984 and was at the top of the charts on September 1st.
The MCA Records single was Strait's 10th charted song and his 5th 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's favorite song is Tammy Wynette's "Your Good Girl's Gonna Go Bad." My dad says that song was a hit by someone else after Tammy's version. Is that true?
A: Billie Jo Spears scored a # 13 hit on the song in 1981 - after Tammy's number 3 in 1967.
Q: The George Strait song "Drinking Champagne" is one of my favorite's Do you know who wrote the song?
A: The tune was written by radio icon Bill Mack and scored a # 4 for George Strait
in 1990.
Q: Is it true the Grammy's will now be broadcast from Nashville? The radio folks were talking about it.
A: The Grammy's will be free to leave Hollywood after the upcoming February broadcast and Nashville mayor Karl Dean is reportedly heading up a group working to move the broadcast to Music City.
Q: Do you know anything about a Ray Price record called "That's What Leaving's About?" My dad recorded if off the radio years ago but radio stations don't know anything about it.
A: "That's What Leaving's About" scored a # 66 on the charts in November 1972 and was the flip-side of "The Lonesomest Lonesome," which made it to number two.
Q: Have you ever heard a song about "Ever Since My Baby Went Away?" Jack Greene sang it on an old Grand Ole Opry TV Show.
A: "Ever Since My Baby Went Away" was Jack Greene's first charted song and peaked at # 37 in 1965. The song was written by Marty Robbins.
Q: There was a popular song on the radio by a girl singer in the 70's about "No Love Have I."
My brother says that song was a big hit years earlier by someone else. Do you have any information?
A; The Mel Tillis song "No Love Have I" was a # 4 hit for Webb Pierce in 1960 before Gail Davies 1978 # 26 hit and Holly Dunn's # 67 hit in 1992.
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"Larry's Country Diner" is preparing for a great holiday line up in December. Currently one of the top-rated shows on the RFD-TV network, the diner is a unique down-home variety show that in just over three years has become a favorite "eatery" of country fans everywhere. Cornbread and black-eyed peas only complement the heapin' helpin' of country music performances served up by the stars of yesterday and today. "Larry's Country Diner" has also been added to the FamilyNet lineup -- proving that America is "hungry" for this type of programming. For more information on "Larry's Country Diner," please visit larryscountrydiner.com.
A new episode of "Larry's Country Diner" will air each week in December on the RFD-TV network. December's menu of stars is a "tasty" holiday line up for country music fans:
Week of:
December 6: Eddy Raven
December 13: Christmas Special
December 20: Christmas Special
December 27: Guy Penrod
Air times for "Larry's Country Diner" are Thursday night at 7 P.M. CST/8 P.M EST, Friday morning at 9 A.M. CST/10 A.M. EST, or Saturday evening at 10 P.M. CST/11 P.M. EST.
Taped bi-monthly in front of a live studio/diner audience at NorthStar Studios (3201 Dickerson Pike, Nashville), the show's spontaneity is part of the mystique of "Larry's Country Diner" which contributes greatly to its success. "The prevailing attitude at the diner is '…the cameras are always rollin'… and we don't care,'" explains Larry Black, host and creator of "Larry's Country Diner."
The fact that plates are dropped or broken during a performance, a rack of knives and forks are dumped on the floor or that some of the lights go out while they were filming makes the show all that more exciting in a day where even reality shows are produced within strict script guidelines. "It's the kind of television you just don't see too much anymore and both the artists and fans love it," states Black who adds, "We even tell our artists that once the tape starts rolling, it does not stop. If you get yourself in trouble, get yourself out 'cause we're not stoppin'."
Because of its popularity, getting a seat to see a live taping might prove more difficult than getting a reservation at one of L.A.'s most trendy posh restaurants—the first available table is not available until 2013, so you'll want to plan way in advance. For reservations, please call 615-673-2846 or email paula@gabrielcommunications.com.
ABOUT LARRY'S COUNTRY DINER:
Larry's Country Diner is a unique down-home variety show which integrates entertainment, interviews and music in a weekly format, taped LIVE in front of a studio audience in a country diner setting. The show features regular characters including Black, Keith Bilbrey, Sheriff Jimmy Capps, waitress Renae and avid church lady Nadine, along with special guest appearances by country music artists of yesterday and today. Since its initial airing on August 3, 2009, Larry's Country Diner has produced nearly 100 episodes and has become one of the most popular shows on RFD-TV, garnering 1.4 million viewers monthly and growing. For more information, please visit www.larryscountrydiner.com.
Larry's Country Diner is another product of Gabriel Communications, started in 1996. Owned and operated by long-time disc jockey, Larry Black, the company specializes in "Reunion Videos." The success of this series spurred the creation of more than a dozen more projects featuring hundreds of songs and stories as well as Country's Family Reunion News, a monthly newspaper which highlights the music of yesteryear. For more information on Country Family Reunion products, please visit: www.cfrvideos.com.
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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:
1950
I'm Moving On - Hank Snow
1958
City Lights - Ray Price
1966
Somebody Like Me - Eddy Arnold
1974
Back Home Again - John Denver
1982
You and I - Eddie Rabbitt with Crystal Gayle
1990
Come Next Monday - K.T. Oslin
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According to Stephen Parry - producer/director of the documentary film, "The Hayloft Gang: The Story of the National Barn Dance," there is a project underway with USA Projects to take "The Hayloft Gang" to audiences beyond public television - to allow the documentary to be used in schools and library's, and available to the general public via dvd and digital media.
To learn more please visit:
http://www.usaprojects.org/project/the_hayloft_gang
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A COLUMN TO CHEER YOU UP.
By: Jack Blanchard
I'm still thinking about the girls in my high school.
They're thinking about Bingo.
When the club gets too smoky, we ask the audience to inhale deeply,
then walk outside and exhale.
I must be getting old.
I attempted a double entendre and couldn't straighten up for weeks.
Announcement from the stage:
"Do any of you sing, dance, or play the spoons?
We'd like to round up all the talent here tonight and ask them to leave."
On a slow night in a night club, we say: "I don't know why business is so slow.
We've got a full page ad in Watchtower."
I saw a sign that said "THINK." I wrote under it "OR THWIM."
I'm still mad about things that happened 50 years ago.
I'd like to go back and knock those old jerks off their barstools.
Is this too much to ask?
A guy once called us from Nashville, said he was an agent,
and wanted to drive to Orlando to meet us.
Our car had a hubcap missing.
We were broke, but we bought a hub cap to make a good impression.
We met him in the parking lot of a bar, and his junker didn't have ANY hubcaps.
When an audience gives us a big ovation I say,
"Thank you. I'm touched. I always have been."
Misty bought a fruitcake last night.
We can't decide whether to take it back or put it on Antiques Roadshow.
During the Holiday shopping season,
Misty says she's going to carry a huge white purse with a dollar sign on it,
and carry her money in her shoe.
I just asked Misty what we're going to have for supper,
and she said "Something weird."
When we had colds my grandmother gave us laxatives.
We were afraid to cough.
I do a lot of record promotion.
I even call DJ's and threaten their families, but it doesn't seem to help.
I said to the bartender, "I didn't come here to be insulted."
He said, "Where do you usually go?"
Somebody stole our TV remote.
Now they keep driving by changing the channels.
The best way to die is to be shot by Clint Eastwood
and have it narrated by Morgan Freeman.
The worst way is to fall out of an airplane
and hit the ground three feet from a trampoline.
In the sequel to "it's A Wonderful Life"
George Bailey has old man Potter whacked.
When I was a 3rd grader a 4th grader named Red Webster
picked on me for several years.
As a 7th grader I beat the crap out of him.
Then we became friends, but occasionally I would still pick on him.
Computers are keeping a lot of us weirdos off the streets.
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TODAY IN COUNTRY MUSIC HISTORY
compiled by Bill Morrison
Ray Whitley, singing cowboy, film star, born Atlanta, GA 1901.
Gene Autry recorded "You're The Only Star (In My Blue Heaven)" 1935.
Frank Dycus, singer/songwriter, born Hardmoney, KY. 1939.
Merle Travis recorded "Guitar Rag," for Capitol 1952.
George Morgan, Don Gibson, Billy Grammer, Johnnie Wright, Kitty Wells, The Jordanaires, Faron Young, Ferlin Husky, Justin Tubb, Stonewall Jackson, and Ray Price, were dismissed from the Grand Ole Opry in 1956. This occurred after they refused to sign a new contract, which required them to appear on the Opry a minimum of 26 weekends per year, at union scale. The dispute was eventually resolved.
Wanda Jackson wrote, "Kickin' Our Hearts Around," and Buck Owens recorded it 1961.
Ty England, guitarist/vocals/session musician, born Oklahoma City, OK 1963.
Gary Allan, singer/songwriter/guitarist, born Gary Allan Herzberg, in Montebello, California 1967.
Buck Owens recorded "Sweet Rosie Jones" 1967.
Molly O'Day, age 64, died in Virginia from cancer 1987.
Harold Westcott "Pappy" Daily, age 85, music executive, died 1987.
Courtesy Bill Morrison: http://www.talentondisplay.com/countrycalMAR.html
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THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:
Why do we wash behind our ears? Who really looks there?
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