C O U N T R Y M U S I C C L A S S I C S
Doug Davis
Owner/Publisher/Manager/Editor/
Writer/Gopher/Chief Cook & Bottle Washer
Friday October 1st, 2010
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STORY BEHIND THE SONG
A lot of hit songs have had to do with the writer’s actual experience and according to Sonny Throckmorton, Mel McDaniel’s 1985 hit, Stand Up” was one of those tunes!
Sonny commented, “My dad is a Pentacostal preacher, so I’ve seen a lot of “stand up to testify.” I’d gone in one day and Bruce Channel and Ricky Ray was working on that guitar lick and I sat down with them a little bit and “Stand Up” just started coming and everything in all three of those verses had actually happened to me and I just put’em in a song. It was just things that I had seen happen and I just put those things together and wrote that song. And that’s where that song
came from!”
Mel McDaniel’s Capitol records single, “Stand Up” came on the country music charts September
14th, 1985 and peaked at # 5.
It was Mel’s 28th charted song and was on the charts for 21 weeks.
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QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
QUESTION: I have heard that Farm Aid was going to be held this year and later heard that it was not. Do you have the straight scoop?
ANSWER: Farm Aid is marking its silver anniversary this year with the "Farm Aid 25: Growing Hope for
QUESTION: Do you know anything about the singer named
ANSWER:
QUESTION: Do you know anything about Charlie Louvin? Was his surgery successful and is he alright?
ANSWER: According to Charlie, his surgery for pancreatic cancer was unsuccessful and he is now trying alternative methods of treatment.
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QUESTION: Who was the musician who was sent to jail for killing his wife and then died after being let out of prison. This was many years ago.
ANSWER: Spade Cooley, a popular musician and bandleader in the 40’s and 50’s was sentenced to life in prison for murdering his wife in 1961. He died two months before he was to have been paroled.
QUESTION: Do you remember a song called “Lock Stock & Teardrops?” And do you know who had hits on that song?
ANSWER: “Lock Stock & Teardrops” scored a # 26 for Roger Miller in 1963, # 70 in 1968 for Diana Trask and a # 53 hit for K. D. Lang in 1988.
QUESTION: I heard an old radio interview with Johnny Paycheck and he was talking about coming to
ANSWER: Paycheck and Darrell McCall came to
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We are now on Facebook—and listed as Doug Davis.
Would love to have you check in and sign up—UNLESS you’re the kind who posts photos of your tomcat every time he has a bowel movement or other such mindless drivel —IF THAT’S YOU----THEN PLEASE DON’T…..I’m NOT interested!
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Your comments, suggestions, gripes, etc. concerning this newsletter---are welcome. Email to:Classics@countrymusicclassics.com
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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 features, “Classic Country First” and “Story Behind The Song” are now available to radio stations.
Both features are available at no charge thru barter.
For information, email me at classics@countrymusicclassics.com
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NUMBER ONE ON THIS DATE:
1949
Slipping Around - Ernest Tubb
1957
My Shoes Keep Walking Back to You - Ray Price
1965
Is It Really Over? - Jim Reeves
1973
Blood Red and Goin’ Down - Tanya Tucker
1981
Tight Fittin’ Jeans - Conway Twitty
1989
Let Me Tell You About Lov
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PANIC ON TELEVISION.
By: Jack Blanchard
I'm hardly ever nervous before we go on stage,
and never tense during a live stage show.
I'm ALWAYS a wreck on TV shows.
What makes the difference is this:
Control.
At a stage performance we can instruct the sound guys,
get the equipment set up just right,
and have the lighting the way we want it.
And, most importantly, it's OUR show.
We can read the audience and set the pace accordingly.
We're in control.
On a TV show,
we have to stand on a tape mark that somebody else put there,
and usually I can't hear myself sing
because the monitors are set for the normal human voice.
I don't own a normal human voice.
For one thing, I sing lead in the bass range,
which most TV engineers don't seem to understand.
It's somebody else's show,
and we have no control whatsoever.
Some directors like you to play to the cameras and some don't.
They never tell you which.
In a show we did with Ralph Emery on TNN I was standing on my mark,
singing by the seat of my pants because I couldn't hear myself.
When a camera red light would go on, I'd play to that one,
and the director would immediately switch to another camera.
I played eye tag with the cameras through most of the song,
and never won a round.
Misty is calm on TV.
Her voice can cut through a brass band.
She doesn't care about the sound monitors because she can just sing louder.
I have often wanted to hide behind her.
She doesn't concern herself with finding her tape mark on the floor,
but usually gets to it okay,
while I look like Sherlock Holmes hunting for a clue.
To me, the worst was a show we did with Jackie Gleason,
Mike Douglas, and Frank Fontaine,
live from the
We had to show up for rehearsal at about noon.
We had special orchestra charts written for the occasion,
and we'd never heard them before.
While we were rehearsing,
Jackie Gleason and Mike Douglas were sitting in the fifth row, watching us.
My tension started to build.
Then there was a four or five hour wait until the show started.
Plenty of time to relax, right?
Wrong!
Plenty of time to get my panic into high gear!
We were backstage talking to Gleason when he was introduced with a fanfare.
He was so cool!
He went and stood just behind the curtain and seemed to count to a hundred
while the applause gained momentum.
Then he walked briskly onstage.
He didn't want to step on his applause, and he didn't want it to die down.
His perfect timing told him the exact second to make his appearance.
I was impressed.
Jackie Gleason wasn't anything like Ralph Kramden.
He was intelligent and dignified,
wearing a dark blue suit with a flower in the lapel.
When Misty and I were introduced, we walked briskly out from behind the curtain,
and she walked right past our mark to a wrong one about eight feet farther front.
My panic gong rang.
She didn't even notice.
The directors, producers, and camera people had to move fast to find her.
I had no choice but follow her to my doom.
I looked like a rabbit caught in the headlights.
When I go into a REAL panic my voice goes up into the Dolly Parton range.
I have never sung worse, or looked stupider.
Misty and the orchestra sounded great.
The directors and camera crew looked at us with venom,
but I was the only one who noticed.
Misty still thinks the show went nicely, so I'm alone in my grief.
After we did our fiasco,
Jackie and Mike led the applause, and we sat down to talk.
This part was where I hope I redeemed myself
by debating spiritualism with Jackie Gleason for about ten minutes.
I let him win.
We have a videotape of it somewhere around here,
but I've just never felt up to looking for it.
I hate watching myself on TV.
I'd rather have a crazed squirrel build a nest in my shorts..
Jack Blanchard
Jack Blanchard & Misty Morgan...
Grammy Nominees. Billboard's Country Duet of the Year.ASCAP and BMI Awards.HOME PAGE: http://jackandmisty.com
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TODAY IN COUNTRY MUSIC HISTORY
compiled by Bill Morrison
Charles Grean, songwriter/producer/record company executive, born NYC 1913.
Skeets McDonald, born "Enos William McDonald," Greenway, AR 1915.
Bonnie Owens, born "Bonnie Campbell" in
Ernest Tubb's "Slippin' Around" topped the charts 1949.
The "Town and Country Time Jamboree," debuted on WMAL TV in
Dave Gibson, "The Gibson/Miller Band," born
Capitol Records released Buck Owens' LP "Your For Me" 1962.
Kelly Willis born Lawton, OK 1968.
Loretta Lynn recorded "Coal Miner's Daughter," 1969.
Texas Bill Strength, age 45, recording artist/DJ died as the result of an auto accident 1973.
Tanya Tucker's "Blood Red and Goin' Down" was # 1 in 1973.
President Carter proclaimed October as "Country Music Month," in 1980.
Conway Twitty's "Tight Fittin' Jeans" topped the charts 1981.
Tony Booth joined Gene Watson's "Farewell Party Band," 1982.
Slim Newman, of "The
Michelle Wright debuted on the Grand Ole Opry 1992.
Tim Rushlow married wife Mary Jane 1993.
Courtesy Bill Morrison: http://www.talentondisplay.com/countrycalMAR.html
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THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
WHEN DAWNS THE SUN!
Our Father knows, when dawns the sun
The time for singing birds has come;
And it is then He dries our tears
For He who comforts, also cheers!
Thus, tho’ the night has been quite long
God’s love can soak the soul with song;
And He shall darkened clouds erase
That we might see His smiling Face!
Sancie Earman King
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