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
Wednesday February 9th, 2011
CHECK OUT OUR WEBSITE AT www.countrymusicclassics.com
STORY BEHIND THE SONG
A lot of hit songs were never recorded to be hits, but fate seemed to intervene and the hit happened anyway!
According to Sonny James , he didn’t record his 1974 number one, “Is It Wrong” to even be released as a single, and certainly not a hit record!
Sonny commented, “I recorded that song for an album, but after the album was released, radio disc jockeys and fans kept telling me it was a great recording and should be released as a single. And those comments were completely unsolicited, so I decided there was something to the recording. So we released it as a single.”
“Is It Wrong For Loving You” was written by Warner Mack and scored a # 9 hit for Mack in 1957.
Sonny James Columbia Records’ version entered the country charts March 2nd,1974 and was at the top of the charts the week of May 11th.
The session was produced by George Richey and was Sonny’s 50th charted song and his 23rd number one.
It was on the charts for 15 weeks.
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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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QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
QUESTION: I heard the radio folks talking about some singer named Doc Williams recently passing away. I never heard of him. Do you have any information?
ANSWER: Ninety six year old Doc Williams died recently in Wheeling, West Virginia. He joined the WWVA Original Jamboree in 1937 -- and stayed for 61 years. Williams and his band, Border Riders, became one of the show's most popular acts. In the late 1940s, Williams started to take his music on the road, becoming the first Jamboree act to go on tour. Through his radio and concert work he developed a following across the Northeastern U.S. and into Canada. Williams never had a hit single, but is best known for the song "My Old Brown Coat and Me." He was a member of the Country Music Association and, with his wife and musical partner Chickie who died in 2007, was inducted into the West Virginia Music Hall of Fame in 2009.
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M E M O
Do any of you computer guru’s out there have experience with “text scrollers” on websites?
If so - please email me at Classics@countrymusicclassics.com
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QUESTION: The d.j. mentioned that George Strait set some kind of nomination record. What is that about?
ANSWER: George Strait has scored his 82nd career ACM nomination, being recognized in the Top Male Vocalist of the Year category for the 18th time. Strait has won the Top Male Vocalist trophies six times, and has a total of 19 ACM wins. He and Reba McEntire will perform Saturday night at the MGM Garden Arena in Las Vegas, the site of the 46th Annual ACM Awards on April 3rd.
QUESTION: My daughter says she heard that Dolly Parton is going to Hollywood for the first time. Is that true?
ANSWER: Dolly has been to Hollywood many times but will make her debut at The Hollywood Bowl on July 22nd. Dolly will be promoting her next album, "Better Day," expected to hit stores this year. Dolly has also said that she'll be embarking on a world tour this year to support the disc.
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“Country Music Classics” is made possible only by donations from subscribers like you. If you enjoy receiving this newsletter, please support us by sending a check payable to “Country Music Classics” for any amount to:
Doug Davis—Country Music Classics—3702 Pleasant Grove Road-Texarkana, Texas 75503. Or use PAYPAL ( http://www.paypal.com ) and donate (via your account or their secure credit card site) directly thru our email address (classics@countrymusicclassics.com). Thank you.
If you wish to make a contribution but do not have a Pay Pal account, you may use any major credit card and donate thru our secure Pro Pay account.
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QUESTION: Have you heard a Waylon Jennings record about “Right Before My Eyes?”
My dad says it was on the radio several years ago.
ANSWER: “Right Before My Eyes” was the flipside of Waylon’s 1968 # 2 hit, “Only Daddy That’ll Walk The Line.”
QUESTION: I bought an old 45 record at a garage sale of “Milwaukee Here I Come.” I know the guy singing is George Jones but the label is worn off and I’m thinking the girl singer is Melba Montgomery. Am I right?
ANSWER: The girl singer on George’s 1968 # 12 hit, “Milwaukee, Here I Come” is Brenda Carter.
QUESTION: I have noticed that you constantly provide more information than your readers ask for in the Q & A section of the newsletter. That is quite annoying to me and I’m wondering why you do that?
ANSWER: I suppose I do it just to annoy YOU. And if that---or anything else in the newsletter “annoys” you….unsubscribe instructions are at the end of each newsletter. Feel free to use them at any time.
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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:
1944
Pistol Packin’ Mama - Al Dexter
1952
Give Me More, More, More (Of Your Kisses) - Lefty Frizzell
1960
He’ll Have to Go - Jim Reeves
1968
Skip a Rope - Henson Cargill
1976
Sometimes - Bill Anderson & Mary Lou Turner
1984
Show Her - Ronnie Milsap
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ACE IN THE HOLE.
By: Jack Blanchard
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Jack Blanchard's MUSIC HOSPITAL can make your old records sound new,
and your new recordings sound better.
Contact Jack Blanchard's MUSIC HOSPITAL restoration & mastering studio.
Email: musichospital@jackandmisty.com
Telephone: 407 330 1611.
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When I was a teenage saloon pianist we had to know all the "standard" songs...
popular and jazz pieces from the previous forty years or so.
And we had to play them in the "standard" keys to play with other musicians without rehearsal.
Standard keys were either the key they were written in,
or a key that made the songs easily sung by lyric baritones, like Sinatra, Crosby, etc..
Misty and I once played for jam sessions at a popular Orlando area hotel,
and one of the musicians who regularly showed up was a jazz flutist named Smalley,
who told us that Hoagy Carmichael sat in with his band and called the tune "Stardust".
To find out the key, the flutist asked "In five flats?" (The key of Db.)
Carmichael glared at him and said "I wrote it in C!"
The back story here is that a lot of jazz musicians are key snobs,
and like to play in difficult keys to show off.
Especially guitarists who only have to move up or down a fret to drive the piano guy crazy.
When I first got to South Florida I was faced with a whole different deal.
Karaoke was not yet even a gleam in a Japanese eye,
and piano bars were everywhere.
People got up and sang and the piano player had to scramble for the song and key.
Oddly, most of the songs were much older than the singers...
things I'd never heard, from the 1890s through the 1920s, and some obscure Irish songs.
I never understood why these middle aged drunks sang songs from before they were born,
but I made pretty good tip glass money, so I learned them.
One of the most requested songs was "Ace in the Hole", written in 1909:
"This town is full of guys who think they're mighty wise,
Who really think they know a thing or two.
You can see them every day walking' up and down Broadway,
Telling of the wonders they can do.
There's con men and there's boosters, card sharks and crap-shooters.
They congregate around the Metropole.
They wear fancy ties and collars, but where they get their dollars...
They've all got an ace down in the hole.
"Some of them write to the old folks for coin,
And that is their ace in the hole;
And others have friends on the old Tenderloin;
That's their old ace down in the hole."
I googled it and found these factoids...
The Metropole was a notorious Manhattan hotel, and the Tenderloin was a red light district.
Apparently my customers were sentimental about historic trivia.
Anyway I was forced to learn this stuff, and it has been of little use to me ever since.
I can't just walk up to somebody and say "How 'bout that Metropole?"
All of us piano players have been replaced by canned music now,
and although I know that change is inevitable,
I still complain.
Jack Blanchard
Jack Blanchard & Misty Morgan...
Grammy Nominees. Billboard's Country Duet of the Year.ASCAP and BMI Awards. ^^^^^^^^^^^^
TODAY IN COUNTRY MUSIC HISTORY
compiled by Bill Morrison
1908 - Howard Ragsdale 1908-1966, guitarist for the Grand Ole Opry's "Fruit Jar Drinkers," was born in Lyles, Tennessee.
1914 - Ernest Tubb 1914-1984, born in Crisp, Texas. The Texas Troubadour's home town no longer exists. E.T. was the first artist to take a Grand Ole Opry show to New York City's Carnegie Hall (1947). He opened the Ernest Tubb Record Shop in Nashville in 1947. Joined the Grand Ole Opry in 1943, and was inducted into the CMHF in 1965. Ernest Tubb helped more young artists than everyone else in Nashville combined. He was a good man, and a friend to many. Ernest died broke. Not because he spent all the money he made, but because he gave it away to family and friends who were in need.
1916 - Charlie Bailey, Bluegrass, born Happy Valley, Tennessee.
1939 - Red Lane, songwriter, born "Hollis Rudolph De Laughter," in Bogalusa, Louisiana. Inducted NSHF 1993.
1941 - James D. Vaughan country and gospel songwriter, and promoter died today.
1947 - Joe Ely singer, songwriter, and guitarist born in Amarillo, Texas.
1955 - The "Peach State Jamboree," debuted on WJAT in Swainsboro, Georgia.
1959 - George Jones released "White Lightning."
1963 - Travis Tritt singer, songwriter, and guitarist born James Travis Tritt in Marietta, Georgia. Became a member of the Grand Ole Opry on February 28, 1992. Travis was Waylon Jennings favorite singer.
1970 - Danni Leigh recording artist born Strasburg, Virginia, better known in Europe than in the U.S.
1971 - Roy Rogers and Dale Evans were featured guests on "Hee Haw."
1973 - Charlie Rich recorded his Epic single "The Most Beautiful Girl." This was Charlie's 2nd #1 hit. The single was certified Gold by the RIAA, on December 10th.
1974 - Charley Pride, Barbara Fairchild, Tony Booth, and Craig Scott were featured guests on "Hee Haw."
1975 - Willie Nelson recorded "Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain" in Texas. The Columbia Records single charted in July, and went to #1. The song was written by Fred Rose, and Willie won a Grammy for Best Country Male Vocal for his effort. This was Willie's first #1 record.
1980 - Willie Nelson's "My Hero's Have Always Been Cowboys," hit the Pop charts.
1980 - Dottie West's single "A Lesson In Leavin" charted, and became her first #1 single.
1981 - Bill Haley 1925-1981, age 55, singer, guitarist, and bandleader died of a heart attack in Harlingen, Texas. Inducted into the R&RHOF 1987, and later the RHOF.
1984 - Ronnie Milsap's "Show Her," topped the charts.
1985 - Nicolette Larson's first chart record was "Only Love Will Make It Right" on MCA. Bob McDill wrote the song, and was inducted into the NSHF later this year.
1987 - Randy Travis' "Storms of Life," was certified platinum by the RIAA.
1991 - Mark Chesnutt's MCA single "Brother Jukebox" was the #1 country song. Three years later the CMA awarded Mark with their Horizon Award.
1999 - Varese released Gene Autry's album "20 Greatest Movie Hits."
2002 - WSM--FM broadcast the Grand Ole Opry for the first time this evening.
Courtesy Bill Morrison: http://www.talentondisplay.com/countrycalMAR.html
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THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
NATURE’S MASTERPIECE
Are the stars Heaven’s candles we wish upon tonight?
Is the moon a hot-air balloon that lights the sky at night?
Are rainbows angel streamers where the ages promenade
Or merely a reminder of the covenant God made?
Are the sunset’s scarlet embers the fireflies of the sea
Which dance upon the whitecaps before they cease to be?
Are the clouds Heaven’s pillows which angels sleep upon
While dewdrops kiss the roses and sparkle on the lawn?
Is the sunrise Heaven waking from a brief, peaceful sleep
While earth is dark and dreaming of new promises to keep?
The skies are Nature’s masterpiece, a testament to love,
For somewhere beyond the sunset our creator reigns above!
Clay Harrison
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