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
Thursday June 16th, 2011
CHECK OUT OUR WEBSITE AT www.countrymusicclassics.com
STORY BEHIND THE SONG
A lot of people in the music business pride themselves on being able to pick hit songs—although most of them are no better at it than you and I.
And although he never admitted it, RCA producer Chet Atkins was one of the few who was very good in the “hit-picking department,” and Charlie Rich’s 1974 number one, “I Don’t See Me In Your Eyes Anymore” was a good example.
Chet commented, “There was something about that song that I liked the first time I heard it. Those were the days when I was recording about 30 artists so a lot of songs came across my desk but that was one of those tunes that stuck with me and we recorded it with Charlie Rich and I think we made a good record on it.”
“I Don’t See Me In Your Eyes Anymore” was written by Bennie Benjamin and George David Weiss. Rich’s RCA Victor version entered the country music charts May 4th, 1974 and was in the number one spot the week of June 15th.
It was Rich’s 16th charted song and his 5th number one. The single was on the country charts for 13 weeks and also scored a # 47 on the pop charts.
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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 that George Strait has a new song out. How many has he had and what was the first one?
ANSWER: George’s newest recording, "Here for a Good Time," is his 89th career single. His first charted song was “Unwound,” which peaked at # 6 in 1981.
QUESTION: Who had the hit on the song “I’ll Be There (If You Ever Want Me?)”
ANSWER: Ray Price scored the original hit in 1954 followed by Johnny Bush in 1972 and Gail Davies in 1981.
QUESTION: I know the song “I’d Fight The World” was a hit for Jim Reeves but my mom says it was on the radio by someone else before that. Is that true?
ANSWER: Hank Cochran had a # 23 hit on the song in 1962 before Reeves hit in 1974.
QUESTION: Whatever happened to the fat guy who sang on Hee Haw? He had a hit song about “Arkansas Mississippi Bootlegger.”
ANSWER: The fat boy on Hee Haw was Kenny Price, who died in 1987.
QUESTION: One of my favorite Hank Williams songs was “Howlin’ At The Moon” but I never hear it played on classic country radio stations. Was it a hit?
ANSWER: “Howlin’ At The Moon” made it to # 3 in 1951. It was the flip side of “I Can’t Help it.”
QUESTION: When we lived in California many years ago, there was a singer who had a kiddie’s TV show and he had a hit record about “Dear Oakie.” Do you know his name?
ANSWER: That was Doye O’Dell who scored a # 12 hit with “Dear Oakie” in 1948. He died in 2001 at the age of 88.
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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:
1951
I Want to Be with You Always - Lefty Frizzell
1959
The Battle of New Orleans - Johnny Horton
1967
It’s Such a Pretty World Today - Wynn Stewart
1975
When Will I Be Loved - Linda Ronstadt
1983
Our Love is on the Faultline - Crystal Gayle
1991
If the Devil Danced (In Empty Pockets) - Joe Diffie
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HOW TO MAKE A HIT RECORD.
By: Jack Blanchard
What makes a recording a hit?
First, let’s just tackle an easier one...
What makes a recording good?
Publishers and writers usually say it’s the song.
Lyricists say it’s the words.
Composers say it’s the music.
The artists say it’s the vocal performance.
The musicians say it’s the arrangement.
Producers say it’s the whole package.
I tend to side with the producers,
but, being good doesn’t guarantee a hit.
Sadly, it’s not a quality contest.
There are plenty of things along the way that can kill a great record,
or make a bad one popular.
Most of these involve money and politics.
For instance,
if you are releasing a single next week
and an artist who is managed by the label’s vice-president,
is also putting out a single the same week,
which one do you think will get the promotion?
This was our experience with one of the major labels.
There are less politics in the Indie field,
but there are still problems in selecting a single that will help your career.
Things to consider...
Twenty-four hour programming:
If the song is too slow, DJ’s might not play it in the daytime.
They like to keep the audience awake in the morning and during drive time.
If it’s too fast they may not play it after dark, when listeners are trying too relax.
Medium is the safest tempo,
but there are a lot of hits that don’t follow this rule.
A story lyric? A singalong? A novelty? A ballad?
And on and on.
Momentum.
If you’ve had some recent airplay with ballads,
do you need a similar follow-up or a change of pace?
Some DJ’s like the old time sound, and some like it more modern.
No matter which you choose, somebody won’t like it.
That’s okay.
You don’t need everybody to like it.
Just apply some skin thickener.
Here’s how we pick singles.
We listen to all the potential singles we have and narrow it down to a short list,
our criteria being “What WE like”.
Although we’ve learned that we can’t second-guess the public
that’s usually what we try to do next.
We analyze tempo, lyric and music content, vocal performance, etc..
We get discouraged and angry,
bang each other on the head, give each other wedgies, and say we don’t care.
Then we try again.
When we have it down to two or three, we take a poll of our friends.
If we don’t like the poll results we throw them away.
We listen to the short list over and over until we can’t hear it anymore.
We try listening from the next room, from the backyard,
from inside the toilet tank.
We finally pick one and send it in to the record company.
As soon as the mailbox slams shut,
we start thinking we sent the wrong one.
We begged the record label not to release our biggest hit:
“Tennessee Birdwalk”.
I thought “Somewhere in Virginia in the Rain” had too many chords for country music.
Our most popular songs have been fast, slow, funny, serious, and unexpected.
We press on regardless.
I think the only good rule is this:
Don’t put out anything that is so bad that it will embarrass you.
When you play it for friends,
you don’t want to have to cough to cover certain parts.
Jack Blanchard
The Jack Blanchard & Misty Morgan Home Page: http://jackandmisty.com
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TODAY IN COUNTRY MUSIC HISTORY
compiled by Bill Morrison
George McCormick, born rural Carthage, TN 1933.
Billy "Crash" Craddock, born "William Wayne Craddock," Greensboro, NC 1939.
The Rouse Brothers recorded the first version of "The Orange Blossom Special," 1939.
Hank and Audrey Williams, held the Grand Opening of their "Hank & Audrey's Corral," western store, at 724 Commerce Street, in downtown Nashville in 1951. The opening celebration was broadcast by WSM.
Lefty Frizzell topped the charts with "I Want To Be With You Always" 1951.
Buck Owens recorded "Under You Spell Again" at Capitol Records, Hollywood 1959. The record was released on July 13, 1959, and became the first of Buck's compositions to become a country standard.
Marty Robbins' movie, "Hell On Wheels," premiered in Nashville, 1967.
Wynn Stewart was #1 on the charts with "It's Such A Pretty World Today" 1967.
Bob Nolan, "Robert Clarence Nobles", age 72, Sons of the Pioneers," died 1980.
Eddy Raven's "I Got Mexico," went to #1 in 1984.
Lee Mace, founder of Lee Mace's Ozark Opry, died 1985.
MCA released Vince Gill's "High Lonesome Sound"
Koch Records released Gail Davies' "Greatest Hits" album 1998.
Jack McFadden, age 71, died 1998. Jack was the talent coordinator for "Hee Haw," and managed Buck Owens career for three decades.
Mark Wills and Darryl Worley were invited by President Bush to join him at MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa, FL, as he thanked the troops at CENTCOM for their hard work and dedication to duty. Mark and Darryl performed for the troops and their family's 2004.
Courtesy Bill Morrison: http://www.talentondisplay.com/countrycalMAR.html
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THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
GOD’ S PERFECT TIMING
Blooms in June are hoped for as the gardener plants his seeds,
After he has tilled the soil, removing rocks and weeds.
Allowing for some sunshine, He then awaits God’s power,
For only in His timing is the miracle of a flower.
Like a gardener, we too must wait, when planting seeds of prayer,
And trust in the Creator for our “flowers” to appear.
Although storms and wind may come, we still must keep our faith
And trust His perfect timing as He gives us strength and grace.
Joyce Mary Ecochard
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