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 July 15th, 2011
CHECK OUT OUR WEBSITE AT www.countrymusicclassics.com
STORY BEHIND THE SONG
It only took Waylon Jennings nine years to nail a number one record after signing with RCA Victor records.
Waylon said he had written the song five years earlier. But the record almost didn't work.
According to Waylon, he was in the studio working on an album and decided to record the song but after the first take, didn't like it.
He said, "the song had a tricky kind of meter to it and it just wasn't working so I said let's throw it out. But my drummer, Richie Albright, didn't want to. He kept saying we should try it just one more time and it worked. If it hadn't been for Richie, that song would have never made it."
Waylon's RCA version of "This Time," entered the country music charts April 27th, 1974 and was in the number one slot the week of June 22nd.
It was his 30th charted song and his first number one. The single was on the charts for 13 weeks.
Waylon Jennings placed 96 songs on the country music charts between 1965 and 1991.
He died in 2002 at the age of 64.
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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.
For information, email me at classics@countrymusicclassics.com
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QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
QUESTION: I heard on the radio that Bill Anderson was doing something at The Grand Ole Opry. Isn't he already a member?
ANSWER: Bill Anderson celebrates his 50th anniversary as a member of The Grand ole Opry tomorrow night (July 16th). He made his first appearance on the Opry stage a few weeks before his 21st birthday and was a member less than three years later.
QUESTION: The radio guys were talking about the man who killed Stringbean being let out of prison. Do you have any information?
ANSWER: John A. Brown, one of the two men convicted of killing Stringbean and his wife years ago, is coming up for parole on July 19th. So far, there has been very little opposition to his being released. Jennifer Brinkman, who is connected with victims' rights board suggested if you would like to protest the release of John A. Brown, you can send her an e-mail at jennifer.l.brinkman@tn.gov and just let her know you oppose it and why. Those of us who knew String and Estelle will never fully get over the brutal way in which their lives were taken from them. One of the killers has died while incarcerated. The other should never be allowed to go free. Please take a minute to e-mail this lady, and urge your friends to do likewise. The amount of opposition to his parole kept him behind bars last time. It needs to do so again.
QUESTION: There was a song about "White Silver Sands," which was quite popular back in the 70's. Do you know who had that record?
ANSWER: "White Silver Sands" scored a # 5 hit for Sonny James in 1972.
QUESTION: My cousin says that Lorrie Morgan is actually Loretta Lynn's daughter. Is that true?
ANSWER: Although she was born Loretta Lynn Morgan, Lorrie is NOT Loretta's daughter.
QUESTION: Why isn't Buck Owens in the Hall of Fame?
ANSWER: Buck Owens was inducted into The Country Music Hall Of Fame in 1996.
QUESTION: My mom has some old records on the Abbott label by a singer named Billie Jean Moore, but she sounds like another country singer but I can't figure out just who? Is that actually someone else?
ANSWER: Billie Jo Spears recorded for Abbott under the name Billie Jean Moore in the 1950's.
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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:
1948
Bouquet of Roses - Eddy Arnold
1956
I Want You, I Need You, I Love You - Elvis Presley
1964
My Heart Skips a Beat - Buck Owens
1972
Made in Japan - Buck Owens
1980
You Win Again - Charley Pride
1988
Fallin' Again - Alabama
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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
Sarie Wilson of "Sarie and Sally" born 1896.
Cowboy Copas born "Lloyd Estel Copas," near Muskogee, OK 1913.
Dolph Hewitt born West Finley, PA 1914.
Rod Brasfield debuted on the Grand Ole Opry 1944.
Linda Ronstadt born Tucson, AZ 1946.
Hank Williams' hometown, Montgomery, AL had a "Hank Williams Homecoming Day" 1951. Over nine thousand people showed up for the celebration.
Blue Miller born "William Mueller," "The Gibson/Miller Band," born Detroit, MI 1952.
Mac McAnally born Red Bay, AL 1957.
Marty Robbins released "Please Don't Blame Me/Teenage Dream" 1957.
Columbia Records released Marty Robbins' "Ride Cowboy Ride/Five Brothers" 1960.
Marty Robbins released "Girl With Gardenias In Her Hair/In The Valley Of The Rio Grande" 1967.
Bill Justis died in Nashville 1982.
Columbia Records released Johnny Cash from his recording contract after 28 years 1986.
Aaron Tippin married Thea Corontzos at Trinity Orthodox Church in Nashville 1995.
MCA released "The Best of Freddy Fender" 1996.
Sony released "David Allan Coe Live: If That Ain't Country…" 1997.
Arista released Diamond Rio's "Greatest Hits" album 1997.
Hal Southern, age 79, died from diabetes 1998. Hal wrote the Tex Ritter hit "I Dreamed of Hillbilly Heaven."
Collin Raye's "I Can Still Feel You" went to #1 in 1998.
George Strait released his "Honkeytonkville" album 2003.
Courtesy Bill Morrison: http://www.talentondisplay.com/countrycalMAR.html
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THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
May the most holy, most sacred, most adorable,
most incomprehensible and unutterable Name of God
be always praised, blessed, loved, adored
and glorified in Heaven, on earth,
and under the earth,
by all the creatures of God,
and by the Sacred Heart of Our Lord Jesus Christ,
in the Most Holy Sacrament of the Altar.
Amen.
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