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 21st, 2011
CHECK OUT OUR WEBSITE AT www.countrymusicclassics.com
STORY BEHIND THE SONG
A lot of hit songs have been written because somebody with an idea brought that idea to to someone else and a song was written. According to Bob McDill, Ronnie Milsap's 1979 number one, "Nobody Likes Sad Songs" was one of those tunes!
McDill commented, "That song was Waylon Holyfields idea. He came into my office one day, told me he had this idea and sang me what he had written. I liked it, so we started working on it and I helped him finish it. It didn't take too long to finish it. Once we started working on it, the song just kind of fell into place and when we finished it, I thought we had written a good song. I have no idea where he got the idea but I liked it and really liked the record…..the way it turned out."
Ronnie Milsap's RCA victor single, "Nobody Likes Sad Songs" entered the country music charts April 28th, 1979 and made it to number one.
It was his 22nd charted song and his 12th 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.
For information, email me at classics@countrymusicclassics.com
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QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
QUESTION: I love the song "Sail Away" by The Oak Ridge Boys. My mom says someone else had a good recording of that song earlier. Is that true?
ANSWER: Sam McNeely's version barely cracked the top 100 in 1977 before the Oaks took it to # 2 in 1979.
QUESTION: I have a 78 rpm record of Tex Ritter's "Have I Told You lately That I Love You." Didn't someone else have a hit on that song?
ANSWER: Gene Autry, Foy Willing, Tex Ritter and Red Foley all had hits on the song in 1946. Red Foley and Kitty Well's duet version hit in 1969.
QUESTION: Do you know who wrote the Johnny Rodriguez record, "Just Get Up And Close The Door?"
ANSWER: Johnny R.'s 1975 number one was written by Linda Hargrove.
QUESTION: The song "Skip A Rope" is my all-time favorite. I thought it was popular in the 60's but my dad says it was in the 40's. Is that correct?
ANSWER: Henson Cargill's "Skip A Rope" was number one the week of February 3rd, 1968.
QUESTION: Have you ever herd of a Johnny Cash song about "Please Don't Play Red River Valley?" I have never heard it but my dad says it was on the radio a few times many years ago.
ANSWER: "Please Don't Play Red River Valley" was a track in Cash's 1966 album, "Everybody Loves A Nut."
QUESTION: My cousin used to sing a song about "the good ole days." He said it was a Roger Miller record. Do you have any info on such a record?
ANSWER: Roger Miller's " Good Ole Days" was the flipside of his 1965 # 3 hit, "England Swings."
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I few of our subscribers are somewhat displeased because I no longer answer their questions by email. I no longer have time to research your questions and reply to any questions--other than the ones I use in the newsletter. To those who seem to be so unhappy about that—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:
1945
You Two-Timed Me One Time Too Often - Tex Ritter
1953
I Forgot More Than You'll Ever Know - The Davis Sisters
1961
Walk on By - Leroy Van Dyke
1969
Since I Met You, Baby - Sonny James
1977
Heaven's Just a Sin Away - The Kendalls
1985
You Make Me Want to Make You Mine - Juice Newton
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FIDEL ROAMS MIAMI NIGHT: A TRUE HALLOWEEN ADVENTURE.
By: Jack Blanchard
It was during the Cuban Missile Crisis.
Fidel Castro was a threat, and we were and young and foolish in Miami.
Also, I had a weird talent for using stage makeup.
It seemed like a good idea at the time, and it was the night before Halloween.
Those are all good reasons to go nuts and terrorize an entire city.
The costume shop guy said this Halloween would be loaded with Castro's,
in fact he was completely sold out of Castro masks and trick cigars.
I had already bought army fatigues and cap, black boots, and a realistic toy M-1 rifle.
Lack of a mask was not going to stop me.
My early theater training went not for naught (not for naught?).
I sought out a store, selling stage makeup,
(I sought not for naught.), and bought nose putty, black crepe hair,
spirit gum, and tan pancake makeup. An hour later I looked exactly like Castro.
I knew it was good when Misty didn't laugh. She just said "You ARE Castro!"
Meanwhile, she had become a cowgirl. That was the point where I went nuts.
I thought I was Fidel! I chewed my foot-and-a-half-long cigar,
and swaggered like a man in command.
This was just supposed to be a trial run, but it was too good to waste.
We hit the Miami streets, not knowing what havoc was to be wrought
(We wrought not for naught).
On that night before Halloween,
the world wasn't ready for a couple of premature screwballs.
We burst through the door of a prominent nightspot, and stopped the show.
The entertainers got the joke and called me on-stage for an interview.
I told them, with a thick accent, that I just came over to get my welfare check,
which may be the most conservative thing I ever said.
That was so much fun, we started making the rounds,
winding up in North Miami Beach at 4 AM, bugging anybody we could find.
I got out and hitchhiked, and cars turned around and went the other way.
I lurked outside diners until somebody spotted me, then I'd disappear
and let them try to tell the rest of the crowd.
At one diner, four cops were sitting in a booth when I stood in front of the window.
The rest of the customers saw me and were laughing.
When the police finally spotted me they went for their guns,
and everybody laughed harder.
I melted into the shadows.
At 5 AM, exhausted, laughed out, and hungry, we went into an all night restaurant
and waited for a waitress who never came.
We eventually gave up and walked out,
and were met at the door by a mob of police in uniform and plain clothes.
Patrol cars with flashing lights were all over the place.
I stuck my cigar in my mouth, hiked up my "rifle", and we walked straight to our car.
They watched us, uncertain what to do.
A detective tapped on my window and I rolled it down.
"I feel a little foolish", he said, "but we've had twenty-three calls tonight
from citizens who swear they saw Fidel Castro.
Do you mind if I pull your beard?"
"It might come off", I said in American.
We told him we were warming up for Halloween.
The Miami Herald headlines the next day read: "FIDEL ROAMS MIAMI NIGHT!"
To see the actual newspaper item, go here on the internet: http://tinyurl.com/3n7a8yr
I did TV interviews in full makeup.
They also interviewed the detective who said we were nuts.
But we weren't nuts for naught.
Jack Blanchard
The Jack Blanchard & Misty Morgan Home Page: http://jackandmisty.com
Restoration and mastering studio: 407 330 1611.
CD Baby: http://cdbaby.com/cd/jackmisty
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TODAY IN COUNTRY MUSIC HISTORY
compiled by Bill Morrison
Owen Bradley, Producer, born Westmoreland, TN 1915. Inducted CMHF 1974. Owen Bradley
turned Nashville into Music City USA.
Tommy Magness, fiddler, born Mineral Bluff, GA 1916.
Roy Nichols born 1931. Roy played guitar in Merle Haggard's band for twenty years.
Albert Green Hopkins, age 43, "The Hill Billies," died 1932.
Mel Street, born "King Malachi Street," Grundy, VA 1933.
Roy Acuff recorded "Wabash Cannon Ball," 1936.
Capitol Records released Buck Owens' single "Come Back/I know What It Means" 1957.
Buddy Holly's last recording session 1958.
Lefty Frizzell recorded "Saginaw, Michigan," 1963. It was his last #1 record.
Bill Black, age 39, former bass player for Elvis Presley, and leader of the Bill Black Combo, died from a brain tumor. 1965.
The Grand Ole Opry celebrated its 40th anniversary in 1965.
Marty Robbins released "Camelia/Old Virginia" 1969.
Gene Vincent, age 36, died 1971.
Mel Street, age 45, died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound on his birthday in 1978.
Revenant Records released "Country Blues: Complete Early Recordings (1927-1929)" of Dock Boggs 1997.
Dave Apollon's album "The Man with the Mandolin" was released in 1997, twenty-seven years after his death.
Courtesy Bill Morrison: http://www.talentondisplay.com/countrycalMAR.html
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In response to many requests, YES I am on Facebook and you are welcome to become a friend—UNLESS you are one of those that posts photos of your grandkids or your pet cat every other day. I don't have the time or interest for that. SO—if that's what you do on Facebook.. just forget me !
I'm the Doug Davis with the photos of the guitars.
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THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
THE PATH OF LIFE
When walking down the path of life, remember what I say,
That every man must feel the thorns that grow along the way.
And every soul will stumble, for every man is weak,
And the road of life uncertain, its prospects often bleak.
But always give a helping hand, a word of love, a smile,
To help the soul beside you walk across each weary mile.
For love will cause the sun to shine, and everywhere you go,
The painful thorns less noticed as the roses bloom and grow.
Kate Watkins Furman
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