COUNTRY MUSIC CLASSICS
Doug Davis
Owner/Publisher/Manager/Editor/
Writer/Gopher/Chief Cook & Bottle Washer
Thursday, March 1st, 2012
CHECK OUT OUR WEBSITE AT www.countrymusicclassics.com
STORY BEHIND THE SONG
Very few songs ever make it to the music charts twice-by different artists---much less make it to number one—but Bill Anderson's song, "City Lights" was an exception to that rule!
Ray Price's original version made it to the top slot in October 1958 and stuck there for thirteen weeks.
And on February 1st, 1975, Mickey Gilley's version was also in the number one spot for one week.
According to Bill Anderson, the idea for "City Lights" was conceived –in of all places—on the roof of a hotel in downtown Commerce, Georgia.
Anderson commented, "I was living in a three story hotel in Commerce at the time and in the summertime I would take my guitar up on the hotel roof and sit there and pick and grin to myself.
And on that night I was comparing the God made stars to the man made lights of Commerce, Georgia and the idea just stuck in my mind. When I played the song for my dad, he told me that he was convinced that I had what it took to be a songwriter since I could picture "a great white way" from looking at the lights of Commerce, Georgia which at the time had only two traffic lights."
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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. (NOT AVAILABLE TO INTERNET STATIONS)
Both features are available at no charge.
For information, email me at classics@countrymusicclassics.com
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QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
Q: The radio dudes mentioned that George Strait was ill. Do you have any details?
A: George cut short a recent concert in Kansas City because of throat problems. He is fine and has rescheduled that gig for March 3rd.
Q: Jerry Reed's "Lord Mr. Ford" is my favorite record. Did he write that song?
A: Reed's 1973 # one was written by Dick Feller
Q: I'm wondering why you always provide just a bit more information that what readers actually ask for. It's a little offensive at times.
A: If you're offended by anything in this newsletter. Unsubscribe instructions are at the end of each one. Feel free to use them at any time. As for why I provide extra information: I don't need a reason--it's my newsletter.
Q: Do you know anything about a Johnny Cash birthday celebration in Nashville?
A: "We Walk The Line: A Celebration of The Music of Johnny Cash" will celebrate what would have been Cash's 80th birthday at the Austin City Limits venue in Austin, Texas on April 20th.
Q: Do you know the name of the singer who had a song out years ago about "Hello I Love You?"
A: "Hello I Love You" was a # 13 hit for Johnny Russell in 1975
Q: I have a copy of the Johnny Cash song "Bad News." My dad says that song was on the radio by someone else. Is that true?
A: "Bad News" was a # 23 hit for John D. Loudermilk in 1963, before Cash's version made it to # 8 in 1964. Boxcar Willie also scored a # 36 with his version in 1982.
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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
I'll Hold You in My Heart (Till I Can Hold You in My Arms) - Eddy Arnold
1956
I Forgot to Remember to Forget - Elvis Presley
1964
Begging to You - Marty Robbins
1972
It's Four in the Morning - Faron Young
1980
I Ain't Living Long like This - Waylon Jennings
1988
I Won't Take Less Than Your Love - Tanya Tucker
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WHAT RHYMES WITH "ORANGE"?
By: Jack Blanchard
Songwriters and poets say you can't rhyme with the word "orange":
I say: "I'm forging the courage to forage for porridge with foreign George."
I write a lot of songs and stories, so I often get asked:
Where do you get your ideas?
I get my ideas from a post office box in Schenectady.
We were having oatmeal at breakfast today because it's supposed to be healthy.
I looked across the table at Misty
and noticed that she was struggling to finish hers.
She said "It's like eating a bowl of laundry."
In the 1970s women teased their hair. Misty teased hers and it bit her.
In Florida our idea of a nice day is when a tree doesn't blow down on us,
or when the lightning strikes somebody else,
and we can come out from under the kitchen table.
Many dead animals of the past changed to fossils.
Others preferred to become oil.
I'm planning to become a fossil. I'm about halfway there.
Sometimes those voices in my head have good ideas.
Walt, a friend of mine, saw this ad : "Refurbished Casket, used only once briefly."
He said "It looks like a real bargain too."
I said "Just use it for the funeral and then resell it on Ebay."
He said "I wonder if that would void the warranty?"
Do my multiple personalities allow me to drive in the car pool lane?
Our town was too poor to have a village idiot, so we took turns.
I had a few drinks at a party and woke up with both contact lenses in one eye.
Vacuums are nothings.
We only mention them to let them know that we know they're there.
I hope the recession doesn't get worse.
We're eating pictures of food out of magazines.
We still check the neighborhood dumpster because people throw good stuff away.
There's a nice TV set in there now. I'm thinking about it.
I like to think of myself as "Early Middle-aged" (not to be confused with "Early American").
I'm still waiting for my mid-life crisis.
At our concert at Walt Disney World,
the stagehands lowered the stage at the BEGINNING of our closing number!
We watched the audience disappear. We must have looked like singing heads.
Stagehands don't always watch the show.
Winning isn't everything.
Winning and gloating and rubbing their noses in it ... That's everything!
World War Two had great songs and good-lookin' dames. Hubba hubba!
Goodbye Mama, I'm off to Yokohama for my country, my flag, and youse.
That's the ticket, ya big lug.
Warning: I am armed and extremely jolly.
I get uncomfortable when somebody winks at me.
Who winks, anyway? Leprechauns and pedophiles?
I still have my grandfather's watch.
On his deathbed, he sold it to me.
It's now after 2AM. I can't believe all the moths around our porch light.
Like a bunch of drunks.
They're gonna be a mess when they get home. Wait till their wives get a look at them.
They come here because our porch light it the last one open in town.
Time again to floss the cat and go to bed.
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
1898 - Laurence Lemarr Brasfield 1898- 1966, a.k.a. "Uncle Cyp" of Uncle Cyp & Aunt Sap was born in Smithville, Mississippi. Brasfield's wife, Neva was Aunt Sap. Uncle Cyp & Aunt Sap entertained for decades, and were cast members of the Ozark Jubilee in Springfield, Missouri. Cyp's younger brother was Grand Ole Opry comedian Rod Brasfield. Both Cyp & Sap were Kentucky Colonels.
1901 - Tommy Jarrell 1901-1985, singer, fiddler, and banjo player, was born in Mount Airy, North Carolina. Tommy's music is preserved in the Library of Congress' American Folklife Division. Jarrell was awarded a National Heritage Fellowship from the National Endowment for The Arts in 1982.
1917 - Cliffe Stone 1917-1998, born Clifford Gilpin Snyder in Stockton, California. Played a huge role in West Coast country music after World War II as a media personality, musician, songwriter, artist manager, music publisher and recording artist. Inducted into the CMHF in 1989.
1949 - Hank Williams recorded "Lost Highway" during a session at Nashville's Castle Recording Studio. The MGM single charted in October.
1949 - The Stanley Brothers recorded "White Dove" on Columbia Records.
1949 - The first 45-rpm record was released by RCA.
1950 - Connie Eaton , "Angel of the Morning" was born in Nashville, Tennessee.
1952 - Uncle Dave Macon made his last Grand Ole Opry appearance. He became sick after the show and died three weeks later in a Murfreesboro, hospital.
1952 - Faron Young's first Capitol recording session was held today. Faron's first Capitol hit single was his self--penned "Goin' Steady" which charted in January, 1953 and climbed to #2.
1954 - Janis Oliver of Sweethearts of the Rodeo was born in Manhattan Beach, California. Janis and Vince Gill were married from 1980-1997, and had one child Jenifer.
1956 - Ray Price "The Cherokee Cowboy" recorded "Crazy Arms" at the Bradley Studio in Nashville. Steel Guitar legend Ralph Mooney wrote the song, and the Columbia single charted in May and spent almost five months at the top of the chart. This was Ray's first #1 record, and has been chosen as a Grammy Hall of Fame recording.
1956 - Curt Chapman Bluegrass bass player, born in Lancaster, Ohio, and raised in Nashville, Tennessee.
1957 - Buck Owens signed with Capital Records in Hollywood.
1957 - Kristine Oliver of Sweethearts of the Rodeo was born in Manhattan Beach, California. Kristine Oliver and Leonard Arnold were married January 26, 1980.
1957 - The Everly Brothers recorded their first sides for Cadence Records. "Bye Bye Love" and "I Wonder If I Care As Much," were recorded in Nashville, and written by the husband and wife team of Boudleaux and Felice Bryant. Bye Bye Love became the Everly's first #1 hit, and has been chosen as a Grammy Hall of Fame record.
1958 - Buddy Holly & the Crickets played the first concert of their British tour.
1961 - Davis Daniel, Mercury recording artist, born Robert Andrykowski in Arlington Heights, Illinois. Davis charted 7 hits on the country charts from 1991-1995.
1963 - Sara Hickman, singer, songwriter, and guitarist born Jacksonville, North Carolina.
1964 - Jennifer McCarter of "The McCarters," born in Sevierville, Tennessee.
1965 - Capitol Records released Buck Owens' album "I've Got A Tiger By The Tail."
1966 - Clinton Gregory, singer, fiddler, guitar, drums, banjo, and bass born in Martinsville, Virginia.
1968 - Columbia Records released "The Man In Black's" album "Johnny Cash At Folsom Prison." The album went to #1, and remained on the Country Album chart for almost two years.
1968 - Johnny Cash and June Carter were married in Franklin, Kentucky. Merle Kilgore was John's Best Man.
1969 - Barbara Mandrell signed her first, major label contract, with Columbia Records.
1970 - The Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour featured guests Raymond Burr, Ella Fitzgerald, Charles Manna and Neil Diamond.
1972 - Merle Haggard was granted a full pardon by California Gov. Ronald Reagan.
1973 - MCA Records began operations in Universal City, California.
1975 - The 17th Annual Grammy Awards were presented this evening. In the Country Music category winners included: Record "I Honestly Love You" Olivia Newton-John; Female Vocal Performance Ann Murray "Love Song." ; Male Vocal Performance Ronnie Milsap "Please Don't Tell Me How The Story Ends."; Best Country Song "A Very Special Love Sing" songwriters Norro Wilson and Billy Sherrill; Best Gospel Performance The Oak Ridge Boys "The Baptism of Jesse Taylor: Best Traditional Recording "Two Days In November" Doc & Merle Watson.
1976 - Dave Kapp 1904-1976, songwriter, publisher, and founder of Kapp Records, died at the age of 71.
1977 - Hank Williams' MGM album "24 Greatest Hits" was certified Gold by the RIAA.
1989 - Pearl Butler 1927-1989, of "Carl & Pearl Butler" died at age 61. Carl & Pearl both appeared in the movie Second Fiddle to a Steele Guitar. They became members of the Grand Ole Opry in 1962. Pearl Butler was laid to rest in Williamson Memorial Gardens, Franklin, Tennessee.
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
If at first you don't succeed—then try it one more time and give up. There's no use in making a plumb fool of yourself!
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