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, February 9TH, 2012
CHECK OUT OUR WEBSITE AT www.countrymusicclassics.com
STORY BEHIND THE SONG
According to songwriter Norro Wilson, George Jones 1975 number one, "The Door" was a "sad hokey song."
Wilson commented, "we went out and rented a door--a miniature door—to get that "slamming door sound" on the record.
But the song- or rather – the record - was a bit ironic – as it came on the country music charts October 26th, 1974 and jumped into the top the same week that George and Tammy Wynette split up. And it reached the top of the charts January 4th, 1975—just four days before Tammy filed for divorce.
The song was written by Norro Wilson and Billy Sherrill and produced by Sherrill.
It was the 97th charted song for Jones and his 7th number one.
The Epic Records single was on the charts for 13 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. (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: I hear a song on the radio once in a while about "Tight As Twin Fiddles." Do you know who had that record?
A: "Tight As Twin Fiddles" is the flipside of Vern Gosdin's 1988 hit, "Chiseled In Stone."
Q: Is Little Jimmy Dickens name really Dickens?
A: He was born James Cecil Dickens in 1920
Q: My dad says that Mickey Gilley and Conway Twitty were cousins. Is that true?
A: Gilley and Twitty are not related. Gilley is a cousin to Jerry Lee Lewis.
Q: I have heard that Tom T. Hall used to be a disc jockey. Is that true and was it in Nashville?
A: Tom T. once worked as a disc jockey for WMOR Radio in Morehead, Kentucky.
Q: Did someone else besides Glen Campbell record "Gentle On My Mind?"
A: Dozens of artists recorded the song but the only versions to make the charts were by Campbell and by John Hartford.
Q: My mom says there was a version of Johnny Cash's "Get Rhythm" on the radio by someone else. Do you know who?
A: "Get Rhythm" was a hit for Cash in 1956 and again in 1969. Martin Del Ray also had a hit on the tune in 1991.
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M E M O:
Does anyone have the installation CD for a DELL V715W printer? If so - please email me at: Classics@countrymusicclassics.com
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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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COUNTRY MUSIC GOES TO WAR.
By: Jack Blanchard
Starday Records was once a giant in country music, with a roster of superstars.
I was producing at Starday Studios in the 1960s, when Willie Nelson was a writer there,
and not getting enough respect from the owner.
I was a Willie fan before he was well-known.
We have an old LP where he sang San Antonio Rose better than we have ever heard it.
This was before he added vibrato to his singing. On the cover he wore a tux.
I wrote and produced for several Starday Records artists.
Also some for Pete Drake's Stop Records.
Misty Morgan recorded a song on Starday under the name Maryanne Mail.
It was called "The Lonely Sentry" and was on the Starday LP "Country Music Goes to War".
The war at the time was Viet Nam.
When our guys came home from Viet Nam, they didn't get a parade.
Whether or not the war was a rightful one,
they went through hell and back to be put down by their own people at home.
Personally I think the commie fear was overdone back then.
Nobody has to agree with me.
My best friend has cancer, diabetes, and everything else from latent effects of Agent Orange.
It hid out in his liver all these years and then hit him hard a year or two ago.
He's alive and improving now, thanks to God and the Veterans Administration,
and he'll be playing guitar on our upcoming recording session.
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Playing the piano with your hands upside down,
or playing a guitar behind your back, or while riding a unicycle is showy.
It does not make you a better musician.
But it may get you a gig.
Hedy Lamarr, the movie star known for her great beauty,
co-invented a technology, in 1941,
that was used to prevent enemy ships from detecting our radio directed torpedoes,
has been used in radio over the years, and even today in Wifi networks.
Beauty AND brains.
She lived her later years in Orlando, and had the same doctor we did.
If women ran the world there would be no wars....
just a bunch of countries not speaking to each other.
It's been down in the 30s here in Florida.
I need to cuddle up to somebody with a fever.
My hands are FREEZING! I wish I had some sheepskin gloves... or a sheep!
I just signed a wildlife petition to "Save the Mosquito"!
I'm going to have the read these things more closely.
The little girl next door had a doll made in India.
When her parents saw the India label they threw the doll away.
It was like taking Gandhi from a baby.
I was talking with a friend tonight. He told me he was a miner for over 20 years.
He said loved being in the mine better than being outside. Weird!
I told him they used to send my grandfather down in the mines
to see if they were safe for the canaries.
The evidence against Evolution and its Survival of the Fittest is this:
Stupidity is still everywhere.
WOW! Nothing hurts like your tongue when you accidentally staple it to the wall!
The more we learn, the more we realize how little we know.
The Science we worship may be overrated.
To be fair, it's also possible that I'm nuts.
I have this nagging fear that everyone is out to make me paranoid.
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
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.
2005 - Lee Greenwood and Crystal Gayle performed at the ceremony dedicating President Ronald Regan's commemorative postage stamp in Washington D.C.
2006 - T. Graham Brown performed at Louisville, Kentucky's "Coyote's" as a member of the Red, White and Blues Tour.
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
ALWAYS
Lord, in the morning when I rise, my thoughts first turn to You,
In thanks for safety through the night and for morn's sky of blue.
Then through the day as I traverse the path You've given me,
I know you're walking by my side to share the joys I see.
If pathways are too rocky, Lord, You lend a helping hand,
So I can cope, with faith and trust, across this trouble land.
Then when day turns to even time, once more, I turn to Thee,
In thanks for strength throughout the day; For friends and family.
Lord, always You are there for me; You are my dearest friend,
And ever will I trust in You until my journey's end.
Sandra Town Lytle
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