COUNTRY MUSIC CLASSICS
Doug Davis
Owner/Publisher/Manager/Editor/
Writer/Gopher/Chief Cook & Bottle Washer
Thursday, March 15th, 2012
CHECK OUT OUR WEBSITE AT www.countrymusicclassics.com
STORY BEHIND THE SONG
A lot of hit songs have taken weird paths before becoming hit songs and according to T. G. Shepherd, his 1975 number one, "The Devil In The Bottle" was one of those tunes!
A music publisher rep had brought the song to the publisher that T. G. worked for. The song about a man who was married, but was paying more attention to the bottle than to his wife, didn't interest his bosses, but T.G. loved the tune and held on to it. Then during a late night demo session, he had time for one more song, dug out "Devil In The Bottle" and recorded it.
After being turned down by every record label in town, a rep from Berry Gordy's new Melodyland Records label heard the demo thru the wall as T. G. was playing it in his office and inquired about the record. And as they say in Nashville—"the rest is country music history."
"Devil in The Bottle" came on the country music charts November 30th, 1974 and was at the top of the charts the week of February 15th, 1975.
It was T.G.'s first charted song and his first number one.
The single was on the charts for 19 weeks.
^^^^^^^^^^
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
^^^^^^^^^^
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
Q: I love Jean Shepard's records. Didn't she also have some hits with a guy? Was it Porter Wagoner?
A: Jean scored record hits with Ferlin Husky and later with Ray Pillow.
Q: Do you remember a country singer named Pal something or other? He had a song about "That's When The Lyin' Stops"
A: That was Palmer Rakes from Tampa, Florida--who recorded under the name "Pal Rakes," He placed 8 songs on the country charts between 1977 and 1989.
Q: Have you ever heard of a song about "Pride Covered Ears?" I've never heard it but my uncle says it was on the radio years ago
.
A: "Pride Covered Ears" was the flipside of Johnny Paycheck's 1966 #8 hit, "The Lovin Machine."
Q: My sister law insists that she went to school with Patti Page. She says one of her classmates' last name was Page and the little girl sang in school plays, etc. back in Detroit, Michigan. Could this be true?
A: Highly unlikely. Patti Page was born Clara Ann Fowler and was raised in Muskogee, Oklahoma.
Q: I have the 1970's record of Willie Nelson's "Me and Paul," which is the backside of "Yesterday's Wine." Yesterday our radio station played "Me And Paul" and said it was from the 1980's.
A: Willie re-recorded "Me And Paul" in 1985 and it peaked at # 14.
Q: I have an old record of Waylon Jennings and a girl singer on "I Got You." The girl is not identified. Do you know her name?
A: The girl singer on "I Got You" is Anita Carter
^^^^^^^
Your comments, suggestions, gripes, etc. concerning this newsletter---are welcome. Email to:Classics@countrymusicclassics.com
^^^^^^^^^^
NUMBER ONE ON THIS DATE:
1946
Guitar Polka - Al Dexter
1954
Slowly - Webb Pierce
1962
Misery Loves Company - Porter Wagoner
1970
It's Just a Matter of Time - Sonny James
1978
Mamas Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up to Be Cowboys - Waylon &
Willie
1986
I Could Get Used to You - Exile
^^^^^^^^^^^^^
IF I WERE KING.
By: Jack Blanchard
If I were king...
a captain of industry,
a leader of the people,
and wanted to stay king of my hill,
here's what I would probably do:
I would charge the consumers more and give them less.
If I couldn't raise prices fast enough,
I'd put merchandise like coffee in smaller containers
without lowering the price.
The masses have become used to creeping inflation,
so I would creep my prices up at a respectable rate.
It doesn't mean I have to give them anything more.
I would always think of the little people as "the masses".
It's more pleasant to rob those I don't see as real people.
I would build them half-million-dollar houses
made of particle board, screening, and vinyl stucco,
and hang them together with staples.
It's become tradition.
Another way to up profits
(which, of course, is God's will),
is to fire most of my Customer Service and Support staff
so that that my marks, I mean customers,
will have to wait on the line 40 minutes
to tell their problems to my computer.
I never did like hearing customer's complaints.
They should just hand over their money and shut up.
If my companies did anything to kill a few peons
and they sued me,
I would naturally blame the lawyers
and pay my politicians to pass laws
protecting me from my victims.
I can downsize (not "fire") all the employees I want,
and call it efficiency.
I can ship jobs overseas,
and blame it on the unions.
My governments can spend all they want
as long as my companies and I get all we want.
I can use the plural "governments"
because I would owe no allegiance to any one country or state,
the USA being just one of my branch offices.
I think my true stroke of genius is this:
Turn the middle class, the poor, and the semi-poor
against each other.
All ethnic groups can blame each other for their problems.
The unemployed can hate the homeless and the immigrants.
The middle class can blame the Welfare recipients,
while my gang steals the real money.
Hate is such a wonderful diversion!
None of them would be looking my way at all.
I would be above suspicion.
In fact, they'd look to me for leadership, wisdom, and mercy.
Yeah, right.
I have a lot more great plans for healthcare, prisons, social services,
and those annoying seniors with their Social Security.
So much to do!
Life is good.
Wait a minute!
It's just a dream.
Nobody would really be like that...
or would they?
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
^^^^^^^^^^^^
TODAY IN COUNTRY MUSIC HISTORY
compiled by Bill Morrison
1927 - Carl Smith, singer, songwriter, and guitarist was born in Maynardville, Tennessee. Carl was married to June Carter from 1952-56, Carlene Carter is their daughter. Carl later married Goldie Hill on September 7, 1957. Carl became a member of the Grand Ole Opry in 1950, and was inducted into the CMHF in 2003. The CMA refused to allow this country music legend to come to the stage, and thank his fans for their support after his was inducted. They did however, let him stand up in the audience so the camera could show a brief glimpse of this giant of country music past. If Carl had been allowed to speak to the world-wide audience, some Rock-Pop star would not have been able to sing their latest drivel they recorded on Music Row. What a shame that would have been.
1931 - D.J. Fontana, drummer for Elvis Presley, and a Nashville session player, was born in Shreveport, Louisiana. D. J. Fontana played on all of my Empire Record releases in Nashville.
1931 - Ted and Tom LeGrade born MacKay, Australia.
1941 - Cowboy Loye, a.k.a. Loye Donald Pack died on this date.
1946 - Gunilla Hutton, "Hee Haw cast," was born in Goteborg, Sweden.
1947 - Ryland "Ry" Cooder, guitarist, composer and producer, born in Los Angeles, California.
1956 - Colonel Tom Parker signed a management deal with Elvis Presley, after sending Hank Snow's son to watch one of his shows. Parker was also managing Hank Snow at the time.
1966 - The 8th Annual Grammy Awards were presented this evening. Winners in the Country Music category include: Roger Miller won six Grammy's this evening. I am listing the categories that he didn't win: Best New Artist Tom Jones; Best Female Vocal Performance "Queen of the House" Jody Miller; Best Group or Duo Performance "Flowers On The Wall" The Statler Brothers. And that pretty much covers this evenings awards. Roger Miller was a genius, and the funniest man in Nashville. When other songwriters were in his presence they recorded, or took notes of the things that came out of Rogers mouth. The quickest mind I have ever observed in action.
1968 - The Byrds, featuring Gram Parsons and Chris Hillman appeared on the Grand Ole Opry and played two songs.
1969 - Glen Campbell's #1 country hit "Galveston" charted on Billboard's Top 40.
1970 - Glen Campbell's Goodtime Hour featured guest Judy Collins, George Lindsey, Larry Storch and Al Martino.
1974 - The Grand Ole Opry presented its final Friday night performance at the Ryman Auditorium. The new Opry House at Opry Land would open the following evening. A large group of Opry stars came on stage to sing the final song of the night, "Will The Circle Be Unbroken." This was a very sad night for many artists, and fans. The Ryman Auditorium represented lots of things to lots of people, and all of those things were good. Tom T. Hall resigned from the Opry in protest of the move, and the devastating affects it would have on businesses and friends on lower Broadway. Tom rejoined the Opry a few years later, after Ernest Tubb told him it was time for him to come home, where he belonged.
1975 - The first anniversary of the new Grand Ole Opry House was celebrated at the Municipal Auditorium in downtown Nashville. The Cumberland River had flooded the parking lot at Opryland, and came within inches of flooding the Opry building. The Opry set a new attendance record that evening. Over 7,000 fans attended the show and anniversary celebration.
1981 - Warner Bros. released Buck Owens' single "Without You" b/w "Love Don't Make The Bars."
1985 - Anne Murray's Capitol album "A Little Good News" was certified Gold by the RIAA.
1987 - Barbara Mandrell was honored as best All-Around Female Entertainer at the People's Choice Awards.
.
Courtesy Bill Morrison: http://www.talentondisplay.com/countrycalMAR.html
^^^^^^^^^^^^^
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.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:
Nostalgia just ain't what it used to be.
^^^^^^^^^^
If you wish to UNSUBSCRIBE from this newsletter, send a blank email to countrymusicclassics-off@milepost1.com
^^^^^^^^^^^^
No comments:
Post a Comment