COUNTRY MUSIC CLASSICS
Doug Davis
Owner/Publisher/Manager/Editor/
Writer/Gopher/Chief Cook & Bottle Washer
Thursday July 5th, 2012
CHECK OUT OUR WEBSITE AT www.countrymusicclassics.com
STORY BEHIND THE SONG
A lot of hit songs have gone through some changes - some more than others – before they made it into the recording studio.
According to Bob McDill, Don Williams' 1982 number one, "If Hollywood Don't Need You" was one of those tunes.
Bob commented, "That song started out with a lot of western images - "me and the fellows drove the truck to Amarillo - had some beers and laughs and all that." I wanted to get that West Texas imagery in there. I had a whole bunch of verses with a bunch of West Texas lines. I didn't have a title and the song wasn't going anywhere and finally I figured out that if he's missing this gal, then where is she and I said, well she's gone off to Hollywood to be a star and then - it really began to take shape. I originally had the lyric as "If you see Burt Reynolds, shake his hand for me and tell Sally Fields I've seen all her movies," and Don Williams was a friend of Burt Reynolds and he knew that Burt and Sally had just broken up so he changed it to "tell ole Burt I've seen all his movies."
Don Williams' MCA Records single "If Hollywood Don't Need You" came on the charts December 1th, 1982, made it to number one and was on the charts for 20 weeks.
It was his 31st charted song.
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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 feature, "Story Behind The Song" is now available to radio stations. (NOT AVAILABLE TO INTERNET STATIONS)
The feature is available at no charge.
For information, email me at classics@countrymusicclassics.com
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QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
Q: My next door neighbor sometimes brags that she probably used to live next door to Jeanne Pruett. When she was a little girl, they lived in Rutledge, New Jersey and their next door neighbors last name was Pruett and their little girl sang in church. Is that possible?
A: Of course it's possible that your next door neighbor could have lived in Rutledge, New Jersey, next door to someone named Pruett – but it's highly unlikely that it was Jeanne Pruett – since she was born Norma Jean Bowman in Pell City, Alabama.
Q: My uncle used to sing a song about "Don't Let Those Stars Get In Your Eyes." He said it was a very popular song on the radio back in the 50's by a guy named " Skooter" or "Skeeter" or something like that. Do you have any information?
A: "Don't Let The Stars Get In Your Eyes" was a # one for Skeets McDonald (real name: Enos McDonald") in 1952. The song was also a hit for Slim Willet, Ray Price, and Red Foley.
Q: Do you remember a country singer named Kenny Serratt? Was he from Nashville, Tennessee?
A: Kenny Serratt was from Manila, Arkansas and placed 11 songs on the country charts between 1972 and 1981.
Q: My sister has an old record by Sammi Smith titled "Never Been To Spain." She said it was a hit back in the 70's. Didn't some guy also have a hit on that song?
A: Ronnie Sessions scored a # 36 hit on the song in 1972 before Sammi Smith's version topped out at # 75 in 1974.
Q; Merle Haggard's "All My Friends Are Gonna Be Strangers" is my favorite Merle Haggard record. My dad says somebody else had a hit on that song. Is that true?
A: (From Now On All My Friends Are Gonna Be) "Strangers" was a # 6 hit for Roy Drusky and a # 10 for Merle Haggard – both in 1965
Q: What was the name of the guy who sounded like Johnny Cash back in the 60's. He had a record called "Frankie's Man Johnny."
A: That guy was Johnny Sea. He is now a crop duster in Mississippi.
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IT'S HERE! CHECK IT OUT: www.myhillbillymusic.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:
1946
New Spanish Two Step - Bob Wills
1954
Even Tho - Webb Pierce
1962
Wolverton Mountain - Claude King
1970
He Loves Me All the Way - Tammy Wynette
1978
It Only Hurts for a Little While - Margo Smith
1986
Everything that Glitters (Is Not Gold) - Dan Seals
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OUR DOG CHILDREN.
By: Jack Blanchard
Our first dog was Brubeck, when we lived in Miami,
before we had any popular recordings.
We named him for our favorite jazz pianist Dave Brubeck.
He was a wonderful, intelligent, and faithful friend.
Brubeck was killed by a car while we were doing a live radio broadcast.
We got home and received the news and were devastated.
A few months later we got a basset hound puppy, Cecil.
Cecil was impossible to train and bit everyone in the family.
We took him when we moved to Key West.
He was destructive, so when we went to work we had to close him in the bathroom,
which he completely destroyed.
Cecil got something serious wrong with his throat
and we took him to a vet, which we couldn't really afford.
The doctor said it was from howling all night every night when we were at work.
We asked around for someone to take him, and it was the Mayor of Key West.
A woman, maybe the Mayor's wife or assistant picked him up
and he went happily away without a look back at us.
I don't think Cecil ever knew who we were, or cared.
And I don't think the mayor got much sleep that night.
Then Misty came home with a whippet, a miniature greyhound named Prince.
He was so little and skinny and shaky, he was pathetic.
I think he had been abused.
He was a sweetheart, and slept tightly between us.
But he was so insecure that he marked his new territory
all over our home and furnishings.
We had to go somewhere for a week or so and entrusted Prince with neighbors.
A bad mistake.
When we came back, he was hiding under their trailer,
with burns from hot liquid all over him.
Misty jumped out of the car, strode up to the place
past dirty kids, garbage, and yard dogs,
grabbed up Prince and we took off.
We loved him, but we knew a very nice young woman
who was thrilled to take him from us, and would give him a good home.
Sadly he got killed by a car while she was walking him across Duval Street on a leash.
Poor little Prince's story is like something out of Dickens.
The ABC Talent Agency then booked our trio throughout the Eastern US.
In Montgomery, Alabama we got Wolf 1, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Blanchard.
If a dog can be a genius, that would describe Wolf.
He was a comedian, knew lots of tricks, and how to manipulate people...
a puffy silver beauty, and everybody loved him.
He would carry his leash to us when he wanted to go out.
My socks began to disappear.
We found out Wolf was hoarding them under our bed.
We tiptoed in and saw a sock being slowly drawn back under the bed.
Very sneaky.
Sometimes Wolf would get in a mood, wouldn't come when called,
so we found a strategy.... We would ring the doorbell and shout "Who is it?"
He would come running and barking, to see who dared to come to his door.
As smart as he was, it worked every time.
Wolf had some seizures which were frightening to see.
He seemed exceptionally healthy, and we didn't know he was also diabetic.
We had to go on a brief tour and boarded him at the highest rated kennel in Orlando.
We called from a rest area on the road to see how he was doing.
The jerk on the phone simply said. "Oh, that dog? It died."
We were angry and in tears for days.
Later we got another toy poodle at a Winter Park pet store.
He was let out of the cage, made a beeline for Misty,
and seemed to run right up her, into her arms. Love at first sight.
Wolf 2 was the opposite of Wolf 1 in personality.
He was quite serious and tried to be the best person he could be at all times.
He took care of Camille, our little Lhasa Apso. throughout her life.
And especially when she got old and blind.
In Nashville, Wolf's hind legs suddenly became crippled and he couldn't walk.
Half his body was numb from a spinal injury.
Misty and I carried him around on a pillow
even when people were telling us to have him put down.
We were pretty low on money at the time,
but out of desperation I called Information from a telephone booth to try to find a doctor.
I happened to get a very friendly operator on the line who loved animals,
and she was sympathetic.
She put me in touch with a surgeon who operated on Wolf and did not charge us a cent.
A miracle.
Wolf 2 had to be catheterized regularly after surgery
and Misty did it for several months... even between shows.
He was struggling to walk, and one day Misty came in laughing and happy
shouting. "He just peed on his own!" It was a big event to us.
After that he always walked with a slight hind leg stiffness, but he could run perfectly.
The hardest thing I have ever had to do was hold Wolf on the table
while the doctor put him to sleep.
He was looking into my eyes and trusting me.
All these years later I still tear up when I think of it.
Wolf 2 and his little partner Camille were like brother and sister
and lived with us for about sixteen years. They were our family.
We love and miss all of our canine family,
even Cecil.
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
Guy Willis of "The Willis Brothers" born Alex, AR 1915.
Mitchell Hammond "The Dillards," born Hammond, IN 1930.
The Grand Ole Opry moved from the Dixie Tabernacle, to the War Memorial Auditorium, 1939.
Elvis Presley cut his first session for Sun Records "That's All Right Mama/Blue Moon of Kentucky" 1954. Scotty Moore on lead, Bill Black on bass, Sam Phillips on his way.
Capitol Records released Buck Owens single "Gonna Have Love/Only You" 1965.
Merle Haggard's #1 single "Working Man Blues," charted 1969.
John Conlee debuted on the Grand Ole Opry 1980.
George Jones' "He Stopped Loving Her Today," went to #1 1980.
Tanya Tucker gave birth to Presley Tanita Tucker, her firstborn child, 1989.
Brooks & Dunn's #1 country hit "Red Dirt Road" debuted on Billboard's Top 40 chart 2003.
Loretta Lynn hosted the Grand Opening of her museum, located on her ranch in Hurricane Mills, TN in 2003.
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:
It don't take a very big person to carry a grudge.
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