COUNTRY MUSIC CLASSICS

Doug Davis
Owner/Publisher/Manager/Editor/

Writer/Gopher/Chief Cook & Bottle Washer

Wednesday September 26th, 2012

CHECK OUT OUR WEBSITE AT www.countrymusicclassics.com

STORY BEHIND THE SONG

According to Cowboy Jack Clement, Charley Pride's first chart record, "Just Between You And Me" was written in Beaumont, Texas – before Clement moved to Nashville, Tennessee.

Clement commented, "That was another one of those songs I wrote in Beaumont, Texas before I moved to Nashville. I made a demo of it down there and he demo sounds pretty much like Charley Pride's record. The arrangement's are just about the same. When I was writing that song I was thinking of Brook Benton and his big strong powerful voice. I was thinking of a voice like that when I wrote that song so it was just kind of natural for Charley Pride. Actually Charley wanted to record that song first--when he started recording--but I thought "Snakes Crawl At Night" would get him more attention right off the bat. And I think I was right."

Charley Pride's RCA Victor single, "Just Between You And Me" came on the country music charts December 3^rd, 1966 and peaked at # 9.

It was on the charts for 19 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 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

==QUESTIONS ASKED AND ANSWERS GIVEN IN THIS COLUMN HAVE NO CONNECTION TO OR WITH ANYONE MENTIONED OR REFERRED TO IN THE ABOVE "STORY BEHIND THE SONG" COLUMN==

Q: The TV news mentioned that the hall of fame has set some kind of record. Do you have any details:

A: The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum set a new record for summer attendance. From the Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day, 198,000 people visited the Hall Of Fame, which is a 15% increase over 2011's prior record of 172,000.

Q: Have you heard of a Charley Pride record of "I Ain't All Bad?" My sister was talking about it and I've never heard it.

A: "I Ain't All Bad" was written by Johnny Duncan and scored a # 6 hit for Charley Pride in 1975.

Q: I know the song "Slowly" was a big hit for Webb Pierce. My dad says a male and female also had a duet hit on that song. Was it Porter and Dolly?
A: "Slowly" was a # 29 hit for Jimmy Dean and Dottie West in 1971 after scoring a # one for Webb Pierce in 1954.

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ANYONE USING THE "GARAGEBAND" APP ON AN I-PAD ???? ? ? ? ? ? ?

If so….please email me at classics@countrymusicclassics.com

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Q: I have a copy of "Take Me" by George Jones and Tammy Wynette which came out in 1971. My dad says that song was on the radio by George Jones years before that. Is that true?

A: Jones' solo version of "Take Me" scored a # 8 hit in 1965 before he and Tammy's duet version peaked at # 9 in 1971.

Q: A friend used to sing a song about "Count Your Blessings, Woman." She said it was on the radio back in the 60's. Do you have any info on such a song?

A: "Count Your Blessings, Woman" was a # 16 hit for Jan Howard in 1968.

Q: One of my all-time favorites is Donna Fargo's "Don't Be Angry." My friend says that song was a hit for a guy many years before. Is that true?

A: "Don't Be Angry" scored a # 4 hit for Stonewall Jackson in 1964, a number 33 for Billy "Crash" Craddock in 1973 before Donna Fargo's # 3 hit in 1977.

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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
Smoke on the Water - Red Foley

1952
Jambalaya (On the Bayou) - Hank Williams

1960
Alabam - Cowboy Copas

1968
Mama Tried - Merle Haggard

1976
If You've Got the Money I've Got the Time - Willie Nelson

1984
Let's Chase Each Other Around the Room - Merle Haggard

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TODAY IN COUNTRY MUSIC HISTORY

compiled by Bill Morrison

Shug Fisher, "Sons of the Pioneers" born Grady County, OK 1907.

Merrill Moore, singer/recording artist/piano session player, born Algona, IA 1923.

Marty Robbins born "Martin Robinson" near Glendale, AR 1925. This recording star/NASCAR driver/Grand Ole Opry member was elected to the NSHF 1975 and the CMHF 1982.

David Frizzell, younger brother of Lefty, born El Dorado, AR 1941.

Lynn Anderson, daughter of Liz Anderson, born Grand Forks, ND 1947.

Olivia Newton-John born Cambridge, England 1948.

Martin Delray born Texarkana, AR 1949.

Skeeter Davis debuted on the Opry 1953.

Carlene Carter born "Rebecca Carlene Smith," Madison, TN 1955. Carlene is the daughter of Carl Smith, and June Carter Cash.

Doug Supernaw born Bryan, TX 1960.

Buck Owen's recorded "You're For Me," 1961.

The Beverly Hillbillies debuted on CBS - TV 1962. The award winning theme song was played by Flatt & Scruggs, who appeared on the show from time to time.

Glen Campbell's single "It's Only Make Believe" charted 1970.

Dwight Yoakam's "Just Lookin' For A Hit," released 1989.

Capitol Nashville released John Berry's album "O Holy Night" 1995.

Elektra released Emmylou Harris' album "Wrecking Ball" 1995.

Keith Urban's single "Days Go By" topped the charts 2004.

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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THE NOTORIOUS KIDNEY STONE CAPER

By: Jack Blanchard

We were standing in line for the CMA Awards Show
in about 1973 or '74,
and talking to friends waiting with us.

Faron Young was right in front of us, and he gave Misty a big kiss and hug.
I didn't get one.
He had recently been in a car crash, and I asked him how he was doing.
He said that he'd split his tongue. I said, "Can you do any birdcalls?"
We all laughed.
That's what we all do when we're not winning the awards that year.
We stand in line and make each other laugh.

George Morgan was just behind us, and we got talking to him.
Somehow my kidney stone problem was brought up.
I had been to a doctor because of an abdominal pain,
and he told me what it was, and that I would have a lot of them.
I never did...just that one, but it was a lot of fun.

George told me not to have surgery...
just to buy a case of beer and drink one after the other.
It made a weird kind of sense because beer is a diuretic and a sedative.
I should have gone home and followed his instructions that minute.

"Home" was our motorhome parked in The Music City Campground,
in LaVergne, Tennessee, a suburb of Nashville.
After the awards we went home to bed and forgot to buy the beer.

I woke up in agony around 2 AM.
If you're a guy who's never had the thrill of a kidney stone,
it's a lot like giving birth to a porcupine.
I asked Misty to kill me or get me to a hospital.
She chose the latter,
and took off for the Murfreesboro Hospital at about 60 miles an hour,
with cans and dishes flying out of the cupboards, and the TV antenna still up.
I was moaning on the floor in a fetal position, hoping to be struck by lightning.

We got to the Murfreesboro city limits, when we realized something...
We had no idea where the hospital was.
Just then a cop pulled us over.
He said, "Follow me", and shot away like a bullet.
Misty tried to keep up, but we lost him.

Somehow, we eventually found the hospital
and the nurses put me on a cot in the emergency room, and went to the Bahamas.
A month passed. Well, maybe an hour, and no doctor came to see me.
I would have welcomed Kavorkian.

Misty stormed down the hall, saw a guy with a stethoscope around his neck,
and asked him if there was a doctor employed there.
He was miffed that she didn't recognize him as a doctor,
with his new stethoscope and all.
He said these exact words:
"I'm not going to give drugs to every hippie that comes in off the street."
They weren't used to my haircut in those days.

She assaulted him verbally for a few minutes,
and then dragged him out to look at our motorhome,
which had our names and "Columbia/Epic Records" written on it.
He made a couple of phone calls and verified our identity,
and suddenly became a bowing headwaiter.
He quickly gave me a shot and some pain pills,
and put me up for the rest of the night in the children's section.
I don't know why.

I woke up at 7 AM to a room with Donald Duck wallpaper,
and cartoons blaring on the TV.
It wasn't the kids running the television,
but another full-grown idiot in the next bed.
I got up, walked out to the parking lot in my gown,
and woke Misty up to go find my clothes.
She'd had a bit of wine after the ordeal, and neither of us felt great.
We left the Murfreesboro Hospital in our dust,
and vowed to never pay them.

The pain pills ran out the next evening,
and we got the case of beer George Morgan had prescribed.
I took it like a good boy.

I'd finished twelve or so bottles, and was still feeling some pain,
but I didn't much care.
I went into the bathroom, and in the silence Misty heard "PING!"
And she heard me say "AHA!"
She said "Let the man who is without sin pass the first stone."