COUNTRY MUSIC CLASSICS
Doug Davis
Owner/Publisher/Manager/Editor/
Writer/Gopher/Chief Cook & Bottle Washer
Tuesday October 16th , 2012
CHECK OUT OUR WEBSITE AT www.countrymusicclassics.com
STORY BEHIND THE SONG
According to record producer Huey P. Meaux, he was not all surprised that Freddy Fender's "You'll Lose A Good Thing" was a hit!
Meaux commented "Freddy Fender had that cry in his voice - you could hear the pain when he sang. He was different. He was a novelty and he stood out from all the rest. He just didn't sound like anybody else."
Meaux had previously produced the song on Barbara Lynn, which scored in the top ten pop charts in 1962.
Fender's version of "You'll Lose A Good Thing" was recorded in Meaux's Sugar Hill Studios, which also produced hit records for George Jones, B.J. Thomas, and Bobby Bland.
The Big Bopper's "Chantilly Lace" was recorded at Sugar Hill Studios.
Freddy Fender's ABC/Dot single "You'll Lose A Good Thing" came on the country charts February 7th, 1976 and was number one on April 3rd.
It was his 6th charted song - and his 4th and final number one.
Freddy Fender placed 21 songs on the charts from 1975 thru 1983.
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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 dad used to sing a song about "a chocolate Ice cream cone" and said it was on the radio every day back in the 50's. Are you familiar with a song by that title?
A: "Choc'late Ice Cream Cone" was a top ten hit for both Red Foley and Kenny Roberts in 1950.
Q: The old song "Candy Kisses" is my all-time favorite. A find of mine says some other singer also had a hit on that song. Is that true?
A: "Candy Kisses" was a top ten hit for George Morgan, Elton Britt, Red Foley, Eddie Kirk, and Bud Hobbs - and all in 1949.
Q: I remember a song about 'A Daisy A Day" sometime back in the 1970's.Do you know who that record and was it a hit?
A: "Daisy A Day" was a # 33 hit for Jed Strunk in 1973. He was killed in a plane crash in 1981 at age 45
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My reply to the reader who scolded me for providing too much information cost me four subscribers. The four just didn't like my attitude. In case you missed it - the reader was unhappy that I sometimes provided more information than the reader asked for and it was distracting and annoying. My reply - as usual - was that unsubscribe instructions are at the end of each newsletter and anyone is welcome to use them at anytime. So - four subscribers did just that.
One subscriber did not unsubscribe – but told me I was too thin-skinned and I must have gotten hold of some sour milk when I was a kid. NOPE – I was raised on a dairy farm and there was always plenty of fresh milk!
So let's go over this one more time: this newsletter is F R E E – if you're unhappy or annoyed with anything in it – unsubscribe instructions are at the end of each one. Use them at anytime.
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Q: There was a song played on the radio several years ago about "I Met A Friend Of Yours Today." I don't think it was a big hit but one of the best country records I have ever heard. Do you know who had that record - did he write the song - and is he still in the business?
A: "I Met A Friend Of Yours Today" (written by Waylon Holyfield and Bob McDill) scored a # 10 hit for Mel Street. He died from a self inflicted gunshot wound in 1978.
Q: A friend of mine insists that Tom T. Hall wrote the old song "John Henry." I thought that song was much older than that?
A: Tom T. Hall wrote and recorded "More About John Henry'" which peaked at # 26 in 1972 - years after the original "John Henry."
Q: I remember a piano playing lady who always played "Down Yonder" on the Grand Ole Opry.' Whatever happened to her?
A: That piano playing lady was Del Wood (real name: Polly Adelaide Hendricks).She died in 1989.
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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
Just a Little Lovin' (Will Go a Long, Long Way) - Eddy Arnold
1956
Hound Dog/Don't Be Cruel - Elvis Presley
1964
I Guess I'm Crazy - Jim Reeves
1972
Funny Face - Donna Fargo
1980
Loving Up a Storm - Razzy Bailey
1988
Streets of Bakersfield - Dwight Yoakam & Buck Owens
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DANNY ROGERS.
By: Jack Blanchard
I worked in a show club in Detroit with The Dawn Breakers quartet.
The emcee was a very funny comedian named Frankie Rapp.
He did an impression of a gay lighthouse.
I saw him in a Jerry Lewis movie once.
There was a classy female singer on the show
who was Frankie's ex-wife.
She told me she didn't like old comedians.
She'd been married to two of them.
After comedians make us laugh we expect them to be jolly in real life.
They can be quite different from their onstage persona.
Mickey Rooney is one of our finest comedic actors,
but backstage we found him grouchy, unfriendly, and rude.
Lou Costello got 60% and Bud Abbott got 40% of their income.
When asked if he thought he needed Abbott, he said this:
"I could have him painted on the curtain."
Misty and I have known hilarious comics
who were serious depressives.
We got involved with one who was a tyrant.
I was producing a Starday Records artist named Rusty Diamond,
who had a knack for getting rich backers.
Rusty wanted to put together a Vegas type stage show.
I knew he wasn't ready for that,
so I suggested we hire a comedy coach named Danny Rogers.
Rusty's backer was paying for the coaching sessions,
and the rent on a rehearsal hall.
Danny could be funny, lovable, humble, devious, and cruel.
He could be different people at different moments.
He did so many characters, I didn't know which was the real him.
I think it was the mean one.
He'd been fired from Milton Berle's Vegas show
for being too funny.
He told me "Berle was right. It was his show."
The potential comedy group consisted of
Misty and me, Paul McLaughlin our sax player,
and Rusty was to be the star.
Rogers began calling Paul "the hick" and riding him mercilessly.
I was the designated straight man, Misty was "the chick",
and it never became clear what Rusty was supposed to do.
It did become clear that Rusty was not going to be the star.
Danny was getting paid to train him, but Rusty was on his way out.
It was morphing into The Danny Rogers Group.
He was a terrific comedian, and I was to be his Dean Martin.
He didn't even want Paul in the act.
That's why he made his life miserable.
But we made sure Paul stayed.
To be fair, Danny did teach us a lot about stagecraft and comedy.
He taught us some hilarious routines,
but he yelled at us all the time, which took the fun out of it.
Rusty's backers pulled the plug and he left the group,
Paul "the hick" was miserable,
and Misty and I were imagining fun ways to kill Danny Rogers.
Misty bought an expensive new dress
and Danny commanded her to "Never wear that again."
Then he booked our act into a famous showplace in the Caribbean.
We all knew at that moment
that we were not going to be on any island with Danny Rogers.
We were actually afraid to tell him.
He had become the cruel warden.
But we did tell him, and he wasn't happy
First he became the poor soul who's been hurt,
to make us feel guilty.
He was good!
Finally he got mad, did a troll dance, and left.
Maybe I made up the troll dance.
In the 1970's, after we'd had several hit records,
I was calling old names in our address book, for some dumb reason.
I got Rogers on the phone,
and asked if he remembered us, and he said this:
"Yeah. Too bad you never made it."
Jack Blanchard
http://jackandmisty.net
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TODAY IN COUNTRY MUSIC HISTORY
compiled by Bill Morrison
Bob Newman, of "The Georgia Crackers" born Cochran, GA 1915.
Dale Troy "Stoney" Cooper, born Harman, WV 1918.
George Morgan joined the Grand Ole Opry 1948.
Bland Simpson, of the "Red Clay Ramblers" born Durham, NC 1948.
Jim Ed Norman, record company executive/producer, born Fort Myers, FL 1948.
Carl Butler debuted on the Grand Ole Opry 1953.
Elvis Presley debuted on the Louisiana Hayride 1954.
Jimmie H. Davis inducted CMHF 1972.
Doyle Wilburn, age 52, of the "Wilburn Brothers" died Nashville, TN 1982.
Don Reno, age 58, of "Reno & Smiley" died Charlottesville, VA 1984.
Naomi Judd announced her retirement in 1990, due to illness.
Johnny Cash performed at Bob Dylan's 30th Anniversary Celebration in NYC 1992.
RCA released Vince Gill's "Super Hits" album 1996.
John Berry's "All the Way to There" album released in 2001.
Sara Evans single "Suds In The Bucket" topped the charts 2004.
The National Italian American Foundation honored Tim McGraw with their Special Achievement Award in Music 2004. Tim's mother is Italian.
The Ralph Stanley Museum was opened in Clintwood, VA 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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THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:
The biggest troublemaker you'll probably ever have to deal with, watches you from the mirror every mornin'.
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