COUNTRY MUSIC CLASSICS
Doug Davis
Owner/Publisher/Manager/Editor/
Writer/Gopher/Chief Cook & Bottle Washer
Thursday January 10, 2013
CHECK OUT OUR WEBSITE AT www.countrymusicclassics.com
STORY BEHIND THE SONG
It's been proven many times that time itself can change many things and that includes the music business!
Such was the case of Charley Pride's 1976 number one, "My Eyes Can Only See As Far As You."
According to record producer Jerry Bradley, he thought the song was a hit the first time he heard it and he also thought it could be a hit for Charley Pride – but when he played the song for Charley – he turned it down.
Bradley commented, "That first time I played it for Charley – he just didn't like the song at all. But – six months later – I played it for him again and he loved it – and strange as it seems – he didn't remember ever hearing the song."
But Pride admitted that it "was one of the finest singles he recorded."
The song was the second single released from Charley's "The Happiness Of Having You" album and made its chart debut on March 13th – just five days before Charley's 38th birthday. The single was at the top of the country charts on May 8th, 1976. It was his 30th charted song and was on the charts for 14 weeks.
Top of Form
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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: I remember a song on the radio back in the 60's about "the lonely rhine river." Do you know who had that record? And what happened to him?
A: "Lonely River Rhine" scored a number 16 in 1960 for Bobby Helms, who died in 1997.
Q: I'm a big Hawkshaw Hawkins fan and I'm sure that isn't his real name. Do you know his name?
A: Hawkshaw was born Harold Franklin Hawkins in 1921.
Q: I still have a 45 rpm copy of "Too Old To Cut The Mustard" by The Carlisles. My mom says that song was a hit for another singer Is that correct?
A: "Too Old To Cut The Mustard" was a top 10 hit for The Carlisles and for Red Foley & Ernest Tubb in 1952 and scored a number 29 for Buck Owens & Buddy Alan in 1972.
Q: I love the Ronnie Milsap record of "Too Late To Worry -Too Blue To Cry." But wasn't that song a hit on the radio years before his record?
A: "Too Late To Worry Too Blue To Cry" was a number one for Al Dexter in 1944, a number three for Texas Jim Lewis that same year, before Milsap's number 6 hit in 1975.
Q: The Jerry Reed record "Lord Mr. Ford" is my favorite. Did Reed write that song?
A: "Lord Mr. Ford" was written by Dick Feller.
Q: I have a tape of a song recorded from the radio about "Landmark Tavern." I'm pretty sure the guy is Del Reeves but not sure about the girl singer. Is it Dolly Parton?
A: The girl singer on Del Reeves' 1970 number 20 hit is Penny DeHaven.
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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
White Cross on Okinawa - Bob Wills
1954
Bimbo - Jim Reeves
1962
Walk on By - Leroy Van Dyke
1970
Baby, (Baby I Know You're a Lady) - David Houston
1978
Take This Job and Shove It - Johnny Paycheck
1986
Morning Desire - Kenny Rogers
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WRITING SERIOUS LYRICS.
By: Jack Blanchard
I can't tell a songwriter how to write,
but I can describe some of my methods that others may find helpful.
On a serious lyric I try to avoid cleverness.
It sucks the sincerity right out of it.
First I stare out the window a while
and mentally put myself in a place and situation,
and see where it goes from there.
In my case, most of them are places and situations I've been in.
I set the scene with a few details I call "furniture",
to get the feel of it, then the story develops from that.
I have some examples.
"Dandelions that grow along the highway,
Silver gray they blow away like foam.
Trucks roll by and make the blackbirds fly away.
Seems like there ain't no goin' home."
I was broke and hitchhiking in the rain outside Phenix City, Alabama.
I had a hangover, a new sore tattoo, and no home to go to.
Until then I'd thought I was the happy wanderer.
I was hitching vaguely northward
because I had remnants of a family somewhere up there.
"Spent what I had left in Phenix City.
Nothin' in my pocket but my comb.
The way I look this morning ain't so pretty.
It seems like there ain't no goin' home.
Oh, it seems like there ain't no goin' home."
I had walked away from a couple of relationships,
thinking there would always be another waiting in the wings.
I found you can't depend on that.
These were not perfect relationships,
but on that journey I could have used a partner.
"Over on the hill I see a farmer,
Workin' in his field behind a mule.
There'll be smoke from the chimney of his cabin,
In the evening when the air is turning cool;
And a woman cookin' supper in the kitchen.
That's not for me, you see my freedom's all I own.
Here and there I get my share of lovin',
But it seems like there ain't no goin' home.
Yeah, it seems like there ain't no goin' home."
After a lot of rides to nowhere that left me stranded in desolate places,
I wound up in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania with the flu.
It was cold and all I had for warmth was a fold up plastic raincoat.
The town was having a centennial,
and a bunch of good-natured men, including a sheriff,
wanted to arrest me for not having a beard,
as I was sitting shaking in the Greyhound station.
I had somehow come up with bus fare to Buffalo,
where relatives agreed to take me in,
but the bus driver didn't want to let me on the bus
because of my shaking, and the awful way I looked,
and the wrinkled plastic I was clutching around myself.
But it must have turned out all right because I'm still here,
and I got a song out of it.
You can hear the song here:
http://soundclick.com/share.cfm?id=8081265
(This song is also our current release on WHP Comp. #141.)
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COUNTRY MUSIC HALL OF FAME AND MUSEUM -
Sunday, January 20, 2013 : 2:00pm
Film Screening: Pet Milk Grand Ole Opry featuring Patsy Cline (1962 and 1963)
Film Screening
Throughout the 1950s and '60s, various companies sponsored half-hour television specials featuring Grand Ole Opry cast members and special guests. These two episodes of the Pet Milk-sponsored show feature performances by Patsy Cline, Sonny James, the Jordanaires, Grandpa Jones, Bobby Lord, and Stringbean. 60 minutes. Free. Presented in support of the exhibit Patsy Cline: Crazy for Loving You, Support provided by Great American Country Television Network. Made Possible by Iron Mountain Film and Sound Archives.
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TODAY IN COUNTRY MUSIC HISTORY
compiled by Bill Morrison
1905 - Garley Foster 1905~1968, of "The Carolina Tarheels" born Wilkes County, North Carolina.
1923 - Curly Ray Cline, of the "Lonesome Pine Fiddlers" born Baisden, West Virginia.
1935 - Ronnie Hawkins, Rockabilly singer, guitarist born Huntsville, Arkansas.
1948 - Loretta Webb age 13 married Oliver "Mooney" Lynn.
1950 - Hank Williams Sr. recorded his first record as "Luke The Drifter."
1951 - Allen Butler, record executive, born Clarksville, Tennessee.
1952 - Audrey Williams filed for divorce from Hank (for the second time).
1955 - Marty Robbins released "God Understands" b/w "Have Thine Own Way Lord."
1956 - Elvis recorded, "Heartbreak Hotel," at his first RCA Nashville recording session. D.J. Fontana, Chet Atkins, and Floyd Cramer were among the session musicians that day. Three months later, the record became the first #1 of Elvis' career.
1965 - Johnny Cash appeared on Shindig.
1969 - Glen Campbell's Capitol album "Hey Little One" was certified Gold by the RIAA.
1973 - Decca Records released Marty Robbins single "Laura (What's He Got That I Ain't Got)" Leon Ashley and Margie Singleton wrote the song. The record charted in February and climbed all the way up to #60.
1976 - Tom T. Hall's self-penned Mercury single "Fast Horses" charted today. The song went to #1 and became Tom's 29th chart single, and his 7th #1 hit.
1978 - Zeb Turner 1915~1978, a.k.a. William Edward Grishaw, singer, songwriter, and guitarist age 62, of "Zeb and Zeke Turner" died today from cancer.
1981 - Willie Nelson's self-penned Columbia single "Angel Flying Too Close To The Ground" hit the country chart. The song was taken from the soundtrack of Willie's movie "Honeysuckle Rose" From 1962~2004 Willie has placed 122 records on Billboards Country charts, not including his albums.
1989 - Sony Music purchased Tree Publishing for $40,000.000.
1991 - Clint Black became the 66th member of the Grand Ole Opry.
1995 - Johnny Rodriguez and Lana Nelson (Willie's daughter) were married. Willie walked Lana down the isle.
1995 - The Kentucky Head Hunters debut album "Pickin' on Nashville" was certified double platinum.
2001 - Willie Neal Johnson, age 65, died Tyler, Texas. Willie was a member of the Gospel Music Hall of Fame, and the American Gospel Quartet Hall of Fame.
2003 - George Strait was inducted into the Texas Cowboy Hall of Fame in Fort Worth, Texas.
Courtesy Bill Morrison: http://www.talentondisplay.com/countrycalMAR.html
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