COUNTRY MUSIC CLASSICS
Doug Davis
Owner/Publisher/Manager/Editor/
Writer/Gopher/Chief Cook & Bottle Washer
Wednesday January 16, 2013
CHECK OUT OUR WEBSITE AT www.countrymusicclassics.com
STORY BEHIND THE SONG
It's been said that hit songs can come from anywhere and according to Earl Thomas Conley - his 1987 number one "Right From The Start," was one of those songs that came from out of the blue.
Conley's record producer Nelson Larkin commented, "Our office secretary Sarah brought us that song after it came in the mail from two Texas song writers - Billy Herzig and Randy Watkins. We wound up with more of a rhythm and blues flavor that anything we had recorded before but it worked."
Conley's RCA Victor single "Right From The Start" was recorded for the "Too Many Times" album and became the fourth single to be released from the album.
It entered the country music charts August 1st, 1987 and was at the top of the charts on October 31st.
It was Conley's 29th charted song and his 14th number one.
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: Are you familiar with a Ray Price song about "That's What Leaving's About?" My dad says it was on the radio years ago.
A: "That's What Leaving's About" scored a number 66 for Price in 1972 and was the flipside of his number two hit "The Lonesomest Lonesome."
Q: Whatever happened to the guy who had the hit record "Blue Suede Shoes?"
A: "Blue Sues Shoes" was written by - and scored a number one in 1956 for Carl Perkins, Perkins died in 1998.
Q: I still have the 45 rpm record of "Alabama Wild Man" that I bought in 1972. My dad says that song was on the radio years before that. Is that true?
A: Reed's original version of "Alabama Wild Man" peaked at number 48 in 1968. He re-recorded the song in 1972. The second version made it to number 22.
Q: On some of the old Grand Ole Opry TV shows - there is a guy playing harmonica behind Roy Acuff. Do you know the harmonica player's name?
A: The harmonica player was Onie Wheeler - who died in 1984.
Q: Do remember a song on the radio years ago about "Another Day, Another Dollar?" It was a good country record but I don't remember who sang it.
A: "Another Day, Another Dollar" scored a number 27 hit for Wynn Stewart in 1962. He co-wrote the song with Bobby Austin.
Q: There was a tune on radio years ago by a girl singer about "Shake Me I Rattle -Squeeze Me I Cry." Do you know her name?
A: The song was a number 14 hit for Marion Worth in 1963 and a number 16 hit for Cristy Lane in 1978.
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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
Pistol Packin' Mama - Bing Crosby & The Andrews Sisters
1952
Let Old Mother Nature Have Her Way - Carl Smith
1960
El Paso - Marty Robbins
1968
For Loving You - Bill Anderson & Jan Howard
1976
Convoy - C.W. McCall
1984
Slow Burn - T.G. Sheppard
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I'D RATHER EAT GLASS.
By: Jack Blanchard
I'm never tense during a live stage show.
I'm ALWAYS a wreck on TV shows.
What makes the difference is this: Control.
At a stage performance we can instruct the sound guys,
get the equipment set up just right,
and have the lighting the way we want it.
And, most importantly, it's OUR show.
We can read the audience and set the pace accordingly.
We're in control.
On a TV show,
we have to stand on a tape mark that somebody else put there,
and usually I can't hear myself sing
because the monitors are set for the normal human voice.
I don't own a normal human voice.
For one thing, I sing lead in the bass range,
which most TV engineers don't seem to understand.
It's somebody else's show.
Some directors like you to play to the cameras, and some don't.
They never tell you which.
In a show we did with Ralph Emery on TNN,
I was standing on my mark,
singing by the seat of my pants because I couldn't hear myself.
When a camera red light would go on, I'd play to that one,
and the director would immediately switch to another camera.
I played eye tag with the cameras through most of the song,
and never won a round.
Misty is calm on TV.
Her voice can cut through a brass band.
She doesn't care about the sound monitors,
because she can just sing louder.
I have often wanted to hide behind her.
She doesn't concern herself with finding her tape mark on the floor,
but usually gets to it okay,
while I'm like Sherlock Holmes looking for a clue.
To me, the worst was a show we did with Jackie Gleason,
Mike Douglas, and Frank Fontaine,
live from the Miami Beach Auditorium.
We had to show up for rehearsal at about noon.
We had special orchestra charts written for the occasion,and we'd never heard them before.
While we were rehearsing,
Jackie Gleason and Mike Douglas were sitting in the fifth row,watching us.
My tension started to build.
Then there was a four or five hour wait until the show started.
Plenty of time to relax, right? Wrong!
Plenty of time to get my panic into high gear!
We were backstage talking to Gleason when he was introduced with a fanfare.
He was so cool!
He went and stood just behind the curtain and seemed to count to a hundred
while the applause gained momentum, then he walked briskly onstage.
He didn't want to step on his applause, and he didn't want it to die down.
His perfect timing told him the exact second to make his appearance.
I was impressed.
Jackie Gleason wasn't anything like Ralph Kramden.He was intelligent and dignified,
wearing a dark blue suit with a flower in the lapel.
When Misty and I were introduced,we walked briskly out from behind the curtain,
and she walked right past our mark to a wrong one about eight feet farther front.
My panic gong rang. She didn't even notice.
The directors, producers, and camera people had to move fast to find her.
I had no choice but follow her to my doom.
I looked like some dumb rabbit caught in the headlights.
When I go into a REAL panic my voice goes up into Dolly Parton's range.
I have never sung worse, or looked stupider.
Misty and the orchestra sounded great.
The directors and camera crew looked at us with venom,
but I was the only one who noticed.
Misty still thinks the show went nicely, so I'm alone in my grief.
After we did our fiasco,
Jackie and Mike led the applause, and we sat down to talk.
This part was where I hope I redeemed myself
by debating spiritualism with Jackie Gleason for twelve minutes.
I let him win.
We have a videotape of it somewhere around here,
but I've just never felt up to looking for it.
I hate watching myself on TV.
I'd rather eat glass than go through it again.
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TODAY IN COUNTRY MUSIC HISTORY
compiled by Bill Morrison
1923 - Roy Lanham "Sons Of The Pioneers," born Corbin, Kentucky.
1943 - Ernest Tubb sang on the Grand Ole Opry for the first time. That night E.T. played Jimmie Rodgers guitar, a gift from Jimmie's widow Carrie. Mrs. Rodgers was E.T.'s strongest supporter, and was responsible for getting Ernest's first two recording contracts. RCA, and shortly after Ernest found out they had no intention of releasing any of the songs he had recorded for RCA, Carrie contacted the new country division at Decca Records. They signed Ernest, and the rest is history. The songs that Ernest recorded for RCA were all released by that label after he had become a star.
1943 - Ronnie Milsap born in Robbinsville, North Carolina. Ronnie joined the Grand Ole Opry in 1976. Three years earlier, Ronnie and his group were the house band at Roger Miller's King of the Road, a favorite hangout of Music City's artists.
1944 - James Wayne "Jim" Stafford singer, songwriter, and guitarist born Eloise, Florida. Jim and Bobbie Gentry were married at one time.
1946 - Ruby Falls 1946~1986, singer, songwriter, recording artist born in Jackson, Tennessee. Ruby was one of the most successful black female country singers in the genre's history. She traveled as a part of Justin Tubb's road show, and was a huge success in Las Vegas. Although she was never able to obtain a major label recording contract, Ruby placed 9 country singles on the Billboard country charts between 1975~1979. All of her hits were on the 50 States label.
1947 - James Sanford "Sandy" Pinkard Jr., of "Pinkard & Bowden," born Abbeville, Louisiana.
1949 - Little Jimmy Dickens began his recording career at Columbia Records.
1949 - George Morgan recorded his #1 country hit "Candy Kisses" today in Nashville. This Columbia single was hit first #1 record, and his first chart hit. George became a member of the Grand Ole Opry in 1948 (replacing Eddy Arnold). The very talented singer, songwriter, and guitarist was inducted into the CMHF in 1998.
1953 - Bill Monroe was injured in a car wreck in Tennessee. He received numerous injuries and required four months of healing before he would appear on stage again.
1959 - Corky Owens steel guitarist, born today.
1961 - Buck Owens recorded "Loose Talk/Mental Cruelty" with Rose Maddox.
1968 - Jan Howard and Bill Anderson's duet "For Loving You," topped the charts.
1973 - Merle Haggard recorded "If We Make It Through December."
1974 - John and Doug Brown were arrested for the murder of Stringbean, and wife Estelle.
1976 - ABC-TV aired their musical variety show "Donny & Marie" for the first time.
1978 - Glen Campbell co-hosted the broadcast of the fifth annual American Music Awards this evening. Country artist winners included Dolly Parton, Loretta Lynn, Kenny Rogers, and Conway Twitty.
1982 - Alabama's #1 single "Love in the First Degree" debuted on Billboards Top 40 Chart.
1984 - Willie Nelson, Barbara Mandrell, Alabama, Dolly Parton and Kenny Rogers were all honored at the eleventh annual American Music Awards. Alabama was awarded three trophies.
1993 - Tanya Tucker's "It's a Little Too Late" hit the country singles chart today. Roger Murrah and Pat Terry wrote the song, and watched it top out at #2. This was Tanya's 55th chart single.
1996 - Jamaican drug enforcement officers fired on Jimmy Buffett's private plane. Police reports indicate they believed the plane belonged to drug traffickers. Buffett and his passenger Bono, of U2 were not injured.
1998 - Steve Wariner requested his release from Arista Records. Arista complied with his request.
2001 - Tammy Wynette's widower, record producer George Richey, married Sheila Slaughter in College Grove, Tennessee. The 34-year-old bride is a former Dallas Cowboy Cheerleader.
2001 - Bloodshot Records released Johnny Bonds' "Country & Western."
2002 - Emil Hofner, age 83, steel guitarist, died from a stroke.
2005 - Brad Paisley's Mudstock in the Valley concert in Wheeling, West Virginia, raised over $102,000 for flood victims in the Upper Ohio Valley.
2005 - Leslie Wilburn, age 79, brother of Teddy & Doyle, member of the Wilburn Family Band, died today.
Courtesy Bill Morrison: http://www.talentondisplay.com/countrycalMAR.html
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