COUNTRY MUSIC CLASSICS
Doug Davis
Owner/Publisher/Manager/Editor/
Writer/Gopher/Chief Cook & Bottle Washer
Wednesday January 2nd, 2013
CHECK OUT OUR WEBSITE AT www.countrymusicclassics.com
STORY BEHIND THE SONG
Hit songs have been written under unusual circumstances - some even on the telephone. And according to songwriter Steve Dorff, Eddie Rabbitt's 1979 number one, "Every Which Way But Loose" was one of those songs!
Dorff commented "I called Milton in Mobile, Alabama and told him about a new Clint Eastwood movie. At the time I had not read the script so I told Milton that all I knew about the movie was that Clint Eastwood rode around in a pickup truck with a monkey. And I had been told that Jerry Lee Lewis might sing the song so I told Milton to keep Jerry Lee in mind while working on the lyrics.
So he called me back in about half an hour and we finished the song over the phone."
Somewhere in the mix, someone suggested Eddie Rabbitt to sing the song. Eastwood okayed the idea, and producer Snuff Garrett shipped a tape copy to Rabbitt in Nashville. Rabbitt flew to Los Angeles and recorded the tune - which came on the country music charts December 23rd, 1978 and was at the top of the list on February 10th, 1979.
It was Rabbitt's 13th charted song and his 4th number one.
The Elektra Records single was on the charts for 15 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: Saw on TV that The Oak Ridge Boys were singing to George Bush over the phone. What is that all about?
A: At the request of Barbara Bush - The Oak Ridge Boys telephoned President George H. W. Bush - who is in a Houston, Texas hospital - and sang to him.
Q: Back in the 70's there was a song on the radio about "The Road To Daddy's Dreams." Do you know who had that record and was it a hit?
A: "Down The Road To Daddy's Dreams" was a number 59 hit for Darrell McCall in 1978.
Q: Do you have any information concerning Charlie Daniels and a "military ball? The radio folks were talking about it.
A: Charlie Daniels served as honorary chairman for the recent "2012 Military Ball" in Nashville, Tennessee. The event honors midshipmen and cadets attending different military colleges.
Q: Have you ever heard of a song about "One Window - Four Walls?" My dad recorded it off the radio years ago.
A: "One Window - Four Walls" was a track in Marty Robbins' 1967 "My Kind Of Country" album.
Q: I remember a song on the radio years ago about "The Waltz Of The Angel's." I think it was one of Wynn Stewart's early records but don't think it was a hit.
A: "Waltz Of The Angels" was Wynn Stewart's first charted song and peaked at number 14 in 1956. George Jones and Margie Singleton had a number 11 hit on the song in 1962 and David Houston took it to number 51 in 1978.
Q: There was a song on the radio years ago about "The Never Ending Song Of Love." Do you know who had that record?
A: "Never Ending Song Of Love" was a 1971 number 8 hit for Dickey Lee, a 1971 number 57 hit for Mayf Nutter, a number 43 hit for The Osmond Brothers in 1983 and a number 72 hit for Crystal Gayle in 1990.
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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
Silver Dew on the Blue Grass Tonight - Bob Wills
1954
Let Me Be the One - Hank Locklin
1962
Walk on By - Leroy Van Dyke
1970
(I'm So) Afraid of Losing You Again - Charley Pride
1978
Here You Come Again - Dolly Parton
1986
Have Mercy - The Judds
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THE MYSTERIOUS PHONE CALL.
By:Jack Blanchard
My sister Virginia passed away Easter weekend, 2002,
after a prolonged stay in hospitals and nursing homes.
Much of her suffering during the last few years
was due to horrible healthcare workers, arrogant doctors,
and the wrong medications they prescribed.
Ginny deserved better.
She was in poor health and nearly blind most of her life,
and was the closest thing to a saint I've ever encountered.
She was cheerful and funny even after all her suffering,
and never hurt anyone in her life.
One night in 2005, at 11PM, I got a phone call from Ginny.
The call came in on our private line,
known only to friends and relatives,
and the Caller ID said "BLOCKED NUMBER".
I never pick up on blocked calls, but this time I did.
It was, after all, our private number,
and I thought maybe somebody close to us might be in trouble.
It was Virginia.
I know that voice, probably better than my own.
I was covered with chills and goose pimples from head to foot,
and had to hang on to something to keep from falling.
At first the voice was soft and distant, and I said "Hello?"
Her tone sounded desperate and pleading.
Then I recognized words: "I can't find my ball."
"Who is this?" I asked.
"I've lost my ball", she said a little more emphatically.
"What ball did you lose?" I asked.
I already knew who it was,
and I didn't understand any of this weirdness,
but my reaction was to try and help my kid sister.
The voice on the line started to fade away,
still pleading for help I couldn't give.
I called our sister Valerie and told her about the call.
We both got chills.
Then Val told me that Ginny had had trouble with one of her hands.
I think it was caused by a stroke.
She was given a ball to squeeze for therapy,
and occasionally the ball would get lost among the bed covers.
Val would enter the hospital room and ask Ginny how she was,
and the reply sometimes was "I've lost my ball".
We're trying to figure it all out,
and have found no easy answers.
Here's one remotely possible conclusion.
We had a lot of trouble with hospital staff,
and threatened to sue them more than once.
We may have gotten an employee fired, and angry at us.
This is pretty far-fetched, but barely possible.
A disgruntled employee could have recorded Ginny's voice,
and is trying to scare us for revenge.
But why would he or she wait three years?
The hospital did have our private phone number.
Today Valerie received a call
from a rest home in Minneola, a nearby town.
She found the number on her Caller ID this morning.
They had left no message.
Could a worker who is holding a grudge be working there?
The easiest explanation is that it was a call from a ghost.
What doesn't seem to fit is this...
Our sister Virginia would be in a better place,
and not still suffering after death.
If I get another blocked number call on our private line,
I am going to pick it up.
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TODAY IN COUNTRY MUSIC HISTORY
compiled by Bill Morrison
1926 - Harold Bradley, session-guitarist, was born today in Nashville. Harold was a session
guitar player in Nashville for over fifty years, and is believed to be the most recorded guitar
player in history. Harold and Owen Bradley were brothers. Harold is currently the President of the Nashville Musicians Union.
1936 - Roger Dean Miller 1936~1992, singer, songwriter, guitarist and TV host was born today in Fort Worth, Texas. His first chart hit was his self-penned RCA Victor single "You Don't Want My Love" in 1960. Roger was inducted into the NSHF in 1973 and the CMHF in 1995.
1943 - Dick Feller singer, songwriter and guitarist born in Bronaugh, Missouri.
1954 - John Barlow Jarvis, songwriter, pianist, session player, and recording artist born Pasadena, California.
1961 - Buck Owens' released "Foolin' Around" b/w "High As The Mountains" in 1961. This was Buck's first #1 record according to Cashbox magazine.
1962 - Buck Owens released "Nobody's Fool But Yours," the single charted the following month and topped out at #11 on Billboard's country chart.
1965 - Merle Haggard's Tally Records single "My Friends Are Gonna Be Strangers," written by Liz Anderson, charted today and climbed to #10, remaining on the charts for 22 weeks. This was Merle's 4th chart hit, and was the song that inspired the name of Hag's band, "The Strangers.
1968 - Capitol Records released Buck Owens' album "It Takes People Like You To Make People Like Me." The album charted two weeks later and went to #1. Three singles were released from this album; The title track went to #2 on the Singles chart. "Where Does The Good Times Go" went to #1, and "Let The World Keep On A Turnin'" w/Buddy Alan topped out at #7.
1970 - Marty Robbins recorded "My Woman, My Woman, My Wife" in Nashville. Marty wrote
the song and Bob Johnston produced the session. The session players included: Marty Robbins~vocals; Ray Edenton~guitar; Jack Pruett~guitar; Charlie Daniels~guitar; Jerry Shook~guitar; Pete Wade~guitar; Bill Pursell~piano; Norbert Putnum~bass; Richard Morris~vibes, mirambas, and bells. The Columbia single went to #1 on Billboard and became Marty's 53rd chart single, and his 14th #1 hit. This record won a Grammy for Best Country Song of 1970.
1972 - Arthur Lee "Red" Smiley 1925~1972, age 46, guitarist of "Reno & Smiley" (formed 1951) died from diabetes in 1972.
1974 - Woodward Maurice 'Tex' Ritter 1905~1974, age 68, died in Nashville, today. Member of the Grand Ole Opry (1965), Tex was inducted into the CMHF in1964, NSHF in 1971, and the Texas CMHF in 1998. Tex has also been inducted into the Cowboy Hall of Fame. My friend's dream of "Hillbilly Heaven," is now reality.
1979 - Wayne Walker 1925~1979, age 53, Hall of Fame songwriter, died in Nashville. A few examples of a Wayne Walker penned tune: "Are You Sincere," "All The Time" w/Mel Tillis, "Cut Across Shorty" w/Marijohn Wilkin, "Leaving On Your Mind," "Burning Memories" and many more. A few artists who recorded Wayne's songs: Eddy Arnold, Ray Price, Patsy Cline, Kitty Wells, Webb Pierce, Carl Smith, Ernest Tubb, George Strait, Janie Fricke, Ann Murray, Jack Greene, Andy Williams, Mel Tillis, Elvis, and many more. Wayne's "All The Time" was named Billboards Song of the Year in 1967, and he was inducted into the NSHF in 1975.
2003 - Macey Marie Wills was born to Mark and Kelly Wills.
2004 - Josh Turner's debut MCA Nashville album "Long Black Train" was certified Gold by the RIAA.
2006 - Louise Scruggs 1927~2006, age 78, wife and business manager of Earl Scruggs died at Baptist Hospital in Nashville. Louise was the recipient of the 25th Annual "IFCO Tex Ritter Award" in 1999. This prestigious award recognizes the recipients for their contributions to country music, the music community, and fans everywhere.
Courtesy Bill Morrison: http://www.talentondisplay.com/countrycalMAR.html
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