COUNTRY MUSIC CLASSICS
Doug Davis
Owner/Publisher/Manager/Editor/
Writer/Gopher/Chief Cook & Bottle Washer
Wednesday March 13th , 2013
CHECK OUT OUR WEBSITE AT www.countrymusicclassics.com
STORY BEHIND THE SONG
Some singers wait for hit songs to come to them while others actually go out searching for the hits. According to Reba McEntire - she was hunting for songs at Harlan Howard's home when she found her 1985 number one, "Somebody Should Leave."
Reba commented, "I was out at Harlan's house - looking for songs. He played me several that were good songs but not anything I wanted to record. Then he played me "Somebody Should Leave" and it just knocked me over! The hair on my arms was standing up and big ole tears runnin' down my face ! And when I could finally talk again I asked him if I could have that song! He said yes and that he thought I would like that one. And I sure did. "
And according to Harlan Howard - that song was personal to him as it was started while on a road trip with Chick Rains. Harlan was talking about his marriage and commented that "somebody should leave." Rains thought that was a good song title and the pair wrote the first verse before getting to Center Hill Lake. They finished the song on Harlan's houseboat the next day.
Reba's MCA single, "Somebody Should Leave" came on the country music charts February 16th, 1985 and was in the number one slot the week of May 11th. It was her 24th charted song and was on the charts for 22 weeks.
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QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
Q: I heard that Alan Jackson is doing another gospel album. Is that true?
A: Alan's "Precious Memories Volume Two" is set for March 26th release. According to Alan, the new album will be just like his 2006 "Precious Memories," - heartfelt and simple.
Q: The TV News mentioned Merle Haggard receiving some kind of award from a California college. Do you have any information?
A: Haggard will be honored with a doctorate in Fine Arts from California State University - Bakersfield on June 14th. The University will also honor the late Buck Owens with the President's medal.
Q: Do you know anything about Willie Nelson and Dolly Parton recording with Paul Anka? It was on our TV news.
A: Willie and Dolly each perform with Paul Anka on his new album, "Duets," set for April 9th release.
Q: The radio guys were talking about a "classic country" night at The Grand Ole Opry. Do you have any information?
A: The 5th year of "Opry Country Classics Thursdays" returns March 28th thru April 23rd.
Q: I remember hearing Buck Owens sing a song "Mirror, Mirror On The Wall" on the radio years ago. None of our radio stations or music stores know anything about it. Do you know?
A: "Mirror Mirror OnThe Wall" was the flip-side of Buck's 1962 number 11 hit, "Nobody's Fool But Yours."
Q: My daughter talks about hearing Ray Price singing "Bridge Over Troubled Waters" several years ago. I did not know that he had recorded that song. Did he?
A: Ray's version of "Bridge Over Troubled Waters" was in his 1971 "I Won't Mention It Again" album.
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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
Rosalita - Al Dexter
1952
Wondering - Webb Pierce
1960
He'll Have to Go - Jim Reeves
1968
Take Me to Your World - Tammy Wynette
1976
The Roots of My Raising - Merle Haggard
1984
Going, Going, Gone - Lee Greenwood
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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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OUR FIRST GIG AFTER 9/11/2001.
by: Jack Blanchard
I wrote this on September 16th, 2001.
"We did several shows today.
"We had been a little apprehensive,
due to the past week's events.
We'd wondered if they'd want us to match the present mood of grief.
We hoped we weren't being irreverent,
putting on a show at this time.
"We also wondered what the mood of the audience would be.
But, we had said we would appear, so we kept our word.
We wore red white and blue.
"I looked around the club
and noticed familiar faces we hadn't seen for a long time.
It was almost like a family reunion.
In a sense, it was.
"We turned up the PA and kicked butt from the first note.
No sense being mousy.
"We were rewarded with warmth, applause,
and many requests for our own songs.
People gathered around the stage between shows to talk to us.
We told how happy we were to see each other again.
The active word there is 'happy'.
"Music has a healing effect.
It felt good to see them smile.
They needed it.
So did we."
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TODAY IN COUNTRY MUSIC HISTORY
compiled by Bill Morrison
1903 - Bill Nettles 1907-1967, songwriter, recording artist, was born William E. Nettles in Natchitoches, Louisiana. Bill and his brother Norman were the talent behind the Dixie Blue Boys, and later founded the Nettles Brothers. They became stars while playing their music on KWKH radio in Shreveport, and record on Vocation and Bluebird, the low budget division of RCA from 1937-1945. Bill was a disabled veteran of World War I, having served in the Navy.
1926 - Maybelle & Ezra Carter were married.
1926 - Fiddler Henry Bandy, the pride of Petroleum, Kentucky debuted on WSM's Barn Dance. Also making their debut appearance that evening was The Carthage Fiddlers String Band, led by Jerry Gardenshire on harmonica, Robert King fiddle, T. K. Fort guitar, and J. F. Reed guitar.
1930 - Liz Anderson was born, "Elizabeth Jane Haaby," in Roseau, Minnesota. Liz and Lynn are mother and daughter, and both so very talented.
1930 - Jan Howard recording artist, born Lula Grace Johnson in West Plains, Missouri. Jan was married to Harlan Howard from 1957-1967. She joined the Grand Ole Opry in 1971. I know of no other Grand Ole Opry artist who has experienced more personal tragedy in their life that Jan Howard. Yet, back stage at the Opry, it is always Jan Howard who first displays a beautiful, and sincere smile for the next person who enters the room.
1945 - Michael Martin Murphy singer, songwriter, and guitarist born in Dallas, Texas.
1956 - Elvis Presley's first album "Elvis Presley" was released.
1961 - Bobby Helms released "You're The One."
1961 - Ricky Nelson recorded "Travelin' Man."
1963 - Billy Yates, singer, songwriter, born in Doniphan, Missouri.
1965 - Dick Curless' Tower Records single "A Tombstone Every Mile" hit the Billboard Country chart. This was Dick's first chart record.
1965 - The mayor of Beaumont, Texas, officially proclaimed today "George Jones Day."
1967 - Capitol Records released Buck Owens' single "Sam's Place" b/w "Don't Ever Tell Me Goodbye."
1975 - George Jones and Tammy Wynette divorced.
1980 - Marty Robbins released "She's Made of Faith" b/w "Misery in My Soul."
1980 - Dan Fogelberg's Epic album "Phoenix" was certified Gold and Platinum today by the RIAA.
1982 - Willie and Waylon's RCA duet single "Just To Satisfy You" hit the Country chart, and eventually went to #1.
1999 - Trisha Yearwood became a member of the Grand Ole Opry.
1999 - Chely Wright's MCA Nashville single "Single White Female" hit the Country charts today and fought it's way to the very top. This was Chely's first #1 record, and it remained on the chart for 8 months.
2001 - Benny Martin 1928-2001, age 72, recording artist, multi-instrumentalist, top session musician, and world class fiddle player died in Nashville.
2001 - BMG released Bobby Bare's double-disc set "Singles: 1959-1969."
2007 - Billy Joe Shaver's "Greatest Hits" album was released today.
Courtesy Bill Morrison: http://www.talentondisplay.com/countrycalMAR.html
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