COUNTRY MUSIC CLASSICS
Doug Davis
Owner/Publisher/Manager/Editor/
Writer/Gopher/Chief Cook & Bottle Washer
Thursday May 30th, 2013
CHECK OUT OUR WEBSITE AT www.countrymusicclassics.com
STORY BEHIND THE SONG
A lot of hit songs have been written out of boredom and according to Kenny Rogers, his 1978 number one, "Love Or Something Like It," was one of those songs!
According to Kenny, "At the time we were working three and four shows every night in The Lounge at The Golden Nugget in Las Vegas. So we had a lot of free time between shows. So out of boredom - Steve Glassmeyer and I started playing around and came up with the hook line "love or something like it" and wrote a couple of verses. We finished the song and never thought about recording it."
But when he played the song for record producer Larry Butler - Larry liked the song and told Kenny he should record it.
Butler commented, "Even though the song was about barroom seduction, it was accepted by radio programmers and by the public. I think that people were diggin' the record before they realized what the song was saying."
Rogers' United Artists single "Love Or Something Like It" came on the country music charts on June 3rd, 1978 at number 44 and was at the top of the list on August 5th.
The single was produced by Larry Butler and was on the country charts for 14 weeks.
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QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
Q: Do you have any information concerning a Willie Nelson concert in New York City for animal welfare? My mom heard about it on the radio.
A: The June 6th Willie Nelson "Family And Friends" all-star benefit will feature four generations of the Nelson Family sharing the stage for the first time ever and will benefit The BioDiesel Alliance and Animal Welfare Institute.
Q: I have heard that Hank Williams Jr. is going back on tour this summer. Do you know where and when?
A: Hank's 18 date "The Old School, New Rules" Tour - named after his 2012 album of the same title - will begin in Minnesota in June. For the complete tour schedule - go to hankjr.com/tour
Q: Do you know anything about a Johnny Cash stamp? The TV News mentioned it.
A: A U.S. postage stamp honoring Johnny Cash will be unveiled at Nashville's Ryman Auditorium on June 5th.
Q: The radio folks were talking about George Jones' widow having something at this year's Music Festival in Nashville. Do you have any details?
A: George Jones widow Nancy Jones, along with Randy Travis, will take part in a panel discussion about George on June 7th
Q: Years ago there was a guy named Cledus who had a comedy record about "The White Knight." Was that his real name and was that record a hit?
A: The name on the record was "Cledus Maggard" who was actually Jay Huguely. "The White Knight" was number one in December 1975.
Q: There was a song on the radio back in the 60''s about "Lily White Hands." Do you know the name of the singer?
A: Johnny Carver scored a number 21 hit on "Your Lily White Hands" in 1968. Ray Griff's version made it to number 49 that same year.
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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:
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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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IN THE STUDIO.
By: Jack Blanchard
We remember the genius of the Nashville A-team musicians,
and how they would take our ideas
and make them sound better than we had imagined.
Lloyd Green, Billy Sanford, and Hargus Robins
say that our music was the most creative they've played,
but it goes both ways.
Our sessions were like parties.
In fact, sometimes we hurried to get things done
before the party got too wild.
We liked to record late at night
and with all the musicians and singers there at once.
It got a feeling going
that you can't get with overdubbing.
Feeling is more important to us than perfection.
We always showed up prepared...
with numbered chord charts, demo tapes, and lyric sheets.
Our lyric sheets were color coded...
red text for Misty, and blue for me.
If there was overdubbing, it was usually Misty or me,
laying down a keyboard or guitar track,
that we couldn't do while singing.
Whenever we'd find a good engineer that was easy to work with
we'd asked for him as often as possible.
This is especially important to us
because we always oversee and take part in the mixdown.
When we first hit Nashville
and they weren't used to us,
some engineers resented our suggestions,
but after a while they became friends and allies.
I listened to tips from well-known producers and engineers
on getting recordings to sound good.
I used to tune my studio speakers
by putting white noise (pure static) through them,
and holding up a microphone connected to a frequency analyzer.
The analyzer would show red and green lights
indicating which sound frequencies were too soft or too loud.
I would then use a graphic equalizer to make them all even, or "flat".
I told my method to a famous producer/studio owner in Nashville
and he said it was wrong. He said to this: Hang your speakers,
and then sit down for a week or so
and just listen to big hit major label recordings through them,
adjusting the tone controls until they sounded best.
Then mix your recordings to sound as good as the proven hits
on the same speakers.
Also, I learned somewhere along the line to place my near-field monitor speakers
so that my head is the third point of a perfect triangle.
If the speakers are too close, I will hear too much stereo spread
and not enough of the middle. If they are too far away
I don't get enough stereo,
and I start to get distracting room ambient sounds.
I learned to be very conservative with EQ,
which means adjusting the tone to you folks at home.
I've also learned that you can get a hit record
without knowing any of this.
Jack Blanchard
Mastering & restoration studio: 407 330 1611.
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TODAY IN COUNTRY MUSIC HISTORY
compiled by Bill Morrison
1909 - Lewis Crook 1909~1997, of the Grand Ole Opry's Crook Brothers,
was born in Trousdale County, Tennessee.
1912 - Alcyone Bate Beasley, Grand Ole Opry performer, was born in Castallian Springs, Tennessee.
1926 - Johnny Gimble, fiddle virtuoso, mandolinist, top session musician was born John Paul Gimble near Tyler, Texas. Honored by the CMA as their Musician of the Year in 1975, 1986, 1987, 1989 and 1990. Member of Bob Wills' Texas Playboys 1949~1951.
1938 - Grant Grieves, age 70, singer, songwriter, and guitarist was born in Kansas City, Missouri. Grant was inducted into the Rockabilly Hall of Fame ® in 2005. Grant and his wife Marcia, live in Hendersonville, Tennessee. My friend continues to record and release some of the best CD's I've ever heard. Grant has been recording for 49 years, so I suppose he should have learned a little bit about how it should be done. Grant Grieves is a child of the King.
1942 - Tom Collins, producer, publisher, born Lenoir, Tennessee.
1955 - Ray Price went to #1 with "Crazy Arms" and stayed there for 20-weeks.
1960 - Ernie Ashworth's first top 10 single, "Each Moment," charted.
1960 - Decca Records released Brenda Lee's smash hit "I'm Sorry." This would be Brenda's first #1 hit, her first gold record selling over one million copies, and the biggest selling record of her career. The song was a worldwide hit, and by the end of the year Brenda Lee was an International recording star.
1960 - Mike Snider, Grand Ole Opry Member was born in Gleason, Tennessee.
1964 - Wynonna Judd, was born Christina Claire Ciminella in Ashland, Kentucky.
1966 - Dolly Parton and Carl Dean were married in Catoosa County, Georgia. Although they don't spend much time together, they will never be divorced.
1972 - Dave Apollon 1897~1972, Traditional Bluegrass, mandolin player died at age 75.
1975 - Claude Lampley 1896~1975, of the Grand Ole Opry's "Fruit Jar Drinkers," died at age 79.
1976 - Marty Robbins drove the pace car for the Indy 500 race.
1979 - Karl Victor Davis 1905~1979, age 73, of the Cumberland Ridge Runners, and Karl & Harty, died today.
1979 - Marty Robbins released "All Around Cowboy" b/w "The Dreamer."
1982 - Deborah Allen and songwriter Rafe Van Hoy were married.
1987 - Steve Wariner and Glen Campbell's MCA duet "The Hand That Rocks The Cradle" charted today. Ted Harris wrote the song, and it climbed the chart to #6. This was Steve's 27th Billboard magazine chart single. He played bass in Dottie West's band in the early 1970's.
1992 - Gary Morris, Sweethearts of the Rodeo and Hal Ketchum made guest appearances on Hee Haw. This was the last of the Hee Haw syndication broadcasts. THE END.
1995 - Chet Atkins released his 2-CD set "My Favorite Guitars" and "It's a Guitar World."
1998 - Baseball Hall of Fame pitcher Nolan Ryan visited back-stage at the Grand Ole Opry. The first thing he wanted to know was, "Where is Little Jimmy Dickens?" I want to meet Jimmy Dickens.
1999 - A bomb threat forced the evacuation of more than 3,100 people at Kenny Rogers' concert at Royal Albert Hall in London. No bomb was found, no injuries reported.
2000 - Blue Hat released Charlie Daniels' album "Road Dogs."
2004 - Lee Ann Womack sang during pre-race ceremonies at the Indianapolis 500.
2006 - The seven-day GMA Music in the Rockies began today in Estes Park, Colorado.
2006 - Bobby Harden, age 70, singer, songwriter and member of the Harden Trio along with sisters Robbie, and Arlene, died in Nashville. Bobby was laid to rest in Nashville's Woodlawn Memorial Park.
Courtesy Bill Morrison: http://www.talentondisplay.com/countrycalMAR.html
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