COUNTRY MUSIC CLASSICS*
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Doug Davis
Owner/Publisher/Manager/Editor/
Writer/Gopher/Chief Cook & Bottle Washer
Thursday July 18th, 2013
CHECK OUT OUR WEBSITE AT www.countrymusicclassics.com
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STORY BEHIND THE SONG*
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A lot of hit songs were heavily influenced by an actual slice of life and
according to co-writer Archie Jordan - Ronnie Milsap's 1978 number one "Let's
Take The Long Way Around The World" was one of those tunes!
Archie commented, "In that song - we were trying to say that people just don't
spend enough time together. Co-writer Naomi Martin's husband had died the
previous summer in a drowning accident in a Tennessee lake. He and Naomi had
planned a cruise that never happened so the song had a very special meaning. We
wrote the song for Ronnie Milsap and once we started - we finished it in about
ten minutes."
Ronnie Milsap's "Let's Take The Long Way Around The World" came on the country
music charts September 2nd, 1978 and was in the top slot on October 28th.
The RCA Victor single was Milsap's 19th charted song, his 11th number one and
was on the charts for 12 weeks. *
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BUILD YOUR SONGWRITING SUPPORT NETWORK ON THE MUSE'S MUSE
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Since 1995 the Muse's Muse has provided tips, tools and opportunities
for you to connect with your fellow songwriters around the world, find
collaborators, and get the friendly support you need to improve your
craft - no matter what stage you're at on your journey to better
songwriting. You'll find a popular message board, articles, regular
columnists, music reviews, a free monthly newsletter and lots more. So
come check us out at http://www.musesmuse.com and start building
your
songwriting support network today!*
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QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
Q: I heard on the radio that Steve Wariner has a new album. Do you have any
details?
A: Steves' first non-instrumental album in almost a decade is set for
September release. He produced the new project titled "It Ain't All Bad" and
wrote or co-wrote all twelve songs.
Q: According to my brother-in-law - Loretta Lynn is now doing something in
gospel music. Do you know anything about that?
A: Loretta will host her first ever "Gospel Music Festival" at her
Hurricane Mills, Tennessee Ranch September 28th and 29th.
Q: The radio folks mentioned Reba McEntire doing something at The Hall Of
Fame. Do you have any information?
A: "Reba: All The Woman I Am" opens August 9th at The Country Music Hall Of
Fame and Reba will be on hand August 10th to discuss her life and career.
Q: Do you have an update on Little Jimmy Dickens?
A: Dickens is undergoing three weeks of radiation treatment for
non-cancerous condition on his vocal chords.
Q: I haven't heard anything lately about Randy Travis. Do you have any
information?
A: Randy Travis remains in critical condition although doctors report he is
improving and will remain in the hospital another two to three weeks. Recovery
from the stroke is expected to take several months.
Q: I have a tape recording of Mel Tillis singing "How Come Your Dog Don't
Bite Nobody But Me?" Is the guy singing with him one of the Wliburn Brothers?
A: The guy singing with Mel on that 1963 top 30 record is Webb Pierce.*
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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:*
*1951*
/I Wanna Play House with You/ - Eddy Arnold *
*1959*
/The Battle of New Orleans/ - Johnny Horton *
*1967*
/All the Time/ - Jack Greene *
*1975*
/Movin' On/ - Merle Haggard *
*1983*
/The Closer You Get/ - Alabama *
*1991*
/Don't Rock the Jukebox/ - Alan Jackson *
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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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PICKING YOUR NEXT SINGLE. *
By: Jack Blanchard
What makes a recording a hit?
First, let's just tackle an easier one...
What makes a recording good?
Publishers and writers usually say it's the song.
Lyricists say it's the words.
Composers say it's the music.
The artists say it's the vocal performance.
The musicians say it's the arrangement.
Producers say it's the whole package.
I tend to side with the producers,
but, being good doesn't guarantee a hit.
Sadly, it's not a quality contest.
There are plenty of things along the way
that can kill a great record,
or make a bad one popular.
Most of these involve money, politics, and luck.
For instance,
if you and an artist who is managed by the label's vice-president
both release a single the same week,
which one do you think will get the promotion?
This was our experience with one of the major labels.
There are less politics in the Indie field,
but there are still problems in selecting single
that will help your career.
Things to consider...
Twenty-four hour programming:
If the song is too slow, DJ's might not play it in the daytime.
They like to keep the audience awake in the morning
and during drive time.
If it's too fast they may not play it after dark,
when listeners are trying too relax.
Medium is the safest tempo,
but there are a lot of hits that don't follow this rule.
A story lyric? A singalong? A novelty? A ballad?
And on and on.
Momentum.
If you've had some recent airplay with ballads,
do you need a similar follow-up
or a change of pace?
Some DJ's like the old time sound, and some like it more modern.
No matter which you choose somebody won't like it.
That's okay.
You don't need everybody to like it.
Just apply some skin thickener.
Here's how we pick our singles.
We listen to all the potential singles we have
and narrow it down to a short list,
our criteria being "What WE like".
Although we've learned that we can't second-guess the public
that's what we try to do next.
We analyze tempo, lyric and music content, vocal performance, etc..
We get discouraged and angry and bang each other on the head.
Then we try again.
When we have it down to two or three,
we take a poll of our friends.
If we don't like the poll results, we throw them away.
We listen to the short list over and over
until we can't hear it anymore.
We try listening from the next room, from the backyard,
and from inside the toilet tank.
We finally pick one and send it in to the record company.
As soon as the mailbox slams shut,
we think we sent the wrong one.
We begged the record label not to release our biggest hit:
"Tennessee Birdwalk".
I thought "Somewhere in Virginia in the Rain"
had too many chords for country music.
Our most popular songs have been
fast, slow, funny, serious, and unexpected.
We press on regardless.
I think the only good rule is this:
Don't put out anything that is so bad that it will embarrass you.
When you play it for friends,
you don't want to have to cough to cover certain parts.
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Jack Blanchard
*http:// - http:///www.jackandmisty.net - http://www.jackandmisty.net
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TODAY IN COUNTRY MUSIC HISTORY*
compiled by Bill Morrison*
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Walter David "D" Kilpatrick, record company executive/manager of the Grand Ole
Opry, Born
Charlotte, NC 1919.
Lonnie Mack born 1941.
Linda Gail Lewis, younger sister of Jerry Lee Lewis, born Ferriday, LA
1947.
Bill Monroe recorded "In The Pines," 1952.
Kitty Well's "It Wasn't God Who Made Honkey Tonk Angels" charted
1952.
Elvis, age 18, went to the Memphis Recording Service, and paid four dollars to
record My Happiness/That's When Your Heartaches Begin, on an acetate record
1953.
Mark Jones of "Exile" born Harlan, KY 1954.
Ricky Skaggs born Cordell, KY 1954.
Willie Nelson released "Susie" and "No Dough," 1958.
Johnny Cash recorded his last session at Sun Studio in Memphis 1958.
John Robert Goleman, "Cactus Brothers," born Shreveport, LA 1962.
"Dang Me" became Roger Miller's first #1 hit 1964.
Danny Dill was seriously injured in a car wreck 1974.
Giant Records released Mark Collie's album "Tennessee Plates" 1995.
Curb Records released Junior Brown's "Junior High" 1995.
Combo released Hoyt Axton's album "Lonesome Road" 1995.
Warner Brothers released David Ball's album "Super Hits" 2000.
Mimi Farina, age 56, folk singer and sister of Joan Baez, died in California
2001.
Alan Lomax, producer, age 87, died in Florida 2002.
Courtesy Bill Morrison:
<http://www.talentondisplay.com/countrycalMAR.html*>
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THOUGHT FOR THE DAY*
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*If at first you don't succeed – then you're about
average! *
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