COUNTRY MUSIC CLASSICS*
*
Doug Davis
Owner/Publisher/Manager/Editor/
Writer/Gopher/Chief Cook & Bottle Washer
Thursday November 14th, 2013
CHECK OUT OUR WEBSITE AT www.countrymusicclassics.com
*
STORY BEHIND THE SONG*
*
*A lot of ideas for hit songs have come from movies or television programs,
and according to David Bellamy, the idea for The Bellamy Brothers' 1979 number
one, "If I Said You Had A Beautiful Body - Would You Hold It Against Me," was
one of those songs I'*
*David commented, "The idea for that song came from Groucho Marx! We were
living in California at the time and one afternoon I was watching an old Groucho
Marx re-run. He used that line in the show and I thought the line was a good
song title. And that's where that song idea came from."*
*"If I Said You Had A Beautiful Body," came on the country music charts
March 24th, 1979 and was in the top spot the week of May 19th. It stayed at the
top for three weeks.*
*It was Howard and David Bellamy's 6th charted song and their
first number one. It was on the charts for 15 weeks.*
*The Warner Bros, single was produced by Michael Lloyd. The single also
scored inside the pop music top 40.*
*Homer Howard Bellamy was born February 2nd, 1946 and brother David Milton
Bellamy (yes- they are real brothers) saw the light of day September 16th, 1950.
They grew up in west central Florida, in an area of cattle ranches and orange
groves. Their father was a musician and he encouraged the boys to take up music.
Their first performance was with their dad at The Rattlesnake Roundup in San
Antonio, Florida. From there they played in various bands before relocating to
Atlanta, Georgia in the late 1960's.*
*They eventually returned home to the Florida ranch. Coming in late one
night, they decided to sleep in the adjoining bunkhouse instead of
waking their parents, and Howard woke up with a chicken snake in his sleeping
bag, which inspired David to write "Spiders And Snakes," which became a major
pop hit for Jim Stafford in 1974.*
*The songs success prompted them to move to Los Angeles,
California and Howard became Stafford's road manager. In the meantime Stafford's
manager was instrumental in getting Howard and David a recording contract with
Warner Bros Records. The release of "Let Your Love Flow" put them in the
mainstream of the music business.*
*The Bellamy Brothers placed 46 songs on the country music charts between
1976 and 1994, including ten number ones.*
*
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QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
Q: I heard about some kind of contest where someone could win an autographed
Johnny Cash photo. Do you know anything about that?
A: Visit www.johnnycashmuseum.com -
<http://rm.resultsmail.com/route.cfm?mid=bd693f55-705d-419f-8cb1-eb355d6df285&uid=fd6b8991-dfd7-42ec-be17-99e914b301a5&route=http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Ejohnnycashmuseum%2Ecom>
and sign up for their mailing
list and you should be entered to win a rare photograph - hand-signed by Johnny
Cash.
*
Q: Do you know who wrote the hit song Teddy Bear Song by Barbara Fairchild? Its
my mothers favorite.*
A: The Barbara Fairchild 1973 number one was written by Don Earl and Nick
Nixon.*
*
Q: My dad used to talk about a record on the radio about Little Tom. I cant
find a radio station that knows anything about such a record. Do you know?
*
A: Little Tom was written by Clyde Wilson and was a # 7 hit for Ferlin Husky
in 1955
Q: During a summer trip years ago thru Arizona, I heard Dave Dudley sing the
Hank Snow hit song Im Movin On. When I returned home to Alabama, I tried to find
out about the song at a couple of radio stations and music stores and nobody
knew anything about it. Can you provide any information on the recording?
A: The Dave Dudley version of Im Movin On was a track in his 1964 Travelin
With Dave Dudley album on Mercury Records.
Q: You used to print emails from your readers who griped and complained about
what you did or did not have in your newsletter. I was just wondering why you
dont print those anymore?
A: Nobody has griped or complained lately.
Q: Years ago I heard a song on the radio just a few times about Youre Gonna
Love Yourself In The Morning. Do you know who had that record?
A: The song was a # 77 hit in 1973 for Wayne Carson, # 35 for Roy Clark in
1975, # 22 for Charlie Rich in 1980 and a # 43 for Willie Nelson & Brenda Lee in
1983.
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BlueHighways TV On DISH NETWORK
A sampling of BlueHighways TV most popular shows will be shown in 14 million
homes on DISH Networks Blockbuster Studio Channel #102 for two months from
November 17th through Sunday January 5th. The programming will run on Sundays
from 1:30-2:30 pm ET. *
The shows featured will include an episode of Heart to Heart Classics that will
air December 15th at 1:30 PM ET. Host Stan Hitchcock goes into his archives and
brings his favorite Christmas moments from over 30 years in television. Music
from Connie Smith, The Jerry Sullivan Family, Sammi Smith, Skip Ewing and so
many more.*
Each week selected BlueHighways TV programming will be available during this
time on Blockbuster Studio Channel on DISH Network and it is hoped that, after
this successful run, DISH will carry BlueHighways TV full time.*
We encourage DISH subscribers to watch the BlueHighways TV shows live or record
them to view later at their convenience. Pass the word on to your friends the
more people, who watch, the better chance that BlueHighways TV will be carried
full-time on DISH! *
BlueHighways TV is a network that celebrates America with original shows the
entire family can sit down and enjoy. Tune-in to watch shows about this nations
great music, including bluegrass, folk, traditional country and western. And
then watch as we travel the back roads exploring Americana crafts, culture and
history. *
Check out the BlueHighways TV web site, Facebook and Twitter pages for the full
Blockbuster Studio schedule. Plus, visitors can enter the weekly viewer contests
on episode details and be eligible for a grand prize drawing after January
5th.Also we encourage everyone to let us know what you like about Heart to Heart
Classics and all BlueHighways TV shows. *
For more information contact: BlueHighways TV: Denise T. Hitchcock (615)
264-3292, dhitchcock@bluehighwaystv.com*
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Your comments, suggestions, gripes, etc. concerning this newsletter---are
welcome. Email *to: Classics@countrymusicclassics.com*
*
*
* ^^^^^^^^^^*
* NUMBER ONE ON THIS DATE:*
*1945*
/With Tears in My Eyes/ - Wesley Tuttle *
*1953*
/There Stands the Glass/ - Webb Pierce *
*1961*
/Walk on By/ - Leroy Van Dyke *
*1969*
/To See My Angel Cry/ - Conway Twitty *
*1977*
/More to Me/ - Charley Pride *
*1985*
/Cant Keep a Good Man Down/ - Alabama *
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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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SONG BABIES. *
By: Jack Blanchard*
*
Its harder to write songs under pressure.
At least for me. *
When Misty and I were flying high on major labels,
and having to plan a recording session every couple of months,
the pressure was on us to come up with four or five songs
that were not only damn good, but, more importantly, were different.
Different enough to grab the public attention span. *
If we didnt, we would be at the mercy of the corporate guys
who would descend upon us with songs written by themselves or their uncle
and lots of ideas for improving our product. *
Ive long resented the term product
as applied to the music we work so hard at. *
Misty and I always recorded four or five songs in a three-hour session,
and kept the suits at bay by writing 99% of them.
We occasionally picked an outside song, before they got a chance to do it for
us. *
Having to come up with so many special songs, so often
was a constant pressure, because being a major label artist with hits
isnt a condition thats easy to maintain.
Hit a slump and youre back working at Burger King. *
There is little or no security for musicians at the top,
This can bring on writers block.
It may be a form of a musical death wish,
when the stress level gets way up the scale, and you almost dont care anymore.
*
When the deadlines approached, I would start writing fast.
Sometimes in the bus on the way to Nashville, or in the motel room before a
session.
There is a power that takes over when its sink or swim.
I felt as though my feet were up in stirrups,
and somebody was telling me to breathe and push. *
Somehow my song babies turned out okay, and still call me once in a while.
*
Jack Blanchard*
*http:// - http:///www.jackandmisty.net - http://www.jackandmisty.net
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*
TODAY IN COUNTRY MUSIC HISTORY*
compiled by Bill Morrison*
*
*
Ken Carson, "Sons of the Pioneers," born 1914.
Noel Boggs, western swing steel guitarist, born Oklahoma City, OK
1917.
Merle Travis recorded "Won'tcha Be My Baby," 1950.
Marty Robbins first Columbia recording session 1951.
Ernest Tubb recorded "I'm In Love With Molly," for Decca 1951.
The Carlisles joined the Grand Ole Opry 1953.
The "Blue Bonnet Barn Dance," debuted _1953_ on KCEN-TV Temple,
TX.
Time Magazine coined the phrase "Nashville Sound," in an article
1960.
Johnny Cash was arrested in Nashville, for an alcohol related offense
1961.
Tom T. Hall recorded "I Flew Over Our House Last Night" 1972.
Johnny Paycheck released his album "Take This Job and Shove It"
1977.
Rosanne Cash's single "My Baby Thinks He's a Train" went to #1 1981.
Mel Tillis' home severely damaged by fire 1988.
Wynonna and hubby Arch Kelley III announced that they were divorcing
_1998_. The couple was married in 1995, after Wynonna became pregnant
with their second child.
Jasmine Records released Red Foley's album "Stay a Little Longer"
2000.
Collectables released Flatt & Scruggs "Town and Country/Changin' Times"
2000.
Courtesy Bill Morrison:
<http://www.talentondisplay.com/countrycalMAR.html>
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*
*
View From The Front Porch*-*
Stan Hitchcock*
*
Sitting on the back deck, on a cool, cloudy Sunday evening, drinking my hot,
spicy Apple Cider and just ruminating about how things are. I do believe that
two things drove the growth of Country Music, as we know it. Wars and Honky
Tonks.*
World War Two was a turning point in our country music. Roy Acuff, Ernest Tubb,
Cowboy Copas, all had huge hits that were War themed, and went to the very
hearts of the soldiers overseas. A Soldiers Last Letter, Filipino Baby, were
hits, along with "There's a Star-Spangled Banner Waving Somewhere" - Elton
Britt, "Smoke on the Water" - Red Foley, "Searching for a Soldier's Grave" -
Louvin Brothers, "South Pacific Shore" - Cowboy Copas, "Deck of Cards" - T.
Texas Tyler. *
In the South Pacific Islands, the Japanese soldiers would holler insults about
Roy Acuff to taunt the Americans. *
When I got to Japan, in 1955, the Japanese bands, in the local clubs, could
imitate Roy Acuff and Ernest Tubb, from growing up listening to Armed Forces
Radio. They could hardly speak English, but they could do a sound-alike of Roy
that would floor you. *
But, the real catalyst for the country music that we love, was Honky Tonks. As
early as the 1920s and 30s, string bands were playing in the Speakeasies and
Juke Joints, and during the 40s, in areas around the Army, Navy and Air Force
bases, Honky Tonks sprang up and the music of choice was country. *
Dewey Grooms, Longhorn Ballroom, in Dallas, Caines Ballroomin Tulsa, both had
Bob Wills big band for extended periods, Diamond Ballroom in Oklahoma City,
featured big country bands, then in the 60s you had Genovas Chestnut Inn, in
Kansas City, The Downspout in St Louis, The Flame Club in Minneapolis, had Dave
Dudley and band, as the regular featured band, until Dave cut Six Days On The
Road on an Independent record label, and Nashville was on the phone telling him
to, Come On Down!!*
Country music had a set-back in the late 50s from the popularity of this new
thing called Rock And Roll, but by the 60s and 70s the country music clubs and
dance halls were back in fashion. *
So it went, the fans driving the demand for live appearances, coming out in
droves to support their favorite artists, just as it should be. *
Today, I prefer the Songwriter Guitar Pulls that some of the major clubs are now
featuring. I have always loved to hear the music straight from the one who wrote
it, just believing that it is special to hear it that way. I did a songwriter
show in LaCrosse, Wisconsin a few weeks ago, and it was great to hear the new
talent and then to relive some of my old tunes for the folks, along with a few
stories. *
Country Music, music for the common man and woman, no frills no pretensestraight
ahead with stories of life and the way we live it. That is Country Music to me.
People say, Well, you cant hear good country music no more, well maybe you are
listening in the wrong places. Most times you wont find it on radio, sure not
television, but you can still find it at some of the songwriter gatheringspeople
are still writing the good stuffits just the big boys and girls in charge of our
music now, they choose to record something else. *
I always encourage the local songwriters to keep on writingnever stop, it is
your gift. Write and judge it yourself, then try it on others, finally try it on
some songwriter stage and see what the reaction is. No successful songwriter
that I know wrote a hit the first timeit is an art, and has to be practiced and
honed, like sharpening a pocket knife.just keep on sharpeningitll come in time.
*
Stan Hitchcock*
*
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THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:*
*
Or suppose a woman has ten silver coins and loses one. Doesnt she light a lamp,
sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it? And when she finds it,
she calls her friends and neighbors together and says, Rejoice with me; I have
found my lost coin. In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the
presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents. *
* Luke 15:8-10 (NIV)*
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