COUNTRY MUSIC CLASSICS
Doug Davis
Owner/Publisher/Manager/Editor/
Writer/Gopher/Chief Cook & Bottle Washer
Thursday December 24th, 2015
Our best wishes for a Merry Christmas to you and your family. May we all
remember the true reason for the season !
Email: djdclassics@gmail.com
STORY BEHIND THE SONG
Only three Christmas singles from the time period that I consider the "true
classic country era" made the top of the country music charts: Gene Autry's
"Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer, " "Ernest Tubb's "Blue Christmas," and Merle
Haggard's "If We Make It Thru December," although Haggards' was not actually a
Christmas recording – even though the song does mention Christmas. The basic
theme of the song is actually money – or – the lack of money.
But according to Haggard – the idea for the song did not come from Christmas or
money – but instead came from one of his band members who had problems holding
on to women. The band member had already gone thru several divorces and the
breakups seems to happen during the last month of the year. And with all that in
mind – Haggard asked the band member how his current marriage was working out
– to which the guy replied, "if we can just make it thru December."
Merle Haggard's Capitol Records single "If We Make It Thru December" came on the
country music charts October 27th, 1973 and was in the top slot on December 22nd
and stuck there for four weeks.
The single was produced by Ken Nelson and was Haggards' 34th charted song. It
was on the charts for 17 weeks.
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Still have a few copies of the first book – "Stories Behind The Songs." This is
the first collection of "Story Behind The Song" columns from all the newsletters
– starting in 1998 thru 2004. This 400 page collection is in a bound spiral book
with front and back cover. Some have a few water marks but in very good
condition. Priced at $45 each – I'll pay the postage. PAYPAL ORDERS ONLY. Email
to djdclassics@gmail.com
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QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
Q: I know that "Blue Christmas" has been popular for many years. How many
people have recorded that song?
A: "Blue Christmas" has been recorded by every singer who ever recorded a
Christmas album but the versions to make the charts were Ernest Tubb – who
scored a top ten single with the song in 1950 – 1951 and 1952, Elvis Presley in
1998, Vince Gill in 1999 and Clay Walker in 2001.
Q: One of the radio stations I used to listen to always played Alabama's
"Christmas In Dixie" each year and they said it had been a hit for them every
year. Is that true?
A: It was not a charted song for the group every year but it did make the
charts in 1983 – 1998 – 1999 and 2000.
Q: Years ago our local radio station always played a song each Christmas about
"Christmas Tribute." Do you know who had that record?
A: That single made it to number 92 on the charts for Bob Luman in 1977.
Q: My dad used to have a Chet Atkins Christmas album and it's been lost or
misplaced. This was the most beautiful Christmas music I've ever heard. Is that
album still available?
A: The original "Christmas With Chet Atkins" album was released in 1961 and
later re-issued on CD. You might find a copy of the vinyl on Amazon.com or at
Ernest Tubb Record Shop.
Q: Our local radio station is playing some Elvis Christmas music and they're
saying it's from an album he recorded in the late 70's. I remember hearing him
singing Christmas music on the radio years before that. Do you have any
information.
A: Presley's first Christmas LP was released in 1971. The album was
re-released as "The Wonderful World Of Christmas" in 1977. His "Memories Of
Christmas" LP was released in 1982.
Q: I've been searching for some George Strait Christmas music. Did he record a
Christmas album?
A: George's "Merry Christmas Strait To You" LP was released in 1986.
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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 at no
charge.
For information, email me at djdclassics@gmail.com
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NUMBER ONES ON THIS DATE
1945
Silver Dew on the Blue Grass Tonight - Bob Wills
1953
Let Me Be the One - Hank Locklin
1961
Walk on By - Leroy Van Dyke
1969
(I'm So) Afraid of Losing You Again - Charley Pride
1977
Here You Come Again - Dolly Parton
1985
The Chair - George Strait
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TODAY IN COUNTRY MUSIC HISTORY
1944
Born on this day in Savannah, Georgia, was Michael Curb, musician, record
company executive, and NASCAR and IRL race car owner. Founder of Curb Records
whose roster has included many successful country music artists, such as Tim
McGraw, LeAnn Rimes, Hank Williams, Jr., Wynonna, the Bellamy Brothers, Steve
Holy, the Judds, Hal Ketchum, Jo Dee Messina, Rio Grand, Jim Stafford and Ray
Stevens. A Republican, he served as the 42nd Lieutenant Governor of California
from 1979-1983 under Democratic Governor Edmund G. "Jerry" Brown, Jr. He was
acting governor of California while Brown spent time outside of California
pursuing presidential ambitions.
1963
"Love's Gonna Live Here" by Buck Owens, was at #1 on the Country chart. Spending
sixteen weeks at the top spot and a total of thirty weeks on the chart, after
"Love's Gonna Live Here" finished its 16-week stay at #1, no other song would
spend more than 10 weeks at #1 for 49 years. On January 12, 2013, "We Are Never
Ever Getting Back Together" by Taylor Swift would become the first song to spend
at least 10 weeks at #1.
1980
Kenny Rogers was at #1 on the country album charts with Greatest Hits, which
featured three singles that were not included on any of Rogers' studio albums:
"Lady" (written and produced specifically for Rogers by Lionel Richie), "Love
The World Away" (a top five country and top 20 pop hit that was featured on the
soundtrack of the box-office smash Urban Cowboy) and "Long Arm of the Law". This
was also Rogers' third #1 album of the year. (the other two being Kenny and
Gideon).
1993
"I Don't Call Him Daddy" by Doug Supernaw was at #1 on the Country chart.
Initially recorded by Kenny Rogers on his 1987 album I Prefer the Moonlight, it
was released as the third single from Supernaw's debut album Red and Rio Grande.
Top of Form
Top of Form
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CHRISTMAS ENOUGH.
By: Jack Blanchard
'Twas the night before Christmas and all through the park,
One trailer was leaky, and covered with tarp.
On the wall were two cards, where you taped them up.
By the light of a candle, I poured us a cup.
Our tree on the table, was scrawny and thin…
A foot and three quarters of plastic and tin.
The carolers sang on our clock radio,
It's the thought, after all, that counts, as you know.
The snow on the window, the smell of the pine,
Were sprayed from a can, but we didn't mind.
No money, no shopping, no last minute rush.
Christmas with love
is Christmas Enough.
Jack Blanchard
http://jackandmisty.net
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VIEW FROM THE FRONT PORCH
By: Stan Hitchcock
Here in Middle Tennessee,and Southeast in general, we are under Severe Weather
Warnings for today and tonight, which of course we should have expected with 70
degree weather in December...and I was thinking, ya'know, they ought to put out
a Christmas Package Wrapping Warning For Men! Yessir, this is a very trying time
for Men everywhere as they attempt to wrap presents for the Love of their Lives.
Present Wrapping is not a Sport for Men. It's just not. Mine always look like
they've been wrapped by a five year old unskilled wrapper with a pair of bad
scissors and crumpled up paper, held together by too much scotch tape, with a
last years stick on bow. So, here's what I do....I order my gifts on-line and
pay to have them gift wrapped! Yeah, man, now that is the way to wrap presents.
Unskilled Present Wrapping should not be attempted by Men with no Expertise in
this line of Package Decorating....you can hurt yourself if you're not careful,
and it can cause undue Christmas Stress and Consternation, leading to excessive
wrinkles in the forehead and premature graying of the hair. In fact, when I was
trying to tie one of them pretty ribbons on a package for Denise one time...my
eyes crossed, and I like to have never got em straightened back up. So, be
careful, my Gentlemen Friends, get Professional Help before it's too late!
www.hitchcockcountry.com -
http://www.hitchcockcountry.com
BLUEHIWAYS TV is now on Dish Network Channel 73
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THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:
For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on
his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
– Isaiah 9:6 (NIV)
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Our best wishes for a Merry Christmas to you and your family. May we all
remember the true reason for the season !
^^^^^^^^^^^^^
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