COUNTRY MUSIC CLASSICS
Doug Davis
Owner/Publisher/Manager/Editor/
Writer/Gopher/Chief Cook & Bottle Washer
Thursday January 14th, 2016
Email: djdclassics@gmail.com
STORY BEHIND THE SONG
A lot of songs have been written as satire on people – places – or things – but
few of them have become hits. Johnny Cash's 1966 hit, "The One On The Right Is
On The Left" is one that did!
According to songwriter and record producer Jack Clement: "That song is pretty
self explanatory. It's just a satire on people who got their politics mixed up
with their music. The one on the right is on the left and the one in the middle
is on the right and the one in the rear is a Methodist. And just such silly
stuff as that. It's just a song laughing at folks who try to mix their music and
their politics. That's about it. I was thinking silly that day and that's what
came out."
Johnny Cash's Columbia single "The One On The Right Is On The Left" entered the
country music charts February 12th, 1966 and peaked at number two.
It was his 57th charted song and was on the charts for 18 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. Email to
djdclassics@gmail.com
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QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
Q: Several months ago I heard that Don Williams was no longer performing
concerts. But today the radio folks mentioned a new tour. Do you have any
details?
A: Don Williams is scheduled to perform a 75-minute set of his hits in 21
venues across the country - beginning February 17th at Florida Theatre in
Jacksonville, Florida and ending at Little River Casino Resort in Manistee,
Michigan on April 16th.
Q: I heard some radio folks talking about Willie Nelson's "Stardust" album
going certified quadruple platinum. What does that mean?
A: "Certified quadruple platinum" means that the album sold over 4 million
units. The "Stardust" LP was released in 1978, and included two No. 1 hits,
"Georgia on My Mind" and "Blue Skies." "Stardust" went on to sell more than 5
million copies in the United States and stayed on the Billboard Country Albums
chart for 10 years. The album has been re-released twice, first in 1999 with two
bonus tracks, and then in 2008, for its 30th anniversary, with a 16-track bonus
disc of standards from other Nelson albums.
Q: The radio people mentioned a guy named Red Simpson passing away. I never
heard of him. Who was he?
A: Red Simpson was raised in Bakersfield, California and wrote his first song
at age 14. He began writing songs with Buck Owens in 1962, including the Top Ten
hit "Gonna Have Love." In 1965, Capitol records producer Ken Nelson was looking
for someone to record some trucking songs. He first approached Merle Haggard,
who wasn't interested, but Simpson readily agreed. His first, Tommy Collins'
"Roll, Truck, Roll," became a Top 40 country hit and Simpson recorded an album
of the same name. That year he offered up two more trucking songs, both of which
made it to the Top 50 or beyond. As a songwriter, he scored his first number one
hit with "Sam's Place," recorded by Buck Owens. After that, Simpson decided to
become a full-time writer. He returned to performing in 1971 with his Top Five
hit "I'm a Truck," which had been written by postman Bob Staunton. In 1972, he
debuted on the Grand Ole Opry and had two more "truck" hits for Capitol. In
1976, Simpson signed to Warner Brothers and released "Truck Driver's Heaven."
The following year, he teamed up with Lorraine Walden for a series of duets that
included "Truck Driver Man and Wife." In 1979, Simpson appeared for the last
time on the charts with "The Flying Saucer Man and the Truck Driver." Haggard
recorded his song "Lucky Old Colorado" in 1988. In 1995, Red recorded a pair of
duets with Junior Brown — "Semi Crazy" and "Nitro Express". Red Simpson died
January 8th at a hospital in Bakersfield.
Q: My daughter says the TV news had a thing about a big Elvis collection being
released. Do you have any info?
A: "Elvis Presley — The Album Collection" will be released in mid-March and
feature 57 albums, plus three discs of rarities and a 300-page book. Among the
records are the soundtracks to all 17 of Presley's movies, his early projects,
his Sun Records recordings and live albums, while the three CDs of rarities will
each focus on a different decade: the 1950s, '60s and '70s. The project is set
for release on March 18th, just a few days before the 60th anniversary of the
release of Presley's debut self-titled LP.
Q: Whatever happened to Lorrie Morgan? She seemed to be everywhere a few years
ago but I haven't heard anything about her in a long time.
A: Lorrie Morgan will be releasing her first solo album in five years,
"Letting Go … Slow" on February 12th.The album will feature 12 tracks,
including covers of "I've Done Enough Dying Today" originally performed by Larry
Gatlin and the Gatlin Brothers, Bob Dylan's "Lay Lady Lay," Patsy Cline's
"Strange" and Vern Gosdin's "Is It Raining at Your House."
Q: I heard the radio guys talking about Merle Haggard's "Oakie From Muskogee"
album. I thought it was a single.
A: It was both. Forty-six years ago (December 1969) Haggard's "Okie From
Muskogee" album was released and the album- along with the title track single,
both made it to the top of the charts. "Okie From Muskogee" won an ACM Award for
Album of the Year in 1970, and the title track won Single Record of the Year and
Song of the Year, with Haggard taking home Top Male Vocalist of the Year as
well. At that year's CMA Awards, the song, record and Haggard won Entertainer of
the Year, Male Vocalist of the Year, Album of the Year and Single of the Year.
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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
1950
I Love You Because - Leon Payne
1958
Great Balls of Fire - Jerry Lee Lewis
1966
Giddyup Go - Red Sovine
1974
I Love - Tom T. Hall
1982
Fourteen Carat Mind - Gene Watson
1990
It Ain't Nothin' - Keith Whitley
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TODAY IN COUNTRY MUSIC HISTORY
1929
Born on this day in Ralls, Texas, was William Marvin Walker, better known as
Billy Walker the country music singer and guitarist. He is best-known for his
1962 hit, "(I'd Like to Be In) Charlie's Shoes". Nicknamed The Tall Texan,
Walker had more than 30 charted records during a nearly 60-year career and was a
longtime member of the Grand Ole Opry. Walker was killed on May 21, 2006 in a
car accident when the van he was driving back to Nashville after a performance
in Foley, Alabama veered off Interstate 65 in Fort Deposit and overturned.
1937
Born on this day in Beaumont, Texas, was Billie Jo Spears, country music singer
who reached the top-10 of the Country music charts five times between 1969 and
1977, her biggest hit being the 1975 "Blanket on the Ground." She died of cancer
aged 73 on December 14th, 2011.
1948
Born on this day in St. Louis, Missouri, was Joseph Henry "T Bone" Burnett,
musician, songwriter, and record producer. Burnett has produced artists such as
Roy Orbison, Lisa Marie Presley, John Mellencamp, Los Lobos, Counting Crows,
Elton John & Leon Russell, Elvis Costello and his wife Diana Krall, Natalie
Merchant and The Wallflowers as well as Tony Bennett and k.d. lang. Burnett won
Grammy Awards for the O Brother, Where Art Thou? soundtrack and for his work
with Alison Krauss and Robert Plant on the 2007 album Raising Sand.
2006
With the song, "She Let Herself Go," George Strait scored his 40th #1 hit on the
Billboard Hot Country Songs chart, all of them solo. It tied him with a
20-year-old record for most #1's on the country chart, held by Conway Twitty (35
solo, five duet with Loretta Lynn).
Top of Form
Top of Form
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LOOKING BACK.
By: Jack Blanchard
We made some new friends in 2015,
and made up with some old ones.
We mourn those who died,
and celebrate those who were born.
Misty and I are still together, and we have a chance at 2016.
I can't believe it's 2016. Last year I couldn't believe it was 2015.
In the year 4 they said "I can't believe it's 4.
Just four years ago it was nothing."
In the year 4 B.C.
they said "I can't believe how the years are subtracting.
I found a bunch of songs I wrote recorded by other people.
One was Billy Joe Burnette singing "Don't It Look Like Georgia".
Another was Englebert Humperdink"
doing "Second Tuesday in December",
and The Ventures playing our "Gemini".
Excitement in a Florida Retiree Community...
The unexpected pregnancy.
My uncle is 96 years old and walks three miles a day.
We have no idea where he is.
I'm getting rid of my walk-in tub.
People keep dropping in
because they don't need an appointment.
I ate healthy foods today...
Breakfast: 2 cups of coffee, a cinnabon, and a protein bar.
Supper: Cole slaw, potato salad, ice cream, and cake.
Late snack: 3 cookies.
Misty says, "Have what makes you happy. You'll live longer."
I don't like to take too many pills,
although I admit I walked around for many years
with an illegal smile.
When our son Donn was killed,
I went through an odd kind of mourning.
I guess we all cope with grief in different ways,
but my way was to go crazy for a few years.
This attacked a place so deep in my consciousness,
that I never saw it coming.
A half dozen therapists and a variety of pills helped some,
but time was the only cure.
I'm probably as sane now as I'll ever get.
OLD SONGS.
Mrs. Miller is singing the Old Songs
With the nurses at afternoon games.
She remembers the words to the Old Songs,
But forgotten her family's names.
The past is just over her shoulder
And music can turn back the years.
Old times flicker by, in the corner of her eye
When the Old Songs ring in her ears.
So bring up the band and give them a hand.
While we can, let's all sing along
And maybe we'll find lost love in the memories
That live in the heart of Old Songs.
(Lyrics by Jack Blanchard.)
LOOKING BACK,
if our song "Big Black Bird" had not gotten everybody excited,
Tennessee Birdwalk would not have been on a major label.
We got a phone call one day.
The voice on the other end said this:
"You'd better get ready to travel.
We're selling 50,000 a day, and just getting started!"
ON PAST NEW YEARS EVES...
I was the designated drunk.
Jack Blanchard
http://jackandmisty.net
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VIEW FROM THE FRONT PORCH
By: Stan Hitchcock
Woke up early this morning and wondered...is this the day when I will be growed
up and know whatever it is that I'm gonna be...when I grow up? As it turns
out...after a jug and a half of good hot coffee, the answer is still kinda
hanging out there, waiting to be decided.
I always envied people who knew what they were gonna be when they grew up. Me? I
never had a clue…and still ain't too dang sure…so, maybe I just never will grow
up.
Now If I was to ever fill out a form that asked for my occupation…well, I might
just put down "Carnival Worker". Hillbilly Singer-Carnival Worker…bout the same
thing. When I would go to the Fair with my follks as a kid, and see them
Carnival Workers doing their thing…looked like a pretty good life to me….and
when I would watch my Uncle Bud Hitchcock play his Arch Top Gibson guitar…I
thought that looked like a pretty good life also. So, in my early mind, the two
lifestyles kinda run together.
Then at 12 years old, when I started actually picking the guitar a little bit on
my own, it became a part of what I was...and just something I did, picking and
singing through my High School days. However, I still did not consider that was
what I was gonna be when I grew up. In those days...a musician was kinda like a
Carnival worker...yeah, they needed you when it was time to put up the big
tents...but it was not a lifetime career...Sure, you sing and pick guitar some,
but what do you do for a living? So I kept on with that nagging question in the
back of my mind "What Am I Gonna Be?".
Actually, every year when the Ozark Empire Fair came around...the life of a
Carnival Worker looked pretty good to us boys....shoot, they all had them
tattoos all over and they got to hang around with them Hootchie Kootchie girls
that they would not let us boys go in to the tents and gawk at..they got to run
all them attractions up and down the line of tents and rides, calling out to the
Rubes to come in and give them their money....uh huh, pretty exciting life we
thought. And they looked like they didn't have to take a bath but about once a
year, and they wore their shirts with the sleeves cut off and they all chain
smoked cigarettes...shoot, what's not to like?
For while there, in the 50's, I thought I might go to Vet School. We had a
Veterinarian that I would help when he came out to treat a sick Cow or
Horse...and I liked it a lot...but, music kept getting in the way. Pretty soon
it was forgotten.
For awhile, after High School, I was a Sailor....and I liked that a lot, running
the big boats and seeing the World through a Porthole...but, alas, the Navy just
turned out to be a moveable Stage for my music...taking it all over the Far East
with the Bryce Canyon Troubadors.
Then, finally, I found my real calling....yesssir, this was it. I was gonna work
with Homeless and Troubled Children at The Good Samaritan Boys Ranch...using my
music to promote the work...singing my Gospel Songs and picking my Guitar for a
good cause. That worked fine for about three years...picking and singing and
running the Farm operation for the Ranch....getting Radio Stations to give us
some time for our Radio programs about the Boys Ranch...me picking and
singing...my Uncle Bob Johnson preaching and the boys telling some of their
stories...It was good. 1959 to 1962, I believed I knew what I was gonna be when
I grew up. Then one day, I was standing in the Front Room of the Ranch House and
the phone rang. "Stan, this is Don Law of Columbia Records......"
So, 53 years ago, on the 5th of November 1962, I moved to Nashville and became a
Hillbilly Singer/Carnival Worker full time...traveling the World with a Guitar
Case full of songs that I thought somebody might want to hear....and about once
a year, at least, I would end up singing in one of them big Circus Tents, at an
outdoor Festival somewhere...just like the Carnival Workers used to labor to put
up at the Ozark Empire Fair. Carnival Worker....Hillbilly Singer...reckon it
don't really matter no how no more...The Hootchie Kootchie girls will always be
pretty, behind the mystery Tent flaps...to beckon the Pilgrims and Farm boys to
lay down their dollar and gawk away...all the while The Hillbilly Singer sings
his song and moves on down the Highway….
www.hitchcockcountry.com -
http://www.hitchcockcountry.com
BLUEHIWAYS TV is on Dish Network Channel 73
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THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:
I sought the Lord, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears. Those
who look to him are radiant; their faces are never covered with shame.
– Psalm 34:4-5 (NIV)
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