Post by briguy52748 on Jul 27, 2015 21:32:06 GMT -5
Ever wonder what was on the country chart for the same chart week as the first American Top 40 show of July 4, 1970? Well, check out the July 11, 1970, issue of "Billboard" magazine and you'll find a bunch of duets, classic artists in the peak of their career (or some just moving up and becoming icons in their own right) ... a memorable song that established a honky-tonk superstar as a crossover success ... lots of great stuff.
Here, without further ado, are the week's top 40 country songs from the first week AT40 was on the air -- using the July 11, 1970 chart (since AT40 did):
40 - "It Don't Take But One Mistake" - LUKE THE DRIFTER JR. Alter ego of Hank Williams Jr., debut in top 40, up from 41). Like his son, Hank Sr. also recorded a series of songs under the name "Luke the Drifter." Incidentally, it was just a few months away, but "Monday Night Football" would debut in September; 19 years later, Hank Jr. recorded "Are You Ready for Some Football," a reworked version of his iconic 1984 party anthem "All My Rowdy Friends Are Coming Over Tonight." Both "It Don't Take But One Mistake" and "All My Rowdy Friends Are Coming Over Tonight" show the stark difference in Bochephus' musical styles; in 1970, he was still living in his father's shadow, performing countrypolitan that he wasn't really satisfied with. Things would change dramatically by decade's end.
39 - "What Is Truth" - JOHNNY CASH. Down from 17, 13th week on the chart, one of many iconic hits from the Man in Black.
38 - "Muleskinner Blues (Blue Yodel No. 8)" - DOLLY PARTON. A debut in top 40 in its second week on the chart, up from No. 60 and would go on to peak at No. 3 on Labor Day weekend.
37 - "You and Me Against the World" - BOBBY LORD, down from No. 28 the previous week, 11th week on the chart, had peaked at No. 15. I don't know much about the song itself, except I can say it was NOT the Kenny Ascher-Paul Williams-penned song made famous by Helen Reddy in 1974.
36 - "Warmth of the Wine" - JOHNNY BUSH. Down from No. 31 last week, peaked in June at No. 25, from the man best known for writing "Whiskey River," a hit in 1978 for Willie Nelson.
35 - "Don't Keep Me Hangin' On" - SONNY JAMES. This went on to become his 12th straight No. 1 hit in as many single releases, was up from No. 69 and in its second week on. One of five duets in this week's top 40.
34 - "A Good Thing" - BILL WILLBOURNE & KATHY MORRISON. Stuck at No. 34 for a second week. I admit I know very little about this duo.
33 - "I'll Be Your Baby Tonight" - CLAUDE KING. Yes -- the man who sang about Clifton Clowers covered Bob Dylan, his second week at No. 33, one of many country artists who did so, with Judy Rodman's version 17 years later the biggest country version.
32 - "A Man's Kind of Woman" - EDDY ARNOLD. A song that went on to peak at No. 28, this was his (incredibly) 104th chart hit, and the figure would still increase another (amazing) 38 years.
31 - "When a Man Loves a Woman (the Way That I Love You)" - BILLY WALKER. Although just coming off his career peak in the mid 1960s, Walker continued to be a solid contributor to the country music scene through the mid 1970s. This one got up to No. 3, and three more No. 3 hits followed through 1972.
30 - "Singer of Sad Songs" - WAYLON JENNINGS. A No. 12 hit, and a good example of his pre-Outlaw day folkish-sounding country. His next hit was "The Taker," which began a hot streak for Jennings' songwriting buddy (and eventual Highwayman stablemate) Kris Kristofferson.
29 - "Tell Me My Lying Eyes Are Wrong" - GEORGE JONES & THE JONES BOYS. Aside from George Strait, the only man to successfully seriously challenge Eddy Arnold for the lengthiest chart resume.
28 - "The Most Uncomplicated Goodbye I've Ever Heard" - HENSON CARGILL. The former "Skip a Rope" singer.
27 - "I'm Leaving It Up To You" - JOHNNY & JONIE MOSBY. One of two male-female recording duos who were both married at the time -- Jack Blanchard and Misty Morgan were the other; they're still married today, Johnny and Jonie are not -- to never have recorded a song without the other. This was the cover of the Dale and Grace No. 1 pop hit from 1963 that became a country and pop hit once more in 1974 by Donny and Marie Osmond.
26 - "Togetherness" - BUCK OWENS & SUSAN RAYE. One of two Buck Owens hits this week, this was their first duet hit together. Buck, by the way, had his own show besides "Hee Haw," but Susan Raye was a regular on both "Hee Haw" and "The Ranch."
25 - "Lovin' Man" - ARLENE HARDEN. She was part of a trio with her brother, Bobby, and sister, Robbie, in the mid-1960s called the Harden Trio, and their biggest hit was the babysitting tale "Tippy Toeing." As for "Lovin' Man," you don't likely remember it, except if you've watched a "Hee Haw" rerun on RTV. It was, however, the "female version" of a song everybody knows: Roy Orbison's "Oh Pretty Woman." Wherever it says "pretty woman" in the lyrics, it's changed with "lovin' man," and other gender-specific references. The result was a No. 13 hit and a follow-up single, "Crying," both coming from an album of covers of Roy Orbison songs.
24 - "My Love" - SONNY JAMES. The cover of the Petula Clark song and a former No. 1 hit from the last three weeks of May, spent five additional five weeks inside the top 10 after falling from No. 1, and 10 total weeks inside the top 10.
23 - "Hello Mary Lou" - BOBBY LEWIS. Covering Ricky Nelson, it became a country hit once more in 1985 by The Statler Brothers.
22 - "I Wish I Had a Mommy Like You" - PATTI PAGE. At its peak position this week. Page was by now solidly charting on the country chart after years of pop and adult contemporary successes ... although this was her last song to appear on the Billboard Hot 100 ... and in the Bubbling Under portion only (peak of No. 114).
21 - "Rocky Top" - LYNN ANDERSON. Covering the Osborne Brothers' bluegrass-inspired hit, Lynn's version peaked at No. 17. Six months later, "Rose Garden" changed her life forever.
20 - "Land Mark Tavern" - DEL REEVES & PENNY DEHAVEN, their only duet pairing to reach the charts.
19 - "I Do My Swingin' at Home" - DAVID HOUSTON. An eventual No. 3 hit and the follow-up to the 1970s first No. 1 hit, "Baby, Baby (I Know You're a Lady)." Houston never returned to the No. 1 spot, but continued to have a lot of success through 1976, including nine more top 10 hits, including one with the artist at No. 18 ... .
18 - "Playing Around With Love" - BARBARA MANDRELL. The newcomer to the chart and one-time duet partner of David Houston, and an eventual superstar, TV star, advocate of seat belts and Country Music Hall of Fame inductee.
17 - "You Wanna Give Me a Lift" - LORETTA LYNN. A successful song in its own right, as it peaked at No. 6, "... Lift" is nearly forgotten today. Like Lynn Anderson and "Rose Garden," it was the next song up that became the most famous of Lynn's career: "Coal Miner's Daughter."
16 - "Humphrey the Camel" - JACK BLANCHARD & MISTY MORGAN. Their second animal-inspired novelty hit, fourth week on the chart and jumping from No. 26 a week earlier. Eventually stopped at No. 5. They did have a few serious hits, including a cover of The Fortune's "You've Got Your Troubles (I've Got Mine)" (which would be their next single, incidentally). They still tour today.
15 - "I Can't Seem To Say Goodbye" - JERRY LEE LEWIS. Part of his collection of records he recorded with Sun Records in the late 1950s/early 1960s.
14 - "Heavenly Sunshine" - FERLIN HUSKY. Down from its peak of No. 11 a couple of weeks earlier, it was as high as he'd ever reach again on the chart, although he did have a top 20 hit at the end of 1973 and continued to chart and record for the next 20 years.
13 - "For the Good Times" - RAY PRICE. Third week on the chart, moved up from No. 39 the previous week, and one of country music's iconic songs, written by Kris Kristofferson. Also defined Ray Price's multi-faceted talents, both as a honky-tonk hero and a pop crooner.
12 - "Someday We'll Be Together" - BILL ANDERSON & JAN HOWARD. Cover of the Diana Ross & the Supremes last hit from 1969, and would go on to be a No. 4 at the end of July. Was at No. 29 the previous week. The highest charting duet pairing of the week's five.
11 - "Jesus Take a Hold" - MERLE HAGGARD & THE STRANGERS. Fifth week on the chart, now up by one notch, and although it slowed up between this and the previous week, it would go on to become a No. 3 hit. In July 1970, Merle was probably the most successful country music performer.
10 - "I Never Once Stopped Loving You" - CONNIE SMITH. Her 14th top 10 hit, and a song that had peaked three weeks earlier at No. 5. Only her first hit, "Once a Day," went No. 1, but Connie was a consistent hitmaker for 15 years, with nearly everything she recorded guaranteed to be a top 10 hit.
9 - "I Never Picked Cotton" - ROY CLARK. Well into establishing "Hee Haw" as a legend, this is darkly comedic and bitter tale from the eyes of a man who leaves a cotton plantation for the lures of the nightlife ... and it leads to a life of crime. Roy -- as first American Country Countdown host Don Bowman once pointed out, could pick with the best of them, make you laugh or make you cry.
8 - "Heart Over Mind" - MEL TILLIS. At this point, his biggest solo hit yet, having peaked at No. 3 week earlier. This was his third top 10 hit, incidentally, as a performer, although he had a bunch of songwriting hits from artists as diverse as Webb Pierce to Bobby Bare and Kenny Rogers. With "Heart Over Mind" -- a Tillis-penned tune that was a 1961 hit for Ray Price -- this was part of a very long winning streak for the "Stuttering Boy," as all but one of his singles released from 1969 to 1981 reached the top 40, and of those, only one didn't make the top 20.
7 - "She's a Little Bit Country" - GEORGE HAMILTON IV. Former teen idol of the late 1950s tuned folk-country star of the 1960s and 1970s, this one had peaked a couple of weeks earlier at No. 3 (became his second biggest hit, behind 1963's "Abeline"), but it was as high as he'd ever get again.
6 - "Long, Long Texas Road" - ROY DRUSKY. Peaked at No. 5 a week earlier. He's got something in common with Claude King on this week's chart -- both recorded pop songs that eventually were covered by UB40. In addition to Dylan's "I"ll Be Your Baby Tonight," they also did Neil Diamond's "Red, Red Wine," the 1988 No. 1 smash that in 1972 was Roy's last top 20 hit.
5 - "If I Ever Fall in Love (With a Honky-Tonk Girl)" - FARON YOUNG. Up from No. 7 a week earlier, thngs were great for the Singing Sheriff and Music City News publisher at this point, as he fit in perfectly with the country music scene of the late 1960s/early 1970s. His fortunes would change by decade's end, and by 25 years later -- as I've written on these boards in the past -- he became so disgusted with the pop-leaning direction of country music (dominated by Garth Brooks and Shania Twain) he became a recluse ... and eventually that and health problems led to his 1996 suicide.
4 - "Kansas City Song" - BUCK OWENS. Up from No 8, and his second song in the top 40. He no longer was regularly hitting No. 1 with every single release, but he was assured of a top 5 hit just about every time out, including this song, about a girlfriend's trip to said city (presumably to visit friends or family, or business) and his worry that she'll find someone new there.
3 - "Hello Darlin'" - CONWAY TWITTY. A massive No. 1 hit, now two weeks removed from the top spot after spending all four weeks of June at No. 1. It was the spoken intro that almost wasn't; they tried singing the intro but it lacked the punch they were looking for. It was the iconic spoken "Hello Darlin', nice to see you" that made the record instantly known and remained that way for the rest of his career; it was his standard concert opener until his final concert shortly before his death in 1993. This was his fourth chart-topper dating from 1968, but he'd add three dozen more over the next 16 years, five of those with Loretta Lynn. Incidentally, a Russian language version --"Privet Radost" -- was played during a live broadcast of the Apollo-Soyuz Test Project as a gesture of goodwill to the Russian cosmonauts of the Soyuz crew.
2 - "Wonder Could I Live There Anymore" - CHARLEY PRIDE. Up from No. 4 last week, and about to become his fourth No. 1 hit in an amazing career that is still going strong, and with 29 chart-toppers, he's rightly a member of the Country Music Hall of Fame as the most successful black artist in the genre.
1 - "He Loves Me All the Way" - TAMMY WYNETTE. Well on her way to becoming the most prolific female country music artists of her time, this was her eighth No. 1 hit (seventh solo, the other with David Houston), the most any female artist had at this point. She'd eventually do more than double it through 1976, and made regular appearances on the chart through 1988. She's sadly missed today, 17 years after her death.
And that's the survey for the week of July 11, 1970 ... three years before "American Country Countdown" came along.
Brian
Here, without further ado, are the week's top 40 country songs from the first week AT40 was on the air -- using the July 11, 1970 chart (since AT40 did):
40 - "It Don't Take But One Mistake" - LUKE THE DRIFTER JR. Alter ego of Hank Williams Jr., debut in top 40, up from 41). Like his son, Hank Sr. also recorded a series of songs under the name "Luke the Drifter." Incidentally, it was just a few months away, but "Monday Night Football" would debut in September; 19 years later, Hank Jr. recorded "Are You Ready for Some Football," a reworked version of his iconic 1984 party anthem "All My Rowdy Friends Are Coming Over Tonight." Both "It Don't Take But One Mistake" and "All My Rowdy Friends Are Coming Over Tonight" show the stark difference in Bochephus' musical styles; in 1970, he was still living in his father's shadow, performing countrypolitan that he wasn't really satisfied with. Things would change dramatically by decade's end.
39 - "What Is Truth" - JOHNNY CASH. Down from 17, 13th week on the chart, one of many iconic hits from the Man in Black.
38 - "Muleskinner Blues (Blue Yodel No. 8)" - DOLLY PARTON. A debut in top 40 in its second week on the chart, up from No. 60 and would go on to peak at No. 3 on Labor Day weekend.
37 - "You and Me Against the World" - BOBBY LORD, down from No. 28 the previous week, 11th week on the chart, had peaked at No. 15. I don't know much about the song itself, except I can say it was NOT the Kenny Ascher-Paul Williams-penned song made famous by Helen Reddy in 1974.
36 - "Warmth of the Wine" - JOHNNY BUSH. Down from No. 31 last week, peaked in June at No. 25, from the man best known for writing "Whiskey River," a hit in 1978 for Willie Nelson.
35 - "Don't Keep Me Hangin' On" - SONNY JAMES. This went on to become his 12th straight No. 1 hit in as many single releases, was up from No. 69 and in its second week on. One of five duets in this week's top 40.
34 - "A Good Thing" - BILL WILLBOURNE & KATHY MORRISON. Stuck at No. 34 for a second week. I admit I know very little about this duo.
33 - "I'll Be Your Baby Tonight" - CLAUDE KING. Yes -- the man who sang about Clifton Clowers covered Bob Dylan, his second week at No. 33, one of many country artists who did so, with Judy Rodman's version 17 years later the biggest country version.
32 - "A Man's Kind of Woman" - EDDY ARNOLD. A song that went on to peak at No. 28, this was his (incredibly) 104th chart hit, and the figure would still increase another (amazing) 38 years.
31 - "When a Man Loves a Woman (the Way That I Love You)" - BILLY WALKER. Although just coming off his career peak in the mid 1960s, Walker continued to be a solid contributor to the country music scene through the mid 1970s. This one got up to No. 3, and three more No. 3 hits followed through 1972.
30 - "Singer of Sad Songs" - WAYLON JENNINGS. A No. 12 hit, and a good example of his pre-Outlaw day folkish-sounding country. His next hit was "The Taker," which began a hot streak for Jennings' songwriting buddy (and eventual Highwayman stablemate) Kris Kristofferson.
29 - "Tell Me My Lying Eyes Are Wrong" - GEORGE JONES & THE JONES BOYS. Aside from George Strait, the only man to successfully seriously challenge Eddy Arnold for the lengthiest chart resume.
28 - "The Most Uncomplicated Goodbye I've Ever Heard" - HENSON CARGILL. The former "Skip a Rope" singer.
27 - "I'm Leaving It Up To You" - JOHNNY & JONIE MOSBY. One of two male-female recording duos who were both married at the time -- Jack Blanchard and Misty Morgan were the other; they're still married today, Johnny and Jonie are not -- to never have recorded a song without the other. This was the cover of the Dale and Grace No. 1 pop hit from 1963 that became a country and pop hit once more in 1974 by Donny and Marie Osmond.
26 - "Togetherness" - BUCK OWENS & SUSAN RAYE. One of two Buck Owens hits this week, this was their first duet hit together. Buck, by the way, had his own show besides "Hee Haw," but Susan Raye was a regular on both "Hee Haw" and "The Ranch."
25 - "Lovin' Man" - ARLENE HARDEN. She was part of a trio with her brother, Bobby, and sister, Robbie, in the mid-1960s called the Harden Trio, and their biggest hit was the babysitting tale "Tippy Toeing." As for "Lovin' Man," you don't likely remember it, except if you've watched a "Hee Haw" rerun on RTV. It was, however, the "female version" of a song everybody knows: Roy Orbison's "Oh Pretty Woman." Wherever it says "pretty woman" in the lyrics, it's changed with "lovin' man," and other gender-specific references. The result was a No. 13 hit and a follow-up single, "Crying," both coming from an album of covers of Roy Orbison songs.
24 - "My Love" - SONNY JAMES. The cover of the Petula Clark song and a former No. 1 hit from the last three weeks of May, spent five additional five weeks inside the top 10 after falling from No. 1, and 10 total weeks inside the top 10.
23 - "Hello Mary Lou" - BOBBY LEWIS. Covering Ricky Nelson, it became a country hit once more in 1985 by The Statler Brothers.
22 - "I Wish I Had a Mommy Like You" - PATTI PAGE. At its peak position this week. Page was by now solidly charting on the country chart after years of pop and adult contemporary successes ... although this was her last song to appear on the Billboard Hot 100 ... and in the Bubbling Under portion only (peak of No. 114).
21 - "Rocky Top" - LYNN ANDERSON. Covering the Osborne Brothers' bluegrass-inspired hit, Lynn's version peaked at No. 17. Six months later, "Rose Garden" changed her life forever.
20 - "Land Mark Tavern" - DEL REEVES & PENNY DEHAVEN, their only duet pairing to reach the charts.
19 - "I Do My Swingin' at Home" - DAVID HOUSTON. An eventual No. 3 hit and the follow-up to the 1970s first No. 1 hit, "Baby, Baby (I Know You're a Lady)." Houston never returned to the No. 1 spot, but continued to have a lot of success through 1976, including nine more top 10 hits, including one with the artist at No. 18 ... .
18 - "Playing Around With Love" - BARBARA MANDRELL. The newcomer to the chart and one-time duet partner of David Houston, and an eventual superstar, TV star, advocate of seat belts and Country Music Hall of Fame inductee.
17 - "You Wanna Give Me a Lift" - LORETTA LYNN. A successful song in its own right, as it peaked at No. 6, "... Lift" is nearly forgotten today. Like Lynn Anderson and "Rose Garden," it was the next song up that became the most famous of Lynn's career: "Coal Miner's Daughter."
16 - "Humphrey the Camel" - JACK BLANCHARD & MISTY MORGAN. Their second animal-inspired novelty hit, fourth week on the chart and jumping from No. 26 a week earlier. Eventually stopped at No. 5. They did have a few serious hits, including a cover of The Fortune's "You've Got Your Troubles (I've Got Mine)" (which would be their next single, incidentally). They still tour today.
15 - "I Can't Seem To Say Goodbye" - JERRY LEE LEWIS. Part of his collection of records he recorded with Sun Records in the late 1950s/early 1960s.
14 - "Heavenly Sunshine" - FERLIN HUSKY. Down from its peak of No. 11 a couple of weeks earlier, it was as high as he'd ever reach again on the chart, although he did have a top 20 hit at the end of 1973 and continued to chart and record for the next 20 years.
13 - "For the Good Times" - RAY PRICE. Third week on the chart, moved up from No. 39 the previous week, and one of country music's iconic songs, written by Kris Kristofferson. Also defined Ray Price's multi-faceted talents, both as a honky-tonk hero and a pop crooner.
12 - "Someday We'll Be Together" - BILL ANDERSON & JAN HOWARD. Cover of the Diana Ross & the Supremes last hit from 1969, and would go on to be a No. 4 at the end of July. Was at No. 29 the previous week. The highest charting duet pairing of the week's five.
11 - "Jesus Take a Hold" - MERLE HAGGARD & THE STRANGERS. Fifth week on the chart, now up by one notch, and although it slowed up between this and the previous week, it would go on to become a No. 3 hit. In July 1970, Merle was probably the most successful country music performer.
10 - "I Never Once Stopped Loving You" - CONNIE SMITH. Her 14th top 10 hit, and a song that had peaked three weeks earlier at No. 5. Only her first hit, "Once a Day," went No. 1, but Connie was a consistent hitmaker for 15 years, with nearly everything she recorded guaranteed to be a top 10 hit.
9 - "I Never Picked Cotton" - ROY CLARK. Well into establishing "Hee Haw" as a legend, this is darkly comedic and bitter tale from the eyes of a man who leaves a cotton plantation for the lures of the nightlife ... and it leads to a life of crime. Roy -- as first American Country Countdown host Don Bowman once pointed out, could pick with the best of them, make you laugh or make you cry.
8 - "Heart Over Mind" - MEL TILLIS. At this point, his biggest solo hit yet, having peaked at No. 3 week earlier. This was his third top 10 hit, incidentally, as a performer, although he had a bunch of songwriting hits from artists as diverse as Webb Pierce to Bobby Bare and Kenny Rogers. With "Heart Over Mind" -- a Tillis-penned tune that was a 1961 hit for Ray Price -- this was part of a very long winning streak for the "Stuttering Boy," as all but one of his singles released from 1969 to 1981 reached the top 40, and of those, only one didn't make the top 20.
7 - "She's a Little Bit Country" - GEORGE HAMILTON IV. Former teen idol of the late 1950s tuned folk-country star of the 1960s and 1970s, this one had peaked a couple of weeks earlier at No. 3 (became his second biggest hit, behind 1963's "Abeline"), but it was as high as he'd ever get again.
6 - "Long, Long Texas Road" - ROY DRUSKY. Peaked at No. 5 a week earlier. He's got something in common with Claude King on this week's chart -- both recorded pop songs that eventually were covered by UB40. In addition to Dylan's "I"ll Be Your Baby Tonight," they also did Neil Diamond's "Red, Red Wine," the 1988 No. 1 smash that in 1972 was Roy's last top 20 hit.
5 - "If I Ever Fall in Love (With a Honky-Tonk Girl)" - FARON YOUNG. Up from No. 7 a week earlier, thngs were great for the Singing Sheriff and Music City News publisher at this point, as he fit in perfectly with the country music scene of the late 1960s/early 1970s. His fortunes would change by decade's end, and by 25 years later -- as I've written on these boards in the past -- he became so disgusted with the pop-leaning direction of country music (dominated by Garth Brooks and Shania Twain) he became a recluse ... and eventually that and health problems led to his 1996 suicide.
4 - "Kansas City Song" - BUCK OWENS. Up from No 8, and his second song in the top 40. He no longer was regularly hitting No. 1 with every single release, but he was assured of a top 5 hit just about every time out, including this song, about a girlfriend's trip to said city (presumably to visit friends or family, or business) and his worry that she'll find someone new there.
3 - "Hello Darlin'" - CONWAY TWITTY. A massive No. 1 hit, now two weeks removed from the top spot after spending all four weeks of June at No. 1. It was the spoken intro that almost wasn't; they tried singing the intro but it lacked the punch they were looking for. It was the iconic spoken "Hello Darlin', nice to see you" that made the record instantly known and remained that way for the rest of his career; it was his standard concert opener until his final concert shortly before his death in 1993. This was his fourth chart-topper dating from 1968, but he'd add three dozen more over the next 16 years, five of those with Loretta Lynn. Incidentally, a Russian language version --"Privet Radost" -- was played during a live broadcast of the Apollo-Soyuz Test Project as a gesture of goodwill to the Russian cosmonauts of the Soyuz crew.
2 - "Wonder Could I Live There Anymore" - CHARLEY PRIDE. Up from No. 4 last week, and about to become his fourth No. 1 hit in an amazing career that is still going strong, and with 29 chart-toppers, he's rightly a member of the Country Music Hall of Fame as the most successful black artist in the genre.
1 - "He Loves Me All the Way" - TAMMY WYNETTE. Well on her way to becoming the most prolific female country music artists of her time, this was her eighth No. 1 hit (seventh solo, the other with David Houston), the most any female artist had at this point. She'd eventually do more than double it through 1976, and made regular appearances on the chart through 1988. She's sadly missed today, 17 years after her death.
And that's the survey for the week of July 11, 1970 ... three years before "American Country Countdown" came along.
Brian