Last month we premiered our new mewsic feature "Retro Country Rewind," a look back at favorite songs that hit #1 during that month from 30, 35, 40 plus years ago. We were so happy that you guys seemed to enjoy it! Let's take a look at May!
40 Years Ago - 1979, Don't Take It Away, Conway Twitty
After 15 years of recording strictly traditional country, Conway could see that country music was changing. In 1979 he started producing himself, taking on a more modern sound and sexier image. He stunned people with the changes he made but it paid off big time. Don't Take It Away was the first of three #1 records from his amazing Cross Winds album. Songs like this are the reason he was called the "king of country soul."
(I love this performance so much that I have a poster on my closet door with an image from it.)
45 Years Ago - 1974, Country Bumpkin, Cal Smith
One of my all-time favorite country songs. Conway & Loretta recorded it as a duet, but Cal Smith's version is the chart topper most widely known.
One of my all-time favorite country songs. Conway & Loretta recorded it as a duet, but Cal Smith's version is the chart topper most widely known.
50 Years Ago - 1969, Mama's Hungry Eyes, Merle Haggard
30 Years Ago - 1989, If I Had You, Alabama
I had the opportunity to meet Alabama backstage at a concert in 1991. This is one of my favorite songs of theirs.
Let us know if you have a favorite this month!
Melissa,
ReplyDeleteIt's great seeing you on the 4M dance floor this morning. You're not going to believe this but all of your song picks are introductions. Yeah, I'm totally blown away by this because I was certain some of these would tickle my ears. One of my girlfriends from years ago when I worked had it really, really bad for Alabama. lol She always cracked me up. Anywho, this is a great set of old country tunes you have spinning on the jukebox!
Yes, darn good tunes. The Dad has seen Alabama more times than he can count and he always enjoyed them.
ReplyDeleteAlabama got my attention, too!
ReplyDeleteThere are some truly classic country tunes and artists here. I believe Country Music is currently in a fog and everything sounds much the same, even some of the artists are difficult to recognize. There was never any doubt when a Merle Haggard or Conway Twitty song came on the radio. Thanks for sharing some great music this Monday morning.
ReplyDeleteSweet Mudpie photo - love the music, have a great Monday!
ReplyDeleteOur mom grew up on Johnny Cash. Her dad loved him! Her mom loved Merle Haggard. These are great music flashbacks.
ReplyDeleteYou got to meet Alabama? That's so cool! They are the best.
ReplyDeleteRene, I did! I actually got to meet quite a few country stars in the late 80s/early 90s as I became good friends with a local dj. Would trade every single one of them to have met Conway though!
ReplyDeleteI saw Hungry Eyes and thought it was the song from Dirty Dancing. I like Merle's song though. Very cool you met Alabama.
ReplyDeleteGreat songs by the best artists but looking back kind of stunned Dad. He said "Darn, I'm getting old."
ReplyDeleteHAH! You're not gonna believe it but even after that "Okie from Muskogee" disaster, Merle Haggard was our fave cos it was the only "real" country song but Cal Smith was a bit country too. When we played one of the songs we shared today, Pop thought it was CT. MOL!
ReplyDeleteVery nice. Thanks for sharing these classic songs.
ReplyDeleteGreat set today! A lot of my kind of country!
ReplyDeleteLovely photo, Mudpie ! Purrs
ReplyDeleteVery cute photo, Mupdie. And nice song choices!
ReplyDeletecool tunes,I went with The Monkees.
ReplyDeleteOh, wow, this Merle Haggard song brings back a lot of childhood memories. My dad used to listen to his stuff all the time when I was a kid.
ReplyDeleteCountry music has changed a lot in the last 20 years! I remember the backlash here when a new radio station called "Young Country" came on the air playing the newer variety of country many years ago. It was crazy!
ReplyDelete-Purrs from your friends at www.PlayfulKitty.net
Thanks for sharing the wonderful country videos, Mudpie. The Don't Take It Away video was beautiful. Conway had such an amazing voice and the song was really good. Have a great rest of your day.
ReplyDeleteWorld of Animals
We're listening with goose bumps on the last song. Grandpaw is very familiar with all the country songs, he's the Cowboy in our house, but Granny loves the music too. Alabama is definitely our favourite in this collection. Swinging Pawkisses for a Happy Wednesday🐾😽💞
ReplyDeleteGreat country set here Melissa! I never heard Country Bumpkin before. And I hadn't thought of Merle Haggard in a long time! He was great too. Of course Conway has the sexiest voice!
ReplyDeleteHow cool that you got to meet Alabama backstage! What were they like? Did they interact with their fans beyond just "hey, how ya doin'?"??
I love their song that you brought to us.
I really dig getting a good dose of Country from you all the time! It's like coffee: you can't have Monday's Music Moves Me without Melissa's Country set... :)
Have a great weekend,
Michele at Angels Bark
As someone who normally doesn't listen to country music, these were all new songs to me. Although I thought my favorite would be Conway and that "soulful" song (and it was soulful, believe me), my favorite was Cal Smith's Country Bumpkin. Guess I just needed a good cry this morning. Hope you had a great week! Alana ramblinwitham.blogspot.com
ReplyDeleteI have to say, even though I love country music, you introduced me to some new (to me) tunes! :) I've always loved Alabama, especially since an old friend of mine owned a limo company that Alabama used every time they came to the Seattle area. ;) Plus my favorite, Brad Paisley has a song called "Old Alabama" that I love, that even features Alabama! :) Thanks for the dance! :)
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