Good morning and a big welcome to the 98.1 Country Classic Show.  You can join me Sundays from 9 am to 1 pm for the best in country music at 98.1 FM Minnesota’s New Country, online and on your mobile device.

Today we’re featuring Ray Price, Chris LeDoux, Ronnie Milsap, Merle Haggard and Barbara Mandrell.

 


 

Ray Price – “Heartaches by the Number” -- 1959

 

 

A popular country song written by Harlan Howard a top ten hit reaching number two on the country chart.  It became a pop hit for Guy Mitchell the same year.

In the news in 1959:

  • Cuban President Batista resigns, Fidel Castro assumes power
  • The St. Lawrence Seaway opens allowing ocean ships to reach the Midwest on April 25th
  • NASA introduces America’s first astronauts John Glenn Jr and Alan Shephard Jr.

 

Heartache number one was when you left me, I never knew that I could hurt this way.

 


 

Chris LeDoux – “Life is a Highway” -- 1998

 

 

Chris LeDoux covered this song, one of his most popular songs. Tom Cochrane wrote the song.

In the news in 1998:

  • Local ownership of the Minneapolis Star Tribune goes away with the Sacramento-based McClatchy chain’s purchase of the state’s largest newspaper for $1.4 billion
  • A police van plows into a crowd of spectators, killing two and injuring several others during the Holidazzle parade in downtown Minneapolis

 

Life’s like a road that you travel on, when there’s one day here and the next day gone, sometimes you bend, sometimes you stand.

 


 

Ronnie Milsap – “Pure Love” -- 1974

 

 

Released in March became Milsap’s first number one hit written by Eddie Rabbitt.

In the news in 1974:

  • Inflation continues to spiral out of control around the world reaching 11.3% in the US
  • In response to the energy crisis, daylight saving time commences nearly four months early in the United States.

Pure love, baby its pure love, milk and honey and captain Krunch and you in the morning, pure love baby its pure love.

 


 

Merle Haggard – Hungry Eyes” -- 1969

 

 

Written and recorded by Merle Haggard and topped the chart at number one.

In the news in 1969:

  • 27-year-old Colonel Muammar Al Quaddafi deposes King Idris of Libya and establishes a pro Arabic, anti-western, Islamic Republic
  • The Children’s Television Workshop introduces Sesame Street


A canvas covered cabin in a crowded labor camp stand out In this memory I revived.

 


 

Barbara Mandrell – “Sleeping Single in a Double Bed” -- 1978

 

 

Kye Fleming and Dennis Morgan wrote this song, the song went to number one and stayed at the top spot for three weeks.

In the news in 1978:

  • President Carter chooses Federal appeals Court Judge William H. Webster as F.B.I. director on January 19th
  • Sony introduces the Walkman, the first portable stereo

 

Sleeping in a double bed, thinking over things I wish I’d said, I should have held you but I let you go.

 


 

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