Good morning and welcome to the 98.1 Country Classic Show. You can join me from 9 am to 1 pm Sundays for the very best in Country classic music at 98.1 FM, online and on your mobile device.

Today we're offering you a bonus of the most requested song from the radio show featuring Alabama, a duet from Jack Blanchard and Misty Morgan, Bobby Gentry, Charley Pride and John Anderson.

 


 

Alabama - "Tennessee River" -- 1980

 

Randy Owen wrote "Tennessee River."  It was recorded by country-rock music band Alabama. The song was the group’s first number one on the Billboard Hot Country Singles Chart.

IN THE NEWS IN 1980:

  • Fax machines went into use
  • The Staggers Act of 1980 went into effect in October. The act allowed for the deregulation of the US rail industry.
  • Severe summer heat wave in the Southern US causes 1,117 deaths in 20 states.

I was born across the river, in the mountains where I call home.

 


 

Blanchard and Morgan - "Tennessee Bird Walk" -- 1970

 

"Tennessee Bird Walk" is a 1970 novelty single by husband and wife duo Jack Blanchard and Misty Morgan. The single went to number one on the Country Chart.

IN THE NEWS IN 1970:

  • This was the year the Concord makes its first supersonic flight.
  • The age of voting was lowered to 18 in the United States.
  • The first Earth Day is celebrated.

Take away the trees and the birds. All have to sit upon the ground and take away their wings and the birds will have to walk to get around.

 


 

Bobbie Gentry - "Ode to Billie Joe" -- 1967

 

This song is written and recorded by Bobbie Gentry. This single was released in late July and became a number one hit.

IN THE NEWS IN 1967:

  • Stone-throwing rioters, upset about racism, break windows and set fires along Plymouth Avenue in North Minneapolis, on July 19th.T
  • Thurgood Marshall sworn in as the first black U.S. Supreme Court Justice on October 2nd.
  • Congress creates PBS.

It was the third of June, another sleepy, dusty Delta day. I was out choppin’ cotton, and my brother was bailn’ hay.

 


 

Charley Pride - "Burgers and Fries"  -- 1978

 

 

Ben Peters wrote Burgers and Fries, and was recorded by Charley Pride. This peaked at number 2 on the billboard hot country singles chart.

IN THE NEWS IN 1978:

  • Sony introduces the first portable stereo.
  • U S teachers strike extends summer holidays for thousands of students.
  • The first Susan B Anthony Dollar is minted on December 13th.

Burgers and fries and cherry pies, it was simple and good back then.

 


 

John Anderson - "Wild and Blue"  -- 1982

 

 

"Wild and Blue" is written by John Sherrill and recorded by John Anderson. This song was Anderson's eleventh hit and the first of five number ones on the country chart.

IN THE NEWS IN 1982:

  • John W. Hinckley Jr. found not guilty because of insanity in shooting of President Regan.
  • John Belushi, Ingrid Bergman and Grace Kelly die.
  • The first issue of USA Today is published.

Why across town a phone rings off the wall. If you know he ain't home why do you keep callin’.

 


 

 

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