Welcome to the 98.1 Country Classic Show. You can join me from 9 am to 1 pm for the best in country classic music on the radio at 98.1 FM Minnesota’s New Country, online and on your mobile device.

Today we’re offering you a bonus of the most requested songs from the radio show featuring Alabama, Suzy Bogguss, George Jones, Don Gibson, and Jerry Reed.


 

Alabama – “Tennessee River” -- 1980

 

 

This song was Alabama’s first number one on the Billboard Magazine Hot Country Singles Chart written by Randy Owens.

In the news in 1980:

  • Iraqi Troops hold 90 square miles of Iran after invasion -- the war spans 8 years
  • Japan becomes the world’s largest auto producing country

 

I was born across the river, in the mountains where I call home, Lord times were good there.

 

 


 

Suzy Boggus – Someday Soon” -- 1991

 

 

Suzy Boggus covered this song from her album ‘Aces.’ It was written by Ian Tyson and peaked at number 12 on the country chart.

In the news in 1991:

  • Country singer Reba McEntire looses band members in a fiery plane crash on March 16th
  • On August 6, 1991, Tim Berners-Lee releases files describing his idea for the World Wide Web

 

There’s a young man that I know whose age is 21, comes from down in southern Colorado, just out of the service he’s looking for his fun.

 


 

George Jones – “Still Doin’ Time” -- 1981

 

 

Written by John Moffatt and Michael Heeney, "Still Doin' Time" was released in September 1981 from the album of the same name. The song reached number one on the country chart.

In the news in 1981:

  • AIDS is first identified
  • Pacman-mania sweeps the country
  • Israel annexes the disputed Golan Heights Territory

 

Has it been a year, since the last time I’ve seen her, my god I could swear it was ten and the ocean of liquor I drank to forget her?

 


 

Don Gibson – “Sea of Heartbreak” -- 1961

 

 

Written by Paul Hampton and Hal David, the song went to number two on Billboard's Hot Country Singles Chart.

In the news in 1961:

  • USSR detonates 50 megaton hydrogen bomb in the largest man-made explosion in history on October 29th
  • Robert Frost recites “The Gift Outright” at John F. Kennedy’s inauguration on January 20th
  • the cost of a gallon of gas -- 27 cents

 

The lights in the harbor don’t shine for me, I’m like a lost ship adrift on the sea.

 


 

Jerry Reed – “East Bound and Down” -- 1977

 

 

Jerry Reed and Dick Feller wrote this song for the soundtrack for the film “Smokey and the Bandit.” The song peaked at number two on the country chart.

In the news in 1977:

  • The first Apple computer goes on sale
  • The first oil flows through the trans-Alaskan oil pipeline
  • The first MRI scanner is tested in Brooklyn New York

 

Eastbound and down, loaded up and truckin’ we gonna do what they say can’t be done.

 


 

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