98 Country Classic Bonus – 5 Country Classic Hits from 1974 (VIDEOS)

Good morning and welcome to another 98 Country Classic Show on air at 98.1 FM, online and on your mobile device.

Today we feature five bonus tracks online from the year 1974.

IN THE NEWS IN 1974...

-- On August 8^th, the country was faced with the prospect of our president being impeached by the House of Representatives as result of the Watergate scandal.

-- On August 9th, President Richard Nixon announced his resignation from the presidency.

-- And on the music charts, we were listening to Top 10 country hits from Waylon Jennings, George Jones, Ron Milsap, Bobby Bare and Tom T. Hall.

Waylon Jennings – “I’m A Ramblin’ Man”

“I’m a Ramblin’ Man” is the title of a song written by Ray Pennington.  He recorded the song in 1967, later recorded by Waylon Jennings. It became Jennings' second number one country hit.

I’ve been down to Mississippi down through New Orleans, Yes I have played in California,

There ain’t too much I haven’t seen.

George Jones – “The Grand Tour”

“The Grand Tour” by George Jones is widely-regarded as one of the finest performances in country music history.  Throughout the song, the lyrics mix the singer’s tour of a home that once held many personal, private and happy memories.

Step right up and come on in.

This was the sixth number one country hit for George Jones.

Ronnie Milsap – “Pure Love”

Eddie Rabbitt wrote “Pure Love” for Ronnie Milsap. (He also wrote “Kentucky Rain” for Elvis Presley.)  In the song “Pure Love,” Rabbitt compares pure love to things like milk, honey and Cap’n Crunch breakfast cereal.  “Pure Love” was released in March 1974.  It became Milsap’s first number one hit on Billboards Hot Country Singles Chart in late spring.

Bobby Bare Sr – “Marie Laveaux”

Bobby Bare recorded “Marie Laveaux,” a song about a fictitious witch who lived in a Louisiana bayou swamp. It became his only number one hit and final top ten country hit.  The song spent a total of eighteen weeks on the country charts.

Down in Louisiana where the black trees grow
lives a voodoo lady named Marie Laveaux.

Tom T. Hall – “Country Is”

Tom T. Hall became known to his fans as "the great storyteller."  Hall had great writing skills. He penned “Country Is” and recorded the song. It became a number one hit in October 1974.