98 Country Classic Bonus – 5 Country Classic Hits from 1977 [VIDEOS]

Good morning! It’s time for the 98 Country Classic Show, on air at 98.1 FM, online at 98country.com and on your mobile device. Every Sunday we offer an online bonus for after the radio show. Today we feature five bonus tracks from the year 1977.

In the news in 1977:

The first female Episcopal priest is ordained January 1st;
Scientists identify previously-unknown bacterium as cause of mysterious Legionnaires disease;
President Jimmy Carter pardons Vietnam war draft evaders;
Supreme court rules states are not required to spend medical funds on elective abortions;
Oakland beats the Minnesota Vikings, 32 - 4 in Super Bowl XI;
We lost Charlie Caplin, Bing Crosby, Grochho Marx and Elvis Presley.

In country music, we were listening to Dolly Parton, Kenny Rogers, Ronnie Milsap, Waylon Jennings and Glen Campbell.

Dolly Parton – “Here You Come Again”

“Here You Come Again” was released in 1977 -- the 19^th solo studio album by Dolly Parton. The album included Parton’s first significant crossover success, the Grammy Award winning title single that went to number three on the pop singles chart. Both the album and title song peaked at number one on the country charts. “Here You Come Again” was a rare example of a Parton success that she did not write -- the song actually came from Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil.

Here you come again lookin’ better than a body has a right to and shakin’ me up so that all I really know is here you come again.

Kenny Rogers – “Lucille”

“Lucille” was written by Roger Bowling and Hal Bynum. Kenny Rogers recorded the song. It was released in January of 1977 as the second and final single from the album "Kenny Rogers." “Lucille” became Roger’s first major hit as a solo artist after leaving the successful group,"The First Edition" in 1976. Lucille peaked at number one on the country charts.

In a bar in Toledo across from the depot on a bar stool she took off her ring.

Ronnie Milsap – “It was Almost Like a Song”

In July of 1977, “It was Almost like a Song” became Ronnie Milsap’s 8^th number one single on Billboards Hot Country Singles Chart. It was the first single and title track from the album of the same name. It became one of Milsap’s greatest hits. “It was Almost Like a Song” provided the basis for the title of Milsap’s biography, "Almost A Song,” which he co-wrote with Tom Carter.

Once in every life someone comes along and you came to me it was almost like a song.

Waylon Jennings – “Luckenbach, Texas”

A song written by Chips Moman and Bobby Emmons, a song recorded by Waylon Jennings from the album, "Ol’ Waylon." The song's lyrics reference a couple whose position in high society has placed strains on their marriage. Jennings suggests the couple return to the basics of life. The final refrain of the song features guest vocals by Willie Nelson.

There’re only two things in life that make it worth living, its guitars tuned good and firm feeling women.

Glen Campbell – “Southern Nights”

The lyrics of “Southern Nights” were inspired by writer Allen Toussaint. It was released on Glen Campbell’s 1977 album "Southern Nights." The song immediately caught on with both country and pop audiences. In March of 1977, “Southern Nights spent two weeks at number one on Billboards Hot Country Singles Chart. It was Campbell’s fifth and final number one country hit.