Good morning! It’s the second Sunday in August with the 98 Country Classic Show.  We’re on-air at 98.1 FM, online and we’re mobile with our radioPup app. Each week -- in addition to  our four-hour flashback into country music, we feature five additional tracks with online video. Today we’re remembering some of the biggest hits of 1988.

Making the News in 1988:

  • A Pan Am 747 explodes  from a terrorist bomb and crashes in Lockerbie, Scotland killing all 259 aboard and 11 on the ground on December 21
  • Democratic convention nominates Gov. Michael Dukakis of Massachusetts for President and Texas Senator Lloyd Bentsen for Vice President July 17
  • Republicans nominate George Bush for President and Indiana Senator Dan Quayle for Vice President August 15
  • Republicans sweep 40 states in November, Bush beats Dukakis
  • NASA scientist James Hansen warns congress of the dangers of the global warming and the greenhouse effect
  • In music, we lost Roy Orbison
  • Minnesota Native Terry Steinbach from New Ulm beccoms Major League Baseball's All-Star Game MVP

 

In country music, we were listening to Dan Seals, George Strait, Merle Haggard, Kathy Mattea and Conway Twitty.

 


Dan Seals – “Addicted”

 

 

“Addicted” is a song written by Cheryl Wheeler, first recorded on her 1986 self title debut album.  It was later recorded by country music artist Dan Seals and released as the lead single for his 1988 album, "Rage On."  It went to number one.  Blake Shelton covered the song as a bonus track on his 2011 album, "Red River Blue."

 


 

George Strait – “Baby Blue”

 

 

“Baby Blue” was written by Aaron Barker and recorded by George Strait.  It was released in April of 1988 from the album "If You Ain’t Lovin, You Ain’t Livin’."  The song peaked at number one. The song talks about a girl with baby blue eyes who had a profound impact on a man’s life.  Through it had never been confirmed, it has long been thought that Strait sang this song for his daughter, Jenifer who died at 13 in an automobile accident.

She looked so much like a lady,

but she was so much like a child.

 


 

Merle Haggard – “Chill Factor”

 

 

“Chill Factor” is the title of a song written and recorded by Merle Haggard, a living legend.  It was released in 1988 as the second single from the album "Chill Factor."  The song peaked at number nine on the Billboard Hot Singles Chart.

Seems like every November when the weather gets bad
I start to remember all the good times we had. 

 


 

Kathy Mattea – “Eighteen Wheels and a Dozen Roses”

 

 

“Eighteen Wheels and a Dozen Roses” is a song written by Paul Nelson and Gene Nelson and recorded by Kathy Mattea.  It was released in 1988 as the second single from her album "Untasted Honey."  The song became a number one hit.  The context of the song is about a truck driver called Charlie who is retiring after thirty years to spend the rest of his time with his wife.  The song mentions Charlie receiving a gold watch, a common retirement gift back in the day.

 


 

Conway Twitty – “Saturday Night Special”

 

 

“Saturday Night Special” is a song written by Larry Bastian and Dewayne Blackwell, recorded by the late Conway Twitty.  It was released in June of 1988 as a single from the album, ‘Still in Your Dreams.’  The song reached number nine on the billboard Hot Country Singles Chart.  The song’s story line tells of a man planning to kill himself after a failed relationship.  The story opens with a man bartering with a pawn dealer for a “Saturday Night Special” -- slang for an inexpensive handgun.

 


 

As always, call me with your requests at 320-252-9897
or email me at dick@98country.com

 

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