Top of the morning and welcome to the 98.1 Country Classic Show.  We’re on air at 98.1 FM, online or download our new 98.1 mobile app.  Today we’re featuring Barbara Mandrell, Merle Haggard, Henson Cargill, Conway Twitty and Loretta Lynn.

 


 

Barbara Mandrell – “The Midnight Oil” -- 1973

 

A song written by J. Allen and was released as a single in 1973.  It peaked at number seven on the country chart.

In the news in 1973, Skylab, the United States First Space Station is launched.  The Mississippi River reached its peak level in St. Louis during a record 77-day flood.

 

That call from the office and I guess, I’ll have to burn the midnight oil again.

 


 

 

Merle Haggard – “Rainbow Stew” -- 1981

 

This top ten hit reached number four on the Billboard Hot Country Singles Chart.  It was written by Merle Haggard.

In the news in 1981, after 19 years hosting the CBS Evening News, Walter Cronkite signs off for the last time. On June 12, Major League Baseball goes on strike, forcing the cancellation of 38 percent of the schedule.

 

There’s a big, brown cloud in the city and the countryside’s a sin, the price of life is too high to give up.

 


 

 

Henson Cargill – “Skip a Rope” -- 1967

 

This song was Henson Cargill’s only number one hit on the country chart, spending five weeks at the top pf the chart, written by Joe South.

In the news in 1967, continued presence of American Troops increased further and a total of 475,000 troops were serving in Vietnam.  The first ATM is put into service in Barclay’s Bank in London.

 

Skip a rope, skip a rope, oh listen to the children while they play, now ain’t it kind of funny what the children say?

 


 

 

Conway Twitty – “Play Guitar Play” -- 1977

 

Written and recorded by Conway Twitty, the song became Conway’s 19th number one on the country chart.

In the news in 1977, the US returns the Panama Canal to Panama, the first Apple II computers go on sale and the Nobel Peace Prize is awarded to Amnesty International.

 

Play guitar play, take me back to yesterday, let me see, cotton growing in the fields, let me hear my momma calling.

 


 

 

Loretta Lynn – “Don’t Come Home a Drinkin’ (With Lovin’ on your Mind) -- 1966

 

This song is about an angry wife fed up with her husband coming home late every night, drunk and wanting sex.  Written by Loretta Lynn and Peggy Sue, this song was Lynn’s first number one on the country chart.

In the news in 1966, Russia makes first moon landing and the Vatican rescinds the rule forbidding US Catholics to eat meat on Friday except for Fridays during Lent and Ash Wednesday.

 

Well you thought I’d be waitin’ up when you came home last night, you’d been out with all the boys you ended up half tight.

 


 

 

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