My Kind of Country

Country music from a fan's point of view since 2008

Week ending 12/6/14: #1 singles this week in country music history

6 Comments Posted by on December 7, 2014

johndenver1954 (Sales): More and More — Webb Pierce (Decca)

1954 (Jukebox): More and More — Webb Pierce (Decca)

1954 (Disc Jockeys): More and More — Webb Pierce (Decca)

1964: Once A Day — Connie Smith (RCA)

1974: Back Home Again — John Denver (RCA)

1984: Your Heart’s Not In It — Janie Fricke (Columbia)

1994: The Big One — George Strait (MCA)

2004: Nothing On But The Radio — Gary Allan (MCA)

2014: Something In The Water — Carrie Underwood (Arista Nashville)

2014 (Airplay): Somewhere In My Car — Keith Urban (Capitol)

Charts , , , , , , ,

6 responses to “Week ending 12/6/14: #1 singles this week in country music history”

  1. J.R. Journey December 7, 2014 at 10:03 am

    George Strait’s entry here is one of his weakest singles ever (right up there with “Don’t Make Me Cover Over There and Love You” and “We Really Shouldn’t Be Doing This”). But Strait is one of only a small number of artists to have the #1 album and #1 song in the same week. I’ll have to do some research to see how many others have accomplished that feat. (I remember reading about it when Tim McGraw did it a couple years back). Or maybe Paul or Ken already know …

    I don’t know the Webb Pierce song (but I am listening as I type this), Connie Smith’s is obviously a classic. ‘Meh’ to both John Denver and Janie Fricke’s hits. Gary Allan’s song is not his best work, but it’s not bad. And at least both 2014 songs are listenable.

    Reply
  2. Paul W Dennis December 7, 2014 at 8:16 pm

    “More and More” spent ten weeks at #1. In 1983 Charley Pride took it back to the top ten . It was written by the underrated Merle Kilgore who also wrote “Wolverton Mountain” and co-wrote “Ring of Fire”

    Reply
  3. luckyoldsun December 8, 2014 at 1:57 am

    JRJ–
    Strikes me as odd that it would be unusual for an artist to have the #1 single and album in the same week. During the Strait era, I’d figure that The Judds, Randy Travis, Clint Black, Garth, Reba, Billy Ray Cyrus, Shania, Brooks & Dunn, Alan Jackson, McGraw, Toby Keith, Kenny Chesney, Jason Aldean and Luke Bryan all did it. And I’d think there’s a good chance Ricky Van Shelton, Ricky Skaggs, Wynonna Judd and Gretchen Wilson did it, as well.
    If I’m wrong, someone will tell me, I’m sure.

    Reply
  4. Erik North December 9, 2014 at 12:03 am

    I find it richly ironic to read about how much the country music “establishment” basically “crucified” John Denver when he was at his height in the mid-70s and having crossover hits like “Back Home Again.” Nowadays, that stuff sounds much, much more traditionalist than all this infantile faux-outlaw “bro country” that we’ve been infected by.

    Reply
    • Ken December 9, 2014 at 9:19 pm

      It was not the “country music establishment” by rather a group of Nashville artists that took exception to John Denver and Olivia Newton-John winning Country Music Association Awards. Many felt that Nashville “outsiders” who were not truly core country acts should not be given awards by a country music trade organization. Many went as far as to form the group “ACE” {Association Of Country Entertainers] to further their cause. This excerpt below from the savingcountrymusic.com site gives a rather succinct summary. That group never truly gained significant traction as country radio continued to play John Denver & Olivia Newton-John records.

      EXCERPT:
      George Jones was never considered an Outlaw, but he participated in one of the most significant precursors to country music’s Outlaw revolution in the mid 70′s. Some know the story of Charlie Rich burning the envelope announcing John Denver as Entertainer of the Year at the CMA’s in 1975, but it was the year prior when the stink had begun about performers outside of the country genre walking away with the industry’s accolades. Olivia Newton-John’s win in 1974 for Female Vocalist of the Year caused such a stir that traditional and even pop-leaning country performers at the time organized behind the acronym “ACE” that stood for “Association of Country Entertainers”.

      Spearheading ACE was George Jones and then wife Tammy Wynette, and the inaugural meeting of ACE was held at their Tennessee residence. Other participants in ACE included Dolly Parton, Bill Anderson, Porter Wagoner, Faron Young, Conway Twitty, Hank Snow, Mel Tillis, Barbara Mandrell and more than a dozen others. ACE demanded more representation of traditional artists on the CMA’s Board of Directors, and more balance on country radio playlists (does any of this sound familiar?).

      END OF EXCERPT

      And the Charlie Rich envelope burning incident at the 1975 CMA Awards was not really about John Denver. Charlie was stoned. See for yourself.

      Reply
  5. luckyoldsun December 9, 2014 at 2:07 am

    Did they “crucify” Denver?
    The only thing that I’m aware of regarding that is the incident where Charlie Rich burned the card at an awards show after announcing Denver as the winner. Some people decided that Rich was making a statement against Denver, but that seems rather dubious.

    Reply

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