My Kind of Country

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

Classic Rewind: Billie Jo Spears – ‘Mr. Walker, It’s All Over’

2 Comments Posted by on June 5, 2015

Charts, Classic Rewind

2 responses to “Classic Rewind: Billie Jo Spears – ‘Mr. Walker, It’s All Over’”

  1. Ken June 5, 2015 at 7:54 pm

    Great clip that showcases the expressive voice of Billie Jo Spears performing her first hit record. Her Capitol single climbed to #4 during the first week of June 7 in 1969.

    To place this song in context it was released during the era when country songs began to stretch beyond the standard topics of lovin’ , cheatin’ and drinkin’. This song is about the same type of sassy, independent woman as the only portrayed by Jeannie C. Riley the previous year in “Harper Valley P.T.A.” And the similarity did not end there. A fretted dobro was used for the lead instrument same as the one played by Jerry Kennedy on “PTA.”

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  2. Paul W Dennis June 5, 2015 at 7:55 pm

    Nice find – probably from 1969 or 1970 because she beefed up some after that and never looked as good again. “Mr. Walker” went to # 4 in 1969 but Capitol didn’t really know what to do with her and she would have one more top twenty record for Capitol. When she came down with vocal problems, Capitol dropped her

    She would reemerge on United Artists in 1975 a stronger, more mature and more confident vocalist, putting together a string of top twenty hits including two #1 records, “Blanket On The Ground” (#1 BB & CB in 1975) and “What I’ve Got In Mind” (#1 CB – 1978). Both of her US #1s were big pophits in England

    I saw her in London in 1970 as part of the Capitol Caravan along with the Hager Twins, Tex Ritter and Buck Owens. The English audiences loved her and she would have three pop hits in England (all the while singing country music) as well as have many television appearances throughout the UK and Ireland

    She was a very good singer – there are few female singers whose overall catalog I would rate higher

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