1956 (Sales): Sixteen Tons — Tennessee Ernie Ford (Capitol)
1956 (Jukebox): Sixteen Tons — Tennessee Ernie Ford (Capitol)
1956 (Disc Jockeys): Why Baby Why — Red Sovine & Webb Pierce (Decca)
1966: Giddyup Go — Red Sovine (Starday)
1976: Sometimes — Bill Anderson & Mary Lou Turner (MCA)
1986: Hurt — Juice Newton (RCA)
1996: (If You’re Not In It For Love) I’m Outta Here — Shania Twain (Mercury)
2006: Jesus, Take The Wheel — Carrie Underwood (Arista)
2016: Die a Happy Man — Thomas Rhett (Valory)
2016 (Airplay): Home Alone Tonight — Luke Bryan feat. Karen Fairchild (Capitol)
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My Kind of Country 
You know I am kind of surprised that Bill Anderson and Mary Lou Turner didn’t go on to have bigger hits. I though “Sometime” was a great song but has been forgotten about. I know Bill was beginning to struggle getting hits around this time but I think they were an underrated.
They did sound great together for sure. Their subsequent single “That’s What Made Me Love You” went to #7 in early 1976. However their second duet album in 1977 was comprised of much weaker material and both singles released from that package failed to hit. As you pointed out Bill was already struggling to score solo hits by 1975 when he first paired with Mary Lou Turner. Bill made his last trip into the top ten in 1978. A lot of new country acts were launched during the late 1970’s so competition for playlist slots became keener that ever. Unfortunately Bill just didn’t seem to release the right material at that time. To MCA’s credit they gave Bill plenty of opportunity to stage a comeback as they kept him on their roster through early 1982.
Hey, there were some real star-power man-woman duet teams in the country market then –Conway and Loretta, George and Tammy, Porter and Dolly, Johnny and June (though they might have been more of a national TV thing than a radio singles thing). The surprise would have been if Bill Anderson teaming with a largely unknown female singer had scored a bunch of hits!
Starting in 1976 Jim Ed Brown began a string of hits with the then “largely unknown” Helen Cornelius so how do you explain that? Likewise for the three Jim Reeves & Deborah Allen hit singles. So “star power” is obviously not the only determining factor. It all comes down to having a great song with a a great arrangement. Fact is that despite their “star power” Porter & Dolly, George & Tammy and Johnny & June all released singles that failed to hit but those are largely forgotten. Loretta & Conway actually had the best batting average with a dozen singles that all made the top ten.
Should also mention that prior to teaming with Mary Lou Turner Bill Anderson had several hit duets with Jan Howard.
You got me there.
I guess it’s more “surprising” that “Sometimes” made it to #1.
The clip is wonderful as a period piece. Both Bill and Mary Lou look like they’re ready to burst out laughing–like even they can’t believe that their careers have been rejuvenated by this ghastly song–and they’re out there singing it!
Not a “ghastly” song by any measure other than in your generally inaccurate view of classic country music. Your odd impression that Bill & Mary Lou are about to burst out laughing in the video clip is ridiculous. They are obviously enjoying performing together on that show and are probably extremely elated that their FIRST duet together resulted in a major hit. You are reading something into their performance that is simply not there other than in your unusual perspective. Bill would not have recorded the song if he felt it was a joke. That’s nonsense.
During the 20th century country music’s best quality was the ability to honestly reflect the lives and feelings of average adults. If you listen carefully to the lyrics of this song you will discover that it speaks to what many married folks often feel after many years of being together. Not that they are prepared to go to the extent of actually being unfaithful to their partner but that thought just might cross their minds “sometimes.” Bill’s song obviously struck a chord with a lot of folks as it was a massive radio request song. A HUGE hit to say the least with the single topping the Billboard country chart and the album that it came from peaking at #6. The public voted with their wallets and Bill & Marylou won.