Loretta Lynn photo courtesy of opry.com
Check in with Lew Jones for the latest on your favorite country legends!
Q: I have always loved Loretta Lynn. Is she still doing any concerts, or maybe making another album?
(Jenni, Syracuse, NY)
A: Although she spends a fair amount of time at her Hurricane Mills (Tennessee) ranch, Loretta still tours, but at a fairly leisurely pace. Springtime dates include Paducah, Council Bluffs and Birmingham, and also a Grand Ole Opry appearance. She will also play some summer dates at her ranch. Unfortunately, Jenni, I seen nothing in your area anytime soon. Loretta's latest album is Van Lear Rose, named after the Van Lear coal mine where her father worked.
Q: Who sings the song "Wine Into Water"?
(Patsy, Somerset, KY)
A: That was T. Graham Brown, Patsy. It was a Top 50 hit for him in 1998. It followed such mega-hits of his as "Don't Go To Strangers" and "Darlene," both of which, along with "Hell and High Water," went to No. 1 in the 1980s.
Q: What year did George Jones release his song, "I Don't Need Your Rockin' Chair"?
(Nathan, Rising Sun, MD)
A: It was late 1992, Nathan, and contained guest vocals from half (or so it seemed) of Nashville's hit makers at the time, including Vince Gill and Pam Tillis. By early 1993 it had risen to No. 34. It's the anthem for any of us who have accidentally had a large number of birthdays, but refuse to get old! George has done quite well at this, having turned 75 back in September. In case you haven't noticed, George has teamed up with Merle Haggard for a CD called Kickin' Out The Footlights- Again. On this effort, Jones sings Haggard and Haggard Sings Jones, which has to be a treat for fans of both these legends.
Q: Jim Reeves had a song out called "He'll Have To Go." Someone followed up with "He'll Have To Stay." I'm looking to find out who sang it and where it can be bought.
(Jim, Valley View, PA)
A: It was Jeanne Black, Jim. Answer songs were big in Country during the 1950s and into the '60s, but unfortunately, even though Jeanne's song got to No. 6 (and even No. 4 on the pop charts), it didn't lead to further hits. Even though she was a regular on Cliffie Stone's TV show at the time, "He'll Have To Stay" put her in the one-hit-wonder class. Still, it was great fun! Probably one of the best ways to obtain this song is on the CD Billboard Top Country Hits-1960 from Rhino Records.
Q: My husband took a course in auctioneering, and I wondered where I could purchase "The Auctioneer Song" by Leroy Van Dyke, as a gift for him?
(Shelva, Elliot Lake, Ontario, Canada)
A: Shelva, Leroy's hit "The Auctioneer" appears on a CD reissue of an original LP titled Walk On By on Mercury Records. "The Auctioneer" was a Top 10 hit for him in 1957, but "Walk On By" was a mega-No. 1 hit in 1961. Leroy says about the four-year lapse on the charts, "Mercury didn't know what to do with me. Was I pop or was I country?" and this inhibited the promotion of his songs. The fact that the second hit was No. 1 for 19 weeks on the country charts evidently helped them make up their minds. Leroy still maintains an auctioneer's license in his native Missouri, by the way.
Q: I am looking for the Shelly West song "Jose Cuervo," on the album with David Frizzell called Alone And Together. I have looked everywhere for the album and have come up empty. Any ideas?
(Eric, Madison, AL)
A: Yes Eric, I have a few. The good news is the CD is listed under "Shop" above? but the bad news is, when I tried it, it was temporarily unavailable. I did find a few copies on a major auction site. Out of those available, most were original LPs, with much fewer copies of the CD. But if your record player or turntable (remember those?) can be dusted off, you should be able to find the LP. Or, keep checking these sources and you may get lucky.