Legends Q&A: October 2006

Lew Jones

Tanya Tucker with host Suzanne Alexander on GAC Nights

Check in with Lew Jones for the latest on your favorite country legends!

Q: One of my favorite movies is a little-seen movie called Hard Country. In it, Tanya Tucker plays a small part as a singer. One song I have searched high and low for is called Somebody Must Have Loved You Right Last Night. Is it on any of her albums?
(Chris, Phoenix, AZ)

A: Chris, I can’t find it on a CD at all, but the album Tear Me Apart, which came out in 1979, seems to still be available on cassette or LP. I don’t know about you, but I still keep a turntable around for just such situations! Even though we’re all accustomed to CDs, with a stylus in good repair, and a careful cleaning of the vinyl, LPs still sound pretty darn good.

Q: I've been a huge fan of Barbara Mandrell’s since 1979. It’s been reported that she only had two gold albums; 1979’s The Best Of Barbara Mandrell and 1981’s Barbara Mandrell Live. I could swear I remembered her having more gold albums, like Just For The Record (1979), Love Is Fair (1980), and Moods (1978). Approximately what were the sales counts on Barbara’s studio albums between 1978 and 1986?
(Randy, St. Louis, MO)

A: Well, Randy, you’ve certainly kept up. I’m not sure I have a lot more information than you already have, but I’ll give it a shot. My copy of Top Country Albums 1964-1997 (Joel Whitburn, Record Research, Inc.) agrees with you. There was another gold album, making three in all. But follow closely, it’s tricky. In addition to Barbara Mandrell Live, she had the 1979 The Best of Barbara Mandrell, as you mentioned, on ABC Records. But there is also a different The Best of Barbara Mandrell on Columbia Records, from 1977, and that one went gold, also. (Even as competitive as they are, record companies should do a little coordination, in my opinion.)

All of the other albums you mention did very well anyway, making it into the top ten, and all of them spawning top ten singles for the CMA award winner. As for the raw sales figures, I found out many years ago when trying to put together a local radio station hit chart, that retailers and wholesalers are extremely reluctant to share that info, so I no longer try. But back to Barbara Mandrell. Her fans may want to check out She Was Country, When Country Wasn’t Cool which is a tribute to Barbara by today’s top artists, including Gretchen Wilson, Brad Paisley, Sara Evans, Reba McEntire, and Kenny Chesney. While Barbara doesn’t sing on the album, we hear that she’s very proud of it.

Q: I am in the younger generation and a huge fan of Elvis Presley. Why don’t we see more of him on the country stations? We hunger to see him perform.
(Pat, Houston, TX)

A: If by "see" you mean videos, Pat, it’s a simple matter of supply. Music videos were not being produced at the time of Elvis Presley’s death in 1977. About the only way you can see earlier artists in this way is from excerpted clips from television show archives. There is a small amount of just that sort of thing available from Elvis Presley Enterprises. You can buy DVDs of his movies, and they’ll include a DVD of his movie soundtrack songs, plus a DVD copy of his "black leather" TV concert. To check this out, go to elvis.com.

Q: Mel Tillis sings a song, "Send Me Down To Tucson." I hear it on the classic station. What CD would I find the song on? I’ve got to have that song!
(Sandra, Beaumont, TX)

A: It’s a little tough to find, Sandra! The copy I play on the radio (now simply a computer file) was probably originally transferred from a 45 rpm record. I found a cassette or LP version of The Very Best Of Mel Tillis from 1981 that has it and is available on line, or you can get the 3-CD Country Collection- 36 All-Time Hits, by going to meltillis.com and clicking on "gift shop". What I don’t know about this collection is whether they are the originals or re-recordings, but for big-time Mel fans such as you, it may not make a difference.

Q: When I was younger, I heard a song on the radio that I loved. I can’t remember who sang it, but it still runs through my mind from time to time. The song is "Shake Me I Rattle" but can you tell me who it is by? I was brought up on country music.
(Carol, Rincon, GA)

A: Carol, there are two versions of the song, depending on just how long ago when you were "younger." If you are a child of the ‘60s, Marion Worth had the song out in 1963. If the 1970s, Cristy Lane was the performer (late 1977.) Cristy’s version is available on Cristy Lane Greatest Hits, Vol.1& 2 and if it's Marion you remember, a good source is the CD, K-Tel Presents: Country Gals.