Sept. 8, 2014
Hi Gang:
A few weeks ago one of our fan club members, a lady named Cheryl Cato out in Oklahoma, wrote and asked me an interesting question:
“If you were about to introduce country music to a person who had never listened to country music before….but who agreed to listen to three songs….what three songs would you play for them?”
I was caught totally off guard, and began making a list….then erasing that list and starting on a new one. I fumbled and stumbled trying to come up with a good answer when the thought occurred to me that I should open that question up to the fans….and specifically to our fan club members. So, in our August newsletter, I asked them to send me their three choices, and the floodgates swung open wide. And I mean VERY wide!
I had well over 100 different titles submitted to me, and posted the Top Three vote getters last week in our September fan club newsletter. People have been writing ever since wanting to know more, so here goes:
The Top Three songs sent in by our members were 1) He Stopped Loving Her Today; 2) He’ll Have To Go; and 3) Still. I was not surprised at #1, and must tell you it won by a large margin. I was a bit surprised by #2, and figured a lot of people were just being nice to me when they voted for #3.
The remaining Top Ten songs (in no particular order) were: Stand By Your Man, Amarillo By Morning, Wabash Cannonball, Your Cheatin’ Heart, Grandest Lady Of Them All, City Lights, and Slippin’ Away. Again, some were being ‘way too nice to me.
At first, I found it interesting that the vast majority of songs mentioned were the older, more traditional country songs. But then, I realized had this question been aimed at Kenny Chesney’s or Garth Brooks’ fan club, the answers would obviously have been vastly different and skewed heavily toward the newer material.
Titles submitted ranged all the way from Cool Water and Happy Trails to Blueberry Hill and Tennessee Waltz. Funny, but I never thought of Blueberry Hill as a country song!
So what did I learn from all this? Well, for one thing, I learned that our fans are very passionate about their music and I love that. “How could you possibly not include ‘Hello Darlin’?” one wrote. Others cheered just as loudly for I Walk The Line, Detroit City, and Lovesick Blues.
Second, I learned that many of you are truly procrastinators. I was still getting votes the day after I posted the winners. I didn’t put a deadline on this, but folks, you don’t vote in an election after the winners have already been announced. Well, unless you live in Chicago maybe.
Next, more of you need to be in our FREE online fan club so you can take part in craziness like this. It’s easy to join. While you’re on our website today, go to the Fans icon at the top of our Home page and sign up.
There’s no telling what kind of foolishness we’ll come up with next.
September 10, 2014 @ 11:26 pm
I think your song “Too Country” would have to have been my 1st choice..I don’t like all this NEW stuff at all..That’s why I have “Country Reunion DVD’s..I can watch REAL country when ever I want too..Thanks for hosting them, you always do such a great job..I just can’t even imagion anyone else being able to do it…Looking forward to the new ones coming out..Take Care and Keep singing good country songs (and writing them)…Carrie Glenn Eldridge Bush
September 10, 2014 @ 11:27 am
1. cheatin heart Hank Williams.2. Alan Jackson&George Strait murder down on music row. 3. Tammy Wynette stand by your man.
These would be my three country songs.
September 9, 2014 @ 11:00 pm
When I worked at WRHC in Jacksonville, Florida my fellow DJ, Chuck Goddard would surely have agreed with everything you said.
September 9, 2014 @ 2:33 pm
When it comes to Blueberry Hill. You may just find Gene Autry had it long before Fats Domino, and who can’t resist a good old tune from the likes of Whispering Bill? My first taste of Bill Anderson was by a little known welsh man by the name of Ken Dodd. He liked you so guess he had great taste too.
September 8, 2014 @ 10:49 pm
Your Cheatin’ Heart, For The Good Times, The Dance, but it is almost impossible to pick just three with the decades of C&W music.
September 8, 2014 @ 9:31 pm
i love still. but i love to hear you sing most of all. i love country music. not the music they have today as country.
September 8, 2014 @ 8:56 pm
Too tough to pick just three! And whispering Bill wrote many of those I’d put on a list of the Top 25! Bill and Harlan Howard, Dolly, Willie, Hank Sr., Cindy Walker, and others come to mind as the best songwriters in the history of Country Music.
September 8, 2014 @ 6:20 pm
He stopped loving her today/ The great specialded bird/any thing by Hank Williams Sr
September 8, 2014 @ 5:59 pm
you most likely want see this but i have been a fan of yours since the early 60s and the one song that always stuck in my mind was.. Still in 1964 i was a young guy and married young we where in Ariz and she wanted to go home to Big Spring Tex and dad and i put her on the bus and i think i wore that song out Still But after a month she wanted to come back and it lasted 32 years she passed in 96 but i still listen to that song you have been a great inspiration in my life i still kinda get a tear when i hear it on willies place guess i had better be like Red Sovine and sign off Good Luck and May God Bless you John Whitt
September 8, 2014 @ 5:12 pm
well im late to the party too i guess but heres my three. 1. Give It Away 2. Chasin’ That Neon Rainbow 3. The Fightin Side of Me