Tuesday, January 11, 2011
Just about to lose our minds
The year 1978 was not a crummy one for country music. Johnny Paycheck began the year on top of the Billboard chart with "Take This Job and Shove It" and Kenny Rogers closed it with "The Gambler." In between there were other memorable gems, including "Mamas Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up to Be Cowboys" by Waylon and Willie, "Two More Bottles of Wine" by Emmylou Harris and "Sleeping Single in a Double Bed" by Barbara Mandrell.
Now those were the days for country.
Don Williams, the 1978 CMA male vocalist of the year, entered the charts in November with a song that would ultimately rise to No. 1 on this week in 1979. Written by his guitarist Danny Flowers, "Tulsa Time" would also provide a spark for Eric Clapton, who recorded it for his Backless album and had the single reach No. 30 on the pop charts.
We're not sure what gives the song such incredible staying power, but we still enjoy playing both versions. BTW, it requires just two guitar chords (G, D) to play. It couldn't be the lyrics -- unless you used to tool around the country in a blue Pontiac with a Tri-Power 389...
Well I left Oklahoma
Driving in my Pontiac
Just about to lose my mind
I was going to Arizona
Maybe on to California
Where people all look so fine
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For the fourth day in a row you've hit a music nerve. Nancy and I are Don Williams fans to the max, including Tulsa Time. Had plenty of vinyl now replaced with CDs that we pop in the van for the long haul. We wail along with Amanda, Til the Rivers all Run Dry, Some Broken Hearts Never Mend, and especially Good Ole Boys Like Me. Talk about a voice on the six o-clock news! Love it all.
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