Let's rephrase the question: Were the Bellamy Brothers really that popular?
We can't help but wonder after reading that the boys from Pasco County, Florida had more than two dozen Top 10 country songs once they caught fire. The first song they ever recorded, "Let Your Love Flow," made it to No. 1 on the Billboard POP chart (No. 21 in country) back during the Bicentennial, but it would take them a few more years to find their true niche.
That niche was Urban Country, and when they found it -- or rather when it found them -- it was katy bar the door. Even if you don't remember the Bellamys you probably can sing the title to their first No. 1 country hit, which was sitting pretty on this day in 1979.
"If I Said You Have a Beautiful Body Would You Hold it Against Me" owes a nod to Groucho Marx and makes us want to watch old movies and TV shows searching for wisecracks we could turn into hits. "Beautiful Body" was sitting at No. 1 on this day in 1979 at the same time Donna Summer was ruling the pop chart with "Hot Stuff." No sense competing against disco when you can make hay in country.
The Bellamys more than held their own during the Eighties, a decade which saw Willie Nelson, Conway Twitty, Alabama and Kenny Rogers ruling the country roost. The Bellamys charted an impressive nine No. 1s and had another half-dozen near-misses (No. 2s or 3s) during this stretch. Good for them, and shame on us for not remembering any of them.
And now hear this: It's not too late to catch up with them. For tour dates -- or just to hear "Beautiful Body" once more for old time's sake -- click here. Next weekend's ambitious schedule sees them dividing time between the National Sand Bass Festival in Madill, Oklahoma and the Bradley Tomato Fest in Warren, Arkansas. After that they're headed for Norway, where we have absolutely no doubt they will knock 'em dead.
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