Just thought of this here tonight. Haven’t heard of it or had it cross my mind in decades. Upon reflection, god-damn it’s a solid tune.
Next?
One good tune deserves another.
The 1970s wouldn’t be complete without Freddie Fender. Or Slim Whitman.
Could I jump into this thread with a request for help with a song ID? It seems to fit the theme, maybe it will ring a bell with someone who is more familiar with 1970s country music.
For pretty much my entire adult life, I’ve been trying to find a song that I would have heard at my grandmother’s house, on the AM country music station, in the neighborhood of 1978-ish. I remember it was played fairly often, so I’m assuming it would have been successful on the charts.
Male vocalist, medium-slow tempo, basically singing about being at a bar and drinking and sad about a lost love. (Yes, I realize that describes just about EVERY COUNTRY SONG).
It is definitely not the “Another Somebody Done Somebody Wrong Song,” but I remember it as being fairly similar in tone and theme.
I am sure this song exists somewhere in the world, because a few years ago, I was driving in a rural area late at night, and could barely tune in any radio stations. Finally, I found a country station that coming in and out, a lot of static, and I was just about to turn it off when my song came on! For real, I almost wrecked the car trying to tune in the radio a little better, but I only heard about 35 seconds of it before I lost the station completely, not even enough to get any lyrics to google.
Every so often I’ll listen to a 70s country station a lot to see if this comes up, and it never had, so I suspect it’s one of those songs that was a minor hit in its day, but for whatever reason, doesn’t make any “best of” lists.
You’re right: there are a lot of country songs that fit that description.
First one that comes to mind is Gene Watson’s Got No Reason Now For Going Home, but it was released in 1984.
There’s also What Are We Doin’ Lonesome, by the aforelinked Gatlin Brothers and released in 1981, but that’s more about finding company in a bar.
Probably not Charlie Rich?
Delphica, could it be There Stands the Glass by Webb Pierce?
If your song wasn’t set in a bar, I’d have suggested Four in the Mornin’ by Faron Young, who IMHO has the smoothest voice in country music.
In the 70’s, my oldest son had a temporary fling with country music. Let Your Love Flow by The Bellamy Brothers was a favorite.
Maybe Waylon Jennings’ I Don’t Want to Get Over You (aka Wurlitzer Prize)?
Everyone remembers Johnny Lee’s “Looking for Love (in All the Wrong Places),” but my personal favorites were his Cherokee Fiddle and Prisoner of Hope.
The best thing about this is that, while none of the suggested songs are the song I am (failing to) remember, a lot of them are songs I remember fondly, and really bring back memories of childhood. (“I Don’t Want To Get Over You” in particular seems so much in the same vein, too!)
My family clearly listened to country music from this era a lot, but for whatever reason, I don’t often return to it these days even though I enjoy it. I should remedy that.
Perhaps it was Moe Bandy’s “I Just Started Hatin’ Cheatin’ Songs Today”
Wow! I can’t take the time to listen to all these now, but looking forward to working my way through them when I’m done my travels.
Delphica, any of those what you were looking for? (Sorry, on preview, I see they weren’t!)
That was a great tune, but for sheer nuttiness, I prefer another Bellamy Brothers number.
Another good one – Rockin’ in Rosalee’s Boat.
I can’t believe my kid liked these songs so much. He was finished with country by the time he was 14 and became enamored of Dire Straits and Bela Fleck. Maybe not that much of a jump?
I’m not sure what’s obscure and what’s not, but here are a few.
Waylon Jennings - Are You Sure Hank Done It This Way?
Jerry Jeff Walker - Up Against the Wall Redneck Mother
Johnny Cash and George Jones - I Got Stripes & I Still Miss Someone
This one may not qualify, it’s sort of country-rock but I’m submitting it anyway because it’s so good: Linda Ronstadt - Willin’ (Little Feat cover)
Hey OP, you’re playin’ my song! I remember when Midnight Choir hit the airwaves, got played a lot for a couple of weeks, then suddenly disappeared from all the “respectable” country stations’ playlist. Somebody thought it was blasphemous or something. I bought the album before it got disappeared too.
The 70’s were when the big line got drawn through C & W music with lounge lizard country pop on one side and outlaw country on the other (I was mostly in the outlaw camp, but kinda liked some of the crossover stuff too.)
Delphica, I’ll take a shot in the dark; is This Ronnie Milsap tune the one you’re thinking of, by any chance? It’s a nice piece of country blues…