# It's the 1970s, semi-obscure country music appreciation thread **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 11, 2014, 5:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-the-1970s-semi-obscure-country-music-appreciation-thread/681035 "2014-02-11T05:02:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2014, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-the-1970s-semi-obscure-country-music-appreciation-thread/681035/21 "2014-02-12T00:27:18Z")
[Pretty Mary Sunlight](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e_fxC_Xu-wU) - Jerry Reed ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2014, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-the-1970s-semi-obscure-country-music-appreciation-thread/681035/22 "2014-02-12T00:35:56Z")
Wildfire. [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/brEYXm9yw88/hqdefault.jpg "WildFire - Michael Martin Murphy - An Amazing Song!") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=brEYXm9yw88) ---
**Author:** ![AuntiePam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@AuntiePam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AuntiePam)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2014, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-the-1970s-semi-obscure-country-music-appreciation-thread/681035/23 "2014-02-12T00:37:40Z")
[Broken Lady](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8yJOcp32p9g) - Gatlin Brothers. I’m remembering Queen of the Silver Dollar but it’s not the Dave & Sugar version or the John Lee Hooker version. I must be remembering a different song, just sounds like Silver Dollar. ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_T](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Gary\_T](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_T)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2014, 12:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-the-1970s-semi-obscure-country-music-appreciation-thread/681035/24 "2014-02-12T00:57:55Z")
> [@delphica](#): > > Could I jump into this thread with a request for help with a song ID? > > Male vocalist, medium-slow tempo, basically singing about being at a bar and drinking and sad about a lost love. [Misery and Gin](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mSjuEsAO3AA)? ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_T](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Gary\_T](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_T)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2014, 12:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-the-1970s-semi-obscure-country-music-appreciation-thread/681035/25 "2014-02-12T00:59:20Z")
> [@Cartoonacy](#): > > …my personal [Jphnny Lee] favorites were his [Cherokee Fiddle](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PEMbiEzqv-I) and [Prisoner of Hope](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gB-ZEZcc3Cc). Thumbs up, up, up. Two songs that I really love. ---
**Author:** ![SeldomSeen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/7ba0ec/32.png) [@SeldomSeen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SeldomSeen)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2014, 1:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-the-1970s-semi-obscure-country-music-appreciation-thread/681035/26 "2014-02-12T01:46:17Z")
> [@AuntiePam](#): > > I’m remembering Queen of the Silver Dollar but it’s not the Dave & Sugar version or the John Lee Hooker version. I must be remembering a different song, just sounds like Silver Dollar. Emmylou Harris [covered that one too](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-D8ia29U8Zo)…might be the version you’re thinking of? SS ---
**Author:** ![DChord568](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/439d5e/32.png) [@DChord568](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DChord568)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2014, 3:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-the-1970s-semi-obscure-country-music-appreciation-thread/681035/27 "2014-02-12T03:40:51Z")
> [@AuntiePam](#): > > I’m remembering Queen of the Silver Dollar but it’s not the Dave & Sugar version or the John Lee Hooker version. I must be remembering a different song, just sounds like Silver Dollar. Shel Silverstein wrote “Queen of the Silver Dollar.” It was first recorded by Dr. Hook and the Medicine Show, but it was strictly an album cut. The first version of “Queen of the Silver Dollar” that was a hit on the country charts was by [Doyle Holly](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X59GhrbUsOE), who was the bassist in Buck Owens’ Buckaroos. It’s likely this version that you remember hearing on the radio. ---
**Author:** ![DChord568](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/439d5e/32.png) [@DChord568](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DChord568)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2014, 3:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-the-1970s-semi-obscure-country-music-appreciation-thread/681035/28 "2014-02-12T03:59:41Z")
> [@delphica](#): > > 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 probably isn’t any of these three songs (which, though they fit your theme to varying degrees, come from ten years later than your time frame), but it’s a good excuse to post them anyway. The late and definitely great Vern Gosdin, aka “The Voice.” Amazingly, these three were successive single releases from him, and he had many other great hit songs as well. [Do You Believe Me Now](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ee8CQzErSeo) [Set 'em Up Joe](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hNhL9EfTYsU) [Chiseled in Stone](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sTrPJvEzmwQ) ---
**Author:** ![Don\_Draper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b2d939/32.png) [@Don\_Draper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Don_Draper)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2014, 4:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-the-1970s-semi-obscure-country-music-appreciation-thread/681035/29 "2014-02-12T04:02:30Z")
Well she’s not exactly obscure, but you just never hear much about [Crystal](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2nY3oKBA3GU) [Gayle](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eCgP-6mzz00) any more. (Makes my brown eyes, y’know…) ---
**Author:** ![installLSC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/54ee81/32.png) [@installLSC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/installLSC)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2014, 4:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-the-1970s-semi-obscure-country-music-appreciation-thread/681035/30 "2014-02-12T04:12:34Z")
Oh man I could post a hundred songs and not even run out of choices. For now [Joe Stampley](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bGORNQVv7YY) [Jerry Reed](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eXQf0JG8Uj8) [A younger, less poppy Crystal Gayle](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SVc89UuG4ZI) [Tanya Tucker, with a song they’d never get away with today](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jzEYsf0fYhE) [Merle Haggard, also with lyrics you couldn’t get away with these days](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w2FeT9by2FA) Remember how good country songwriting was when pickups, Jesus, and the flag didn’t have to jammed into every song? ---
**Author:** ![nevadaexile](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/eb8c5e/32.png) [@nevadaexile](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nevadaexile)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2014, 4:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-the-1970s-semi-obscure-country-music-appreciation-thread/681035/31 "2014-02-12T04:25:27Z")
MIss Donna Fargo ( **You Can’t Be a Beacon If Your Light Don’t Shine** ) [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/mYkAJesUP94/hqdefault.jpg "Donna Fargo You Can't Be A Beacon, If Your Light Don't Shine") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mYkAJesUP94) and Miss Dottie West ( **Last Time I Saw Him** ) [![]( " - YouTube") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=270hvi_ExRI) ---
**Author:** ![Infovore](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/infovore/32/420_2.png) [@Infovore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Infovore)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2014, 5:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-the-1970s-semi-obscure-country-music-appreciation-thread/681035/32 "2014-02-12T05:12:43Z")
I think this is pretty obscure: Eddie Rabbitt’s [Rocky Mountain Music](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hut3MsZk93E). ---
**Author:** ![DChord568](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/439d5e/32.png) [@DChord568](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DChord568)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2014, 5:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-the-1970s-semi-obscure-country-music-appreciation-thread/681035/33 "2014-02-12T05:19:07Z")
> [@Infovore](#): > > I think this is pretty obscure: Eddie Rabbitt’s [Rocky Mountain Music](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hut3MsZk93E). Well, only if you consider a song that hits #5 and is on the Top 40 country charts for 12 weeks to be obscure! ---
**Author:** ![Peanuthead](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peanuthead/32/360_2.png) [@Peanuthead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peanuthead)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2014, 5:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-the-1970s-semi-obscure-country-music-appreciation-thread/681035/34 "2014-02-12T05:30:01Z")
This might not be as obscure as I think but I was certainly surprised when I found out The [Pointer Sisters](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mXkllqtya90) not only recorded but actually wrote a C&W song. ---
**Author:** ![jimbuff314](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c57346/32.png) [@jimbuff314](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jimbuff314)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2014, 5:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-the-1970s-semi-obscure-country-music-appreciation-thread/681035/35 "2014-02-12T05:44:32Z")
> [@DChord568](#): > > Shel Silverstein wrote “Queen of the Silver Dollar.” It was first recorded by Dr. Hook and the Medicine Show, but it was strictly an album cut. The only version I know of is the Dr. Hook and the Medicine Show version and I know I’ve never had any of their albums. I remember hearing it many times (it was one of my favorites at the time) on the radio. So by album cut do you mean it wouldn’t have been played from an album in a station? ---
**Author:** ![DChord568](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/439d5e/32.png) [@DChord568](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DChord568)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2014, 6:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-the-1970s-semi-obscure-country-music-appreciation-thread/681035/36 "2014-02-12T06:41:43Z")
> [@jimbuff314](#): > > The only version I know of is the Dr. Hook and the Medicine Show version and I know I’ve never had any of their albums. I remember hearing it many times (it was one of my favorites at the time) on the radio. So by album cut do you mean it wouldn’t have been played from an album in a station? I mean it wouldn’t have been played on a Top 40 radio station the way Dr. Hook’s singles — such as “Sylvia’s Mother” and “Cover of the Rolling Stone” — were. (Double-checking…“Queen of the Silver Dollar” was the B-side of “Cover of the Rolling Stone.” If it didn’t chart independently…which it didn’t…then Top 40 radio didn’t play it.) It’s possible you would have heard their “Queen of the Silver Dollar” on “underground” FM stations, which along about this time started morphing into AOR (Album-Oriented Rock) stations. Meanwhile, virtually all country music stations played only singles, almost never album cuts. So the _Billboard_ country charts, where Doyle Holly first hit with his version of “Queen of the Silver Dollar,” were analogous to the _Billboard_ Hot 100, which tracked pop and rock singles play. To further confuse things, the AM/FM distinction starts becoming meaningless along about the mid-1970s, as more Top 40 stations started moving to the FM band. And just as with the change in terminology from “underground” to AOR, Top 40 morphed into CHR (Contemporary Hits Radio). ---
**Author:** ![Mixolydian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/da6949/32.png) [@Mixolydian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mixolydian)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2014, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-the-1970s-semi-obscure-country-music-appreciation-thread/681035/37 "2014-02-16T18:51:05Z")
Does this count? [Doug Sahm - “It’s Gonna Be Easy”](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eXcXlmZPLOY) ---
**Author:** ![Saintly\_Loser](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saintly_loser/32/4045_2.png) [@Saintly\_Loser](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saintly_Loser)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2014, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-the-1970s-semi-obscure-country-music-appreciation-thread/681035/38 "2014-02-16T21:55:08Z")
Here’s a 70’s favorite of mine: [Heaven’s Just a Sin Away](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z0ZK1DvTBpw&feature=kp), by the Kendalls, a father-and-daughter duo. I think they were pretty much a one-hit wonder. ---
**Author:** ![Savannah](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b3f665/32.png) [@Savannah](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Savannah)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2014, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-the-1970s-semi-obscure-country-music-appreciation-thread/681035/39 "2014-02-16T22:19:08Z")
> [@Saintly\_Loser](#): > > Here’s a 70’s favorite of mine: [Heaven’s Just a Sin Away](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z0ZK1DvTBpw&feature=kp), by the Kendalls, a father-and-daughter duo. I think they were pretty much a one-hit wonder. Two hits! [Pittsburgh Steelers](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YBsEPtRIplo) (Or “Stealers?”) ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2014, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-the-1970s-semi-obscure-country-music-appreciation-thread/681035/40 "2014-02-16T22:25:47Z")
70’s country, my first and strongest memory _Luckenbach Texas_ [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/xvZeYDBY4fw/hqdefault.jpg?sqp=-oaymwEmCOADEOgC8quKqQMa8AEB-AH-BIAC4AOKAgwIABABGH8gRCgTMA8=&rs=AOn4CLCReIWEfJAxuAoyoXHolrqMGS1ZqQ "Waylon Jennings Luckenbach Texas") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xvZeYDBY4fw) Waylon dominated 70’s country radio. 2nd memory, jessi colter _I’m not Lisa_ [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/ZOgTVJOdFVU/hqdefault.jpg "JESSI COLTER- I'M NOT LISA") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZOgTVJOdFVU) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-the-1970s-semi-obscure-country-music-appreciation-thread/681035.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-the-1970s-semi-obscure-country-music-appreciation-thread/681035.md?page=3)