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Gordon Lightfoot, Anne Murray, the Eagles, Linda Rondstadt

H

HoustonListener

All talented singers.. but are the Country Legends? They seem to be in heavy rotation on 97.1. My wife more than once has been changing the stations and asked me...when did a 70s soft rock station start up here in Houston?
 
According to Joel Whitburn's book, Anne Murray placed 54 singles on Billboard's Country Chart between 1970-1991. 10 of those went all the way to #1, including "I Just Fall In Love Again", "Shadows In The Moonlight", "Could I Have This Dance"(from Urban Cowboy), "Blessed Are the Believers" and "A Little Good News" (which managed to incorporate Bryant Gumbel into the lyrics :eek: ) By comparison, Anne only had 28 singles make the pop chart and only 1 #1 hit ("You Needed Me" in 1978). Anne is widely considered to be a Country Artist who had some pop success.

Linda Ronstadt had 24 singles on the Country chart including "When Will I Be Loved" which went to # 1 in 1975. She was also part of the "Trio" with Dolly Parton and Emmylou Harris in the late 80's and had two songs make it to the top. Linda goes both ways but had her biggest success as a pop artist.

Gordon Lightfoot made the Country chart 13 times in his career. His biggest hit was "Sundown" which got as high as # 13 in 1974. Gordon is not much of a country artist.

The Eagles only made the Country chart 4 times. "Lyin' Eyes" got up to # 8 in early 1976. Although many of the Eagles early hits have a definite country flavor to them, I don't believe they were marketed to country radio back in the 70's.
 
Country Legends 97.1, just like the vast majority of ALL radio stations, is doing it wrong. Unfortunately, that is just the way it is today.

We can only imagine what a real radio station, with real air personalities, and good songs sounds like. Strangely enough, one of their sister stations DOES do it pretty close to right. You can usually pick-up KKYX in San Antonio (680 AM) during the day with no problem.
 
Actually we played each of those artists when I was working at KJCS in Nacogdoches (yes a country format) from 1978-1986. We were not so much on the Eagles with the exception of the songs listed above, but yes the late 70s and early 80s were filled with Ronstadt, Murray and Gordon... along with alot of other music that probably wouldn't see the light of day on a country station of today.

kevinc
 
I agree, Country Legends should be called Soft Southern Rock. I think a radio station that plays classic country can mix in other artists like Lightfoot, Eagles, etc. but what gets' me is when I listen and the voice guy comes on saying something like, "the greatest Country Legends of all time," and then goes into Blue Bayou.
 
Legends may see a larger playlist soon. They must revive 97.1 to keep 93Q alive!
 
I take hundreds of phone calls on my syndicated classic country show every Saturday night, and quite a few are for songs and artists just like you mentioned. Folks can't hear them anywhere else, and I'm betting a lot of country stations played them as 'spice' or 'flavor' records when they were current. The one I bet I get at least a dozen calls for every week is "Escape-The Pina Colada Song" by Rupert Holmes. Don't know why, but they think it is classic country. And it is even on the Century 21/Gold Disc country music library.
 
Holstead said:
I take hundreds of phone calls on my syndicated classic country show every Saturday night, and quite a few are for songs and artists just like you mentioned. Folks can't hear them anywhere else, and I'm betting a lot of country stations played them as 'spice' or 'flavor' records when they were current. The one I bet I get at least a dozen calls for every week is "Escape-The Pina Colada Song" by Rupert Holmes. Don't know why, but they think it is classic country. And it is even on the Century 21/Gold Disc country music library.
Click to expand...

But do you ever get any requests for "The Flaming Cheese" or "Free Beer?"
 
I think Rowdy has hit on it...these are songs that were HUGE in their day and no stations play. Oldies (pop/rock) stations don't. Classic country stations tend to be ashamed to play Tammy Wynette, Hank Thompson and George Jones, so they fill their lists with crossover hits. I haven't listened in a long time because I got tired of hearing The Oak Ridge Boys and The Bellamy Brothers every time I did. I guess now I won't even hear their pop country there.

Funny on my Texas show, when I play something that's real country I get so many calls about how happy country fans are to hear actual country music again! So there is an audience.

And Rowdy I do listen to you on Sat night - when there's not baseball. Play more Loretta Lynn!
 
Flaming Cheese? Yes, I do. Mostly from those who still recall the "1 of the 10" days. I still remember how much fun you, me & Carola had "opening up" for George Strait at the Compaq Center.
 
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