EVERY Billboard #1 country hit discussion thread 1970-1974

Moving on to the next . . .
"I Can't Stop Loving You" by Conway Twitty
(#1 for 1 week - September 23, 1972)


Wikipedia entry

 

Now for this first-timer to the top . . .
"I Ain't Never" by Mel Tillis And The Statesiders
(#1 for 2 weeks - September 30-October 7, 1972)


Wikipedia entry - did not cross over to pop Hot 100, unlike Webb Pierce's 1959 version which managed to snare a #24 finish there (and #2 on the C&W chart).

 

I have to confess that I heard Mel's version first, and only later the original by Webb Pierce. FWIW, I like Mel's better. The backing singers are a little bit over the top on Webb's.

I liked it right away and added it to my own repertoire, and have played and sung it many times over the years.

 

Another crossover smash from this individual:
"Funny Face" by Donna Fargo
(#1 for 3 weeks - October 14-28, 1972)


Wikipedia entry - also reached #5 on Hot 100, her biggest pop hit.

 

Next . . .
"It's Not Love (But It's Not Bad)" by Merle Haggard And The Strangers
(#1 for 1 week - November 4, 1972)

Capitol was changing label designs whilst this was on the charts:

Wikipedia entry

 

Now for another that came and went:
"My Man" by Tammy Wynette
(#1 for 1 week - November 11, 1972)


Wikipedia entry

 

This one stayed a bit longer . . .
"She's Too Good To Be True" by Charley Pride
(#1 for 3 weeks - November 18-December 2, 1972)


Wikipedia entry

 

And this one, just as long . . .
"Got The All Overs For You (All Over Me)" by Freddie Hart And The Heartbeats
(#1 for 3 weeks - December 9-23, 1972)


Wikipedia entry

 

We end the old year and start the new with this one . . .
"She's Got To Be A Saint" by Ray Price
(#1 for 3 weeks - December 30, 1972-January 13, 1973)


Wikipedia entry - could only claw its way up to #93 on "pops" (a.k.a. Hot 100)

 

And the first 'new' song of the New Year is also the first for this artist . . .
"Soul Song" by Joe Stampley
(#1 for 1 week - January 20, 1973)


Wikipedia entry - would also be the first #1 for Norris (Norro) Wilson as a producer.

 

Next up, a story song . . .
"(Old Dogs-Children And) Watermelon Wine" by Tom T. Hall
(#1 for 1 week - January 27, 1973)


Wikipedia entry

 

Next we turn our spotlight to . . .
"She Needs Someone To Hold Her (When She Cries)" by Conway Twitty
(#1 for 2 weeks - February 3-10, 1973)


Wikipedia entry

 

And then . . .
"I Wonder If They Ever Think Of Me" by Merle Haggard And The Strangers
(#1 for 1 week - February 17, 1973)


Wikipedia entry

 

Now for . . .
"Rated 'X' " by Loretta Lynn
(#1 for 1 week - February 24, 1973)


Wikipedia entry

 

Now for another of those "end of an era" moments . . .
"The Lord Knows I'm Drinking" by Cal Smith
(#1 for 1 week - March 3, 1973)


Wikipedia entry - while it was Mr. Smith's first topper, it would be the last for Decca Records after a remarkable 29-year run of charting Number Ones on the various country charts operated by Billboard; by the time this reached the summit, Decca, along with Uni and Kapp - and their artist rosters - would be folded into a unified entity, MCA Records.

 

Good song. I started working in Country radio a few months after this, and we still had plenty of back titles we played that were on Decca. But I did notice the MCA imprint starting to appear. I didn't know these specifics, though, so thanks for that.

 

This song was almost tailor cut for Charley. My opinion...

 

Another topper from 'The First Lady of Country Music' . . .
" 'Til I Get It Right" by Tammy Wynette
(#1 for 1 week - March 10, 1973)


Wikipedia entry

 

Now for this first-timer at the top with what would become a calling card . . .
"Teddy Bear Song" by Barbara Fairchild
(#1 for 2 weeks - March 17-24, 1973)

The Columbia label was changing 45 designs while this was on the charts:

Wikipedia entry - would also be her only pop Top 40 entry, managing a #32 peak on the Hot 100. For that matter, this would be the only #1 she would have on the country chart.

 

Now for the next from this lass (and her label) . . .
"Keep Me In Mind" by Lynn Anderson
(#1 for 1 week - March 31, 1973)

Again, Columbia was changing label designs during this release (as no stock copies have turned up with these label fonts in various databases, only the promos will be shown):

Wikipedia entry

 

Now, we turn to . . .
"Super Kind Of Woman" by Freddie Hart And The Heartbeats
(#1 for 1 week - April 7, 1973)


Wikipedia entry

 

Glenn Sutton was a hell of a writer.

 

Another one to come and go . . .
"A Shoulder To Cry On" by Charley Pride
(#1 for 1 week - April 14, 1973)


Wikipedia entry

 

Now another one from the "Happiest Girl" . . .
"Superman" by Donna Fargo
(#1 for 1 week - April 21, 1973)


Wikipedia entry

 

Now for the first considerable crossover from this individual . . .
"Behind Closed Doors" by Charlie Rich
(#1 for 2 weeks - April 28-May 5, 1973)

Epic's label design was changing while this was in release:

Wikipedia entry - Mr. Rich's first country Number One; also made #15 on the pop Hot 100.