EVERY Billboard #1 country hit of 1977 discussion thread

We now look into the year after the Bicentennial, with a new President in the White House and a hope for new beginnings.

In this year, there were a total of 31 Number Ones, with the first being carried over from the previous week, "Sweet Dreams" by Emmylou Harris, which was on the prior EVERY Billboard #1 country hit of 1976 discussion thread, thus it won't be covered here. A few even crossed over to the "pops."

For those who missed the other prior threads relating to country #1's, here they are:
EVERY Billboard #1 country hit of 1975 discussion thread

And for those interested in the "olden days" (the last of which is still active and midway):
EVERY Billboard #1 country hit discussion thread 1944-1949
EVERY Billboard #1 country hit discussion thread 1950-1954

As with all threads about past chart-toppers, this is about the process - sequentially, chronologically and linearly - of finding out each song's run at the top when it first got there. So, no jumpin' ahead, okay?

After a short break, the first "new" country #1 of 1977.

 

Okay, here goes . . .
"Broken Down In Tiny Pieces" by Billy "Crash" Craddock
(#1 for 1 week - January 8, 1977)


Wikipedia entry - his last topper.

 

A fine 45, Billy "Crash" Craddock went out on a high note. chart success wise. I like it.

 

1977 should be an interesting, transitional year for country.

 

Now for the next one . . .
"You Never Miss A Real Good Thing (Till He Says Goodbye)" by Crystal Gayle
(#1 for 1 week - January 15, 1977)


Wikipedia entry

 

And movin' on agin . . .
"I Can't Believe She Gives It All To Me" by Conway Twitty
(#1 for 1 week - January 22, 1977)


Wikipedia entry

 

And inchin' ahead . . .
"Let My Love Be Your Pillow" by Ronnie Milsap
(#1 for 1 week - January 29, 1977)


Wikipedia entry

 

Too twangy for me.

 

Wait a few months.

 

I haven’t known three of the four so far. ‍♂️ Surprising.

 

Now for this little number . . .
"Near You" by George Jones and Tammy Wynette
(#1 for 2 weeks - February 5-12, 1977)


Wikipedia entry

 

Next one . . .
"Moody Blue" / "She Thinks I Still Care" by Elvis Presley
(#1 for 1 week - February 19, 1977)


The B side:

Wikipedia entries: A side, B side - Elvis' last #1 in his lifetime

 

No love for The King at this point? Well, at least he was still with us at the time . . . but now we go on again . . .
"Say You'll Stay Until Tomorrow" by Tom Jones
(#1 for 1 week - February 26, 1977)


Wikipedia entry - his most successful effort on the C&W charts

 

Great song.

 

I just can't hear this as a country song. Even so, I always liked it.

 

Something about this song always annoyed me. It's the song's arrangement and his vocal delivery.

 

wow. 1977 the countrypolitan year that all but crushed the the real "country" of '75. rca was killing it.

Gary Stewart - Out Of Hand

Waylon Jennings - Are You Sure Hank Done It This Way

 

Meanwhile, we move on again . . .
"Heart Healer" by Mel Tillis
(#1 for 1 week - March 5, 1977)


Wikipedia entry

 

Didn’t know this one. Catchy chorus but sounds dated for 1977.

 

that had to be just before jimmy bowen signed him to the then new country division of E/A nashville.

sorry. this was '80. i forget to read thread titles ( note to self )

 

"Heart Healer," and the album it came from, may well have been the first time Mr. Tillis worked with Mr. Bowen. There's an interesting account of their working relationship in Bowen's Rough Mix memoir.

 

best song tills ever wrote? imo was

i LOVE that dang song sorry if it isn't "relevant" here or now.

i just realized! its your thread, so i don't feel so bad, but forgive me. i have a tendency to wander in these threads. .. and thanks.

 

I really like old and classic country so I've know all these so far except for the Tom Jones one. It's interesting that Elvis' "Moody Blue" album didn't hit number one until after he died. Another coincidence is am listening the Emmylou Harris "Luxury Liner" album which was the number one album for March 5, 1977. Was listening to it when I stumbled across this tread.

 

Yes indeed, this great double sided hit single brought Elvis around full circle to his country roots as the first number one single he ever had was on the country charts, I Forgot To Remember To Forgot/Mystery Train. Your right though about Moody Blue not being a country song in any traditional sense of the word. The splendid song was written by one of Elvis's favorite songwriters during his later career, Mark James, who also wrote Elvis's ultimate showstopper for his live performances during those days, the supercharged rhythmic ballad, Suspicious Minds. Moody Blue had elements of classic-pop and a touch of country, but more notable was arranger Bergen White's stellar and dynamic strings coming in and out of the jaunty rhythm section that featured Neil Diamond's drummer for the last 20 years, the fantastic Ronnie Tutt, as well as Ricky Nelson's former lead guitarist, James Burton. A terrific sounding record all around. Oh yeah, the flip side, She Thinks I Still Care, was a complete re-working of a George Jones classic hit country song. Elvis seemed fully invested in both songs.

 

ronnie tutt on hunka hunka is incredible