EVERY Billboard #1 country hit of 1979 discussion thread

Having polished off another year in the second half of the 1970's, we go to the last year of the decade. In this year, 33 songs reached #1 (while there were 23 that topped the Hot 100 and 20 that made the summit of the Hot Soul Singles chart). This was before a country-themed film began a trend, so we're on the cusp of before that.

For those who seek to reminisce of the past years in this decade, feel free to peruse:

EVERY Billboard #1 country hit of 1978 discussion thread
EVERY Billboard #1 country hit of 1977 discussion thread
EVERY Billboard #1 country hit of 1976 discussion thread.
EVERY Billboard #1 country hit of 1975 discussion thread

And for those in the early years of the C&W charts:

EVERY Billboard #1 country hit discussion thread 1944-1949
EVERY Billboard #1 country hit discussion thread 1950-1954
EVERY Billboard #1 country hit discussion thread 1955-1959 *CURRENT*

As usual, the ground rules for the other threads apply here. It is, as usual, about The Process of uncovering *at the time* each track reaches the summit, so "jumping ahead" is strongly discouraged.

After a break, we'll get to the first of these numbers.

 

Now, let the games begin . . .
"Tulsa Time" by Don Williams
(#1 for 1 week - January 6, 1979)


Wikipedia entry

 

Now on to the next topper . . .
"Lady Lay Down" by John Conlee
(#1 for 1 week - January 13, 1979)


Wikipedia entry - Mr. Conlee's first to reach the top.

 

I like John Conlee a lot, I forgot he was on ABC before MCA...

 

We are at the point where MCA is about to acquire ABC Records. A few #1's from now, and MCA would have totally folded all of ABC's artists into their roster . . .

 

I love "Tulsa Time". It's got a vibe to it that swampy yet sophisticated (if that is at all possible). Also, Don Williams' voice had a nuance to it that made it seem like he was having a one to one conversation with the listener.

 

My father was born in Tulsa, Oklahoma and my mother grew up there, so there was no way I was not going to like this song. You point out some great qualities about Don's conversational style of singing as well.

 

Moving on . . .
"I Really Got The Feeling" / "Baby I'm Burnin' " by Dolly Parton
(#1 for 1 week - January 20, 1979)

A side:


B side:

Wikipedia entry

 

On to the next . . .
"Why Have You Left The One You Left Me For" by Crystal Gayle
(#1 for 2 weeks - January 27-February 3, 1979)


Wikipedia entry

 

Movin' on up the #1 highway . . .
"Every Which Way But Loose" by Eddie Rabbitt
(#1 for 3 weeks - February 10-24, 1979)

"Butterfly" label:

"Caterpillar" label:

Red label:

Wikipedia entry

 

Now on to the next . . .
"Golden Tears" by Dave & Sugar
(#1 for 3 weeks - March 3-17, 1979)


Wikipedia entry - their last to reach the top

 

Now for another number that crossed over to the "pops":
"I Just Fall In Love Again" by Anne Murray
(#1 for 3 weeks - March 24-April 7, 1979)


Wikipedia entry - and Ms. Murray's first to make the top here.

 

Now for this one that came and went . . .
"(If Loving You Is Wrong) I Don't Want To Be Right" by Barbara Mandrell
(#1 for 1 week - April 14, 1979)


Wikipedia entry

 

I.M.H.O., that can't hold a candle to the original made famous by Luther Ingram back in 1972 . . .

 

That 45 has the exact same label as the one I have.

Yup, there's no topping the original. Barbara Mandrell is respectful but too white bread for me. There's no passion in it. And, that's the problem i have with country music from this era. It sounds like they are reading a cook book.

 

Which seems to be true with most if not all of her R&B covers. Wonder if that would make Pat Boone look like Buddy Guy in comparison.

 

They may well have. In those days, song pluggers literally invaded the studios where these singers were recording and they were singing said songs for the very first time at that session.

 

This was a sizable pop hit, too. The problem is, the only part that sticks in your brain is the chorus.

 

Pat Boone had a different motive. I don't even want to go there. I have zero respect for him after the last ten years.

 

Now for another one "just passin' by" . . .
"All I Ever Need Is You" by Kenny Rogers & Dottie West
(#1 for 1 week - April 21, 1979)


Wikipedia entry - note the (P) notice, this was at the point where Capitol-EMI was about to take over United Artists.

 

As with the prior #1, I'll pass on this rendition. In this case, Sonny & Cher's from 1971 is the definitive one . . .

 

Yeah. Figured. Not really memorable. Oh well, let's go to the next . . .
"Where Do I Put Her Memory" by Charley Pride
(#1 for 1 week - April 28, 1979)


Wikipedia entry

 

Now for the next one -
"Backside Of Thirty" by John Conlee
(#1 for 1 week - May 5, 1979)


Wikipedia entry - the last country #1 single to be issued initially on ABC Records, as by this time that label was acquired, and then its roster absorbed, by MCA Records.

 

And then we get to . . .
"Don't Take It Away" by Conway Twitty
(#1 for 1 week - May 12, 1979)


Wikipedia entry - his first since revamping his musical direction and his image (replacing his '50's-derived pompadour with a perm which he would wear for the rest of his life)

 

Now for another one that had a longer run at the top . . .
"If I Said You Have A Beautiful Body Would You Hold It Against Me" by the Bellamy Brothers
(#1 for 3 weeks - May 19-June 2, 1979)


Wikipedia entry - their first country #1