Michael Jay Johnson was an American pop, country, and folk singer-songwriter and guitarist. He is best remembered for his 1978 hit song "Bluer Than Blue". He charted four hits on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and nine more on Hot Country Songs, including two number one country hits in 1986's "Give Me Wings" and "The Moon Is Still Over Her Shoulder". He also co-wrote "Cain's Blood", the debut single of 1990s country group 4 Runner.
Hank Locklin was an American country music singer-songwriter. He had 70 chart singles, including two number one hits on Billboard's country chart. His biggest hits included "Send Me the Pillow You Dream On" and his signature "Please Help Me, I'm Falling". The latter also went to number eight on the Billboard Hot 100 pop music chart. Billboard's 100th anniversary issue listed it as the second most successful country single of the rock and roll era. It sold over one million copies, and was awarded a gold disc by the RIAA.
Jeffery Wayne Bates is an American country music artist. Signed to RCA Nashville in late 2002, Bates released his debut album Rainbow Man in May 2003. In 2005 he released his second album, Leave the Light On, on RCA. He left RCA in 2006. This album was followed by Jeff Bates in 2008 on the independent Black River Entertainment. Bates' two RCA albums accounted for seven chart singles on the Billboard country charts, of which three reached top 40: "The Love Song", "I Wanna Make You Cry" at No. 23, and "Long, Slow Kisses" at No. 17.
"Wonderful World" is a song by American singer-songwriter Sam Cooke. Released on April 14, 1960, by Keen Records, it had been recorded during an impromptu session the previous year in March 1959, at Sam Cooke's last recording session at Keen. He signed with RCA Victor in 1960 and "Wonderful World", then unreleased, was issued as a single in competition. The song was mainly composed by songwriting team Lou Adler and Herb Alpert, but Cooke revised the lyrics to mention the subject of education more.
"'It's a Heartache'" is a song recorded by Welsh singer Bonnie Tyler. Written by Ronnie Scott and Steve Wolfe, and co-produced with David Mackay, the single was released in November 1977 through RCA Records. The song topped the charts in Australia, Canada, and numerous European countries, and reached No. 3 in the US and No. 4 in the UK. Worldwide, "It's a Heartache" sold around six million copies.
Makin' Memories is a studio album by American country music artist Dottie West. It was released in December 1969 on RCA Victor Records and was produced by Danny Davis. Her thirteenth studio album, Makin' Memories was also her third to be released in 1969. The album included three singles that became minor hits on the national music publication charts.
"Talking in Your Sleep" is a song written by Roger Cook and Bobby Wood. The first recorded version of the song is by the band Marmalade, produced by Cook's longtime collaborator Roger Greenaway; Marmalade's version was also released as single in 1978 but failed to chart.
The Fabulous Counts were an American soul/funk group from Detroit, Michigan. They won local acclaim as an instrumental group and as a backing ensemble for visiting solo acts after their formation in 1968. Working with producer Richard "Popcorn" Wylie, they released the instrumental single "Jan, Jan" on Detroit's Moira Records that year, which narrowly missed hitting the US R&B charts that winter. Their second single, "Dirty Red", passed without trace, but the third single, "Get Down People", hit #32 R&B and #88 on the US pop charts. A full-length, Jan, Jan, was released in 1969 on Cotillion Records, but the group left the label in 1970.
"Silver Threads and Golden Needles" is a country song written by Dick Reynolds and Jack Rhodes. It was first recorded by Wanda Jackson in 1956. The original lyrics, as performed by Jackson, contain a verse not usually included in later versions, which also often differed in other minor details.
The discography of American country artist Jeanne Pruett consists of six studio albums, one live album, three compilation albums and 37 singles. While working for a publishing company, she signed a recording contract with RCA Records in 1963. She released several singles that did not become successful. In 1969, she signed with Decca Records. Her first charting single was 1971's "Hold to My Unchanging Love". This was followed by "Love Me", which became a top 40 hit and prompted the release of her debut studio album. In 1973, Pruett released the single "Satin Sheets", which became her biggest hit. The song spent several weeks at number one on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart and crossed over to number 28 on the Hot 100. Its corresponding album of the same name also topped the Billboard Country Albums chart in July 1973.
Natural Force is the second studio album by Welsh singer Bonnie Tyler, released in May 1978 by RCA Records. In the United States, the album was titled It's a Heartache. As with her debut, Ronnie Scott and Steve Wolfe wrote most of the tracks on the album. David Mackay again produced the album, with Scott and Wolfe. Other songs include covers of American artists Stevie Wonder and Carole King.
The singles discography of Connie Smith, an American country artist, consists of 48 singles, one music video and one additional charting song. After signing with RCA Victor Records in 1964, Smith released her debut single in August entitled "Once a Day". The song topped the Billboard Magazine Hot Country Singles chart by November and held the position for eight weeks, to date being the longest running song at number one by a female country artist. The single's success launched Smith into stardom, making Smith one of the decade's most successful female artists. The follow-up single "Then and Only Then" reached #4 on the country singles chart, while its flip side went to #25 on the same chart. All of Smith's singles released between 1965 and 1968 reached the top 10 on the Billboard country songs chart, including "If I Talk to Him", "Ain't Had No Lovin'", and "Cincinnati, Ohio". By 1969 Smith felt highly pressured from her career and cut back on promoting singles. Smith's chart success slightly declined because of this, with songs like "Ribbon of Darkness" (1969) and "Louisiana Man" (1970) only reaching the top 20. Other singles continued to peak within the top 10 including "I Never Once Stopped Loving You" (1970) and "Just One Time" (1971).
The singles discography of Elvis Presley began in 1954 with the release of his first commercial single, "That's All Right". Following his regional success with Sun Records, Presley was signed to RCA Victor on November 20, 1955. Presley's first single with RCA, "Heartbreak Hotel", was a worldwide hit, reaching the No. 1 position in four countries and the top 10 in many other countries. Other hit singles from the 1950s include "Don't Be Cruel", "Hound Dog", "Love Me Tender", "Too Much", "All Shook Up", "(Let Me Be Your) Teddy Bear", "Jailhouse Rock", "Don't", "Hard Headed Woman" and "A Big Hunk o' Love". On March 24, 1958, Presley entered the United States Army at Memphis, Tennessee, and was stationed in Germany. He left active duty on March 5, 1960.
The singles discography of American country artist Dottie West contains 59 singles released as a solo artist, 12 singles released as a collaborative artist, 3 promotional singles and 1 other charting song. West signed with RCA Victor Records in 1963, having her first Top 40 hit the same year. It was followed in 1964 by "Love Is No Excuse", a duet with Jim Reeves that became West's first top 10 hit. In 1964, she also released "Here Comes My Baby". The song reached number 10 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart and became the first song by a female country artist to win a Grammy award. From her 1966 album, West issued four singles, including the top 10 hits "Would You Hold It Against Me" and "What's Come Over My Baby". Over the next two years she had major hits with "Paper Mansions", "Like a Fool", "Country Girl", and "Reno". In 1969, West collaborated with Don Gibson on "Rings of Gold", which reached number 2 on the Billboard country chart. In 1973, she released a single version of a commercial jingle originally used by The Coca-Cola Company. Entitled "Country Sunshine", the song became West's biggest hit, reaching number 2 on the country songs chart and number 49 on the Billboard Hot 100. The song also nominated her for her eleventh Grammy. After releasing the top 10 hit "Last Time I Saw Him" (1974), West's chart hits declined and she was dropped from RCA in 1976.
"We Can't Hide It Anymore" is an American pop music song written by Barry Murphy and first recorded by Larry Santos. It appeared on Santos' 1975 album Casablanca and the single reached number 36 on Billboard magazine's Billboard Hot 100 chart in April 1976.
"I Can't Stay Mad at You" is a song written by Gerry Goffin and Carole King. It was originally recorded by American country artist Skeeter Davis, becoming her second top-ten hit on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1963. "I Can't Stay Mad at You" followed on the popular success of Davis' earlier 1963 crossover hit "The End of the World". The song was one of the first Goffin-King compositions to be recorded by a country music performer.
The discography of American country singer-songwriter Hank Locklin contains 29 studio albums, 10 compilation albums, two box sets, 96 singles, two additionally-charting songs and one album appearance. He had his first hit with "The Same Sweet Girl" (1949) after signing with Four Star Records. The song reached the top ten of the Billboard country singles chart, peaking at number eight. A string of singles were released over the next several years that were not successful. With a leasing agreement administered by Decca Records, he had his next hit in 1953 with the number one song, "Let Me Be the One." Disappointed by label management, he switched to RCA Victor Records in 1955. Under the production of Chet Atkins, he had his biggest success. His next hit came with 1956's "Why Baby Why," which reached number nine on the country chart. Between 1957 and 1958, he had three top-ten country hits: "Send Me the Pillow You Dream On," "Geisha Girl" and "It's a Little More Like Heaven." In 1958, he recorded country music's first concept albums, Foreign Love. In 1960, Locklin released his biggest hit single, "Please Help Me, I'm Falling." Not only did it top the Billboard country singles chart, but it also reached number eight on the Billboard Hot 100 list. It was also one of several hits Locklin had in the United Kingdom, peaking at number nine on their pop chart.
She's Just an Old Love Turned Memory is the twenty-third studio album by American country music artist Charley Pride. It was released in March 1977 via RCA Victor Records and contained ten tracks. The record was co-produced by Jerry Bradley and Pride. It was Pride's twenty third studio recording in his career and spawned three singles: "A Whole Lotta Things to Sing About", "I'll Be Leaving Alone", and the title track. The album received positive reviews from critics and music publications.
Someone Loves You Honey is the twenty-fourth studio album by American country music artist Charley Pride. It was released in February 1978 on RCA Victor and contained 11 tracks. The album was co-produced by Jerry Bradley and Pride. Two of Pride's major hits were included on the studio record: "More to Me" and the title track. Both songs became number one hits. The album itself would also reach charting positions following its release.
Burgers and Fries/When I Stop Leaving is the twenty-fifth studio album by American country music artist Charley Pride. It was released in October 1978 on RCA Victor and contained ten tracks. It was co-produced by Pride and Jerry Bradley. The project was Pride's twenty fifth studio release in his recording career and reached major chart positions in the United States and Canada. Three singles were released off the album, including both of its title tracks and "Where Do I Put Her Memory." All three singles became major hits on the country charts in the United States and Canada.
