ARTIST SPOTLIGHT = Ernest Tubb (5 songs)
This Crisp TX-native singer-songwriter-guitarist, known as “The Texas Troubadour”, also acted in the movies ‘Fighting Buckaroo’, ‘Hollywood Barn Dance’, ‘Ridin’ West’ & ‘Jamboree’. Beginning in 1947, he broadcast from his own Record Shop in Nashville TN. He died of emphysema, 09/06/1984.
#1
This song debuted 05/27/1944 & spent 29 weeks on the country charts, 4 of those at #1; it crossed over & reached #16 on the Billboard Hot 100. It was his 2nd release, preceded by 1944’s “Try Me 1 More Time” (#2, 3 weeks). Those were the 1st 2 songs in a string of 14 straight country Top 10s (13 of them Top 5s) to start his career.
#2
Debuting 11/16/1946, this song spent 20 weeks on the charts, 2 of those at #1 in early 1947. It was his 8th straight Top 10 & 2nd straight chart topper, preceded by 1945’s “It’s Been So Long Darling” (4 weeks). Some of the last few tunes in the string of 14 straight Top 10s were 1946’s “Drivin’ Nails In My Coffin”, 1947’s “Don’t Look Now”, 1947’s “I’ll Step Aside” & 1948’s “Seaman’s Blues”.
#3
After 1948’s “You Nearly Lose Your Mind” stopped the string of Top 10s when it peaked at #15, a new string of 5 straight Top 10s was started with 1948’s “Forever Is Ending Today” (#5). This song, the 3rd in the stretch of 5, debuted 12/11/1948, spent 17 weeks on the charts & peaked at #2. A 1982 release of this song, in the form of a Jim Reeves-Patsy Cline duet, peaked at #5 on the charts.
#4
His success continued in the late 1940s with such tunes as 1949’s “Mean Mama Blues” (#6), 1949’s “Slipping Around” (#1) & 1949-50’s “Blue Christmas” (#1). This song, his 6th release in 1950, hit the airwaves 06/24/1950 & spent 15 weeks on the charts, 3 of those at its peak position of #3. it was his 16th straight Top 10, a string that continued to 33, into late 1953, including 2 more releases of “Blue Christmas” (1950-1, #9 & 1952, #5) & a 3-week chart topper with Red Foley (“Goodnight Irene”).
#5
This song debuted 02/09/1952 & spent 11 weeks on the charts, 2 of those at its peak position of #3; it was his 29th (of 33) straight Top 10. Later Top 10 tunes include 1952’s “Fortunes In Memories” (#5), 1955’s “The Yellow Rose Of Texas” (#7), 1958’s “Half A Mind” & 1963’s “Thanks A Lot”.