ARTIST SPOTLIGHT = Don Williams (9 songs)
This Florydada TX-native singer-songwriter-guitarist professionally debuted in 1957, was a member of the Pozo-Seco Singers (1964-1970) & acted in the movies ‘W W & The Dixie Dancekings’ & ‘Smokey & The Bandit II’. Despite a plethora of Top 5 hits (it was difficult to narrow it to 9), the only CMA he won was the 1978 Male Vocalist; he entered the Opry in 1976 & the Country Hall Of Fame in 2010.
#1
This song debuted 01/31/1976, spent 16 weeks on the charts & claimed #1. It was his 4th chart topper (3rd straight) & 6th Top 5. Prior successful tunes were 1974’s “We Should Be Together” (#5), 1974’s “I Wouldn’t Want To Live If You Didn’t Love Me” (#1), 1974-5’s “The Ties That Bind” (#4), 1975’s “You’re My Best Friend” (#1) & 1975’s “Love Me Tonight” (#1). The streak of chart toppers stretched to 4 with 1976’s “Say It Again”.
#2
After late 1976’s “She Never Knew Me” stopped the string of chart toppers when it peaked at #2 for 2 weeks, this song hit the airwaves 03/12/1977, spent 16 weeks on the charts & returned him to the top, peaking at #1. The follow-up single, 1977’s “I’m Just A Country Boy” also claimed #1.
#3
His 1st release in 1978, “I’ve Got A Winner In You”, became his 1st Top 10 that wasn’t also a Top 5 when it peaked at #7. This song, then, returned him to the Top 5 section; debuting 07/01/1978, it spent 15 weeks on the charts & peaked at #3, sparking a string of 5 more Top 5 tunes.
#4
This song debuted 11/04/1978, spent 16 weeks on the charts & claimed #1 in early 1979. The last 3 songs in the string of Top 5s were 1979’s “Lay Down Beside Me” (#3, 3 weeks), 1979’s “It Must Be Love” (#1) & 1979-80’s “Love Me Over Again” (#1). Whenever I hear this song, I think of a story my sister told me a number of years ago: when she heard this as a kid, she thought the words were “living on toast & time”….
#5
After his 1st release in 1980 (“Could You Ever Really Love A Poor Boy”) stalled at #97 on the charts, this song debuted 03/29/1980 & spent 15 weeks on the charts, 3 of those at its peak position of #2. This single sparked a string of 13 straight Top 10s, only 1 of which failed to reach the Top 5. The follow-up release to this was 1980’s “I Believe In You”, which claimed #1 for 2 weeks. The next release, then, was the only non-Top 5, missing that section by 1, peaking at #6: 1981’s “Falling Again”.
#6
The rest of his releases in 1981 were “Miracles” (#4), “If I Needed You” (#3; duet with Emmylou Harris) & “Lord, I Hope This Day Is Good” (#1; peaked in early 1982). This song, his 1st release in 1982, debuted 04/17/1982, spent 16 weeks on the charts & peaked at #3. The follow-up, 1982’s “Mistakes”, also peaked at #3 (2 weeks).
#7
This song debuted 12/11/1982, spent 20 weeks on the charts & claimed #1 in early 1983. This single was his 9th (of 13) straight Top 10. The remaining 4 songs in the streak were 1983’s “Love Is On A Roll” (#1), 1983’s “Nobody But You” (#2), 1983-4’s “Stay Young” (#1) & 1984’s “That’s The Thing About Love” (#1). 1984’s “Maggie’s Dream” stopped the string when it notched at #11.
#8
Perhaps my favorite song of his, this poignant single hit the airwaves 01/07/1989, spent 21 weeks on the charts & peaked at #5. While I remember hearing it as a kid, it really hit home when I drove Route 66, September 2009. It was his 9th (of 12) straight Top 10s. Prior hits in the string include 1986’s “Heartbeat In The Darkness” (#1), 1986-7’s “Then It’s Love” (#3), 1987’s “I’ll Never Be In Love Again” (#4) & 1988’s “Desperately” (#7).
#9
Debuting 04/22/1989, this song spent 24 weeks on the charts & peaked at #4, the 10th (of 12) straight Top 10s. The streak ended with 1989’s “I’ve Been Loved By The Best” (#4) & 1990’s “Just As Long As I Have You” (#4). After 1990’s “Maybe That’s All It Takes” stalled at #22, he released 5 more songs, 3 of which notched in the Top 40, all in the Top 10: 1990’s “Back In My Younger Days” (#2, 2 weeks), 1991’s “True Love” (#4) & 1991’s “Lord Have Mercy On A Country Boy” (#7).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4NT1AGkuBbw