CAR-TUNES SATURDAY

CD SHOWCASE MEMORIES

5 songs from the 1st hour (7p-8p) of my 11/04/1995 college radio show: Johnny Hates Jazz’s “Shattered Dreams”, Statler Brothers’ “Flowers On The Wall”, Louise Mandrell’s “Some Girls Have All The Luck”, Doug Supernaw’s “Reno” & Johnny Paycheck’s “Take This Job & Shove It”. Also featured: 1955 Lincoln Futura Concept Car, perhaps better known as the “batmobile”….

#1 “Shattered Dreams” | Johnny Hates Jazz
Originally released 03/24/1987 in England, this single received new life when it was released in the United States 03/16/1988. Written by the band’s lead singer, Clark Datchler, this song was their major-label debut & became their only chart topper. While they had moderate success with 2 other releases, many people consider them a “1 hit wonder”. The 1988 music video (below) is the black & white version directed by David Fincher, which Datchler prefers. This single claimed #1 on the Adult Contemporary & #2 on the Billboard Hot 100 charts; internationally, it noticed in the Top 10 of 9 other charts, including England (#5), Switzerland (#5), Sweden (#7), Norway (#6) & Ireland (#3).

#2 “Flowers On The Wall” | Statler Brothers
Hitting the airwaves 09/25/1965, this debut single spent 27 weeks on the country charts, 4 of those at its peak of #2. It also reached #4 on the Billboard Hot 100 & won the Rock & Roll Vocal Group Grammy. Formed in Staunton VA, this group released 7 tunes between mid 1966 & late 1968, but none reached the Top 5, though 2 notched at #10. Still, the group went on to release ~60 tunes (between late 1970 & mid 1990) & became a beloved country band. During that 20-year stretch, they enjoyed 30 top 10 tunes, including 4 chart toppers: 1978’s “Do You Know You Are My Sunshine” (2 weeks), 1983-4’s “Elizabeth”, 1984-5’s “My Only Love” & 1985’s “Too Much On My Heart”. Other familiar favorites include 1972’s “Do You Remember These” (#2, 4 weeks), 1972’s “The Class Of ’57” (#6; Country Vocal Group Grammy), 1981’s “Don’t Wait On Me” (#5; revised in 1989), & 1989’s “More Than A Name On A Wall” (#6). This particular song was later covered by Eric Heatherly, who took it to #6 in 2000.

#3 “Some Girls Have All The Luck” | Louise Mandrell
Debuting 12/14/1985, this song [cover of Rod Stewart’s “Some Guys Have All The Luck” (Billboard Hot 100 #10, 1984)] spent 17 weeks on the charts & peaked at #22 in early 1986, becoming this Corpus Christi TX-native singer-instrumentalists’s last Top 25 tune. Between mid-late 1978 & early 1988, Louise (sister of Barbara Mandrell) released ~30 songs, with 5 Top 10s. Familiar favorites include 1979’s “Reunited” (#13, duet with RC Bannon), 1983’s “Save Me” (#6), 1984’s “I’m Not Through Loving You Yet” (#7) & 1985’s “Maybe My Baby” (#8).

#4 “Reno” | Doug Supernaw
My favorite song by this underrated artist, this single debuted 05/22/1993 as his 2nd release, spent 20 weeks on the charts & peaked at #4, becoming his 1st Top 10. This Bryan TX-native singer-songwriter-guitarist’s singing career was fairly brief, spanning early 1993 to late 1996, & featured 2 additional Top 10 tunes: 1993’s “I Don’t Call Him Daddy” (#1, 2 weeks) & 1995-6’s “Not Enough Hours In The Night” (#3).

#5 “Take This Job & Shove It” | Johnny Paycheck
This artist’s best-known tune, this single hit the airwaves 11/05/1977 & spent 18 weeks on the country charts, 2 of those at #1. It was this Greenfield OH-native singer-songwriter-guitarist’s only chart topper in a career that spanned late 1965 to mid 1989. Near the end of his career, he served 2 years in prison for a 1985 barroom shooting. He was a member of several background bands, including for Porter Wagoner, Faron Young, Ray Price & George Jones. He died of emphysema 02/18/2003, just days after I was able to drive again following my 3rd open heart surgery, 01/06/2003. Another familiar favorite of his is 1971’s “She’s All I Got” (#2).