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CD SHOWCASE MEMORIES

3 songs from the 1st hour (7p-8p) of my 02/17/1996 college radio show: Sammy Kershaw’s “3rd Rate Romance”, Marc Cohn’s “Walking In Memphis” & Olivia Newton-John’s “Hopelessly Devoted To You”. Also featured: the Lincoln Highway National Headquarters building, Franklin Grove IL. I took this OC,SH original photo 01/24/2017, when I took a day off work & drove my Aunt Chris (wearing the red jacket) in my 2003 Mercury Grand Marquis (parked on the right) to see our cousin, Luan W (wearing the light-colored jacket). Aunt Chris & I had been talking about doing a day trip of some sort ever since I bought the 03 MGM, & I’ve been wanting to visit Luan … figured it natural to combine the 2 goals! Luan’s husband, Jerry (a huge Cubs fan who died a few years ago), always, with 1 exception, owned MGMs. Seemed each time Jerry & Luan stopped to visit my grandparents (Mom’s & Aunt Chris’ Dad & Mom), they were in a new MGM. So, I wanted to take Luan for a ride in my MGM; she loved it. Aunt Chris & I traveled from Elgin IL to Rochelle IL to visit Luan, then I drove them to Franklin Grove for lunch at the Lincoln Way Cafe; we visited the National Headquarters briefly after lunch.

#1
“3rd Rate Romance”
Sammy Kershaw
This song hit the airwaves 08/27/1994 & spent 20 weeks on the charts, 2 of those at its peak position of #2. Die-hard country genre fans may remember the Amazing Rhythm Aces’ 1975 release of this song (via THIS LINK HERE); their version notched at #11. This Abbeville LA-native singer-songwriter-guitarist’s singing career stretched from late 1991 to early 2001, with 2 more tunes released in 2003 & 1 in 2006. Kershaw also acted in the 1995 movie ‘Fall Time’, & though they have since separated, married Lorrie Morgan 09/29/2001. His career kicked off with 1991-2’s “Cadillac Style” (#3, 2 weeks) & included 10 more Top 10 tunes, including this featured song & such tunes as 1992-3’s “Anywhere But Here” (#10), 1993’s “She Don’t Know She’s Beautiful” (#1; his only chart topper), 1994’s “I Can’t Reach Her Anymore” (#3), 1996’s “Meant To Be” (#5) & 1997-8’s “Love Of My Life” (#2, 2 weeks).

#2
“Walking In Memphis”
Marc Cohn
Know how sometimes a song will just grab at you, & you really can’t put a finger on the reason(s) why? That’s the type of song this is for me! Cohn composed this, widely considered his signature tune, & originally released it March 1991; a 06/24/1991 re-issue (with “Silver Thunderbird” as the B side instead of “Dig Down Deep”) helped the song climb the charts. Between late 1991 & early 1992, it peaked at #13 on the Billboard Hot 100, #12 on the Adult Contemporary & #7 on the Mainstream Rock Tracks charts; internationally, it notched at #7 in Ireland & #11 in Australia. It also briefly ran on country radio, reaching #74 on those charts. Cohn’s inspiration for writing this song was many-fold: among them, a 1985 visit to Memphis & a realization he wasn’t worthy to be a signed artist yet. Unlike James Tayler & Jackson Browne, Cohn didn’t have any great songs … until he wrote this hit. He recorded the demo in New York City in 1986; that demo landed him a contract with Atlantic Records 2 years later (1988). In 1989, Cohn was a backing pianist for Tracy Chapman’s 2nd album.

#3
“Hopelessly Devoted To You”
Olivia Newton-John
Released from the movie soundtrack of ‘Grease’ (also starring John Travolta), this tune hit the country charts 07/22/1978, spending 13 weeks on them, reaching only #20. However, this song reached #3 for 2 weeks on the Billboard Hot 100. Born in England & raised in Australia, Newton-John also acted in the movies ‘Xanadu’ (previously featured in the 09/03/2015 “CD Showcase Memories” entry via THIS LINK HERE) & ‘2 Of A Kind’. Awarded the CMA Female Vocalist Of The Year award in 1974, she has broad appeal, scoring Top 10s in all sorts of genres. She had 7 country Top 10 tunes & at least that many Top 10s on the BH 100, with 2 of those claiming #1. Familiar favorites include 1973’s “Let Me Be There” (#7 country; Country Female Vocal Grammy; #6 BH 100), 1974’s “If You Love Me” (#2, 2 weeks, country; #5 BH 100), 1974’s “I Honestly Love You” (#6 country; Pop Female Vocal & Record Of The Year Grammys; #1, 2 weeks, BH 100), 1975’s “Have You Never Been Mellow” (#3 country; #1 BH 100) & 1975’s “Please Mr Please” (#5 country; #3, 2 weeks, BH 100).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ijCd7No3B_Y