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1975 in country music

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This is a list of notable events in country music that took place in the year 1975.

Events

  • March 13 — The rocky marriage of George Jones and Tammy Wynette ends in divorce.
  • July 17 — A Russian-language version of Conway Twitty's 1970 hit, "Hello Darlin'" is played and broadcast to a worldwide audience as part of the Apollo-Soyuz Test Project. The song, which in Russian was called "Privet Radost," is a "gesture of goodwill" from the Apollo crew to the Soviet Union's Soyuz crew. Twitty worked with a language professor from the University of Oklahoma to record the phonetic Russian version of the song.
  • August 8 — While mountain climbing at Ajax Mountain, Montana, Hank Williams, Jr. is involved in a catastrophic accident. He tumbles nearly 500 feet and is critically injured, suffering numerous facial and head injuries. His recovery takes nearly two years, during which time he undergoes a major cosmetic — and musical — overhaul.
  • October — The defining moment in the recent debate over what defines country music – and each side's vision of the genre – comes at the Country Music Association awards. Charlie Rich, the 1974 CMA Entertainer of the Year, was selected to name the new Entertainer of the Year. When he opened the envelope, he took out his cigarette lighter, lighted the piece of paper with the winner's name on fire, and disgustedly announced the winner: "My good friend John Denver!" Denver, who was not present, was humbled at his award (but didn't know until later about Rich's actions).

No dates

  • The deaths of three country music legends — Bob Wills, George Morgan and Lefty Frizzell — leave a huge void among fans.
  • During a CBS documentary recorded and realised this year, Doolittle Lynn, husband of Loretta Lynn tells the world he “wants his wife to come home.”
  • Six songs that reach No. 1 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart also reach the top of the Hot 100 chart: "(Hey Won't You Play) Another Somebody Done Somebody Wrong Song" by B. J. Thomas; "Before the Next Teardrop Falls" by Freddy Fender; "Thank God I'm a Country Boy" and "I'm Sorry," both by John Denver; "Rhinestone Cowboy" by Glen Campbell; and "Convoy" by C. W. McCall. In addition, several other songs that reach the top on one of the charts does very well on the other, including "Have You Never Been Mellow" and "Please Mr. Please" by Olivia Newton-John; "I'm Not Lisa" by Jessi Colter; Fender's "Wasted Days and Wasted Nights"; and "When Will I Be Loved" by Linda Ronstadt.

Top hits of the year

Number-one hits

United States

(as certified by Billboard)

DateSingle NameArtistWks. No.1CAN peakSpec. Note
January 4The DoorGeorge Jones1
January 11Ruby BabyBilly "Crash" Craddock12
January 18Kentucky GamblerMerle Haggard1
January 25(I'd Be) A Legend in My TimeRonnie Milsap1
February 1City LightsMickey Gilley12
February 8Then Who Am ICharley Pride1
February 15Devil in the BottleT. G. Sheppard1**[A]**]]
February 22I CareTom T. Hall16
March 1It's Time to Pay the FiddlerCal Smith1**[B]**]]
March 8Linda on My MindConway Twitty1
March 15Before the Next Teardrop FallsFreddy Fender2**[A]**]]
March 29The Bargain StoreDolly Parton13
April 5I Just Can't Get Her Out of My MindJohnny Rodriguez13
April 12Always Wanting YouMerle Haggard23
April 26Blanket on the GroundBillie Jo Spears12**[C]**]]
May 3Roll On Big MamaJoe Stampley1
May 10She's Actin' Single (I'm Drinkin' Doubles)Gary Stewart14**[C]**]]
May 17(Hey Won't You Play) Another
Somebody Done Somebody Wrong SongB. J. Thomas12**[A]**]]
May 24I'm Not LisaJessi Colter1**[C]**]]
May 31Thank God I'm a Country BoyJohn Denver1
June 7Window Up AboveMickey Gilley1
June 14When Will I Be LovedLinda Ronstadt1**[A]**]]
June 21You're My Best FriendDon Williams1
June 28Tryin' to Beat the Morning HomeT. G. Sheppard12
July 5Lizzie and the RainmanTanya Tucker1
July 12Movin' OnMerle Haggard115
July 19Touch the HandConway Twitty28
August 2Just Get Up and Close the DoorJohnny Rodriguez12
August 9Wasted Days and Wasted NightsFreddy Fender22
August 23Rhinestone CowboyGlen Campbell3**[1]**]], [**[2]**](endnote-2)
September 6Feelins'Conway Twitty
and Loretta Lynn12
September 20Daydreams About Night ThingsRonnie Milsap22
October 4Blue Eyes Crying in the RainWillie Nelson22**[A]**]]
October 18Hope You're Feelin' Me (Like I'm Feelin' You)Charley Pride12
October 25San Antonio StrollTanya Tucker12
November 1(Turn Out the Light And) Love Me TonightDon Williams15
November 8I'm SorryJohn Denver14**[B]**]]
November 15Are You Sure Hank Done It This WayWaylon Jennings121
November 22RockyDickey Lee19**[C]**]]
November 29It's All in the MoviesMerle Haggard111
December 6Secret LoveFreddy Fender1
December 13Love Put a Song in My HeartJohnny Rodriguez13**[B]**]]
December 20ConvoyC. W. McCall64**[C]**]]

;Notes

  • 1**^** No. 1 song of the year, as determined by Billboard.
  • 2**^** Song dropped from No. 1 and later returned to top spot.
  • A**^** First Billboard No. 1 hit for that artist.
  • B**^** Last Billboard No. 1 hit for that artist.
  • C**^** Only Billboard No. 1 hit for that artist to date.

Canada

(as certified by RPM)

DateSingle NameArtistWks. No.1U.S. peakSpec. Note
January 11We're OverJohnny Rodriguez13**[B]**]]
January 18What a Man My Man IsLynn Anderson1**[B]**]]
January 25The DoorGeorge Jones1
February 1Big Red JimmyJerry Warren1**[C]**]]
February 8Kentucky GamblerMerle Haggard1
February 15(I'd Be) A Legend in My TimeRonnie Milsap1
February 22Then Who Am ICharley Pride1
March 1Devil in the BottleT. G. Sheppard1**[A]**]]
March 15It's Time to Pay the FiddlerCal Smith1**[C]**]]
March 22Linda on My MindConway Twitty1
March 29Before the Next Teardrop FallsFreddy Fender1**[A]**]]
April 5Everybody's Going to the CountryHank Smith1**[B]**]]
April 12Have You Never Been MellowOlivia Newton-John13
April 19The PillLoretta Lynn25
May 3I've Never Been This Far BeforeCarroll Baker1**[A]**]]
May 10Still Thinkin' 'bout YouBilly "Crash" Craddock14
May 17Roll On Big MamaJoe Stampley1**[C]**]]
May 24Thank God I'm a Country BoyJohn Denver2**[1]**]]
June 7Window Up AboveMickey Gilley1**[A]**]]
June 14I'm Not LisaJessi Colter1**[C]**]]
June 21I Ain't All BadCharley Pride16
June 28You're My Best FriendDon Williams1**[A]**]]
July 5Lizzie and the RainmanTanya Tucker1
July 12Reconsider MeNarvel Felts12**[C]**]]
July 19When Will I Be LovedLinda Ronstadt1**[A]**]]
July 26Yellow House of LovePatti MacDonnell1**[C]**]]
August 2The Hungry Fire of LoveCarroll Baker1
August 9Down by the Henry MooreMurray McLauchlan1**[C]**]]
August 16Every Time You Touch Me (I Get High)Charlie Rich13
August 23The SeekerDolly Parton12
August 30Rhinestone CowboyGlen Campbell1
September 6Please Mr. PleaseOlivia Newton-John15
September 13The First TimeFreddie Hart12
September 20I'll Go to My Grave Loving YouThe Statler Brothers13**[A]**]]
September 27If I Could Only Win Your LoveEmmylou Harris14**[A]**]]
October 4Say Forever You'll Be MineDolly Parton and
Porter Wagoner35**[B]**]] – Porter Wagoner
October 25Third Rate RomanceAmazing Rhythm Aces111**[C]**]]
December 20Secret LoveFreddy Fender2

;Notes

  • 1**^** No. 1 song of the year, as determined by RPM.
  • A**^** First RPM No. 1 hit for that artist.
  • B**^** Last RPM No. 1 hit for that artist.
  • C**^** Only RPM No. 1 hit for that artist.

Other major hits

Singles released by American artists

USCANSingleArtist
193041st Street Lonely Hearts ClubBuck Owens
1838AlimonyBobby Bare
433All Over MeCharlie Rich
1417Another WomanT. G. Sheppard
2314Back in Huntsville AgainBobby Bare
12Back to Down East CountryGeorge Hamilton IV
10Bad NewsGeorge Hamilton IV
74Bandy the Rodeo ClownMoe Bandy
713The Best Way I Know HowMel Tillis
5120The Biggest Parakeets in TownJud Strunk
1230Billy, Get Me a WomanJoe Stampley
1116Bouquet of RosesMickey Gilley
56Brass BucklesBarbi Benton
2215The Busiest Memory in TownDickey Lee
19Carolina MoonshinerPorter Wagoner
1345ClassifiedC. W. McCall
2920Cowboys and DaddysBobby Bare
88DealTom T. Hall
119Dear WomanJoe Stampley
1324Don't Anyone Make Love at Home AnymoreMoe Bandy
42Don't Cry JoniConway Twitty and Joni Lee
1514Don't Let the Good Times Fool YouMelba Montgomery
104Dreaming My Dreams with YouWaylon Jennings
1717Even If I Have to StealMel Street
1729Everything's the Same (Ain't Nothing Changed)Billy Swan
1746The Farthest Thing from My MindRay Price
2017Flat Natural Born Good-Timin' ManGary Stewart
122For a Minute ThereJohnny Paycheck
1647Forbidden AngelMel Street
1221Forgive and ForgetEddie Rabbitt
1017Freda Comes, Freda GoesBobby G. Rice
107From Barroom to BedroomsDavid Wills
168From Woman to WomanTommy Overstreet
1245Funny How Time Slips AwayNarvel Felts
841Great ExpectationsBuck Owens
1021He Took Me for a RideLaCosta
1328He Turns It into Love AgainLynn Anderson
810He's My RockBrenda Lee
168Heart to HeartRoy Clark
1329Hello I Love YouJohnny Russell
148Hello Little BluebirdDonna Fargo
1649Here I Am in DallasFaron Young
105HomeLoretta Lynn
1512Hoppy, Gene and MeRoy Rogers
1419HurtConnie Cato
1810I Believe the South Is Gonna Rise AgainTanya Tucker
1320I Can Still Hear the Music in the RestroomJerry Lee Lewis
26I Can't Help It (If I'm Still in Love with You)Linda Ronstadt
412I Like BeerTom T. Hall
106I Love the Blues and the Boogie WoogieBilly "Crash" Craddock
1142I Should Have Married YouEddie Rabbitt
13I Still Believe in Fairy TalesTammy Wynette
1416I Still Feel the Same About YouBill Anderson
9I Want to Hold You in My Dreams TonightStella Parton
2047I Wonder Whose Baby (You Are Now)Jerry Wallace
520I'd Like to Sleep Til I Get Over YouFreddie Hart
923I'll Still Love YouJim Weatherly
99I'm a BelieverTommy Overstreet
1331I've Got My Baby on My MindConnie Smith
144I've Never Loved Anyone MoreLynn Anderson
712It Do Feel GoodDonna Fargo
77It Was Always So Easy (To Find an Unhappy Woman)Moe Bandy
16It's a Sin When You Love SomebodyGlen Campbell
2313It's All Over NowCharlie Rich
96It’s MidnightElvis Presley
127Jason's FarmCal Smith
1411Lady Came from BaltimoreJohnny Cash
1821Let's Sing Our SongJerry Reed
1032The Letter That Johnny Walker ReadAsleep at the Wheel
45Like Old Times AgainRay Price
54Little Band of GoldSonny James
69A Little Bit South of SaskatoonSonny James
1717Look at Them BeansJohnny Cash
33Love in the Hot AfternoonGene Watson
546Love Is a RoseLinda Ronstadt
2047Love Is StrangeBuck Owens and Susan Raye
610Loving You Will Never Grow OldLois Johnson
820Lyin' EyesEagles
2032MathildaDonny King
2120Memories of UsGeorge Jones
2017Mississippi You're on My MindStoney Edwards
32MistyRay Stevens
197The Most Wanted Woman in TownRoy Head
1427My BoyElvis Presley
35My Elusive DreamsCharlie Rich
32My Woman's ManFreddie Hart
2114Oh BoyDiana Trask
1148One Monkey Don't Stop No ShowLittle David Wilkins
410Out of HandGary Stewart
87PennyJoe Stampley
1718Pictures on PaperJeris Ross
1417Poor Sweet BabyJean Shepard
218Rainy Day WomanWaylon Jennings
617Rock on BabyBrenda Lee
3219Roll You Like a WheelMickey Gilley and Barbi Benton
32Roses and Other Love SongsRay Price
15She Even Woke Me Up to Say GoodbyeRonnie Milsap
135She Talked a Lot About TexasCal Smith
10Since I Met You BabyFreddy Fender
1343Smokey Mountain MemoriesMel Street
1717Someone Cares for YouRed Steagall
19Something Better to DoOlivia Newton-John
1836Soulful WomanKenny O'Dell
1811SpringTanya Tucker
2017Stay Away from the Apple TreeBillie Jo Spears
1917Stoned at the JukeboxHank Williams, Jr.
175Storms Never LastDottsy
1518Susan When She TriedThe Statler Brothers
716Sweet SurrenderJohn Denver
2419ThanksBill Anderson
64That's When My Woman BeginsTommy Overstreet
814There I Said ItMargo Smith
105There's a Song on the JukeboxDavid Wills
109These Days (I Barely Get By)George Jones
1915This House Runs on SunshineLaCosta
42The Ties That BindDon Williams
1625The Tip of My FingersJean Shepard
9Today I Started Loving You AgainSammi Smith
63Too Late to Worry, Too Blue to CryRonnie Milsap
1126T-R-O-U-B-L-EElvis Presley
9U.S. of A.Donna Fargo
63Warm Side of YouFreddie Hart
94We Used ToDolly Parton
1110Western ManLaCosta
103What in the World's Come Over YouSonny James
511What's Happened to Blue EyesJessi Colter
98Whatcha Gonna Do with a Dog Like ThatSusan Raye
54Where Love BeginsGene Watson
148Whoever Turned You On, Forgot to Turn You OffLittle David Wilkins
1520Why Don't You Love MeConnie Smith
1246Wolf Creek PassC. W. McCall
45Woman in the Back of My MindMel Tillis
1013Word GamesBilly Walker
913Write Me a LetterBobby G. Rice
617Wrong Road AgainCrystal Gayle
1446You Are the OneMel Tillis and Sherry Bryce
49(You Make Me Want to Be a) MotherTammy Wynette
84You Never Even Called Me by My NameDavid Allan Coe
1522You're Not the Woman You Used to BeGary Stewart

Singles released by Canadian artists

USCANSingleArtist
13Anna MarieSusan Jacks
14Any Dream Will DoCarlton Showband
6Born to Be a GypsyTommy Hunter
17The BricklinCharles Russell
15Bright Side of TomorrowBlack Creek
20City of TearsMarg Osburne
9Country PrideRick Newfield
9Did You Hear My SongMercey Brothers
19Easy Listenin'Tim Daniels
3Fly Raven FlyBruce Miller
10Follow Your HeartJim and Don Haggart
4Give My Love to Lady CanadaBobby G. Griffith
7God's People Are OneDianne Leigh
9Goodbye Old ManChristenson Brothers
18I Am the WordsFamily Brown
14I Knew Her ThenRay Francis
20Knock on My DoorDarlene Madill
12Life and Love and YouR. Harlan Smith
19Lonely WillowLee Roy
10Maybe TonightMurray McLauchlan
5Mother, Love and CountryDick Damron
13One More for the RoadCountry Edition
4Ooo MamaJerry Palmer
12Pasadena's on My MindLynn Jones
16Roll It on HomewardLinda Brown
2620SanctuaryRonnie Prophet
15She's My Greatest BlessingIan Tyson
9Someone SpecialCanadian Zephyr
15Summer of Our LoveBruce Miller
20Sunshine LadyBob Ruzicka
4Sure Feels GoodTim Daniels
16That's Why I'm in Love with LifeRoy Payne
16A Touch of GodFamily Brown
16What Time of DayBilly Thunderkloud & the Chieftones
13What'll I DoGary Buck

Top new album releases

SingleArtistRecord Label
*The Bargain Store*Dolly PartonRCA
*Blanket on the Ground*Billie Jo SpearsUnited Artists
*Charley*Charley PrideRCA
*Dreaming My Dreams*Waylon JenningsRCA
*The Happiness of Having You*Charley PrideRCA
*Have You Never Been Mellow*Olivia Newton-JohnMCA
*I'm Jessi Colter*Jessi ColterCapitol
*Pieces of the Sky*Emmylou HarrisReprise
*Prisoner in Disguise*Linda RonstadtAsylum
*Red Headed Stranger*Willie NelsonColumbia
*Rhinestone Cowboy*Glen CampbellCapitol
*Dolly: The Seeker/We Used To*Dolly PartonRCA
*Somebody Loves You*Crystal GayleUnited Artists
*Tanya Tucker*Tanya TuckerMCA

Other new album releases

SingleArtistRecord Label
*Before the Next Teardrop Falls*Freddy FenderABC/Dot
*Carolina Cousins*Dottie WestRCA
*Country Girl*Jody MillerEpic
*Don't Let the Good Times Fool You*Melba MontgomeryElektra
*Dreaming My Dreams*Waylon JenningsRCA
*Every Time I Turn the Radio On/Talk to Me Ohio*Bill AndersonMCA
*Hank Williams Jr. and Friends*Hank Williams Jr.MGM
*High Priest of Country Music*Conway TwittyMCA
*Honey on His Hands*Jeanne PruettMCA
*Legend in My Time*Ronnie MilsapRCA
*Margo Smith*Margo Smith20th Century Fox
*Night Things*Ronnie MilsapRCA
*Old No. 1*Guy ClarkRCA
*Pieces of the Sky*Emmylou HarrisReprise
*Poor Sweet Baby...And Ten More Bill Anderson Songs*Jean ShepardUnited Artists
*Sincerely, Brenda Lee*Brenda LeeMCA
*Vocal Group of the Decade*Tompall Glaser and the Glaser BrothersMGM
*Out of Hand*Gary StewartRCA

Births

  • June 15 — Rachel Proctor, singer-songwriter best known for her 2004 hit "Me and Emily"
  • August 11 — Chris Cummings, Canadian country singer of 1990s and 2000s
  • September 13 — Joe Don Rooney, member of Rascal Flatts
  • November 20 — Dierks Bentley, new traditionalist-styled singer of the 2000s
  • November 30 — Mindy McCready, popular country singer from the late 1990s (died 2013)
  • December 18 — Randy Houser, late-2000s singer

Deaths

  • February 4 — Louis Jordan, 66, jazz and rhythm & blues pioneer who became the first African-American performer to have a No. 1 hit on the Billboard country charts (1944's "Ration Blues") (heart attack).
  • February 17 — A.C. "Eck" Robertson, 88, pioneering American fiddle player, widely considered the first fiddler and country musician to record commercially.
  • May 13 — Bob Wills, 70, leader of the Texas Playboys (complications from a stroke).
  • July 7 — George Morgan, 51, country crooner of the late 1940s and early 1950s, Grand Ole Opry favorite and father of Lorrie Morgan (heart attack).
  • July 19 — Lefty Frizzell, 47, honky-tonk pioneer of the 1950s (stroke).
  • November 3 — Audrey Williams, 52, mother of Hank Williams Jr. (and ex-wife of Hank Williams Sr.)

Country Music Hall of Fame Inductees

  • Minnie Pearl (1912–1996)

Major awards

Grammy Awards

  • Best Female Country Vocal Performance — "I Can't Help It (If I'm Still in Love with You)", Linda Ronstadt
  • Best Male Country Vocal Performance — "Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain", Willie Nelson
  • Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal — "Lover Please", Kris Kristofferson and Rita Coolidge
  • Best Country Instrumental Performance — "The Entertainer", Chet Atkins
  • Best Country Song — "(Hey Won't You Play) Another Somebody Done Somebody Wrong Song", Chips Moman and Larry Butler (Performer: B. J. Thomas)

Juno Awards

  • Country Male Vocalist of the Year — Stompin' Tom Connors
  • Country Female Vocalist of the Year — Anne Murray
  • Country Group or Duo of the Year — Carlton Showband

Academy of Country Music

  • Entertainer of the Year — Loretta Lynn
  • Song of the Year — "Rhinestone Cowboy," Larry Weiss (Performer: Glen Campbell)
  • Single of the Year — "Rhinestone Cowboy," Glen Campbell
  • Album of the YearFeelins', Loretta Lynn and Conway Twitty
  • Top Male Vocalist — Conway Twitty
  • Top Female Vocalist — Loretta Lynn
  • Top Vocal Duo — Conway Twitty and Loretta Lynn
  • Top New Male Vocalist — Freddy Fender
  • Top New Female Vocalist — Crystal Gayle

Country Music Association

  • Entertainer of the Year — John Denver
  • Song of the Year — "Back Home Again", John Denver (Performer: John Denver)
  • Single of the Year — "Before the Next Teardrop Falls", Freddy Fender
  • Album of the YearA Legend in My Time, Ronnie Milsap
  • Male Vocalist of the Year — Waylon Jennings
  • Female Vocalist of the Year — Dolly Parton
  • Vocal Duo of the Year — Conway Twitty and Loretta Lynn
  • Vocal Group of the Year — The Statler Brothers
  • Instrumentalist of the Year — Johnny Gimble
  • Instrumental Group of the Year — Roy Clark and Buck Trent

References

References

  1. Oermann, Robert K. "The Conway Twitty Collection," liner notes (booklet included with ''The Conway Twitty Collection'' 4-disc set). MCA Special Products, 1994).
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