One of many nice qualities behind the Statler Brothers’ wonderful run of two-and-a-half-decades of smash hit nation data was their humility. The simple-listening nation group from Staunton, Virginia all the time retained a down-to-earth approachability of their demeanor and their recording model.
That advantage was to the fore on March 31, 1979. Because the quartet toured the US in a robust double invoice with Barbara Mandrell, their subsequent success rolled off the file presses and into the charts, “How To Be A Country Star.”
The group had carried out the tune on the CMA Awards the earlier October the place for as soon as, they hadn’t received Vocal Group of the 12 months. They’d declare the title no fewer than 9 instances of their illustrious profession. However demand for the tune was so excessive after the CMAs telecast that they added it to what can be their subsequent gold-certified album The Originals.
Nation hits by the dozen
Brothers Harold and Don Reid, Lew DeWitt, and Phil Baisley had been a much-loved nation music establishment for years, by the point that newest Mercury Information 45 took its bow on the Sizzling Nation Singles chart that date in late March 1979. Beginning with their first hit “Flowers On The Wall” approach again in 1965, they’d already had 32 chart entries. 13 of them had been Prime 10 hits.
Produced by Jerry Kennedy, “How To Be A Country Star” was a distinctly tongue-in-cheek composition by the Reid brothers. It light-heartedly suggested the listener that in the event that they sounded like every one of many real-life artists name-checked within the tune, stardom absolutely beckoned.
Namechecking Merle, Jerry Lee, Willie, et al
The novelty was in that stock of celebrities as a result of it was fairly a listing. No fewer than 27 artists had been acknowledged over 4 verses, generally by their full identify however usually simply by their first. That inspired the listener to acknowledge an entire staff that included Waylon Jennings, Merle Haggard, Jerry Lee Lewis, Webb Pierce, Willie Nelson, Eddy Arnold, and Dolly Parton. Fairly the dream staff.
The punchline got here within the remaining verse, through which the group modestly added that when you didn’t have the skills of any of these names, “come backstage and ask for Harold, Phil, Don or Lew…and we’ll see you get an audition for the Statler Brothers Revue.” Twenty-seven fellow stars plus the Statlers ensured yet one more Prime 10 hit, as “How To Be A Country Star” reached No.7.
Purchase or stream “How To Be A Country Star” on The Definitive Assortment, MCA Years.
