1975 in country music

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

1975 in music
By location
By genre
By topic
List of years in country music (table)
+...

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.[1]
  • 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
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

United States

(as certified by Billboard)

Date Single Name Artist Wks. No.1 CAN peak Spec. Note
January 4 The Door George Jones 1
January 11 Ruby Baby Billy "Crash" Craddock 1 2
January 18 Kentucky Gambler Merle Haggard 1
January 25 (I'd Be) A Legend in My Time Ronnie Milsap 1
February 1 City Lights Mickey Gilley 1 2
February 8 Then Who Am I Charley Pride 1
February 15 Devil in the Bottle T. G. Sheppard 1 [A]
February 22 I Care Tom T. Hall 1 6
March 1 It's Time to Pay the Fiddler Cal Smith 1 [B]
March 8 Linda on My Mind Conway Twitty 1
March 15 Before the Next Teardrop Falls Freddy Fender 2 [A]
March 29 The Bargain Store Dolly Parton 1 3
April 5 I Just Can't Get Her Out of My Mind Johnny Rodriguez 1 3
April 12 Always Wanting You Merle Haggard 2 3
April 26 Blanket on the Ground Billie Jo Spears 1 2 [C]
May 3 Roll On Big Mama Joe Stampley 1
May 10 She's Actin' Single (I'm Drinkin' Doubles) Gary Stewart 1 4 [C]
May 17 (Hey Won't You Play) Another
Somebody Done Somebody Wrong Song		 B. J. Thomas 1 2 [A]
May 24 I'm Not Lisa Jessi Colter 1 [C]
May 31 Thank God I'm a Country Boy John Denver 1
June 7 Window Up Above Mickey Gilley 1
June 14 When Will I Be Loved Linda Ronstadt 1 [A]
June 21 You're My Best Friend Don Williams 1
June 28 Tryin' to Beat the Morning Home T. G. Sheppard 1 2
July 5 Lizzie and the Rainman Tanya Tucker 1
July 12 Movin' On Merle Haggard 1 15
July 19 Touch the Hand Conway Twitty 2 8
August 2 Just Get Up and Close the Door Johnny Rodriguez 1 2
August 9 Wasted Days and Wasted Nights Freddy Fender 2 2
August 23 Rhinestone Cowboy Glen Campbell 3 [1], [2]
  • Returned to Number One on September 13.
September 6 Feelins' Conway Twitty
and Loretta Lynn		 1 2
September 20 Daydreams About Night Things Ronnie Milsap 2 2
October 4 Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain Willie Nelson 2 2 [A]
October 18 Hope You're Feelin' Me (Like I'm Feelin' You) Charley Pride 1 2
October 25 San Antonio Stroll Tanya Tucker 1 2
November 1 (Turn Out the Light And) Love Me Tonight Don Williams 1 5
November 8 I'm Sorry John Denver 1 4 [B]
November 15 Are You Sure Hank Done It This Way Waylon Jennings 1 21
November 22 Rocky Dickey Lee 1 9 [C]
November 29 It's All in the Movies Merle Haggard 1 11
December 6 Secret Love Freddy Fender 1
December 13 Love Put a Song in My Heart Johnny Rodriguez 1 3 [B]
December 20 Convoy C. W. McCall 6 4 [C]
  • No. 1 song of 1976, as determined by Billboard.
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)

Date Single Name Artist Wks. No.1 U.S. peak Spec. Note
January 11 We're Over Johnny Rodriguez 1 3 [B]
January 18 What a Man My Man Is Lynn Anderson 1 [B]
January 25 The Door George Jones 1
February 1 Big Red Jimmy Jerry Warren 1 — [C]
February 8 Kentucky Gambler Merle Haggard 1
February 15 (I'd Be) A Legend in My Time Ronnie Milsap 1
February 22 Then Who Am I Charley Pride 1
March 1 Devil in the Bottle T. G. Sheppard 1 [A]
  • RPM didn't publish on March 8.
March 15 It's Time to Pay the Fiddler Cal Smith 1 [C]
March 22 Linda on My Mind Conway Twitty 1
March 29 Before the Next Teardrop Falls Freddy Fender 1 [A]
April 5 Everybody's Going to the Country Hank Smith 1 — [B]
April 12 Have You Never Been Mellow Olivia Newton-John 1 3
April 19 The Pill Loretta Lynn 2 5
May 3 I've Never Been This Far Before Carroll Baker 1 — [A]
May 10 Still Thinkin' 'bout You Billy "Crash" Craddock 1 4
May 17 Roll On Big Mama Joe Stampley 1 [C]
May 24 Thank God I'm a Country Boy John Denver 2 [1]
June 7 Window Up Above Mickey Gilley 1 [A]
June 14 I'm Not Lisa Jessi Colter 1 [C]
June 21 I Ain't All Bad Charley Pride 1 6
June 28 You're My Best Friend Don Williams 1 [A]
July 5 Lizzie and the Rainman Tanya Tucker 1
July 12 Reconsider Me Narvel Felts 1 2 [C]
July 19 When Will I Be Loved Linda Ronstadt 1 [A]
July 26 Yellow House of Love Patti MacDonnell 1 — [C]
August 2 The Hungry Fire of Love Carroll Baker 1 —
August 9 Down by the Henry Moore Murray McLauchlan 1 — [C]
August 16 Every Time You Touch Me (I Get High) Charlie Rich 1 3
August 23 The Seeker Dolly Parton 1 2
August 30 Rhinestone Cowboy Glen Campbell 1
September 6 Please Mr. Please Olivia Newton-John 1 5
September 13 The First Time Freddie Hart 1 2
September 20 I'll Go to My Grave Loving You The Statler Brothers 1 3 [A]
September 27 If I Could Only Win Your Love Emmylou Harris 1 4 [A]
October 4 Say Forever You'll Be Mine Dolly Parton and
Porter Wagoner		 3 5 [B] – Porter Wagoner
October 25 Third Rate Romance Amazing Rhythm Aces 1 11 [C]
  • RPM didn't publish between November 1 and December 13.
December 20 Secret Love Freddy Fender 2
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.

Singles released by American artists
US CAN Single Artist
19 30 41st Street Lonely Hearts Club Buck Owens
18 38 Alimony Bobby Bare
4 33 All Over Me Charlie Rich
14 17 Another Woman T. G. Sheppard
23 14 Back in Huntsville Again Bobby Bare
— 12 Back to Down East Country George Hamilton IV
— 10 Bad News George Hamilton IV
7 4 Bandy the Rodeo Clown Moe Bandy
7 13 The Best Way I Know How Mel Tillis
51 20 The Biggest Parakeets in Town Jud Strunk
12 30 Billy, Get Me a Woman Joe Stampley
11 16 Bouquet of Roses Mickey Gilley
5 6 Brass Buckles Barbi Benton
22 15 The Busiest Memory in Town Dickey Lee
19 — Carolina Moonshiner Porter Wagoner
13 45 Classified C. W. McCall
29 20 Cowboys and Daddys Bobby Bare
8 8 Deal Tom T. Hall
11 9 Dear Woman Joe Stampley
13 24 Don't Anyone Make Love at Home Anymore Moe Bandy
4 2 Don't Cry Joni Conway Twitty and Joni Lee
15 14 Don't Let the Good Times Fool You Melba Montgomery
10 4 Dreaming My Dreams with You Waylon Jennings
17 17 Even If I Have to Steal Mel Street
17 29 Everything's the Same (Ain't Nothing Changed) Billy Swan
17 46 The Farthest Thing from My Mind Ray Price
20 17 Flat Natural Born Good-Timin' Man Gary Stewart
12 2 For a Minute There Johnny Paycheck
16 47 Forbidden Angel Mel Street
12 21 Forgive and Forget Eddie Rabbitt
10 17 Freda Comes, Freda Goes Bobby G. Rice
10 7 From Barroom to Bedrooms David Wills
16 8 From Woman to Woman Tommy Overstreet
12 45 Funny How Time Slips Away Narvel Felts
8 41 Great Expectations Buck Owens
10 21 He Took Me for a Ride LaCosta
13 28 He Turns It into Love Again Lynn Anderson
8 10 He's My Rock Brenda Lee
16 8 Heart to Heart Roy Clark
13 29 Hello I Love You Johnny Russell
14 8 Hello Little Bluebird Donna Fargo
16 49 Here I Am in Dallas Faron Young
10 5 Home Loretta Lynn
15 12 Hoppy, Gene and Me Roy Rogers
14 19 Hurt Connie Cato
18 10 I Believe the South Is Gonna Rise Again Tanya Tucker
13 20 I Can Still Hear the Music in the Restroom Jerry Lee Lewis
2 6 I Can't Help It (If I'm Still in Love with You) Linda Ronstadt
4 12 I Like Beer Tom T. Hall
10 6 I Love the Blues and the Boogie Woogie Billy "Crash" Craddock
11 42 I Should Have Married You Eddie Rabbitt
13 — I Still Believe in Fairy Tales Tammy Wynette
14 16 I Still Feel the Same About You Bill Anderson
9 — I Want to Hold You in My Dreams Tonight Stella Parton
20 47 I Wonder Whose Baby (You Are Now) Jerry Wallace
5 20 I'd Like to Sleep Til I Get Over You Freddie Hart
9 23 I'll Still Love You Jim Weatherly
9 9 I'm a Believer Tommy Overstreet
13 31 I've Got My Baby on My Mind Connie Smith
14 4 I've Never Loved Anyone More Lynn Anderson
7 12 It Do Feel Good Donna Fargo
7 7 It Was Always So Easy (To Find an Unhappy Woman) Moe Bandy
16 — It's a Sin When You Love Somebody Glen Campbell
23 13 It's All Over Now Charlie Rich
9 6 It’s Midnight Elvis Presley
12 7 Jason's Farm Cal Smith
14 11 Lady Came from Baltimore Johnny Cash
18 21 Let's Sing Our Song Jerry Reed
10 32 The Letter That Johnny Walker Read Asleep at the Wheel
4 5 Like Old Times Again Ray Price
5 4 Little Band of Gold Sonny James
6 9 A Little Bit South of Saskatoon Sonny James
17 17 Look at Them Beans Johnny Cash
3 3 Love in the Hot Afternoon Gene Watson
5 46 Love Is a Rose Linda Ronstadt
20 47 Love Is Strange Buck Owens and Susan Raye
6 10 Loving You Will Never Grow Old Lois Johnson
8 20 Lyin' Eyes Eagles
20 32 Mathilda Donny King
21 20 Memories of Us George Jones
20 17 Mississippi You're on My Mind Stoney Edwards
3 2 Misty Ray Stevens
19 7 The Most Wanted Woman in Town Roy Head
14 27 My Boy Elvis Presley
3 5 My Elusive Dreams Charlie Rich
3 2 My Woman's Man Freddie Hart
21 14 Oh Boy Diana Trask
11 48 One Monkey Don't Stop No Show Little David Wilkins
4 10 Out of Hand Gary Stewart
8 7 Penny Joe Stampley
17 18 Pictures on Paper Jeris Ross
14 17 Poor Sweet Baby Jean Shepard
2 18 Rainy Day Woman Waylon Jennings
6 17 Rock on Baby Brenda Lee
32 19 Roll You Like a Wheel Mickey Gilley and Barbi Benton
3 2 Roses and Other Love Songs Ray Price
15 — She Even Woke Me Up to Say Goodbye Ronnie Milsap
13 5 She Talked a Lot About Texas Cal Smith
10 — Since I Met You Baby Freddy Fender
13 43 Smokey Mountain Memories Mel Street
17 17 Someone Cares for You Red Steagall
19 — Something Better to Do Olivia Newton-John
18 36 Soulful Woman Kenny O'Dell
18 11 Spring Tanya Tucker
20 17 Stay Away from the Apple Tree Billie Jo Spears
19 17 Stoned at the Jukebox Hank Williams, Jr.
17 5 Storms Never Last Dottsy
15 18 Susan When She Tried The Statler Brothers
7 16 Sweet Surrender John Denver
24 19 Thanks Bill Anderson
6 4 That's When My Woman Begins Tommy Overstreet
8 14 There I Said It Margo Smith
10 5 There's a Song on the Jukebox David Wills
10 9 These Days (I Barely Get By) George Jones
19 15 This House Runs on Sunshine LaCosta
4 2 The Ties That Bind Don Williams
16 25 The Tip of My Fingers Jean Shepard
9 — Today I Started Loving You Again Sammi Smith
6 3 Too Late to Worry, Too Blue to Cry Ronnie Milsap
11 26 T-R-O-U-B-L-E Elvis Presley
9 — U.S. of A. Donna Fargo
3 3 Warm Side of You Freddie Hart
9 4 We Used To Dolly Parton
11 10 Western Man LaCosta
10 3 What in the World's Come Over You Sonny James
5 11 What's Happened to Blue Eyes Jessi Colter
9 8 Whatcha Gonna Do with a Dog Like That Susan Raye
5 4 Where Love Begins Gene Watson
14 8 Whoever Turned You On, Forgot to Turn You Off Little David Wilkins
15 20 Why Don't You Love Me Connie Smith
12 46 Wolf Creek Pass C. W. McCall
4 5 Woman in the Back of My Mind Mel Tillis
10 13 Word Games Billy Walker
9 13 Write Me a Letter Bobby G. Rice
6 17 Wrong Road Again Crystal Gayle
14 46 You Are the One Mel Tillis and Sherry Bryce
4 9 (You Make Me Want to Be a) Mother Tammy Wynette
8 4 You Never Even Called Me by My Name David Allan Coe
15 22 You're Not the Woman You Used to Be Gary Stewart

Singles released by Canadian artists
US CAN Single Artist
— 13 Anna Marie Susan Jacks
— 14 Any Dream Will Do Carlton Showband
— 6 Born to Be a Gypsy Tommy Hunter
— 17 The Bricklin Charles Russell
— 15 Bright Side of Tomorrow Black Creek
— 20 City of Tears Marg Osburne
— 9 Country Pride Rick Newfield
— 9 Did You Hear My Song Mercey Brothers
— 19 Easy Listenin' Tim Daniels
— 3 Fly Raven Fly Bruce Miller
— 10 Follow Your Heart Jim and Don Haggart
— 4 Give My Love to Lady Canada Bobby G. Griffith
— 7 God's People Are One Dianne Leigh
— 9 Goodbye Old Man Christenson Brothers
— 18 I Am the Words Family Brown
— 14 I Knew Her Then Ray Francis
— 20 Knock on My Door Darlene Madill
— 12 Life and Love and You R. Harlan Smith
— 19 Lonely Willow Lee Roy
— 10 Maybe Tonight Murray McLauchlan
— 5 Mother, Love and Country Dick Damron
— 13 One More for the Road Country Edition
— 4 Ooo Mama Jerry Palmer
— 12 Pasadena's on My Mind Lynn Jones
— 16 Roll It on Homeward Linda Brown
26 20 Sanctuary Ronnie Prophet
— 15 She's My Greatest Blessing Ian Tyson
— 9 Someone Special Canadian Zephyr
— 15 Summer of Our Love Bruce Miller
— 20 Sunshine Lady Bob Ruzicka
— 4 Sure Feels Good Tim Daniels
— 16 That's Why I'm in Love with Life Roy Payne
— 16 A Touch of God Family Brown
16 — What Time of Day Billy Thunderkloud & the Chieftones
— 13 What'll I Do Gary Buck

Top new album releases
Single Artist Record Label
The Bargain Store Dolly Parton RCA
Blanket on the Ground Billie Jo Spears United Artists
Charley Charley Pride RCA
Dreaming My Dreams Waylon Jennings RCA
The Happiness of Having You Charley Pride RCA
Have You Never Been Mellow Olivia Newton-John MCA
I'm Jessi Colter Jessi Colter Capitol
Pieces of the Sky Emmylou Harris Reprise
Prisoner in Disguise Linda Ronstadt Asylum
Red Headed Stranger Willie Nelson Columbia
Rhinestone Cowboy Glen Campbell Capitol
Dolly: The Seeker/We Used To Dolly Parton RCA
Somebody Loves You Crystal Gayle United Artists
Tanya Tucker Tanya Tucker MCA

Other new album releases
Single Artist Record Label
Before the Next Teardrop Falls Freddy Fender ABC/Dot
Carolina Cousins Dottie West RCA
Country Girl Jody Miller Epic
Don't Let the Good Times Fool You Melba Montgomery Elektra
Dreaming My Dreams Waylon Jennings RCA
Every Time I Turn the Radio On/Talk to Me Ohio Bill Anderson MCA
Hank Williams Jr. and Friends Hank Williams Jr. MGM
High Priest of Country Music Conway Twitty MCA
Honey on His Hands Jeanne Pruett MCA
Legend in My Time Ronnie Milsap RCA
Margo Smith Margo Smith 20th Century Fox
Night Things Ronnie Milsap RCA
Old No. 1 Guy Clark RCA
Pieces of the Sky Emmylou Harris Reprise
Vocal Group of the Decade Tompall Glaser and the Glaser Brothers MGM
Out of Hand Gary Stewart RCA

Births

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

Major awards

Grammy Awards

Juno Awards

Academy of Country Music

Country Music Association

Further reading
  • Kingsbury, Paul, "The Grand Ole Opry: History of Country Music. 70 Years of the Songs, the Stars and the Stories," Villard Books, Random House; Opryland USA, 1995
  • Kingsbury, Paul, "Vinyl Hayride: Country Music Album Covers 1947–1989," Country Music Foundation, 2003 (ISBN 0-8118-3572-3)
  • Millard, Bob, "Country Music: 70 Years of America's Favorite Music," HarperCollins, New York, 1993 (ISBN 0-06-273244-7)
  • Whitburn, Joel, "Top Country Songs 1944–2005 – 6th Edition." 2005.

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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