{"id":15189,"date":"2026-07-26T15:32:20","date_gmt":"2026-07-26T21:32:20","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.birminghamrecord.com\/brc\/?p=15189"},"modified":"2026-07-26T15:32:20","modified_gmt":"2026-07-26T21:32:20","slug":"newsletter-for-august-2026","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.birminghamrecord.com\/brc\/newsletter-for-august-2026\/","title":{"rendered":"Newsletter For August 2026"},"content":{"rendered":"

BIRMINGHAM RECORD COLLECTORS<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

DEDICATED TO THE COLLECTING OF MUSIC, ITS PRESERVATION AND LASTING FRIENDSHIP<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

THIS MONTH’S MEETING WILL BE THE\u00a0<\/span>FIRST<\/span>\u00a0SUNDAY, AUGUST 2ND\u00a02:00 PM<\/u><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

HOMEWOOD PUBLIC LIBRARY 1721 OXMOOR RD BIRMINGHAM, AL 35209<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

NEXT MONTH’S MEETING WILL BE HELD THE SECOND SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 13TH AT\u00a02:00 PM<\/u><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

HOMEWOOD PUBLIC LIBRARY 1721 OXMOOR RD BIRMINGHAM, AL 35209<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

THIS MONTH’S MEETING<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

We labeled and stamped over 2200 postcards at last month\u2019s meeting advertising our upcoming record show and they are now mailed.\u00a0\u00a0Thanks to all those who were able to drop by and help out.\u00a0\u00a0Sending out these postcards is very essential to getting the word out about the show.<\/strong><\/p>\n

This month we will be tidying up any loose ends as we prepare for the record show and take a look at the career of our 2026 inductee into the BRC Music Hall Of Fame \u2013 Candi Staton. We also hope to have time for some music to enjoy.\u00a0\u00a0Joe Reddick will be playing some recordings by female artists both solo and group.\u00a0\u00a0Drop by for snacks, refreshments, fellowship and music.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

2026 RECORD SHOW<\/strong><\/p>\n

Don\u2019t forget to attend this years\u2019 show August 14-16 at the Gardendale Civic Center.\u00a0\u00a0Friday from 10-2 will be for BRC members only.\u00a0\u00a0From 2-7 we are open for the public.\u00a0\u00a0Saturday hours are 9-5 and Sunday 10-4.\u00a0\u00a0Bring a friend.\u00a0\u00a0Once again we will have over 100 tables of vinyl for customers to browse through, all formats and all genres.\u00a0\u00a0See ya there!!<\/strong><\/p>\n

R&B GOES COUNTRY<\/strong><\/p>\n

Two months ago I did a piece on country hits from the late 50\u2019s and into the 60\u2019s that I heard growing up that crossed over to the pop charts.\u00a0\u00a0Then last month Ed Salamon, a DJ who was playing country cross-over hits and vice versa in the 1970\u2019s did a piece for us on his first-hand experience.\u00a0\u00a0Well, we have one more journey down the C\/W path before we move on from the country genre.\u00a0\u00a0Let\u2019s take a look at R&B artists who covered country songs.<\/strong><\/p>\n

I will start with something I have said before.\u00a0\u00a0I am not a musicologist, music historian or anything like that.\u00a0\u00a0What I write here is from some research and some memory.\u00a0\u00a0I learn as much as you do when I do these type articles.\u00a0\u00a0If I leave someone out, please excuse me.\u00a0\u00a0Send me anything you think I should have included.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

In 1962 Ray Charles released the LP,\u00a0Modern Sounds In Country And Western Music<\/em>.\u00a0\u00a0That same year Vol Two was released.\u00a0\u00a0When 45\u2019s were pressed using some of these songs I am not sure how many listeners knew these were original C\/W songs if they did not know the name of his LP.\u00a0\u00a0I was not a teenager in 1962 and all I did was listen to the radio.\u00a0\u00a0LP\u2019s didn\u2019t mean that much to me so I was in the category of people who did not know these were C\/W songs.\u00a0\u00a0They were just good songs and boy I loved \u2018em.\u00a0\u00a0From the first LP he had 4 pop charted songs (\u2018Careless Love\u2019, \u2018You Don\u2019t Know Me\u2019, \u2018Born To Lose\u2019 and the #1 hit, \u2018I Can\u2019t Stop Loving You\u2019) and 2 R&B charted songs (\u2018You Don\u2019t Know Me\u2019 and \u2018I Can\u2019t Stop Loving You\u2019, also #1).\u00a0\u00a0Volume Two produced another 5 pop charted songs (\u2018You Are My Sunshine\u2019, \u2018Your Cheating Heart\u2019, \u2018Take These Chains From My Heart\u2019, \u2018Making Believe\u2019 and \u2018No Letter Today\u2019) and 3 R&B songs (\u2018You Are My Sunshine\u2019, \u2018Your Cheating Heart\u2019 and \u2018Take These Chains From My Heart\u2019).\u00a0\u00a0Ray had hits with two other country songs.\u00a0\u00a0In 1963 he hit #4 on the pop charts with \u2018Busted\u2019 and before all these C\/W songs, in 1959 he hit #40 on the pop charts and #11 on the R&B charts with his cover of the Hank Snow song, \u2018I\u2019m Moving On\u2019.\u00a0\u00a0So, Ray is probably the best-known R&B singer who did C\/W but here are some others that covered C\/W songs.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Brook Benton released two country LP\u2019s.\u00a0\u00a0The first in 1964 entitled\u00a0On The Countryside<\/em>\u00a0and in 1966 he released\u00a0My Country<\/em>.\u00a0\u00a0The first LP produced the #35 pop & R&B hit,\u00a0\u2018Going, Going, Gone\u2019<\/a>.\u00a0 Click title to hear.\u00a0\u00a0The 2nd<\/sup>\u00a0LP produced no charted songs but had some great covers of songs like \u2018Hello Walls\u2019, \u2018Gone\u2019 and \u2018He\u2019ll Have To Go\u2019.\u00a0\u00a0With one of the great voices of my time, he didn\u2019t miss a beat covering these.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Arthur Alexander had at least two country covers but neither charted.\u00a0\u00a0Both were on the LP\u00a0You Better Move On<\/em>.\u00a0\u00a0He recorded Willie Nelson\u2019s composition \u2018Funny How Time Slips Away\u2019 and Bobby Edwards composition and a pop & C\/W charted song,\u00a0\u2018You\u2019re The Reason\u2019<\/a>.\u00a0 Click the song title to hear the beginning of Bobby Edwards original version then Arthur Alxander’s version.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Etta James put her stamp on some C\/W songs also.\u00a0\u00a0From the 1970 LP\u00a0Etta James Sings Funk<\/em>\u00a0she covered the Louvin Brothers \u2018When I Stop Dreaming\u2019.\u00a0\u00a0She would also record and do a fine job of the David Houston C\/W hit,\u00a0\u2018Almost Persuaded<\/a>\u2019.\u00a0 Click song title to hear the beginning of David Houston’s origianl version then Etta James version.\u00a0 It would chart #79 on the pop chart and #32 on the R&B chart.\u00a0\u00a0Her last LP, released in 2011 just months before her death was entitled\u00a0The Dreamer<\/em>\u00a0.\u00a0\u00a0It included the Bob Mongomery composition and a C\/W hit for Eddy Arnold and Ferlin Husky, \u2018Misty Blue\u2019.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

In 1973 Ivory Joe Hunter released the LP\u00a0I\u2019ve Always Been Country<\/em>.\u00a0\u00a0No songs from that LP charted after its release but one of the songs, \u2018City Lights\u2019, a Bill Anderson composition had been released in 1959 and went to #92 on the pop chart.\u00a0\u00a0Among the songs on the 1973 LP was \u2018She Thinks I Still Care\u2019, \u2018San Antonio Rose\u2019 and the Merle haggard song, \u2018Today I Started Loving You Again\u2019.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Esther Phillips released an LP in 1962 (the same year Ray Charles released his C\/W LP\u2019s) entitled\u00a0Release Me! reflections of country and western greats<\/em>.\u00a0\u00a0The title song, \u2018Release Me\u2019 went to #1 on the R&B chart and it would be the first song she would have on the pop chart going to #8.\u00a0\u00a0In fact her first three pop chart songs would come from this LP.\u00a0\u00a0Others were \u2018I Really Don\u2019t Want To Know\u2019 went to #61 and \u2018Am I That Easy To Forget\u2019 made a showing at #112.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Even Tina Turner went country when she released her LP,\u00a0Tina Turns The Country On<\/em>!.\u00a0\u00a0None of the songs made either chart.\u00a0\u00a0Some of the notable songs included were \u2018Help Me Make It Through The Night\u2019, \u2018If You Love Me (Let Me Know)\u2019 and \u201cI\u2019m Moving On\u2019.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Do you know Linda Martell?\u00a0\u00a0Linda is a black singer who started in Soul & R&B but never had any success as a solo artist.\u00a0\u00a0She was heard singing country songs on an Air Force base and was soon in Nashville signing a contract with Shelby Singleton.\u00a0\u00a0She had three songs make the C\/W chart including her version of\u00a0\u2018Before The Next Teardrop Falls\u2019<\/a>\u00a0which she did 5 years before Freddy Fender\u2019s release.\u00a0 Click song title to hear Linda’s version.\u00a0\u00a0Linda\u2019s version went to #33 on the C\/W chart.\u00a0\u00a0In 1969 she would perform at the Grand Ole Opry becoming the first black female singer to do so.\u00a0\u00a0She would make a total of 12 appearances at the Opry.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

I will end with this early R&B singers who went country piece with Candi Staton, this year\u2019s inductee for the BRC Music Hall Of Fame.\u00a0\u00a0Candi had many R&B songs chart and then she released the LP,\u00a0Stand By Your Man<\/em>\u00a0which was recorded at Fame Studio in Muscle Shoals.\u00a0\u00a0When I first heard her cover of\u00a0\u2018Stand By Your Man\u2019\u00a0<\/a>I was just floored.\u00a0 Click song title to hear the beginning of Tammy Wynette’s original version then Candi’s version.\u00a0\u00a0For her to take a chance to record a version of such an iconic country song was amazing in the first place but then in my opinion to make the song \u2018her own\u2019 in an R&B style was incredible.\u00a0\u00a0The song went to #4 on the R&B chart and #24 on the pop chart.\u00a0\u00a0Another cover of a C\/W song on that LP was \u2019He Called Me Baby\u2019.\u00a0\u00a0Again, a really great version.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

I have run out of room.\u00a0\u00a0But before I close let me mention these R&B artists who covered C\/W songs.\u00a0\u00a0Al Green, Solomon Burke, Millie Jackson and Bobby Womack.\u00a0\u00a0Womack even released an LP entitled\u00a0B. W. Goes Country<\/em>\u00a0in 1976.\u00a0\u00a0Included in that LP was a cover of \u2018Behind Closed Doors\u2019.\u00a0\u00a0And how about Dolly Parton\u2019s \u2018I Will Always Love You\u2019 being recorded and become a smash hit for Whitney Houston.\u00a0\u00a0Having these country classics and some unknows be given a soulful and R&B sound is what the love of music is all about.\u00a0\u00a0Everyone has their own interpretation of a song.\u00a0\u00a0In 1994 MCA released the LP\u00a0Rhythm Country and Blues<\/em>.\u00a0\u00a0It had duets with R&B and C\/W singers.\u00a0\u00a0A few singers include Little Richard with Tanya Tucker, Vince Gill with Gladys Knight, Natalie Cole with Reba McEntire, B. B. King with George Jones, Chet Atkins with Allen Toussaint, Sam Moore with Conway Twitty and many more. This R&B doing country is still going on.\u00a0\u00a0Music has always been said to bring people together.\u00a0\u00a0I think all this proves this statement correct.\u00a0\u00a0Whether R&B, C\/W, Soul, Pop or Rock I still love the smell of vinyl in the morning (noon, afternoon, evening, midnight, etc).<\/strong><\/p>\n

See ya,<\/strong><\/p>\n

Charlie<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

BIRMINGHAM RECORD COLLECTORS DEDICATED TO THE COLLECTING OF MUSIC, ITS PRESERVATION AND LASTING FRIENDSHIP THIS MONTH’S MEETING WILL BE THE\u00a0FIRST\u00a0SUNDAY, AUGUST 2ND\u00a02:00 PM HOMEWOOD PUBLIC LIBRARY 1721 OXMOOR RD BIRMINGHAM, AL 35209 NEXT MONTH’S MEETING WILL BE HELD THE SECOND SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 13TH AT\u00a02:00 PM HOMEWOOD PUBLIC LIBRARY 1721 OXMOOR RD BIRMINGHAM, AL 35209 THIS […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","enabled":false}}},"categories":[5],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-15189","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-newletters","comments-open"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p46vzC-3WZ","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.birminghamrecord.com\/brc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15189","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.birminghamrecord.com\/brc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.birminghamrecord.com\/brc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.birminghamrecord.com\/brc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.birminghamrecord.com\/brc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=15189"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"http:\/\/www.birminghamrecord.com\/brc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15189\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":15190,"href":"http:\/\/www.birminghamrecord.com\/brc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15189\/revisions\/15190"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.birminghamrecord.com\/brc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=15189"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.birminghamrecord.com\/brc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=15189"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.birminghamrecord.com\/brc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=15189"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}