Mel Tillis Number Ones


Adding to our long list of legends passing away, country music legend Mel Tillis passed away on November19.  He was a successful songwriter and musician. Although he recorded songs since the late 1950s, his biggest success occurred in the 1970s, with a long list of Top 10 hits.


He was known for having a speech impediment, but this did not affect his singing. As a child, he suffered from a bout of malaria, causing him to stutter.

Today, I thought I’d share his #1 hits.

1972 - "I Ain't Never"
1976 - "Good Woman Blues"
1976 - "Heart Healer"
1978 - "I Believe in You"
1979 - "Coca-Cola Cowboy"
1980 - "Southern Rains"

Songs written by Mel Tillis, but hit #1 when performed by others:

"Detroit City" - Bobby Bare (1963), Dean Martin (1970)
"Ruby, Don't Take Your Love to Town" - Kenny Rogers and The First Edition (1969)
"Life Turned Her That Way" - Ricky Van Shelton (1987)






Today’s post is part of the Monday’s Music Moves Me blog hop, hosted by X-Mas Dolly, and co-hosted by JAmerican Spice, Stacy Uncorked and Curious as a Cathy.  Be sure to stop by the hosts and visit the other participants.





Comments

  1. Great list some I knew and some were new to me!

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    1. Sometimes it happens that way. Thanks for stopping by!

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  2. Mary,

    Although, I knew Mel for his singing but what I remember him most is from his acting gigs in the 80s The Cannonball Run & Smokey and the Bandit flicks. :) A lot of entertainers have crossed to the other side this year. Thanks for sharing Tillis' #1 hit songs and those he wrote that other artists recorded that went to the top of the chart. Thanks for sharing the dance floor with the 4M gang today, dear friend. Have an awesome week and blessed Christmas season! ;)

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    1. Thanks Cathy..

      I hope to be able to make some rounds to the BOTB gang before I leave town. Will need to do it from my phone though. Will have internet again soon.

      ~Mary

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  3. He was a true country legend. Sad to see him go. Thanks for spotlight of his songs.

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    1. Thanks for stopping by, Patrick. I'm glad I could share some of his tunes with you.

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  4. Not being a country music fan, I'm not familiar with him, but I'm sorry for the musical loss.

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  5. So many great talents lost in the last two years. Country isn't my thing, but Mel was one of the greats, and I enjoy that twangy type of music - just in small doses! And I loved Ruby Don't Take Your Love to Town - which I had no idea he wrote. Alana ramblinwitham.blogspot.com

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    1. All music is good in the proper dosage. Thanks for dropping by!

      ~Mary

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  6. Not into country heavily, so I didn't know of his death, but I did know a few tunes. Thanks for sharing. Also, I haven't seen your email yet with your info on your theme.. maybe it got caught in spam, but I'm still looking Maybe you could send it again ... , but not to worry I'll keep looking & soon as I find it I'll Post it! THANKS MUCH and good luck on your big move~! BIG HUGS & MERRY CHRISTMAS!

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    1. I just re-sent the email. Hopefully you will find it.

      ~Mary

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  7. Hi, Hello, and Howdy, MMQE.

    Here's a true story that I read somewhere about three hundred years ago:

    Mel Tillis was still young and at the early stage of building a Country music career for himself. He was rooming with another Country music guy (whose name escapes me).

    Once, in the middle of the night, Mel was awakened by the sound of someone breaking into the house and moving around in the dark. He tried to call out and awaken his roommate but he couldn't get the words out because of his stuttering.

    So, to circumvent his stuttering, he began singing loudly to his roommate, something like this:
    "WAKE UP, WAKE UP! THERE'S A THIEF IN OUR HOUSE!!
    WAKE UP, WAKE UP! THERE'S A THIEF IN OUR HOUSE!!"


    If I recall correctly, I think I read that in a Reader's Digest sometime in the 1980s (which feels like about three hundred years ago to me).


    ~ D-FensDogG
    STMcC Presents 'Battle Of The Bands'

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    1. Howdy DogG D Stephen!

      I'm guessing this is the story you might be thinking of: Someone's Coming in Our Window

      Another favorite of his stories is this one: Mel Tillis Rabbit Story

      Looking forward to your thoughts on the battle this month. I'll be checking in with my phone :)

      ~ Mary

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  8. I always got a kick outr of Mel when he'd be on The Tonight Show. How he managed to sing without stuttering is amazing. A very entertaining guy. He used to be a panelist on "The Match Game," too.

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    1. Hi John

      In one of the interviews that I watched, he explained that the singing part of the brain is in a different section than the talking part of the brain. I didn't realize he was also on Match Game, but I'm sure it was entertaining.

      ~Mary

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