Welcome to the 98 Country Classic Show on this last Sunday in October, it’s the 26th day of the month.  We’re on air at 98.1 FM, online at 98country.com and on your mobile device.  Each Sunday we journey back in time and offer an online bonus to enjoy after the radio show.  It’s an extra helping of country classics with videos.  Today we feature top ten country classic hits from 1955.

Making the News in 1955:

  • U.S. starts sending $216 million in aid to Vietnam
  • President Eisenhower suffers coronary thrombosis in Denver on September 24th
  • At the movies -- “Rebel Without a Cause,” “East of Eden” and “Picnic”
  • We lose James Dean in a car accident at age 26 and Albert Einstein dies at 76

In country music we were listening to Tennessee Ernie Ford, George Jones, Webb Pierce, Eddy Arnold and Kitty Wells.

 


 

Tennessee Ernie Ford – “Sixteen Tons”

 

 

“Sixteen Tons” is a song about the life of a coal miner. The song spent ten weeks at number one on the country charts.

Some people say a man is made out of mud;
a poor man’s made out of muscle and blood.

 


 

George Jones – “Why Baby Why”

 

 

This was co-written and originally recorded by George Jones.  Released in 1955, it peaked at number four on the Billboard Country Chart. It was Jones’ first chart single.

Tell me why baby, why baby, why baby why you make me cry baby.

 


 

Webb Pierce – “In the Jailhouse Now”

 

 

This song was covered by many artists; the best known version of the song was by Webb Pierce who had a number one country hit with this song in 1955.  Pierce’s version spent 21 weeks on the country chart at number one.

He’s in the jailhouse now; he’s in the jailhouse now
I told him once or twice to quit playin’ cards and shootin’ dice.

 


 

Eddy Arnold – “Cattle Call”

 

This song was written and recorded by Tex Owens.  Eddy Arnold recorded the song in 1944 and re-recorded the song in 1955.  This version spent 26 weeks on the country chart -- two of the 26 at number one.

The cattle are prowlin’, the coyotes are howlin’ way out where doggies roam.

 


 

Kitty Wells – “Making Believe”

 

 

“Making Believe” is a country song written by Jimmy Work and best known for its chart-topping version by Kitty Wells.  The song is a melancholy ballad about not getting over a former lover.  Country music queen Kitty Wells, peaked the song at number two on the charts for fifteen weeks.

Makin’ believe that you still love me its leaving me alone and so blue.

 


 

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