" cashbox/country reviews singles LP's MERLE HAGGARD AND THE STRANGERS (Capitol P4204) LOVIN’ AND LEARNIN’ - Tanya Tucker - MCA The Roots Of My Raising (2:44) (Blue Book — BMI) (Tommy Collins) 2167 Merle mixes recitation with his usually fine vocalizing on this one about going back Tanya says, "I’m 15, and you’re gonna hear home and reminiscing about his boyhood Produced by Ken Nelson and Fuzzy Owen, from me”; and we absolutely take her at her word "The Roots" should grab roots and rise steadily on the charts. Flip: No info, available as she expresses herself incomparably on this album. Produced by Jerry Crutchfield, it’s terrific JESSI COLTER (Capitol P4200) Tanya throughout. Selections: "Pride Of Franklin It’s Morning (And I Still Love You) (2:20) (Baron — BMI) (Jessi Colter) County,” “Depend On You,” "Ain’t That A It's a "big production" number with the Jessi Colter progressive sound . one with Shame,” "Leave Him Alone," "You've Got Me To which she is exceptionally comfortable Guitars are outstanding, and requests will Hang On To,” "Makin' Love Don’t Always Make pour in for this one produced by Ken Mansfield and Waylon Jennings. Flip: No info Love Grow,” "After The Thrill Is Gone,” "Don't available. Believe My Heart Can Stand Another You," "Here We Are,” “My Cowboy's Getting Old." OSBORNE BROTHERS (MCA 40509) Don’t Let Smokey Mountain Smoke Get In Your Eyes (2:12) (Double Tree — SESAC) (Cecil Null) THE WEARY TRAVELER - Bill Monroe - MCA The Osborne Brothers are right "at home" on this up-tempo bluegrass-country tune 2173 about a Smokey Mountain paradise. It'll make you want to be there, and it should "be To quote MCA's Owen Bradley, who produced there " on the charts. Flip: No info available. many Monroe recordings, "Bill knows his music . truly he is the 'Father of Bluegrass’,” and BILL BLACK COMBO (Hi 5N-2301) proof of Bradley's statement is on this album. Fire On The Bayou (2:03) (Fi — ASCAP) (G Michael) Produced by Walter Haynes, it's a bluegrass “Fire On The Bayou" is plenty hot with fiddle work. From the LP. "The World's masterpiece. Selections: “Mary Jane, Won't You Greatest Honky-Tonk Band," it moves . moves . moves with fury Produced by Be Mine,” "Old, Old House,” “Jerusalem Ridge,” Bob Tucker and Larry Rogers, it could heat up the charts. Flip: No info available "Clinging To A Saving Hand,’’ “Thank God For Kentucky," "Show Me The Way," "Weary RANDY BARLOW (Gazelle IRDA 153-A) Traveler,” “Ashland Breakdown," “Reasons Johnny Orphan (2:27) (Frebar — BMI) (Fred Kelly/Randy Barlow) Why,” “Watson Blues Randy opens with a recitation, then sings a sad story about an all-American orphan boy named Johnny who wants to be wanted The music complements the lyric on this Fred Kelly production. Flip: No info available Green Appointed Music Director ERNIE PAYNE (Melodyland ME 6026F) NASHVILLE — Veteran music executive trated on development the full potential Take Me (The Way That I Am)(2:53) (Eyes Havit/Umchappell/Caseyem — BMI) (Ernie Ronnie Green has been appointed to the of writers already signed with Alrhond, Payne) position of creative director of Roger Royal Oak and Roger Miller Music He There's outstanding production work by Mike Curb on this ballad, as Ernie pleads Miller's Music, effective immediately will also be working with artists signed to soulfully to his woman to "take me the way that I am, and believe that's the best I can the group's Engine Productions. " The announcement was made jointly be It's one the DJ's should "take" just the way it is good. Flip: No info available "We are establishing an open door by Miller and Carole Dove, general policy and will listen to all material sub- manager of the music group head- mitted to us,” Green said. "We are also quartered in Nashville WINK MARTINDALE (ABC/Dot DOA 1 7606) looking for new talent for the production Deck Of Cards (3:52) (American — BMI) (T. Texas Tyler) Green's chief duties will be concen- company." A "true” recitation about a soldier and what he saw in a deck of cards when com- pared with a prayer book. Produced by Randy Word, it's a "wonder "-ful piece of material. Flip: No info available additions to countryplaylists WHN - NEW YORK WAME - CHARLOTTE Somebody Loves You — Crystal Gale — United Artists I'll Be Your San Antone Rose — Dottsy — RCA KATHY KEARNS (Paragon IRDA 171) Somebody Hold Me — Narvel Felts ABC/Dot — Hank Williams You Wrote My Life — Moe Bandy — I'm Sorry — Unspoken Words (2:50) (Cherry T ree — SESAC) (Johnnie Virgin) Charlie — Joni Lee MCA Columbia Extra To 6 — Sometimes — Bill Anderson & Marylou Mamas Don't Let — Ed Bruce — United Artists Kathy's vocal style on this ballad about the expression of love without putting it into Turner I'm Sorry Charlie — Joni Lee — MCA Extra To 9 — Don't — words is indeed refreshing We ll be hearing more from Kathy Kearns Produced by Mamas Let Ed Bruce Since I Fell For You — Charlie Rich — Epic 14 To 7 — 'When The Tingle Becomes A Chill — 30 To 25 — Fly Away — John Denver Tommy Jennings, it's definite chart material Flip: No info, available Loretta Lynn - WXCL - PEORIA WIRE INDIANNAPOLIS If I Had ItTo Do — Roy Clark — ABC/Dot JUD STRUNK (Melodyland ME 6027 F) Roots Of My Raising — Merle Haggard — Capitol Long Haired Redneck — David Allan Coe — Col. If I Let Her Come In — Ray Griff — Capitol Pamela Brown (2:30) (Hallnote — BMI) (Tom T Hall) Shine On — Ronnie Prophet — RCA How Great Thou Art — Statler Bros. — Mercury — Young Love — Ray Stevens — Barnaby Jud sings convincingly this up-tempo Tom T Hall story about owing all his "good If I Had It To Do All Over Again — Roy Clark ABC/Dot times" to Pamela Brown because he "didn't" marry her This one should go well on WMC - MEMPHIS Gift — Linda Ronstadt The Sweetest & Emmylou Dog Tired Of Catin' Around — Shylo — Columbia the boxes and the charts. Flip: No info, available Harris — Asylum WHK - CLEVELAND KMAK - FRESNO — — 101 Young Love Ray Stevens Barnaby REX KRAMER (Frog FRG -A) Faster Horses — Tom T Hall — Mercury Shine On — Ronnie Prophet — RCA You Oughta Be Against The Law (2:24) (Ribbit — ASCAP) (R. Kramer/T Richardson) Young Love/Deep Purple — Ray Stevens — Barnaby You Are The Song — Freddie Hart — Capitol It's Morning Jessi Colter — Capitol — If I HadTo Do It — Roy Clark — ABC/Dot Some stations are already hot on this Rex Kramer up-tempo tune The title gives an Wild Side Of Life — Freddy Fender — GRT Broken Lady — LarryGatlin — Monument indication of what it's all about, and there definitely ain't no law against what this one 31 To 24 — Bump Bounce Boogie — Asleep At The Faster Horses — TomT Hall — Mercury Wheel You Make Life Easy — Joe Stampley — ABC/Dot could do on the boxes and on the charts Flip: No info available 1 1 To 3 — Somebody Loves You — Crystal Gayle I'm High On You — Jack & Misty — Epic Love Lifted Me — Kenny Rodgers — UA — — Capitol KLAC - LOS ANGELES Roots Of My Raising Merle Haggard Tracks Of My Tears — Linda Ronstadt — Asylum The Sweetest Gift/Tracks Of My Tears — Linda It's Morning — Jessi Colter — Capitol Ronstadt & Emmylou Harris — Asylum Owen Bradley To Remember Me — Willie Nelson — Col. It's Morning — Jessi Colter — Capitol Don't Stop In My World — Billy Walker — RCA KYA - DALLAS Lifted — Rodgers Assume Indy t5 To 39 — Love Me Kenny Phantom #309 — Red Sovine — Starday 45 To 30 — Remember Me — Willie Nelson Maiden's Prayer — Finney — Soundwaves Wild Side Of Life — Freddy Fender — GRT Prod. Role At MCA Sweet Sensuous Feeling — Sue Richards — ABC/Dot W1TL - LANSING If I Had To Do — Roy Clark — ABC/Dot If I Let Her Come In — Ray Griff — Capitol Door I Used To Close — Marilyn Sellers — Mega NASHVILLE — Mike Maitland, president of MCA records. Inc. and Owen Bradley, W1VK - KNOXVILLE If I Had It To Do — Roy Clark — ABC/Dot vice president for the company in Nashville have jointly announced the change in Love Was The Wind — Melba Montgomery — Asylum Phantom #309 — Red Sovine — Starday She's Just An Old Love — Nick Nixon — Mercury Bradley's position with the label. Effective immediately he will devote full time to WJJD - CHICAGO Take It To The Limit — Eagles — Asylum Homecoming — Hagood Hardy — Capitol independent production and no longer be involved with administrative Longhaired Redneck — David Allan Coe — Col. I'm High On You — Jack Blanchard & Misty Morgan — Good Hearted Woman — Waylon Jenning & Willie responsibilities. Epic Nelson — RCA Nashville work helped — Bradley, who is considered one of the producers whose Hank Williams You Wrote My Life — Moe Bandy WINN - LOUISVILLE establish the city's reputation as a major music center, recorded such acts as Bren- Col. Now Everybody Knows — Charlie Rich — RCA Pick Me Up On Your Way Down — Bobby G. Rice — da Lee, Loretta Lynn, Conway Twitty, Patsy Cline, Jack Greene and Little David KLAK - DENVER GRT Watkins. Wild Side Of Life — Freddy Fender — GRT Young Love — Ray Stevens — Barnaby Remembering You — Dennis Payne — Capitol Meet Me Later — Margo Smith — 20th Century of industry's biggest hits through his ac- In addition he has produced some the Bump Bounce Boogie — Asleep At The Wheel — EresTu/Touch The Wind — Floyd Cramer — RCA Capitol tive involvement in the recording careers of Red Foley, Burl Ives. Rex Allen, Kitty Another Morn ing — Ji m Ed Brown — RCA 18 To 1 — The White Knight — Cledus Maggard The Door I Used To Close — Marilyn Sellars — Mega Wells, Ernest T ubb, Webb Pierce.