WILLIE NELSON (RCA PB-11235) DAVE DUDLEY — Dave Dudley’s Greatest Hits — Rice RICE- If You Can Touch Her At All (3:03) (Resaca Music — BMI) (Lee Clayton) 711 — Producers: Jimmy Key/Jack Key — List: 6.98 Taken from the '‘Waylon And Willie” album, this combination of Willie Nelson's clear Dave Dudley has always maintained a clear, consistent rap- vocals with Lee Clayton's spare, insightful lyrics should shoot “If You Can Touch Her At All” port and affection for truckers and truck-driving songs. And of charts. Production completely supports this sterling song. right to the top the Dudley’s version of “Six Days On The Road” is the definitive DOLLY PARTON (RCA AFL1-2544) road song. This album contains 10 of the best truckin’ tunes It’s All (Velvet Music — BMI) (Dolly Parton) It’s All Wrong, But Right (2:42) Apple ever put on wax. Dudley’s ace-in-the-hole is credibility. Dudley of Dolly's Despite the growing sophistication which surrounds every aspect career, her knows what he is talking about because he has followed that ole basic roots remain seeded in the soil of country music. Picked from her “Here You Come white line himself more times that he probably wants to talk Again" album, this cut may go pop but it belongs high on the country charts. about. Take your pick on this album. All cuts are good. MERLE HAGGARD (MCA 40869) SLIM PICKENS — Blue Canyon — — BCS-506 Producer: Jim I’m Always On A Mountain When I Fall (2:48) (ATV Music Corp. /Shade Tree Music Inc. Terr — List: 6.98 BMI) (Chuck Howard) Slim Pickens will go down in screen history as one of our Merle has moved into the middle of the road with this mellow ballad. This polished finest Western character actors. And no one ... no one has record has a good chance of crossing over into the pop charts. been blessed with a more distinctive, tumbleweed speaking THE STATLER BROTHERS (Mercury 55022) voice. Someone has finally taken that voice into the recording Do You Know You Are My Sunshine (2:13) (American Cowboy Music — BMI) studio. Although the production detracts slightly from Pickens’s Bridled with booming bass harmony and a bright hook line, this new single should hop unique vocals, Pickens lends character and strength to a selec- high on the charts and prove a winner for the Statler Brothers. tion of narrations and western songs. Guy Clark's "Desperados SONNY JAMES (Columbia 3-10703) Waiting For A Train” is a powerful cut, and the interesting “A This Is The Love (2:43) (Bobby Goldsboro Music — ASCAP/House Of Gold Music — BMI) Stranger In Nashville” could be a surprise country hit. (B. Springfield/L. Wood) CHARLEE — Standing In Your Shoes — Amerama A-1005 — Even Sonny James is working with strings and more elaborate production these days, Producer: Henry Strzlecki — List: 6.98 but “This Is The Love" is a pretty ballad which will bring Sonny back on the charts. You can expect to hear more in the future from this talented NARVEL FELTS (ABC AB-12338) lady. Charlee can belt out an up-tempo tune or settle down and “Runaway” (2:44) (Mole Hole Music/Belinda Music — BMI) (Del Shannon/M. Crook) caress a soft, country ballad. Some of the material on this album This song was a hit for Del Shannon in the '60s and is the perfect vehicle for Narvel to could be improved, but Charlee brings out the best in the lyric of once again show his vocal range. Should draw heavy play at jukebox level. each song. She mixes a couple of country standards with new NAT STUCKEY (MCA-40855) tunes for a well-rounded album. “All The Good Things Are That Lucky Old Sun (3:18) (Robbins Music Corp. — ASCAP) (Haven Gillespie/Beasley Gone" could be a hit song. “Standing In Your Shoes” and “You Smith) Hum The Tune" are also quality songs. This standard produced by David Barnes should shine a new light on Nat Stuckey’s career. A good strong beat and soulful female accompaniment add to the enjoyment. RED SOVINE (Gusto-Starday SD 180) (E. The Country Sally (2:44)(Stigwood Music/Unichappell Music — BMI) Clapton/M. Levy/G. Column Lay Down Terry) The week of the Grammy Awards culminated a tremendous year for United Artists' Sovine is very well liked by country programmers and that may be the lever he needs in Crystal Gayle In the space of one week, Crystal learned her album, “We Must Believe In to airplay on this song. Country directors also have the Eric Clapton order get more music Magic,” had been certified platinum by the RIAA, and she won a Grammy Award for the and Jack Paris versions in hand. “ Best Country Female Vocal Performance” with Richard Leigh’s classy "Don't It Make My CATES SISTERS (Caprice CA-2047) Brown Eyes Blue.” It was less than a year ago that Crystal made her first network television Blues (Sabal Inc. — (Dave Hanner) Long Gone (2:42) Music ASCAP) appearance on Lou Rawls’ ABC Special. In addition to winning nearly every country female girls into the charts with release. Their last single “I've These reach higher each Been vocalist award this year, Crystal's music has had a major influence on the changing face of hit the of the country chart and heavier than sales. Loved” Top 30 Cash Box had normal country music and the acceptance of more diversified music in Nashville. FREDDY FENDER (ABC AB-12339) Ovation’s The Kendalls, who captured a Grammy for “Best Country Vocal Perfor- If You’re Looking For A Fool (2:16) (Crazy Cajun Music — BMI) (Thomas/Mc- mance," accepted the award following a 26-day tour of the southwest. Two nights before Ree/Thomas) the Grammy Awards, The Kendalls made their debut at Los again the is obvious. Huey Meaux produced Fender and Houston sound That sound, Angeles's Palomino Club, where folks like Linda Ronstadt and The along with the unique Tex-Mex delivery, should see many adds at country stations. Oak Ridge Boys caught their act. The Kendalls's “It Don't Feel Like Sinnin’ To Me" is picking up where "Heaven’s Just A Sin Away" left i Singles To Watch 1 off. It could be another No. 7 song for the duo. If you can believe this, Mercury’s Sherri Williams has a new (Warner Bros. SANDY POSEY WBS 8540) single out called “Close Encounters Of The Cheatin' Kind." Jerry Born To Be With You (2:06) (Edwin H. Morris & Inc. Co. — ASCAP) (Don Robertson) Gillespie, who wrote "Heaven's Just A Sin Away," co-wrote and HARGUS ”PIG” ROBBINS (Elektra E-45469) produced Sherri's new single. Capitol's Clayton the offices last Canadian Sunset (2:41) (Vogue Music — BMI) (Eddie Heywood/Norman Gimbel) Lee came by Cash Box here Crystal Gayle week. After a self-imposed layoff from the Nashville music scene, JODY MILLER (Epic 8-50512) Clayton has been active here the last few months and his career seems back in full swing. Clayton's new album, “Border Affair,” is on the market, and Willie Nelson’s new single, “It Soft Lights And Slow Sexy Music (2:47) (Galleon Music Inc. /Starship Music — ASCAP) (L. Dresser) You Can Touch Her At All," is a Clayton-penned song. “If You Can Touch Her At All” is on the Cash Box ft 1 country album, “Waylon And Willie. "Clayton burst on the Nashville scene DALE McBRIDE (Con Brio 131) four or five years ago when he wrote "Ladies Love Outlaws" for Waylon Jennings, a song A Sweet Love Song The World Can Sing (2:43) (Wiljex Pub. Co. — ASCAP) (Don many felt gave direction and definition to the “outlaw movement" here. King/Dave Woodward) This week Warner Bros, 's Margo Smith will sing “Don't Break The Heart That Loves You" on the Chuck Barris Rah Rah Show,” a new, one-hour television variety program. SHERRI WILLIAMS (Mercury 55023) Doc and Merle Watson are back in the studio working on a new album. Doc’s son, Merle, Close Encounters Of The Cheatin’ Kind (2:20) (Chappell Music — ASCAP/Tri-Chappell has been producing the sessions at The Soundshop here. Music — SESAC) (Jerry Gillespie/Rory Bourke/Charlie Beck) Hank Williams, Jr. was a recent guest on “Soundstage,” a music show on educational TV. He has also been In Los Angeles working on material for a new album. PEGGY FOREMAN (MCA 40874) Minnie Pearl has been busy lately. She has taped The “Jim Nabors TV Show, "and she You Can’t Lose Them All (2:29) (Royal Oak Music — ASCAP) (Fred Lehner/Jerry McBee) also presented a Grammy at the Awards Show in Los Angeles. And Sunday she appeared at the Silver Dome in Pontiac, Mich, as guest on a NBC TV Special. DANIEL (LS GRT-145) Elektra/Asylum 's Sammi Smith found out she had a real friend recently. Sam mi has an interest in called Smith’s Bull Riding Show, the Oh Boy! (2:14) (MPL Comm. Inc. — BMI) (West/Tilgman/Petty) a rodeo Sammi and event was held two weekends ago in Lake Charles, La. Although she had been sick with what she thought was the flu, Sammi determined she would appear In Lake Charles. Sammi had been staying at ARLEEN HARDEN (Elektra E-45463) the Spence-Manor Hotel in Nashville. Mrs. Edna Bloodworth, general manager of the You’re Not Free And I’m Not Easy (3:03) (Music City Music, Inc. /Combine Music Corp.