COUNTRY R4DIO THE COUNTRY MIKE SINGLES REVIEWS NETWORKS — Nearly 200 stations across the country have committed to air two, three-hour special programs currently being prepared by The United Stations radio OUT OF THE BOX network for distribution over the Christmas and New Year’s holiday season. The specials are Christmas Around The Country and Crystal Gayle’s Golden Decade. The first is scheduled to air the weekend of Dec. 23-25, and will feature the holiday recordings of many of the top names in country music as well as comments from the artists themselves about their memories of the holiday season. , Alabama, The Oak Ridge Boys, Charley Pride, Dottle West, The Statler Brothers, Mickey Gilley and The Bellamy Brothers are among the 27 artists to be featured. The SYLVIA (RCA PB-13689) Crystal Gayle special will be a hit-filled program highlighting the past 10 years of her I Never Quite Got Back (3:33) (Collins career in country music. These two Court Music/Lodge Hall — ASCAP) (D. programs are the last in the United Sta- Pfrimmer, M. Reid) (Producer: T. tions’ country Six Pack series for 1983 Collins) Sylvia’s latest collaboration with . . . The Mutual Broadcasting System presents a Christmas music special, Collins has resulted in one of her best The Oak Ridge Boys and Eddie Rabbitt songs to date. It’s a step away from her which will be multicast in-stereo on the usual style and has her sounding more weekend of Dec. 17-18. The program is mature than ever. The love ballad offers hosted by Lee Arnold, and will spotlight a simple and easy flowing production. these two country music performers in a Yuletide special that will mix the classic hits of the guest artists with selected Christmas songs. DREAMING OF HITS — Members of STATION PROFILE — WDAK/Augusta Atlanta recently visited WPLO/Atlanta to has been on the air for at least 43 years, their second Top ten hit “Dixie promote having spent the last three years FEATURE PICKS Dreaming." Pictured above are (l-r): Allen programming country. The station is on Collay and Alan David of the group; TERRI GIBBS (MCA-52308) the air 24-hours, a day 5,000 watts by WPLO’s Jim Stewart; and Brad Griffis and Tell Mama (2:58) (Fame — BMI) (C. Carter, W. Terrill, M. Daniel) (Producer: R. Hall) day, 500 by night. Alan Woodall is John Holder of Atlanta. general manager, Jim Martin is sales GENE WATSON (MCA-52309) manager, Jessica James acts as program director and Doc Holiday serves as music Drlnkln’ Back Home (2:04) (Vogue/Partner/Welk — BMI) (D. Scaife, R. Scaife, P. director. The station lineup Includes Ken Carllie, 6-10 a.m.; Holiday, 10 a.m.-3p.m.; Thomas) (Producers: G. Watson, R. Reeder) James, 3-7p.m.; Roger Byford (also known as the Cockney Cowboy), 7 p.m. -midnight; GALE WAHL (Comstock COM-1720) and John Chase, midnight-6 a.m. WDAK is also known for having the Southeast's only The Hotter The Fire (3:05) (White Cat — ASCAP) (E. Burgess, M. Reinhart) (Producer: P. antique radio museum which houses radios that date back to the 1920s. The collection Parker) is valued at more than $80,000. THANKS — KWEN-FM/Tulsa recently held its third annual Client Appreciation Party JOE MOON (Moon BJM-1) at Chisolm's, one of the finest country and western clubs in T ulsa. K95FM clients and I’m Just Crazy Enough (3:03) (Honeytree/Pellom — ASCAP) (S. Collom) (Producer: S. guests enjoyed over 400 pounds of mesquite/smoked quail and steak, boiled Sechler) shrimp and crab claws. Beverage coasters resembling record albums were given away (Pacific Sounds P.S.R. 1000) as souvenirs of the memorable evening. Richard Ferguson, president of KATZ Broad- JUDY KELLAR Say It’s Me (2:50) (Hall-Clements — BMI) (Skinner, Wallace, Bell) (Producer: D. O’Bitts, casting Company, which owns and operates KWEN, and general manager, Robert [J J.L. Wallace) Blackman were on hand to personally thank clients for their support over the past year. STATION CHANGES — Don Drees, morning drive anchor at KBRQ/ Denver, has been JAMES MARVELL (Red Cricket RC-1003) promoted to senior news director. In addition to his regular shift, will drive Drees assist Virginia (2:43) (Red Cricket — ASCAP) (R. Mareno, C. Lombardo) (Producer: R. Mareno)

in making assignments and coordinate sports coverage . . . After leaving ) (Reflex RR-8305) WKLM/Wilmington, Al Watkins was named the #1 country D.J. in a local survey. So RON REELEY — (R. Alan) (Producer: E. Kilroy) now Watkins is returning to WKLM as the morning man. He will be on the air 6-9 a.m. Some Such Foolishness (3:30) (Barnwood BMI) Watkins will also continue his video business as well as pursue his other musical in- BILLY PARKER & WEBB PIERCE (Soundwaves SW-4719)

terests . . . Kevin O’Neal at WPAP/Panama City has taken on the responsibilities of Memory Number One (2:34) (Cedarwood — BMI) (W.P. Walker, M. Powell) (Producer: J. music director well his as as continuing present duties as program director. O’Neal has Gibson) been with WPAP for 14 months. He has requested that music calls be made on Tues- days and Wednesdays only from 1-3 p.m. The new phone number for music calls is (904) 769-5118. NEW/4ND DEVELOPING “THE SOUND OF GOODBYE” — This Is my final issue as Cash Box country chart

manager and I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who has made my stay at Cash Box an enjoyable one. The past two and a half years have been very

rewarding and again I want to say thanks for your cooperation and continuing support. BILL MEDLEY (RCA PB-13692)

I can be reached at Records, RCA 30 Music Square, W., Nashville, TN 37203. Please Till Your Memory’s Gone (3:03) send all country radio related material to Lentz, John Cash Box Magazine, 21 Music (Swallowfork/April — ASCAP) (B. Rice, Circle, E., Nashville, TN37203. juanita butler M.S. Rice) (Producer: J. Crutchflled) Righteous Brother Bill Medley teams up with producer Jerry Crutchfield on "Till Your Memory's Gone,” bringing his PROGRAMMERS PICKS unforgettable vocal style to the coun- try/pop field. Medley’s deep gravelly Mark Thomas WKMF/Flint Sentimental Ol’ You — Charly McClain voice combined with an easy listening — Epic production results in a perfect format for his to express his talents. Tom Newman KGA/Spokane That’s The Way Love Goes — Merle Haggard — Epic

Mark Tudor WTQR/ Winston-Salem Back On Her Mind — Johnny Rodriguez — Epic >1LBUM REVIEWS Rocky McCumbee WVAM/Altoona You Were A Good Friend — Kenny Rogers — Liberty DON’T LET OUR DREAMS DIE YOUNG — Tom Jones — Mercury 814 448-1M-1 — Producers: G. Mills and S. Popovich — List Price: 8.98 — Bar Coded Marvin Paul KNAL/VIctorla Wedding Bells — Margo Smith — Welsh singer Tom Jones’ third PolyGram LP, "Don’t Let Our Dreams Die Young,” Moonshine blends contemporary country with Jones' own unique style for an overall pleasing collec-

1 Tony Kidd WZZK/Birmlngnam Show Her — Ronnie Milsap — RCA tion of love songs. Highlights Include the ballad "I’ve Been Rained On Too," the upbeat “You’ve Got A Right," and "This Ain’t Tennessee And She Ain't You,” a bittersweet song Rick Cardarelll WSLR/Akron Alter All — Ed Bruce — MCA about a lost love. Co-produced by Gordon Mills and Steve Popovich, effective guitar and keyboards are offered throughout the album. Reggie Neal WXBQ/Brlstol Show Her — Ronnie Milsap — RCA

Dan Roberts KFGO/Fargo That’s The Way Love Goes — Merle WITHOUT A SONG — Willie Nelson — Columbia FC 39110 — Producer: Booker T. Jones Haggard — Epic — List: None — Bar Coded Nelson’s 1978 “Stardust" collaboration with producer Booker T. Jones garnered him Jay Davies KCJB/Mlnot You Were A Good Friend — Kenny triple platinum status and they have once again teamed up for "Without A Song.” The ) Rogers — Liberty package Is full of slow love ballads enhanced by organ sections played by Jones and str- Mike Carta WIL/St. Louis Show Her — Ronnie Milsap — RCA ings by the London Symphony Orchestra. Nelson Is joined by international superstar for "As Time Goes By.”

20 Cash Box/November 19, 1980