COUNTRY SONGS - THE COMBINE CATALOG

One of the great Nashville publishing houses, Combine Music was founded in the late 'fifties by Fred Foster, whose record company, Monument, was responsible for developing the career of, among others, Roy Orbison.

In 1966, Fred Foster further strengthened Combine's standing in the business by bringing on board Bob Beckham as professional manager. A former singer and song plugger, Beckham helped turn Combine into a hugely successful independent publishing operation which was sold to The Entertainment Company in 1985. The catalog is now a major part of EMI Publishing's wealth of country copyrights.

Among the legendary songwriters who were signed to Combine were Kris Kristofferson, Larry Gatlin, Tony Joe White, Dennis Linde and Dolly Parton.

The Kristofferson legacy is rich in timeless ballads, and blessed with uniquely descriptive lyrics;
ME AND BOBBY McGEE is one of his great story songs, opening with a verse dipped in atmospheric romanticism:
"Busted flat in Baton Rouge, headin' for the train
Feelin' nearly faded as my jeans
Bobby thumbed a diesel down, just before it rained
Took us all the way to New Orleans".

Obviously the majority, though not all of Combine copyrights, are country songs. From outside the country borders, the catalog includes EVERY DAY I HAVE TO CRY by the late, great soul singer Arthur Alexander who was a major influence on The Beatles...a doo-wop classic called TONIGHT (COULD BE THE NIGHT) and the often-revived and much-revered pop ballad EVERLASTING LOVE.

Country Hall Of Fame songwriter Cindy Walker provided two songs which have become universally-accepted country crossovers, namely DISTANT DRUMS and DREAM BABY (HOW LONG MUST I DREAM). DISTANT DRUMS became one of the most successful country records in Britain when the Chet Atkins-produced version by Jim Reeves spent five consecutive weeks at #1 there in the autumn of 1966.

Two of the original Combine writers, namely Dennis Linde & Tony Joe White, are still signed to EMI Music Publishing today; indeed, in one sense, Dennis was even more related to Combine that its other writers because he married Bob Beckham's daughter Pam!

Both Dennis Linde and Tony Joe White notched up songwriting successes for Elvis Presley while one of Tony Joe's biggest hits, RAINY NIGHT IN GEORGIA, was recorded by the great R&B singer Brook Benton. As the record begins, the listener is hooked by the very first words that Brook's deep-bass voice delivers:
"Hoverin' by my suitcase,
tryin' to find a warm place to spend the night;
A heavy rain a-fallin'
Seems I hear your voice callin' 'It's all right'."

Following is a breakdown of the key Combine hit songs:
ALL THE SWEET (Bob Morrison/Jim Zerface/Bill Zerface)
by Mel McDaniel (Capitol/EMI: 1977) US #39 Country

AMERICAN MADE (Bob DiPiero/Pat McManus)
by The Oak Ridge Boys (MCA: 1983) US #1 Country; #72 Pop
Song was later adapted for use as a Miller Beer commercial.

ANGELS, ROSES AND RAIN (Bob Morrison/Jim Zerface/Bill Zerface)
by Dickey Lee (RCA/BMG: 1976) US #9 Country
Other versions include:
Susan McCann

ARE YOU ON THE ROAD TO LOVIN' ME AGAIN (Bob Morrison/Debbie Hupp)
by Debby Boone (Warner/Curb: 1980) US #1 Country

BORN TO LOVE ME (Bob Morrison)
by Ray Price (ABC/Dot: 1977) US #21 Country
by Ray Charles (Columbia/Sony: 1983) US #20 Country
Other versions include:
Roy Orbison (Monument/Sony)
Kenny Rogers (Liberty/EMI)

BREAKIN' IT (Mark Germino)
by Loretta Lynn (MCA/UME: 1983) US #30 Country
Other versions include:
Claire Lynch (Copper Creek)
Mindy McCready (BNA/BMG)

CALLIN' BATON ROUGE (Dennis Linde)
by New Grass Revival (Capitol/EMI: 1989) US #37 Country
by Garth Brooks (Liberty/EMI: 1994) US #2 Country
Other versions include:
Doug Kershaw

COME SUNDOWN (Kris Kristofferson)
by Bobby Bare (Mercury/UMG: 1971) US #7 Country
Other versions include:
Sammy Davis Jr. (Applause)
George Jones
Kris Kristofferson (Monument/Sony)

THE COMPANY YOU KEEP (YOU'RE KNOWN BY) (Dolly Parton/Bill Owens)
by Bill Phillips (Decca/UME: 1966) US #8 Country
Other versions include:
Dolly Parton (Monument/Sony)

CRY, CRY, CRY (John Sherrill/Don Devaney)
by Highway 101 (Warner Bros./WSP: 1988) US #1 Country

A DAMN GOOD COUNTRY SONG (Donnie Fritts)
by Jerry Lee Lewis (Mercury/UME: 1975) US #68 Country

DISTANT DRUMS (Cindy Walker)
by Jim Reeves (RCA/BMG: 1966) US #1 Country, #45 Pop, UK #1
by Vic Dana (Dolton/EMI: 1966) US #33 AC
Other versions include:
Henson Cargill (Monument/Sony)
Daniel O'Donnell (Ritz)
Roy Orbison (Monument/Sony)
Charley Pride (RCA/BMG)
Tex Ritter (Capitol)
Gene Vincent (BBC)
The Wilburn Brothers (Decca/UME)

DON'T CALL HIM A COWBOY (Bob Morrison/Debbie Hupp/Johnny Macrae)
by Conway Twitty (Warner Bros/WSP: 1985) US #1 Country

DREAM BABY (HOW LONG MUST I DREAM) (Cindy Walker)
by Roy Orbison (Monument/Sony: 1962) US #4 Pop
by Bob Regan & Lucille Starr (Dot/UME: 1970) US #50 Country
by Glen Campbell (Capitol/EMI: 1971) US #7 Country; #31 Pop
by Lacy J. Dalton (Columbia/Sony: 1983) US #9 Country
Other versions include:
Floyd Cramer (RCA/BMG)
Waylon Jennings (RCA/BMG)
Jerry Lee Lewis (Mercury/UME)
Del Shannon (Big Top/Bug)

DREAM ON TEXAS LADIES (Steve Mills)
by Rex Allen Jr. (Moon Shine: 1984) US #18 Country
Other versions include:
John Michael Montgomery (Atlantic/WSP)

DREAMS OF THE EVERYDAY HOUSEWIFE (Chris Gantry)
by Glen Campbell (Capitol/EMI: 1968) US #3 Country, #32 Pop, #6 AC
by Wayne Newton (MGM/UME: 1968) US #60 Pop, #14 AC
Other versions include:
Chris Gantry (Monument/Sony)
Richard 'Groove' Holmes (World Pacific/EMI)
Gary Puckett & The Union Gap (Columbia/Sony)

DUELING BANJOS (Arthur Smith) (Original title: FEUDING BANJOS)
Featured in the classic 1972 movie "Deliverance" starring Burt Reynolds, DUELING BANJOS is literally that: a musical head-to-head workout of irresistable bluegrass based on an earlier tune called "Feuding Banjos" by Arthur 'Guitar Boogie'Smith.
by Eric Weissberg & Steve Mandell (Warner Bros./WSP: 1973) US #2 Pop, #5 Country, #1 AC, UK #17
Other versions include:
Big Audio Dynamite
Tom Chapin (Gadfly)
Roy Clark (ABC/Dot/UME)
The Dillards (Vanguard)
Henry Mancini & His Orchestra (RCA/BMG)
Wayne Newton (Chelsea)
Earl Scruggs (Columbia/Sony)
Arthur Smith & Don Reno (CMH)

EASE THE FEVER (Bob Morrison/Bill Zerface/Jim Zerface)
by Carrie Slye (Friday: 1983) US #78 Country
Other versions include:
Reba McEntire (Mercury/UME)
The Osmond Brothers

EVERLASTING LOVE (Buzz Cason/Mac Gayden)
Much-recorded pop standard ("Open up your eyes, then you'll realize/Here I stand with my everlasting love") by Buzz Cason (who was briefly a member of the post-Buddy Holly Crickets) and singer-songwriter Mac Gayden who co-founded Area Code 615. Song was originally cut by Robert Knight on Rising Sons, a short-lived subsidiary label of Monument Records.
by Robert Knight (Rising Sons: 1967) US #13 Pop, #14 R&B, UK #19
by Love Affair (CBS/Sony: 1968) UK #1
by Carl Carlton (Back Beat/UME: 1974) US #6 Pop, #11 R&B, #15 AC
by Narvel Felts (ABC/UME: 1979) US #14 Country
by Louise Mandrell (Epic/Sony: 1979) US #69 Country
by Rex Smith & Rachel Sweet (Columbia/Sony: 1981) US #32 Pop, #31 AC, UK #35
by Sandra (Siren: 1988) UK #45
by Worlds Apart (Bell/BMG: 1993) UK #20
by Gloria Estefan (Epic/Sony: 1995) US #27 Pop, UK #19
by The Cast From Casualty (Warner Bros: 1998) UK #5
Other versions include:
David Essex (Cleveland International)
David Ruffin (Motown/UME)
U2 (Island/UME)

EVERY DAY I HAVE TO CRY aka EVERY DAY I HAVE TO CRY SOME (Arthur Alexander)
by Steve Alaimo (Checker/UME: 1963) US #46 Pop
by The Gentrys (MGM/UME: 1966) US 77 Pop
by Bob Luman (Epic/Sony: 1969) US #23 Country
by Arthur Alexander (Buddah/BMG: 1975) US #45 Pop
by Joe Stampley (Epic/Sony: 1977) US #14 Country
Other versions include:
The Bee Gees (Polydor)
C.H. Chenier (Alligator)
Jerry Lee Lewis
The McCoys (Bang/Sony)
Graham Parker (Razor & Tie)
Dusty Springfield (Philips/UME)
Ike & Tina Turner
{This classic ballad by Alabama-born soul singer Arthur Alexander is from the period when Fred Foster was producing him on Monument. Also highly recommended is Arthur's song IN THE MIDDLE OF IT ALL which was revived by British rocker Nick Lowe}

EVERYTHING'S BEAUTIFUL (IN IT'S OWN WAY) (Parton)
by Dolly Parton & Willie Nelson (Monument/Sony: 1983) US #7 Country

EVERYTHING'S THE SAME (AIN'T NOTHING CHANGED) (Billy Swan)
by Billy Swan (Monument/Sony: 1975) US #17 Country

FEUDING BANJOS
See: DUELING BANJOS

FOR OL' TIMES SAKE (Tony Joe White)
by Elvis Presley (RCA/BMG: 1973) US #42 Country
Other versions include:
Tony Joe White (Warner Bros/WSP)

FOR THE HEART (Dennis Linde)
by Elvis Presley (RCA/BMG: 1976) US #45 Country
Other versions include:
As HAD A DREAM (FOR THE HEART)
The Jordanaires
The Judds (RCA/BMG)

FROM THE BOTTLE TO THE BOTTOM (Kris Kristofferson)
by Billy Walker & The Tennessee Walkers (Monument/Sony: 1969) US #20 Country
Other versions include:
Kris Kristofferson & Rita Coolidge (A&M/UME)

FUEL TO THE FLAME (Dolly Parton/Bill Owens)
by Skeeter Davis (RCA/BMG: 1967) US #11 Country
Other versions include:
Dolly Parton (Monument/Sony)

GOD MADE LOVE (Dennis Linde/Mel McDaniel/Johnny MacRae/Len Pollard)
by Mel McDaniel (Capitol/EMI: 1978) US #11 Country

GOODBYE MARIE (Dennis Linde/Mel McDaniel)
by Bobby Goldsboro (Curb: 1981) US #17 Country
by Kenny Rogers (Liberty: 1986) US #47 Country

THE GRANDEST LADY OF THEM ALL (Bob Morrison/Mel McDaniel)
by Conway Twitty (MCA/UME: 1978) US #16 Country

A HABIT I CAN'T BREAK (Bill Owens)
by Nick Nixon (Mercury/UME: 1974) US #63 Country
Other recordings include:
Dolly Parton (Monument/Sony)

HAD A DREAM (FOR THE HEART)
See: FOR THE HEART

HAVE A DREAM ON ME (Bob Morrison/Johnny MacRae)
by Mel McDaniel (Capitol/EMI: 1976) US #51 Country

HELP ME MAKE IT THROUGH THE NIGHT (Kris Kristofferson)
"Take the ribbon from your hair, Shake it loose and let it fall,
Layin' soft against my skin, Like the shadows on the wall.
Come and lay down by my side, Till the early mornin' light,
All I'm takin' is your time, Help Me Make It Through The Night"
by Sammi Smith (Mega: 1971) US #1 Country, #8 Pop, #3 AC
by Joe Simon (Spring/UK Ace: 1971) US #13 R&B, #69 Pop
by O.C. Smith (Columbia/Sony: 1971) US #38 R&B, #91 Pop
by Gladys Knight & The Pips (Soul/UME: 1972) US #13 R&B, #33 Pop, #25 AC, UK #11
by John Holt (Trojan: 1974) UK #6
by Willie Nelson (Columbia/Sony: 1980) US #4 Country
Other versions include:
David Axelrod (Capitol/EMI)
Joan Baez (Vanguard)
Bobby Bare (Mercury/UME)
The Boston Pops/Arthur Fiedler (RCA/BMG)
Glen Campbell (Capitol/EMI)
Floyd Cramer (Ranwood)
Bryan Ferry
Pete Fountain (Ranwood)
Engelbert Humperdinck (Parrot)
Tom Jones
Kris Kristofferson (Monument/Sony)
Kris Kristofferson with Vince Gill (Atlantic/WSP)
Kris Kristofferson & Brenda Lee (Monument/Sony)
Peggy Lee (Capitol/EMI)
Jerry Lee Lewis (Mercury/UME)
Loretta Lynn (Decca/UME)
Johnny Mathis (Columbia/Sony)
Olivia Newton-John (Uni/UME)
Ray Price (Columbia/Sony)
Charley Pride (RCA/BMG)
Elvis Presley (RCA/BMG)
Boots Randolph (Monument/Sony)
Jeannie C. Riley
Joe Simon (Spring/UK Ace)
Percy Sledge
Billie Jo Spears
Ray Stevens (Curb)
Conway Twitty (Decca/UME)
Tammy Wynette

I CAN HELP (Billy Swan)
Billy Swan's everlasting feel-good anthem ("I've got two strong arms, I can help") is an infectious,
massive crossover hit which is absolutely perfect for TV commercials. A singer-guitarist, Billy at one time played in Kris Kristofferson's band and often opened for him in concert, while he also produced some of Tony Joe White's finest records.
by Billy Swan (Monument/Sony: 1974) US #1 Country, #1 Pop, UK #6
by Elvis Presley (RCA/BMG: 1983) UK #30
Other versions include:
Ace Cannon
Tom Jones (Mercury/UME)
Jerry Lee Lewis (Mercury/UME)
Loretta Lynn (MCA/UME)
Jo-El Sonnier (Intersound)
EMI MP owns a recently recorded remake version in which Billy gathered together some of the same musicians who performed on the original.

I CAN SEE FOREVER IN YOUR EYES (Bob DiPiero)
by Reba McEntire (Mercury/UME: 1980) US #18 Country

I GOT YOU (Gordon Galbraith/Ricci Mareno)
by Waylon Jennings & Anita Carter (RCA/BMG: 1968) US #4 Country

I LOVE THE WAY THAT YOU'VE BEEN LOVIN' ME (Gordon Galbraith/Ricci Mareno)
by Roy Drusky (Mercury/UME: 1971) US #15 Country

I OUGHT TO FEEL GUILTY (Bob Morrison/Jim Zerface/Bill Zerface)
by Jeanne Pruett (Paid: 1981) US #72 Country

I STILL BELIEVE IN WALTZES (Bob Morrison/Johnny Macrae/Michael Hughes)
by Conway Twitty & Loretta Lynn (MCA/UME: 1981) US #2 Country

I THANK GOD (SHE ISN'T MINE) (Bob Morrison/Johnny MacRae)
by Mel McDaniels (Capitol: 1976) US #70 Country

I'LL LOVE AWAY YOUR TROUBLES FOR AWHILE (Johnny MacRae/Bob Morrison/Tom Davey)
by Janie Fricke (Columbia/Sony: 1979) US #14 Country

I'M GONNA GET YOU (Dennis Linde)
by Billy Swan (Mercury: 1987) US #63 Country
by Eddy Raven (RCA: 1988) US #1 Country

(I'M JUST A) REDNECK IN A ROCK AND ROLL BAR (Bob Morrison/William Anthony)
Recorded by Jerry Reed and released as the B-side to Jerry's 1977 hit, "East Bound And Down" on RCA.

I'M THE ONE WHO'S BREAKING UP (Pat McManus/Gene Dobbins/Bruce Burch)
by Tari Hensley (Mercury/UME: 1985) US #61 Country

I'VE GOT A THING ABOUT YOU BABY (Tony Joe White)
by Elvis Presley (RCA/BMG: 1974) US #4 Country, #39 Pop, UK #33
Other versions include:
Clarence Carter
Billy Lee Riley
Tony Joe White (Warner Bros/WSP)

IF YOU CAN TOUCH HER AT ALL (Lee Clayton)
by Willie Nelson (RCA/BMG: 1978) US #5 Country
Other versions include:
Waylon Jennings (RCA/BMG)

IN A LETTER TO YOU (Dennis Linde)
by Eddy Raven (Universal: 1989) US #1 Country
Other versions include:
Shakin' Stevens

IT SURE IS MONDAY (Dennis Linde)
by Mark Chesnutt (MCA: 1993) US #1 Country

JESUS WAS A CAPRICORN (Kris Kristofferson)
by Kris Kristofferson (Monument/Sony: 1972) US #91 Pop

JOSIE (Kris Kristofferson)
by Kris Kristofferson (Monument/Sony: 1972) US #70 Country; #63 Pop

JUST BECAUSE I'M A WOMAN (Dolly Parton)
by Dolly Parton (RCA/BMG: 1968) US #17 Country

JUST WANT TO TASTE YOUR WINE (Bobby Emmons)
by Billy Swan with The Jordanaires (Monument/Sony: 1976) US #45 Country

LADIES LOVE OUTLAWS (Lee Clayton)
by Jimmy Rabbitt & Renegade (Capitol/EMI: 1976) US #80 Country
Other versions include:
Lee Clayton (MCA/UME)
Confederate Railroad (Atlantic/WSP)
The Everly Brothers (RCA/BMG)
Waylon Jennings (RCA/BMG)
Tom Rush (Columbia/Sony)

THE LADY IN MY LIFE (Tony Joe White)
by Tony Joe White (Columbia/Sony: 1983) US #55 Country

LAST NIGHT, EVERY NIGHT (Bob Morrison/Jim Zerface/Bill Zerface)
by Reba McEntire (Mercury/UME: 1978) US #28 Country

THE LAST WORD IN JESUS IS US (Bob Morrison/Jim Zerface/Bill Zerface)
by Roy Clark (Songbird: 1981) US #73 Country

LET ME BE YOUR BABY (Bob Morrison/Johnny MacRae)
by Charly McClain (Epic/Sony: 1978) US #13 Country

LET'S PUT OUR LOVE IN MOTION (Bob Morrison/Johnny MacRae/Larry Rogers)
by Charly McClain (Epic/Sony: 1980) US #23 Country

LITTLE ROCK (Bob DiPiero/Pat McManus/Gerry House)
by Reba McEntire (MCA/UME: 1986) US #1 Country

LOLA'S LOVE (Dennis Linde)
by Ricky Van Shelton (Columbia/Sony: 1995) US #62 Country
Other versions include:
Sawyer Brown (Curb)

LONG LONG TEXAS ROAD (Dennis Linde)
by Roy Drusky (Mercury/UME: 1970) US #5 Country

LOOKIN' FOR LOVE (Bob Morrison/Patti Ryan/Wanda Mallette)
"I was Lookin' For Love in all the wrong places,
Lookin' For Love in too many places,
Searchin' their eyes and lookin' for traces
Of what I'm dreamin' of "
Featured in the movie "Urban Cowboy" (Paramount: 1980)
by Johnny Lee (Full Moon/Asylum/WSP: 1980) US #1 Country, #5 Pop
Other versions include:
The Nashville Guitars (K-Tel)
Sawyer Brown (Curb)

LOVE SONG (Steven Runkle)
by The Oak Ridge Boys (MCA/UME: 1983) US #1 Country

LOVE THE WORLD AWAY (Bob Morrison/Johnny Wilson)
Featured in the movie "Urban Cowboy" (Paramount: 1980)
by Kenny Rogers (United Artists/EMI: 1980) US #4 Country, #14 Pop, #8 AC

THE LOVING GIFT (Kris Kristofferson)
by Johnny Cash & June Carter Cash (Columbia/Sony: 1973) US #27 Country
Other versions include:
Kenny Rogers & Dottie West

LOVING HER WAS EASIER (THAN ANYTHING I'LL EVER DO AGAIN) (Kris Kristofferson)
by Roger Miller (Mercury/UME: 1971) US #28 Country
by Kris Kristofferson (Monument/Sony: `1971) US #26 Pop
Other versions include:
Waylon Jennings (RCA/BMG)
Kris Kristofferson with Marc Cohn (Atlantic/WSP)
Nana Mouskouri
Willie Nelson (Columbia/Sony)
Ray Price (Columbia/Sony)
Tina Turner (UA/EMI)

MAHTILDA (George Khoury/Huey Thierry)
"I cried and cried for you"
Also known as MATILDA, this swamp pop ballad has become a certified cajun classic, co-written by Louisiana-born Huey 'Cookie' Thierry along with record producer George Khoury who leased the original Cookie & His Cupcakes master to Sam Philips' brother Judd for release on his own label.
by Cookie & His Cupcakes (Judd: 1959) US #47 Pop
by Donny King (Warner Bros./WSP: 1975) US #20 Country
by John Wesley Ryles (MCA/UME: 1981) US #78 Country
Other versions include:
Freddy Fender
The Fabulous Thunderbirds (Chrysalis)
Sleepy LaBeef
Jerry Lee Lewis (Mercury/UME)
The String-A-Longs (Dot/UME)

MAKE BELIEVE IT'S YOUR FIRST TIME (Bob Morrison/Johnny Wilson)
by Bobby Vinton (Tapestry: 1979) US #86 Country, #78 Pop (in 1980)
Other versions include:
The Carpenters (A&M/UME)
Dave Rowland & Sugar

MAMA KNOWS (Tim Menzies/Tony Haselden)
by Shenandoah (Columbia/Sony: 1988) US #5 Country

MAMA'S ROCKIN' CHAIR (Johnny McRae/Timothy Menzies)
by John Conlee (Columbia: 1987) US #11 Country

ME AND BOBBY McGEE (Kris Kristofferson/Fred Foster)
"Freedom's just another word for nothin' left to lose,
Nothin' ain't worth nothin' but it's free.
Feeling good was easy, Lord, when Bobby sang the blues;
Feeling good was good enough for me...
Good enough for me and Bobby McGee"
by Roger Miller (Smash/UME: 1969) US #12 Country
by Janis Joplin (Columbia/Sony: 1971) US #1 Pop
Other versions include:
Bobby Bare
Ramblin' Jack Elliott (Rounder)
The Grateful Dead (Arista/BMG)
Waylon Jennings (RCA/BMG)
Kris Kristofferson (Monument/Sony)
Kris Kristofferson with Jackson Browne (Atlantic/WSP)
*Jerry Lee Lewis (Mercury/UME)
Gordon Lightfoot (Warner Bros./WSP)
Loretta Lynn (Decca/UME)
Willie Nelson (Columbia/Sony)
Olivia Newton-John (MCA/UME)
Charley Pride (RCA/BMG)
Kenny Rogers & The First Edition
Jerry Jeff Walker (Elektra/WSP)
{*Jerry Lee Lewis's version was on the flipside of his #1 country hit of early '72 called "Would You Take Another Chance On Me"}

ME AND THE ELEPHANT (Benny Whitehead)
by Kenny Starr (MCA/UME: 1977) US #43 Country
by Bobby Goldsboro (Epic/Sony: 1977) US #82 Country
Other versions include:
Cilla Black

MIDNIGHT ANGEL (Bill Anthony/Bob Morrison)
by Barbara Mandrell (ABC/Dot: 1977) US #16 Country

MORNIN' MORNIN' (Dennis Linde)
by Bobby Goldsboro (United Artists/EMI: 1970) US #56 Country

MY BABY'S GONE (Dennis Linde)
by Sawyer Brown (Capitol/Curb: 1988) US #11 Country
Other versions include:
The James Harman Band
The Judds (RCA/BMG)

NO ORDINARY MEMORY (Mickey Clark/Steve Clark/Johnny Macrae)
by Bill Anderson (Southern Tracks: 1987) US #78 Country

NOBODY WINS (Kris Kristofferson)
by Brenda Lee (MCA/UME: 1973) US #5 Country
Other versions include:
Kris Kristofferson with Catie Curtis (Atlantic/WSP)

ONCE MORE WITH FEELING (Kris Kristofferson/Shel Silverstein)
by Jerry Lee Lewis (Smash/UME: 1970) US #2 Country

ONE-NIGHT FEVER (Bob Morrison/Johnny MacRae)
by Mel Tillis (Elektra/WSP: 1981) US #10 Country

PLEASE DON'T TELL ME HOW THE STORY ENDS (Kris Kristofferson)
by Bobby Bare (Mercury/UME: 1971) US #8 Country
by Ronnie Milsap (RCA/BMG: 1974) US #1 Country
Other versions include:
Rita Coolidge & Kris Kristofferson (A&M/UME)
Sammy Davis Jr. (Applause)
Freddy Fender
Kris Kristofferson with Mark Knopfler (Atlantic/WSP)
Ronnie Milsap
Willie Nelson (Columbia/Sony)

POLK SALAD ANNIE (Tony Joe White)
Tony's original version opens with a spoken explanation: "We have a plant that grows in the woods and in the fields...looks somethin' like a turnip green And everybody calls it polk salad". Elvis Presley often performed the song in concert and his first-released audio version in 1970 was recorded in Las Vegas. Live versions were subsequently featured in the movie documentaries, "Elvis - That's The Way It Is" (1970) and "Elvis On Tour" (1972).
by Tony Joe White (Monument/Sony: 1969) US #8 Pop
by Elvis Presley (RCA/BMG: 1973) UK #23
Other versions include:
Tom Jones (Parrot/UME)
Little Milton (Malaco)
Jo-El Sonnier

PUT IT OFF UNTIL TOMORROW (Dolly Parton/Bill Owens)
by Bill Phillips (Decca/UME: 1966) US #6 Country
by The Kendalls (Ovation: 1980) US #9 Country
Other versions include:
Loretta Lynn (Decca/UME)
The Osborne Brothers
Dolly Parton (RCA/BMG)
Dolly Parton, Loretta Lynn & Tammy Wynette (Columbia/Sony)
Ricky Skaggs (Sugar Hill)

RAIN (Larry Gatlin)
by Kris Kristofferson & Rita Coolidge (Monument/Sony: 1975) US #87 Country

RAINY NIGHT IN GEORGIA (Tony Joe White)
"A Rainy Night In Georgia...I believe it's rainin' all over the world"
by Brook Benton (Cotillion/WSP: 1970) US #1 R&B, #4 Pop, #2 AC
by Hank Williams Jr. (MGM/UME: 1974) US #13 Country
by Randy Crawford (Warner Bros/WSP: 1981) UK #18
Other versions include:
The Crusaders (Motown/UME)
Eddie Floyd (Stax/Fantasy)
Tennessee Ernie Ford
John Holt
The Jazz Crusaders (Motown/UME)
Little Milton (Malaco)
Herbie Mann (Atlantic/WSP)
Sam Moore & Conway Twitty (MCA/UME)
Arthur Prysock (Milestone)
Nelson Riddle & His Orchestra
Johnny Rivers (UA/EMI)
Otis Rush (Hightone)
B.J. Thomas (Scepter)
Tony Joe White (Monument/Sony)

RIGHT OR WRONG (Wanda Jackson)
by Wanda Jackson (Capitol/EMI: 1961) US #9 Country, #29 Pop
by Ronnie Dove (Diamond: 1964) US #14 Pop
by Mary K. Miller (Inergi: 1978) US #41 Country
by George Strait (MCA/UMG: 1984) US #1 Country

THE RIVER'S TOO WIDE (Bob Morrison)
by Jim Mundy (ABC/Universal: 1974) US #13 Country

SHINE ON (SHINE ALL YOUR SWEET LOVE ON ME) (Bob Morrison/Johnny Macrae)
by George Jones (Epic/Sony: 1983) US #3 Country

SHOULDER TO SHOULDER (ARM AND ARM) (Bob Morrison/Jim Zerface)
by Roy Clark (ABC/UME: 1979) US #34 Country

SILVER STALLION (Lee Clayton)
by Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson, Johnny Cash
and Kris Kristofferson (Columbia/Sony: 1990) US #25 Country

SINGLE GIRL (Martha Sharp)
Sandy Posey's plaintive vocal ("I'm a single girl, all alone in a great big town") spelled out a desire for long-lasting love ("The single girl needs a sweet-lovin' man to lean on").
by Sandy Posey (MGM/UME: 1966) US #12 Pop, UK #15 (in 1967)
by Sandy Posey (MGM/UME: 1975 re-issue) UK #35
by Cindy Hurt (Churchill: 1981) US #74 Country
Other versions include:
Barbara Mandrell

SOME FOOLS NEVER LEARN (John Sherrill)
by Steve Wariner (MCA/UME: 1985) US #1 Country

SOME LOVE SONGS NEVER DIE (Bob Morrison/Johnny MacRae/Alice Keister)
by B.J. Thomas (MCA: 1981) US #27 Country

SOMEONE LOVES YOU, HONEY (Don Devaney)
by Charley Pride (RCA/BMG: 1978) US #1 Country
by Lutricia McNeal (Wildstar: 1998) UK #9

SOMETHING FISHY (Dolly Parton)
by Dolly Parton (Monument/Sony: 1967) US #17 Country

A SONG I'D LIKE TO SING (Kris Kristofferson)
by Kris Kristofferson & Rita Coolidge (A&M/UME: 1974) US #92 Country; #49 Pop

STEAMY WINDOWS (Tony Joe White)
by Tina Turner (Capitol/EMI: 1990) US #39 Pop, UK #13
Other versions include:
John Anderson (RCA/BMG)
Kenny Chesney (BNA)

STRANGER (Kris Kristofferson)
by Johnny Duncan (Columbia/Sony: 1976) US #4 Country
Other versions include:
Kris Kristofferson (Monument
Billy Swan

STUCK RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF YOUR LOVE (Bob Morrison/Johnny MacRae)
by Billy Swan (Epic: 1982) US #19 Country

SUNDAY MORNIN' COMIN' DOWN (Kris Kristofferson)
"On the Sunday morning sidewalk, Wishing, Lord, that I was stoned
'Cos there's something in a Sunday, Makes a body feel alone.
And there's nothin' short of dyin', Half as lonesome as the sound
On the sleepin' city sidewalks: Sunday Mornin' Comin' Down'"
by Ray Stevens (Monument/Sony: 1969) US #55 Country, #81 Pop
by Johnny Cash (Columbia/Sony: 1970) US #1 Country, #46 Pop, #13 AC
Other versions include:
Lynn Anderson (Columbia/Sony)
Vikki Carr (Liberty/EMI)
Johnny Duncan (Columbia/Sony)
Ralph Emery & Mel Tillis (Chordant)
Kris Kristofferson (Monument/Sony)
Kris Kristofferson with Steve Earle (Atlantic/WSP)
Willie Nelson (Columbia/Sony)

SUNDOWN MARY (Chris Gantry/Larry Baunack)
by Billy Walker (Monument/Sony: 1968) US #18 Country

TELL HER SO (Glenn Tubb)
by The Wilburn Brothers (Decca/UME: 1963) US #10 Country

TEXAS STEW (Eddie Curtis)
by Louis Jordan & His Tympany Five (RCA/BMG: 1956)

THAT IT'S ALL OVER FEELING (ALL OVER AGAIN) (Johnny MacRae/Steve Clark)
by Steve Clark (Mercury: 1984) US #68 Country

THAT ROCK WON'T ROLL (Bob DiPiero/John Sherrill)
by Restless Heart (RCA/BMG: 1986) US #1 Country

THAT'S THE WAY A COWBOY ROCKS AND ROLLS (Tony Joe White)
by Jacky Ward (Mercury/UME: 1980) US #7 Country
Other versions include:
Charlie Rich

THAT'S WHAT YOU DO TO ME (Bob Morrison/Johnny MacRae)
by Charly McClain (Epic/Sony: 1978) US #8 Country

THE TOM GREEN COUNTY FAIR (Dennis Linde)
by Roger Miller (Smash/UME: 1970) US #36 Country

TONIGHT (COULD BE THE NIGHT) (Virgil Johnson)
by The Velvets (Monument/Sony: 1961) US #26 Pop
Other versions include:
Rocky Sharpe & The Replays (UK Ace)

TONIGHT THE HEARTACHE'S ON ME (Bob Morrison/Johnny MacRae/Mary Francis)
by The Dixie Chicks (Monument/Sony: 1999) US #6 Country

TOO MANY RIVERS (Harlan Howard)
"There's too many rivers between you and me
There's just too many rivers to cross"
by Brenda Lee (Decca/UME: 1965) US #13 Pop
by The Forester Sisters (Warner Bros/WSP: 1987) US #7 Country
Other versions include:
Eddy Arnold (RCA/BMG)
Jessi Colter (MCA/UME)
Harlan Howard (Monument/Sony)
Sonny James (Columbia/Sony)
Jerry Lee Lewis (Mercury/UME)
Jean Shepard (First Generation)
The Statler Brothers (Mercury/UME)
Kitty Wells (Decca/UME)

WE BELONG TOGETHER (Tony Joe White)
by Tony Joe White (Columbia/Sony: 1984) US #85 Country

WHAT'LL YOU DO ABOUT ME (aka THE HELLBILLY) (Dennis Linde)
by Steve Earle (Epic/Sony: 1984) US #76 Country
by The Forester Sisters (Warner Bros/WSP: 1992) US #74 Country
by Doug Supernaw (BNA: 1995) US #16 Country
Other versions include:
The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band
John Schneider (MCA/UME)
Randy Travis (Warner Bros/WSP)

WHEN YOU LEAVE THAT WAY YOU CAN NEVER GO BACK (Johnny MacRae/Steve Clark)
by Bill Anderson (Swanee: 1985) US #75 Country
by Confederate Railroad (Atlantic/WSP: 1993) US #14 Country

WHISKEY, IF YOU WERE A WOMAN (Bob Morrison/Johnny Macrae/Mary Francis)
by Highway 101 (Warner Bros: 1987) US #2 Country

WHY ME (Kris Kristofferson) aka WHY ME LORD
"Lord help me Jesus, I've wasted it so"
by Kris Kristofferson (Monument/Sony: 1973) US #1 Country, #16 Pop
Other versions include:
Johnny Cash (Columbia/Sony) & (American)
Roy Clark (Intersound)
David Allan Coe (Sun)
Janie Fricke (Branson)
Bill Gaither
Mickey Gilley (K-Tel)
Merle Haggard (MCA/UME)
The Jordanaires (Arrival)
Kris Kristofferson with Vince Gill & Alison Krauss (Atlantic/WSP)
Cristy Lane (EMI)
Willie Nelson (Columbia/Sony)
The Oak Ridge Boys (Columbia/Sony)
Elvis Presley (RCA/BMG)
Charlie Rich (Epic/Sony)
Conway Twitty (MCA/UME)

WILD AND BLUE (John Sherrill)
by John Anderson (Warner Bros/WSP: 1982) US #1 Country
Other versions include:
Hank Williams Jr.

WILLIE AND LAURA MAE JONES (Tony Joe White)
by Dusty Springfield (Atlantic/WSP: 1969) US #78 Pop
Other versions include:
Brook Benton (Cotillion/WSP)
Clarence Carter (Atlantic/Fame)
Waylon Jennings (RCA/BMG)
The Persuasions (Elektra/WSP)
Bettye Swann (Capitol)
Tony Joe White (Monument/Sony)
Nancy Wilson (Capitol/EMI)

YOU DECORATED MY LIFE (Bob Morrison/Debbie Hupp)
by Kenny Rogers (United Artists/EMI: 1979) US #1 Country, #7 Pop, #2 AC

YOU JUST GET BETTER ALL THE TIME (Tony Joe White/Johnny Christopher)
by James House (MCA/UME: 1990) US #60 Country

(YOU LIFT ME) UP TO HEAVEN (Bob Morrison/Johnny MacRae/Jim Zerface/Bill Zerface)
by Reba McEntire (Mercury/UME: 1980) US #8 Country

YOU'D MAKE AN ANGEL WANNA CHEAT (Bob Morrison/Jim Zerface/Bill Zerface)
by The Kendalls (Ovation: 1980) US #5 Country

YOU'RE GONNA LOVE YOURSELF (IN THE MORNING) (Donnie Fritts)
by Wayne Carson (Monument/Sony: 1973) US #77 Country
by Bonnie Koloc (Ovation: 1974) US #12 AC
by Roy Clark (ABC/Dot/UME: 1975) US #35 Country
by Charlie Rich (United Artists/EMI: 1980) US #22 Country
by Willie Nelson & Brenda Lee (Monument/Sony: 1983) US #43 Country
Other versions include:
Bobby 'Blue' Bland
Sammy Davis Jr. (Applause)
Kris Kristofferson & Rita Coolidge (A&M/UME)

The lyric extracts above are all copyrighted works.

ROCK ON !
Alan Warner