SATURDAY'S SINGLES : JIM STAFFORD and DAVID SEVILLE

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Good morning gang and welcome to the return of Saturday's Singles. It was on this day in 1944, that Winter Haven, FL native, comedian and musician Jim Stafford was born. Happy 77th Birthday Jim ! The self taught musician got his early start  with the rock band the Legends, alongside Lobo, Gram Parsons, and Jim Carlton. In addition to his three studio albums, Stafford has appeared on many musical variety shows, including Hee Haw (which I saw last week) and his own show called The Jim Stafford Show, as well as cameos in television and movies. We have seen Jim several times live and have met him in person and always manage to get some memorabilia signed, including this 45 RPM of his 1974 hit, "My Girl Bill". The tune hails from Jim's self titled debut alum on MGM and was produced by  P. Gernhard and Roland Kent LaVoie (Lobo). It reached #64 on the Country Singles chart, #12 on the Hot 100, #10 on the Cash Box and #9 on the Adult Contemporary charts. It's B-side is "L.A. Mamma", also from his debut. Our copy is autographed. When I walked up to him that night and handed it to him, I said, 'I hope you don't mind but someone named Sandy has already signed it. To which he replied, 'I've been looking for that one for years!'

John Abbott Arranger, String Arrangements
Richard Bennett Acoustic and Electric guitar
Alan Estes Congas
Phil Gernhard Arranger, Producer, String Arrangements
Emory Gordy Jr. Arranger, Bass, String Arrangements
Dick Hyde Trombone
Alan Lindgren Keyboards, Synthesizer
Lobo Producer
Dennis St. John Drums
Jim Stafford Banjo, Composer, Guitar, Guitar (Acoustic), Harmonica, Primary Artist

On a more somber note, we recently learned Jim's 27 year old son Shea passed away over the Thanksgiving holiday. Our hearts, thoughts, and Prayers go out to the Family, Friends, and Fans. 

https://www.snapp-bearden.com/obituary/SheafferShea-Stafford

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Our second single comes to us via Ross Bagdasarian, who passed away on this day in 1972, age 52 from a heart attack. He was better known by his stage name, David Seville, and for his loveable cartoon/musical creations : Alvin, Simon, Theodore, of Alvin and The Chipmunks fame. From their 15th studio album (and first country record) , Urban Chipmunk, comes this single, a cover of Willie Nelson's "On The Road Again" backed by a cover of Kenny Rogers' "Coward Of The County". I can find no evidence that these singles charted, but the album did, #56 on the Billboard 200 and #23 on the Country Albums chart. 

Ross Bagdasarian Jr. — lead vocals (Alvin, Simon, David Seville)
Janice Karman — lead vocals (Theodore)
Buzz Cason — background vocals
Bergen White — background vocals
Dennis Wilson — background vocals
Bob ”King” Moore — lead electric guitars
Jerry Carrigan — acoustic and rhythm electric guitars
Hargus "Pig" Robbins — pedal steel guitars and piano
Ray Edenton — bass
Billy Sanford — fiddle
Jimmy Capps — percussion
Leon Rhodes — drums
Buddy Spicher — auxiliary percussion

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