Bill Anderson Writes the Hits
Country Music Hall of Famer Bill Anderson has had an amazing career as a songwriter. He's still picking up hits in the new century, having success in the last year with Joe Nichols' "I'll Wait for You" and George Strait's "Give It Away," which won song of the year from the Academy of Country Music in May.Most songwriters would be happy with any one of those cuts, but what's truly remarkable is how long Bill's been doing this: He wrote his first hit, "City Lights" from the roof of the Andrew Jackson Hotel in Commerce, Ga., 50 years ago -- on Aug. 27, 1957. It became a hit the following year for Ray Price and again in 1975 for Mickey Gilley.
Over the five decades since Bill penned that song, he's had nearly 80 country hits. Here's a personal celebration of some of the best:
"A Lot of Things Different," Kenny Chesney -- Frank Sinatra tossed aside his regrets, saying he had "too few to mention." Bill came up with a long list, and presented them as a really poignant ode to missed opportunities.
"Saginaw, Michigan," Lefty Frizzell -- A classic story song about a beleaguered groom who uses his father-in-law's Achilles heel, greed, to turn the tables. Some 40 years later, rhyming Michigan and fisherman still feels inventive.
"Whiskey Lullaby," Brad Paisley and Alison Krauss -- "He put that bottle to his head and pulled the trigger." The imagery is fierce, and the plaintive musical setting frames it all perfectly.
"The Tips of My Fingers," Steve Wariner -- The wordplay ("I had your love on the tips of my fingers/But I let it slip right through my hand") is old-school country at its best. Bill and Steve, incidentally, would become good friends. They co-wrote Steve's hit "Two Teardrops," and Steve once got a ticket when he was driving alone and ended up in an HOV lane illegally while talking to Bill on the cell phone.
"My Life (Throw It Away If I Want To)" -- You might not remember the song, but it's an acerbic No. 1 single from 1969. He was inspired during an argument with his wife in the run-up to a divorce, and for a guy whose relationship songs have usually been about self-pity or self-inflicted pain, he lashes out quite well.
Happy anniversary, Bill Anderson.
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Jamie Foxx Tests Country Music Waters On New Rascal Flatts Album — The 9513 says:
[...] them out ever since. In honor of the milestone Tom Roland wrote a post on the CMT Blog celebrating some of his favorite Anderson penned songs. Check it out, you might be surprised to find that he’s written recent hits for George [...]
Shirley says:
WOW - BIll “50″ years already / you have inspired me so much…….I picked up the fiddle a few years ago now to learn how to play and maybe someday have the opportunity to be on stage with you. What a dream come true that would be. I have loved your music and what a humble man you are. God bless and wishing you another 50 successful years.
Michael Green says:
I have to give you credit for picking a Top 5 of Bill Anderson’s songs. There are so many to choose from and it’s great to know more are coming.
For what it’s worth … the first time I heard “Whiskey Lullaby” and heard that line, “He put the bottle to his head and pulled the trigger,” I said to myself, “That has GOT to be Bill Anderson.” He’s the only one around who could come up with a line like that–unless it was Jon Randall, who co-wrote it, and if so, exposure to Anderson did the trick!