[youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YFlPVVk2H5c] "Harper Valley PTA" -- Jeannie C. Riley
On this day in 1968, country singer Jeannie C. Riley became the first female performer to top both the Country and Pop charts simultaneously. This feat would not happen again until 1981, when Dolly Parton ranked number one in both categories with her hit song, “9 to 5”.
The fact that “Harper Valley PTA” did so well on the Pop chart kind of surprises me as the song sounds pretty hardcore country to my ears, but I do get its appeal. It tells the story of a young widowed woman who turns the tables on a bunch of hypocrites that have basically judged her to be an unfit mother for committing such sins as wearing miniskirts, drinking alcohol, and “a-runnin' 'round with men”. As it turns out, her accusers are guilty of worse and she proceeds to call them out publicly and individually at a PTA meeting. I found it pretty amusing.
Can’t resist posting this picture of Jeannie C. Riley from back in the day. 😍
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