BARRY LEVINE: Answering a song with a song

Editor’s note: This is the first of two columns on answer songs. The second will appear on Sunday, Feb. 26.

Readers have asked how I generate different column ideas. Some are automatics, such as Christmas songs and tunes about the 1959 plane crash the claimed the lives of singers Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and J.P. “The Big Bopper” Richardson.

Other ideas come completely by dumb luck.

When I was researching singers who died in air accidents, one was country star Jim Reeves who had a No. 1 hit in 1960 with “He’ll Have to Go.”

Then I remembered that Jeanne Black had her only Top 40 hit later in the year with her answer to Reeves’ smash with “He’ll Have to Stay.” The answer peaked at No. 4 on the charts.

So when did answer songs begin? How successful are they?

An answer song is made in response to a previous song, normally by another artist.

The concept became widespread in blues and R&B music during the 1930s through 1950s. They were also popular in country music during the 1950s and 1960s, most often as a female responded to an original hit by a male artist.

For example, the original “Hound Dog,” sung by Big Mama Thornton, reached No. 1 in 1953, and six answer songs were recorded in response. The most successful of these was “Bear Cat,” by Rufus “Walking the Dog” Thomas, which was released two weeks after Thornton’s hit. Thomas’ answer reached No. 3.

Big Mama’s nickname was well-deserved, as she reportedly tipped the scales at 350 pounds.

The concept of the answer song is not new, as it first occurred in 1902 when Arthur Collins recorded “Won’t You Come Home Bill Bailey.” Later in the year, Collins recorded his answer song, “I Wonder Why Bill Bailey Don’t Come Home.”

All answer songs were not typical.

Irving Berlin wrote “God Bless America” in 1918 while stationed at Camp Upton in Yaphank, N.Y. Berlin revised his song in 1938, and Kate Smith introduced it on Armistice Day on her radio show that year. The song became her signature tune.

Armistice Day (Nov. 11) became a federal holiday in 1938. Armistice Day was legally changed to Veterans Day in 1954 by eliminating the word “Armistice” in favor of “Veterans” to honor all military personnel.

Woody Guthrie, one of America’s most famous folk singers, wrote a critical response to “God Bless America” in 1940. He criticized “God Bless America,” which he considered unrealistic.

Guthrie wrote his answer to “God Bless America” — “This Land is Your Land” — while hitch-hiking from California to New York.

He then recorded the song in 1944.

“This Land is Your Land” has been covered hundreds of times by everyone from Pete Seeger, The Weavers, Peter Paul & Mary to Bruce Springsteen.

Virtually all answer songs would fall into the easy listening category and don’t negatively impact the original hit.

This week in rock history: Chuck Berry began serving a three-year sentence in the Indiana Federal Penitentiary on Feb. 19, 1962, after being convicted of transporting a minor across state lines for immoral purposes. … Gary Lewis & The Playboys led the Hot 100 on Feb. 20, 1965, with their first hit, “This Diamond Ring.” … The Jackson 5 made their TV debut on “American Bandstand” on Feb. 21, 1970, when they sang “I Want You Back”. … Elvis Presley’s “Heartbreak Hotel” entered the Hot 100 at No. 68 on Feb. 22, 1956. Two weeks later it went to No. 1 for eight straight weeks.

The Chiffons’ “He’s So Fine” entered the Hot 100 on Feb. 23, 1963. The song had been rejected by 10 different record companies before Laurie Records decided to take a chance. It eventually topped both the Pop and R&B charts. … The Beach Boys recorded “Help Me Rhonda” on Feb. 25, 1963, with guitarist Al Jardine singing lead vocals. It became their second No. 1 hit. … Buddy Holly & The Crickets began recording “That’ll Be The Day” on Feb. 25, 1957, in Clovis, N.M. Holly had recorded the song in Nashville in 1956, but Decca Records’ executives didn’t like the result and refused to release it.

Barry “The Old Rocker” Levine is an entertainment writer for The Albany Herald. He can be reached at [email protected].