Billie Jo Spears – Talking Country

I have to confess to Billie Jo Spears being one of my favourite female country singers.

I like many more was introduced to her with her ‘Blanket On The Ground’ hit and having heard her vocal ability was hooked on an artist that could shout ‘coal’ and it would be so musical it could be a number one hit.

I collected her albums which proved her versatility of vocal range from raunchy up tempo offering to delicate meaningful love ballads…I was hooked.

It was years later when I started broadcasting here in the North East of England that I got the chance to interview the lady for the first time at one of the International Festivals of Country Music held at the Wembley Arena.

From then on we became pals and each time she came back to Britain to perform my wife and I would make sure we caught up with her for a hello.

The interview featured here was actually recorded when I was working for the North East’s Metro Radio station when she took time out from her busy touring schedule to come into the studio and spend the last hour of my show having a chat about her music and the folks that she admired.

I’m not sure of the date, albeit that it must have been around 1984/5, when the following night she was playing a date at The Castles Ballroom, Annfield Plain, County Durham.

I t’s hard to believe that years later we recorded  a song together that I had written, and by doing so we raised a fair amount of money for charity as part of the radio stations Annual Childrens Christmas Charity Radio Appeal.

It brings back some wonderful memories for me and hopefully you enjoy listening to it as much as I enjoyed talking to her on your behalf.

She’s a wonderful artist who has given me memories I shall never ever forget.

Cheers

Brian C

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