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It seems rather odd on the surface, but Welsh singer Tom Jones was a big fan of country music. In fact, two of his biggest hits were Country songs--and Great Songs to boot!
The first was in 1966, when his version of "Green Green Grass of Home," originally made popular by Porter Wagoner (#4 on Billboard's Country Chart in 1965), became a Top 15 hit in 10 countries. It actually topped the POP charts in the UK, Ireland, Australia, Belgium and Norway.
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n the US, it reached #11 on the Hot 100 and #12 on the Adult Contemporary Chart. In Canada, the matching chart numbers were 5 and 10, respectively.
Oddly, it did not chart on ANY country chart!
(Note: Tom's version was inspired by a version recorded by Jerry Lee Lewis.)
Eleven years later, Tom did it again...only better--with today's "Great Song of 1977:" "Say You'll Stay Until Tomorrow."
Once again, he took inspiration from a version by Jerry Lee Lewis...and when Jerry Lee heard it, he told Tom it would be a #1 record.
It was! And this time, it was also a triple chart hit in both the US and Canada...reaching #1 on the Country charts in both countries.
On the Adult Contemporary Charts, the numbers were #1 (Canada) and #3 (US), and on the Top 40 it, reached #12 (Canada) and #15 (US).
Tom Jones was one of the first stars to prove that you don't have to be a country singer--American or Canadian--to sing country music, paving the way for folks like Olivia Newton-John and Keith Urban.
"Say You'll Stay Until Tomorrow" is proof...AND a "Great Song of 1977!" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hE65cDGH_E8
Green Green Grass of Home (1966): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j64H2aWWU0E
Tomorrow: The Stones throw some at NYC. Coming June 1: Great Songs of the '80s!
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