If you’re a fan of country music you’re most certainly aware of The Oak Ridge Boys and their amazing streak of fame from the late 70s on through the 80s. Just hearing the name of the group takes me back to the old brick building that housed Martins Creek Elementary and a chorus of kids singing Elvira at the top of their lungs-with everyone wanting to do the giddy up oom poppa omm poppa mow mow part.
The Oak Ridge Boys have enjoyed continued popularity. Over the course of their career-they’ve hit the number one spot on country charts close to 20 times and managed to hit the pop charts as well-pretty impressive if you ask me.
While many people remember the more up beat songs from their repertoire-like Elvira, Come On In, or Bobby Sue-many of the band’s hits were more on the ballad side-Fancy Free, Sail Away, and I Guess It Never Hurts to Hurt Sometimes come to mind.
Paul and Pap sing-I Guess it Never Hurts to Hurt Sometimes. Randy VanWarmer penned the song and The Oak Ridge Boys took it to number one in 1984. I remember hearing the song back in the day but I never fully recognized the words for what they are until the Blind Pig Gang began performing the song. Years ago when I heard the song I thought of some dramatic love affair gone wrong but when I hear the song today that’s not what I think of at all. When Paul and Pap sing it-I think of loved ones gone on-loved ones we wish we could have kept forever.
Thinking of loved ones we wish we could have kept is especially poignant for us at this time. Friday night we lost a dear dear friend LC Chastain. Maybe some of you knew him too-or maybe you remember reading about him here.
LC Chastain and Tipper-Martins Creek Community Center 2008
LC was my very first Mountain Folk post back in April 2008 when I first started the Blind Pig & the Acorn. As I explained to LC that I wanted to feature him on my website where I celebrate our Appalachian Heritage, I asked him if he had anything to say about Appalachia. LC’s reply: “If I didn’t live here, I’d be getting here as fast as I could”. I think that pretty much sums it up for me too.
LC will be be sorely missed by many. If you’d like to read more about him go here.
Tipper
Did you know that L C had a twin brother J B, who died in 1952 at 21 years of age?
I think I like your version of I Guess It Never Hurts To Hurt Sometimes better that The Oak Ridge Boys’
The song was fabulous and I listened over and over today!
Thanks so much.
Country music appreciation has only arrived in my life within the last few years. Yes, I knew it existed, but I just never paid close attention. However, I am learning to appreciate it.
I think the family rendition of this song was so well done, I plan to listen to it again. I am also sorry for the loss of your friend, but you gathered a great memory from him.
I’m sorry for the loss of your friend. I love the song–one of my very favorites & listening to it helped me shed some much needed tears. In the last few years we’ve lost a family member or a friend who was like a family member way too often.
sometimes hurting makes us treasure the good times, memories all the more. Excellent job Pap, Paul, Chatter and Tipper-Off-Camera!!!
Sound on my computer has gone out, but I want to say I love the Oak Ridge Boys and have played their music for years in my car when I am driving. They can make me happy and they can make me sad.
So sorry for the loss of your dear friend. Your post about him will be treasured by all who knew him.
Tipper,
Oh yes, I remember the songs of “The Oak Ridge Boys”! How could I forget a group named after my hometown. I also remember seeing them perform in person in Oak Ridge, when I was a kid in the forties!..They were not the group totally, that they are now. Of course changes thru the years!
I also remember sitting in Dad’s old “Packard” waiting on my Mom who was getting a few groceries…when Dad would tune in “The Mid-day Merry-g0-round” on WNOX..and listen to the Georgia Clodhoppers, the precurser to the Oak Ridge Boys…We’d sing along, loud and that is the only time I remember my Dad really singing out loud, he just sorta whispered sung in church! I never called them the Georgia Clodhoppers, just the Clodhoppers…LOL Back then, I didn’t know that The Oak Ridge Boys were once the “clodhoppers” and band when they got so popular! By the time I graduated high school in 1958, The Oak Ridge Boys were hitting the big time and carrying our hometown name around the world!
Pap and Paul and group, did a great job on the song. I too miss so many!
Sorry to hear of Mr. Chastains passing. I remember your post about him.
We are have a “Heater Vortex” (ha) here today…almost 44 at noon…Getting ready for anothe winter blast..and maybe snow this time!
Thanks Tipper, Great Post!
Tipper,
Paul and Pap and the entire Blind Pig
Gang do an excellent job on this one.
The Oak Ridge Boys sing lots of songs
I love to hear.
I never knew LC Chastain, but heard of his passing on the local radio
obituaries. Don’t know what relation
they are, but I know two Chastain
brothers that drive Late Model Race
cars and they’re both very popular
at Tri County Raceway…Ken
Sorry to hear about LC, I do remember reading about him even tough I’ve never met him.
Ah the Oakridge boys, I remember my hubby and I bought all their albums as be were both fans from way back.
Can’t type today! That should be LC.
Prayers for LG and his family. May God bless all of them!
When I clicked on “It Never Hurts…” I couldn’t get off all the songs; Tom T., The Mighty Oaks, Alabama, the Highwaymen. What a way to spend part of my Sunday morning. I have to sign off now but I will be back to read more on L.C.
I never knew LC, and your original post on him was before I’d discovered the Blind Pig blog.
But sometimes you can just tell at a glance that you’d like someone. LC, standing there with his hands in his pockets and that quizzical grin on his face, is a case in point.
He was obviously honored that you’d be interviewing him, and I’m sure the feeling was reciprocated on your part.
I also like him because he was a two shirt pocket man. Maybe that was for carrying more chewing gum, but you can’t ever have too many pockets.
I’d say that LC stood for Likeable Chap.
I remember him from that beautiful post you did and I believe he is the one who graded the spot for your house. I’m so sorry for his loss, to his family and his community.
Like you until several years ago,I associated this song with romantic love. Now I think of family and friends now absent from my life. As always The Blind Pig gang does a fine job. Thank you very much for sharing. Got to save the video now. Wish you a blessed day.
I’m very sorry to hear this sad news. I loved Paul’s story about how Mr. Chastain kept the county from putting a dump on your school campus by volunteering to do all the grading work at a different site for free. Not many folks (at least, not many I know) would step up in such a way to make a longterm positive difference for the community. My thoughts and prayers go to the family and friends LC Chastain leaves behind.