Nineteen bloody weeks, spread over just shy of half a year. Didn't the average American country music enthusiast ever get sick of it? It's probably fortunate that Canada didn't have a corresponding chart since it may well have gone on a similarly lengthy run. In the end, two weeks at the top of the pop charts north of the border was more than enough.
The American country charts have had some number one hits with remarkable longevity. Back in 2017, Sam Hunt absolutely obliterated the previous record for weeks on top with thirty-four with his single "Body Like a Back Road". The act he beat out? The duo of Tyler Hubbard and Bryan Kelley, better known as Florida Georgia Line, who, in turn, would come right back along with singer Bebe Ruxa for the smash "Meant to Be" which racked up fifty weeks on top. But this is by no means just a modern trend. Hits from the forties and fifties such as Hank Snow's "I'm Moving On" and Hank Williams' "Lovesick Blues" also enjoyed extended stays at the top, albeit for "only" fifteen to twenty weeks. (There is, however, a noticeable gap from the mid-sixties through to the millennium when one to five weeks at number one was the norm)
Honestly, I don't know what's so special about any of these songs that merited such lengthy periods on top. There's nothing particularly wrong with any of them, mind you. Buck Owens, the country artist I keep name-dropping in this space (in no small part because I'm disappointed that he won't be coming up), had many number ones on the Billboard country charts, including six weeks for "I Don't Care (Just as Long as You Love Me)" and five for "I've Got a Tiger by the Tail" which both seem perfectly reasonable for such great songs. But sixteen for "Love's Gonna Live Here"? Seriously?
Which brings us back to Leroy Van Dyke. "Walk on By" is a nice little tune. Kind of jaunty but also somewhat poignant. You don't have to be a country fan from southern Alberta to identify with being in a new relationship but still holding a candle for the one that came before and being forced into not acknowledging them. Songs about bumping into people are supposed to bring out feelings that have been hidden deep down but what about the awkwardness that almost always comes about. (I once introduced a current girlfriend to one of my exes and the tension was just the worst; though far from ideal, I'd much rather snub a former lover than repeat that situation ever again) It's a pretty good song that I have no problem with other than the fact that it was way too popular on the American country charts. (Not that I wish to punish it — the score I've given it below would be the same either way)
Country songs did well on the CHUM charts during the late stages of 1961 — in addition to "Walk on By", C&W hits "Johnny Willow", "Big Bad John" and "You're the Reason" all went to number one — but this wasn't to last. With the British Invasion in full swing, a national country chart would be established in Canada in the second half of '64. While there would occasionally be crossover hits from that point forward, most country music would be consigned to their own listing. Monster hits would come along but the bulk of them would be for the preserve of country radio and country listeners. The rest of us were denied them — either that or we were spared, depending on how you want to look at it.
Score: 6
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