Beneath Still Waters (song)

"Beneath Still Waters"
Single by Diana Trask
B-side"Heartbreak Hotel"
ReleasedMarch 28, 1970
GenreCountry
LabelDot
SongwriterDallas Frazier
ProducerBuddy Killen
Diana Trask singles chronology
"I Fall to Pieces"
(1969)
"Beneath Still Waters"
(1970)
"The Chokin' Kind"
(1970)

"Beneath Still Waters" is a song written by Dallas Frazier in 1967 and first recorded the same year by George Jones, who released it on his 1968 album My Country. Country singer Carl Vaughn's version was released as the B-side to his single "Love Thy Neighbor" in October 1968 on Monument Records, before the release of Jones' album in December 1968.

In 1970, it was recorded and released as a single by Diana Trask. "Beneath Still Waters" was her second hit on the country chart, spending two weeks and peaking at number 38 on the chart.[1]

Chart performance

Chart (1970) Peak
position
US Hot Country Songs (Billboard)[2] 38
Canadian RPM Country Tracks 50
"Beneath Still Waters"
Single by Emmylou Harris
from the album Blue Kentucky Girl
B-side"'Til I Gain Control Again"
ReleasedMarch 1, 1980
GenreCountry
Length3:45
LabelWarner Bros. Nashville
SongwriterDallas Frazier
ProducerBrian Ahern
Emmylou Harris singles chronology
"Blue Kentucky Girl"
(1979)
"Beneath Still Waters"
(1980)
"Wayfaring Stranger"
(1980)

Emmylou Harris version

In March 1980, Emmylou Harris scored her fourth number one hit on the country chart with her version of the song, which was the second single from her album Blue Kentucky Girl.[3]

Historic week

The song was part of a historic week on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart during the week of April 19, 1980. That week, all of the top five positions were held by female singers, the first time in the chart's history this would occur.[4]

The Top 5 from that week was:

  1. "It's Like We Never Said Goodbye" by Crystal Gayle
  2. "A Lesson in Leavin'" by Dottie West
  3. "Are You on the Road to Lovin' Me Again" by Debby Boone
  4. "Beneath Still Waters" by Emmylou Harris
  5. "Two Story House" by Tammy Wynette (duet with George Jones)[5]

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (1980) Peak
position
US Hot Country Songs (Billboard)[6] 1
Canadian RPM Country Tracks 3

Year-end charts

Chart (1980) Position
US Hot Country Songs (Billboard)[7] 21

References

  1. ^ Whitburn, Joel (2004). The Billboard Book Of Top 40 Country Hits: 1944-2006, Second edition. Record Research. p. 350.
  2. ^ "Diana Trask Chart History (Hot Country Songs)". Billboard.
  3. ^ Whitburn, Joel (2004). The Billboard Book Of Top 40 Country Hits: 1944-2006, Second edition. Record Research. p. 152.
  4. ^ "Hot Country Songs Chart".
  5. ^ Billboard magazine — April 19, 1980, issue.
  6. ^ "Emmylou Harris Chart History (Hot Country Songs)". Billboard.
  7. ^ "Hot Country Songs – Year-End 1980". Billboard. Retrieved July 17, 2021.