1975 C.W. McCall – Black Bear Road

Black Bear Road is an album by country musician C.W. McCall (real name Bill Fries), released on MGM Records in 1975 (see 1975 in music). It is largely considered the album which gave him the most significant boost of his career, almost entirely due to the hit novelty song, “Convoy”, that hit the number one spot on both Billboard’s Country charts and its Pop charts. The song itself was largely responsible for starting a nationwide citizens’ band radio craze. The song “Black Bear Road” in turn popularized the now-infamous road itself, along with its “You don’t HAVE to be crazy to drive this road – but it helps” sign.

Tracks

1  Black Bear Road (Bill Fries, Chip Davis) 2:00
2  Convoy (Bill Fries, Chip Davis) 3:46
3  Ghost Town (Bill Fries, Chip Davis) 3:34
4  Green River (Bill Fries, Chip Davis) 3:07
5  Lewis And Clark (Bill Fries, Chip Davis) 2:24
6  Long Lonesome Road (Bill Fries, Chip Davis) 2:11
7  Mountains Of My Mind (Bill Fries, Chip Davis) 3:49
8  Oregon Trail (Bill Fries, Chip Davis) 2:58
9  The Silverton (Bill Fries, Chip Davis) 2:43
10  Write Me A Song (Bill Fries, Chip Davis) 2:18

Media

Musicians

BassEric Hansen
DrumsBill Berg
GuitarBobbie Thomas
Steel GuitarBobbie Thomas
BanjoBobbie Thomas
BanjoRon Steele
KeyboardsJackson Berkey
TimpaniJackson Berkey
French HornDavid Kappy
TromboneBill Buntain
TrumpetGene Badgett
TubaJim Schanilec
Background VocalsCarol Rogers
Background VocalsDick Ronelle
Background VocalsDick Solowicz
Background VocalsMilt Bailey
Background VocalsSarah Westphalen
Background VocalsTom Sinclair
VocalsC.W. McCall

Other Musicians

2 Convoy

BassBrian Sampson
DrumsChip Davis
GuitarRon Cooley
BanjoSteve Hanson

5 Lewis And Clark

BassBrian Sampson
DrumsChip Davis
GuitarRon Cooley
BanjoSteve Hanson

7 Mountains Of My Mind

BassJimmy Johnson
DrumsDonald Simmons
MandolinSteve Hanson

10 Write Me A Song

BassJimmy Johnson
DrumsDonald Simmons
MandolinSteve Hanson


Strings – Alex Sokol, Beth McCollum, Dorothy Brown, Hugh Brown, Joe Landes, Martin Pearson, Merton Shatzkin, Miriam Duffelmeyer

Liner Notes

Producer – Chip Davis, Don Sears
Arranged By – Chip Davis
Engineer – Don Sears, John Boyd
Recorded By – Ron Ubel
Sounds – Louis F. Davis, Jr.

Art Direction – Sheri Leverich
Artwork – Dudycha, Schirck & Associates
Design – Bill Fries, Don Sears
Photography By – Don Sears

Distributed By – Polydor Incorporated
Manufactured By – Polydor Incorporated
Phonographic Copyright (p) – MGM Records, Inc.
Copyright (c) – MGM Records, Inc.
Published By – American Gramaphone
Recorded At – Sound Recorders, Omaha
Mastered At – Sound Recorders, Omaha