THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

708-Jeannie C. Riley-Harper Valley PTA.

1968-Number 12 single.

Best Bit-At 2.47. ‘Let him who is without sin cast the first stone.’

Jeannie C. Riley was born Jeanne Carolyn Stephenson, on October 19th, 1945, in Anson, Texas, United States, she gained her initial success as a ‘Country Music’ singer, but in the early 1970’s she became a born-again Christian, and started recording ‘Gospel Music’ during the late 1970’s. Jeannie C. Riley has released 26 Albums between 1968-2017, and 29 singles between 1968-1991. Her debut studio Album called ‘Harper Valley PTA,’ was a Number 1 Album on the Billboard ‘Top Country Albums’ chart in America in 1968. Her only top 40 hit on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart remains ‘Harper Valley PTA,’ which has gone on to sell in excess of six million copies worldwide, though she has had 13 top 40 hits on the Billboard ‘Hot Country Songs’ chart. In the UK, ‘Harper Valley PTA,’ remains her only top 40 entry to date. In America on Billboard, ‘Harper Valley PTA,’ was the first single to top both the Billboard Hot 100, and the Billboard Country chart by a female artist, although it happened on alternate weeks.

The original version of ‘Harper Valley PTA’ was recorded by the Country singer Margie Singleton, who had asked the songwriter Tom T. Hall to write her a song similar to Bobby Gentry’s ‘Ode to Billie Joe’ (see also best songs 18.) Jeannie C. Riley got to hear Singleton’s version, and recorded her own version, which was rush released ahead of Singleton’s. Such was the popularity of the song that it inspired the 1978 comedy film ‘Harper Valley PTA,’ and the 1981 television series ‘Harper Valley,’ that ran for two seasons.

‘Harper Valley PTA’ was written by Tom T. Hall, with the production being by Shelby Singleton, (1931-2009) and was released as a single in August 1968 by Jeannie C. Riley. Tom T. Hall was born Thomas Hall, on May 25th, 1936, in Tick Ridge, Kentucky, United States, he died at his home on August 20, 2021, of a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head. He left no suicide note, but was found to have ‘Chlordiazepoxide,’ which is used to treat anxiety, and alcohol withdrawal, in his system. At the time of his death he was rumoured to have been suffering from numerous old age related illnesses, he was 85 years old. Tom T. Hall was a Country Music singer, a songwriter, and an author, who was nicknamed ‘The Storyteller.’ He released 35 studio Albums between 1969-2007, and 50 singles between 1967-1986, there are also nine official compilation Albums available. He had 39 of his singles chart within the Billboard ‘Hot Country Songs’ chart, with seven of those tracks reaching Number 1. His 1973 song ‘I Love,’ was his only crossover hit, reaching Number 12 on the Billboard ‘Hot 100’ singles chart. Hall who was also the author of seven books between 1976-1996, wrote 12 Country Number 1 singles in total, with many of the genres greats, such as Johnny Cash, George Jones, and Loretta Lynn, covering his songs.

‘Harper Valley PTA’ tells the story of the widowed wife Mrs Johnson, who is frowned upon by members of the local schools PTA, who accuse her of wearing her skirts too short, drinking, and being seen with many men. Mrs Johnson addresses the PTA, and puts them in their place by pointing out their indiscretions. Tom T. Hall revealed in 2005 that his inspiration for the song came about after witnessing a similar scenario when he was a child in the mid 1940’s, when one of the mothers of one of his classmates had angered one of the local school board members, because of her modern ways, and the school was taking out their frustrations on her daughter. The mother gave a verbal tongue lashing at the school, which was something that was unheard of at the time.

In 1984, Jeannie C. Riley recorded a sequel to ‘Harper Valley PTA’ called ‘Return to Harper Valley,’ which was also written by Tom T. Hall, but it failed to chart. In the sequel, Riley sings as Mrs. Johnson, who is now a grandmother. She observes that some townsfolk conquered their vices, while others did not.

‘I wanna tell you all the story ’bout a Harper Valley widowed wife, who had a teenage daughter who attended Harper Valley Junior High. Well, her daughter came home one afternoon, and didn’t even stop to play, and she said, “mom, I got a note here from the Harper Valley PTA.’