Born on This Day in 1938, the Forgotten 1970s Country Star Whose Songs Unflinchingly Took on Topics Most Shied Away From

On this day (January 14) in 1938, Billie Jo Spears was born in Beaumont, Texas. Her recording career began in the mid-1950s. However, it didn’t truly take off until the late ’60s, when she landed her first hit. The 1970s saw her finding consistent chart success as well as international acclaim.

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Spears released her debut single, “Too Old for Toys, Too Young for Boys,” in 1953. It failed to chart. Her next four singles faced the same fate. Then, in 1968, “He’s Got More Love on His Little Finger” peaked at No. 48 on the country chart. The next year, she found her first hit with “Mr. Walker, It’s All Over,” which peaked at No. 4 on the country chart. It also reached No. 80 on the Hot 100 and broke into the top 10 in Canada.

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“Mr. Walker, It’s All Over” was one of many songs in Spears’ discography that fearlessly took on social issues. Its lyrics are from the perspective of a young woman from a small town who moves to New York and takes a job as a secretary. The song’s second verse outlines the sexual harassment she faces from “a crowd of guys” in the office, including the company’s elderly president. In the end, she chooses to return to her hometown and settle down with the “boy next door.”

Her next single, “Stepchild,” wasn’t a hit. However, it was another example of the kind of unflinching material she chose to record. The song is about a boy who kills his abusive stepfather.

Billie Jo Spears Scores a Racy No. 1

Billie Jo Spears’ biggest hit was “Blanket on the Ground.” It reached the top of the country chart in 1975. While many country songs deal with sex and relationship issues, few approach the topic as this Roger Bowling-penned hit.

Spears sings from the perspective of a middle-aged married woman who wants to spice up her love life. She tries to entice her husband to make love to her on a blanket on the ground under the moon, in their “spot by the river.”

At the time, many producers and artists passed on the song because it was too racy. Moreover, it was believed to be too blunt for a woman to sing. Spears proved everyone wrong. It was a hit in the United States and Canada. It also helped her gain popularity in the United Kingdom and across Europe.

In the early 1980s, she focused on bolstering her popularity across the pond. She signed with UK-based labels and toured heavily in the territory.

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