We ran back to Nashville and told MCA to release this thing as the first single, and they did. Elvira sold over a million singles and moved over a million albums during the next few months with just country airplay (unheard of in 1981). As Elvira was peaking in the country charts, the Fancy Free single was released and became a huge hit as well. Then Elvira crossed into the pop charts and continued to hit big for the entire summer and well into the fall.

In fact, right after Labor Day in 1981, we went to Anchorage, Alaska for two big shows. A local pop station had just had an All Elvira Labor Day Weekend party, wherein they only played Elvira for 72 straight hours. When we got off the plane there were hundreds of folks there to greet us. After 72 straight hours of Elvira, I was sure they were going to throw ice balls at us but they didn’t.

Elvira not only generated over five million record sales but won every music award given for excellence in 1981. CMA Song of the Year, ACM Song of the Year, a BMI award for the most plays ever, Billboard award for “most airplay,” American Jukebox Award for “most played,” and a coveted NARAS Grammy Award for Best Country Song, just to name a few.

For the Oaks, our challenge was not to try to top Elvira but to, at least, keep recording quality songs that would keep our momentum going. We failed with a recreation of the Fiesta’s hit, So Fine, but scored big with Bobbie Sue, Thank God For Kids, and American Made.

In 1981, 1982 and 1983, The Oak Ridge Boys never performed for an empty seat. Things would slow down a little over the next few years and beyond but those three years of being the hottest act in the music business left a huge imprint on all four of us. It was a run for the history books, and we are thankful for the experience.

These were the real “glory days” when The Oak Ridge Boys were young and strong and ran with the wind at our backs and the sun shining on our face. Sometimes today, when the concert hall is full and I see William Lee Golden take a knee to “Thank God for grandkids, too,” I can look back and easily visualize a sea of lighters in places like Poplar Creek in Chicago or Pine Knob in Detroit.

When we start Elvira and I hear the big cheer, my mind’s eye can still see The Summit in Houston or the Field House at Middle Tennessee State University. I remember roaring louder than we are singing, and I can’t help thinking of the Bob Seger song, Like A Rock, that asks……

I wouldn’t really want to go back there because I am very happy in my present day skin, but I am also here to tell you……

That Oak Ridge Boys COOKIN’ TOUR...
sure did ROCK!



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