“Blanket on the Ground”, a song written by Roger Bowling, was recorded by Billie Jo Spears for the United Artists label, was recorded on November 4, 1974, at American Studios, 1111 17th Ave. South, Nashville, TN, Billie Jo She was accompanied in the recording session of the album by: Bill Sanford (guitar), Jim Colvard (guitar), Jimmy Caps (guitar), Ed Bruce (guitar), Pete Drake (steel), Tommy Allsup (bass guitar), Larry Butler, Bob Moore and Henry Strzelecki (bass), Buddy Harman and Kenny Malone (drums) and The Jordanaires (Background vocals). With the production of Larry Butler, the song was released in January 1975, on April 26, 1975, reached # 1 of the US Hot Country Songs charts, remaining a total of 17 weeks in the charts. On Canadian RPM Country Tracks, it reached at # 2. It was the first and only number one in Billie Jo’s career.
The song was included in Billie Jo’s seventh studio album, Blanket on the Ground (United Artists 1975), the album was released in February 1975, on December 24, 1975, reached # 4 of the US Top Country charts Albums, remaining a total of 23 weeks in the charts.
About the song:
Many artists have a “career record”, a song which becomes so well-known that it swamps anything else they do. With Billie Jo Spears, it was her 1975 single, “Blanket on the Ground”, a song which suggested putting the romance back into a marriage. “It became controversial,” said Spears, “as many of the listeners thought I was singing ‘sleep around’ instead of ‘slip around’. The country fans thought it sounded like a cheating song, and they don’t like girls who sing cheating songs. “ With a few more plays, everyone realized what the song was about and it became an international bestseller.
Some Versions:
Jean Shepard 1975 (United Artists Records)
Patsy Powell 1975 (Folk Heritage Records)
Johnny Chester 1976 (Music for Pleasure)
Allison Durbin 1976 (Bullet Records)
Larry Butler 1977 (United Artists Records)
Stella Parton 2016 (Raptor)
Laura Aston 2018 (Legacy Records)
Miquel Batlle Garriga
mbatllegarriga@gmail.com