A STUDIO REHEARSAL FOR THE SPECIAL NBC BROADCAST "COUNTRY MUSIC HIT PARADE TO BE AIRED FEBRUARY 25, 1973. VIDEO TAPED BEFORE A LIVE AUDIENCE THIS BEHIND THE SCENES AUDIO AIR CHECK, RECORDED BY NBC ENGINEER MAHLON FOX, DEPICTS A DRESS REHEARSAL WITH HOST TENNESSEE ERNIE FORD AND HIS GUESTS. WE HEAR, OFF MIKE, AND ON MIKE, FORD TALKING WITH THE AUDIENCE AND WITH HIS DIRECTOR IN THE CONTROL BOOTH DISCUSSING SHOT SET UPS. THERE IS AN INTRO TO THE SPONSOR (GAS COMPANY). WE HEAR REHEARSAL CUTS OF SONGS TO BE TAPED FOR THE UPCOMING BROADCAST TO BE AIRED LATER THIS MONTH.
INDIVIDUAL TAKES ARE RECORDED OF AUDIENCE APPLAUDING. THIS DRESS REHEARSAL, THE SECOND TO BE LAID DOWN ON TAPE, IS FASCINATING TO LISTEN TO IN REAL TIME AS TALENT AND BEHIND THE SCENES PERSONNEL CONDUCT "SMALL TALK" AND AD LIB TO ONE ANOTHER.
A SONG PERFORMED BY THE CAST, NOT INCLUDED IN THE FINAL EDITED NBC BROADCAST, IS "THIS LAND IS YOUR LAND. SOME OF THE SONGS REHEARSED AND RECORDED TO VIDEOTAPE INCLUDE:
"I WALK THE LINE"...................TENNESSEE ERNIE FORD
"BY THE TIME I GET TO PHOENIX, "SHE'S TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE".............................EDDY ARNOLD
"LITTLE GREEN APPLES\"...................LYNN ANDERSON
"HAPPIEST GIRL IN THE WHOLE U.S.A."............DONNA FARGO
