Every No. 1 Single of the Seventies: Tammy Wynette, “Kids Say the Darnedest Things”

“Kids Say the Darnedest Things“

Tammy Wynette

Written by Billy Sherrill and Glenn Sutton

Billboard

#1 (1 week)

June 16, 1973

There was a time when I thought this song was farfetched.

Then I entered the education profession, and learned that kids are all up in grown folks’ business, and they don’t hesitate to share it with anyone and everyone when they get to school.

So I have a personal appreciation for this one that has grown with time. It’s clever enough to fly over the heads of the kids themselves, and recreate the experience of having them unintentionally reveal what’s going down at home through passing comments and creative play.

And you have to feel a little bad for Barbara Fairchild. This one was right in her wheelhouse, but of course Tammy Wynette was going to get first dibs on it and there’s no timeline that would’ve created a better record if she hadn’t gotten into it first. Wynette did this kind of record better than anybody else.

“Kids Say the Darnedest Things” gets a B+.

Every No. 1 Single of the Seventies

Previous: Johnny Rodriguez, “You Always Come Back (to Hurting Me)” |

Next: Charley Pride, “Don’t Fight the Feelings of Love”