My brother had real penchant for Tom T. Hall the country and western legend. Perhaps one of the great story tellers of country. This is a classic song and Jennie does a great version that seemed to catch the zeitgeist. Listen again . . . . . 

On this day in music history: September 21, 1968 - “Harper Valley P.T.A.” by Jeannie C. Riley hits #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 for 1 week, also topping the Country singles chart for 3 weeks on September 28, 1968. Written by Tom T. Hall, it is the biggest hit for the country and gospel singer born Jeanne Carolyn Stephenson. Born and raised in Stamford, TX in 1945, Stephenson marries Mickey Riley and give birth to a daughter, before moving to Nashville to work as a secretary at the offices of music publisher Passkey Music. While working at the publisher that Riley sings on numerous song demos, one of which is heard by Mercury Records staff producer Shelby Singleton. Believing in her potential, Singleton signs her as the first artist on his newly established Plantation Records imprint through Mercury. Written by country music legend Tom T. Hall, the songs narrative is about a young widowed mother in a small southern town, being berated by the local P.T.A. (Parent Teachers Association) at her daughter’s school, when they don’t approve of her manner of dress and supposed “loose” morals. The woman stands up to the people, pointing out their shortcomings and exposing their great hypocrisy. Released as a single in late July of 1968, it is an immediate smash, selling 1.7 million copies in just two weeks, and quickly rising up the country and pop singles charts. Entering the Hot 100 at #81 on August 24, 1968, it rockets to the top of the chart four weeks later. At the time of its release, it takes the single largest leap up the Hot 100 when it moves from its debut position of #81 to #7 in its second week. Jeannie C. Riley becomes the first female country artist in history to top both the pop and country singles charts at the same time. This does not occur again until 1981 when Dolly Parton tops both charts simultaneously with “9 To 5”. Riley also wins a Grammy Award for Best Female Country Vocal Performance in 1969. “Harper Valley P.T.A.” later inspires a hit television movie starring actress Barbara Eden (“I Dream Of Jeannie”). The movie is spun off into a TV series running on NBC in 1981-82. “Harper Valley P.T.A.” is certified Gold in the US by the RIAA.