Song:Rub It In
Album:Superstars Of Country: Hello Darlin'
Billy "Crash" Craddock started out as a rockabilly singer in the late 50s. But he had most of his success as a country singer in the 70s. In 1974, Rub It In was a number one country hit and it crossed over to pop. He was born June 16, 1939 in Greensboro, NC. As a teen, he won a local TV talent contest for 15 straight weeks. The nickname "Crash" is from his days as a high school football running back. After high school, he formed the rockabilly group The Four Rebels with his brother. After releasing a couple of singles on local labels, Craddock got a record deal with Columbia's Date label. They unsuccessfully tried to sell Craddock as a teen idol. But he had success in Australia after touring there in 1959. He even had a number one record there. In the 60s, Craddock recorded one album for King Records and released singles on Mercury and Chart. He quit the music business to work in a cigarette factory. But he returned in 1969 with Cartwheel Records and had a number three country hit in 1971 with his cover of the Tony Otlando & Dawn hit Knock Three Times. His success led to a contract with ABC Records in 1973. Rub It In was his first number one country hit in 1974. And it crossed over to pop and reached #16 on the Billboard Hot 100. It's a song about suntan lotion so it registers high on the silly scale. Rub It In was written by Layng Martine Jr. and he recorded it in 1971. You have probably heard the song as the theme for the long running Glade Air Freshener campaign. "Plug it in. Plug it in." Craddock's other number one country hits were his 1974 cover of The Drifters' Ruby Baby and Broken Down in Tiny Pieces in 1976. There is no Billy "Crash" Craddock comp of his ABC recordings available. There was one on Razor & Tie but it is out of print. But you can get Rub It In on this 2CD various artists Time Life comp. Craddock left ABC for Capitol in 1977 but didn't have the same success there. He recorded for MCA and Atlantic in the 80s. Billy "Crash" Craddock still tours. His latest CD Live -N- Kickin' was released in 2009. Here's Billy "Crash" Craddock performing Rub It in on Pop Goes The Country 1974.
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