Stay Away from the Apple Tree
{{Infobox song
| name = Stay Away from the Apple Tree
| type = single
| cover = Billie Jo Spears--Stay Away from the Apple Tree.jpg
| artist = Billie Jo Spears
| album = Billie Jo
| B-side = "Before Your Time"
| released = {{Start date|1975|05}}
| recorded = {{Start date|1975|04}}
| studio = Jack Clement Recording (Nashville, Tennessee)
| genre = {{hlist|Country{{cite web |title="Stay Away from the Apple Tree": Billie Jo Spears: Track Info |url=https://www.allmusic.com/song/stay-away-from-the-apple-tree-mt0013660980 |website=AllMusic |access-date=31 January 2023}}|Countrypolitan}}
| length = 2:46
| label = United Artists
| writer = {{hlist|Roger Bowling|Larry Butler}}
| producer = Larry Butler
| prev_title = Blanket on the Ground
| prev_year = 1975
| next_title = Silver Wings and Golden Rings
| next_year = 1975
}}
"Silver Wings and Golden Rings" is a song recorded by American country artist Billie Jo Spears. It was written by Roger Bowling and Larry Butler. Released as a single, the track reached the top 20 of the North American country charts in 1975. It was also released on Spears's 1975 album titled Billie Jo.
Background and recording
After years of personal and professional setbacks, Billie Jo Spears returned in 1975 with the single "Blanket on the Ground".{{cite web |last1=Huey |first1=Steve |title=Billie Jo Spears Biography |url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/billie-jo-spears-mn0000081926/biography |website=AllMusic |access-date=28 January 2023}} The song topped the country charts and set forth a string of top ten and top 20 singles during the seventies decade. Her immediate follow-up single to "Blanket on the Ground" was 1975's "Stay Away from the Apple Tree".{{cite book |title= The Billboard Book Of Top 40 Country Hits: 1944-2006, Second edition|last=Whitburn |first=Joel |author-link=Joel Whitburn |year=2004 |publisher=Record Research |page=various}} The track was composed by Roger Bowling and Larry Butler. Butler would also serve as the song's producer when it was recorded in April 1975. The session was held at the Jack Clement Recording Studio, located in Nashville, Tennessee.{{cite journal |last1=Spears |first1=Billie Jo |title="Stay Away from the Apple Tree"/"Before Your Time" (Single Information) |journal=United Artists Records |date=May 1975 |id=UA-XW653-y}}
Release and chart performance
"Stay Away from the Apple Tree" was released by United Artists Records in May 1975. It was backed on the B-side by the song, "Before Your Time". It was distributed as a seven-inch vinyl single. The song entered America's Billboard Hot Country Songs chart in July 1975. It reached a peak of 20 on the chart in October 1975. It was one of 12 singles that reached either the top ten or top 20 of the Billboard country chart in the wake of "Blanket on the Ground". On Canada's RPM Country Tracks survey, the single reached number 17.{{cite magazine|url=http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-110.01-e.php?PHPSESSID=gmrhouli7kvfvaeu848ka389j0&q1=Billie+Jo+Spears&x=0&y=0|title=Search results for "Billie Jo Spears"|magazine=RPM|accessdate=24 January 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121012175849/http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-110.01-e.php?PHPSESSID=gmrhouli7kvfvaeu848ka389j0&q1=Billie+Jo+Spears&x=0&y=0|archive-date=12 October 2012|url-status=dead}} "Stay Away from the Apple Tree" was included on Spears's second studio album on United Artists, titled Billie Jo.{{cite journal |last1=Spears |first1=Billie Jo |title=Billie Jo (Disc Information) |journal=United Artists Records |date=October 1975 |id=UA-LA508-G}}
Track listing
Charts
| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
|+ Weekly chart performance for "Stay Away from the Apple Tree" ! scope="col"| Chart (1975) ! scope="col"| Peak |
| scope="row"| Canada Country Tracks (RPM)
|align="center"|17 |
|---|
| {{single chart|Billboardcountrysongs|20|artist=Billie Jo Spears|rowheader=true|access-date=January 31, 2022}} |