On this day in 1968: Jeannie C. Riley recorded “Harper Valley PTA.”

The song was written by Tom T. Hall and became, in 1968, a major international hit single for country singer Jeannie C. Riley. The song was originally recorded by Margie Singleton, on Ashley Records A 5000 in July, 1968. Riley’s record sold over six million copies as a single. It made Riley the first woman to top both the Billboard Hot 100 and the U.S. Hot Country Singles charts with the same song, a feat that would go un-repeated until Dolly Parton’s “9 to 5” in 1981.

The song also inspired the 1978 American comedy film starring Barbara Eden, Nanette Fabray, Ronny Cox, Louis Nye and Susan Swift.  The film was primarily released to drive-in theaters throughout the summer of 1978.  The film’s promotional tagline is: “The song was scandalous. The movie is hilarious!”