I heard a Conway Twitty & Loretta Lynn song earlier this week called “Spiders and Snakes.” It’s the funniest thing that I’ve picked up on in a good long while. It’s a track from their 1974 album Country Partners, which was anchored by their #1 smash “As Soon as I Hang Up the Phone.”
I won’t spoil it for those who haven’t heard it, but the storyline isn’t as priceless as hearing two legends cut it up at the peak of their fame.
What’s your recommendation?
Kenny Rogers – Lucille
I am a big fan of Kenny’s voice – and the story in this song. I think it’s the paradox between the lyric and the melody that really clinch it for me. You just have to sing along with this sad tale of love lost and a man left with ‘four hungry children and a crop in the field’ …
I picked “I Want You” by Faith Hill from her Fireflies album. The song’s lyrics are nice and they get the point across. But the real reason I love this song is the sound. It’s just gorgeous in the background with Faith’s soaring vocals. It’s a great uptempo song that still has substance and is one of the coolest sounding songs I’ve heard in a long time.
My runner up song was Carrie Underwood’s “I Ain’t In Checotah Anymore”.
Trisha Yearwood – This Is Me You’re Talking To
Phenomenal vocals consisting of amazing clarity, consistency, and strength. Simply amazing.
Dolly Parton’s “Lonely Comin’ Down”
From Dolly’s acclaimed “Jolene” LP, comes this song about a woman waking up in a strange place, looking in to the mirror at a strange face, then she looks for him, but he is not around, then “I felt the lonely comin’ down”
This is just one of MANY songs of Dolly’s that deserve to be heard, many sung with her duet partner, Porter Wagoner – who, by the way, wrote this great song…
I love every single song recommended so far. Awesome choices.
I would recommend “Down from Dover” by Skeeter Davis, from her 1970 album “It’s Hard to Be a Woman.”
Dolly Parton wrote the song but Davis’ version is
more emotional and dramatic- a perfect vocal. In fact, the whole album is fantastic, and unfortunately not available on CD. The song was recycled and put on the “Skeeter Sings Dolly” LP, which is available on CD.
Dixie Chicks – Voice Inside My Head
Back when I first heard this album, “Not Ready to Make Nice” might have been the big thing, but I was so shocked when I heard Voice Inside My Head. It instantly became my favorite song on the album, and while it took me several listens to understand what the lyrics were saying, once I figured it out, it made the song all the more meaningful and powerful.
I’m going to reccomend the title track to Sara Evans’ 4th album “Restless”. It’s a really cool sounding song that has a really great lyric. I love the message of the song as well.
I have to say that “Evangeline” from Little Big Town is quite a good track. I also have to give James Taylor props for making “Seminole Wind” feel even sadder and real than John Anderson did.
Mark Wills: “Emily Harper”
the first verse of this almost perfect bit of ear-candy is one of the most charming short-biographies in country music. that song makes his latest effort “the things we forget” even more forgettable.
I second the Trisha recommendation.
“Thank Heavens for Dale Evans”, the title song of the Original Dixie Chicks CD first CD
Also “Alabama, Louisiana or Tennessee” from The 1968 Buck Ownes album I’VE GOT YOU ON MY MIND AGAIN
Before I make my recommendation, I would first like to say, even though I’m not a fan of most Pop Music, I took the time to listen to the tracks listed here. Some I’ve heard before, but most I hadn’t. My suggestion is by Buck Jones. With many great songs to chose from Buck, I went with “Going To New Orleans”. His heartfelt delivery and melody of this song gets to me everytime. Now more than ever, and here’s why. Buck Jones was an extremely talented singer/songwriter who was tragically killed by a drunk driver on March 17, 2007 on a Texas highway. Buck was just hitting his musical stride when it was all taken away. Ironically, the first song I heard by Buck was the lighthearted comical, “You Only Call Me When Your Drunk”. Obviously, this song isn’t funny anymore. If you get a chance, check out the Buck Jones myspace page, and listen to his music. That’s my recommendation for today. Thanks.
One of the lesser known songs in Linda Ronstadt’s vast songbook is “Colorado”, a track from her 1973 album DON’T CRY NOW that was written by Rick Roberts (who had replaced Gram Parsons in the Flying Burrito Brothers, and who later founded the band Firefall). It’s a very typical story song of the sort that Linda always seemed to find in the day, about leaving home for something different, but finding out just how homesick a person can be after a long time…
“But I’m tired of that race
It was much too fast a pace
And I think I’ve found my place
Colorado, I want to come home”
Linda knows a thing or too about being heartfelt and poignant, especially when it comes to the country-rock arena; and this ballad is proof of it. It’s not autobiographical, of course (Linda didn’t write it, and she’s from Arizona), but the incredible longing in her voice is evident, and she makes it FEEL like it is her story. “Colorado” is one of the most underrated songs in her entire catalog (IMHO).
Lauren Lucas, “Riverstone.”
Bekka Bramlett “Used” (which has been recorded by other artists, like Lorrie Morgan, but it isn’t as good as it it is when Bekka is singing it).
Martone,
I LOVE that Buck Jones song. I was very saddened when I found out he was killed that way.
Jesus and Bartenders, Larry Cordle and Lonesome Standard Time
I like Conway’s and Lorretta’s version, but I think I like the Jim Stafford version even better. I was away for the weekend, so I’ll think of a track to recommend now that I’m back.
Tom – I love Mark Wills’ “Emily Harper” too, great suggestion! In fact I love that whole 1998 album, “Wish You Were Here.”
I’m suggesting “New Orleans”, the 4th track on Toby Keith’s “How Do You Like Me Now” album from 2000. The song follows a woman who’s left New Orleans. It hints at but never spells out why she left, and this is part of what makes the song original and captivating. I actually know the writer, Steve Seskin, and had been used to hearing his version, but I’m pleasantly surprised with Toby’s restrained vocal. To me this song is something of a great anomaly in Toby’s rather raucous catalog of tunes.