Kevin John Coyne

Retro Single Review: Tim McGraw, “Down on the Farm”

August 1, 2011 Kevin John Coyne 9

1994 | Peak: #2

How refreshing as it is to hear a country pride anthem that actually has country instrumentation and twangy singing.

Retro Single Review: Dolly Parton, “Daddy”

August 1, 2011 Kevin John Coyne 1

1969| Peak: #40

“Daddy” is the first in a string of provocative Parton singles that absolutely bewildered country radio.

Here, a daughter addresses her cheating father, who is leaving her mother behind for a woman who is younger than 23, the age of our unhappy narrator here.

Retro Single Review: Porter Wagoner & Dolly Parton, “Yours Love”

July 28, 2011 Kevin John Coyne 5

1969 | Peak: #9

Perhaps the least satisfying Wagoner & Parton singles are the ones that fall in the “let’s pledge our true love” category.

This shouldn’t be a surprise. Stop and think about the very best solo songs by Parton and by Wagoner. How many of them are sweet love songs?

Retro Single Review: George Strait, “Marina Del Rey”

July 27, 2011 Kevin John Coyne 4

1982 | Peak: #6

“Marina Del Rey” was an early attempt by George Strait at recording a pensive and thoughtful ballad.

He wasn’t quite ready for it, yet. The lyrics are appropriately longing and sentimental for times gone by, but Strait hasn’t yet developed enough as a vocalist to pull off the mature performance required.

Retro Single Review: Dolly Parton, “In the Good Old Days (When Times Were Bad)”

July 26, 2011 Kevin John Coyne 6

1968 | Peak: #25

A frighteningly candid depiction of Parton’s impoverished childhood.

Going to bed hungry. Watching her mother suffer with illness because they can’t afford a doctor. Working from sunrise to sunset, only to see a hail storm destroy your crops.

Retro Single Review: Porter Wagoner & Dolly Parton, “Jeannie’s Afraid of the Dark”

July 16, 2011 Kevin John Coyne 5

1968 | Peak: #51

“I write a lot of sad songs. Some of them are just plum pitiful.” – Dolly Parton

Retro Single Review: Porter Wagoner & Dolly Parton, “We’ll Get Ahead Someday”

July 16, 2011 Kevin John Coyne 0

1968 | Peak : #5

Porter & Dolly scored a double-sided hit single in 1968, with both sides establishing a subgenre within their catalog.

The A-side, “We’ll Get Ahead Someday”, became their first top five hit. It’s the first single of theirs that casts them as the playfully quarreling husband and wife.

Retro Single Review: George Strait, “If You’re Thinking You Want a Stranger (There’s One Coming Home)”

July 11, 2011 Kevin John Coyne 2

1982 | Peak: #3

If Strait’s voice wasn’t so distinctive and familiar, you could be forgiven for mistaking this for Johnny Lee’s “Looking For Love.”

Retro Single Review: Tim McGraw, “Two Steppin’ Mind”

July 11, 2011 Kevin John Coyne 0

1993 | Peak: #71

The first two singles from Tim’s debut album had their good points. This one doesn’t.

Single Reviews: Blake Shelton, “Honey Bee” and “God Gave Me You”

July 9, 2011 Kevin John Coyne 19

Though the genre has boasted some great album artists over the years, country music remains the most singles-driven format. Albums are often just singles with a bunch of filler. But what to do when the singles are the filler?