Jack Cardwell "The Death Of Hank Williams" Single Of The Day

Greetings from Asheville, where good music is always on the turntable.  Whenever someone of legendary proportions passes away, it’s a guarantee that there will be tribute songs.  And with the passing of the legendary George Jones just a couple of days ago, it won’t be long until tribute songs to him will be on the market.  More often than not, these songs are bad and quickly fade into permanent obscurity.  There are exceptions, though.  For instance, Merle Haggard’s “From Graceland To The Promiseland” as well as Ronnie McDowell’s “The King Is Gone”, both successful tributes to Elvis.  Then, there’s been numerous songs about the legendary Hank Williams, of which several have been somewhat successful, including today’s Single Of The Day.

Like Hank, Jack Cardwell was an Alabama native who found some success on the radio, before being signed to the King Record label.  Jack’s second release was a rush job, released just weeks after the death of the legendary Williams.  ”The Death Of Hank Williams” made it’s chart debut in February, 1953, quickly climbing as high as three on the charts.  The single reportedly sold well, some stories claim as high as half a million copies.

Unfortunately, the success of the record didn’t translate into a long string of hits, in fact, Jack would chart only one more time, later in 1953 with “Dear Joan”, an answer song to the Jean Shepard/Ferlin Husky hit, “A Dear John Letter”.

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Jack Cardwell "The Death Of Hank Williams" Single Of The Day

George Jones, country superstar, has died at 81

Here is the story, via Yahoo! Music.

George Jones, country superstar, has died at 81 – Yahoo! Music.

So much is already being, and has been said, about the legendary career of George Jones.  I’ll simply add a few stats that show how incredible he really was.  According to Joel Whitburn’s Billboard Book Of Top 40 Country Hits, George scored 145 Country 40 singles, between 1955 and 2005, including his solo work, duets, and guest appearances.  Seventy-eight of those appearances wound up in the top ten, while thirteen became number one hits.  And while Willie Nelson may be the king of duets, George had more than his share of successes.  The names he appeared with on the Country 40, include Tammy Wynette, Jeanette Hicks, Margie Singleton, Melba Montgomery, Gene Pitney, Brenda Carter, his stepdaughter Tina, Johnny Paycheck, Merle Haggard, Ray Charles, Brenda Lee, Lacy J. Dalton, Randy  Travis, Garth Brooks, Patty Loveless, Chad Brock, and Shooter Jennings.

George, you will be missed, greatly.

 

George Jones, country superstar, has died at 81

Dickey Lee "Never Ending Song Of Love" Single Of The Day

Greetings from Asheville, where good music is always on the turntable.  Today, we remember Dickey Lee’s first Country hit, the 1971 hit, “Never Ending Song Of Love”, which many will also remember the Pop version by Delaney & Bonnie & Friends.

Dickey Lee was no stranger to hit records, by this time, having already scored three Pop hits as a singer; “Patches”, “I Saw Linda Yesterday”, and “Laurie (Strange Things Happen)”; plus as a songwriter, having written the George Jones classic “She Thinks I Still Care”.

1971 was a turning point, as he shifted away from Pop music, as a singer, to Country music, and it was the Fall, when he would score his first top ten Country hit, with “Never Ending Song Of Love”, a bouncy, very catchy tune, even forty-two years after it’s release.

Debuting on the Country 40 in October, the song would climb to eight on the charts, becoming the first of four top ten Country hits for Dickey Lee.

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Dickey Lee "Never Ending Song Of Love" Single Of The Day

Crystal Gayle "Don't It Make My Brown Eyes Blue" Single Of The Day

Greetings from Asheville, where good music is always on the turntable.  Today’s Single Of The Day is one of the true classics of Country music and one of the most memorable hits of the decade of the 1970′s.  You nearly would have had to have been on a deserted island in 1977, to have not heard Crystal Gayle’s “Don’t It Make My Brown Eyes Blue”.  The bluesy ballad became one of the biggest hits of the year, gaining wide popularity over multiple genres.

Released by United Artists in June, the record made it’s debut on the Country 40 in mid-July, just a few weeks after her previous hit, “I’ll Do It All Over Again” had fallen out of the top ten.  By the end of August, it was number one on the Country charts (it would spend four weeks, total, there), and quickly climbing the Pop and Adult Contemporary charts, where she would peak at two and four, respectively.

In addition, the single sold like crazy, topping the million mark in sales, earning Crystal a Gold record.

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Crystal Gayle "Don't It Make My Brown Eyes Blue" Single Of The Day

George Jones "You've Still Got A Place In My Heart" Classic Album Review

Greetings from Asheville, where good music is always on the turntable, or in the CD player.  Today’s Classic Album Review pulls a long play from the stack of the legendary George Jones, one of his estimated sixty-plus albums of original material.  Released in May, 1984, by Epic Records, You’ve Still Got A Place In My Heart would climb as high as seventeen on the bestseller lists.  Only one single, the title cut, was released from the album, a somewhat unusual happening on albums, by the 1980′s.

The title cut opens this collection.  An old Leon Payne written song that previously had been a Country 20 hit for Con Hunley, as well as a pop single for Dean Martin, George’s version, to this point, has been the only top ten version, climbing as high as number three in the Spring of 1984.  Great ballad, perfectly suited for George, and one of his more underrated hit.

“From Strangers, To Lovers, To Friends” is also a vintage George Jones-style song.  Fine performance, of course, makes an otherwise ordinary song, that much better.

“The Second Time Around” is another okay ballad; again, the song itself, is nothing particularly special (an okay piece), but, again, when you have George Jones singing, even a most ordinary number is elevated two or three notches.

“Come Sundown” was a 1971 top ten hit for Bobby Bare, and George gives a really nice interpretation, here.  George’s incredible ability to get to the heart with his vocal is really apparent, here.  You like George, you’ll like this track.

Side one ends with George’s take on the song “Even The Bad Times Are Good”, which Jerry Wallace had a single on, back in 1964.  George’s version, in my opinion, was single-worthy.  Good way to end the first side.

Side two opens with a song that George wrote and became Moon Mullican’s final hit in 1961, “I’m Ragged But I’m Right”.  A bouncy track, in fact, the first up tempo piece on the album.  A light-hearted, fun piece that is enjoyable to listen to.

Perhaps the most interesting cover on the album is George’s take on the 1954 T. Texas Tyler hit, “Courtin’ In The Rain”.  Kind of a goofy piece, yet if you like George’s novelty work like ‘I’m A People” or “Nothing Ever Hurt Me (Half As Bad As Losing You)”, then you’ll like it.

“Love Shine” is a novelty-ish track that falls into a similar vein of “Love Bug”, with a little “White Lightin’ mixed in.  Not nearly as strong as those two Jones classics, but still not a terrible track.

One of the album’s best cuts would be George’s take on the early John Anderson hit, “Your Lying Blue Eyes”.  I really like this track.  Good, solid country music.

The album’s wrap-up track is also pretty decent, “Learning To Do Without Me” is pure George Jones at his best.  A medium-slow song that is full of heartache, but not morbidly so.  George nails it, as usual.

This album’s been out of print for several year, but you can find used copies with a little searching.  Most I saw were around $10.

The title cut gets the Standout Track nod, while I have to give “Your Lying Blue Eyes” the Hidden Gem.  Weakest Track? “The Second Time Around” is a pretty ordinary track, though again, with George Jones singing, it’s elevated in terms of quality.  But the song, itself, is weaker than the other nine.

Overall, this is an okay, not spectacular album.  After checking the release date of it, compared to it’s predecessor (Jones Country, released in October, 1983) and it’s follow-up (Ladies Choice, released in September, 1984), one has to wonder if this album was merely, at least in the eyes of Epic Records, a filler between the two, rather than release another single from Jones Country.  Still, it’s not a bad album, though not nearly the best of George Jones’ extensive discography, but still worth an occasional listen.  I rate it a 3 out of 5.

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George Jones "You've Still Got A Place In My Heart" Classic Album Review

Ultimate Twang Radio Show, April 18th 2013

Greetings from Asheville, where good music is always on the Ultimate Twang Radio Show, every Thursday, beginning at 4p Eastern on Asheville Free Media, or anytime on our Asheville Free Media page, via the archives.

If you’d like to hear the archive version, just click, here, then scroll down and hit the gray play button.

If you’d like to join us live on Thursday, simply click, here, and click the play button on the upper right hand side of the page.

What played this week?  Let’s take a look…

 

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Ultimate Twang Radio Show, April 18th 2013

Alan Jackson	Summertime Blues	1994
John Anderson	Wild And Blue	1982
Sonny James	Bright Lights, Big City	1971
Lynn Anderson	How Can I Unlove You	1971
Wilma Lee & Stoney Cooper	Don’t Play That Song (On The Jukebox Tonight)	1953
Roy Orbison & Emmylou Harris	That Lovin’ You Feeling Again	1980
Merle Haggard	5:01 Blues	1989
Tanya Tucker	Texas (When I Die)	1979
Louvin Brothers	Broad Minded	1952
Lonestar	No News	1996
Jim Reeves	Distant Drums	1966
Hank Snow	Brand On My Heart	1964
Rose Maddox	Sing A Little Song Of Heartache	1963
Bobby Borchers	I Promised Her A Rainbow	1978
Lefty Frizzell	I Can’t Get Over You To Save My Life	1973
The Eagles	Lyin’ Eyes	1975
Johnny Lee	One In A Million	1980
Martina McBride	A Broken Wing	1997
Don McLean	Crying	1981
Don Williams	(Turn Out The Light And) Love Me Tonight	1975
Danny Davis & The Nashville Brass	Wabash Cannonball	1970
Earl Thomas Conley	Your Love’s On The Line	1983
Jerry Lee Lewis	When He Walks On You (Like You Have Walked On Me)	1971
Eddy Arnold	There’s Been A Change In Me	1951
Randy Travis	I’m Gonna Have A Little Talk	1994
Ricochet	What Do I Know	1996
Johnny Cash	Understand Your Man	1964
Tennessee Ernie Ford	You Don’t Have To Be A Baby To Cry	1957
Tammy Wynette	Cryin’ In The Rain	1981
Norma Jean	Go Cat Go	1964
Kenny Chesney	The Good Stuff	2002
Bobby Bare	Learning To Live Again	1981
Marty Robbins	I Can’t Quit (I’ve Gone Too Far)	1956
Hank Williams Jr.	Early In The Morning And Late At Night	1989
Waylon Jennings	I Ain’t Living Long Like This	1980
Michael Martin Murphey	Will It Be Love By Morning	1984
Barbara Fairchild	Baby Doll	1974
Ronnie Milsap	(I’m A) Stand By My Woman Man	1976
Gary Stewart	Single Again	1978
Conway Twitty	The Clown	1982
The Kendalls	Heaven’s Just A Sin Away	1977
Wade Hayes	The Day She Left Tulsa (In A Chevy In A Hurry)	1998
Ray Stevens	Turn Your Radio On	1972
Bill Justis	Raunchy	1958
Kenny Rogers	Love The World Away	1980
Oak Ridge Boys	Callin’ Baton Rouge	1978
George Jones	You’ve Still Got A Place In My Heart	1984
Vince Gill	High Lonesome Sound	1996
Joe Stampley	All These Things	1976
Roger Miller	Lock, Stock, and Teardrops	1963
Charly McClain	Sentimental Ol’ You	1984
Floyd Cramer	Theme From Dallas	1980

Conway Twitty "The Grandest Lady Of Them All" Single Of The Day

Greetings from Asheville, where good music is on the turntable, and the computer, via the Ultimate Twang show on Asheville Free Media.  Today’s Single Of The Day features the legendary Conway Twitty paying homage to the home of Country music, appropriately titled “The Grandest Lady Of Them All”.

Released by MCA in February, 1976, it didn’t turn out to be one of Conway’s biggest hits, but it still was able to break into the Country 20, peaking at sixteen.  The first part of the year, the nation was putting the final touches on it’s Bicentennial celebration, and the music world wasn’t left out, as several songs along that theme would be heard.  While “The Grandest Lady Of Them All” isn’t about the nation, it still fits in with the spirit of that time, as even by 1976, the Grand Ole Opry had long become an American institution.

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Conway Twitty "The Grandest Lady Of Them All" Single Of The Day

Earl Thomas Conley "Your Love's On The Line" Single Of The Day

Greetings from Asheville, where good music is always on the turntable.  Today’s Single Of The Day features one of the 1980′s most consistent hit-makers, yet also, one of it’s most underrated talents, as well.  Earl Thomas Conley scored thirty-three Country 40 hits between 1979 and 1992, with all but six breaking into the top ten, while eighteen would find their way to number one, including today’s Single Of The Day.

Not only did “Your Love’s On The Line” hit the number one position, it started a string of seventeen consecutive solo number ones, a mark he shared with Sonny James, until  Alabama broke the string with twenty-one.  Released by RCA Records in April, “Your Love’s On The Line” made it’s Country 40 debut, Memorial Day weekend of 1983, becoming one of the big Summertime hits for that year, as it ascended to number one in early August.

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Earl Thomas Conley "Your Love's On The Line" Single Of The Day

Clay Walker "Hypnotize The Moon" Classic Album Review

Greetings from Asheville, where good music is always on the turntable or in the CD player.  Today’s Classic Album Review became a million-seller, following it’s release by the Giant label in October, 1995;  Clay Walker’s Hypnotize The Moon.  The album peaked at ten on the bestseller lists, while yielding four singles, including three top ten hits.

The album kicks off with one of the top ten hits, “Who Needs You Baby”, which just missed number one in the latter part of 1995.  Good, solid melody that sticks with you and good for some occasional spins.

One of the album’s best tracks and a Hidden Gem contender is “I Won’t Have The Heart”.  A great track that should have been a single, in my opinion.  One of the album’s high points, featuring strong lyrics and a great melody.  How this got overlooked???

Great fiddle intro for “Let Me Take The Heartache (Off Your Hands)”, a pure country ballad.  This is the kind of song you point to when someone complains about 1990′s Country; yes, there was good, strong Country music in that decade, and not all of it made it to the radio.

One that did make it to radio and very nearly number one, is the album’s title track.  I’d argue that “Hypnotize The Moon” was one of the decade’s best ballads.  Simply an outstanding piece.

“Hand Me Down Heart” is an okay song; good beat, but admittedly, I’m rather neutral on this one.

“Only On Days That End In ‘Y” was the album’s third top ten hit, peaking at five during the Summer of 1996.  Maybe a step below the album’s other two top ten hits, strength-wise, but still a good track that’s fun and easy to like.

Another Hidden Gem contender is the ballad “Where Were You”, Simply put, nothing to not like about this track.  Strong, solid material.

“Loving You Comes Naturally To Me” is okay, but really didn’t hold my attention.  Seemed to drag, some.

The album’s fourth single was the only one to miss the top ten.  ”Bury The Shovel”  peaked at eighteen during the Fall of 1996.  A slow, Spanish-style start morphs into a quick paced piece.  Average lyrics, but I’ve always liked the melody, particularly the refrain, which I would consider to be rather catchy.

“A Cowboy’s Toughest Ride” has a melody and feel that is slightly reminiscent of the Boy Howdy hit “A Cowboy’s Born With A Broken Heart”.  I like this one.  Fine effort, on this ballad.

The album wraps with yet another ballad, “Love Me Like You Love Me”.  Good track to end the album.  I don’t like it quite as much as some of the other ballads, here, but it’s not bad.

Originally released on compact disc and cassette, this album remains available on compact disc, as well as MP3 download.  As for used copies, they are generally inexpensive.  I found several in the $5 range.

I have to give the title track my Standout Track.  ”I Won’t Have The Heart” gets my Hidden Gem nod.  ”Loving You Comes Naturally To Me” just didn’t do it for me, I consider it the Weakest Track.

Overall, a solid effort, on this disc.  The music is strongly Country and Clay’s vocal work is exceptional.  The material is generally very good with a couple of outstandings mixed in.  I have to give it a 4 out of 5.

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Clay Walker "Hypnotize The Moon" Classic Album Review

Willie Nelson "Good Times" Single Of The Day

Greetings from Asheville, where good music is always on the turntable or in the CD player.  Today’s Single Of The Day is one of eighty-three Country 40 appearances for the legendary Willie Nelson.  ”Good Times” actually charted twice, the first time in 1968, but fell short of the Country 40.  The second time, it fared better, climbing as high as twenty-five in August, 1981.

When Willie Nelson became hot property, following “Blue Eyes Crying In The Rain”, RCA Records began reissuing his works, trying to take advantage of his success.  And it worked, as between 1975 and 1981, ten singles from Willie’s RCA years were charting alongside his Columbia releases.

“Good Times”, in my opinion, was one of Willie’s more underrated singles, a ballad telling a life story that is looked back on, fondly.

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Willie Nelson "Good Times" Single Of The Day

Bobby Borchers "I Promised Her A Rainbow" Single Of The Day

Greetings from Asheville, where good music is always on the turntable.  Today’s Single Of The Day is a track from an artist who scored nine Country 40 singles between 1976 and 1979, Bobby Borchers.  The Cincinnati, Ohio, native was able to hit the top ten, once, while four other singles were able to break the Country 20, including today’s Single Of The Day.

“I Promised Her A Rainbow” was a Playboy Records release that charted in January, 1978.  The single, a ballad, would ultimately climb as high as eighteen on the charts, by the end of February.

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Bobby Borchers "I Promised Her A Rainbow" Single Of The Day

Ultimate Twang Show Recap, April 11, 2013

Greetings from Asheville, where good music can be found on our own Ultimate Twang Radio Show, each week!  This week’s Ultimate Twang Show is now available in the Asheville Free Media archive; just go to my page, there, scroll down and click play, to hear this week’s show, which includes these great faves…
Johnny Cash – A Boy Named Sue
Patty Loveless – Halfway Down
Kenny Rogers – Love Or Something Like It
Keith Urban – Somebody Like You
Ray Price – Getting Over You Again
Brenda Lee – One Step At A Time
Vince Gill – One More Last Chance
Larry Gatlin & The Gatlin Brothers – Broken Lady
Marilyn Sellars – One Day At A Time
Terry Fell – Don’t Drop It
Sonny James – Empty Arms
Waylon Jennings – Sweet Music Man
Dolly Parton, Emmylou Harris, Linda Ronstadt – Wildflowers
Mel McDaniel – God Made Love
Bob Wills & His Texas Playboys – Can’t Get Enough Of Texas
Olivia Newton-John – Let Me Be There
Webb Pierce – More And More
Jim Reeves – Billy Bayou
Crystal Gayle – Wrong Road Again
Gene Autry – I Hang My Head And Cry
Glen Campbell – Bonaparte’s Retreat
Billy Walker – The Morning Paper
George Hamilton IV – Steel Rail Blues
Bob Luman – Lonely Women Make Good Lovers
Jimmy Martin – Sunny Side Of The Mountain
Wanda Jackson – Glory Train
Earl Thomas Conley – Honor Bound
Faron Young – Occasional Wife
Clay Walker – I Won’t Have The Heart
Hank Snow – The Name Of The Game Was Love
Eddy Raven – In A Letter To You
Alabama – Song Of The South
Mike Reid – I’ll Stop Loving You
Spade Cooley – I’ve Taken All I’m Gonna Take From You
George Strait – I Can Still Make Cheyenne
Garth Brooks – The Thunder Rolls
Eddy Arnold – Cuddle Buggin’ Baby
Bobby Bare – It’s Alright
Lee Ann Womack – I Hope You Dance
Bobby Helms – I’m The Man
Wilburn Brothers – Somebody’s Back In Town
Gene Watson – Between This Time And Next Time
Don Gibson – Oh Lonesome Me
Chuck Wagon Gang – He Set Me Free
Merle Haggard – Kentucky Gambler
Conway Twitty & Loretta Lynn – Louisiana Woman/Mississippi Man
Jerry Wallace – Shutters And Boards
Charlie Rich & Janie Fricke – On My Knees
Cliff Bruner’s Texas Wanderers – Truck Driver’s Blues
Buck Owens – My Heart Skips A Beat
Marty Robbins – Tomorrow You’ll Be Gone
Keith Stegall – California
Paul Overstreet – Me And My Baby

Once again, simply click, here, to go to our page at Asheville Free Media, to hear this week’s show.

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Ultimate Twang Show Recap, April 11, 2013

Ultimate Twang Radio Show, April 11, 2013

Throwback Thurdays, the latest trend on social media sites such as Facebook and Twitter. However, here at Asheville Free Media and The World Famous Ultimate Twang, you could argue we started the trend, because for the last year and a half, we’ve been having a “Throwback Thursday” every Thursday afternoon, for three hours, throwing back with awesome classic country music from the great legends of the genre. And today, it’s no different. A truly spectacular lineup of sounds that you are sure to go crazy over. Great names like Webb Pierce, The Gatlin Brothers, Vince Gill, Keith Urban, Johnny Cash, Crystal Gayle, Earl Thomas Conley, Gene Autry, Don Gibson, Lee Ann Womack, and Buck Owens. Plus, we’ll pay tribute to a couple of new inductees into the Country Music Hall Of Fame, Kenny Rogers and Bobby Bare. The UT Time Machine revs up and heads back to this week in 1985, 1971, and 1958. Plus, as an added bonus, I’ll also be spinning a few of those recently purchased 78 rpm records from our local Habitat For Humanity store. I’m pumped,excited, can’t wait to get behind the mic! It’s going to be a great one!  The fun starts at 4p EST, this afternoon, then beginning Friday morning, the show will be available on our Asheville Free Media page.

To listen to the show, simply click on Asheville Free Media, then go to the upper right side of the page, and click listen.

To listen to the show in the archive, click here, then scroll down and click the gray play button.  Simple as that!

Ultimate Twang Radio Show, April 11, 2013

Merle Haggard & Clint Eastwood "Bar Room Buddies" Single Of The Day

Greetings from Asheville, where good music is always on the turntable.  Today’s Single Of The Day turned out to be the most successful single of Clint Eastwood’s singing career.  Okay, he really didn’t sing, much, and yes, Merle Haggard is the primary vocalist, but still….

“Bar Room Buddies” was a single release from Clint Eastwood’s movie, “Bronco Billy”.  Released on the Elektra label in May, 1980, it debuted on the Country 40 at the end of the month and raced to the number one position, by the end of July.  Though it was Eastwood’s only number one hit, it was the twenty-fifth of Merle Haggard’s career.

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Merle Haggard & Clint Eastwood "Bar Room Buddies" Single Of The Day

Bobby Helms "I'm The Man" Classic Album Review

Greetings from Asheville, where good music is always found on the turntable, or in the CD player.  Today’s Classic Album Review is a 1966 release from fellow Hoosier Bobby Helms.  In 1957, Bobby burst onto the scene with two big hits, “Fraulein” and “My Special Angel”.  Both would spend 4 weeks on top of the Country charts, while also appearing in the Pop Top 40, where “My Special Angel” would climb into the top ten.  1957 was also the year of his classic “Jingle Bell Rock”.  Bobby would have two more top ten hits in 1958, but after 1960, would never return into the Country 40, despite regularly recording into the 1980′s.  By 1966, he had left Decca Records (the home of his success), for Kapp Records.  At Kapp, he would release one album and a handful of singles, but resulting in no real hits.  That one Kapp LP is the focus of today’s Classic Album Review.

Released in January, I’m The Man featured only one single release, which like the album, failed to chart.

The album opens with the title cut, the album’s only single, released towards the end of 1965.  Unfortunately, a record that never charted, because it’s a pretty decent track, actually.  Good, pure country music that should have at least made the Country 40, in my opinion.

Next, Bobby tackles the Lolita pop hit, “Sailor (Your Home Is The Sea)”, in English, of course.  Not a bad track, he handles it pretty well, of course with a much stronger pop sound than the opening cut.

“Stop The World And Let Me Off” was a big 1958 hit for Johnny And Jack, and returned to the charts in 1965, courtesy of a young Waylon Jennings.  Here, Bobby gives it a completely different take, turning it into a slower ballad.  While I still like the quicker versions, I have to say this came off pretty well.

Perhaps the album’s best track is “Ten Thousand Tears”.  Someone at Kapp missed a potential single, here.  Good beat, contemporary (for 1966) sound, good strong song.  I really like this one.  Easily the album’s Hidden Gem.

“Marie, Marie” is an okay ballad.  A fairly typical love song from a soldier to his love back home.  Not bad, but not anything special.  Like pretty much all of the cuts, though, Bobby Helms’ work is fine.

Side one ends with a more Pop sounding “Lollipops And Roses”, which sounds more like a 1950′s Top 40 ballad.  Again, a track that is okay, but not anything special; it actually sounds a little dated, even for 1966.  Not the strongest composition on the album, either.

Side two opens with an interesting take on the Buck Owens hit “Act Naturally”.  Overall, it comes off pretty well, though it sounds like they are reaching the upper limits of Bobby Helms’ range.

Another track that I like, here, is “Keep ‘Em Laughin’”, a track that is country at it’s best.  Surprising that no one ever turned this song into a hit single.  In fact, Bobby’s version would have been a good single, in my opinion.

Next, Bobby takes on former label-mate Brenda Lee’s hit, “Fool No. 1″, and does so pretty well.  Utilizing a quicker pace than Brenda’s hit, and featuring some prominent fiddle work, again, one has to feel, when hearing this, that Kapp may have missed a potential single, here.

“Twin Of An Angel” keeps the solid Country music flowing, here, a track that’s not the album’s strongest, but it’s still a quality piece, and something enjoyable to listen to.  Again, some very good singing work by Bobby Helms.

“Have This Love On Me” has a little bit more Pop feel, but I like this one, as it has a great rhythm and melody.  Pretty decent work, here.

I think the album’s closing track is yet another piece that deserves recognition for good music.  ”I Close My Eyes (And See It All)” is yet another track that I’d argue could have been a decent single.  Good beat, mixed with some solid fiddle work, this is a really good closing track, ending the album on a rather high note.

Long out of print, this album can be found with a little effort, the ones I saw were generally around $10.

“I’m The Man” the only single, gets the Standout Track, while as I’ve already stated, “Ten Thousand Tears” is the Hidden Gem.  ”Marie, Marie” is the track that didn’t do much for me, thus the Weakest Track.

Overall, this is a really good effort that never got much acclaim.  Sadly, by the mid-1960′s, Bobby had long faded from chart success, and despite regularly recording, was never able to recreate that period of “Fraulein”, “My Special Angel”, and “Jingle Bell Rock”.  Yet, this album shows that Bobby Helms could still deliver the goods, and one has to wonder why it wasn’t more successful.  For that matter, why wasn’t the single more successful.  Not knowing much about Kapp Records at that time, I can’t say if it was something, there, or just the country audience’s changing taste.  Either way, it’s some good music that’s been missed by too many for too many years.  I rate it a 4 out of 5.

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Bobby Helms "I'm The Man" Classic Album Review

Single Of The Day Mel McDaniel "God Made Love"

Greetings from Asheville, where good music is always on the turntable and in the CD player.  Today, we remember one of the early hits from Mel McDaniel.

Twenty-five times in the 1970′s and 1980′s, you could find Mel on the Country 40, including today’s Single Of The Day.  Mel’s first appearance came with 1977′s “All The Sweet”.  ”God Made Love” was his fourth entry on Capitol, debuting in January, 1978.  The ballad became his most successful single, to that point, as it just missed becoming his first top ten hit, peaking at eleven.  Mel wouldn’t get that close to the top ten, again, until Spring, 1981, when he finally broke through with “Louisiana Saturday Night”, the first of nine top ten hits.

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Single Of The Day Mel McDaniel "God Made Love"

Ultimate Twang Radio Show Report For April, 4, 2013

Greetings from Asheville, where good music is always found on the World Famous Ultimate Twang Radio Show, heard exclusively on Asheville Free Media.  If you missed this week’s show, you can go to our Asheville Free Media page, where you simply have to scroll down and click the gray play button.  Just click here, or on the Asheville Free Media name for the link.

Now, here’s what was featured, this week.

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Ultimate Twang Radio Show Report For April, 4, 2013

Ronnie Milsap	Any Day Now	1982
George Strait	The Fireman	1985
Eddie Rabbitt	Rocky Mountain Music	1976
Louvin Brothers	I Don’t Believe You’ve Met My Baby	1956
Louise Mandrell	Goodbye Heartache	1984
Buck Owens	Excuse Me (I Think I’ve Got A Heartache)	1960
Loretta Lynn	Spring Fever	1978
Kenny Rogers	Lucille	1977
Glen Campbell	I Knew Jesus (Before He Was A Superstar)	1974
Rodney Crowell	She’s Crazy For Leaving	1989
Larry Gatlin & The Gatlin Brothers	Statues Without Hearts	1977
Statler Brothers	Memories Are Made Of This	1981
James Bonamy	I Don’t Think I Will	1996
Tanya Tucker	It Won’t Be Me	1991
Dave Dudley	Truck Drivin’ Son-Of-A-Gun	1965
Freddie Hart	Loose Talk	1954
Bobby Bare	Numbers	1980
Marie Osmond & Dan Seals	Meet Me In Montana	1985
Johnny Cash	Frankie’s Man, Johnny	1959
Sawyer Brown	Some Girls Do	1992
Oak Ridge Boy	You’re The One	1978
Charley Pride	The Snakes Crawl At Night	1966
Charley Pride	You Almost Slipped My Mind	1980
Gail Davies	You’re A Hard Dog (To Keep Under The Porch)	1983
Merle Haggard	Let’s Chase Each Other Around The Room Tonight	1984
Bill Monroe	(We’re Going) Just Over In The Glory Land	1974
Garth Brooks	Two Of A Kind, Working On a Full House	1991
Conway Twitty	Linda On My Mind	1975
Don Williams	Slowly But Surely	1980
Leann Rimes	The Light In Your Eyes	1997
Ray Price	Under Your Spell Again	1959
Eddy Arnold	What’s He Doing In My World	1965
Norma Jean	Put Your Arms Around Her	1964
Marty Robbins	Please Don’t Play A Love Song	1978
Dwight Yoakam	Things Change	1998
Faron Young	If You Ain’t Lovin’, You Ain’t Livin’	1955
Eric Weissburg & Steve Mandell	Dueling Banjos	1973
Dickey Lee	Rocky	1975
Hank Snow	I’ve Been Everywhere	1962
The Kendalls	Heart Of The Matter	1981
Johnny Horton	When It’s Springtime In Alaska (It’s Forty Below)	1959
Restless Heart	When She Cries	1992
Collin Raye	Love, Me	1992
Jimmie Davis	He’s Able	1965
Mac Davis	Texas In My Rear View Mirror	1980
Porter Wagoner & Dolly Parton	Please Don’t Stop Loving Me	1974
Kitty Wells	Everybody Loves Somebody	1965
Bill Anderson	I Love You Drops	1966
Con Hunley	You Lay A Whole Lot Of Love On Me	1980
George Jones	Someday My Day Will Come	1979
Hank Williams	Take These Chains From My Heart	1953
Milton Brown & His Musical Brownies	Brownie’s Stomp	1935

Exile "It's You Again" Single Of The Day

Greetings from Asheville, where good music is always on the turntable, in the CD player, or in the MP3 player.  Today’s Single Of The Day comes from one of the 1980′s top groups in Country music, Exile.  Following their pop success with 1978′s number one hit, “Kiss You All Over”, the group’s lack of a successful follow-up, eventually led to some changes towards a more country sound, and by 1983, they were enjoying their first Country 40 single with “High Cost Of Leaving”.  While that single barely cracked the Country 30, they followed it with eleven top ten hits, in their next twelve releases (only “Super Love” failed to hit the top ten).  That streak ended, though, with today’s Single Of The Day.

“It’s You Again” was their Fall, 1988 release.  The moderately tempo’d track would only peak at twenty-one on the charts, as their style of country-pop was increasingly pushed off the airwaves in favor of the New Traditionalists.  Exile would not return to the Country 40  until 1990, following both some personnel changes, as well as a switch from Epic Records to Arista Records.  That resulted in five more Country 40 singles, including two top ten hits in “Yet” and “Nobody’s Talking”.

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Exile "It's You Again" Single Of The Day

Mac Davis "Texas In My Rear View Mirror" Classic Album Review

Greetings from Asheville, where good music is always on the turntable.  Today, we look back at a Mac Davis effort on the Classic Album Review; his 1980 Casablanca release Texas In My Rear View Mirror”.  The album would climb as high as twelve on the Country bestseller lists, while also breaking into the Pop 100.  The album featured four singles, including two top ten hits.

The album kicks off with one of the two top ten hits, “Hooked On Music”, a piece of 1980′s style Rockabilly, that conjurs up images of Buddy Holly, and Elvis.  Not my favorite Mac Davis song, but you can’t argue with it’s success, as it was his highest charting Country single, peaking at two in the Spring of 1981.

The album is a mix of songs that fall into the Country and Pop categories, not unexpected given his success in both fields.  ”Remember When (Beverly’s Song)” falls squarely into the latter, with a soft Pop sound that is pretty much what was being heard on early 80′s Top 40 radio.  With that in mind, it’s a good track, showing his abilities with Pop are as solid as with Country.

Also leaning more in the Pop side, is “Me ‘n Fat Boy”, in which the intro sounds like an impersonation of Jimmy Riddle and Jackie Phelps from “Hee Haw”.  The rest of the song, though, actually has a melody and rhythm that remind me of Paul Simon’s “Me And Julio Down By The School Yard”.   Not the album’s strongest piece, but still a quality song that is worth a listen or two.

The pendulum swings back towards Country with “Hot Texas Night”.  A slow ballad that reminds me a bit of his first big hit, “Baby Don’t Get Hooked On Me”, but it’s certainly not the same song, at all.  This is a strong ballad, and gives a good argument that one could make of Mac Davis being underrated, when it comes to ballad singing.

Side one ends with pure country on the track “Sad Songs”.  A 3/4 time, with a heavy dose of steel guitar, this is pure country, Texas style.  Good song, but the overall performance is excellent.  A Hidden Gem contender.

Side two opens with the album’s other top ten hit, which also happens to be the title track.  One of my favorite Mac Davis songs, “Texas In My Rear View Mirror” would sneak into the top ten, in late 1981, peaking at nine.

“Hello, Hollywood” falls more along the Pop reins, utilizing unique chord structures and a minimal arrangement (for early 1980′s Pop) to create a one of the album’s better tracks, a definite Hidden Gem contender.

“Rodeo Clown” was the album’s final single, but wasn’t released until after he had already scored a hit with “You’re My Bestest Friend” from his next album, Midnight Crazy.  The single just snuck into the Country 40, during the Summer of 1982.

“Secrets” also saw life as a single, but could only muster a peak of forty-seven on the Country chart.  The main reason, I think, is that even for the early 1980′s, it’s sound was just too Pop for Country radio.  The single also briefly charted on the Pop 100, as well.  Not a bad song, with a medium tempo and heavy drum rhythm.  It’s a pure Pop sound, but a pretty good one.

The album wraps with a ballad, “In The Eyes Of My People”.  A nice ballad that gives a good end to this album.

The album is off the market, but was originally released on vinyl, 8-track, and cassette.  Used copies seem to be pretty easy to find, most going under $10.

“Texas In My Rear View Mirror” is my Standout Track, while I give “Sad Songs” the Hidden Gem, though you could argue strongly for “Hello, Hollywood”, too.  Quality-wise, the album is pretty consistent, really, so to call one weak is really hard to do.  Some tracks I like better than others, but they are all pretty comparable.

Overall, Mac Davis does a good job of mixing the Pop and the Country, together, and the album has a surprisingly good flow to it, with the mix of sounds.  Good solid material, here.  I rate it a 4 out of 5.

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Mac Davis "Texas In My Rear View Mirror" Classic Album Review