Classic Album Review-Glen Campbell-”Gentle On My Mind”
By the summer of 1967, more and more people were discovering a young singer/guitar player, who was making a steady rise through the ranks of country and pop music, Glen Campbell.
Categories: Classic Album Reviews Tags: Gentle On My Mind, Glen Campbell
Classic Album Review-Moe Bandy-”I Still Love You In The Same ‘Ol Way”
By 1982, Moe Bandy had been established as one of country music's hardcore acts, usually utilizing a sound that was much closer to the likes of Hank Williams and Lefty Frizzell, rather than the smoother, pop-influenced stylings that were dominating the country airwaves of the day.
Categories: Classic Album Reviews Tags: I Still Love You In The Same Old Way, Moe Bandy
Classic Album Review-George Jones & Margie Singleton-”Classic Country Duets”
Have we got some twang for you, today! Country music's greatest singer, teamed with an almost-forgotten duet partner, on an album that first hit the record stores in the fall of 1962.
Categories: Classic Album Reviews Tags: George Jones, Margie Singleton
Classic Album Review-Garth Brooks “Ropin’ The Wind”
1991, Garth Brooks was only two years removed from his first hit, yet he was already the hottest act country music had seen, since perhaps Johnny Cash, some thirty years earlier.
Categories: Classic Album Reviews Tags: Garth Brooks, Papa Loved Mama, Rodeo, Ropin' The Wind, Shameless, The River, What She's Doing Now
Classic Album Review-Jim Reeves “We Thank Thee”
Today's review takes us all the way back to 1962, forty-eight years ago, for a classic album from one of country music's greatest legends, Jim Reeves.
Categories: Classic Album Reviews Tags: Jim Reeves, We Thank Thee
Classic Album Review-Oak Ridge Boys – “Y’all Come Back Saloon”
Today, we look back at the Oak Ridge Boys' first hit country album, “Y'all Come Back Saloon” from 1977.
Categories: Classic Album Reviews Tags: classic country, I'll Be True To You, Oak Ridge Boys, Y'all Come Back Saloon, You're The One
Classic Album Review-”The Return Of Roger Miller”
Singer-songwriter Roger Miller, is perhaps country music’s most unique act, ever. One one hand, there’s the side of him that penned memorable country classics such as “Half A Mind” (a hit for Ernest Tubb) and “Invitation To The Blues” (a hit for Ray Price). Then, there’s the wacky, zany side that is better known to many; the side that gave us “Dang Me”, “Chug-A-Lug”, and “You Can’t Roller-Skate In A Buffalo Herd”. This is the side that is mainly seen on today’s album review, the 1965 release “The Return Of Roger Miller”.
This album is a fine example of Roger’s ability to take the simplest, or in some cases, goofiest idea, and make it into a musical piece that often was, at the very least, interesting, and oftentimes, memorable.
Who else could get you wrapped up into a song titled “Do-Wacka-Do”? Try listening to this song and not sing along or tap toes along with it.
On “Atta Boy Girl”, Roger uses clever word play for an interesting take on heartbreak caused by an ex.
“Reincarnation” is one of my favorites on the disc. This is Roger at his best, taking a subject and turning it into a complete song, that isn’t serious, but a lot of fun. “If I was a bird and you were a fish, what would we do, I guess we’d wish for reincarnation.” Who else comes up with that?
On “That’s The Way It’s Always Been”, he takes simple thoughts such as “Leave a door open and a fly comes in” and “Fall in love and get your teeth kicked in”, and weaves them together for an odd, but interesting result.
“As Long As There’s A Shadow”, shows Roger in a bit more serious tone, but still not too heavy.
“Hard Headed Me” is a song that should have been a single; it had hit written all over it. Another standout track, showing Roger’s humor at it’s best.
“Ain’t That Fine” is the only song on the album that Roger did not write; it was written by Dorsey Burnette (of “Tall Oak Tree” fame). This particular track is okay, but nothing special.
Flip the scorecard over, as now, side 2. What can you say about “King Of The Road”? One of the true classics of the 1960′s, it was a huge country and pop hit, and possibly Roger’s biggest hit, ever.
Though some might argue for “My Uncle Used To Love Me But She Died”, it is my opinion that Roger Miller may have hit his crazy peak with “You Can’t Roller-Skate In A Buffalo Herd”. If you’ve never heard this song, I’m not sure how to explain it; you just have to hear it.
Roger returns to the serious side with the pleasant “Our Hearts Will Play Music”, another one of the standout tracks on the disc. That seriousness continues with the okay “Love Is Not For Me”, but then the Roger we remember best returns on “In The Summertime”. This is a re-recording of Roger’s 1961 hit, somewhat reworked into a faster tempo, along with some Miller craziness.
Lastly, we come upon “There I Go Dreamin’”, a song that showcases Roger’s ability to write a great, straight-ahead country song, and a great way to end this album.
To the best of my knowledge, and based upon the research I did, this album has never been released on CD, which is a shame. However, there looks to be several used vinyl copies on the market, so as long as one still has the old-fashioned turntable, which by the way, is now the new-fangled technology for many, again, you shouldn’t have trouble getting a copy.
This album takes you on a high speed trip, through all 13 songs, all high energy, up tempo tunes, nary a slow song or ballad among them. When you’ve finished listening, you might find yourself feeling much as you would after a good run. I’ll rate this one a 4 out of 5.
Categories: Classic Album Reviews Tags: classic country, Do-Wacka-Do, King Of The Road, Roger Miller, The Return Of Roger Miller
Classic Album Review-Merle Haggard “Swinging Doors”
1966 was quite a year for a young California singer named Merle Haggard. After having scored three appearances on the country top forty including his first top 10, “(My Friends Are Gonna Be) Strangers”, 1966 was the year that “The Hag” became a star, thanks to two big singles, and a best-selling album, which just happens to be today's Classic Album Review.
Categories: Classic Album Reviews Tags: classic country, Merle Haggard, Swinging Doors, The Bottle Let Me Down
Classic Album Review-Gary Stewart “Greatest Hits”
Gary Stewart may have had the most unique voice ever heard in country music. A high-pitched vibrato voice that sang a style of hard, honky-tonk country, similar to what was coming from Waylon Jennings, and later, Hank Williams Jr.
Categories: Classic Album Reviews Tags: Drinkin' Thing, Gary Stewart, Gary's Greatest, Greatest Hits, Out Of Hand, She's Actin' Single
Classic Album Review-Ronnie Milsap “Keyed Up”
Ronnie Milsap is at his best with ballads, but can also rock with the best of them, when he wants to. And it's the same thing when he wants to twang it up, again, he can with the best of them.
Categories: Classic Album Reviews Tags: Don't You Know How Much I Love You, Keyed Up, Ronnie Milsap, Show Her, Stranger In My House
