Dean “Tex” Martin- Country Style

We have been doing country music for half of March and this week, we have been featuring country records from non-country artists. In this is an artist that I could not pass up. I paid $5 for this. On a side note, I got in contact with a fellow blogger on the last Dean Martin record I posted (which due to high prices and general unavailability of cheap Martin records was a long time ago). Therefore, I am finally returning the favor with a shout out to the I Love Dino Martin blog. If you are a fan of Martin, you should check this blog out.

Link to ILDM

Turner Classic Movies some time ago featured Dino as the Star of The Month and featured quite a few of his movies, including his first big dramatic break post Jerry Lewis, The Young Lions as well as all the Matt Helm movies, none of which I had seen before. There was some takeaway that I learned that I was supposed to relay in this post, but alas, it has faded with time and I can not remember the important factoid that would have blown your mind. Perhaps I should start writing this stuff down as I learn it.

There are artists who transcend genres and Dino is certainly one such singer. This record in particular, released by Reprise in 1963 with arrangements by Don Costa, tears thru 12 country standards including works by Marty Robbins, Hank Williams, and Johnny Cash. It is a good little record. I liked a lot of the songs but in general, this album is all Dino. If it was not for the title, you forget that this is supposedly a country record. He does not bend to these songs. Instead, these songs mold around him. That is the kind of talent Dino had.

I had half of this record down for sample consideration and was leaning towards one of the songs which have become staples of this blog such as “I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry” or “Walk The Line”. However, I settled on “Singing the Blues” because I felt this song in particular really fit into Dino’s swinging style.

Satisfactory record.

Singing The Blues

Rosemary Clooney- Sings Country Hits From The Heart

Back to pie-less posts this week, with this record that did not put me in a moral dilemma. We have been focusing on country records from non-country artists this week and here is this I bought for $5. I bought a couple country crossover records when I got this so it made sense at the time. I have been working with the new web editor format for some time now and I am starting to get the hang of it. Some things I really like. I still like the old song/ library format and will keep trying to see if I can duplicate it. Been struggling to get tags correct but since this is such a minor concern, I am not trying to hard to fix.

So there is this from RCA Victor and Rosemary Clooney. Released in 1963, the record features Clooney belting out 12 country tunes. With these records, there is always a compromise. Either the artist bends to fit the genre or the genre bends to fit the artist. I would say this record does the latter and that is no slight against Clooney. In fact, I would say that is more of a testament to her immense talent.

I had about half this record pegged for samples, but ultimately went with “This Ole House”.

Satisfactory.

This Ole House

Anita Bryant- The Country’s Best

I was deeply conflicted with just abut everything with this record (buying it, listening to it, and posting it) due to the raw emotions Anita Bryant brings up. I have tried so hard to keep this thing largely apolitical. When I started this blog, I made me a vow to the moon and stars that I would not post any of her records (which I come into contact with just about every time I got record shopping). Then this came along. I don’t know what it was. It was either the Rastafarian colored graphics on the front working subconsciously, or the fact that it had six of my absolute favorite country songs, including one in which I have made it my mission to post just about every version. Well, i bit on this then, for $5, which is quite high.

So then I had this but refused to listen to it, which made no sense. When I did finally give it a spin, i thought it was a pretty straight forward album. That is until is heard side 2 with the silly talk box effect which makes is sound ridiculous. So now I was more conflicted. Do I post or not?

Well, I spoke to my neighbor about it and he suggested I air on the side of posting. So that is what I propose to do. I may change my mind between now and then but for the time being, here is Bryant’s country album. Produced by Don Law and Frank Jones, accompanied by the Jordanaires, and with liner notes by Gene Autry. This was released by Columbia . It includes many of my favorites including “I Can’t Stop Loving You”, “End Of The World”, “I Fall To Pieces”, “Walk On By”, “Walking The Floor Over You”, and ” I Can’t Help It”.

For a sample, I wet with one of the tracks I found ridiculous, Hank William’s “Hey Good Lookin'”. I felt that the talking effect was just too tacky not to post on this blog and is in fact the reason I even considered putting this up. ( I think it is a guitar effect. My neighbor thinks it is a keyboard effect). I also went with one of my all time favorite songs that led me to break my vow and buy this album, “Send Me The Pillow That You Dream On”, which is an ok version. The record, however, is going straight into meh territory. I feel none to proud putting this out there but here we are.

Hey Good Lookin’
Send Me The Pillow

Millie Jackson- Just A Lil’ Bit Country

We are highlighting country records from non-traditional country artists this week. Today is also my birthday. I was thinking that I should have picked a better artist for the day, but after listening to this record, I feel I made a great choice. This was $3. The fact that Millie Jackson had a country record led me to buy this. It was originally $7. Can’t tell if that was a Sound Warehouse price tag or not. I meant to save it for writing this post but it seems to have disappeared.

Jackson, born in Thompson, GA in 1944 but raised in New Jersey/New York, is a popular soul singer who transitioned into disco and R&B. Although she had six gold records throughout her career, thanks to the internet, she is probably best known today for this album cover which usually makes every top ten list for worst album covers.

This record, released by Spring in 1981, features a 10 country songs with (what was then) a modern R&B sound. The album was recorded in Nashville for an extra sense of authenticity. Jackson, herself was no stranger to the genre, scoring a hit in 1977 with her version of Merle Haggard’s “If You’re Not Back In Love By Monday”. Overall, this is a really good little record that showcases Jackson’s talent as well as some great r&b arrangements.

I went back and forth on the sample. I was first leaning towards “Pick Me Up on Your Way Down”, but ultimately decided to go with Don Gibson’s classic ” I Can’t Stop Loving You”. I also went with the meta-referencing “Anybody That Don’t Like Millie Jackson”, penned by the county bard Kris Kristofferson.

Nice little record. Satisfactory

I Can’t Stop Loving You
ANybody That Don’t Like Millie Jackson

Sylvia- Drifter

Here we go with the last week of the fiscal month.  Overall, the blog has been increasing in popularity pretty steadily over the last three years but there is no rhyme ore reason to what hits and what doesn’t.  Sometimes I put out a post that I am particularity proud of that goes nowhere.  Other times, the ones that I consider throwaway posts take on a life of its own.  Of course having three years of content help.  But long story short, I guess I quit thinking about what takes off and what doesn’t because I can not see a logical pattern. Anyway, the pretty face on the cover along with the low price of $1 cemented this purchase for me.

Sylvia Jane Hutton aka Sylvia Kirby aka Sylvia Allen aka Sylvia Rutledge aka Sylvia(1956-) is a country pop singer from Kokomo, Indiana.  from her childhood singing roots, she burst onto the scene in 1979, reaching her peak in 1982 with the single “Nobody” a crossover hit that went #15 on the Billboard charts as well as #1 on the country list..  She took an early retirement from music at the end of the 80’s but re-emerged sporadically in the following decades.  A short career run in her prime but a remarkable one at that with a quite busy workout put crammed into this period. Today she works as a life coach, helping people get into the music industry.

This was her first album, released in 1981.  It went to #10 in the country album charts.  It also produced 6 singles, 5 of which that hit the top 20 country singles.  The title track went to #1.  Decent album overall.

If you read this blog with any regularity, you should know that in general, I don’t like a whole lot of country past 1968 and 80’s country is no exception.  But putting my personal preferences aside, it is easy to hear Sylvia’s  talent on this record and the songs are decent enough for the time period.

For a sample, I went with a track that sticks out on this record, only because it sounds more like Euro-pop than country.  Kind of strange for this record but here it is.  Titled “The Matador”, it went to #7 on the charts.  It also was one of the first concept music videos to appear on CMT.

Not exactly my cup of tea but still good album.  Satisfactory.

Chet Atkins- Teensville

Closing out Country month with something that is not necessarily country but is from one of the legends of Country music, guitarist and producer Chet Atkins.  This was $6 so a lot of expectations with it.

Atkins, (1924-2001),  was known for his many contributions to country music, most notably his role in creating the “Nashville Sound”, a style of music that modernize the honky tonk sound that I love to compete against sophisticated tastes and the rise of rock and roll.  Did it save country music?  Yes it did.  Do I like it?  No I do not.  Them honky tonk tunes and Texas styles of country music are my favorite and despite the massive success from Nashville, I still despise the genre.  But regardless of my opinion, the new sound was massively successful.

This record, released in 1960, was a crossover attempt to appeal to a younger audience taken in by rock and roll.  Twelve instrumental tracks all led by Atkin’s brilliant guitar work.  Critics have noted that this really does not capture the spirit of rock and roll at the time.  However, it does showcase Atkin’s “understated elegance” of guitar playing.  Lot of good songs on here including “Oh Lonesome Me”, “Night Train”, “One Mint Julep”, “Django’s Castle” and from The Music Man, “Till There Was You”.

For a sample, I went with “White Silver Sands” which also has a lot of sax work.

Satisfactory enough,

 

Skeeter Davis- The End of The World

DSCN4677 (800x777)This was $3.00.  Pretty classic female vocal 60’s album. Hard to pass up.skeeterdavis

Mary Francis Penick, known to the world as Skeeter Davis, was born in Dry Ridge, Kentucky in 1931.  She started in the business of show as a teenager in the country  vocal duo, the Davis Sisters (despite being neither sisters or a Davis).   The duo had a bonafide #1 hit single with “I Forogt More Than You’ll Ever Know”.  However, tragedy struck in 1953 when a car accident killed Betty Jack Davis and injured Skeeter. She would continue the duo with Betty’s sister Georgia until 1956 when she decided to retire from music and get married.sk11

Retirement was short and Skeeter returned to country music in 1958, this time as a solo artist.  She gained success working with Chet Atkins on several hit singles.  Her biggest success, however, was the pop country crossover, “The End Of The World”, a millions seller.  It would become Skeeter’s signature tune.  She would record for RCA up until the mid 70’s.  From there it is unclear what happened other than a few albums for smaller labels and appearances here and there. As a member of the  Grand Ole Opry since 1959,she made her final appearance in 2002.  She would pass away from breast cancer in 2004. She was one of the first female country solo stars.  Both Tammy Wynette and Dolly Parton acknowledge Skeeter as an influence.

This was Skeeter’s  forth solo studio album, released in 1963.  Produced by Chet Atkins and Anita Kerr, the album was her biggest success.  In order to get a full sound as well as mimic her Davis Sister’s sound, Skeeters vocals were double tracked.  Furthermore, the Nashville Sound complete with strings and piano is evident here. The songs are good, Skeeter’s vocals are great, and overall, the production values are good.DSCN4678 (800x798)

For a sample, I went with “Once Upon A Time”.skeeterdavis02-430x250

Satisfactory Record.