The other day I was chatting with a musician friend who’s a huge fan of country music. In fact, it’s all he ever listens to. He’s not alone of course… almost all the musicians I’ve collaborated with have performed country music at one time or another and Southern Alberta has spawned a plethora of top notch C/W bands over the years. So… let’s catch us up with three country/western tunes from different eras and finish with the usual potpourri.
CLASSIC COUNTRY: Lovin’ Him Was Easier Than Anything I’ll Ever Do Again – Anita Carter
Ina Anita Carter (March 31, 1933 – July 29, 1999), the youngest daughter of Ezra and Mother Maybelle Carter, played upright bass and guitar with her sisters Helen Carter and June Carter Cash and mother Maybelle Carter as “The Carter Sisters and Mother Maybelle”. The trio joined the Grand Ole Opry radio show in 1950 (Anita was 17 years old at the time). They opened shows for Elvis Presley, and joined The Johnny Cash Show in 1961. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hWxIbSe1k0M
COUNTRY: Gentle On My Mind – The Band Perry
The Band Perry was an American band composed of siblings Kimberly Perry, Reid Perry, and Neil Perry. They released their album on October 12, 2010. Here’s their version of the Glenn Campbell hit. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BuVJEn9wk9Y
COUNTRY: A Better Man – Clint Black
Clint likely has the prettiest voice in country music… and I mean this in a totally masculine way. (better quit while I’m ahead). We own one of his albums and I think it’s about time I hauled it down and gave it another listen. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uv_x4DWiS_s
POP: Red Rubber Ball – The Seekers
Written by The Seekers’ Bruce Woodley & Paul Simon, this was a hit for The Cyrkle (sic) but also recorded by The Seekers for their album ‘Come The Day’ in 1966. This live version was recorded in Melbourne during their 2014 Farewell Tour. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=couR1N3NSmA
BLUES: Stone Cold: – Jimmy Barnes with Joe Bonamassa
I find the lyrics a bit cryptic but maybe I’m just too literal. This one is for everyone who digs “break your heart, gut wrenching blues”. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IyXFHr5jylI
POP-SOUL: Stand By Me – Music Travel Love (At Al Ain)
This entry takes care of both the old and the new. It was first performed in 1961 by American singer-songwriter Ben E. King and written by him, along with Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller, who together used the pseudonym Elmo Glick. (who knew?) According to King, the title is derived from, and was inspired by, a spiritual written by Sam Cooke.
The two guys in Stand by Me at Al Ain are not only brothers, they’re twins. Canadian no less. They call themselves: Music Travel Love because they do just that – travel all over the world performing their songs. At Al Ain (United Arab Emirates) they performed Stand by Me with their friends. What a clever and lovely arrangement. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ONfrkskNp4
COUNTRY GOSPEL: I’ve Never Been This Homesick Before – Redeemed Quartet
Ahhh – the unmistakeably tight harmony of a good quartet – everything from barbershop to gospel – I love all of it! Only when the pitch of all four singers is really good do you get the pureness of the combined sound. I played this more than once. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=58BRE7mz9Jk
Did you know that Conway Twitty once proposed to Kitty Wells? Can you guess why she said no?