When it comes to great female, legendary country singers few come near never mind match Decca recording act, Kentucky girl Loretta Lynn. Friend of the late Patsy Cline, the lady from Butcher Hollow first hit the charts in 1960 and for twenty years or more was to become a regular on the Billboard chart. Her pure, straight down country ways and songs that spoke for women like never before. Her sassy lyrics would, I am sure have brought many a smile and nod of approval from her Cline if she had lived.
All in all the compilation features all of the above albums, plus seven cuts from her album You Ain’t Woman Enough and If You’re Not Gone Too Long (Singin’ With Feelin’).
Peppered with covers of classic songs and hits in the form of Johnny Mullins’ Blue Kentucky Girl’ and her-own composition ‘Dear Uncle Sam’. That speaks of how a wife is left at home as her man is overseas fighting for his country and of the delivery of that dreaded telegram to say he is no more. She had yet to write to the degree she was to about to. But would soon make up for lost ground. Strangely, one of the hit singles on the set ‘The Home You’re Tearin’ Down’ was from her daughter, Betty Sue Perry; as with steel guitar and heart-felt lyrics has Lynn produce a wonderful performance.
Among the covers; Lynn does a great job of Johnny Cash’s ‘I Still Miss Someone’, George Jones’ ‘The Race Is On’, Connie Smith hit “Then And Only Then’ (Bill Anderson) and Johnny Russell’s ‘Two Mules Pull This Wagon’ (that sounds very close, both lyrically and melody-wise to a song Loretta was soon to write ‘Don’t Come Home A’ Drinkin’).
Hinting of things to come, Lynn’s songs ‘Keep Your Change’ and ‘A Man I Hardly Knew’ plus a likewise, bouncy on your toes foot tapper ‘Tippy Toeing’ (Bobby Harden) and last cut ‘If You’re Not Gone Too Long’ (Wanda Ballman) are typical Lynn. Sure, there was better to come; as heard on Raven’s other Lynn compilation Your Squaw Is On The Warpath / Fist City.
Maurice Hope