Recently I put together a play list of country hits for my dad’s birthday. He’s always been a country fan and when I was growing up this embarrassed me to no end. But after seeing a commercial for a collection of Time Life “Classic Country” hits, I was inspired to go out and make him some CDs.
As I made the playlist (which grew to two CD’s worth of songs) I found myself… liking some of them quite a bit. Woah.
I find myself listening to these country hitz every couple of days (especially when I’m painting our wood trim upstairs, which I am forever painting. The wood trim. Will it ever be completely painted?) I started wondering if maybe I’m not the only one who just needs a nudge to get into some country? I know, country music is the last hipster taboo to be broken but, damn it, I’m not that cool anyway. I’m uncool and so, screw it, here are some good country songs.
Note: I purposely did NOT go to the Hank Williams well. Because that’s the well everyone goes to when they say they like classic country. Also note that, to me, “classic” means anything my dad listened to while he drove us around in his Ford pick-up or worked in the garage or in his workshop downstairs. So, yeah, there’s some Alabama.
Keep in mind that some of these are specifically aimed at a particular 68-year-old man. Case in point: Anne Murray. My dad has always had a strange infatuation with Anne Murray. As in, he thought she was hot stuff. I know, weird. He used to blast Anne on Sunday mornings when he was trying to make us get up to go to church at 8 a.m. Now my parents don’t go to church at all and I have to wonder what all those tortuous mornings of Anne were really good for.
The Krazy Kountry Hitz
Volume 1
Mountain of Love – Johnny Rivers
When Will I Be Loved – Linda Ronstadt
Are You Sure Hank Done It This Way – Waylon Jennings
Take This Job and Shove It – Johnny Paycheck
I Got Mexico – Eddy Raven
All My Exes Live In Texas – David Nall
I Was Country When Country Wasn’t Cool – Barbara Mandrell & George Jones
If I Said You Had A Beautiful Body Would You Hold It Against Me – The Bellamy Brothers
It’s Only Make Believe – Conway Twitty
Mountain Music – Alabama
Six Days On The Road – Dave Dudley
I Can Help – Billy Swan
The Devil Went Down To Georgia -Â Charlie Daniels
Honky Tonkin’s What I Do Best – Marty Stuart & Travis Tritt
Heaven’s Just a Sin Away – The Kendalls
Love In The First Degree – Alabama
Don’t It Make My Brown Eyes Blue – Crystal Gale
Georgia On My Mind – Willie Nelson
Lost In The Fifties Tonight – Ronnie Milsap
Theme From Dallas – Best TV Show Theme Song Ever!
Volume 2:
East Bound and Down – Jerry Reed
Southern Nights – Glen Campbell
Tulsa Time – Don Williams
High On A Mountain Top – Loretta Lynn
I Ain’t Never – Mel Tillis
We’ve Got Tonight – Kenny Rogers
A Place To Fall Apart – Janie Frickie & Merle Haggard
You and I – Crystal Gayle & Eddie Rabbit
Louisiana Woman, Mississippi Man – Loretta Lynn & Conway Twitty
King Of The Road – Roger Miller
You Don’t Know Me – Mickey Gilley
I Wouldn’t Have Missed It For The World – Ronnie Milsap
Forever and Ever, Amen – Randy Travis
Could I Have This Dance – Anne Murray
Back In The Saddle Again – Moe Bandy
Darlin’ Companion – Johnny Cash
Here You Come Again – Dolly Parton
Always On My Mind – Willie Nelson
That “Time Life” Country Classics infomercial came on one night after Saturday Night Live. I sat and watched the whole thing.
I found myself thinking, “I remember that one!” and “Oh, that was a good song!” Glad I’m not alone!
Because of our special relationship, I could arrange copies of my CDs for you. “Don’t It Make My Brown Eyes Blue” always makes me think of driving by Oakridge Cemetery after CFC at St. Gabe’s.
Was that song ALWAYS on when we were in the car?
Everytime I think about that song, I picture myself in the car riding in the dark.
You would think it was a two hour trip to get to CFC.
Yes, it was always on. Yes, it was always dark. I wonder if Dad was super annoyed that he had to shuttle us back and forth to that class? Thinking about it as an adult, that really eats into your evening!!