Country music from a fan's point of view since 2008
There are so many artists and songs I’ve been a fan of over the years, that it’s inevitable to forget about a song or album that at one time I absolutely loved. Especially when you’re constantly adding to your music collection. So, I always like reading the What’cha listening to? thread on the9513’s forum. Likewise, I look forward to Thursday’s Recommend a Track discussion at Country Universe. Mostly because somebody will almost always remind me about a forgotten gem.
Thanks to 9513 forum member Occasional Hope – playing Sammy Kershaw’s ‘Politics, Religion, and Her’ – I dusted off my Sammy Kershaw CDs and ripped them to the computer so I can enjoy them on my Windows Media Player. Thanks, Occasional Hope! I had almost forgotten how much I loved Sammy’s rich baritone on chestnuts like ‘Yard Sale’, ‘I Can’t Reach Her Anymore’, and ‘Fit To Be Tied Down’. I’m also a big fan of Kershaw hits like his debut ‘Cadillac Style’ and fun songs like ‘Third Rate Romance’ and ‘Vidalia’.
So, what artists have you forgotten about? And recently had a reunion with their music? What artist would you recommend to a fellow country fan? Tell us why, and what your favorite songs are by that artist …
Listen to Sammy Kershaw – Politics, Religion, and Her on Last FM.
My Kind of Country 
I always seem to forget and then rediscover SHeDAISY every couple months. xD
I constantly rotate through my popular artists, last week was Mariah Carey, this week is Kathy Mattea/Sugarland, and it just keeps going. So, I constantly forget artists.
I was looking around on eBay a while ago, and ordered two greatest hits cds from two favorites from the 80’s – Janie Frickie and Charley McClain – I forgot how much I enjoyed these two way back when…”Radio Heart” “Paradise Tonight”, “It Ain’t Easy”, “She’s Single Again”….
Glad to be of help.
I keep a background rotation going of older stuff alongside a more recent one, so I don’t tend to forget people altogether.
Loved that Kershaw album and LOVE that he remade Thrid Rate Romance back in the 90’s…I always thought that should be a country hit. By the way, check out the liner notes from his Haunted heart album and you’ll see a familiar name among the backup vocalists.
I recently re-discvered my Party Doll album from Mary Chapin Carpenter 🙂
I’m a big fan of Janie Fricke too, sheldon. I got to see her open for George Jones in September and she was remarkable. ‘Tell Me A Lie’ is another of my favorites from her, aside from the ones you mentioned.
Sheldon and JR:
Have you two heard The Bluegrass Sessions, Fricke’s 2004 acoustic reworking of many of her old hits? It’s really good and the production is a lot more to my taste than it was on the original recordings. Wasn’t too into her until I heard that album.
CMW- I haven’t got it yet – I should have, I really like her, but just never have – might go on over to eBay and check it out…Someone said Lynn Anderson’s bluegrass set is pretty good too…are you listening, Santa??
Every now and again, iTunes goes on a big Desert Rose Band kick, playing a bunch of their songs while on random. It helps me remember just how far ahead of the game they were and how much they stood out from the other popular country groups of the time (Shenandoah, Sawyer Brown, Alabama, etc.).
Chris Hillman gets my vote for the most underrated artist in modern music. As much as Gram Parsons is revered, Hillman did much of the same type of music, plus he’s managed to stay active and relevant right up to the current day.
I had never heard about Fricke having a bluegrass album … It sounds like a great idea, re-working her hits into bluegrass. I may well have to check it out …
I never forget an artist but I tend to ignore some of them at different times. I haven’t been listening to Reba as much as I usually do.
I too recently rediscovered Sammy Kershaw. I’ll always love “Southbound” as well as “Meant to Be,” “Vidalia,” and “Fit to Be Tied Down.”
I recently purchased both albums from The McCarters (or Jennifer McCarter & the McCarters) on CD, used at Amazon, afraid that my old cassette versions would let me down someday.
Once per year or so I’ll dig out some old recordings from Baillie & the Boys, Sweethearts of the Rodeo, Don Williams, Janie Fricke, Charly McClain, Deborah Allen, and Anne Murray and wonder how I let them sit unused for so long.
That “name” in the linernotes is one Shania Twain if my brain remembers correctly….