Classic Rewind: Connie Smith – ‘Nobody But A Fool Would Love You’

Classic Rewind: Connie Smith – ‘So Sad (To Watch Good Love Go Bad)’

Album Review: George Strait – ‘Strait From The Heart’

George Strait’s sophomore effort finds him repeating the same winning formula of his debut, from teaming up once again with producer Blake Mevis, to working a pun based on his last name into the album title. Released in June 1982, Strait From The Heart attempts to strike a balance between Strait’s traditional country [...]

Steel Guitar Rag

One of the many regrettable consequences of country music’s devolution towards mainstream pop is the relegation of the once prominent steel guitar to the background.   Here are some of my favorite songs where the steel guitar is front and center, where it belongs:

Classic Rewind: Connie Smith – ‘Ain’t Had No Lovin”

Classic Rewind: Connie Smith & Martina McBride – ‘Once A Day’

Album Review: Reba McEntire – ‘My Kind of Country’

Reba McEntire’s rise to the top of the country music world was long and slow. Her first single for Mercury Records, 1976’s “I Don’t Want To Be A One Night Stand” peaked at #88 on the Billboard country singles chart, and the next few singles stalled in the 80s as well. She didn’t [...]

Classic Rewind: Connie Smith – ‘It’s Not Easy To Say Goodbye’

Classic Rewind: Connie Smith – ‘Where Is My Castle’

Classic Rewind: George Jones & Connie Smith – ‘We Must Have Been Out Of Our Minds’

Classic Rewind: Connie Smith – ‘If It Ain’t Love’

Retro Album Review: Ricky Skaggs – ‘Highways & Heartaches’

Skaggs Family Records recently reissued Ricky Skaggs’ classic Highways & Heartaches album, with plans to reissue three more of his early ‘80s releases. As such, this seems like a good opportunity to revisit Highways & Heartaches:
Released in 1982, Highways & Heartaches was Ricky Skaggs’ second album for Epic Records. The previous year, [...]

Heart, soul and talent: Connie Smith’s recipe for great country music

A few days ago, I had the great honor and privilege of sitting down for a conversation with the legendary Connie Smith:
RX: Your entry into the country music world seems to be something that just sort of happened, instead of something that you spent a lot of time pursuing. Prior to meeting Bill Anderson, had [...]

Legends of the Grand Ole Opry: Connie Smith

Constance June Meador was born on August 14, 1941 in Elkhart, Indiana. Her father’s alcoholism led to the breakup of her parents’ marriage when Connie was seven years old. After her mother remarried, Connie found herself in the middle of an extended family that included 14 children. Her stepfather played the [...]