The writers…
Filed Under…
- Album Reviews
- Awards Discussions
- Blockbuster Albums
- Blurbs
- Book Reviews
- Charts
- Classic Rewind
- Country Heritage
- Decade In Review
- Discussions
- Editorials
- Everything Else
- Fellow Travelers
- Giveaways
- Interviews
- Live Reviews
- News
- Opry Legends
- Playlist
- Retro Reviews
- Single Reviews
- Spotlight Artist
- Wish lists
- Year In Review
Popular artists…
Alabama
Alan Jackson
Alison Krauss
Barbara Mandrell
Bill Anderson
Blake Shelton
Bobby Bare
Brad Paisley
Brooks & Dunn
Buck Owens
Carl Smith
Carrie Underwood
Charley Pride
Chris Stapleton
Chris Young
Clint Black
Connie Smith
Conway Twitty
Crystal Gayle
Dean Dillon
Dierks Bentley
Dixie Chicks
Dolly Parton
Don Williams
Dwight Yoakam
Earl Thomas Conley
Eddy Arnold
Elvis Presley
Emmylou Harris
Ernest Tubb
Faith Hill
Faron Young
Florida Georgia Line
Garth Brooks
Gene Watson
George Jones
George Strait
Glen Campbell
Hank Cochran
Hank Snow
Hank Williams
Hank Williams Jr
Harlan Howard
Jamey Johnson
Janie Fricke
Jason Aldean
Jim Lauderdale
Jim Reeves
Joey + Rory
John Anderson
John Conlee
Johnny Cash
Johnny Paycheck
Kathy Mattea
Keith Urban
Keith Whitley
Kenny Chesney
Kenny Rogers
Kitty Wells
Kris Kristofferson
Lady Antebellum
LeAnn Rimes
Lee Ann Womack
Lefty Frizzell
Linda Ronstadt
Little Big Town
Loretta Lynn
Lorrie Morgan
Luke Bryan
Mark Chesnutt
Martina McBride
Marty Robbins
Marty Stuart
Mary Chapin Carpenter
Matraca Berg
Mel Tillis
Merle Haggard
Miranda Lambert
Nitty Gritty Dirt Band
Pam Tillis
Patsy Cline
Patty Loveless
Porter Wagoner
Randy Travis
Rascal Flatts
Ray Price
Reba McEntire
Rhonda Vincent
Ricky Skaggs
Ricky Van Shelton
Rodney Crowell
Roger Miller
Ronnie Milsap
Rosanne Cash
Sam Hunt
Sara Evans
Shania Twain
Sonny James
Steve Wariner
Sugarland
Suzy Bogguss
Tammy Wynette
Tanya Tucker
Taylor Swift
The Judds
Tim McGraw
Toby Keith
Tom T Hall
Tony Brown
Trace Adkins
Tracy Lawrence
Travis Tritt
Trisha Yearwood
Vern Gosdin
Vince Gill
Waylon Jennings
Webb Pierce
Willie Nelson
Wynonna
Zac Brown Band
“Love of The Common People” was the B-Side of “The Chokin’ Kind”.
It actually received quite a bit of airplay after this album was released, although Billboard did not chart album tracks at the time, I agree about the McCartney-Lennon song being a misstep but even Waylon’s missteps were interesting .
Waylon’s evolution as a performer continued on this great 1967 album. A wide variety of songs with solid lyrics gave him a lot to sink his teeth into despite production values lacking much diversity. The recordings date back to session from early 1966 for his “Leavin’ Town” album [Taos, New Mexico & I Tremble For You] and conclude in mid-February 1967.
To be honest I liked Waylon’s performance of “Ruby Don’t Take Your Love To Town” much more than you did and feel it would have made an excellent choice for a single. Waylon’s recording pre-dates Johnny Darrell’s single release by about five months though Darrell recorded it about two months before Waylon did. RCA included it as a track on Waylon’s 1970 “Best Of” album [RCA Victor LSP-4341] despite the song’s non-single/non-hit status.
I concur that “Young Widow Brown” is a standout track. It was co-written by Waylon back in the late 1950’s while he was a DJ at KLLL in Lubbock, Texas. Frankie Miller first recorded the song for Starday in 1960. Waylon projected a bit of an attitude on some songs and his delivery couldn’t have been better on this one. Gotta love those tasty dobro licks.
Country music in the latter half of the sixties suffered from an inferiority complex regarding pop music. Many artists and producers included pop/rock instrumentation (sitars, electric organs, harpsichords) whenever possible. Recording recent pop songs was also a manifestation of the syndrome in their quest to add “hipness” to the genre. Waylon’s version of “You’ve Got To Hide Your Love Away” is a classic example. Though not a bad recording it’s less than memorable and doesn’t accomplish anything in my book. It was Waylon’s second Beatles re-make. He had previously released “Norwegian Wood” in 1966 as the “B” side of “Time To Bum Again” and as a bonus track on the “Nashville Rebel” movie soundtrack album [RCA Victor LSP-3796]
The title track was indeed released on a single as Paul pointed out. It charted the month after the “A” side “The Chokin’ Kind” debuted in Billboard in August 1967. During a short five week chart run “Love Of The Common People” peaked at #67 but ultimately received far more radio play than that lowly position would indicate. As Waylon’s popularity grew in the late 60’s & early 70’s the song was resurrected into many country radio station oldies libraries. It’s one of my favorite Waylon performances. “The Chokin’ Kind” was recorded two months after sessions for this album were complete. Because Waylon and RCA felt so strongly about the song’s potential it was selected as the “A” side release precluding a stronger promotional push for the title track. “Chokin’ Kind” peaked at #8 in October 1967 so perhaps the other side could have done better.
“Destiny’s Child” is another gem with an infectious melody and a great arrangement. However your source info incorrectly attributed the writing credit to the wrong Sonny. It was written by Waylon’s long-time friend Sonny Curtis not Sonny James. “Don’t Waste Your Time” is a great song but could’ve been significantly better without the intrusive female chorus. “If The Shoe Fits” is another one that perfectly fits the Waylon “attitude.”
Tex Ritter summed up this album and the state of Waylon’s career at the time in the last sentence of the liner notes that he wrote for this album – “The Waylon Jennings star has lots of luster, is bright indeed, and is continually rising.”
An interesting side note – “I Tremble For You” was revised in late 1970 with all new lyrics and performed by Johnny Cash on his ABC-TV show that aired on January 6, 1971. “The Junkie’s Prayer” was also recorded by the Statler Brothers for their “Bed Of Roses ” album released around the time this show aired. Cash’s spoken intro is rather ironic given his lifelong addictions. I’m sure Waylon could relate.
The Sonny James error is mine alone. The source says Sonny Curtis. I must have had Sonny James on the brain.