Just A Few Old Memories
I know this looks like an ad, but it really isn’t. I’m not trying to sell you something; I just thought I’d reminiscence with you for a moment. This box set, just released, is a compilation of our first eight (8) albums on Mercury records – 1970-1974.
It features some songs and some entire albums that have never before been on cd. These babies saw the light of day on vinyl and 8-track. That must sound like caveman talk to many of you. (And I haven’t even gotten up to cassettes yet.)
When it first arrived, I took an afternoon and rode around in my car for a couple of hours and just listened as if I had never heard these songs before. Some I would swear I haven’t, it’s been so long. But each one of them brought back memories that I hadn’t visited for years. Sometimes I was reminded of the writing session, sometimes of the recording session and sometimes I found myself wondering what the next line would be or how the song would end.
To say I was entertained by these songs would sound haughty so I won’t say that. But I will say they made me smile from time to time.
Pictures – That was the song that started all the nostalgia trend for us. It set the mood of the style and subject we would become known for.
Tender Years – An old George Jones song written by Daryl Edwards was the song that first got me interested in country music. I was just a kid, but the structure and the lyric were like nothing I had ever heard before.
When You and I Were Young, Maggie – That’s what my daddy called my mom even though her name was nothing close to it. I never knew why and I remember being barely able to get through the recording of it without crying.
Take Me Home Country Roads– People in West Virginia got mad at us because we changed the words to “Ole Virginia”. I admit we shouldn’t have. Please accept this belated apology.
The Saturday Morning Radio Show (Roadhog) – We never had more fun doing anything in our career. We wrote it in England, suffering from jet lag, and laughed all night. As soon as we got stateside, we recorded it and laughed some more. We have some classic outtakes that are better than what wound up on the record.
I Wish I Could Be – The only song we recorded where we never sang together. Just four solos.
The Blackwood Brothers by the Statler Brothers – A salute to the heroes who inspired us to sing as we sat in the bleachers and listened and learned from their harmonies and stage presence. They were our music education. James Blackwood and J.D. Sumner were our professors. And later our friends. We loved them so.
You’ve Been Like A Mother To Me – Ronald Reagan was sitting on the front row and suddenly stood with his hand on his heart when we hit the verse that says “America, stand up and show it”. It had the same effect on me that “Maggie” did and I finished the song with tears running down my cheeks.
And there are so many more wonderful memories these songs conjure up, but maybe another time. Thanks for letting me bend your ear. God bless and be careful out there Christmas shopping.
DSR- December 7, 2012
