485 - Loretta Lynn - All Time Greatest Hits

[csberry]

Yup, a greatest hits of a country legend. What would you expect from this album. While I definitely didn't know all of the songs, I clearly hear why most of these are great songs.

What struck me at first listen was the strength of Loretta's protagonists in her songs. These are not shy women that just float through life. "Happy Birthday" is a kiss-off song to her beau. "You Ain't Woman Enough" is the verbal battle that happens before a cat fight over a man. There are five duets with Conway Twitty that usually has him playing the role of the drunk and/or cheating man and she the heartbroken, but not defeated woman. Some of these stories even have a good helping of humor, such as "One's on the Way" ("Here in Topeka the flies are a buzzin'/The dog is a barkin' and the floor needs a scrubbin'/One needs a spankin' and one needs a huggin' Lord one's on the way/Oh gee I hope it ain't twins again").

Songs I knew I liked: "Don't Come Home A Drinkin' (With Lovin' On Your Mind)," "Coal Miner's Daughter," "One's on the Way," "Louisiana Woman, Mississippi Man," "Out of My Head and Back in My Bed"

Songs I didn't know but now like: "Wine, Women, & Song," "Happy Birthday," and "As Soon As I Hang Up the Phone"

Songs I can go the rest of my life without hearing again: There are none I would never want to hear again at some point.