By: Wilhelmina Williams (Contributor)
Barbara Ann Mandrell was born December 25, 1948 in Houston, Texas. She is considered one of the most successful female country artists of the ‘70s and ’80s, despite being widely unknown among newer country fans.
Her extensive career began as a young child playing multiple instruments touring with superstars like Patsy Cline, Johnny Cash and George Jones. Before her solo career began she toured with her family band as well. Mandrell’s debut solo album, Treat Him Right, was released in 1971. She released 25 studio albums from 1971 to 1997. Eight albums charted in the Top 10 in U.S. Country, with all but seven breaking into the top 50 on the U.S. Country charts. Her singles include 27 top 10 hits, including 7 No. 1s. Mandrell has been a Grand Ole Opry member since 1972 and was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2009. She was also the first woman inducted into the Musicians Hall of Fame and Museum in 2014 and the first artist to win CMA Entertainer Of The Year for two consecutive years. With musical talent to spare and the ability to transform songs of any genre with her own signature country style, it’s no surprise that she has won multiple GRAMMYs, People’s Choice Awards, Country Music Awards and more. For being ‘Country, When Country Wasn’t Cool’, we dedicate this week to the inimitable, Barbara Mandrell. 
SONG OF THE monDAY
I've Been Loving You Too Long (To Stop Now) is an R&B hit written and recorded by Otis Redding in 1965. Other notable covers of the song include Ike and Tina Turner (for the album What You Hear Is What You Get: Live at Carnegie Hall) and The Rolling Stones. Barbara Mandrell’s version was included on her first studio album, 1971’s Treat Him Right and was her first single to chart.
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(If Loving You is Wrong) I Don’t Want to Be Right was originally written by Stax Records songwriters Homer Banks, Carl Hampton, and Raymond Jackson for The Emotions, but the groups version of the recording was never released. Barbara Mandrell included her version on the 1978 album, Moods, which reached No. 8 on the U.S. Country charts. The song was Mandrell’s second No.1 hit. Luther Ingram also found success with his own recording of the song.
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Written by Stephen Allen Davis and Dennis Morgan, There’s No Love in Tennessee was the only new single released in conjunction with Barbara Mandrell’s Barbara Mandrell: Greatest Hits (1985). The song reached No. 7 on the U.S. Country charts.
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SONG OF THE thursDAY
Barbara Mandrell’sfirst No. 1 hit, Sleeping Single in a Double Bed was also the first single from the album Moods. The song was written by Kye Fleming and Dennis Morgan. Mandrell won the American Music Award for Favorite Country Single for the song in 1980.
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Another Kye Fleming and Dennis Morgan writing collaboration, I Was Country When Country Wasn’t Cool was Barbara Mandrell’s first No. 1 hit of the ‘80s. Though not listed, George Jones makes a guest appearance in the recording of the song, shortly after being mentioned in the lyrics. The song’s success is largely credited with contributing to Mandrell’s winning Entertainer of the Year from the Country Music Association in 1981. The track’s album, Barbara Mandrell - Live, reached No. 4 on the U.S. Country charts and was certified Gold.
SONG OF THE saturDAY
Percy Sledge first sang When A Man Loves A Woman in 1966 after Calvin Lewis and Andrew Wright penned the track. It was a No. 1 hit then and again in 1991 when Michael Bolton recorded his own version. While Barbara Mandrell’s version, from the 1991 album Key's in the Mailbox, did not chart, it was a return to the stylistic choice of putting her classic country emphasis on popular music that she was well-known for throughout her early career.
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Happy Birthday Dear Heartache, written by Archie Jordan and Mack David, made it all the way to No. 3 for Barbara Mandrell. The song was released as the first single on 1984’s Clean Cut, the 15th studio album she released. The album would make it all the way to No. 8 on the charts.
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Together original members Glenn Frey, Don Henley, Bernie Leadon, and Randy Meisner were Eagles. Formed in 1971 while touring with Linda Ronstadt, Eagles are the highest-selling band in American history with 150 million copies worldwide. "Their Greatest Hits (1971-1975)" held the title for all-time highest-selling album until 2009 when Michael Jackson's "Thriller" took the top spot following his death. The group later expanded to include Don Felder, Joe Walsh, and Timothy B. Schmit. Over the course of their career, Eagles have won six Grammy Awards, been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and are always included in the "Greatest Artists" lists in publications all over the world. We'll do our best to narrow down the list to just seven awesome songs as we pay tribute this week to Eagles.
With the recent passing of Phillip Everly (Jan. 3, 2014), we’d like to take this time to pay tribute to The Everly Brothers. If you don’t have the Everly Brothers in your music collection, you’re missing out on one of the most beautiful harmonies you’ll ever hear in music. Early On Don and Phil Everly started out singing as part of The Everly Family on a radio program in Iowa. When the family moved to Tennessee, Don and Phil transitioned out of the family act and into a duo. If you think the Everly Brothers are just old-school crooners in a time when music was vanilla as vanilla ice cream, you’d be sorely mistaken. Everything we call country rock today has stemmed from the Everly Brothers’ influence. Influence They were the Beatles’ Beatles, gods for Simon & Garfunkel, and the wave the Beach Boys rode in on. “Cathy’s Clown,” “Wake Up Little Susie,” “Bye Bye Love,” “All I Have To Do Is Dream,” and “Be-Bop-A-Lula” are among the Everly Brother’s 35 Top 100 songs, more than any other duo. “Wake Up, Little Susie” was a bit controversial for the time because naysayers thought the song was too sexual. The song was banned on radio stations in Boston and other part of the country. International Presence Not only were the Everly Brothers popular in the United States, they were just as successful in Britain, thus the connection to the Beatles. In the U.K. they had 30 chart singles, 29 in the top 40, 13 top 10 and 4 at No. 1 between 1957 and 1984. Accolades and Tributes Rolling Stone has labeled them “the most important vocal duo in rock.” They have been inducted into both the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Country Music Hall of Fame. Three Everly Brothers tribute albums were released in 2013, including Norah Jones and Billy Joe Armstrong’s “Foreverly.” There have also been several famous covers of their songs including Alison Krauss and Robert Plant’s version of “Gone Gone Gone” off the “Raising Sand” album, Reba McEntire’s “Cathy’s Clown,” and a-ha’s “Crying In the Rain.” Although their influence runs deep through today’s music, the main reason you should add the Everly Brothers' music to your playlist is their harmony. It’s beautiful, soothing, and graceful, the perfect background for just about any day of the year. An Everly Brothers' Sampling "Wake Up Little Susie" is a classic Everly Brothers' tune. It's catchy, clever, and quite controversial for the time. It was banned from the radio in places like Boston for its suggestive lyrics. The song has been covered by Simon & Garfunkel, the Grateful Dead, and Alvin and the Chipmunks, to name a few. If there's one Everly Brothers' tune you must have, it's this song. If you haven't heard "Cathy's Clown" then you really need to have a listen. Not only is the song the Everyly Brothers' biggest hit, but it was also a huge influence on The Beatles, who once considered calling themselves The Foreverly Brothers. The Beatles recreated the vocal arrangement of "Cathy's Clown" in their first U.S. single, "Please Please Me." The song "Bye Bye Love" was rejected by 30 other acts before the Everly Brothers. The song became the duo's first million-seller reaching number two behind Elvis and number 1 on the country charts. The song is catchy, which is probably why it's been covered by people like George Harrison, Simon & Garfunkel, Roy Orbison, and Ray Charles. You gotta have "All I Have to Do Is Dream" in your playlist. It's so beautiful and relaxing and sad and soothing all at the same time. Enough said. "Bird Dog" is a lesser known Everly Brothers' hit, but the lyrics are clever and the beat is fast-paced. The song's simple and very fun to sing. Give it a listen and you'll find yourself singing the song later on in the day. "('Til) I Kissed You" is a must-have Everly Brothers' song. A swanky beat and beautiful harmony is at the core of this song. You'll find yourself singing this song to your significant other, if you're on good terms, as you twirl them about the living room. "Gone Gone Gone" is a classic break-up empowerment song. If you've ever kicked someone to the curb because they treated you less than in your relationship, then give this song a listen. You'll find yourself feeling a whole lot better. As a bonus check out Alison Kraus and Robert Plant's cover of this song from their album, Raising Sand.
If you like country music, you'll love their classic country roots. If you don't like country music, you'll like their clever lyrics and rebellious attitude. No matter what side of the fence you're on the Dixie Chicks are a win-win for every music fan. Just to be clear - we're talking music here, not politics.
Not having Dolly Parton in your playlist is a sad tale worthy of its own country song. Not only has Dolly Parton's songs topped both the country and pop charts, but she is also an awesome actress and an incredible entertainer. Parton began her career as a child performer. Starring on a Porter Wagoner's weekly television show, Parton gained prominence in the late 60s, but it wasn't until the 1977 hit "Here You Come Again" that she became a household name. She steamrolled through the 70s, 80s, and 90s with hits like "9 To 5", "Jolene", "Islands In the Stream", "But You Know I Love You" and " I Will Always Love You", which is one of the best selling singles of all time, with Whitney Houston's help. "I Will Always Love You" is the second song ever to reach the top three on the Billboard Hot 100 in separate chart runs, and Parton is the first artist to earn a number one record twice with the same song as a singer, and three times as a writer. But "I Will Always Love You" is just one of many Dolly Parton songs that are not only genuine and sincere, but also catchy and, at times, heartbreaking. The heartfelt combo is attributed to both Parton's distinct soprano voice and her honest and simple lyrics. Dolly Parton is truly a great songwriter. Not only is Parton one of the most successful female country artists of all time (estimated 100 million in record sales), but she is also an acclaimed actress, philanthropist, and entrepreneur. She's an advocate for childhood literacy, creator of Dollywood, and has starred in films like "9 To 5", "Steel Magnolias", "Rhinestone", "Miss Congeniality 2", and she's made countless cameos in TV shows like "The Simpsons". Here at Vinyl, we have mad respect for Dolly Parton. She's bubbly, playful, and her music is well preserved. She's a classic and a major pioneer for women in the music industry. Once you've sampled some of her tunes we think you'll agree, there's only one Dolly. Tipping Our Hat To Dolly 7 Must Have Dolly Tunes 1. 9 To 5 This toe-tapper is a great Monday morning battle cry for your commute. Dolly knows just how it feels to fight through the rat race, and the movie is a hysterical call to arms for women's rights in the workplace that also stars Lily Tomlin, Jane Fonda, and Dabney Coleman. 2. Jolene One of the most powerful and moving "Keep Your Hands Off My Man" songs out there, "Jolene" is a classic song that represents the honesty and sincerity of Dolly Parton's lyrics. 3. Two Doors Down Two Doors Down is the kind of song that gets stuck in your head. It's an upbeat tune about recovering from a break-up. The lyrics are classic Dolly, and the song's fun to sing. Plus, it makes you feel good, which is muy importante during the break-up process. 4. Here You Come Again Here You Come Again is the song that officially put Dolly Parton on the map, earning her the 1979 Granny award for Best Female Country Vocal Performance. Such a great song with wonderful lyrics and Dolly's sweet, signature sound. 5. Why'd You Come In Here Lookin' Like That This song is 100% Dolly. The quirky lyrics and the knee-slappin' pace of the song turns a sad situation into a fun and delightful musical experience. Who hasn't ran into someone they used to date and thought, "dang"? 6. I Will Always Love You Despite what some in younger generations may think, I Will Always Love You is Dolly Parton's song. Though Whitney Houston made Dolly rich on a cover of the song, I Will Always Love You is a touching, simple, and heartbreaking song about lost love and a must-have for any Dolly fan. 7. Shine
On the album "Little Sparrow", Dolly dabbles with covering a few of her favorite songs. Her remake of "Shine" gives the classic song a bluegrass feel and is a testament to Dolly's longevity, style, and dedication to her roots. |
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