On my last show, I played a couple of tracks from Lyle Lovett’s most recent album, Natural Forces. It was released in 2009 by Lost Highway, and contains a lot covers from other country musicians. The reviews have been iffy, but I think he picks some covers that naturally suit him (similar to what he did for Step Inside This House). One of my favorites that he does is Towne Van Zandt’s Loretta, which is featured on Van Zandt’s The Nashville Sessions (a collection of previously unreleased recordings from 1993).

I tried to find a video of only Lovett singing Loretta, but this one also features Elvis Costello, John Prine, and Ray LaMontagne. But they all sing it really well in my opinion. (Lovett starts singing at about 2:10)

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Here is Townes Van Zandt singing Loretta in addition to some other tracks (i.e. Pancho and Lefty, Dollar Bill Blues). (Loretta starts at 3:00)

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Playlist for 2/28 (sorry, the one for 2/21 unfortunately did not get saved!)

Johnny Cash Ain’t No Grave American VI: Ain’t No Grave Open

Johnny Cash Wonder Where I’m Bound American VI: Ain’t No Grave Lost Highway Records O

Pee Wee King New York to New Orleans Rompin’ Stompin’ Singin’ Swingin’ LP

Gene Watson Bad Water The Best of Gene Watson Capitol LP

Janie Fricke But Love Me Greatest Hits CBS O

Bobby Bare Warm and Free Hard Time Hungrys RCA LP

Jerry Jeff Walker L.A. Freeway The Best of Jerry Jeff Walker MCA LP

Porter Wagoner and Dolly Parton The Last Thing on My Mind Just Between You and Me LP

Rose Maddox with the Vern Williams Band I’ll Fly Away Beautiful Bouquet Arhoolie O

Patsy Montana Western Medley: Streets of Laredo;Red River valley;Home on the Range;Cattle Call (Tex Owens);Cool Water (Bob Nolan) The Cowboy’s Sweetheart LP

The Osborne Brothers Still Waters Way Down Deep in My Soul Sugar Hill O

Townes van Zandt Katie Belle Blue No Deeper Blue Sugar hill O

Michael Nesmith Silver Moon Fantastic Country Vol 1 RCA LP

Charlie Rich The Ways of a Woman in Love Big Boss Man/My Mountain Dew RCA LP

Conway Twitty and Loretta Lynn After the Fire is Gone 20 Greatests hits MCA O

I received the newest Johnny Cash album which contains the last tracks recorded before is his death in 2003. As a whole, it can be very depressing but each song that I played for you today has a hopeful side to it!

Johnny Cash's Newest Album "American VI: Ain't No Grave

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And my favorite track of the day: Porter Wagoner and Dolly Parton sing “The Last Thing on my Mind” (written by Tom Paxton)

Also, don’t you love their Christmas outfits?!

Hank Williams Cold, Cold Heart Long Gone Lonesome Blues August 1949-Dec 1950 Polygram Records O

Cal Smith I Can’t Keep My Hands Off of You Cal Smith MCA LP

Tammy Wynette My Elusive Dreams Tammy’s Greatest Hits Epic LP

Gary Stewart Ramona Brand New Hightone LP

Jeannie C. Riley You’re My Best Friend From Harper Valley to the Mountain Top MCA LP

Ferlin Husky I Can’t Stop Loving You Greatest Hits Curb Records O

Tanya Tucker It’s Nice to Be with You TNT MCA LP

Junior Brown Just a Little Love Long Walk Back Curb Records O

Patsy Cline I Fall to Pieces Live at the Opry MCA LP

Charlie Rich Beautiful Woman American Originals Columbia O

Buck Owens Sweethearts in Heaven Hot Dog! Capitol LP

Kitty Wells Release Me Country Music Hall of Fame Series MCA O

Guy Clark Good to Love You Lady Texas Cookin’ RCA Records LP

Carl Smith Dog-Gone It Baby, I’m In Love The Essential Carl Smith (1950-1956) Open

Faron Young Hello Walls Greatest Hits Vol. II Step One LP

Willie Nelson I Still Can’t Believe You’re Gone Phases and Stages Atlantic LP

Bob Wills Lyla Lou Historic Edition Columbia O

Charley Pride Kiss An Angel Good Morning Country Music RCA LP

look at her go!

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Hanks Williams singing Cold Cold Heart (this video also has a nice opening dialogue). Also Anita Carter sings at about 3min 40sec

Townes Van Zandt- Sanitarium Blues -A Far Cry From Dead – Arista

Townes Van Zandt - Waitin’ ‘Round To Die- A Far Cry From Dead -Arista

Gram Parsons - Brass Buttons - Grevious Angel- Warner Bros

Merle Haggard -Heartbreak Hotel - My Farewell to Elvis- MCA

Buck Owens- Under Your Spell -Hot Dog - Capitol

Mickey Gilley - The Power of Positive Drinking -Ten Years of Hits -Pasedena Texas CBS, Eleckra

Tom T. Hall -That Song is Driving Me Crazy -Greatest Hits Vol. 2- Mercury

Tom T. Hall- I Care -Greatest Hits Vol. 2 -Mercury

Loretta Lynn- I’m Living in Two Worlds- Don’t Come Home A Drinkin’ (with lovin’ on your mind) -Decca Records

Red Foley - Hang Your Head in Shame -The Country Music Hall of Fame

Lee Hazlewood and Ann-Margaret- Greyhound Bus Depot- The Cowboy and the Lady

Dale Watson - Cheatin’ Heart Attack - Cheatin’ Heart Attack

Hank McCoy and the Dead Ringers -Can’t Stand Being Single- S/T

Emmylou Harris -In My Dreams -White Shoes -Warner Bros

Jerry Lee Lewis - Number One Lovin’ Man - S/T Elektra/Asylum

Had to play this track from Buck Owens because Dwight Yoakam is featured on it:

Under Your Spell Again:

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And Loretta: This wasn’t the track I played but it is from the same album I played…”Don’t Come Home A-Drinkin’

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George Morgan- Please Don’t Let Me Love You- Room Full of Roses- Columbia

Pee Wee King - New York to New Orleans- Rompin’, Stompin’, Singin’, Swingin’ -Bear Family Records

Tom Russell  -Sonora’s Death Row- Cowboy Row -Rounder

Rose Maddox - Down, Down, Down- Queen of the West -Varrick Records

Emmylou Harris -Spanish is a Loving Tongue -Cimarron - Warner Bros

Kris Kristoffersson- Chase the Feeling- This Old Road- New West

Willie Nelson w/ Waylon Jennings -Blackjack County Chains- Take it to the Limit -Columbia

Nanci Griffith- Listen to the Radio Storms- MCA

New Riders of the Purple Sage- Panama Red The Adventures of Panama Red -CBS

LIttle Jimmy Dickensp I’ve Just Got to See You Once More Straight…From the Heart, 1949-1955  Rounder

Bob Wills- Lily Dale -The Late Bob Wills’ Original Texas Playboys- Capitol

Jimmie Rodgers -For the Sake of Days Gone By -America’s Blue Yodeler Rounder

Junior Brown - My Wife Thinks Your Dead- Guit With It pCurb Records

Sleepy LaBeef pTore Up Over Youp Nothin’ But the Truth- Rounder

Jimmie Rodgersp Southern Cannon-Ball Down the Old Road-Rounder

A Personal Favorite of Mine: Junior Brown’s “My Wife Thinks You’re Dead”

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Sooo, I discovered Patsy Montana on this shift of Dirt Roads (from 1/17). How did I not know about her already?? She is one awesome lady and I plan to play a lot more of her. Just to give you some background on Patsy…she was born with the name Ruby Rose Blevins, but known as Patsy Montana in the country music world. She was also the first female country singer to have a million selling single (”I Want to Be a Cowboy’s Sweetheart”-1935), which was the track I played for y’all! This single is an altered version of the song “Montana Plains”, which is an altered version of “Texas Plains”. She later married the stage manager for Gene Autry, and formed a trio with her daughters called the “Patsy Montana Trio”.  She semi-retired in the 50s but made a come back in ‘64 with the album that featured Waylon Jennings as a guitarist prior to his popularity. Patsy died in 1996, but prior to that she was inducted into the National Cowgirl Hall of Fame in 1987, and also into and the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1996.

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Hey Y’all! The show time for Dirt Roads and Honky Tonks has changed from 10:00-11:00 am to 1:00-2:00 pm on Sundays. Also, if you would like to email me you can do so at: dirtroads@wuog.org. Please feel free to email questions, comments, requests, ect. Hope everyone out there is enjoying the show and I’m glad to be back from winter break!

Townes Van Zandt      Loretta      The Nashville Sessions      Tomato Records      O
Townes Van Zandt     The Spider Song     The Nashville Sessions     Tomato Records     O
Merle Haggard     Hungry Eyes     The Best of the Best of Merle Haggard     Capitol     LP
Bobby Bare     Hurricane Shirley     Honky Tonkin’     RCA     LP
Rosie Flores     This Loneliness     After the Farm     Hightone Records     O

Kitty Wells     Heartbreak, U.S.A     Country Music Hall of Fame Series     MCA     O
Carl Smith     Just Wait Till I Get You Alone     The Essential Carl Smith     Columbia     O
Loretta Lynn     I Really Don’t Want to Know     Don’t Come Home A Drinkin’ (with lovin’ on your mind)     Decca Records     LP
Red Foley     Careless Kisses     Country Music Hall of Fame Series     MCA     O

Lyle Lovett     Give Back My Heart     Pontiac     MCA/Curb     LP
Eddie Peabody     When You Wore a Tulip     Mr. Bano’s Back In Town         LP
Bob Wills     Ms. Molly     The Essential Bob Wills     Columbia     O
Lee Hazlewood and Ann-Margaret     Greyhound Bus     The Cowboy and the Lady     Smells Like Records     O
Emmylou Harris     Sweet Dreams     Elite Hotel     Reprise     LP

Johnny Paycheck     Take This Job and Shove It     Golden Classics     Gusto Records     LP
Sons of the Pioneers     The Devil’s Great Grandson     Columbia Historic Edition     Columbia     O
Tex Ritter     When You Leave, Don’t Slam the Door     Capitol Collector’s Series     Capitol     O
Michael Nesmith     Tumbling Tumbleweeds     The Older Stuff (The Best of the Early Years)     Rhino

Junior Brown     Runnin’ With The Wind     Mixed Bag     Curb Records

Click here to view the embedded video.