Growing up, I heard Loretta Lynn’s music a lot. Although it took me years to understand the lyrics fully, my love for her music was something I picked up quite early on in life. This album, in particular, was the one I heard the most. While I have since heard her original albums, I always come back to this greatest hits collection.
Release Date: 1999
Style: Traditional Country
People Who Might Like This Album: Fans of female artists, and those who appreciate songs about real emotions
Standout Tracks: The whole album since it’s a greatest hits collection
If you don’t know any of Loretta Lynn’s songs, this is a great place to start. You get to hear about her childhood growing up in Butcher Hollow, Kentucky, where her father worked in the coal mines, on “Coal Miner’s Daughter”. There’s also the fantastic “You Ain’t Woman Enough”, where Loretta Lynn tells a woman who’s trying to win over her husband that she isn’t going to let said woman have him. This album also features the classic “Don’t Come Home A-Drinkin’”, where she tells the previously mentioned husband not to come home after he’s been out drinking all night. There’s also two of her duets with fellow classic country artist, Conway Twitty. As one of the premiere sets of duet partners in country music, you can’t get any better. “Lead Me On” is a fantastic example of a cheating song from both the male and female perspective. Really, the only downside to this album is that it doesn’t contain “Fist City”.
The thing that makes Loretta Lynn so good is that she wrote relatable songs from a woman’s perspective, in a time when nearly all country stars were male. That part hasn’t changed a lot nowadays, which only means that her music applies just as strongly today as it did then. Loretta Lynn wrote about the harsh realities of growing up poor in Kentucky. Her songs discussed what it was like to be a housewife to a husband who didn’t always put her first, and she even talked about jealousy. Her music is very human and real, and it’s something I come back to, time and time again.
Although I’m very, very distantly related to Loretta Lynn, I’ve been to Butcher Holler only twice, but I would recommend that experience to anyone. Her brother’s family still runs the little, old family store. I’m looking forward to her new album in August, too.
Wow, really? I’ve never even thought of going there before. I’m glad that was such a good experience for you. I, too, am impatient to get my hands on her new album. I hope she’s doing okay given her recent health problems.
I saw her at the Opry back in November, and she looked a little wobbly even then (as she had fallen earlier last year and had to cancel a few shows). Yet, once she got going, her voice was still so good. Darius Rucker had performed just before, and escorted her on and off the stage, which I thought was very nice. Speaking of legends who are getting up in years, today is Mac Wiseman’s 92nd birthday.