Country-pop from the ‘70s and early ‘80s

I guess singers back in the 1970s country-pop or pop or R&B had to be good singers as in be able to sing live in ways that approach what they sound like on recordings. Before my time but I think ONJ had both looks, body, and voice on top of decent charisma.

Reba-Whoever’s In New England

There's a version of this by Lisa Hartman (!) that I really like but it's not on YouTube, so here's the original.

Actually, the Hartman version is on YouTube. It's lovely and understated.

Broadening the timeline, “country pop” goes back to the late ‘50s/early ‘60s when Jim Reeves and Patsy Cline replaced the fiddles and banjos with swirling violins and created what was basically lush, middle of the road pop.

Jim Reeves - He’ll Have to Go:

Patsy Cline - Sweet Dreams:

Eddy Arnold - Make the World Go Away:

Oops

"If Loving You Is Wrong, I Don't Wanna' Be Right" Barbara Mandrell

Patsy Cline is one of those died young, ultra-talented artists who actually deserves their post-death acclaim.

If anything, she isn't appreciated enough.

While Cline's talent is just barely shy of the level of talent of Ella Fitzgerald, Garland or Streisand, still, she is almost unequaled in her ability to emit a subtle turn of phrase that can unload tons of heartache.

She'd never make it now. As someone pointed out in the current JLO thread, today, talent is almost a negative; it jams the assembly-line of PopStars-R-Us marketing

From1981 Lacy J. Dalton - Takin' It Easy. Sounds like a Judds tune.

R9, I’ve always thought that Mandrell’s was the definitive recording of that song. Everything about it is perfection.

It Was Almost Like a Song -- Ronnie Milsap

All the Gold in California -- Larry Gatlin & the Gatlin Brothers Band

Olivia Newton-John/John Farrar own this thread. They really were a dream team.

Jim Stafford - Spiders and Snakes (1974)

The theme song for many, "It Ain't Easy Being Easy" Janie Frickie

Islands in the Stream

Another vote for Dolly

R20 I loved Dolly as a kid and bought that album because there were 3 of her! I loved her big boobs, which is weird being gay and all.

"Somebody's Knockin'" - Terri Gibbs

The king and queen of country duet.

Eddie Rabbitt’s “Someone Could Lose a Heart Tonight”

Giddy up oom poppa omm poppa mow mow Heigh-ho silver, away

You beat me to it, R22!!

But here's another gem -

Brown Eyed Handsome Man

Kenny live with surprise Dolly!

All the cowboys down on the Sunset Strip

Wish they could be like you

"We've Got Tonight" - Kenny Rogers and Sheena Easton

Released: January 1983

R29 love when Dolly sings ‘Who needs Sheena Easton?’ Lol

Another one from the late Eddie Rabbitt -

Joker is the only fooool....

Girls say God I hope he comes back soon -

Who knew DL had such good taste in country music??

"You and I" - Eddie Rabbitt and Crystal Gayle

October 1982

Um, all of you ON-J fangurls DO realize that, when that pop princess wound up taking the Country Music Association's Female Vocalist of the Year award in 1974, the Tammy Wynettes and George Joneses and other purists of Nashville were so livid, they protested by founding an entirely NEW organization (ACE) designed to keep out the syrupy, non-country ON-Js of the world?

Everybody knew that, right?

(On another topic, love me some Della/R10. Insightful, articulate, and just plain right on, per usual.)

Crystal Gayle does justice to an old classic -

I admit to lip synching R39 in my living room many times. It would make a perfect drag number.

"Don't It Make My Brown Eyes Blue" - Crystal Gayle (1977)

She was just beginning to get famous when she blew the roof off Radio City Music Hall at the Songwriters Hall of Fame.

Thankfully I had it recorded it on my VCR and my friends and I watched it over and over - it's still thrilling to watch.

ONJ's country-pop stardom was before my time, but I love this song. Written by the BeeGees. Olivia could sing quite well, huh?

A DL fave!

She’s got you

Best Country Group or Duo Grammy goes to......The Fucking Fabulous Pointer Sisters.

R38 Dolly's sister released a song defending her at the time. It references a number of Olivia's songs.

“Shame on the Moon” one of Bob Seger’s few hits to be written by someone else, in this case, Rodney Crowell - it peaked at #2 on the Hot 100 and #15 on the country chart.

My all time favorite Dolly song

"Dueling Banjos" - Eric Weissberg & Steve Mandell

"Dueling Banjos" was made famous by the 1972 movie "Deliverance". The song was a big hit, spending four weeks at #2 on the Billboard pop singles chart. It peaked at #5 on the Billboard country chart.

Smoooches and Thank You, GoldStarEldergay at r38.

All of the hits of Glenn Campbell.

Never did you have to wonder, when you first heard his voice, "Who is this?" He had a unique, unmistakable sound to his voice that made him instantly identifiable.

The Legend of Wooley Swamp

Eddie Rabbitt- Suspicions

Apparently Rosanne Cash used to say to her audiences, "I'm here to put the Cunt back in Country"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GbQ1V84EDGA

Deborah Allen - Baby I Lied

Carlene Carter, R56. Rosanne Cash's half-sister.

DataLounge, you're slipping.

"You Needed Me" - Anne Murray

Released: May 1978

The song hit #1 on the Billboard pop singles chart. Peaked at #4 on the Billboard country chart.

Tanya Tucker "Texas When I Die"

"On the Road Again" - Willie Nelson

Doctor Hook - Baby Makes Her Blue Jeans Talk