COUNTRY SOUL SISTERS.
COUNTRY SOUL SISTERS.
Not everything that glitters is gold. Nor is every compilation what it may appear. With its title Country Soul Sisters, some people have bought Soul Jazz Records’ most recent release thinking this is an album of country-tined soul music. That’s not the case. For anyone looking for that type of compilation, then Kent’s rather predicable compilation Behind Closed Door might suit their tastes. What Country Soul Sisters is, is a twenty-five track compilation of music from some of country music’s female pioneers. Artists ranging from Patsy Cline, Bobby Gentry, Tammy Wynette, Tanya Tucker, Barbara Fairchild, Nancy Sinatra, Kitty Wells and Norma Jean tackle a wide range of social subjects, some of which are radical and hard-hitting. This ranges from death, sexual exploitation, bigotry, poverty and domestic violence. However, some of the music is celebratory and about women taking charge of their lives. After all, why shouldn’t they do and enjoy the things men do. In some ways, the music is about female empowerment, about women taking charge and control of their own lives. Unlike much of traditional country music, with its ultra-conservative, idealistic and almost twee attitude to life, Country Soul Sisters shows that there’s another side to country music. You could say that the music on Country Soul Sisters is almost country music for people who don’t like traditional country music. Now as someone whose not a huge fan of country music, this could well describe me, and I dare say many other people. So will Country Soul Sisters change my mind about country music and make a fan of me. That’s what I’ll tell you after I’ve told you about some of the music on Country Soul Sisters.
My first choice from Country Soul Sisters is Lynn Anderson’s Fancy, written by Bobbie Gentry. Released in 1970 on Columbia Records, just four years after Lynn released her first single it’s a track with a strong narrative. It tells the story of a dying mother’s misguided attempt to help her daughter escape the poverty she’d experienced. Lynn’s vocal is mixture of sadness and bravado. Her vocal grows in power as the drama and emotion grows. Harmonies sweep in, while the rhythm section, searing guitars and piano accompany her. They play their part in creating a dramatic backdrop for Lynn’s vocal, which is full of bravado as the song reveals its bittersweet ending.
Jeannie C. Riley is one of several artists to have two tracks feature on Country Soul Sisters. While Harper Valley PTA is certainly one of the most acerbic and indeed sarcastic song ever written about the narrow-mindedness and hypocrisy of small town life, I’ve Done A Lot of Living Since Then is one of the most celebratory on Country Soul Sisters. Here, accompanied by a pounding, driving beat and steel guitars, Jeannie sings about being “white trash” and proud of it. She delivers the song confidently with defiance and a sassy, swagger. Considering this track was released in 1968, just as sexual attitudes were changing, Jeannie’s swagger was almost an act of defiance for some people. However, it’s that swagger, and her confident, sassy drawl that makes this such a celebratory track and one of highlights of the compilation.
Bobbie Gentry is another artist who has two tracks on Country Soul Sisters. They’re two very different tracks. Reunion is quite simply the worst song on the compilation. It has no redeeming features and is almost a parody of country music. The arrangement is cluttered, the lyrics dark and like a parody of what you’d expect a really awful country song to sound like. Thankfully Bobbie’s other contribution is better. Ode To Billie Jo gave Bobbie Gentry a huge hit in 1967, reaching number one in the US Billboard 100. Again, the lyrics are dark, lyrics, dealing with the subject of suicide. Bobbie’s vocal gets across the almost matter of fact or nonchalant way people approach the subject matter. Just a guitar and occasional bursts of strings accompany Bobbie’s vocal as one of the most thoughtful, pensive and heartfelt tracks on Country Soul Sisters.
Of all the tracks on Country Soul Sisters, Tammy Wynette’s Tonight My Baby’s Coming Home has one of the most authentic country sounds. Tammy’s vocal is needy, full of joy and expectation at the thought of her man coming home tonight. Her vocal is accompanied by an arrangement that could only have been made in Nashville. With fiddles, steel guitars and rhythm section accompanying her the arrangement almost gallops along. Sometimes, there’s even a touch of Patsy Cline in Tammy’s voice as she delivers one of the best vocals on Country Soul Sisters. The reason for this is it’s celebratory, joyful and full of happiness.
Jean Shepard is another artist with two tracks on Country Soul SIsters. A Satisfied Mind is a much more subdued affair, with a really heartfelt vocal full of emotion, while Two Whoops and A Holler sees Jean kick loose. Released in 1959, Jean rails against sexual inequality and double standards. How come men can get away with “cussing..smoking…and…fighting” Jean sings? Her voice is tinged with anger and frustration, as Jean proves to be a musical pioneer, but a pioneer for female empowerment and sexual equality.
No compilation entitled Country Soul Sisters would be complete without a track from Patsy Cline. Compiler Stuart Baker has chosen well, with Ain’t No Wheels On This Ship. Patsy delivers one of her trademark vocals, mixing with power, passion and a real swagger. Just a standup bass, guitars and drums accompany Patsy’s vocal, while punchy backing vocals drift in and out. However, it’s Patsy’s vocal that has your attention, as she breathes life, energy and passion into the lyrics.
One of the best tracks on the compilation is Diane Trask’s Show Me. A driving rhythm section, searing guitars and piano accompany Diane’s feisty, fiery vocal. Her vocal is powerful, filled of emotion, as tight, soaring harmonies and harmonica accompany her. Together they build and build the drama, until the song reaches a dramatic and emotive crescendo.
Norma Jean’s He’s All I Got is my last choice from Country Soul Sisters. Released in 1972, it’s a track penned by Jerry Williams Jr. and Gary US Bond. Norma’s vocal is heartfelt and impassioned, accompanied by steel guitars, rhythm section and sweeping harmonies that are the perfect accompaniment. When they unite with Norma’s vocal they play their part in a track that’s a celebration of love and togetherness.
The twenty-five tracks that comprise Country Soul Sisters feature some of the biggest female singers in country music. Many of these women were innovators and pioneers, for daring to broach subjects that previously, had been off-limits in country music. However, why shouldn’t women sing about things that matter and mean something to them? In many ways these songs are a welcome change from the good ole boys of country singing about drinking, gambling, fighting and romancing. For many people, myself included, that leaves me cold. Having said that, much of the music on Country Soul Sisters is quite dark and even, depressing. Much of the music isn’t exactly joyous or celebratory. While the songs may neither be joyous nor celebratory, some have a strong narrative and tell a compelling story. That’s the best of the music on Country Soul Sisters. Then there’s the rest.
Sometimes, the songs are almost a parody of country music itself. A good example of this is Reunion, the worst song on Country Soul Sisters. It’s songs like those that put people off country music. While Reunion is easily the worst track on Country Soul SIsters, most of the tracks work. There are the occasional faux pax, while a number of the songs haven’t stood the test of time particularly well. Even some of the songs recorded in the seventies sound dated and sometimes twee. Having said that, there is much to commend Country Soul SIsters…if you like country music. Personally, Country Soul Sisters didn’t win me over. Earlier, I wondered whether Country Soul Sisters would turn me into a fan of country music. Well I can say quite categorically it didn’t. While I enjoyed some of the music on Country Soul Sisters, like many compilations, it’s very much a mixed bag. While Country Soul Sisters might not be the Soul Jazz Records’ finest hour, they deserve credit for producing a compilation that shows another side to country music. They also deserve credit of he in-depth and informative sixty-eight page booklet that accompanies the album. Reading it, it strikes me that Country Soul Sisters was something of a labor of love for compiler Stuart Baker and he deserves credit for trying to widen the appeal of country music. Maybe however, he should’ve tried a little harder. Standout Tracks: Jeannie C. Riley I’ve Done A Lot of Living Since Then, Tammy Wynette Tonight My Baby’s Coming Home, Patsy Cline Ain’t No Wheels On This Ship and Diane Trask Show Me.
COUNTRY SOUL SISTERS.
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