CD: "Coal Miner's Daughter: A Tribute to Loretta Lynn"
Artists: Various (Collaboration)
Release: November 9, 2010
Label: Sony
Loretta Lynn, one of the most beloved, larger than life country performers and an enduring icon in country music for the past 50 years, has earned the title of the "Queen of Country Music" and will always been known as the original "Honky Tonk Girl". Loretta has always enveloped the meaning of country music, she's always the first name to come to mind when talking of classic country. A tribute to this beautiful lady has been a long time coming to those who love her. Now that it's here, the wait was well worth it. This tribute was done exactly as it should have been done. It wasn't cut in the traditional sense of artists trying to come as close to the original songs as possible like many other tributes I've seen. This was done in a way that has the tribute artists have made the most of Loretta's legendary music,relating individual interpretations of yesterday's classic hits to today's "not so classic" country music audience and breathing new life into old favorites. If you heard that a tribute was being done for Loretta, I can assure you that most of the artists chosen for this release would not be those that come right to mind - The White Stripes, Kid Rock, Paramore, Sheryl Crow to name a few. Well, after listening to the final release, it's clear that they do indeed go together with the name "Loretta Lynn" just fine.
Loretta has been cast as the epitome of the strong willed, fiercely protective country woman proud of the background she comes from and that is the obvious message in most of her songs. The artists bringing these songs to life have done their best to bring old songs to life with a new spin while maintaining the reverence these classic songs deserve. The very first track, "Don't Come Home A Drinkin' (With Lovin' on Your Mind)" is an amped up, rockabilly version of the original with a fresh take added like only a redneck woman, Gretchen Wilson, can give it whereas Lee Ann Womack takes on "I'm A Honky Tonk Girl" with total lack of originality, almost karaoke-like and afraid to take it and do something new with it. That being said, she still does a great rendition of the song in a traditional way. I've never been a huge fan of Carrie Underwood (Carrie lovers, go ahead and let it out, tell me I'm crazy), not because I don't think she can sing because she has an amazing voice, but more of the fact that I think she tends to over do some of her vocals on a few of her songs. She does not do that at all with "You're Lookin' at Country". She is spot on with this one, keeping it right where it needs to be, and not adding anymore than needs to be added. She keeps it simple and shows that while this is a tribute to Loretta, that when you listen to Carrie Underwood, you're still lookin' at country. There are also great spins on classics such as "Louisiana Woman-Mississippi Man", "Love is the Foundation", "Somebody Somewhere" and a few others you might not be as familiar with. My personal favorites on the cd are "You Ain't Woman Enough to Take My Man", a simple, almost acoustic version by the amazing Hayley Williams of Paramore and of course, the ever popular video favorite "Coal Miner's Daughter" by the trio of Loretta, Sheryl Crow, and Miranda Lambert.
The Tribute cd is timeless and classic, yet updated just enough so today's audience can get a feel for why Loretta Lynn is so loved and is such a huge icon. Loretta will always have my respect and my appreciation as a loyal fan of true country music. This is one of my favorite releases of 2010 and I don't think it's getting enough notice if we're being honest. I think it deserves more time in the spotlight, more promotion and more attention than it's been given. If you are a true Loretta fan, I think you'll appreciate what this tribute has to offer. If you like the cd, please tell people about it and get the word out. This cd is worth your time, your money and your attention. You can purchase the cd on Amazon, iTunes or in most record stores.
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