Jean Shepard's Greatest '52-'64
Jean Shepard was one of country music’s first significant female artists. Documentary filmmaker Ken Burns said: "In the 1950s, self-supporting female country artists were rare. Women who rose to stardom on the West Coast rather than through the Grand Ole Opry were rarer still, as were women who adopted a hard-edged honky-tonk style or sang from a woman's perspective. Jean Shepard was all that and more."
Shepard’s early Capitol recordings were part of The Bakersfield Sound & many of the session musicians on them (Buck Owens, Speedy West & Jimmy Bryant) later had careers of their own. A Dear John Letter, her 1953 duet with Ferlin Husky, was the first commercially successful recording to consist entirely of Bakersfield musicians.
Her first solo hit was A Satisfied Mind. A new song at the time, that’s now considered a country standard, Shepard’s version battled covers by Porter Wagoner & Red Foley and made it to the #4 position on the country charts.
She recorded several songs that were feminist anthems before that term was in use. Two Whoops & A Holler is about the double-standard that is applied to women. Another Neon Night is about a one-night stand with a fellah whose name she doesn't know, & Poor Sweet Baby is about a couple who are about to make the beast with two backs (the latter two fall outside of the period this compilation is pulled from).
Shepard was a member of these Grand Ole Opry for 60 years, and met her husband Hankshaw Hawkins after joining the cast in 1955. Hawkins died in the same plane crash that took Patsy Cline’s life in 1963, after which Shepard considered retirement, but her next release Second Fiddle To An Old Guitar (the final track here) reached #5 & was considered her “comeback” recording.
Jean Shepard’s nearest counterpart, in my opinion, is Hank Williams Sr. Her range of subject matter is similar &, like Hank, she incorporates yelps, growls, yodeling, hiccups & utilizes a very effective--almost comical--nasal delivery at times. They both sideswipe rockabilly (on occasion) & take off without leaving a note. For proof, give a listen to her version of Lefty Frizzell’s If You’ve Got The Money, I’ve Got The Time, or Twice The Lovin’ (In Half The Time) which was a bold statement for a woman to make when it was recorded.
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ReplyDeleteI'd love to hear about any PURLOINED PLATTERS in your collection.
Did you ever shoplift, burgle, or borrow and never return a slab of vinyl? I'm guilty of the latter! (Our friend Dr. Z. inspired today's query.)
JEAN SHEPARD's Greatest '52-'64:
https://pixeldrain.com/u/QCzA9i1V
No, I never did, but a lot was stolen/borrowed-and-not-returned from me. John and Sasha Digweed - renaissance 2 3cd, Stooges both first, Jesus and Mary Chain - Never Understand 12'' Horizon 2 22 - Through the round window, PWOG first cd, and a lot I don't recall at the moment, but most of all
ReplyDeleteNie Knieze Nie Zeure 7'' (and still pissed after 40 years) https://www.discogs.com/release/36799288-De-Striepersgatse-Hofliederentafel-Nie-Kniezen-Nie-Zeuren-In-Nederland-Daar-Wonen-Heel-Veel https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uTnRp-cghUY&list=RDuTnRp-cghUY&start_radio=1
Last time I stole a record I got Powerpopitis. I guess I got what I deserved.
ReplyDeleteBut this topic is making me want to steal System Of A Down's "Steal This Record." I feel I have a built-in defence should I get caught.
Steal smarter, not harder!
DeleteLife is, indeed, like a wheel. You know who is going to love the Jean Shepard songs I purloined here? My sister that had her Badfinger 45 purloined by me.
DeleteWow! That makes Jonky part of the circle of life!
DeleteAnd I JUST picked up the subtext on your comment; "I guess I got what I deserved." Well done, you.
It's ironic but I had wheeled out of the Goodwill two suitcases which I had also purloined worth of Jesus music vinyl that I have been posting but it would have been crushed into pallet boxes with all kinds of junk sealed and sent overseas just because I was on lunch break and the line was too long. I give them back all the ones I buy for free that I don't keep so we have a little understanding that they don't know about. I also push their name during posts. They wreck so much vinyl in those buckets that roll out with heavy stuff on them, bent and all kind of forces on them at the bargain store that gets overstock from the normal stores. Hit that place for 10 years straight until we moved farther away but the supply seemed to be drying up as vinyl got more popular. Just call me Robbin Hood for the cause of saving your history! Oh yeah, I'm taking that as a request for Lefty, Stinky as I've been eying that vinyl lately...hope its the right guy. Thanks for adding to my JS greatest hits post. I use everyone and care only about the culture we are losing. Cheers!!!
ReplyDeleteI'll have to check out your Jean Shepard megapost VCMD. My collection only pulls from her recordings between '52-'64 . Anything after that, I'm in need of!
DeleteA history lesson on "the culture we are losing" (as VCMD calls it). I was not aware of Jean's place in country music history. Looking forward to hearing her version of "If You’ve Got The Money, I’ve Got The Time".
ReplyDeleteI am guilty of stealing records (on two separate occasions). I was young and greedy, and I regret doing it.