Totally Biased Fan Review: Love, Prison, Wisdom and Heartaches – Connie Smith

1. 1.The Other Side Of You 02:57
2. 2.Once More 02:32
3. 3.One Of These Days 02:13
4. 4.If You Won’t Tell On Me (I Won’t Tell On You) 02:43
5. 5.Drifting and Dreaming 03:05
6. 6.Country Girl 03:00
7. 7.World Of Forgotten People02:08
8. 8.Seattle 02:55
9. 9.The Fugitive 03:22
10. 10.End of the World 02:43
11. 11.Beneath Still Waters 03:10
12. 12.The Wayward Wind 03:21

When asked if this is a covers record, Smith replied, “No. Hardly. I’m singing on behalf of my friends. Hoping to share them while passing along their songs.”

A different approach, but that is Connie Smith. She hardly follows a regular route in her career…..or in her personal life. She has never changed from one viewpoint, she is a classic country music singer. Hubby, Marty Stuart has varied his music a bit over the years, but Connie has stuck to her guns and has fired off her heart. She’s not a conformer, she’s a leader.

There are 12 songs on the album, but in traditional country music form, most of the songs are 2-3 minutes each.

Marty produced this album, Connie’s 55th. Connie has a ballsy way of singing, that is, it is not so much sweet and melodic, it is in your face and proud. At 82, her voice is probably even stronger than it was in the 1960’s.

I actually fell of the lounge when the first track came on and I’m fairly deaf.

I was thrilled that the theme to one of my favourite tv shows, Here Come the Brides, (Seattle) is included.

A song normally sung by guys, (chiefly its creator, Haggard), Connie gives The Fugitive a bit of a different spin.

Her treatment of End of the World is similarly intriguing.

Most critics are saying that Connie should stick to her original stuff and that her choices of covers are a bit left of centre. I think that is Connie though and surely at 82, she has earned the right to pick and choose.

She’s sassy and full of vim and vigour – like Patsy was. Patsy may have had a sweeter voice but both know how to belt out a tune and have that element of don’t mess with me in their delivery.

Marty’s band The Fabulous Superlatives back Connie and of course do a great job.

With Beneath Still Waters, a song that Emmylou sang with a mouthful of honey, Connie almost preaches to the congregation.

Connie is immortal, I think. When we are all pushing up daisies, she’ll still be putting out albums.

She’s an original, even when she’s singing covers….er, her friends’ songs.