Sunday Drive: Welcome to the Future

In 2009 and again in 2011, President and Mrs. Obama hosted a series of concerts in the East Room of the White House, each one showcasing a different genre of contemporary American music.  In the July 2009 concert, country star Brad Paisley debuted his new single "Welcome to the Future," which your Head Trucker thinks ought to be counted one of the all-time great country songs:  full of hope, optimism, love of country and of our fellow human beings.  

The song and video together constitute a brilliant work of homegrown American art - celebrated in the White House by a decent and dignified President, and not for his own glory.  At that time, we still had hope, the country was still holding together, and the misty future seemed a green and pleasant land.

But here in this gray, grim, and ghastly future, this performance makes me weep for our country and the world - for several reasons.  Do I really have to explain why?

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Sunday Drive: If You Hadn't Been There

I'm sure all my truckbuddies will join in my condolences to Dolly - a longtime supporter of the gay community - who lost her huband Carl this week after 60 years of marriage.  What a blessing.

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Sunday Drive: Only in America

Nine days from the election in an evenly-divided nation, I offer my vision of the land I love:

We all get a chance,

Everybody gets to dance . . . 

Is that too much to ask?

Recommended read:  Everything is Awesome (Again!) by Michael Grunwald at Politico.  Excerpt:

The public may be grumpy, and politicians may be pitching doom and gloom, but it’s once again time for some great news: America is kicking ass! We are, as The Economist proclaimed on its cover this week, “The Envy of the World.”

The stock market just hit another all-time high. The uninsured rate is near an all-time low. Apartment construction hasn’t been this hot in half a century. Crime, inflation and illegal immigration are falling. Economic growth, job growth and wage growth are strong. The U.S. is no longer at war in Iraq, Afghanistan or, at least officially, anywhere else and its carbon emissions are declining, because its clean energy production is soaring. It’s still the richest and greatest nation on Earth, the land of opportunity that spawned the artificial intelligence boom, ultimate fighting, SpaceX and the Hawk Tuah multimedia empire. And our short national nightmare is over, because after 11 months without adorable cuddle-monsters, the National Zoo just took custody of two giant pandas. . . .

And yet, we haven't heard any of this from the Democratic candidates.  Why?

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Sunday Drive: You're Only Lonely

We close out the summer with this haunting tune by singer-songwriter J. D. Souther, who penned many hits for the Eagles, Linda Ronstadt, and others.  He was born in Detroit but grew up in Amarillo, and this song has a certain poignant sound just right for a long drive across the wide-open Texas prairie, thinking about loves lost or found.  

Here Souther performs it at a Farm Aid concert in Austin on July 4, 1986.  Enjoy. 

 

If you prefer the purity of the original radio version, here it is:

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R. I. P. Loretta Lynn, 1932-2022

Loretta Lynn, beloved country music legend, has died at age 90, at her home west of Nashville.

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Sunday Drive: Summertime Blues

As performed by Alan Jackson, 1994.

It's hot down here!  Click to enlarge.

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When I Get Where I'm Going

 The Lessons for Monday in Holy Week

Brad Paisley sings his #1 hit from 2005, with harmony by Dolly Parton.  Some famous faces appear in the video, also.

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Sunday Drive: Undivided

Tim McGraw and Tyler Hubbard beamed this performance in from Nashville to Biden's Celebrating America inaugural concert last Wednesday evening - and wow, what a powerful song.  Made your Head Trucker get a little misty-eyed.  Whether you're a fan of country music or not, I think you'll be moved too, if you listen to the words.

 

For the record, country megastar McGraw identified himself as a Democrat years ago.

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R. I. P.: Charley Pride

Country music legend Charley Pride died today, age 86.  The first black country singer to receive widespread acclaim, Pride racked up a long string of number-one country music hits in the 1970s and 1980s, and accumulated numerous awards and honors throughout his career.  His last appearance was just a month ago in Nashville, where he received the CMA Willie Nelson Lifetime Achievement Award.  Here he sings one of his greatest hits with contemporary country artist Jimmie Allen:

 

Here he sings the same hit song on the Lynn Anderson Show in 1971:

 

 In this 2017 interview, Pride talked about his roots and his music:

 

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Sunday Drive: What Mattered Most

It has only recently come to your Head Trucker's attention that country star Ty Herndon - who came out in 2014 - re-recorded his 1995 hit  "What Mattered Most" for Pride 2019, but with changed pronouns.

It happens that Ty was one of my favorite singers back in the 90's, though this was not my favorite of his songs.  Still, I sure do admire what he has done with it - haven't we all mentally transposed the pronouns in countless songs over the years?  See what you think.



For you non-country fans, here's one of his hits that really shows off his smooth, sexy baritone:

Sunday Drive: Summertime Blues

As performed by country-music giant Alan Jackson, 1994:

Sunday Drive: Where Were You When the World Stopped Turning

This heartfelt remembrance of the events of 9/11 earned a Grammy and other top honors for Alan Jackson.

Sunday Drive: San Antonio Rose

The legendary Bob Wills and his Texas Playboys perform the perennial Texas favorite in 1944:




Patsy sang it in her final television appearance in 1963:




And here's the studly Chris Carmack performing it at the Grand Ole Opry in 2015:

Sunday Drive: Buckaroo

This happy, lively tune was the number-one country hit fifty years ago this month, as performed by the late, great Buck Owens and his Buckaroos, who popularized the Bakersfield Sound that influenced many other country-rock performers.

Sunday Drive: Summertime Blues

Out in the Country

Country music star Ty Herndon, 52, came out yesterday in an interview with People magazine - read the full interview here.

Ty's warm and oh-so-studly voice was a favorite of your Head Trucker's back in the late 1990's, so I'm glad he's out and proud now. Here's one of his sexier hits, for those of you who aren't familiar with his work:



Sure works for me. Here's what I'm talkin' 'bout:

And there's more: emboldened by Herndon's revelation, 26-year-old fellow country artist Billy Gilman also came out yesterday in a video posted to YouTube:




What can I say but - Yeehaw!

Sunday Drive: Don't Laugh at Me

Someone hurt my feelings rather badly the other day, for no good reason. The song isn't an exact match to the situation, but it will do.

Better This Way

Here's your hairy bear fix for the day:  singer-songwriter Doug Strahm serves up this sweet story of true manlove from his debut album, Everything Has Changed:



You can download the album or any of its tracks via iTunes or Amazon at Doug's website. From his bio:

Born and raised in Fort Wayne, IN, Doug Strahm grew up in an Italian Catholic household knowing early in his life that he was different from what society expected. He began singing at the age of five to local neighbors for .25 cents a song.

Raised to march with the drum beat of family and social expectations, he married and fathered three children. At the age of 23, he divorced and gained full custody of his children – a 23 year old single father with two of his three toddlers still in diapers.

He spent his early years writing jingles and video commercials for local businesses while he owned and operated a critically acclaimed Italian restaurant. During this time he also was very involved with Nashville songwriting seminars, networking and writing with independent artists and publishers. Many doors would easily open for him when he would show up at A&R & publishing departments with lunch that he would prepare himself using recipes from his restaurant. A shameless bribe but it worked. ;-)

He continued to write, work his restaurant, do studio work, raise his children and fathered another son. Things changed later in life and after his last marriage, with full custody of his four children, he met the true love of his life. In October, he and his significant other will celebrate their 17th anniversary.

He holds his partner, Bruce, and his children very close. A proud father, he considers them his best friends and is a devoted family man.

Sweet.  They didn't make musicians like this in my day and time - or they certainly were never allowed to be out and proud.  This is the kind of artist we should be encouraging, guys. So go check out the other songs on the album and give Doug a chance. 

At least you know you want to see more of his hairy body here.

Sunday Drive: Summertime Blues

Sunday Drive: Have I Told You Lately That I Love You

A favorite of my Mama's, performed here by country-western legend Red Foley, 1946: