“Lost in the Feeling”
Conway Twitty
Written by Lewis Anderson
Radio & Records
#1 (1 week)
August 12, 1983
Yes, that’s a pre-stardom Naomi Judd on the front cover of Conway Twitty’s Lost in the Feeling album. She’s on the banner image too, which served as the same album’s back cover.
Perhaps she’s whispering something about her prodigious daughter and their duo act that would eventually land them in the Country Music Hall of Fame.
But there’s another Hall of Famer guesting on this record, and his presence is incredibly impactful. Ricky Skaggs provides a fantastic harmony track that helps to make this one of the most traditional country records of Conway Twitty’s distinguished career.
The song itself is gorgeous, and Twitty’s vocals are beyond reproach. But it’s really the arrangement that takes this from great to classic. Twitty’s vocal is crystal clear and surrounded by delicate acoustic instrumentation. The steel guitar gives the entire record such warmth. T
Do I have to tell you this sonic joy was produced by Jimmy Bowen? Just wait until he gets these guys playing with Reba McEntire next year.
“Lost in the Feeling” gets an A.
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This is unquestionably my favorite Conway Twitty recording of the 1980s. After a run of several pop/schlock covers, I was beginning to think Conway had lost the ability to make a decent country recording but this record proved that he could still deliver the goods. John Hughey’s sterling steel guitar is the highlight of this recording, but everything fits together perfectly making this Conway’s last truly great country single.
…”your hairdresser or mine?”
Vince Gill’s song “Buttermilk John” from his 2011 album “Guitar Slinger” was a tribute to John Hughey and his signature steel guitar work on songs like this
Despite this amazing diverse and wonderful run of number one singles in this decade alone, Twitty never seemed to get his due as being among the all-time greats in the genre.
I can listen to Conway endlessly. This song in particular does stand out for all the reasons mentioned.
Conway!