Articles by Kevin John Coyne
Retro Single Review: Dolly Parton, “In the Ghetto”
1969 | Peak: #50
As with her take on “Imagine” decades later, Parton’s cover of the now-classic Elvis Presley single “In the Ghetto” is fatally flawed.
CU Roundtable Review: Martina McBride, “I’m Gonna Love You Through It”
Written by Ben Hayslip, Sonya Isaacs, and Jimmy Yeary
Leeann Ward:
After changing record labels and subsequently releasing the refreshingly sassy “Teenage Daughters”, not to mention interviews that hinted that she hadn’t been completely happy with the direction that her music had taken in recent years, it seemed that blessedly gone might be the days of overwrought, cloying power ballads with generic productions for Martina McBride. The release of “I’m Gonna Love You Through It”, however, laid that hope to rest for those of us who had tired of such songs a zillion Martina songs ago
Retro Single Review: George Strait, “Marina Del Rey”
1982 | Peak: #6
“Marina Del Rey” was an early attempt by George Strait at recording a pensive and thoughtful ballad.
He wasn’t quite ready for it, yet. The lyrics are appropriately longing and sentimental for times gone by, but Strait hasn’t yet developed enough as a vocalist to pull off the mature performance required.
