Retro Single Reviews – Page 5

Retro Single Review: Dolly Parton, "I Will Always Love You"

July 5, 2012 Ben Foster 5

1974 | #1

Where to start? How do you begin a review of a song as seemingly universal as this one is? I could go on about what a massive success this song was in all the different versions that were recorded. But for now, I’ll just talk about what a fine record this 1974 original is on its own merits.

Retro Single Review: George Strait, &quot;Famous Last Words of a Fool&quot;

July 4, 2012 Kevin John Coyne 1

1988 | Peak: #1

Strait previewed his eighth studio album, If You Ain’t Lovin’ You Ain’t Livin’, with a cover of a minor hit by Dean Dillon from 1983.

Retro Single Review: Tim McGraw, "My Next Thirty Years"

July 4, 2012 Kevin John Coyne 6

2000 | Peak: #1

Age forty is still seen as more of a milestone, but age thirty might be the best place to neatly divide your life.

McGraw captures that feeling of settling in to who you’re going to be, and the growing confidence that you’re really an adult and that you’ve somewhat established yourself.

Retro Single Review: Dolly Parton, "Jolene"

July 1, 2012 Kevin John Coyne 4

1973 | Peak: #1

This haunting little record went on to become Parton’s most covered song. Not bad for a humble tale of a woman simply begging another not to take her man.

Retro Single Review: Shania Twain, &quot;Up!&quot;

June 12, 2012 Ben Foster 9

2oo3 | #12

The title track and second single of Shania Twain’s Up! album is arguably the finest and fullest realization of Twain’s signature positivity. It also perfectly exemplifies the sheer brilliance of the strategy behind the Up! album.

Retro Single Review: Alan Jackson, "Livin' on Love"

June 10, 2012 Kevin John Coyne 1

1994 | Peak: #1

So catchy, so charming, and so full of little funny details that you can forgive him for ripping off “Two Sparrows in a Hurricane” so blatantly.

Retro Single Review: George Strait, "Am I Blue"

June 10, 2012 Kevin John Coyne 3

1987 | Peak: #1

Another hit from Strait that revels in his Western Swing roots.

Retro Single Review: Tim McGraw, "Some Things Never Change"

June 10, 2012 Kevin John Coyne 3

2000 | Peak: #7

McGraw at his most listless. “Some Things Never Change” is an easy listening number that’s so easy to listen to, it might put you to sleep.

Retro Single Review: Porter Wagoner & Dolly Parton, "If Teardrops Were Pennies"

June 9, 2012 Kevin John Coyne 2

1973 | Peak: #3

Released just before Dolly Parton’s star would rise considerably, “If Teardrops Were Pennies” was a surprisingly big hit, becoming Porter & Dolly’s highest charting single to date.

Retro Single Review: Shania Twain, "I'm Gonna Getcha Good!"

June 8, 2012 Ben Foster 3

2002 | #7

A pop-country gold nugget that defies explanation.

Honestly, who’s even trying to pretend that this song is supposed to mean anything? Who’s trying to pretend that it needs to mean anything?