Pardon me for the use of this term, but I am using it to
state a point. In 1983, Ricky Skaggs was the biggest “bad-ass” in Country
Music. A one-time member of Ralph Stanley’s band (along with Keith Whitley),
the Kentucky native had made a name for himself in the Bluegrass world over the
late 1970s and early 1980s. With his signing to Epic in 1980 and the subsequent
release of his Waitin’ On The Sun To Shine, he quickly became one of the
biggest stars in the format.
But….how he did it is something else.
Skaggs managed to become one of the most successful artists
of his time with a modern-day approach to traditional country – which was in
itself, a novel concept. At the time, many of the top artists in the format
were experiencing success with a more crossover based approach such as Anne
Murray and Kenny Rogers. But, all of a sudden, you have this young kid on the
radio with songs made famous by Webb Pierce and Flatt and Scruggs, among
others. He did so with a rock-and-roll type swagger. Having seen his stage show
during this time period, I’ve got to say that it was one of the best concerts
I’ve ever seen. To simply call him “cool” or “hip” doesn’t begin to do him
justice. If the current performers’ reliance on “Bro Country” has earned the
moniker “Bad Ass” in terms of being a trend-setter, then make no mistake about
it – Ricky Skaggs was a bad ass.
He might not have been any more so as he was on the 1983
album Don’t Cheat In Our Hometown. The set’s first single was an
ultra-traditional take on a Stanley Brothers classic, and it became a number
one record. The next single was a cover of Mel Tillis’ “Honey (Won’t You Open
That Door),” which was also recorded by Pierce. In addition to being a hit
recording artist, Skaggs was the eccentric history teacher that you wanted to
have. He made the legends hip and cool. But, the third and final single might
have very well been his most artistic statement – a sizzling version of Bill
Monroe’s “Uncle Pen.” A bluegrass standard, the song hit the charts and kept
climbing – all the way to number one. It was only the second bluegrass song to
do so – and considering the fact that the first, “The Ballad Of Jed Clampett,”
was from one of the biggest TV shows of the day in 1962, I tend to think of it
as the first to do so on its’ own merits. Class was in session in 1983, and
Skaggs was leading the way
And, there were other reasons to love this album. “Don’t Step
Over An Old Love” and “A Vision of Mother.” He tipped the hat to Stonewall
Jackson on a gorgeous version of “A Wound Time Can’t Erase,” and made his
contribution to the Country Holiday sub-genre with “Children Go.” To call Don’t
Cheat In Our Hometown as his best work might be a little pre-mature – because
his catalog is so good – but it might be his biggest “bad ass” statement of
all!
Don’t Cheat In Our Hometown will be the featured album as
part of “The House That Built Me” series on Crazy Chucky’s Classic Country
Corner on August 19 from 1-3pm on WNKX 96.7 FM. The show is brought to you by
Tennessee Properties.
