I hope you have been enjoying this series of blogs and radio
shows about some of the music that shaped my interest in this crazy business.
It’s been fun going down memory lane and reliving some past memories.
After being in this business since 1991, people will ask me
‘What is your favorite album?’ It’s like thinking about your favorite song – or
the most beautiful woman you’ve ever seen. It can be subject to change. In my
first blog on this topic back in June, I guess I answered it with The Gambler by Kenny Rogers. But, the
album I was the most excited about adding to my collection – Storms of Life by Randy Travis, hands
down.
Granted, I was four years old when Kenny came out with his
disc, so I actually didn’t go out and buy it. But, with Randy, it was a little
different. In 1986, Randy Travis was taking over the format in a way that you
don’t see today. On January 1, he was virtually unknown outside of The
Nashville Palace, where he was a dishwasher who also entertained the crowds –
as Randy Ray. By years’ end, he had two number one records and was a member of
The Grand Ole Opry.
The song that broke his career wide open was “1982,” followed
up by a song that he had originally released first, titled “On The Other Hand.”
It only hit # 67 on the charts, but the second time around it made it all the
way to the top. Randy Travis was a definite breath of fresh air for fans who
liked a more traditional style. The format also had Skaggs, Strait, and Reba
doing more earthier type music – but each of those artists were very much
established with at least five years of success. Randy Travis was the first
newcomer in a while who spoke – and sang like Lefty and George. He was
definitely a throwback artist, and the album represented that. I was twelve at
the time, and getting a $10 allowance each week…..and wanted to add Storms Of Life to my collection
something fierce.
First of all, I tried to win it. He was a favorite of The
Music Country Radio Network – the nighttime programming on WSM-AM, and they
gave away several copies of the album….but I never could be the right caller.
Then, one day, I was in Wal-Mart, and there it was - with a $5.97 retail
sticker on it, and I snapped it up – and even had three dollars left!
Almost three decades later (!), that album still holds up
today. (Well, I did upgrade to CD, but you get the idea.) The singles – “1982,”
“On The Other Hand,” “Diggin’ Up Bones,” and “There’s No Place Like Home” – are
all still classics. But, the album cuts were just as dynamic – “Reasons I
Cheat,” “Send My Body,” “Messin’ With My Mind,” and “There’ll Always Be A Honky
Tonk Somewhere,” – those songs deserve a listen as well. Heck, even the album
cover – with Randy standing in front of an old country store – was kind of
retro looking, fitting quite nicely with the sounds inside of it. (One time in
an interview, Randy said he tried to find that store many times since the album
cover shoot, but to no avail. He joked that it was somewhere between
“Difficult” and “Defeated.”)
Join me on the July 22 edition of Crazy Chucky’s Classic Country Corner as we shine the spotlight on
an album that helped usher in the “New Traditonalist” era with a bang – Storms of Life by Randy Travis. The show
airs at 1pm, and is brought to you by Tennessee Properties.
