DISClaimer Single Reviews: Charley Pride Lost Tapes Are ‘Finest Of His Career’

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Charley Pride. Photo: Ben De Rienzo

This edition of DISClaimer covers country sounds, but takes a few detours along the way.

For your listening pleasure, we have a reissued blues classic by B.B. King, a disco tune from Dustin Lynch, a revival of a Buddy Holly standard by Joe Ely and a romping rock & roll outing by the Music City blues-rock band Piper & The Hard Times. The last-named is our DISCovery Award winner.

This week’s Disc of the Day also colors outside the lines a bit. It is a masterful tribute to the music of the great Brook Benton by our late country superstar Charley Pride. It is absolutely essential listening.

JENNA PAULETTE / “Steady”
Writers: Jenna Paulette/Rhett Akins/Will Bundy; Producer: Will Bundy; Label: Leo33
– The upbeat, rolling-tempo groove is irresistible. Paulette’s cowgirl delivery conveys country sincerity in every note of this romance. Fiddle and steel abound. Highly recommended.

CHRIS YOUNG / “Brake Lights”
Writers: Chris Young/Hillary Lindsey/Jesse Frasure/Ty Graham; Producers: Andy Sheridan, Chris Young; Label: Black River Entertainment
– He’s begging to get her back. The thunderous production is too busy and muddy. The rock guitar solo at the coda goes on forever.

TIGIRLILY GOLD / “Call It Home (A Song for North Dakota)”
Writers: Josh Jenkins/Kendra Slaubaugh/Krista Slaubaugh/Pete Good; Producers: Austin Goodloe, Pete Good; Label: Sony Music Nashville
– Olson and Slaughbaugh are the new spokespersons for North Dakota tourism. They salute their home state with this lively ditty that celebrates its natural beauty. Bop and dance along to this open-sky ode.

CHARLEY PRIDE / “Endlessly”
Writers: Brook Benton/Clyde Otis; Producers: Bob Pickering, Charley Pride; Label: Music City Records
– Tomorrow (Sept. 19) would have been Brook Benton’s 94th birthday. I have long believed that he was an unheralded country hero. The pop-soul baritone recorded two country albums, immortalized Tony Joe White’s “Rainy Night in Georgia” and wrote great songs that were covered by country stars. Benton and/or his co-writer Clyde Otis were responsible for “It’s Just a Matter of Time” (Randy Travis), “The Ties That Bind” (Don Williams). “Endlessly” (Sonny James) and more. The last named is the title tune of a long overdue Brook Benton tribute album. After Charley Pride’s death in 2020, these tapes were found, revealing that the superstar was definitely appreciative of Benton’s talent. His vocal performances on these classics are arguably the finest of his career. Backed by the Dallas Symphony, Pride glides through the lushly melodic “Endlessly” and dips into its bass notes with delight. Every track on this collection is a mini masterpiece. Also check out his stunning version of “The Ties That Bind.” The collection drops tomorrow (Sept. 19).

LORI McKENNA / “Tied to You”
Writer: Lori McKenna; Producer: Ben West; Label: CN Records
– McKenna holds three Grammys for Best Country Song. Her works have been sung by Taylor Swift, Chris Stapleton, Miranda Lambert and other greats. She is also a helluva singer, herself. She wrote this about one of her kids moving far away, but it’s an anthem for everyone missing a loved one. The harmony vocal is by singer-songwriter Medium Build. I have such a crush on this woman.

JASON ALDEAN / “How Far Does a Goodbye Go”
Writers: John Edwards/John Morgan/Kurt Allison/Tully Kennedy; Producer: Michael Knox; Label: Broken Bow Records
– It’s a lovelorn power ballad with some nicely poetic word play. Radio ready.

PIPER & THE HARD TIMES / “Good Company”
Writers: Al Green/Steve Eagon; Producer: Tres Sasser; Label: Hard Times Records
– This is a Nashville-based blues-rock ensemble. Paced by Piper Green’s gruff, soulful vocal delivery, it kicks up some classic rock & roll dust on the rousing title tune of its new CD. For its ballad skills, check out the nostalgic “Those Days.”

THOMAS RHETT & JORDAN DAVIS / “Ain’t a Bad Life”
Writers: Ashley Gorley/Blake Pendergrass/John Byron/Mark Trussell/Thomas Rhett; Producers: Mark Trussell & Paul DiGiovanni; Label: The Valory Music Co.
– In praise of a simple country life, coming from two bona fide good ol’ boys. Warm and cozy. Hit bound.

CHASE McDANIEL / “Die Trying”
Writers: Chase McDaniel/Lindsay Rimes/Seth Ennis; Producer: Lindsay Rimes; Label: Big Machine Records
– Intensely romantic, with a soaring guitar solo in mid song that leads to the song’s pounding crescendo. Highly listenable.

B.B. KING / “The Thrill Is Gone”
Writers: Rick Darnell/Roy Hawkins; Producer: Bill Szymczyk; Label: MCA
– Tuesday (Sept. 16) marked the 100th birthday of blues titan and Rock & Roll Hall of Fame member B.B. King. MCA Records will be celebrating his centennial all year long. The legend’s entire catalog will be reissued on all digital and physical platforms. To kick things off, the label is remastering and reissuing King’s signature 1970 hit. It still sounds awesome.

HANNAH ELLIS / “Officer Down”
Writers: Hannah Ellis/Justin Ebach/Steven Dale Jones; Producer: Josh Kerr, Justin Ebach; Label: Curb Records
– This gentle, heartfelt ballad is about her cousin, a police officer who was killed in the line of duty. Ellis originally issued on an indie label in 2017. Curb has touched it up to mark the 10th anniversary of cousin Daniel’s death. Touching and impactful.

DUSTIN LYNCH & MC4D / “Home to You”
Writers: Chris Drake/Dustin Lynch/Matt Drake/Richard Brandon Davis/Trent Tomlinson; Producer: MC4D; Label: BBR Music Group/BMG
– Interesting. It’s a country vocal on top of a high voltage, electronic-dance-music production. Refreshingly different, I guess.

JOE ELY / “Raining In My Heart”
Writers: Boudleaux Bryant/Felice Bryant; Producer: Radar Initiative; Label: Rack ‘Em/Thirty Tigers
– Singer-songwriter Joe Ely has been diagnosed with Lewy body dementia and Parkinson’s disease. About 10 years ago, he recorded a batch of tunes solo. Thanks to AI, his tapes have been cleaned up and instrumentation has been added. Ely is from Lubbock, also the hometown of Buddy Holly, so this tribute recording of Holly’s 1959 hit makes perfect sense. Although he can no longer perform, Ely continues to share his music and his heart.

Robert K Oermann
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