Timeless
Country Rewind, 2017
8/10
The Country Rewind label teams up with the legendary Conway Twitty to put together a never released recording that has been sitting idle since 1973. Recorded for the United States Armed Forces, it was broadcasted on radio stations across the country, but never saw a formal release despite containing some of Twitty’s biggest and best songs.
“(Lost Her Love) On Our Last Date” starts the listen with aching pedal steel as Twitty’s inimitably smooth vocals guide the pensive climate, and “Dim Lights, Thick Smoke (And Loud, Loud Music)” follows with a duet as a rugged landscape meets classic country ideas.
With 14 tracks on hand, there’s plenty of Twitty to absorb, such as the soulful yet playful “Working Girl”, and the sublime balladry of “I Can’t See Me Without You”. “Crazy Arms”, a particularly strong tune, then displays Twitty’s incredible vocals on a piano fueled and lap steel friendly gem.
Deeper yet, “Honky-Tonk Man” certainly recruits some honky tonk flavor to its rock’n’roll spirit, while the emotive and stirring “If You Were Mine To Lose” unfolds with a timeless appeal. “Next In Line” exits the listen and wastes no time tugging on the heartstrings with its gentle musicianship amid Twitty’s inviting pipes.
Twitty’s esteemed band, the Twitty Birds, are on hand and as steel guitarist John “Buttermilk”Hughey, bassist “Big Joe” Lewis, and drummer Tommy “Pork Chop” Markham pull of an impressive performance, and there’s even some modern enhancement on it including backing vocals and acoustic guitar. If you’re a fan of Twitty this is essential, or if you just want to hear some influential tunes from the early days of country, you can’t go wrong with Timeless.
Travels well with: Outlaw Billy Don Burns- The Country Blues; Rex Allen Jr.- Then & Now