When I first heard that Miss Loretta Lynn was releasing a brand new record, I was ecstatic. I was fortunate enough to grow up with parents who exposed me to classic country music. My mother adored Loretta and Conway, along with Tammy, George, and the others, but she loved Loretta the best, and that love has been passed down to me. I use to fall asleep listening to Loretta’s “Coal Miner’s Daughter”, “Here In Topeka”, and “Fist City”. I’m not the only one who grew up idolizing Miss Loretta; the country music legend has been an inspiration and an idol to many artists, from multiple generations, including Miranda Lambert. Loretta paved the way in country music for females. She was the one who took the risks and kicked in the doors, and blazed the trail for the rest to follow. I know that the title of “Queen of Country Music” has been thrown around so many times, people giving the title to everyone from Dolly Parton and Reba McEntire to Miranda Lambert and Carrie Underwood, but we all know that Loretta is the real reigning Queen of Country Music, as she was the first.
It has been 12 years since we’ve had new music from Miss Loretta, but I can honestly say the wait was worth it. At 83 years old, Loretta proves that she’s still very much in her prime and still very capable of producing top-notch work. Full Circle is just what we had hoped it would be, in a word, wonderful. I can’t tell you how refreshing it is to have real, true blue country music again. You won’t hear any drum loops or electric guitars on this record, thank God! The steel guitar brings you back in time to the golden age of country, back to a simpler, seemingly happier time.
Recorded in the Cash Cabin Studio, which Johnny Cash built on his own spread of Tennessee countryside in the late 70s, Full Circle was co-produced by Loretta’s daughter Patsy Lynn Russell and family friend John Carter Cash. The result is an album that doesn’t necessarily take Loretta down new paths or stretch her talents, like the Jack White-produced Van Lear Rose did, instead it chooses to celebrate her strengths and what truly made her the legend she is today. Offering up 13 new recordings that range between the Appalachian folk-songs Loretta learned as a child to newer versions of past hits like “Fist City”, this record is yet another great album from the legend.
Full Circle opens with an intro to “Whispering Sea” which features Loretta talking about how she came to write the song and about putting together her first record, then moves into an updated take on “Whispering Sea.” The track was the first song Loretta ever wrote, which was originally released in 1960 as the B-side to “I’m a Honky Tonk Girl.” “Whispering Sea” proves that Loretta had a God given talent for songwriting right from the beginning. The legend’s voice is just as powerful as ever as she belts out verses on “Secret Love”, a sad little love song, beautiful in its delivery.
Whether she’s singing old Appalachian folk songs that she learned as a child, like “Black Jack David” or “Who’s Gonna Miss Me?”, or spiritual tunes like “Wine Into Water” or “Everybody Wants to Go to Heaven”, Loretta truly shines on every track. “Black Jack David”, a well-known folk song, one that you might have learned as a child depending on when/where you grew up, is a standout on this record. Loretta’s Kentucky hill country accent is absolutely perfect for this song, adding even more character to it. The rousing, southern gospel “Everybody Wants to Go to Heaven” is another standout on the album, and will no doubt have you tapping your foot and clapping your hands along as Loretta sings about wanting to go to Heaven, but not wanting to die. The tune is catchy and infectious. “Wine Into Water” features another stellar vocal delivery from the legend, one that will make you have a hard time believing that it’s really coming from an 83 year old, that’s how stellar it is.
The record also features a beautiful cover of Willie Nelson’s “Always On My Mind” and a new version of Loretta’s mega-hit “Fist City”, which happens to be a personal favorite of mine. Both are wonderful in their own way. “In The Pines” and “Band of Gold” are both enjoyable tracks, featuring stripped back production that leans more towards the folk side of things. “Everything It Takes” was the first single from the album and features backing vocals by Elvis Costello, and finds Loretta just as witty as she was on “Rated X” or “Fist City”. The single is essentially a modern day “Woman of the World”, in its theme (click hereto read the full single review).
Willie Nelson joins Miss Loretta on the closing track, “Lay Me Down”. I honestly don’t think I’ve heard such a satisfying conclusion to an album before, it certainly doesn’t get any better than two country music legends joining forces on a beautiful ballad. “Lay Me Down” finds the two legends looking over life and deciding that they’ll finally be at peace when “they lay me down”, knowing that they’re headed to a better place. The fiddle parts are stunning. Admittedly, I’ve always had a soft spot for fiddle pieces!
Full Circle is an excellent album, one that is an absolute must buy! I can guarantee you that you don’t want to miss out on this album. Loretta shows all the newbies how country is really done. The legend also proves that she’s still got it after all these years, and thankfully, shows no signs of stopping. Do yourself a favor, go get this record!
Originally posted here.
