Note: about 7 months ago I was “cleaning up” my blog and took out a lot of old posts that I no longer thought should be left on the blog. But since then I have had a number of people ask me what happened to this or that Musical Tribute post, and I realized that those Musical Tribute posts that I had left up continue to get page hits week after week. Apparently some people listen to them and like to come back to them. And, of course, we have a lot of new readers on OS since they were originally posted. So, little by little, I am reconstructing and editing those posts that I had taken down, and re-posting them.
The response to the last duet Tribute Post was strong. So I dug out a second series of country duets that I had posted earlier but took down early this year. Some of these songs include crossover singers and were well received on both the country and pop circuits. These are for those who like this kind of music, and for me, of course. ;-)
Some of these duets are over 40 years old. Some are less than ten years old. Some combinations of singers are predictable and others not so much. We have here mostly traditional country duets. But one duet is with an opera singer. A couple are with pop/crossover artists who are not easily classified. Out of the hundreds of country duets these may not include your favorites. If so, leave a note below and I will try to find them and add them to the post.
The songs are in no particular order. Well, except for the last one, which says more about me than about anything else.
I have enjoyed country duets for years and hope you will enjoy these as well.
Monte
Vince Gill & Dolly Parton - “I Will Always Love You”
David Houston & Tammy Wynette – “My Elusive Dreams”
Don Williams & Emmy Lou Harris - “If I Needed You”
John Denver & Placido Domingo – “Perhaps Love”
Willie Nelson & Ray Charles - “Seven Spanish Angels”
Johnny Cash & Kristoffersen -- “Sunday Morning Coming Down”
Sheryl Crow & Willie Nelson - "Crazy”
David Frizzell & Shelly West: You're The Reason God Made Oklahoma
Barbara Mandrell & Reba McEntire – “I was Country when Country Wasn’t Cool”
Below are additions to the post reqested by readers - when I can find the videos. Not all songs are available to be posted.
For Walter:
Bobbie Gentry and Glen Campbell: "Morning Glory"
For sixtycandles
The Louvin Brothers - "If I Could Only Win Your Love"
Mark Knopfler and Chet Atkins: instrumental medley (live)
For Jeremiah:
The Everly Brothers: Cathy's Clown
Nancy Sinatra & Lee Greenwood's version: "Jackson"
This one is for Jack,
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Comments
Rated because this is some terrific music. Thanks, Monte.
Maybe you mentioned this one earlier: Loretta Lynn and Conway Twitty trying to outsing each other in "Mississippi Woman, Louisiana Man".
For something more contemporary, the "Raising Sand" collaboration between Robert Plante and Alison Krauss.
Monte
I appreciate that you enjoy this post and the songs, Brad.
Jali: you bring so much joy in your posts. Glad I could bring a smile to your face with this post.
Trilogy: Willie and Ray sang a number of duets, often of songs Willie wrote. Check out YouTube where quite a few of them are available.
Sixtycandles: I’m glad you mentioned the songs and combinations you did. There is such a rick variety of duet work in country music that it is good to get some examples of it put up here.
Tim4change: Great choice. There were no instrumental duets in the group I picked. Here is a live performance by them. Enjoy.
Jeremiah: Here’s an early performance by the Everly Brothers. Beautiful harmony. Second call for “Jackson.” Here’s the Sinatra/Greenwood cover.
Walter: Sorry, but I couldn’t find anything worthy of Sandler and Young to put up here. If you find a link that you would like me to add, please provide it and I will. They were very popular in the 70s.
I thought it might be fun to have people not only tell us what they
remember and like but to actually be able to hear those songs.
As you know, I am a huge Frank Sinatra fan and my Tribute post to him has been very well received.
http://open.salon.com/blog/monte_canfield/2009/08/11/25_by_old_blue_eyes_sinatras_great_standards
but I never fully understood his family dynamics. The kids were insecure in their careers, that much I understand. And undoubtedly uber competitive between themselves. But it was sad, because they really didn't stand a chance when compared to "Dad."
Monte
Sorry I am so late to the party...
Thought Id offer up some NEW, New, School . This is from the soon to be released HAWK, by Mark Lanegan, and Isobel Campbell. Isobel is from Belle and Sebastian, Mark played with Screaming Trees, Queens of the Stone Age and a variety of others. This is their second or third collaboration from the infamous Vanguard Records.
The song is "You Won't Let Me Down Again"
Here is the link: http://pitchfork.com/tv/#/musicvideo/6938-isobel-campbell-mark-lanegan-you-wont-let-me-down-again-vanguard
Monte