Before Shelby Lynne reinvented herself at the end of the 1990s and began recording for Mercury, she made a number of fine recordings that were unfortunately lost in the heap of "new traditionalist" and female superstar recordings that were popping out of Nash Vegas like zits. This 1990 effort, produced by the great Bob Montgomery, is a case in point. Not only does this hold up to her best work, it's at the very least on a par with Kathy Mattea, Trisha Yearwood, Martina McBride, etc. It just isn't a strictly country outing, but it's a truly fine pop-country record. Interestingly, it also has the range of her later records. While there are songs here from the then-current crop of Nash Vegas song churners, like the opener, "I'll Lie Myself to Sleep," there are also cuts like the gorgeous gentle Western swing of "Don't Mind if I Do," by the legendary Skip Ewing. The tune borrows as much from Billie Holiday's "Ain't Nobody's Business" as it does from early Bonnie Raitt and Maria Muldaur. And then there's a burning, hard-rocking cover of Charlie Rich's early hit "Lonely Weekends." It's more Dixie-fried than Rich's version, but it comes across as a thoroughly contemporary country-rock song with ringing guitars ŕ la the Doobie Brothers' Toulouse Street, an Elvis-styled delivery, and a piano shuffle in the background that keeps the lyric from sinking under the weight of a cooking band. Wayne Carson's "Dog Day Afternoon" sounds like a latter-day Rich number, or one Tom Waits wrote for Crystal Gayle for the One from the Heart soundtrack; it's all jazzy, warm, and sensual. If there were any doubts about Lynne's country pedigree, it vanishes when her radical working of "I Walk the Line" comes through the speakers. Bluesy, shuffling, and the slightest bit funky, her sense of Cash's melody remains untouched. The set ends with another Western swing-influenced nugget, but this one comes from Duke Ellington, "Don't Get Around Much Anymore," before it breaks out into a full-blown Patsy Cline country-jazz tune. She saved the best moment for last here, and it is so original in its swinging elegance that listeners can only wonder if she might have taken the Diana Krall route, in that she not only has the pipes and the chops, but the feel for this material. Tough All Over is wonderful from start to finish.

SHELBY LYNNE
TOUGH ALL OVER
(Epic FE-46006)
July/1990
Produced by Bob Montgomery

Brent Mason - el.guitar
Tony Haselden, Tim Mensy - ac.guitar
Paul Franklin - steel
Dave Pomeroy - bass
Lonnie Wilson - drums
Rob Hajacos - fiddle
Jonathan Yudkin - mandolin
Matt Rollings - piano/keyboards

1.
I'LL LIE MYSELF TO SLEEP
(Tony Haselden - Tim Mensy)
« © '90 Millhouse Music, BMI / Songs Of PolyGram, BMI »

I tell myself his mem'ry doesn't hold me
There's a picture of the man I say I'm over
By my bed face down by my bed
I'm so glad that broken heart's behind me
And I no longer let his love confine me
Now I'm free this prisoner's finally free

But I don't need flowers sweet talk to fill wee hours of the night
Now I'm alright
I lay down each night turn out the light
And tell myself that I'm not lonely
With tears rollin' down my face I'll lie myself to sleep

The girls down at the office think I'm so strong
And if my heart is breakin' I'm not lettin' on
What's inside oh I keep it all inside
A delivery boy brings in a dozen roses
And as I watch as the lucky girl unfold them
Then walk away in tears I walk away

But I don't need flowers...
I'll lie myself to sleep ooh I'll lie myself to sleep
**********
2.
DON'T MIND IF I DO
(Don Sampson - Skip Ewing)
« © '88 MCA Music, ASCAP / Acuff-Rose Music, BMI / Write On Music, BMI »

Weather man says it's rainin' again
Perfect night for stayin' in
Well lookin' at you I don't doubt that it's true
And did I hear you say baby put on a smile
Kick your shoes off and stay a while
Since you asked me to I don't mind if I do

That old clock can just tick off the wall
I ain't worried bout the time at all
Long as I'm making time with you and holdin' you tight
Dim light Opry radio I'll whisper baby I love you so
Since you want me to I don't mind if I do
[ guitar ]
That old clock can just tick off the wall...
Just as long as it's you baby I don't mind if I do
**********
3.
LONELY WEEKENDS
(Charlie Rich)
« © '60 Hi-Lo Music, BMI »

Well I make it alright from Monday morning till Friday night
But oh those lonely weekends
Since you left me I'm as lonely as can be
Oh those lonely weekends

Boy you said you'd be good to me yeah you said our love it would never die
Oh you said you'd be so good to me oh but baby you didn't even try
I'm gonna make it alright from Monday morning till Friday night
But oh those lonely weekends
[ guitar ]
Boy you said you'd be good to me...
Oh but oh those lonely weekends but oh those lonely weekends
**********
4.
THINGS ARE TOUGH ALL OVER
(Lisa Silver - Trey Bruce)
« © '90 MCA Music, ASCAP »

I can't believe you're calling me did you run out of things to do
Are you bothered by old memories has guilt got the best of you
I can't imagine what you want with me you must've come up short tonight
I thought you were happy being free but your voice tells me that's not right

Guess things are tough all over even on the single side of town
Guess it's harder than you thought it'd be without my loving arms around
Now the beating of your lonely heart is the cold night's only sound
Guess things are tough all over with old mem'ries getting down

Well you ask me if I think about you what are you expecting me to say
Well I do but I can live without you it's too late to ask me anyway
So if you're calling me for sympathy cause I'm gettin' harder to forget
I won't be your one night remedy to help you live with your regrets

Guess things are tough all over...
**********
5.
DOG DAY AFTERNOON
(Wayne Carson Thompson)
« © '90 Wayne Carson Music, BMI »

**********
6.
BABY'S GONE BLUES
(Mary Ann Kennedy - Pam Rose - Pat Bunch)
« © '90 Egypt Hollow Music, BMI / Aresville Music, BMI /
Flamingo Rose Music, BMI / My Choy Music, BMI »

I feel the blues coming on cause I feel you being gone
It's something I wish I could lose baby's gone blues

There ain't no sunshine in sight cause you're gonna leave me tonight
My heart is sure feeling bruised baby's gone blues

Oh love has gone wrong
It's so hard on my heart going from good into gone
There ain't no easy way back into nights before you
Baby's gone blues baby's gone blues

It's like a razor on me knowing you want to be free
I'm standing here feeling used baby's gone blues

Oh love has gone wrong...
**********
7.
TILL A BETTER MEMORY COMES ALONG
(Gene Dobbins - Glenn Ray - Tim Hensey)
« © '87 Music City Music, ASCAP »

See the tears on my face I've cried every day
I've lived without you and held you only in my mind
See these hands how they shake how long will it take
Before I leave you in the past where you belong
One day I might forget but right now I'm not that strong
So I'll hold on till a better mem'ry comes along

If someone could really touch me the way you used to do
If he could find one single feelin' that didn't start with me and you
Maybe then I might forget but right now I'm not that strong
So I'll hold on till a better mem'ry comes along
I'm holding on till a better mem'ry comes along
**********
8.
I WALK THE LINE
(Johnny Cash)
« © '56 House Of Cash, BMI »

I keep a close watch on this heart of mine
I keep my eyes wide open all the time
I keep the ends out for the tie that binds
Because you're mine I walk the line

Oh I find it very very easy to be true
I find myself alone when each day is through
Yes I'll admit that I'm a fool for you
Because you're mine I walk the line

As sure as night is dark and day is light
I keep you on my mind both day and night
And happiness I've known proves that it's right
Because you're mine I walk the line
[ guitar ]
You've got a way to keep me on your side
You give me cause for love that I can't hide
For you I know I'd even try to turn the tide
Because you're mine I walk the line
Because you're mine I walk the line
**********
9.
WHAT ABOUT THE LOVE WE MADE
(John Rotch)
« © '90 Vintage Music, BMI »

That old picture on the dresser goes with your things
The rocking chair in the corner goes with mine
You can take the bed and have the TV
And I'll keep the stereo if you don't mind
We've seperated everything between us
It's the kindest that we've been in a long long time
But there's still one thing we've got left between us
And we don't know what to do I wonder if we thought this through

What about the love we made
She's upstairs in her room cryin' over me and you
Lord we never meant to hurt her this way
We've divided everything me and you
Even her little heart right in two
Now what about the love we made

We've told her at least a thousand times we love her
And no matter what happens that won't change
But who could blame her if she won't believe us
Aren't we the same ones who told her she'd never see this day
It filled us both with shame when she told her dolly
Now promise me that you won't leave me too
And it was more than I could take when she said mommy
If there's something I've done wrong well I'll be good for you

Oh what about the love we made...
**********
10.
DON'T GET AROUND MUCH ANYMORE
(Bob Russell - Duke Ellington)
« © '42 Famous Music, ASCAP / Harrison Music, ASCAP »

Missed the Saturday dance heard they crowded the floor
Couldn't bear it without you don't get around much anymore
Thought I'd visit the club got as far as the door
They'd have asked me about you don't get around much anymore

Darling I guess my mind's more at ease
But nevertheless why stir up memories
Been invited on dates might have gone but what for
Awfully diff'rent without you don't get around much anymore
[ fiddle - steel ]
Darling I guess my mind's more at ease...
Oh it's awfully diff'rent without you don't get around much anymore
**********