lp discography - covers & lyrics

This guy Mel Tillis has written a bunch of recorded songs (well over 350) and this guy Tillis has sung a pile of Country songs on auditorium and arena stages and on rickety freight trains and in inter-state weary automobiles and even in recording studios. Mel didn't write all of the tunes in this album, even though he could have filled up a half dozen or more similar long play records with his own tunes...songs in the legitimate best-seller category like Emotions, Detroit City, I Ain't Never, etc. etc. etc. However, this thin, lanky-framed six footer from Tampa, Fla., wentout of his way to help the record's producers hand pick an even dozen Country Music gems that would fit likable Mel Tillis vocal talents like the well known glove. The search paid off. These twelve tunes are as Tillis as they could be even if they had come from his own pen. Naturally you'll note that this album includes such Tillis greats as Burning Memories. But even his own tunes were weighed in light of how they would fit into this album which they had decided would showcase Mel at his very finest. This great tunesmith need never be embarrassed about recording one of his own pieces... after all, some of the biggest stars in the business are beating his door down to get his songs for their albums. However, this is Mel's album. It's Mel's finest moment as a singer. Mel and everyone else involved in producing this classic album are more than pleased to see another fine Country Music talent share a few memorable moments of this fine work. The girl who harmonizes so beautifully and effectively on two numbers is a tall, stately Kentucky darling with long, flowing red hair and a magic, lyrical way with a Country Music song. Sue York is definitely a big plus factor here and her throaty harmonizing brings out even another side to the fine Tillis singing talent. Mel fires up the most penetrating performances of his singing career, Mental Revenge and his versatile style and feeling for a particular song makes I Love You Drops sound finer than in any of the many versions by the many other artists who have waxed it. To put it simply, Mel Tillis, one of Country Music's greatest songwriters, enters a realm all his own with this album... Mel's greatness here prompts us to place him on a special stage all his own where he reigns as one of Country Music's Untouchables!

MEL TILLIS

STATESIDE