Then again though, the details of when these songs were written aren't really that important. I'm a pretty fair Porter fan, and I'd never heard any of these songs. Presumably that Dolly song was recorded and buried on an album in their vast back catalogs. They're new to me though, so they'll likely be new songs to you as well.
One of several centerpieces is "Committed to Parkview." Johnny Cash wrote this song some 25 years ago on learning that he and Porter had both spent time in the same Nashville nuthouse. Cash apparently recorded it with the Highwaymen, but this is Porter's first recording. It's decent as a melody, but it's particularly striking as a lyric, with the catalogue of the torments of the doomed.
Johnny was a legendarily wild character, whereas Porter Wagoner on the other hand was seen more as the glad handing MC with the corny vaudevillian TV show and the infamous gaudy studded nudie suits. However, in retrospect Porter clearly seems the more disturbed. Johnny might get locked up for being too wild, but Porter's the one who sounded like he was really out of his tree. "The Rubber Room" is the obvious example for that, but you could find a number of other recordings that are right out there. Check out "The First Mrs Jones" for another prime example of psycho Porter.
This recording particularly interests me as a point of comparison between Porter and Johnny. "Committed to Parkview" sounds distinctly like Porter rather than Johnny. I'm sure that Johnny could sell this good song, but there's a special twist of demented despair that's pure Porter. There's no way Johnny Cash could have spun this kind of psycho as effectively as Porter Wagoner.
To say one somewhat bad thing about the album, Porter's voice has deteriorated with age - but even that's not entirely a bad thing. He can still pretty effectively carry a tune, and the age and dryness in his voice seem to be a distinct advantage with some of this material. That effect certainly helps sell the hopeless, helpless despair of the Parkview song.
Article comments
1 - Glen Boyd
In fairness to Porter, Johnny Cash's voice sounded a bit weathered in his latter years too. But to me that always added character to the songs, and gravity to the experience conveyed in the lyrics -- even though in Cash's case the lyrics weren't always his own. There was just the sense of so much life having been lived with the way Cash interpeted the songs he sang.
I haven't actually heard this record, but I'm sure thats equally true with Porter. Based on this review, I sure intend to find out.
-Glen
2 - Al Barger
Glen, I'm sure you'll dig this the most. Also, anyone who digs real country music - not this Garth Brooks/Dixie Chicks crap - will likely be well pleased with this.
I'll note that this would also be a really good gift item for an old country music loving grandpa or a crazy old uncle.
The deterioration of Porter or Johnny's voice with age works almost as much for as against them. They lose some technically, but like you said, get a new artistic effect from it.
3 - JC Mosquito
If Marty Stuart produced it, you can bet it's authentic & done out a sense of reverence. Marty & his band the Fabulous Superlatives are the last of the true hillbilly cats left - they can play bluegrass as well as they play the twang thang.