In this week's episode, we're featuring what remains Ricky Skaggs' only US platinum album, "Highways & Heartaches" (1982). A magnificent sophomore effort on Epic Records, Skaggs was once again given free rein to produce it himself - certainly an uncommon stipulation for a 28-year-old would-be star with next to no country music clout at the time. After hitting town a few years earlier armed with but a few rough mixes, Ricky Skaggs scored a meeting with Epic's Rick Blackburn, and aside from walking away with a recording contract more or less that day - Blackburn also agreed to let Skaggs produce his own stuff, pending sales. Hindsight proved that to be a wise decision, because from the get-go Skaggs - from a traditional bluegrass background - combined the acoustic and no-fuss aspects of bluegrass and old-time country music with an uncanny knack of finding timeless material which appealed to mainstream country audiences. The Kentucky high tenor had himself three number ones from 1982's "Highways & Heartaches", and cemented himself at the forefront of a rising traditional country revolt - later to be known as the new-traditionalist movement. Highlights include Guy Clark's "Heartbroke" (with one minor change); a cover of Bill Monroe's "Can't You Hear Me Callin'"; some glorious steel guitar from Lloyd Green on "You've Got A Lover" and the whirlwind picking on fellow member of Emmylou Harris' Hot Band Rodney Crowell's "One Way Rider" is simply mesmerising.
Ray Pillow - Even When It's Bad It's Good!
Sean Burns - Lost Country
Red's Country Ladies
Pat Patterson - Most Requested Country Songs
Stoney Edwards - Land Of The Giants
Sonny Burns: 1959-1968
The Derailers - Full Western Dress
The Whites - Whole New World
Hoot Hester - On The Swingin' Side
I Can Almost See Houston: The Complete Howdy Glenn
BONUS: Interview with Scott B. Bomar on "The Complete Howdy Glenn"
Gene Davis: California Country King
Johnny Dollar - Down Life's Highway
Randy Kohrs & The Reel Deal - Now It's Empty
George Dearborne - Old Brown Bottle
All Request Show #2
Caution! Eddie Bond Music Is Contagious: The Hard Country Side Of A Rockabilly Star
Conway Twitty - Darling, You Know I Wouldn't Lie
Melba Montgomery - The Original Nugget Sessions (1962)
Jim Ed Brown - Bottle, Bottle
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