Actin' Naturally

Johnny Russell | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (April 18, 2000)
• Original Release Date: April 18, 2000
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Oms Records
• ASIN: B00004RJ5R
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #65,829 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Johnny Russell's greatest recording, March 2, 2002

By 

Peter Cataldi (Memphis,TN) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Actin' Naturally (Audio CD)

We all miss seeing Johnny on the Opry these days. Johnny died last July and its not been the same on there. Johnny had some big hits, but I think this, his last recording, was his best. It is an acoustic type recording which really shows off his voice, but also its such great music. All of these songs were written by him, and truly he is one of country music's greatest songwriters. The guests are great too...especially Dolly Parton and Buck Owens. WOW! How did that happen in 2000? I rate this one at the VERY top!

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Actin' Naturally Johnny Russell, April 25, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Actin' Naturally (Audio CD)

One of the best albums by an old pro. Music is a terrific change from all the so-called country music being thrown at us today. Hopefully Johnny will get some good radio play! He's in a class by himself. Great job on a great album!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A great album by an almost forgotten singer, September 8, 2002

By 

Peter Durward Harris "Pete the music fan" (Leicester England) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Actin' Naturally (Audio CD)

Although this album contains several big names in the supporting cast, this is actually a Johnny solo album - none of the guests upstage him, yet they all add something extra.

Johnny had a few hits of his own, but although he had a good voice, his real strength lay in his songwriting, so his lasting legacy will be in the hits that others had with his songs. On this set, he has avoided his own hits, so it may help you to know where you've heard these songs, all written by Johnny, before.

Buck Owens and the Beatles (with Ringo getting a rare chance to sing lead) both covered Act Naturally. Making plans has been covered regularly. Loretta Lynn did a great cover back in the sixties, but Porter and Dolly's duet version was a #2 country hit - and the song that stopped it being #1 was Old flames, a Dolly solo record. Dolly recorded it again, with Linda and Emmylou, on the first Trio album. Jim Reeves was one of the first to cover a Johnny Russell song - he did In a mansion stands my love.

The liner notes mention other artists who have recorded Johnny's songs - George Strait, the Osborne brothers, Gene Watson and the Statler brothers, although I can't remember who did what song.

On this album, Johnny gets the chance to sing with Buck on Act Naturally and with Dolly on Making plans, while Crystal joins him for In a mansion stands my love. Bobby Bare joins him on I'm leavin'. The Whites (Sharon and Cheryl) provide vocal backup on three songs, while Bobby Osborne sings on the songs which also feature Bobby Bare and Dolly.

Johnny was one of those singers who achieved a lot of success without quite ever becoming a really big star. As such, he has plenty of fans from the sixties and seventies, but is largely unknown to later generations. Perhaps his music is not essential listening, but it's very enjoyable.