Customer Reviews

Loneliest Star in Texas

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Norma Jean, one of country music's alltime great female vocalists, returned to the recording studio for the first time in about 20 years in 2007 to record THE LONELIEST STAR IN TEXAS, an all-new recording for a small Texas label specializing in "true" country music. The resulting album may not have attracted the attention of some of the other more mainstream "comebacks" of country music legends on new albums in the last several years but this is an immensely satisfying and pleasurable album by a lady who at age 69 remains an outstanding intrepreter of traditonal country sounds.

The album contains 14 music tracks and opens with a remake of Norma Jean's best remembered hit LET'S GO ALL THE WAY and closes with a new performance of another great hit of hers, GO CAT GO, but the twelve songs in the middle run the gamut to completely new songs (BEFORE THE NEXT TEARDROP DRIES, PLEASE COME BACK WITH MY HEART) to cover of country classics (Wanda Jackson's IN THE MIDDLE OF A HEARTACHE, Porter and Dolly's MAKING PLANS) to songs penned from everyone from alt-country singer Rosie Flores (CRYING OVER YOU) to country favorite Leona Williams (GOOD MORNING). Norma Jean also acknowledges the Texas honky tonk sound in THE LONELIEST STAR IN TEXAS and HONKY TONK HARDWOOD FLOOR and sings a duet with her lifelong friend the legendary Wanda Jackson on ASHES OF LOVE. As something of a bonus, Wanda Jackson sings a neat little biographical song about her buddy called PRETTY MISS NORMA JEAN which is introduced by Norma. Norma also sings new performances of Buck Owens' MY HEART SKIPS A BEAT and Waylon Jennings' ANITA YOU'RE DREAMING which she recorded as album tracks back in the 1960's on RCA. Produced by Texas music veteran Justin Trevino, is indeed true country music - no frills but a smooth professional production with a lot of heart and sincerity. It's a thrill to hear Norma Jean again. I have only one thing to left to say - ENCORE!

The magic is still there! The voice still sensual and forceful. Although, the country music establishment has turned its back on Norma Jean, you shouldn't. A highlight of the CD is a brief biography by long time friend Wanda Jackson.