Customer Reviews

Stand By Your Man

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

An essential, upgraded, reissue representing potent, early work from Wynette's catalog. Sony has cleaned up the audio, added new liner notes and augmented the original disc with bonus tracks.

The title track from Wynette's third album proved to be her indelible signature, sketched previously in hits like "You're Good Girl's Gonna Go Bad" and "D-I-V-O-R-C-E." On the brink of her third marriage (a rocky affair with George Jones), Wynette sang her woeful tales with authority. From jilted wives to lonely, desperate children, her performances were drenched in emotion.

Buy it for the single and be surprised by the quality of the entire LP.

STAND BY YOUR MAN is one of the best Tammy Wynette albums recorded. There is not a single weak track on the album. And Wynette's voice was never in better form. Starting with the chart topping title track, Wynette weaves an emotional tapestry of tears and love like no one had ever done before and no one since. Included you will find the heart break of being a single mother (JOEY), the pain of the children involved (DONT MAKE ME GO TO SCHOOL), the comittment of faith (FOREVER YOURS) and the apologetic heart (ITS MY WAY). This easily could have become a greatest hits package if more than the title track had been released as a single. STAND BY YOUR MAN has become an icon for Tammy Wynette as well as the musical period she rose from. It is a must for all country music lovers and for those, too, who want to experience a voice once called 'the Edit Piaf of Country Music'.

This album yielded the biggest hit that Tammy ever had - indeed, it was one of the most successful country singles of the 20th century. Although this album and the single from it was released in 1968, it was in 1975 that Stand by your man went all the way to number one in the British pop charts. If you're even thinking of buying this album, you are likely to be familiar with this song already and you probably already have at least one compilation containing a selection of her classic songs.

This was actually Tammy's fourth album. The first three contained plenty of covers of famous songs, but you won't find any of those here. There are some songs about children - Joey, Cry cry again and Don't make me go to school - and several songs in which Tammy stands by her man, continuing the theme of the title track. One of these, Forever yours, was eventually covered (two or three years later) by the great but under-rated Dottie West and became a country hit for her. Tammy's version was not released as a single. Another song here, I'm only a woman, was also a hit when later covered by Dottie - it was not even included on the original album but was recorded at the same sessions. So there were two songs here that could have been hits for Tammy but weren't.

Of Tammy's original albums, this was certainly one of the best, although if you haven't got any of her music, you ought to consider one of the many compilations available.

It was a cold, dreary September night (somewhere between Sudbury and Thunder Bay, Ontario) and the rain was pouring down in sheets on a rocky, deserted part of the Trans Canada highway. My friend, Barry, and I, were hitchhiking across Canada, two long-haired rock musicians determined to eventually head to California, and start something akin to a progressive heavy-metal band, several years ago.
Shivering in the brutal cold against the elements in the middle of nowhere, we were surprised when a tractor-trailer pulled over, up ahead, after it had passed us. We gladly ran the several hundred yards (it had taken to stop) hoping it wouldn't suddenly take off, once we were near enough- a common cruel trick people liked to play on us "hippie" types, back then.
But luckily, it was still there, and we climbed high up into the darkened cab. The driver was absolutely silent, and only nodded when we said "thank you" over and over. Looking straight ahead into the darkness, he carefully maneuvered the big rig out, and back onto the highway. In the dark cab, with the rain pounding against the windshield, it seemed like an eerie scene straight out of an old "Twilight Zone" episode.
After a minute or two, he pushed an 8-track cassette into his player, and this was the album he played. Generally, I wasn't, (and still am not) a huge fan of country music, but rather than finding myself silently annoyed, there was something beautiful about the title track, especially the killer chorus. The rest of the album wasn't bad either, and the truck driver let it play a few times during our long, and "speechless" journey. I eventually commented on how much I liked it, but I'm not even sure if he so much as nodded, in response. I'm sure he just thought I was pretending to be nice, in gratitude. But I was being sincere.
I still prefer listening to various types of progressive rock, some metal, jazz fusion, and a bit of country-swing like Bob Wills, Hank Williams and a few others, but this is one of the gems, having come out just before country turned into country-rock/pop. (No thanks!)
If you prefer rich, smooth country, heavy on the ballads and thick with Steele guitar, tremolo guitar, and superb heartfelt vocals with plenty of twang, then this has got to be one of Tammy's finest.

Certainly no single recording has elicted so much response in the country industry than "Stand By Your Man," but the album where it originally appeared in has been too long overlooked. Even without the title smash, _Stand By Your Man_ stands as an example of tightly engineered and heartfully felt music. This album, the fifth of Wynette's career, and the third to be re-leased via KOCH, highlights Wynette's growth as a stylist over her first few years in the business. In addition, it showcases Wynette's blossoming career as a song-writer--a talent she is all too rarely recognized for. Let's hope Koch (or Sony/Epic) will return to the vaults and continue to re-release Wynette's masterpieces. Next on the agenda (should be): _The Ways to Love a Man_, _Tammy's Touch, and _The First Lady_. These will bring us into the 70s and will anticipate the second-wave of Wynette's hits that culminate in _Til I Can Make It On My Own_ and _You and Me_.

Being a country d.j./songwriter ... I had the pleasure of calling Tammy Wynette a true friend. I was ... and still am ... a devoted fan of the lady. Just when you believe you have heard her at her best --- along comes this album with a new digital strength --- and you realize Tammy will be with us forever, sounding better with every re-release. Plus: This CD has treasured Bonus Tracks! Every little lady with dreams of becoming a singing 'star' should listen to this CD. It's an instrument in learning and a pleasure to study.

This is another of her great little cds. I own this one and am so glad that I do.

She is the best in country music and will always be the QUEEN.

Highly Recommended Purchase!

Tammy Wynette was born Virginia Wynette Pugh in Tremont ,Mississippi on May 5,1942.He knew a hard life in her youth,did menial jobs and one of the Country Music Legends who actually picked cotton.She attended Beauty School,became a hairdresser,retaining her license till she died.Her best known song was "Stand By Your Man",one of the best-selling singles by a woman in Country Music.Along with Loretta Lynn and Dolly Parton,they defined the role of female Country vocalists in the 70's.Her music dealt with the classic C&W themes of loneliness,divrce,and the struggles of male-female relationships.
Tammy was married to George Jones from 1969 till 1975.It was a very rocky partnership.They were one of CW's most popular couple duets and even continued to record together for many years after divorcing.
After many years of medical problems,numerous hospitalizations,and about 26 operations and an addiction to pain killers;she passed away at home at the early age of 55;on April 6,1998.
Tammy is one of the greatest Legends of Country Music ...a one-of-a-kind in every reapect.
This Album was first published in 1969 ,is one of her best, and still one of the best female C&W albums today.

I bought this CD because I liked Tammy's version of Stand By Your Man. I did not enjoy listening to the rest of the CD because I am not a big fan of Tammy but if you are, you will probably like the CD.

A fantastic album that reveals Tammy's extraordinary talent. There will never be another. I had the great honor and blessing of knowing Tammy as a friend and fan.