Pickin' on Nashville

Pickin' On (Series), Kentucky Headhunters

Product Details

• Audio CD (March 25, 2003)
• Original Release Date: 1989
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Mca Special Products
• ASIN: B000001FQK
• Also Available in: Audio Cassette  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #6,568 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

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  Music > Classic Rock > Southern Rock

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

It's hard to imagine now, when even Shania Twain routinely uses power chords, but the Kentucky Headhunters' first single, a piledriving, quasi-metal transformation of Bill Monroe's "Walk Softly on This Heart of Mine," was a revolutionary record for country in 1990. With its thumping drums, sheet-metal guitar, and a liquid-fuzztone lead guitar more reminiscent of Blue Cheer than bluegrass, the song sounded like nothing else on country radio. This debut album revealed the ultra-scruffy Headhunters to be a surprisingly traditional group, delving into rockabilly, western swing, and a lot of boogie-woogie. Unfortunately, most of their explorations are disposable (if not outright unlistenable; cf. "Rock & Roll Angel"). Still, besides the brilliant, album-opening first hit, there are enjoyable moments. "My Daddy Was a Milkman" is an ominous rocker with a touch of Bo Diddley and intriguing lyrics, and two covers, Don Gibson's standard "Oh Lonesome Me" and Henson Cargill's 1967 fluke social commentary "Skip a Rope," are rocked up excitingly. And "Dumas Walker" is an irresistible loping country boogie that introduced millions to the titular establishment's delectable menu: "slaw burger, fries, and a bottle of Ski" (a Kentucky knockoff of Mountain Dew). The Headhunters were musical pioneers, but inconsistent to a fault. --Ken Barnes

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Trying to Find Themselves, November 13, 2005

By	Lonnie E. Holder "The Review's the Thing" (Columbus, Indiana, United States) - See all my reviews (TOP 100 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)    (VINE VOICE)

This CD contains a combination of music that is very inconsistent, ranging from wonderful combinations that really work to sounding like a local band trying their hardest to play country with rock instruments. The end result is tracks that you wish would last longer and tracks that make you feel ill.

The opening track, "Walk Softly on this Heart of Mine," is one of the best on the CD. This wailing song is improved by its rock reinterpretation. I can say this because I liked Bill Monroe's version first. The song "Dumas Walker" has throwaway lyrics, but they are easy to remember and have a line dance beat that just begs to be played down at the local honky-tonk; slap your knees, stomp your feet and have a beer!

Then the music moves onto some less memorable music. "Rag Top" has a nice beat, but the lyrics are awful, a country equivalent of bubblegum music. Each time I hear this song I want to cringe or skip over it. This song is probably fine for the Saturday night crowd after nine PM. On the other hand, the Saturday night crowd might be throwing the band out after this one. Things get no better with "Rock `n' Roll Angel." The less said about that song the better.

I probably should like "Smooth" no more than I liked the previous couple of songs, but I do like this song. I think it's probably because this song has more of a classic country song with the rock and pop elements lower key than the previous couple of songs. The lyrics are relatively simple and easy to remember, so this song would be a good one for a variety of occasions. Another song that affects a classic style, with a solid rock backbeat, is "High Steppin' Daddy." Once again, this song is so basic and so clearly derivative that I probably should dislike it, but how can you dislike music this fun?

On the other hand, I do not care for the Kentucky Headhunters' cover of "Skip a Rope" at all. The original was introspective and dramatic. This version is sped up and loses all the charm of the original. This song is a slow country sung on uppers, and the Headhunters bring nothing to the table on this song.

Once again the Headhunters redeem themselves on "Some Folks like to Steal." This blues song has a number of wonderful elements and real style. The Kentucky Headhunters would be better served to sing music like this.

While I was severely unimpressed with the cover of "Skip a Rope," I enjoyed the cover of "Oh Lonesome Me" a lot. This song keeps within the feeling of the original, and yet with enough of a new interpretation that the song is interesting. Of course, the original already had rock and roll elements and the Headhunters have just taken that style a bit further, but still close enough to the original for this version to be exciting.

This CD closes with a rocker, "Daddy Was a Milkman." One of the jokes that went around frequently many years ago was that this person's daddy or that person's daddy was the milkman. The Kentucky Headhunters have taken this concept to a musical conception. This song is probably the fastest and most rock-infused of any song on this CD. However, it is also one of the better songs as well. Many country fans will probably not like this song because it has too much rock in it, but fans of country-rock may find this song intriguing.

The Kentucky Headhunters is not likely to make to any of my favorites lists. However, there are some interesting tracks, and some interesting interpretations. My impression is that this is a group that is still trying to find itself. There are suggestions in this music as to where this group should go, but in the meantime they are all over the map in style and consistency, and those characteristics make this CD difficult to recommend and difficult to enjoy without qualifications. This CD is absolutely one that you should try before you buy.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Country with a touch of metal, March 6, 2004

By	Peter Durward Harris "Pete the music fan" (Leicester England) - See all my reviews (TOP 50 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

This group was different - for innovation, they deserved to be major stars, but innovation rarely gets what it deserves in the music industry. Though rooted in traditional country, their music encompasses elements of rockabilly, western swing, and a lot of boogie-woogie. They look more like a metal band than a country group. The group were made up of Greg Martin (lead guitar), Doug Phelps (bass and vocals), Ricky Lee Phelps (lead vocals), Fred Young (drums and percussion) and Richard Young (rhythm guitar). Richard Ripani guests on Oh lonesome me (playing Hammond B3) and Rock'n'roll angel (playing cheesey organ).

They wrote most of their own songs, the best of the seven on this, their debut album, being Dumas Walker and My daddy was a milkman. They also recorded some fascinating covers, three of which are on this album - Walk softly on this heart of mine (Bill Monroe), Skip a rope (Henson Cargill) and Oh lonesome me (Don Gibson). I'm not sure what the original artists would make of these rocking (but still country) covers, but I love them.

If you are looking for something different, you might enjoy this album, but it's not quite like anything else I've heard. Still, at the price quoted you won't lose much if it's not to your liking. And if you do enjoy it, you'll think it's a bargain.

4 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The album that shook Nashville., December 20, 1999

By A Customer

This is the record that opened the doors for all country acts who did not adhere to the hat and aw shucks formula. Filled with one catchy tune after another the HeadHunters pay respect to the past while partying into the future. Made for next to nothing, the album has the energy and feel of an incredible live show. Buy this record for no other reason than you will never hear a better drummer on any recording than Fred Young. Among the best country records of the 90's.