Joe South

The Joe South greatest hits I have is very good all the way through, breaking into excellence on the hits. "Don't It Make You Want To Go Home" is definitely my personal favorite; though certainly suffering from the heavy-handedness you describe, it's softened by the excellent vocal performance that makes the preachyness personal ("...and God how I wanna go home!").

That said, the most consistent Joe South albums I've ever heard are the best-ofs (the one I have is on Rhino, although I know there are several others). His actual albums have their moments here and there (and you may as well get those since they always turn up cheap, at least where I live), but the compilations hit the mark dead-on.

There is one downright weird moment that got buried on the DON'T IT MAKE YOU WANT TO GO HOME? album - "A Million Miles From Nowhere," where over an instrumental music track we hear a transcription of South trying to call the White House to wish then-President Nixon peace and love, or something like that. (I don't own this album, but South wishes Nixon something along those lines - if I remember correctly, South didn't get past the White House receptionist.)

Oh yeah, the JOHNNY CASH SHOW appearance I mentioned is on You Tube.

And Amateur(ist), who wondered if that was a stage name - if there can be an Ollie NORTH, there can definitely be a Joe SOUTH.

reminds me vaguely of jimmy webb, except webb got increasingly abstract...

agreed, but as a name for a country-soul singer it's a little too perfect isn't it?

P.S. Gentry and Reed had SERIOUS Vegas tendencies...but as the Flamin' Groovies once sang, "apart from that, (they're) fine."

was cranking the vinyl of "Games People Play" this AM...goddamn i love this big lug.

his version of "Hush" is so hot.

What, no mention of "Rose Garden"?

Did you guys vote in the poll? TS Sonny Curtis vs. Joe South

No, I didn't think so.

"joe south" can't have been his given name, right?
Souter is his real last name.

been jamming his first two records lately. good stuff!!

well, your momma and your poppa sent ya to the finest school
never let it be said that their little darlin was a fool.
with a credit card and your good name
you were drawn like a moth to a flame
to the people of the night where you more or less lost your cool

yeah, this shit is awesome. the "introspect" album in particular. love love love "rose garden"--the "by my baby" drum into, the baion (sp?) beat, the awesome lyrics.

what's up with that awesome processed guitar sound throughout this album?

also, what's joe up to now?

really digging "party people"

damn this guy rulez

party people has heavy lyrics too

party people sometimes cry / when the party's over

etc.

weirdly my interest in joe south is very surface.. never gave his records the attention they deserve, pegging him as a decent songwriter & not much more. been meaning to go back to the few LPs i have tho..

wo-ah

RIP Joe South :(

http://www.cmt.com/news/country-music/1693242/singer-songwriter-joe-south-dies-at-age-72.jhtml

aw RIP. don't know all that much beyond his hits, but i lovvvve "Hush". need to explore more.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AirBbS4R7Z0

also, i believe he's playing lead on "stuck inside of mobile (memphis blues)" on blonde on blonde, so obviously super classic.

RIP

He also claimed he came up with the "Yes she does" line in "Just Like a Woman".

Great great singer

R.I.P.

very sad.

So much great music. RIP. "Chain of Fools" on repeat right now on my mental radio.

too young to go. RIP

it's been a gas, joe. RIP

need to start with Spotify and recommendations here on further Joe South listening (note to self!)

just saw this cover, pretty wild!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2BvUEtOV-aI

Shit - missed the RIPs. This dude was a great player, underrated songwriter, and had a pretty cool and possibly unique sound on this records, this line between country, psych, and wall-of-sound, muffled but booming and chunky and down-home. Had no idea he wrote "I Never Promised You A Rose Garden" - that's just nuts.

I missed this, too. Damn, doesn't get his due, that's for sure.

I think, before tonight, I'd only ever heard his versions of Games People Play and Hush. Liked them a lot, but now I'm getting deeper into his catalogue and I'm drooling. Even the stuff that doesn't work works.