In this week's episode we're featuring the third album from one of the neo-traditional movement's shining lights: Holly Dunn's Across The Rio Grande (1988). In this reviewer's estimation, the late 80s saw only a handful of female country voices making honest-to-goodness roots-inspired country music, of which Dunn was one (another being Patty Loveless); and on this, her third album and final for MTM Records, Holly Dunn took on a much bigger production role. Across The Rio Grande was a mostly stripped-down affair compared to Dunn's previous offerings - there was barely an electric instrument to be seen (except maybe a bass, according to Dunn). There's some excellent songwriting with her brother Chris Waters as well as a couple of chart singles which did well enough, but the real strength lies in the heartfelt delivery of album cuts including the tender (and poignant, given Dunn's untimely passing) On The Wings Of An Angel and the yearning Just Across The Rio Grande. A fine textured and multi-layered album from one of the neo-traditional era's finest young talents.
HOUR 1:
1. Holly Dunn – City Limit (1988)
2. Freddie Hart – That Hurtin’ Feeling (1971)
3. LISTENER REFLECTIONS: George Jones – Walk Through This World With Me (1966)
4. Holly Dunn – That’s What Your Love Does To Me (1988)
5. Holly Dunn – Just Beyond The Rio Grande (1988)
6. Rosie Flores – Crying Over You (1987)
7. Wayne Hancock – Goin’ To Texas When I’m Through (2006)
8. VINYL VAULT: Dianne Leigh – Gone To Mama’s (1970)
9. VINYL VAULT: Jack Campbell – It Couldn’t Happen Any Other Way (60s?)
10. JP Harris & The Tough Choices – Cross Your Name (2012)
11. Holly Dunn – Travelin’ Prayer (1988)
12. Holly Dunn – (It’s Always Gonna Be) Someday (1988)
HOUR 2:
1. Skeets McDonald – Gotta Get You From That Crowd (1959)
2. AUSSIE INJECTION: Slim Dusty – And The Band Played Waltzing Matilda (1978)
3. AUSSIE INJECTION: Slim Dusty – Waltzing Matilda (1976)
4. Holly Dunn – Lonesome Highway (1988)
5. Holly Dunn – The Blue Rose Of Texas (1989)
6. Don Williams – Catfish Bates (1992)
7. COUNTRY COVERS: Charley Pride – Cotton Fields [Live] (1969)
8. COUNTRY COVERS: Alison Krauss – Sawing On The Strings (2006)
9. COUNTRY COVERS: The Hoyle Brothers – Relief’s Just A Swallow Away (2004)
10. SHOT OF STEEL: Bobby Barnett – I Started Loving You Again (1969)
11. Jeff Woolsey – If You Ever Walk My Way Again (2013)
12. Holly Dunn – On The Wings Of An Angel (1988)
13. Clint Black – Winding Down (1989)
HOUR 3: If That Ain’t Country’s Year In Country Music - 2009
1. Gene Watson – Speaking Of An Angel
2. The Carter Family III – Maybelle’s Guitar
3. The Carter Family III – Nowhere Train
4. Patty Loveless – When The Last Curtain Falls
5. Del McCoury Band – Sweet Appalachia
6. Ron Williams – The F Words
7. Willie Nelson & Asleep At The Wheel – Won’t You Ride In My Little Red Wagon
8. James Hand – Aint A Goin’
9. Hank Williams, Jr. & The Grascals – All The Roads
10. Heather Myles – When Did You Stop Loving Me
11. Lucas Hudgins – More Whine
12. Jake Hooker – It’s Warm With Love In Here