Garage Sale Vinyl
Garage Sale Vinyl: Loretta Lynn

Garage Sale Vinyl: Loretta Lynn

Greatest Hits Vol. II / MCA / May 1974

Honestly, it was beyond hurtful, almost too painful to recount. Being betrayed by the one you love cuts like a knife — straight through the heart. After pouring my everything into the eight-year relationship, I was completely blindsided. The GF had never given any indication before that she was capable of committing such a cruel and callous act. But she did. As a result, I’ll be left to deal with the emotional scars for the rest of my life. Just what did this monster do? Well…

It was a pleasant, sunny Saturday afternoon, about a year ago. We were rummaging through a little junk store in Vero Beach, Florida, when we noticed a couple of bins filled with used vinyl LPs. Lickety split, I spotted a “well-lived,” $2 copy of Loretta Lynn’s Greatest Hits Vol. II. Distracted briefly by a seemingly pristine $12 copy of Aja, I put the Loretta Lynn record back (for a minute) while I checked out the condition of the Steely Dan classic. It looked okay, but still not worth the obscene price of $12. In my world, if I’m gonna pay that kind of money for a used Steely Dan record, it better include Steve Gadd’s secret unlisted phone number. This one didn’t.

But, when I turned around (30 seconds later) to retrieve the Loretta Lynn LP, it was gone — MY record had been heisted by some barbarian vinyl heister. Then, I spotted it (again) — tucked under the GF’s arm. “Oh, thank goodness,” I said with tremendous relief. “You saved my Loretta Lynn record.” Without skipping a beat, she replied, “Your Loretta Lynn record? THIS is my Loretta Lynn record!”

Loretta Lynn, Greatest Hits Vol. II, MCA, May 1974
photo by Christopher Long
Loretta Lynn, Greatest Hits Vol. II, MCA, May 1974

Ah, what a hoot. The GF’s razor-sharp wit was always one of her most endearing qualities. “Ha! You’re a riot,” I replied. “Just hand over my record, okay?” I can’t remember now if she actually told me to fuck myself, but as she took a step back with a death grip on the record, it was clear that she wasn’t playin’. She was NOT gonna give MY record back. I’m not saying that this Judas-style act marked the end of our relationship. However, I will say that I now live in Oklahoma.

In all fairness, I’ll admit that I can’t really hold the GF’s selfishness against her. Obviously she had needs that were clearly not being met by today’s less than genuine, computerized, AI-generated “music.” She craved the “real deal.” And anyone with even a lick of sense knows that regardless of the genre, Loretta Lynn was an American treasure — one of the greatest, most talented, and authentic singer-songwriters and storytellers of all time.

From the moment she first rose to prominence during the early 1960s, Loretta Lynn revealed her riveting, real life stories through honest, pure, and deeply personal, self-penned songs — a point proven throughout her exhaustive, 60-year career — particularly with her first two “Greatest Hits” collections.

Loretta Lynn’s Greatest Hits Vol.II remains a vivid audio snapshot of a golden era that embraced authenticity — another point proven through the insightful, heartfelt liner notes provided by Newsweek columnist Pete Axthelm. Featuring performances from such legendary artists as The Jordanaires and Floyd Cramer and overseen by renowned Nashville producer, Owen Bradley, GH Vol. II dropped as a “New Release” in the spring of 1974. However, the 11 tracks actually were among some of Lynn’s biggest selling singles from ‘68-‘73.

Unlike many of today’s worshiped syncopated whiners, Loretta Lynn was proud of her story, and she was NEVER anybody’s “victim.” Iconic Lynn-penned classics, including “Coal Miner’s Daughter” and “You’re Lookin’ at Country,” celebrated who she was and where she came from.

Decades before it became a pedestrian slogan, the little gal from Butcher Hollow, Kentucky, was THE original “empowered woman” of popular music. She succeeded in the male-dominated music business on her own terms. And in her lyrics to such chart-busters as “Fist City” and “Your Squaw is on the Warpath,” we can see that Loretta Lynn didn’t take no shit from nobody. If you messed with her man, you were likely gonna get an old fashioned ass whippin’. And if you were her man and you messed up, as Mooney did so famously and frequently, you were likely gonna get an old fashioned ass whippin’ too.

On so many levels, Loretta Lynn was an important artist. She was a massive force, a unique powerhouse brand, years before that was even a thing. Decades later, her music remains relevant and her legacy still stands strong.

Loretta Lynn, Greatest Hits Vol. II, MCA, May 1974
photo by Christopher Long
Loretta Lynn, Greatest Hits Vol. II, MCA, May 1974

(5/5) ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Loretta Lynn Greatest Hits Vol. II Tack List

SIDE A

Coal Miner’s Daughter (L. Lynn) – 2:15

I Wanna Be Free (L. Lynn) – 2:26

Wings Upon Your Horns (L. Lynn) – 2:35

Fist City (L. Lynn) 2:10

You’re Lookin’ at Country (L. Lynn) – 2:15)

Ain’t it Funny ( T. Lee) – 2:43)

SIDE B

One’s on the Way (S. Silverstein) – 2:37)

Your Squaw is on the Warpath (L. Lynn) – 2:02)

What Sundown Does to You (C. Knight) – 2:12

Hey Loretta (S. Silverstein) – 2:48

Love is the Foundation (W. Hall) – 2:26)

Loretta Lynn


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