Friday, April 16, 2010

Conway Twitty sings Hank Williams while looking pained.

In the 1950's, Conway Twitty (aka Harold Jenkins) sounded so much like Elvis Presley that one of his early hits, "It's Only Make Believe", was rumored to be the work of the King himself. Rather than continue a career as a nascent Elvis impersonator, Twitty wisely switched to country in 1965, and had his first Number One in 1968 with "Next in Line". His 70's duets with Loretta Lynn cemented his status as a country superstar; his slicked-back pompadour, unnerving glare and soulful vocal style made him a unique character in country music - a little dangerous, possibly crazy, and (unbelievably) something of a sex symbol with the ladies. He had a short life (he died at 59 of an aneurysm), and left behind a debt-riddled, tax-dodging mess of an estate, but for 20-plus years, he was a living legend in American country music.

From what appears to be some kind of tribute to Hank Williams, here's Twitty doing a haunting medley of the best of the best: "Cold, Cold Heart", "I Can't Help it if I'm Still in Love With You", "You Win Again", "They'll Never Take Her Love From Me", "Take These Chains From My Heart", and "Your Cheatin' Heart". This is primal, mainline stuff.







2 comments:

  1. I'm not sure if you're aware of my primal fear/attraction and love/hate feelings for Conway...but there's no doubt: Conway was a force of nature.

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  2. As a woman, your fear/hate instinct is no doubt entirely warranted. This is after all the man who quite creepily sang "You've Never Been This Far Before". Shudder.

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