Country music is full of legendary artists with long lists of hit songs. Unfortunately, many listeners will only hear the most iconic tracks without digging deeper. As a result, many deep cuts and album tracks from country legends slowly fade into the sands of time. Only people who want to take the time to dig through those deep discographies will find the hidden gems.
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If you’re one of those fans who are looking to dig a little deeper into the catalogs of some of the genre’s biggest names, you’re in luck. These deep-cut tracks from country’s best-loved legends are a great place to start looking for diamonds in the rough.
[RELATED: 4 Forgotten Hit Country Songs from the 1970s You Need to Hear]
1. “Right or Wrong” by Willie Nelson
When Willie Nelson first came to Nashville, he was a songwriter. While he tried to break through as a recording artist, the Texas native didn’t have much luck. As a result, most of the country legend’s first few albums could fall into the “deep cut” category. For this list, though, we’ll highlight Nelson’s rendition of “Right or Wrong.”
More than a decade before making it big, Nelson released his sophomore album, Here’s Willie Nelson. The 12-track collection contained a combination of covers and original songs, including his rendition of this Western Swing classic. Originally published in 1921, Bob Wills and His Texas Playboys made the track popular with Texan audiences. Decades later, George Strait would introduce the track to a mainstream audience.
2. “My Girl (My Love)” by Dolly Parton
Dolly Parton released New Harvest…First Gathering in 1977. It was the country legend’s first No. 1 album, but it is still full of deep cuts. The 10-track collection contained mostly original compositions from Parton. Additionally, it saw her taking on some pop and R&B hits, including the Temptations’ 1964 chart-topper “My Girl.”
Parton made the song gender neutral by singing “My love” instead of “My girl.” Additionally, she slowed the song down and changed the arrangement, bridging the gap between soul and country.
3. “Time Changes Everything” by Johnny Cash
Johnny Cash was a prolific songwriter, but was no stranger to recording other artists’ songs. The country legend famously covered several songs from Kris Kristofferson and other artists he respected, but he also recorded some covers that fall into the deep cut category. Among those hidden gems is his rendition of “Time Changes Everything,” penned by Tommy Duncan and originally recorded by Bob Wills and His Texas Playboys.
Cash recorded “Time Changes Everything” along with 11 other covers for his 1960 album Now, There Was a Song!. While Cash changed most of the songs he covered, this one is probably as close to the original as he could get.
4. “Act Naturally” by Loretta Lynn
Loretta Lynn is another country legend whose songwriting prowess produced both timeless hits and deep cuts. However, she was also a master of interpreting the works of other artists. She proved this early in her career with her 1963 debut album Loretta Lynn Sings. The 12-track collection contains only three songs penned by the Coal Miner’s Daughter. And, while there are plenty of great covers in the tracklist, her rendition of “Act Naturally” is a highlight.
Buck Owens originally recorded “Act Naturally” in 1963 and it brought him his first No. 1. Lynn didn’t release her version of a single, but it rivals the original. The two recordings are a study of the two major styles of country music at the time–the Nashville Sound and the Bakersfield Sound. Owens helped popularize the California-based style and Lynn worked closely with Owen Bradley, architect of the Nashville-based style.
Featured Image by David Redfern/Redferns
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