Ask anybody what they like about a great song and chances are they’ll recite those few words in the song that stood out when they first heard it. It’s especially true in country music.
Bobby Braddock’s third book
Bobby Braddock is one of the leading songwriters in country music today having written number-one songs in five consecutive decades. Along with Curly Putnam, he wrote “He Stopped Loving Her Today,” considered by many to be one of the top country songs ever.
Braddock’s incredible writing cannot be limited to a single art form. He has written some books of the can’t put it down variety. While the first two books are autobiographical, in his third and most recent book Country Music’s Greatest Lines: Lyrics, Stories & Sketches from American Classics the best country songs of all time, written by the greatest writers are centerstage.
Songs from country’s past and present
The book begins with the 40s and 50s and takes you all the way into the present age. It’s a relaxing and fun read that left me with appreciation for songs of all eras. Each chapter covers a different era. The book ends with the Twenty-First Century.
Country Music’s Greatest Lines fittingly starts with the Hank Willams song “I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry.” You are presented with a great line from the song and then in a very relatable, storytelling manner Braddock elaborates on a variety of interesting details. Looking to the right over every page, an enchanting black and white illustration by artist Carmen Beecher supplements the story.
The greatest songs in country music history
The entire book follows this formula as Braddock takes you on a tour of the greatest country songs ever, eighty in all. Songs written by Hank Williams, Marty Robbins, Willie Nelson and Sonny Throckmorton, are all included. To name some of the well known songs written about and illustrated: Jambalaya (On the Bayou), All I Have to Do Is Dream, King of the Road, Is Anybody Going to San Antone, Little Bitty, No Shirt No Shoes, No Problem to name a few. There were many songs I knew, and other times I found myself inspired immediately to listen to a song I didn’t know.
The last few songs explored were recorded by Eric Church, the Band Perry and Taylor Swift and are from this last decade. It’s one of the things that always strikes me about Bobby Braddock. His interest in people and songs of all eras. and his inquisitive mind show what a true lover of songs he is.
Carmen Beecher illustrations brings songs to life
Carmen Beecher’s attention to detail in each image is impressive. To see a favorite song brought to life in a picture is thrilling. Sometimes the illustration is of the singer, the songwriter or demonstrates the plot of the song. Many times the picture’s cleverness made me wonder what reactions all of these songwriters must have had to see their song brought to life.
A tribute to the greatest country songs
In reading the book you really gain an appreciation for great songs: old and new. It encourages you to consider the masses of people through the decades who have written country music, those who sang it and the many stories that America and the world related to and continues to. Finally, how much emotions inspired and went into these songs being written.
In Braddock’s third book the songs are the star and although the book has a light-hearted tone, you get a sense that the author does not take songs lightly. For those who love the songs above all else, Country Music’s Greatest Lines is a book you will enjoy wholeheartedly.
Country Music’s Greatest Lines, by Bobby Braddock
Illustrated by Carmen Beecher
Published by The History Press
Pub Date: July 6, 2020
$21.99 | Paperback | 6” x 9” | 192 pp | illustrations in b&w
Country Music’s Greatest Lines: Lyrics, Stories and Sketches from American Classics is available from Arcadia Publishing.
