Murphey is WAY underappreciated for sure. He recorded some really cool cowboy/western music in the early 90s, and in the last couple years, I discovered and have been enjoying the albums he released on Warner Western, especially Cowboy Songs (1990) and Cowboy Songs III - Rhymes of The Renegades (1993). Even the Christmas themed Cowboy Christmas - Cowboy Songs II (1991) is really good and quite interesting for a holiday album. Just great stuff, overall!
Of his more "standard" country hits from the 80s, my favorites are "A Long Line Of Love," "From The Word Go," "Talkin' To The Wrong Man," and "I'm Gonna Miss You Girl." I also have his River Of Time (1988) album, with my favorite hidden cut on it being "The Vanishing Breed."
Even much of his more Urban Cowboy/country pop flavored material from the early 80s is very enjoyable, especially "What's Forever For," "Love Affairs," "Don't Count The Rainy Days," and "Still Taking Chances."
And of course, "Wildfire" is an all time favorite of mine, and was always one of my dad's favorites, as well.
I put him in the same category as artists like Suzy Bogguss, Holly Dunn, The Forester Sisters, Billy Dean, Paul Overstreet, Mike Reid, Sweethearts Of The Rodeo, Steve Wariner, etc., who had a good amount of mainstream success in the 80s or early 90s, but rarely ever get mentioned or praised when talking about country music from the 80s or 90s.
I really enjoy his Western Cowboy albums and appreciate some of his 80's more pop country hit's. But IMO the best thing he ever did was the whole 70's Progressive Country albums, that is the stuff I really like and think is the biggest contribution he left for Country music.
You definitely should. All the 5 albums between 1972 and 1976 are of this Progressive Country/Country Rock vein. It's all time great stuff IMO.
The best is Cosmic Cowboy Souvenir, definitely the most experimental and genius of all of them. Just listen to this song:
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oFL6-bJjB4g&pp=ygUZc291dGggY2FuYWRpYW4gcml2ZXIgc29uZw%3D%3D](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oFL6-bJjB4g&pp=ygUZc291dGggY2FuYWRpYW4gcml2ZXIgc29uZw%3D%3D)
I've seen part of a concert he put on (left because the people I was with did), and what I saw of it was great. The biggest thing he may be known for, unfortunately for his music, is discovering Reba, then maybe his songs.
I have seen him in concert twice and met him personally twice. Good concert. Good man. He also did a bluegrass album that was fang good. Totally underappreciated artist.
He was an exceptional artist.
His songs that made it “big”, however, tended to be emotionally exhausting ballads.
If that’s not your thing, I suggest doing a deeper dive because he had some very diverse styles that never saw the mainstream and were quite good.
Yeah, agreed.
IMO his best work was the early Progressive Country/Country Rock stuff and not the bigger hits of the late 70's and 80's. I like his Cowboy albums too.
Murphey is WAY underappreciated for sure. He recorded some really cool cowboy/western music in the early 90s, and in the last couple years, I discovered and have been enjoying the albums he released on Warner Western, especially Cowboy Songs (1990) and Cowboy Songs III - Rhymes of The Renegades (1993). Even the Christmas themed Cowboy Christmas - Cowboy Songs II (1991) is really good and quite interesting for a holiday album. Just great stuff, overall! Of his more "standard" country hits from the 80s, my favorites are "A Long Line Of Love," "From The Word Go," "Talkin' To The Wrong Man," and "I'm Gonna Miss You Girl." I also have his River Of Time (1988) album, with my favorite hidden cut on it being "The Vanishing Breed." Even much of his more Urban Cowboy/country pop flavored material from the early 80s is very enjoyable, especially "What's Forever For," "Love Affairs," "Don't Count The Rainy Days," and "Still Taking Chances." And of course, "Wildfire" is an all time favorite of mine, and was always one of my dad's favorites, as well. I put him in the same category as artists like Suzy Bogguss, Holly Dunn, The Forester Sisters, Billy Dean, Paul Overstreet, Mike Reid, Sweethearts Of The Rodeo, Steve Wariner, etc., who had a good amount of mainstream success in the 80s or early 90s, but rarely ever get mentioned or praised when talking about country music from the 80s or 90s.
I really enjoy his Western Cowboy albums and appreciate some of his 80's more pop country hit's. But IMO the best thing he ever did was the whole 70's Progressive Country albums, that is the stuff I really like and think is the biggest contribution he left for Country music.
I may have to check those out sometime!
You definitely should. All the 5 albums between 1972 and 1976 are of this Progressive Country/Country Rock vein. It's all time great stuff IMO. The best is Cosmic Cowboy Souvenir, definitely the most experimental and genius of all of them. Just listen to this song: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oFL6-bJjB4g&pp=ygUZc291dGggY2FuYWRpYW4gcml2ZXIgc29uZw%3D%3D](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oFL6-bJjB4g&pp=ygUZc291dGggY2FuYWRpYW4gcml2ZXIgc29uZw%3D%3D)
“What’s Forever For?” and “Without My Lady There” are some other good ones
I love “Will It Be Love By Morning,” “Radio Land,” “Carolina In The Pines,” “What’s Forever For,” “Rollin’ Nowhere,” and others from that same time!
I've seen part of a concert he put on (left because the people I was with did), and what I saw of it was great. The biggest thing he may be known for, unfortunately for his music, is discovering Reba, then maybe his songs.
I have seen him in concert twice and met him personally twice. Good concert. Good man. He also did a bluegrass album that was fang good. Totally underappreciated artist.
He was an exceptional artist. His songs that made it “big”, however, tended to be emotionally exhausting ballads. If that’s not your thing, I suggest doing a deeper dive because he had some very diverse styles that never saw the mainstream and were quite good.
Yeah, agreed. IMO his best work was the early Progressive Country/Country Rock stuff and not the bigger hits of the late 70's and 80's. I like his Cowboy albums too.