Today’s post was written by Paul.
One of our Acorns, Brenda Burke, commented on our video of “Morning Has Broken” that she was a little indignant that a song from her childhood would be said to be “old timey.” Of course, she was joking. I replied that the same could now be said about songs from my childhood.
In my reply, I said that I would try to upload an example. The song in the video I’m sharing today is the first one that I thought of when thinking of what might fit the bill.
A country duet that called themselves The O’Kanes came out with “Just Loving You” in 1987. I can remember listening to it in my freshman year of high school. I thought it was one of the prettiest love songs I’d ever heard. I still do.
The O’Kanes were influenced by the Louvin Brothers, and you could hear it in their close harmony (on this song and pretty much everything they released). They wrote “Just Loving You.” To me, it’s an excellent example of the old saying, attributed to songwriter Harlan Howard, that a great country song takes “three chords and the truth” (even though I slipped in a fourth chord in this little version).
The song reached number 5 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles Chart. The O’Kanes had some other great songs but seemed to fade away after a few albums. The tenor singer for the O’Kanes was also a great mandolin player and accordion player.
I sat down at the piano and gave this song a one-take try. C is a little low for me in places, but it worked out overall. I would love to hear Jamie Shook sing the tenor part with me, so maybe we can try that at some point, Lord willing. I missed one chord (the place where I stopped). The little falsetto part on “just loving yooouuu” was easier to do than I thought it would be, but because my voice was tired, it was hard to end the line without my voice breaking or wobbling. The second time around, I tried to end it with a little flourish as a way to get out of or end holding that note.
I remember hearing this song on our local radio station, WKRK, while my brother Steve and I laid on our beds in our bedroom. I also remember hearing it one day on the bus ride home from school, aboard bus 27, driven by Mr. Doug King. Someone had a small radio, and the song was playing. I remember an older girl, who I never would have pictured ever liking any country music, leaned out in the aisle and said, “That’s so… pretty.” It was like she didn’t know how to describe it any further and maybe didn’t even understand why it made her feel that way. That moment was like a mini-lesson for me about the power of music and how good music can cross all kinds of “lines” or categories of people.
You can hear the O’Kane’s original version here. Hope you enjoyed the video!
Paul
Original singles released on Spotify.
Shepherd of My Soul (Album released in 2016).
The Wilson Brothers Words of Life Album released in the 70s.
Enjoyed the song today! Praying for Granny and your family.
Very pretty song indeed!!
I enjoyed your version of this song Paul – and I enjoyed their version – and it would be great to hear you do it again with Jamie Shook someday. It might also be a song for Katie & Corie to do as well. Have a blessed Sunday – always praying for Granny and you all in Wilson Holler.
Strangely, I don’t remember that song that was recorded at a time in my life when I listened to only country music. Paul, you did good, as usual. I don’t listen to today’s country music, which sounds to me like fingernails on a chalkboard. Thank goodness for radio stations that stream old-timey country music. Norman, I’m so sorry your brother is going through such a difficult time. I will continue praying for you and him. Keep the faith!
Shirl, I feel like you do about today’s music, I don’t like any of it. I like to listen to the old gospel hymns sung by the Blind Pig gang and a Mennonite band I recently discovered The Brandenberger Family. I don’t think it gets any better than these two groups. While I am thinking about, I sure enjoyed Paul and Maria last Sunday.
I enjoyed both versions!
That is a very pretty song, Paul & I am so impressed how you can just start playing a new instrument (the piano) and do so well from the “get go”. Thanks for this song this morning. Like Randy, my husband of 59 years went to be with the Lord 2 years ago & being the one left behind is not easy. That song sounds like how we felt about each other.
Praying for Granny & the family.
I don’t know that I know that song but I’m sure that I’ve never heard of the O’Kanes. I must have missed that day.
my brother has been for another checkup,
the cancer is spreading fast ,
something was mentioned about mutating,
the way I understood it if it is mutating that might be some new treatments available,
if not it will be traditional chemo and radiation, thank you for praying and God bless you very much
Mr. Norman, I will continue to pray for Bennie. God’s blessings to you both.
I loved hearing Granny at the beginning. I often feel the same about my childhood songs. Seems like the old adage that anyone over 30 is OLD. Love ya.
1987 is still pretty new for for me, I finished high school in 1972. I do remember the O’Kanes but don’t remember much about them.
51 years ago today, I did the second best most important thing I have ever done in my life, I married Janice Marie Brooks. We “went together” 2 1/2 years before we married at 19 and 20 years old. She passed away in 2021, trying to live without her is very hard. The best first thing would be getting saved as we Baptist call it.