Americana Music Reviews

 

Hank Cochran
Livin' For A Song
Gifted Few Records

by Al Kunz

There's no arguing that Hank Cochran has had a long and successful music career. He and Harlan Howard wrote Patsy Cline's "I Fall to Pieces." Eddy Arnold recorded his "Make the World Go Away" and artists as varied as Merle Haggard, Greg Kihn, Tom Jones, even Donny & Marie have cut his tunes. Five of his songs were once in the top ten at the same time. It's apparent why he's the only writer inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Association International Hall of Fame with a unanimous vote.

Although primarily known as a songwriter, Cochran's other credits include performing as half of the Cochran Brothers with Eddie Cochran (no, they aren't really brothers) and as a partner with Ray Price in a successful music publishing company. His latest release, subtitled "a songwriters autobiography," contains the songs that have had "special meaning" in Cochran's life. In the liner notes he explains he chose "the songs I liked to sing when I was younger, and the ones about significant changes in my life to some of my favorites that I wrote with friends...Most have not been hits, but they are some of my favorites."

Cochran starts the disc the same way he started his singing career, working the gray area between country and '50s rock with a rocked-up version of the Hank Thompson hit "Wild Side of Life" (re-titled "Honky Tonk Angels" here). The honky-tonk portion of this title foreshadows the rest of the disc that leans heavily toward cry-in-your-beer honky-tonk ballads and the smoother Ray Price-styled countrypolitan of "Something Unseen." Originally a hit in 1970 for Jack Greene, Cochran's wife Suzi suggested he cut this tune, one of her favorites, because of the great lyric. In this twist on the stereotypical cheatin' song, the singer knows that something or someone is pulling his lover away from him "like a puppet on a string." He's not sure what the pull is, but concludes that cheatin' would be better than a vague desire for something better.

I'd be happier to know that there was someone new
At least I'd know there was someone who would take care of you
'Cause what if there's no ending to your dream
That's pulled you away to something unseen

"Practically everything I write is from something that happened to me or someone close to me," says Cochran. "I Fell Apart" was written for Willie Nelson's drummer, Paul English after his wife's suicide, while "You Let Me Down" strikes closer to home. Written in the early '70s while the hurt was still fresh, this classic-sounding, cry-in-your-beer lament takes aim at a former friend (or lover) who had a problem delivering on promises.

I guess last night was the worst night I ever knew
Besides thinking I was gonna die, Honey, I was missing you
But I remembered what you told be, you said that you'd always be around
But when I really needed you, you let me down

"The Pen" and "Livin' For A Song" were both considered for the disc's title track. Co-writers Bo Roberts and Dave Holster brought Cochran the title and partial lyrics letting him finish the song. "When we got finished with it, they said, 'Man, that's great, but don't you think we ought to change that line about muddy tears running down my face,'" explained Cochran. "I said, have you ever slept on the side of the road with the damn trucks runnin' 70, 80, 90 miles an hour by your head . . . well, then it stays in, because I have." Cochran resists the temptation to overly romanticize his songwriter's life, including both ups and downs in the autobiographical "Livin' For A Song."

I have slept on satin sheets, dined with Kings on wine so sweet
Made my bed out in the street livin' for a song
Spent a lifetime on the road like desperados chasin' gold
I've been bought and I've been sold livin' for a song

Life's so full of melodies with words that rhyme and harmonies
Til I write mine I'll always be livin' for a song

While "Livin' For A Song" looks back at a long career in Nashville, working and writing with Willie Nelson, Ray Price, and dedicating the disc to the late Harlan Howard, possibly country music's greatest songwriter, "The Pen" looks forward. As Cochran ponders the current state of Nashville songwriting, it's apparent that he has concerns.

Who'll be the next to pick up the pen
That holds the ink the words flow with
And be brave enough to bare the depths of their souls
Who is able to live with their hearts full of hope

But he still has hope for the future of country songwriting and provides his formula for success if any young songwriters-to-be care to heed his wisdom.

If it's you that God gives the reason and the rhymes
Will you write it for his sake or nickels and dimes
You better get ready if it's your time, cause it won't be long
And you know the world is ready for some brand new songs

In his late sixties, Hank Cochran continues Livin' For A Song, writing new songs that continue to be recorded by today's country stars. In the liner notes he says "my best buddy Red Lane has been hanging at my place for a while and we sure have some good songs to share with you." It sounds like Hank isn't planning to put that pen down anytime soon.

*Visit www.hankcochran.com for the latest news, a full biography, and a long list of hits that only hints at the number of Hank Cochran songs recorded by other artists.


Contact Al Kunz at kunz-at-rockzilla.net

 
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