Hurtin' Country Songs Review

07/13/2005 7:32 AM, AMG


Capitol released Hurtin' Country Songs along with another generous 15-track compilation, Late at Night With Dean Martin. Unlike its companion, which has a fairly random selection of songs, Hurtin' Country Songs has a clear-cut theme, namely country tunes Martin sang over the years, for both Capitol and Reprise. The compilers are clever -- so clever that the collection feels like an actual album, when it's really a collection of minor hits, singles, and album tracks. Nevertheless, there's a genuine momentum to the disc and it's filled with really great songs given an individual spin by Dean. After finishing Hurtin' Country Songs, it's hard to disagree with Willie Nelson's assessment in the liner notes that "no [singer] was more distinctive than Dean Martin. His records oozed personality, warmth, and believability. And that's what country music is all about." That is precisely true: Any listener going into this collection thinking that "Dino" and country is a kitsch mismatch will be surprised how truly effective this music is. It really is among the better Martin collections of the '90s. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide