Some songs go under the radar. Maybe they were eclipsed by other songs from the same artist that achieved widespread recognition. It's really a shame in a way because these tracks by performers who are longtime fan favorites are very worthy of attention. Unfortunately, they slipped through the cracks at the time of their release, never to get their rightful due. If you thought you knew all the best songs from these singers, guess again! There's more great stuff out there from Carrie Underwood, Webb Pierce, Porter Wagoner, and Miranda Lambert than you were aware of. These superb deep cuts prove it.
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"Lessons Learned" by Carrie Underwood
The "Before He Cheats" singer and American Idol judge released her blockbuster freshman LP, Some Hearts, in 2005, the year she won Idol. Underwood burst onto the music scene mighty strong, wowing the public and winning legions of fans. Per Rolling Stone, that album featured not one, not two, but "three country No, 1s (both on Hot Country Songs and Country Airplay)...." She showed that she could be delicate and ruminative, as well as plain ol' down-and-gritty. As it turned out, this quality track got lost in the shuffle. "Lessons Learned" is an anthem to the power of hanging in there despite adversity and becoming a better person after messing up. Written by the incomparable Diane Warren, this one's a real undiscovered gem.
"Pick Me Up On Your Way Down" by Webb Pierce
Pierce is not a exactly household name anymore, but he was well-known in the 1950s and 1960s, per American Songwriter. The outlet called him "one of the biggest stars of the era." Webb's hits included "In The Jailhouse Now," "More and More," and "Teenage Boogie." Other male and female artists performed "Pick Me Up on Your Way Down," among them Ray Price, Willie Nelson, Wanda Jackson, Martina McBride, and Charlie Walker. However, Pierce's cover of the Harlan Howard-written tune is especially effective.
He expertly handles this deep cut about thwarted love that just won't quit. The narrator declares he/she will still be loyally waiting when their beloved's new flame burns out. The song's jaunty rhythm belies its sad substance. Pierce strikes just the right balance between the two.
"Born To Lose" by Porter Wagoner
Trivia factoid here: Porter Wagoner was the person that Dolly Parton wrote the monster hit song "I Will Always Love You" for. She had worked alongside him on television for years and eventually decided to go solo, but with everlasting, sincere gratitude to him. A standout for his sparkly attire and stylish pompadour, Wagoner was a popular TV mainstay with his own show from 1960 to 1981. He sings "Born to Lose" with the consummate showmanship that made him famous. The lyrics, redolent of heartbreak and heartache, flow from him with ease, qualifying this as a true country music classic. A deep cut that should have been front and center.
"Fine Tune" by Miranda Lambert
If there is one thing that we now now about Lambert, it's that she can brilliantly do just about anything. This song from her 2012 album, Four the Record, is a humdinger of a deep cut. She nearly upstages the insistent drum beat with her smoldering, sultry vocals, infusing the song with drama and power. Lambert has a voice and a presence that are second to none. Throw in her songwriting chops, and you have a flawless master of her art.
