What was this song called?

January 18, 2012 3:35 PM

Name this 80s pop-country song!

I'm trying to find a song that my gf and I heard played on a jukebox in Milltown, MT. The song was a mid-tempo 80s country song, sung by a lady. There was a good guitar solo, solid state distortion, a little chorus, that sounded a bit out of place in the context of the song- more rock and roll than one would expect. The song reminded us of 7-Year Ache by Rosanne Cash. The song also sounded sad... probably a break up song...
Definitely 80s, on account of the drum production and guitar tone.


Trying to find the song is driving us nuts, we even called the bar to ask. Shot in the dark here.

posted by kittensofthenight to media & arts (15 answers total)

...any chance you remember a spare word or two? maybe enough of the meter/beat to transcribe?
posted by batmonkey at 3:47 PM on January 18, 2012

The tempo was close to 7 year ache, so around ~120. The mix was less 'wet' and the solo was electric guitar, not a slide. We try to sing it and end up with the 'what else this old heart can take" line. There was a line about saturday night (maybe), and possible a lyrical conceit about the days of the week. I think the singer might have been less poppy and more traditional, there wasn't a big string or synth part, it was mostly the band.
posted by kittensofthenight at 3:56 PM on January 18, 2012

the beat was straight, no shuffle. The licks/solos and whatnot were less twangy and a little more rock than country.
posted by kittensofthenight at 3:58 PM on January 18, 2012

Except for Monday by Lorrie Morgan? Check her oeuvre in general; she is who popped into my head from your description.
posted by not that girl at 4:28 PM on January 18, 2012 [1 favorite]

What first jumps to my mind is Juice Newton's Queen of Hearts

Admittedly, I'm at work and can't listen to it at the moment so my memory may be playing tricks with me...
posted by pupdog at 4:29 PM on January 18, 2012 [1 favorite]

Mid-80s countryish rock fronted by a woman makes me think of Lone Justice.
posted by bondcliff at 4:32 PM on January 18, 2012

The other artist I would look at might be Patty Loveless.

"see what else this old heart can take" is from Seven-year Ache.
posted by not that girl at 4:33 PM on January 18, 2012

I'm definitely getting a Juice Newton vibe, too. Could it be "Love's Been a Little Bit Hard On Me"?
posted by argonauta at 4:42 PM on January 18, 2012

The sound is closer to the Lone Justice track than Queen of Hearts, but w/o keyboards.

not that girl: yeah, we just can't get 7 year ache out of our heads now, and we keep singing those lyrics while trying to remember the song.

Definitely the era of Juice Newton, but she's a bit more pop and this song was more traditional.
posted by kittensofthenight at 4:45 PM on January 18, 2012

Very wild guess: Baby Please Don't Go by Karla Bonoff?
posted by Wordwoman at 5:16 PM on January 18, 2012

The Judds?
posted by humboldt32 at 5:34 PM on January 18, 2012

I know nothing about these musical things like meter that you're referencing, but here are some ladies/hit songs of that era whose Youtube "related" videos might help you (and possibly not Reba, Dolly, or the Judds?) It's probably a song post 85-86 (86 was a phenomenal year for country music, and the year the sound really changed) so looking through the top hits of 85-88 might help you... anyway here's some possible choices:

Sweethearts of the Rodeo: (i.e. Midnight Girl in a Sunset Town)

Deborah Allen: Baby I Lied

Shelly West: Jose Cuervo

Sylvia: Your Nobody Called Today

Bailey and the Boys

Highway 101

Barbara Mandrell: Sleeping single in a double bed

The Goddess Tanya Tucker: (i.e. Jamestown Ferry)

Also try Suzy Bogguss (Someday Soon)
Perchance Kathy Mattea, Roseanne Chase (Never Be You), or Pam Tillis ...maybe even Lorrie Morgan?

A tad early, but Terry Gibbs: Somebody's Knocking

And since you were in Montana, it might just have been Meet Me in Montana by Marie Osmond and Dan Seals.
posted by benk at 5:45 PM on January 18, 2012

Possibly K T Oslin Come Next Monday
posted by Robert Angelo at 6:13 PM on January 18, 2012

It's not 80s, but it's definitely got the vibe you describe, try Gwyneth Paltrow.

Also, my first thought was Tanita Tikaram, but I can't imagine how any of her stuff could wind up on a jukebox in Montana.
posted by veedubya at 3:41 AM on January 19, 2012

Only When I Love by Holly Dunn?
posted by sybarite09 at 7:19 AM on January 19, 2012