Oh What a Woman

With all the music success that Jerry Reed garnered before 1972’s Oh What a Woman (like the 1970 crossover hit “Amos Moses” as well as 1971’s “When You’re Hot, You’re Hot”) and the acting roles that came his way following (such as his work with Burt Reynolds), this largely unchampioned album fell between the cracks. But time has a funny way of making old, forgotten recordings sound better. Where the over-polished Nashville production of Oh What a Woman initially provided a slick Lawrence Welkian contrast to the twangy grit of the aforementioned singles, today the backing singers and horn/string arrangements provide an endearingly aged garnish to these songs. Sure, they may have buffed out the rough edges of the opening title-track, but the tune still rolls with Reed’s trademark finger-style guitar playing; it's catchy as all-get-out, even if the song never charted well. A re-recorded version of “Roving Gambler,” (from 1969’s Better Things In Life) follows before a re-mastered version of “Guitar Man” (Reed’s nickname) proves to be the album’s true standout, boasting his best six-string picking here.