RCA Country Legends: Lorrie Morgan

Lorrie Morgan has never been a favorite with country’s neo-traditionalist crowd; there’s too much studio polish and pop melodrama in her music to pass the purists’ test. But forget the hipness quotient — on merit alone, the sheer expressiveness of her voice deservedly won her a long string of hits in the ‘80s and ‘90s. Listen to “Except for Monday” or “What Part of No” to hear how she put her own feisty spin on upbeat honky-tonk fare. She was capable of projecting both righteous anger (“Five Minutes”) and tearful regret (“Dear Me”). Morgan radiates a resolute sort of class, as her signature tune “Something In Red” so well demonstrates. Lesser-known songs like “She Walked Beside the Wagon” (an empathetic portrait of a pioneer woman) prove her capable of more than obvious radio hits. Those who like their country dirt-streaked and twang-heavy won’t find much of that here. But at her best, Morgan is a consummate pro who projects sincerity even when she turns on the showbiz charm. The evidence is here in these tracks.