I Think, Therefore I Count Down: Wishful Thinking (#2)

@FourWalls (61308)
United States
August 12, 2017 10:41pm CST
I had a lovely day today, taking a drive to Georgetown (where your Toyota Camery was manufactured) on the back roads. After a rest I'm ready to give you another song from my list of favorites that have "think" or some variation in the title. Here's today's song. #2: Wishful Thinking - Wynn Stewart I have two different songs titled "Wishful Thinking" on my iPod. One is by my all-time favorite singer, Jim Reeves. This song puts that one to shame. And yes, I just said that. I'll say this purely and simply: if Wynn Stewart had been based in Nashville he would have been one of the biggest names in country music and would be in the Hall of Fame. As it is, his base was Bakersfield, where he held considerable sway and influence on country music there (read what people like Buck Owens and Merle Haggard said about him), was too far from the Nashville-centric and self-important country music scene for him to make too much of a commercial impact, save for his big #1 hit "It's Such a Pretty World Today." But consider that no less than Nick Lowe recorded one of this guy's songs ("Big Big Love," on Pinker and Prouder Than Previous) and you can see that I'm not just a lone fan blowing smoke up your t-shirt. Blessed with an incredible tenor voice, Wynn Stewart made some of the best hardcore country music out there in the late 50s and early 60s. The California Country: Best of the Challenge Masters was a critically-acclaimed retrospective of the late 50s and early 60s, showcasing some of his singles including some duets with Jan Howard (Harlan Howard's one-time wife and later a country star on her own). While many of them they weren't big hits, they were great songs. This is one of them, as well as an exception. This song hit the national top five in early 1960. It has a driving shuffle beat and some terrific singing from Stewart. Wynn Stewart died of a heart attack in 1985 at the young age of 51. Over thirty years after the fact he still has a multitude of fans (enough to make Bear Family release a box set) who are pointing to his stardom, and more importantly his influence on country music, as justification for induction into the Hall of Fame. Maybe that's "wishful thinking," too. Wishful Thinking Written by Wynn Stewart Recorded by Wynn Stewart Released as a single, 1959 Won't you answer a heart that is broken:
Easily one of the greatest pure Country recordings EVER! Wynn is one of the most under appreciated entertainers of the 20th Century. We have posted a couple ...
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2 responses
@JohnRoberts (109865)
• Los Angeles, California
13 Aug 17
Is that the song that plays when Homer Bailey thinks about actually winning a game? Gotta high five anyone from the Bakersfield sound.
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@teamfreak16 (43451)
• Denver, Colorado
14 Aug 17
You're right. That is a great country song.
1 person likes this