Country Love Top Ten: Unwanted Love (#9)

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We’re getting closer to Valentines Day! I started this countdown of favorites with “love” in the title on New Year’s Day, and now I’m in the top ten. Here’s the next country song that mentions “love” in the title. #9: Unwanted Love - Reno & Smiley Ah, bluegrass. You’ve heard of it, and you know who Bill Monroe was....maybe even Flatt & Scruggs. And that’s about it. Let me introduce you to Reno & Smiley. They were unique in that they were one of the few first generation bluegrass acts who weren’t associated with the Blue Grass Boys. Don Reno and Arthur “Red” Smiley were from the other side of the Appalachian Mountains, where acts like the Stanley Brothers originated. They had a great career — part of the second induction class in the Bluegrass Hall of Fame — but it didn’t generate outside of the world of bluegrass. But oh, the career they did have. This is one of their biggest hits, and one that’s been covered plenty of times by others in bluegrass. I hope you enjoy these greats. Unwanted Love Written by Don Reno, Red Smiley, and Darryl Leftwich Recorded by Reno & Smiley Released as a single, 1966 I know there are others like me: