Country Love, Day 14: Poison Love

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One month from today is Valentines Day! Until then I still have lots of love to share, in the form of country and rock songs that have “love” in the title. Back into obscureville in country today, but I promise the rock song will make up for it. Poison Love - Johnnie & Jack I know, you’ve never heard of it. Or them. So, welcome to the Hillbilly Instant Country Music History Class. Johnnie (the actual spelling of his name, although the record label changed it to Johnny in the 60s) Wright and Jack Anglin were brothers-in-law, with Jack married to Johnnie’s sister. They also shared a birthday (May 13, if you want to send flowers to their graves). Except for the old-time music geeks like me, they really are forgotten. You won’t see them inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame. You won’t even see me saying they should. While their career was good in the late 40s and early 50s it was soon eclipsed by Johnnie’s wife’s career. You see, he was married to Kitty Wells. Wright and Wells’ son, Bobby, was a country singer with minor success, as well as an actor (appearing most notably in McHale’s Navy). And I’ll leave you with one of their biggest hits, along with a quote from Charlie Louvin about Jack Anglin’s less-than-perfect harmonizing: “Jack Anglin sang like a damn B string.” Yeah, it’s true. But this is still a classic song. Poison Love Written by Mrs. Elmer Laird Recorded by Johnnie & Jack Released as a single, 1950 You are guilty of the shame: