1985 Songs: Dim Lights, Thick Smoke (And Loud, Loud Music)

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There’s no way I have to give you a country music warning with a title like THAT. Yes, it’s time for the “down side” of my music countdowns for some of you: the fact that country music shows up in most of them! Here’s the first of many as we venture back 40 years. Dim Lights, Thick Smoke (And Loud, Loud Music) - Vern Gosdin They called him “The Voice” for a reason. Vern Gosdin could have sung the phone book and made it sound like a country song. Needless to say, when he tackled a stereotypical country music topic, the effect was better. This is one of those rarities in the world of music, where someone OTHER than the songwriter recorded the song first. Joe Maphis wrote this, but Flatt and Scruggs did it first. Joe and Rose Lee Maphis’ version is still my favorite, but Vern did such a great job that it’s easy to highlight his rendition. Given that the song only peaked at #20 on the country charts, not everyone shared my enthusiasm. That’s their loss. Dim Lights, Thick Smoke (And Loud, Loud Music) Written by Joe Maphis, Rose Lee Maphis, and Max Fidler Recorded by Vern Gosdin From Time Stood Still, 1985 The only home you know is the bar down the street: