Couintry Mastermind

The Nashville Sound . . . Owen Bradley (Decca)

various artists

By Michael W. Stout

World-renowned Owen Bradley is revered as one of Music City's premier country music producers and is greatly responsible for the Nashville Sound, the country-pop craze that swept the nation in the early '60s with artists such as the late Patsy Cline. This new blend of country music created a perfect union between traditional country music and the new popular music of the day. Bradley can further boast that five of the acts he has produced over the years join him as members of country rnusic's most elite club: the Country Music Hall of Fame.

Owen Bradley began producing country music recording sessions with Paul Cohen, the head of Decca Records' country division, in 1947. In 1958 Cohen was promoted to another division and Bradley was named Vice President and Head of Operations for Decca Nashville. Bradley remained with Decca (which eventually became MCA Records) until 1976. During his 29 year tenure, Bradley worked with members of country rnusic's Who's Who, producing artists such as Ernest Tubb, Loretta Lynn, Conway Twitty, Patsy Cline, Webb Pierce, and Kitty Wells, to name a few.

Of the numerous hits Bradley has produced, The Nashville Sound...0wen Bradley includes Bradley's ten personal favorite tunes, which just so happen to be ten of country music's biggest hits ever. Included are country classics such as Patsy Cline's "Crazy" and "Sweet Dreams." Loretta Lynn's "Don't Come Home A Drinkin'," Conway Twitty's "Hello Darlin'," Brenda Lee's "I'm Sorry," and Kitty Wells' "It Wasn't God Who Made Honky Tonk Angels," her answer to Hank Thompson's "Wild Side Of Life."