Gene Watson’s Peers within the country music industry believe in the sheer talent of this unassuming man from east Texas, so much so that Gene is regarded by many of them as ‘the singer’s singer’ – and rightly so!
All of Gene Watson’s Peers, who were contacted during 2018, were most gracious with their time and words.
It is here, within this special part of The Gene Watson Fan Site, that you have an opportunity to read a quote from Earl Thomas Conley, which he submitted to this site on Friday 22 June 2018.
Sean Brady would like to take this opportunity to say ‘thank you’ to Earl Thomas Conley who made a special contribution to this unique part of this online ‘celebration of a Lone Star Hero’.
Sean Brady would also like to take this opportunity to say ‘thank you’ to Jimmy Bowen, without whom this Gene Watson ‘Peer’s Quote’ from Earl Thomas Conley, would not have been possible.
(photo courtesy of Bill Welch / The Tennessean)
Earl Thomas Conley
This quote was submitted on Friday 22 June 2018.
‘Gene’s great!
Anyone who thinks otherwise is not a true country music fan.
What a talented guy!’
Thank you, Earl Thomas Conley, for your support of Gene Watson.
About Earl Thomas Conley…
Earl Thomas Conley was born on Friday 17 October 1941 in Portsmouth, Ohio.
When he was fourteen years old, Earl Thomas Conley’s father lost his job with the railroad, forcing the young boy to move in with his older sister in Jamestown, Ohio.
Earl Thomas Conley was offered a scholarship to an art school, but rejected it in favour of joining the United States Army.
While in the United States Army, Earl Thomas Conley became a member of a Christian-influenced trio, where his musical talent and vocal ability first began.
Earl Thomas Conley then decided to consider performing as a serious career option.
Earl Thomas Conley shifted more deeply into the classic country music sounds of a number of artists, including Merle Haggard (Tuesday 6 April 1937 – Wednesday 6 April 2016) and George Jones (Saturday 12 September 1931 – Friday 26 April 2013).
During this period, Earl Thomas Conley first tried his hand at songwriting.
In 1968, when he was twenty-six years old, Earl Thomas Conley was honorably discharged from the United States Army, and began commuting from his native Portsmouth in Ohio to Nashville, and began playing in clubs, at night, supporting himself working blue-collar jobs during the day.
In 1970, Earl Thomas Conley moved to Huntsville, Alabama where he continued performing in nightclubs. One evening, Earl and his brother Fred visited a nearby recording studio and presented a tape to Nelson Larkin (1943 – Monday 18 November 2013), who wasn’t very impressed by the tape, but he liked Earl Thomas Conley and loved his voice.
Between 1971 and 1976, Earl Thomas Conley, recording under the name Earl Conley, saw the release of a number of non-album tracks, which were released as singles on the Billboard country music singles chart:
‘The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down’ (written by Jaime Royal ‘Robbie’ Robertson) / this track, which was released as a single in 1971 on Nelson Larkin’s record label, Prize Records, did not chart
‘When I’m Under The Table (I’ll Be Over You)’ (written by Earl Conley) / this track was released as a single, on GRT Records, in 1974, but it did not chart
‘I Have Loved You Girl (But Not Like This Before)’ (written by Earl Conley) (No.87, 1975) (GRT Records, 1975) / a re-recording of this track, which was included on Earl Thomas Conley’s ‘Somewhere Between Right & Wrong’ (RCA Victor Records, 1982), reached No.2 on the Billboard country music singles chart in 1983, and No.3 on the Canadian RPM Country Tracks Chart in 1983
‘It’s The Bible Against The Bottle (In The Battle For Daddy’s Soul)’ (written by M. Howard and J. Wolverton) (No.87, 1975) (GRT Records, 1975)
‘High & Wild’ (written by Earl Conley) (No.67, 1976) (GRT Records, 1976)
‘Queen of New Orleans’ (written by Earl Conley) (No.77, 1976) (GRT Records, 1976)
(Saturday 21 October 1933 – Saturday 21 October 1978)
In 1973, while in Nashville, Earl Thomas Conley met Dick Heard (1937 – Tuesday 8 September 1998), who produced material for country music singer Mel Street (Saturday 21 October 1933 – Saturday 21 October 1978).
This meeting eventually led to the Earl Thomas Conley / Dick Heard (1937 – Tuesday 8 September 1998) collaboration on the song, ‘Smokey Mountain Memories’, Mel Street’s recording of which reached No.13 on the Billboard country music singles chart in 1975.
Feeling that he wasn’t making any progress in Nashville, Earl Thomas Conley moved to Huntsville in Alabama, to work in a steel mill.
It was in Huntsville, Alabama where Earl Thomas Conley met record producer, Nelson Larkin (1943 – Monday 18 November 2013), and signed with independent record label, GRT Records, in 1974.
Earl Thomas Conley saw the release of four singles on GRT Records, none of which became significant hit singles. At the same time, Earl Thomas Conley was selling songs that he had written to other artists, including Conway Twitty (Friday 1 September 1933 – Saturday 5 June 1993) and Mel Street (Saturday 21 October 1933 – Saturday 21 October 1978), who were having much success with them.
Mel Street (Saturday 21 October 1933 – Saturday 21 October 1978) recorded Earl Thomas Conley’s ‘Smokey Mountain Memories’, which was co-written with Dick Heard (1937 – Tuesday 8 September 1998), and included the track on ‘Smokey Mountain Memories’ (GRT Records, 1975); the track, which reached No.13 on the Billboard country music singles chart in 1975, and No.43 on the Canadian RPM Country Tracks Chart in 1975, was subsequently included on ‘Mel Street’s Greatest Hits’ (GRT Records, 1976).
Mel Street (Saturday 21 October 1933 – Saturday 21 October 1978) recorded Earl Thomas Conley’s ‘(This Ain’t Just Another) Lust Affair’ and included the track on ‘Smokey Mountain Memories’ (GRT Records, 1975); the track, which reached No.23 on the Billboard country music singles chart in 1975, was subsequently included on ‘Mel Street’s Greatest Hits’ (GRT Records, 1976).
Conway Twitty (Friday 1 September 1933 – Saturday 5 June 1993) recorded Earl Thomas Conley’s ‘This Time I’ve Hurt Her More Than She Loves Me’ (co-written with Mary Louise Larkin) and included the track on ‘This Time I’ve Hurt Her More Than She Loves Me‘ (MCA Records, 1976); the track was No.1 on the Billboard country music singles chart for one week in January / February 1976.
Earl Thomas Conley returned to Nashville, now writing for Nelson Larkin’s publishing house.
In 1979, Earl Thomas Conley signed a recording contract with Warner Bros. Records, where he saw the release of three singles, but the record label dropped him.
In the meantime, Nelson Larkin (1943 – Monday 18 November 2013) had formed an independent record label, Sunbird Records, and Earl Thomas Conley suggested that they give it one more try.
Nelson Larkin (1943 – Monday 18 November 2013) subsequently bought out Earl Thomas Conley’s Warner Bros. Records contract.
In October 1980, Earl Thomas Conley saw the release of ‘Blue Pearl’ (Sunbird Records, 1980), which included three tracks, which were hit singles on the Billboard country music singles chart:
‘Dreamin’s All I Do’ (written by Earl Thomas Conley) (No.32, 1979) / this track also reached No.74 on the Canadian RPM Country Tracks Chart in 1979
‘Middle Age Madness’ (written by Earl Thomas Conley) (No.41, 1979)
‘Stranded On A Dead End Street’ (written by Earl Thomas Conley) (No.26, 1980)
Earl Thomas Conley’s ‘Blue Pearl’ (Sunbird Records, 1980) also included the following tracks:
‘Too Much Noise (Trucker’s Waltz)’ (written by Earl Thomas Conley)
‘You Don’t Have To Go Too Far’ (written by Earl Thomas Conley)
‘Fire & Smoke’ (written by Earl Thomas Conley)
‘Played This Game Enough’ (written by Earl Thomas Conley)
‘Blue & Green’ (written by Earl Thomas Conley)
‘Silent Treatment’ (written by Earl Thomas Conley)
‘This Time I’ve Hurt Her More Than She Loves Me’ (written by Earl Thomas Conley and Mary Louise Larkin)
Earl Thomas Conley’s ‘Blue Pearl’ (Sunbird Records, 1980) reached No.20 on the Billboard Top Country Albums Chart in 1980.
In October 1981, Earl Thomas Conley saw the release of ‘Fire & Smoke’ (RCA Victor Records, 1981), which included four tracks, which were hit singles on the Billboard country music singles chart:
‘Silent Treatment’ (written by Earl Thomas Conley) (No.7 in February 1981) / this track was produced by Nelson Larkin (1943 – Monday 18 November 2013) and Earl Thomas Conley
‘Fire & Smoke’ (written by Earl Thomas Conley) (No.1 for one week in July 1981) / this track was produced by Nelson Larkin (1943 – Monday 18 November 2013) and Earl Thomas Conley
‘Tell Me Why’ (written by John Booth Aclin) (No.10, 1981) / this track was produced by Nelson Larkin (1943 – Monday 18 November 2013) and Earl Thomas Conley
‘After The Love Slips Away’ (written by Earl Thomas Conley) / ‘Smokey Mountain Memories’ (written by Earl Thomas Conley) (No.16, 1982) / this track, which also reached No.31 on the Canadian RPM Country Tracks Chart in 1982, was produced by Nelson Larkin (1943 – Monday 18 November 2013) and Earl Thomas Conley
Earl Thomas Conley’s ‘Fire & Smoke’ (RCA Victor Records, 1981) also included the following tracks:
‘Too Much Noise (Trucker’s Waltz)’ (written by Earl Thomas Conley) / this track was produced by Nelson Larkin (1943 – Monday 18 November 2013) and Earl Thomas Conley
‘This Time I’ve Hurt Her More Than She Loves Me’ (written by Earl Thomas Conley and Mary Louise Larkin) / this track was produced by Nelson Larkin (1943 – Monday 18 November 2013) and Dick Heard (1937 – Tuesday 8 September 1998)
‘Your Love Is Just For Strangers (I Suppose)’ (written by Earl Thomas Conley) / this track was produced by Nelson Larkin (1943 – Monday 18 November 2013) and Earl Thomas Conley
‘Like Cinderella’ (written by Earl Thomas Conley) / this track was produced by Nelson Larkin (1943 – Monday 18 November 2013) and Earl Thomas Conley
‘As Low As You Can Go’ (written by Earl Thomas Conley) / this track was produced by Nelson Larkin (1943 – Monday 18 November 2013) and Earl Thomas Conley
Earl Thomas Conley’s ‘Fire & Smoke’ (RCA Victor Records, 1981) reached No.19 on the Billboard Top Country Albums Chart in 1980.
When Earl Thomas Conley hit No.1 on the Billboard country music singles chart with ‘Fire & Smoke’ (written by Earl Thomas Conley) (No.1 for one week in July 1981), he earned plenty of attention in Nashville. However, the cost of promoting Earl Thomas Conley on a small, independent record label became too much, and Sunbird Records subsequently sold his contract to RCA Records.
In August 1982, Earl Thomas Conley saw the release of ‘Somewhere Between Right & Wrong’ (RCA Victor Records, 1982), which was produced by Earl Thomas Conley and Nelson Larkin (1943 – Monday 18 November 2013), and included three tracks, which were hit singles on the Billboard country music singles chart:
‘Heavenly Bodies’ (written by Elaine Lifton, Gloria Nissenson and Lee Ritenour) (No.8, 1982) / this track also reached No.3 on the Canadian RPM Country Tracks Chart in 1982
‘Somewhere Between Right & Wrong’ (written by Earl Thomas Conley) (No.1 for one week in December 1982) / this track also reached No.39 on the Canadian RPM Country Tracks Chart in 1982 / this track was also recorded by Mike Hughes, who included it on ‘Warm Red Wine’ (Big Bear Creek Music, 2023)
‘I Have Loved You Girl (But Not Like This Before) (written by Earl Thomas Conley) (No.2, 1983) / this track, which was a re-recording, also reached No.3 on the Canadian RPM Country Tracks Chart in 1983 / the original version of this track was released in 1975, as a non-album single, on GRT Records, under the name Earl Conley, and reached No.87 on the Billboard country music singles chart in 1975
Earl Thomas Conley’s ‘Somewhere Between Right & Wrong’ (RCA Victor Records, 1982) also included the following tracks:
‘Don’t Get Along With The Blues’ (written by Earl Thomas Conley)
‘This Ain’t No Way To Be’, which was written by Earl Thomas Conley and Randy Lynn Scruggs (Monday 3 August 1953 – Tuesday 17 April 2018)
‘If It Ain’t Something (You Give Me)’ (written by Earl Thomas Conley)
‘The Highway Home’, which was written by Earl Thomas Conley and Randy Lynn Scruggs (Monday 3 August 1953 – Tuesday 17 April 2018)
‘We’ve Got All Night’ (written by Earl Thomas Conley)
‘Bottled Up Blues’ (written by Earl Thomas Conley and Rick Scott)
‘The Man Inside of Me’ (written by Earl Thomas Conley)
Earl Thomas Conley’s ‘Somewhere Between Right & Wrong’ (RCA Victor Records, 1982) reached No.10 on the Billboard Top Country Albums Chart in 1982.
Jerry Max Lane recorded Earl Thomas Conley’s ‘Love Didn’t Drive My Good Woman Wild’ and included the track on ‘Swingin’ Doors’ (Brylen Records, 1982).
In May 1983, Earl Thomas Conley saw the release of ‘Don’t Make It Easy For Me’ (RCA Victor Records, 1983), which was produced by Nelson Larkin (1943 – Monday 18 November 2013) and Earl Thomas Conley, and included four tracks, which were hit singles on the Billboard country music singles chart:
‘Your Love’s On The Line’, which was written by Earl Thomas Conley and Randy Lynn Scruggs (Monday 3 August 1953 – Tuesday 17 April 2018) (No.1 for one week in August 1983)
‘Holding Her & Loving You’ (written by Walt Aldridge and Tommy Brasfield) (No.1 for one week in November / December 1983) / Earl Thomas Conley was nominated for multiple Grammy Awards for this song in 1983
‘Don’t Make It Easy For Me’, which was written by Earl Thomas Conley and Randy Lynn Scruggs (Monday 3 August 1953 – Tuesday 17 April 2018) (No.1 for one week in April 1984)
‘Angel In Disguise’, which was written by Earl Thomas Conley and Randy Lynn Scruggs (Monday 3 August 1953 – Tuesday 17 April 2018) (No.1 for one week in July / August 1984)
In 1983 / 1984, Earl Thomas Conley set a record, as the first artist in any genre of music, to have four No.1 singles from the same album.
Earl Thomas Conley’s ‘Don’t Make It Easy For Me’ (RCA Victor Records, 1983) also included the following tracks:
‘You Can’t Go On (Like A Rolling Stone)’, which was written by Earl Thomas Conley and Randy Lynn Scruggs (Monday 3 August 1953 – Tuesday 17 April 2018)
‘Crowd Around The Corner’ (written by Earl Thomas Conley)
‘Ball & Chain’ (written by E. John and G. Osborne)
‘Under Control’, which was written by Earl Thomas Conley, Nelson Larkin (1943 – Monday 18 November 2013) and R. Oates
‘Changes of Love’, which was written by Earl Thomas Conley and Randy Lynn Scruggs (Monday 3 August 1953 – Tuesday 17 April 2018)
‘Home So Fine’ (written by Earl Thomas Conley)
Earl Thomas Conley’s ‘Don’t Make It Easy For Me’ (RCA Victor Records, 1983) reached No.3 on the Billboard Top Country Albums Chart in 1983.
In October 1984, Earl Thomas Conley saw the release of ‘Treadin’ Water’ (RCA Victor Records, 1984), which was produced by Nelson Larkin (1943 – Monday 18 November 2013) and Earl Thomas Conley, and included three tracks, which were hit singles on the Billboard country music singles chart:
‘Chance of Lovin’ You’, which was written by Earl Thomas Conley and Randy Lynn Scruggs (Monday 3 August 1953 – Tuesday 17 April 2018) (No.1 for one week in December 1984)
‘Honor Bound’, which was written by Charlie Black (Wednesday 23 November 1949 – Friday 23 April 2021), Tommy Rocco and Austin Roberts (No.1 for one week in April 1985)
‘Love Don’t Care (Whose Heart It Breaks)’, which was written by Earl Thomas Conley and Randy Lynn Scruggs (Monday 3 August 1953 – Tuesday 17 April 2018) (No.1 for one week in July / August 1985)
Earl Thomas Conley’s ‘Treadin’ Water’ (RCA Victor Records, 1984) also included the following tracks:
‘Too Hot To Handle’, which was written by Earl Thomas Conley and Randy Lynn Scruggs (Monday 3 August 1953 – Tuesday 17 April 2018)
‘Labor of Love’, which was written by Earl Thomas Conley and Randy Lynn Scruggs (Monday 3 August 1953 – Tuesday 17 April 2018)
‘Your Love Says All There Is’, which was written by Earl Thomas Conley and Randy Lynn Scruggs (Monday 3 August 1953 – Tuesday 17 April 2018)
‘Love’s On The Move Again’, which was written by Earl Thomas Conley and Randy Lynn Scruggs (Monday 3 August 1953 – Tuesday 17 April 2018)
‘Treadin’ Water’ (written by Earl Thomas Conley)
‘Feels Like A Saturday Night’, which was written by Earl Thomas Conley and Randy Lynn Scruggs (Monday 3 August 1953 – Tuesday 17 April 2018)
‘Turn This Bus Around (Bad Bob’s)’ (written by Earl Thomas Conley)
Earl Thomas Conley’s ‘Treadin’ Water’ (RCA Victor Records, 1984) reached No.2 on the Billboard Top Country Albums Chart in 1984.
In 1985, Gus Hardin (Monday 9 April 1945 – Saturday 17 February 1996) saw the release of ‘Wall of Tears’ (RCA Records, 1985); one of the included tracks was ‘All Tangled Up In Love’, which was written by Bob McDill and Jim Weatherly (Wednesday 17 March 1943 – Wednesday 3 February 2021), and was a duet with Earl Thomas Conley, reaching No.8 on the Billboard country music singles chart in 1984, and No.8 on the Canadian RPM Country Tracks Chart in 1984.
In September 1985, Earl Thomas Conley saw the release of ‘Earl Thomas Conley’s Greatest Hits’ (RCA Victor Records, 1985), which included the following tracks:
‘Nobody Falls Like A Fool’, which was written by Peter James McCann (Saturday 6 March 1948 – Thursday 26 January 2023) and Mark Wright (No.1 for one week in December 1985) / this track was a new recording and was exclusive to this album
‘Holding Her & Loving You’ (written by Walt Aldridge and Tommy Brasfield) (No.1 for one week in November / December 1983)
‘Somewhere Between Right & Wrong’ (written by Earl Thomas Conley) (No.1 for one week in December 1982) / this track also reached No.39 on the Canadian RPM Country Tracks Chart in 1982
‘Angel In Disguise’, which was written by Earl Thomas Conley and Randy Lynn Scruggs (Monday 3 August 1953 – Tuesday 17 April 2018) (No.1 for one week in July / August 1984)
‘Fire & Smoke’ (written by Earl Thomas Conley) (No.1 for one week in July 1981)
‘Once In A Blue Moon’, which was written by Tommy Brasfield and Robert Byrne (Saturday 10 July 1954 – Monday 27 June 2005) (No.1 for one week in May 1986) / this track was new, and was exclusive to this album
‘I Have Loved You Girl (But Not Like This Before) (written by Earl Thomas Conley) (No.2, 1983) / this track, which was a re-recording, also reached No.3 on the Canadian RPM Country tracks Chart in 1983 / the original version of this track was released in 1975, as a non-album single, on GRT Records, under the name Earl Conley, and reached No.87 on the Billboard country music singles chart in 1975
‘Don’t Make It Easy For Me’, which was written by Earl Thomas Conley and Randy Lynn Scruggs (Monday 3 August 1953 – Tuesday 17 April 2018) (No.1 for one week in April 1984)
‘Your Love’s On The Line’, which was written by Earl Thomas Conley and Randy Lynn Scruggs (Monday 3 August 1953 – Tuesday 17 April 2018) (No.1 for one week in August 1983)
‘Silent Treatment’ (written by Earl Thomas Conley) (No.7 in February 1981)
Earl Thomas Conley’s ‘Earl Thomas Conley’s Greatest Hits’ (RCA Victor Records, 1985) reached No.1 on the Billboard Top Country Albums Chart on Saturday 22 March 1986.
On Monday 19 November 2012, Morello Records released Earl Thomas Conley’s ‘Greatest Hits & The Heart of It All’ (Morello Records, 2012) as a special 2-disc set (MRLL10), which featured fifteen chart hit singles, fourteen of which reached No.1 on the Billboard country music singles chart.
Dave & Sugar recorded Earl Thomas Conley’s ‘Feel Good With Me’, which was co-written with Dick Heard (1937 – Tuesday 8 September 1998), and included the track on ‘Dave & Sugar’ (Dot Records / MCA Records, 1986).
In September 1986, Earl Thomas Conley saw the release of ‘Too Many Times’ (RCA Records, 1986), which included four tracks, which were hit singles on the Billboard country music singles chart:
‘Too Many Times’, which was written by Scott Page and Micheal Wayne Smotherman (Wednesday 17 December 1947 – Friday 29 November 2019) (No.2, 1986) / this track, which was a duet with pop music / R&B singer Anita Marie Pointer (Friday 23 January 1948 – Saturday 31 December 2022) of the Grammy Award-winning Pointer Sisters, was produced by Nelson Larkin (1943 – Monday 18 November 2013) and Mark Wright, and also reached No.3 on the Canadian RPM Country Tracks Chart in 1986
‘I Can’t Win For Losing You’, which was written by Robert Byrne (Saturday 10 July 1954 – Monday 27 June 2005) and Rick Bowles (No.1 for one week in February / March 1987) / this track was produced by Nelson Larkin (1943 – Monday 18 November 2013) and Earl Thomas Conley
‘That Was A Close One’, which was written by Robert Byrne (Saturday 10 July 1954 – Monday 27 June 2005) (No.1 for one week in July 1987) / this track was produced by Nelson Larkin (1943 – Monday 18 November 2013) and Earl Thomas Conley
‘Right From The Start’ (written by Billy Herzig and Randy Watkins) (No.1 for one week in October / November 1987) / this track was produced by Nelson Larkin (1943 – Monday 18 November 2013) and Earl Thomas Conley
Earl Thomas Conley’s ‘Too Many Times’ (RCA Records, 1986) also included the following tracks:
‘Dancin’ With The Flame’ (written by Ron Reynolds) / this track was produced by Nelson Larkin (1943 – Monday 18 November 2013) and Earl Thomas Conley
‘Attracted To Pain’, which was written by Earl Thomas Conley and Randy Lynn Scruggs (Monday 3 August 1953 – Tuesday 17 April 2018) / this track was produced by Nelson Larkin (1943 – Monday 18 November 2013) and Earl Thomas Conley
‘Many Forgiving Years’ (written by Joe Scaife and Mark Wright) / this track was produced by Nelson Larkin (1943 – Monday 18 November 2013) and Earl Thomas Conley
‘I Need A Good Woman Bad’ (written by Tom Brasfield and Earl Thomas Conley) / this track was produced by Nelson Larkin (1943 – Monday 18 November 2013) and Earl Thomas Conley
‘Preservation of The Wild Life’ (written by Jim Allison and Linda Young) / this track was produced by Nelson Larkin (1943 – Monday 18 November 2013) and Earl Thomas Conley
‘If Leavin’ Was Easy’, which was written by Earl Thomas Conley and Randy Lynn Scruggs (Monday 3 August 1953 – Tuesday 17 April 2018) / this track was produced by Nelson Larkin (1943 – Monday 18 November 2013) and Earl Thomas Conley
Earl Thomas Conley’s ‘Too Many Times’ (RCA Records, 1986) reached No.3 on the Billboard Top Country Albums Chart in 1986.
In April 1988, Earl Thomas Conley saw the release of ‘The Heart of It All’ (RCA Records, 1988), which was produced by Emory Gordy Jr. and Randy Lynn Scruggs (Monday 3 August 1953 – Tuesday 17 April 2018), and included five tracks, which were hit singles on the Billboard country music singles chart:
‘What She Is (Is A Woman In Love)’ (written by Bob McDill and Paul Harrison) (No.1 for one week in June 1988)
‘We Believe In Happy Endings’ (written by Bob McDill) (No.1 for one week in October 1988) / this track was a duet with Emmylou Harris
‘What I’d Say’, which was written by Robert Byrne (Saturday 10 July 1954 – Monday 27 June 2005) and Will Robinson (No.1 for one week in February 1989)
‘Love Out Loud’ (written by Thom Schuyler) (No.1 for one week in June 1989)
‘You Must Not Be Drinking Enough’ (written by Danny Kortchmar) (No.26, 1989)
Earl Thomas Conley’s ‘The Heart of It All’ (RCA Records, 1988) also included the following tracks:
‘No Chance, No Dance’, which was written by Earl Thomas Conley and Robert Byrne (Saturday 10 July 1954 – Monday 27 June 2005)
‘I Love The Way He Left You’, which was written by Tom Brasfield and Robert Byrne (Saturday 10 July 1954 – Monday 27 June 2005)
‘Finally Friday’ (written by D. Robbins, D. Mize, B. Boyd and W. Haynes)
‘Too Far From The Heart of It All’, which was written by Earl Thomas Conley and Randy Lynn Scruggs (Monday 3 August 1953 – Tuesday 17 April 2018)
‘Carol’
Earl Thomas Conley’s ‘The Heart of It All’ (RCA Records, 1988) reached No.33 on the Billboard Top Country Albums Chart in 1988.
On Monday 19 November 2012, Morello Records released Earl Thomas Conley’s ‘Greatest Hits & The Heart of It All’ (Morello Records, 2012) as a special 2-disc set (MRLL10), which featured fifteen chart hit singles, fourteen of which reached No.1 on the Billboard country music singles chart.
In February 1990, Earl Thomas Conley saw the release of ‘Earl Thomas Conley’s Greatest Hits, Volume 2’ (RCA Records, 1990), which included the following tracks:
‘What She Is (Is A Woman In Love)’ (written by Bob McDill and Paul Harrison) (No.1 for one week in June 1988)
‘That Was A Close One’, which was written by Robert Byrne (Saturday 10 July 1954 – Monday 27 June 2005) (No.1 for one week in July 1987)
‘Love Don’t Care (Whose Heart It Breaks)’, which was written by Earl Thomas Conley and Randy Lynn Scruggs (Monday 3 August 1953 – Tuesday 17 April 2018) (No.1 for one week in July / August 1985)
‘Who’s Gonna Tell Her Goodbye’, which was written by Bill Rice (Wednesday 19 April 1939 – Saturday 28 October 2023) and M. Sharon Rice (No.61, 1990) / this track was new, and was exclusive to this album
‘Love Out Loud’ (written by Thom Schuyler) (No.1 for one week in June 1989)
‘I Can’t Win For Losing You’, which was written by Robert Byrne (Saturday 10 July 1954 – Monday 27 June 2005) and Rick Bowles (No.1 for one week in February / March 1987)
‘Bring Back Your Love To Me’ (written by John Hiatt) (No.11, 1990) / this track was a new recording and was exclusive to this album
‘What I’d Say’, which was written by Robert Byrne (Saturday 10 July 1954 – Monday 27 June 2005) and Will Robinson (No.1 for one week in February 1989)
‘Chance of Lovin’ You’, which was written by Earl Thomas Conley and Randy Lynn Scruggs (Monday 3 August 1953 – Tuesday 17 April 2018) (No.1 for one week in December 1984)
‘You Must Not Be Drinking Enough’ (written by Danny Kortchmar) (No.26, 1989)
Earl Thomas Conley’s ‘Earl Thomas Conley’s Greatest Hits, Volume 2’ (RCA Records, 1990) reached No.35 on the Billboard Top Country Albums Chart in 1990.
On Tuesday 20 November 1990, Neal McCoy saw the release of his debut album, ‘At This Moment’ (Atlantic Records, 1990); one of the included tracks was Earl Thomas Conley’s ‘This Time I Hurt Her More Than She Loves Me’ (co-written with Mary Louise Larkin), which reached No.50 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks Chart in 1991.
In July 1991, Earl Thomas Conley saw the release of ‘Yours Truly’ (RCA Records, 1991), which included four tracks, which were hit singles on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks Chart:
‘Shadow of A Doubt’, which was written by Robert Byrne (Saturday 10 July 1954 – Monday 27 June 2005) and Tom Wopat (No.8, 1991) / this track was produced by Richard Landis
‘Hard Days & Honky Tonk Nights’, which was written by Earl Thomas Conley and Randy Lynn Scruggs (Monday 3 August 1953 – Tuesday 17 April 2018) (No.36, 1992) / this track was produced by Larry Michael Lee and Josh Leo
‘If Only Your Eyes Could Lie’, which was written by Bob McDill and John Jarrard (Thursday 7 May 1953 – Thursday 1 February 2001) (No.74, 1992) / this track was produced by Richard Landis
‘Brotherly Love’ (written by Jimmy Stewart and Tim Nichols) (No.2, 1991) / this track, which was recorded in 1987, was a duet with Keith Whitley (Thursday 1 July 1954 – Tuesday 9 May 1989) and was also included on Keith Whitley’s ‘Kentucky Bluebird’ (RCA Records, 1991) / this track was originally produced by Blake Mevis (1949 – Wednesday 9 February 2022), and additional production and mixing was undertaken by Garth Fundis
Earl Thomas Conley’s ‘Yours Truly’ (RCA Records, 1991) also included the following tracks:
‘You Got Me Now’, which was written by Robert Byrne (Saturday 10 July 1954 – Monday 27 June 2005) and Will Robinson / this track was produced by Larry Michael Lee and Josh Leo
‘One of Those Days’, which was written by Earl Thomas Conley and Robert Byrne (Saturday 10 July 1954 – Monday 27 June 2005) / this track was produced by Larry Michael Lee and Josh Leo
‘Keep My Heart In Line’, which was written by Earl Thomas Conley and Randy Lynn Scruggs (Monday 3 August 1953 – Tuesday 17 April 2018) / this track was produced by Larry Michael Lee and Josh Leo
‘The Perfect Picture (To Fit My Frame of Mind)’ (written by Bob McDill and Bucky Jones) / this track was produced by Richard Landis
‘Borrowed Money’ (written by Earl Thomas Conley and Wade Kirby) / this track was produced by Richard Landis
‘I Wanna Be Loved Back’, which was written by Earl Thomas Conley and Randy Lynn Scruggs (Monday 3 August 1953 – Tuesday 17 April 2018) / this track was produced by Larry Michael Lee and Josh Leo
Earl Thomas Conley’s ‘Yours Truly’ (RCA Records, 1991) reached No.53 on the Billboard Top Country Albums Chart in 1991.
In the 1990s, Earl Thomas Conley’s record sales began to drop, as country music took a more, progressive turn, and Earl Thomas Conley was dropped from RCA Records in 1992.
Between 1991 and 1998, Earl Thomas Conley took a seven-year recording hiatus due to a number of factors, including vocal problems, disenchantment with record label politics, road fatigue and mental burnout.
In April 1996, Earl Thomas Conley saw the release of ‘The Essential Earl Thomas Conley’ (RCA Records, 1996), which included the following tracks:
‘Fire & Smoke’ (written by Earl Thomas Conley) (No.1 for one week in July 1981)
‘Somewhere Between Right & Wrong’ (written by Earl Thomas Conley) (No.1 for one week in December 1982) / this track also reached No.39 on the Canadian RPM Country Tracks Chart in 1982
‘Heavenly Bodies’ (written by Elaine Lifton, Gloria Nissenson and Lee Ritenour) (No.8, 1982) / this track also reached No.3 on the Canadian RPM Country Tracks Chart in 1982
‘I Have Loved You Girl (But Not Like This Before) (written by Earl Thomas Conley) (No.2, 1983) / this track, which was a re-recording, also reached No.3 on the Canadian RPM Country Tracks Chart in 1983 / the original version of this track was released in 1975, as a non-album single, on GRT Records, under the name Earl Conley, and reached No.87 on the Billboard country music singles chart in 1975
‘Angel In Disguise’, which was written by Earl Thomas Conley and Randy Lynn Scruggs (Monday 3 August 1953 – Tuesday 17 April 2018) (No.1 for one week in July / August 1984)
‘Don’t Make It Easy For Me’, which was written by Earl Thomas Conley and Randy Lynn Scruggs (Monday 3 August 1953 – Tuesday 17 April 2018) (No.1 for one week in April 1984)
‘Your Love’s On The Line’, which was written by Earl Thomas Conley and Randy Lynn Scruggs (Monday 3 August 1953 – Tuesday 17 April 2018) (No.1 for one week in August 1983)
‘Holding Her & Loving You’ (written by Walt Aldridge and Tommy Brasfield) (No.1 for one week in November / December 1983)
‘That Was A Close One’, which was written by Robert Byrne (Saturday 10 July 1954 – Monday 27 June 2005) (No.1 for one week in July 1987)
‘I Can’t Win For Losing You’, which was written by Robert Byrne (Saturday 10 July 1954 – Monday 27 June 2005) and Rick Bowles (No.1 for one week in February / March 1987)
‘Chance of Lovin’ You’, which was written by Earl Thomas Conley and Randy Lynn Scruggs (Monday 3 August 1953 – Tuesday 17 April 2018) (No.1 for one week in December 1984)
‘Honor Bound’, which was written by Charlie Black (Wednesday 23 November 1949 – Friday 23 April 2021), Tommy Rocco and Austin Roberts (No.1 for one week in April 1985)
‘Love Don’t Care (Whose Heart It Breaks)’, which was written by Earl Thomas Conley and Randy Lynn Scruggs (Monday 3 August 1953 – Tuesday 17 April 2018) (No.1 for one week in July / August 1985)
‘Nobody Falls Like A Fool’, which was written by Peter James McCann (Saturday 6 March 1948 – Thursday 26 January 2023) and Mark Wright (No.1 for one week in December 1985)
‘Once In A Blue Moon’, which was written by Tommy Brasfield and Robert Byrne (Saturday 10 July 1954 – Monday 27 June 2005) (No.1 for one week in May 1986)
‘Right From The Start’ (written by Billy Herzig and Randy Watkins) (No.1 for one week in October / November 1987)
‘What She Is (Is A Woman In Love)’ (written by Bob McDill and Paul Harrison) (No.1 for one week in June 1988)
‘Love Out Loud’ (written by Thom Schuyler) (No.1 for one week in June 1989)
‘What I’d Say’, which was written by Robert Byrne (Saturday 10 July 1954 – Monday 27 June 2005) and Will Robinson (No.1 for one week in February 1989)
‘Brotherly Love’ (written by Jimmy Stewart and Tim Nichols) (No.2, 1991) / this track, which was a duet with Keith Whitley (Thursday 1 July 1954 – Tuesday 9 May 1989), was an album track from Earl Thomas Conley’s ‘Yours Truly’ (RCA Records, 1991)
In 1998, Earl Thomas Conley began recording again, and saw the release, in April 1998, of ‘Perpetual Emotion’ (Intersound Records, 1998), which included one track, which was released as a single on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks Chart:
‘Scared Money Never Wins’, which was written by Earl Thomas Conley, Bat McGrath (Wednesday 17 October 1945 – Tuesday 1 October 2019) and Randy Lynn Scruggs (Monday 3 August 1953 – Tuesday 17 April 2018) / this track was released as a single in 1998, but it did not chart
Earl Thomas Conley’s ‘Perpetual Emotion’ (Intersound Records, 1998) also included the following tracks:
‘I Ain’t Crazy’, which was written by Earl Thomas Conley, Rick Ferrell and Bat McGrath (Wednesday 17 October 1945 – Tuesday 1 October 2019)
‘It Should’ve Been Over By Now’, which was written by Earl Thomas Conley and Randy Lynn Scruggs (Monday 3 August 1953 – Tuesday 17 April 2018)
‘The Closer You Are’, which was written by Earl Thomas Conley, Clint Daniels and Bat McGrath (Wednesday 17 October 1945 – Tuesday 1 October 2019)
‘You Don’t Have To Live With It’ (written by Steve Clark, Earl Thomas Conley and Rick Ferrell)
‘Holding Her & Lovin’ You’ (written by Walt Aldridge and Tommy Brasfield) / this track was a re-recording / the original version of this track was No.1 on the Billboard country music singles chart for one week in November / December 1983
‘Don’t Make It Easy For Me’, which was written by Earl Thomas Conley and Randy Lynn Scruggs (Monday 3 August 1953 – Tuesday 17 April 2018) / this track was a re-recording / the original version of this track was No.1 on the Billboard country music singles chart for one week in April 1984
‘Your Love’s On The Line’, which was written by Earl Thomas Conley and Randy Lynn Scruggs (Monday 3 August 1953 – Tuesday 17 April 2018) / this track was a re-recording / the original version of this track was No.1 on the Billboard country music singles chart for one week in August 1983
‘Once In A Blue Moon’, which was written by Tom Brasfield and Robert Byrne (Saturday 10 July 1954 – Monday 27 June 2005) / this track was a re-recording / the original version of this track was No.1 on the Billboard country music singles chart for one week in May 1986
‘I Can’t Win For Losing You’, which was written by Rick Bowles and Robert Byrne (Saturday 10 July 1954 – Monday 27 June 2005) / this track was a re-recording / the original version of this track was No.1 on the Billboard country music singles chart for one week in February / March 1987
In April 1998, Clay Walker charted with a ‘live’ rendition of Earl Thomas Conley’s 1983 single, ‘Holding Her & Loving You’ (written by Walt Aldridge and Tommy Brasfield), which spent nine weeks on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks Chart and peaked at No.68. The original version of this track was recorded by Earl Thomas Conley, who included it on ‘Don’t Make It Easy For Me’ (RCA Victor Records, 1983); Earl Thomas Conley’s version of the track was No.1 on the Billboard country music singles chart for one week in November / December 1983, for which he was nominated for multiple Grammy Awards for the song in 1983.
On Tuesday 24 August 1999, Clay Walker saw the release of ‘Live, Laugh, Love’ (Giant Records, 1999); one of the included tracks was a studio version of ‘Holding Her & Loving You’ (written by Walt Aldridge and Tommy Brasfield).
Blake Shelton recorded Earl Thomas Conley’s ‘All Over Me’ (co-written with Michael Pyle and Blake Shelton) and included the track on ‘Blake Shelton’ (Warner Bros. Records, 2001); the track, which reached No.18 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks Chart in 2001, was written at Earl Thomas Conley’s house in 1999.
Charlie Allen recorded Earl Thomas Conley’s ‘Better Said Than Done’, which was co-written with Nelson Larkin (1943 – Monday 18 November 2013), and included the track on ‘Charlie Allen’ (Parc Records, 2002).
Charlie Allen recorded Earl Thomas Conley’s ‘Mind Over Matter’ (co-written with Ron Reynolds) and included the track on ‘Charlie Allen’ (Parc Records, 2002).
Blake Shelton was introduced to Earl Thomas Conley by his good friend, Michael Pyle, who was playing in Earl Thomas Conley’s band at the time.
Blake Shelton had long considered Earl Thomas Conley to be his all-time musical hero.
On Tuesday 11 March 2003, Earl Thomas Conley saw the release of ‘Should’ve Been Over By Now’ (Smith Entertainment, 2003), which included the following tracks:
‘It Should’ve Been Over By Now’, which was written by Earl Thomas Conley and Randy Lynn Scruggs (Monday 3 August 1953 – Tuesday 17 April 2018)
‘The Closer You Are’, which was written by Earl Thomas Conley, Clint Daniels and Bat McGrath (Wednesday 17 October 1945 – Tuesday 1 October 2019)
‘I Ain’t Crazy’, which was written by Earl Thomas Conley, Rick Ferrell and Bat McGrath (Wednesday 17 October 1945 – Tuesday 1 October 2019)
‘You Don’t Have To Live With It’ (written by Steve Clark, Earl Thomas Conley and Rick Ferrell)
‘Holding Her & Loving You’ (written by Walt Aldridge and Tommy Brasfield)
‘Once In A Blue Moon’, which was written by Tommy Brasfield and Robert Byrne (Saturday 10 July 1954 – Monday 27 June 2005)
‘Scared Money Never Wins’, which was written by Earl Thomas Conley, Bat McGrath (Wednesday 17 October 1945 – Tuesday 1 October 2019) and Randy Lynn Scruggs (Monday 3 August 1953 – Tuesday 17 April 2018)
‘Your Love’s On The Line’, which was written by Earl Thomas Conley and Randy Lynn Scruggs (Monday 3 August 1953 – Tuesday 17 April 2018)
‘Don’t Make It Easy For Me’, which was written by Earl Thomas Conley and Randy Lynn Scruggs (Monday 3 August 1953 – Tuesday 17 April 2018)
‘Don’t Want To Be In Love Without You’, which was written by Earl Thomas Conley and Bat McGrath (Wednesday 17 October 1945 – Tuesday 1 October 2019)
‘I Can’t Win For Losing You’, which was written by Rick Bowles and Robert Byrne (Saturday 10 July 1954 – Monday 27 June 2005)
On Tuesday 22 February 2005, Earl Thomas Conley saw the release of ‘Earl Thomas Conley: Live At Billy Bob’s Texas’ (Smith Music Group, 2005), which included the following tracks:
‘Somewhere Between Right & Wrong’ (written by Earl Thomas Conley) (No.1 for one week in December 1982) / this track also reached No.39 on the Canadian RPM Country Tracks Chart in 1982
‘Your Love’s On The Line’, which was written by Earl Thomas Conley and Randy Lynn Scruggs (Monday 3 August 1953 – Tuesday 17 April 2018) (No.1 for one week in August 1983)
‘Don’t Make It Easy For Me’, which was written by Earl Thomas Conley and Randy Lynn Scruggs (Monday 3 August 1953 – Tuesday 17 April 2018) (No.1 for one week in April 1984)
‘Angel In Disguise’, which was written by Earl Thomas Conley and Randy Lynn Scruggs (Monday 3 August 1953 – Tuesday 17 April 2018) (No.1 for one week in July / August 1984)
‘Chance of Lovin’ You’, which was written by Earl Thomas Conley and Randy Lynn Scruggs (Monday 3 August 1953 – Tuesday 17 April 2018) (No.1 for one week in December 1984)
‘Hard Days & Honky Tonk Nights’, which was written by Earl Thomas Conley and Randy Lynn Scruggs (Monday 3 August 1953 – Tuesday 17 April 2018) (No.36, 1992)
‘What She Is (Is A Woman In Love)’ (written by Bob McDill and Paul Harrison) (No.1 for one week in June 1988)
‘Holding Her & Loving You’ (written by Walt Aldridge and Tommy Brasfield) (No.1 for one week in November / December 1983)
‘Once In A Blue Moon’, which was written by Tommy Brasfield and Robert Byrne (Saturday 10 July 1954 – Monday 27 June 2005) (No.1 for one week in May 1986)
‘Brotherly Love’ (written by Jimmy Stewart and Tim Nichols) / this track was an album track from Earl Thomas Conley’s ‘Yours Truly’ (RCA Records, 1991)
‘Heavenly Bodies’ (written by Elaine Lifton, Gloria Nissenson and Lee Ritenour) (No.8, 1982) / this track also reached No.3 on the Canadian RPM Country Tracks Chart in 1982
‘What I’d Say’, which was written by Robert Byrne (Saturday 10 July 1954 – Monday 27 June 2005) and Will Robinson (No.1 for one week in February 1989)
‘Fire & Smoke’ (written by Earl Thomas Conley) (No.1 for one week in July 1981)
‘Love Don’t Care (Whose Heart It Breaks)’, which was written by Earl Thomas Conley and Randy Lynn Scruggs (Monday 3 August 1953 – Tuesday 17 April 2018) (No.1 for one week in July / August 1985)
‘Shadow of A Doubt’, which was written by Robert Byrne (Saturday 10 July 1954 – Monday 27 June 2005) and Tom Wopat (No.8, 1991)
‘I Can’t Win For Losing You’, which was written by Robert Byrne (Saturday 10 July 1954 – Monday 27 June 2005) and Rick Bowles (No.1 for one week in February / March 1987)
On Monday 19 November 2012, England’s Morello Records released Earl Thomas Conley’s ‘Greatest Hits & The Heart of It All’ (Morello Records, 2012) as a special 2-disc set (MRLL10), which featured fifteen chart hit singles, fourteen of which reached No.1 on the Billboard country music singles chart.
On Monday 2 December 2013, Earl Thomas Conley gave a telephone interview with ‘Pods o’ Pop’, an audio magazine, which featured interviews with some of the music industry’s most celebrated performers, creators and insiders. Host and producer, Tracy Alan Thibodeaux, drew from his extensive radio broadcasting experience to introduce his guest’s work to uninitiated listeners, clarify historical events from the artist’s perspective and showcasing upcoming projects.
During the ‘Pods o’ Pop’ broadcast, Earl Thomas Conley recalled that he may be the only country music artist to appear on the ‘Soul Train’ television program, on which he performed ‘Too Many Times’, which was written by Scott Page and Michael Wayne Smotherman (Wednesday 17 December 1947 – Friday 29 November 2019), his duet with Anita Marie Pointer (Friday 23 January 1948 – Saturday 31 December 2022).
Earl Thomas Conley also spoke in detail about the string of hit singles which he’d co-written with Randy Lynn Scruggs (Monday 3 August 1953 – Tuesday 17 April 2018).
On Friday 4 May 2018, Earl Thomas Conley saw the release of ‘The Essential Earl Thomas Conley’ (Legacy Recordings, 2018), a 2-CD set, which included the following tracks:
Disc 1
‘Fire & Smoke’ (written by Earl Thomas Conley) (No.1 for one week in July 1981)
‘Silent Treatment’ (written by Earl Thomas Conley) (No.7 in February 1981)
‘I Have Loved You Girl (But Not Like This Before) (written by Earl Thomas Conley) (No.2, 1983) / this track also reached No.3 on the Canadian RPM Country Tracks Chart in 1983 / the original version of this track was released in 1975, as a non-album single, on GRT Records, under the name Earl Conley, and reached No.87 on the Billboard country music singles chart in 1975
‘Angel In Disguise’, which was written by Earl Thomas Conley and Randy Lynn Scruggs (Monday 3 August 1953 – Tuesday 17 April 2018) (No.1 for one week in July / August 1984)
‘All Tangled Up In Love’, which was written by Bob McDill and Jim Weatherly (Wednesday 17 March 1943 – Wednesday 3 February 2021) (No.8, 1984) / this track, which was a duet with Gus Hardin (Monday 9 April 1945 – Saturday 17 February 1996), was also included on Gus Hardin’s ‘Wall of Tears’ (RCA Records, 1985)
‘Crowd Around The Corner’ (written by Earl Thomas Conley) / this track was an album track, which was included on Earl Thomas Conley’s ‘Don’t Make It Easy For Me’ (RCA Victor Records, 1983)
‘Don’t Make It Easy For Me’, which was written by Earl Thomas Conley and Randy Lynn Scruggs (Monday 3 August 1953 – Tuesday 17 April 2018) (No.1 for one week in April 1984)
‘Your Love’s On The Line’, which was written by Earl Thomas Conley and Randy Lynn Scruggs (Monday 3 August 1953 – Tuesday 17 April 2018) (No.1 for one week in August 1983)
‘Somewhere Between Right & Wrong’ (written by Earl Thomas Conley) (No.1 for one week in December 1982) / this track also reached No.39 on the Canadian RPM Country Tracks Chart in 1982
‘Smokey Mountain Memories’ (written by Earl Thomas Conley) (No.16, 1982)
‘Too Much Noise (Trucker’s Waltz)’ (written by Earl Thomas Conley) / this track was an album track, which was included on Earl Thomas Conley’s ‘Blue Pearl’ (Sunbird Records, 1980) and Earl Thomas Conley’s ‘Fire & Smoke’ (RCA Victor Records, 1981)
‘Tell Me Why’ (written by John Booth Aclin) (No.10, 1981)
‘After The Love Slips Away’ (written by Earl Thomas Conley) (No.16, 1982)
‘The Highway Home’, which was written by Earl Thomas Conley and Randy Lynn Scruggs (Monday 3 August 1953 – Tuesday 17 April 2018) / this track was an album track, which was included on Earl Thomas Conley’s ‘Somewhere Between Right & Wrong’ (RCA Victor Records, 1982)
‘You Can’t Go On (Like A Rolling Stone)’, which was written by Earl Thomas Conley and Randy Lynn Scruggs (Monday 3 August 1953 – Tuesday 17 April 2018)
‘Bottled Up Blues’ (written by Earl Thomas Conley and Rick Scott) / this track was an album track, which was included on Earl Thomas Conley’s ‘Somewhere Between Right & Wrong’ (RCA Victor Records, 1982)
‘Once In A Blue Moon’, which was written by Tommy Brasfield and Robert Byrne (Saturday 10 July 1954 – Monday 27 June 2005) (No.1 for one week in May 1986)
‘Chance of Lovin’ You’, which was written by Earl Thomas Conley and Randy Lynn Scruggs (Monday 3 August 1953 – Tuesday 17 April 2018) (No.1 for one week in December 1984)
‘Love Don’t Care (Whose Heart It Breaks)’, which was written by Earl Thomas Conley and Randy Lynn Scruggs (Monday 3 August 1953 – Tuesday 17 April 2018) (No.1 for one week in July / August 1985)
‘Honor Bound’, which was written by Charlie Black (Wednesday 23 November 1949 – Friday 23 April 2021), Tommy Rocco and Austin Roberts (No.1 for one week in April 1985)
Disc 2
‘Heavenly Bodies’ (written by Elaine Lifton, Gloria Nissenson and Lee Ritenour) (No.8, 1982) / this track also reached No.3 on the Canadian RPM Country Tracks Chart in 1982
‘Too Many Times’, which was written by Scott Page and Micheal Wayne Smotherman (Wednesday 17 December 1947 – Friday 29 November 2019) (No.2, 1986) / this track was a duet with pop music / R&B singer Anita Marie Pointer (Friday 23 January 1948 – Saturday 31 December 2022) of the Grammy Award-winning Pointer Sisters
‘Right From The Start’ (written by Billy Herzig and Randy Watkins) (No.1 for one week in October / November 1987)
‘Love Out Loud’ (written by Thom Schuyler) (No.1 for one week in June 1989)
‘Bring Back Your Love To Me’ (written by John Hiatt) (No.11, 1990)
‘Who’s Gonna Tell Her Goodbye’, which was written by Bill Rice (Wednesday 19 April 1939 – Saturday 28 October 2023) and M. Sharon Rice (No.61, 1990)
‘Borrowed Money’ (written by Earl Thomas Conley and Wade Kirby) / this track was an album track, which was included on Earl Thomas Conley’s ‘Yours Truly’ (RCA Records, 1991)
‘Brotherly Love’ (written by Jimmy Stewart and Tim Nichols) (No.2, 1991) / this track, which was recorded in 1987, was a duet with Keith Whitley (Thursday 1 July 1954 – Tuesday 9 May 1989), and was included on Earl Thomas Conley’s ‘Yours Truly’ (RCA Records, 1991) and Keith Whitley’s ‘Kentucky Bluebird’ (RCA Records, 1991)
‘You Must Not Be Drinking Enough’ (written by Danny Kortchmar) (No.26, 1989)
‘I Can’t Win For Losing You’, which was written by Robert Byrne (Saturday 10 July 1954 – Monday 27 June 2005) and Rick Bowles (No.1 for one week in February / March 1987)
‘That Was A Close One’, which was written by Robert Byrne (Saturday 10 July 1954 – Monday 27 June 2005) (No.1 for one week in July 1987)
‘What I’d Say’, which was written by Robert Byrne (Saturday 10 July 1954 – Monday 27 June 2005) and Will Robinson (No.1 for one week in February 1989)
‘Nobody Falls Like A Fool’, which was written by Peter James McCann (Saturday 6 March 1948 – Thursday 26 January 2023) and Mark Wright (No.1 for one week in December 1985)
‘Holding Her & Loving You’ (written by Walt Aldridge and Tommy Brasfield) (No.1 for one week in November / December 1983)
‘What She Is (Is A Woman In Love)’ (written by Bob McDill and Paul Harrison) (No.1 for one week in June 1988)
‘Hard Days & Honky Tonk Nights’, which was written by Earl Thomas Conley and Randy Lynn Scruggs (Monday 3 August 1953 – Tuesday 17 April 2018) (No.36, 1992)
‘If Only Your Eyes Could Lie’, which was written by Bob McDill and John Jarrard (Thursday 7 May 1953 – Thursday 1 February 2001) (No.74, 1992)
‘One of Those Days’, which was written by Earl Thomas Conley and Robert Byrne (Saturday 10 July 1954 – Monday 27 June 2005) / this track was an album track, which was included on Earl Thomas Conley’s ‘Yours Truly’ (RCA Records, 1991)
‘White Christmas’, which was written by Irving Berlin (11 May 1888 – Friday 22 September 1989)
‘Love’s The Only Voice’ (written by Earl Thomas Conley and Carole Scates)
On Wednesday 10 April 2019, Earl Thomas Conley, who was hailed as ‘The Thinking Man’s Country Singer’, passed away, as a result of cerebral atrophy; he was 77 years old.
On Friday 25 September 2020, BFD Records released Earl Thomas Conley’s final album, ‘Promised Land: The Lost Album’ (BFD Records, 2020), which included twelve songs, all of which were written or co-written by Earl Thomas Conley.
The tracks were originally recorded as demos in the early and mid 1990s, but Earl Thomas Conley never did anything with them.
Then, in 2000 and 2001, Earl Thomas Conley took the songs and recorded them in proper studio fashion, although they were never released.
‘This collection of music was one of Dad’s last endeavours of putting together an album’, said Earl Thomas Conley’s youngest daughter, Erinn Scates. ‘Here you will find some of his most thoughtful lyrics and heartfelt mementos. Dad was a man who wore many hats; a painter, a craftsman, a sketch artist.
But music, most of all, was his truest passion. To his loyal fans, thank you for loving him as much as we did.
This last album is dedicated to you and the man who spent the last years of his life devoted to it’
Produced by Nelson Larkin (1943 – Monday 18 November 2013), and recorded in Nashville in multiple sessions at Omni Studios, Cartee Studios, Scruggs Studios and Alpine Studios, Earl Thomas Conley recorded ‘Promised Land: The Lost Album’ (BFD Records, 2020) after his sole independent release, ‘Perpetual Emotion’ (Intersound Records, 1998), and after recording seven albums for RCA throughout the 1980s and into the early 1990s.
‘This album is long overdue as Earl had always wanted to release just ‘one more album’ ‘ said Carole Scates, Earl Thomas Conley’s longtime significant other. ‘The sound and composition of these songs reflect the 1990s, the time period when they were originally written. Earl Thomas Conley was an artist in every sense of the word. His talent knew no bounds, and he will remain in our hearts for the rest of our days’
Earl Thomas Conley’s final album, ‘Promised Land: The Lost Album’ (BFD Records, 2020), included the following tracks:
‘Better Said Than Done’, which was written by Earl Thomas Conley, Charlie Allen Bouton and Nelson Larkin (1943 – Monday 18 November 2013)
‘Love’s The Only Voice’ (written by Earl Thomas Conley and Carole Scates)
‘Workin’ My Way Down’, which was written by Earl Thomas Conley, Bob Corbin and Bat McGrath (Wednesday 17 October 1945 – Tuesday 1 October 2019)
‘How Much Heartache’, which was written by Earl Thomas Conley and Ron ‘Snake’ Reynolds (passed away on Tuesday 5 October 2021)
‘My Heart’s Just Her Old Stompin’ Ground’, which was written by Earl Thomas Conley and Ron ‘Snake’ Reynolds (passed away on Tuesday 5 October 2021)
‘That’s What A Fool Deserves’, which was written by Earl Thomas Conley and Ron ‘Snake’ Reynolds (passed away on Tuesday 5 October 2021)
‘Takin’ Me Away From The Promised Land’, which was written by Earl Thomas Conley and Ron ‘Snake’ Reynolds (passed away on Tuesday 5 October 2021)
‘Those Clouds I’ve Been Walkin’, which was written by Earl Thomas Conley and Ron ‘Snake’ Reynolds (passed away on Tuesday 5 October 2021)
‘I Still Love The Girl’, which was written by Earl Thomas Conley and Ron ‘Snake’ Reynolds (passed away on Tuesday 5 October 2021)
‘Your Love Is Worth It All’, which was written by Earl Thomas Conley and Ron ‘Snake’ Reynolds (passed away on Tuesday 5 October 2021)
‘Physical Attraction’, which was written by Earl Thomas Conley, Wade Kirby and Randy Lynn Scruggs (Monday 3 August 1953 – Tuesday 17 April 2018)
‘She Just Wants To Dance’, which was written by Earl Thomas Conley and Ron ‘Snake’ Reynolds (passed away on Tuesday 5 October 2021)
Mike Hughes recorded Earl Thomas Conley’s ‘Somewhere Between Right & Wrong’ and included the track on ‘Warm Red Wine’ (Big Bear Creek Music, 2023).
• Earl Thomas Conley