CONWAY TWITTY REPORTEDLY REVIEWED UP TO 3,000 SONGS FOR A SINGLE ALBUM — AND SAID CHOOSING THE RIGHT MATERIAL WAS HIS HARDEST JOB
Conway Twitty made singing country music sound almost effortless. His rich, unmistakable voice could turn a simple love song into something deeply personal, and his recordings became a soundtrack to countless American lives. But behind those smooth performances was a demanding process that most fans never witnessed. Twitty reportedly considered as many as 3,000 songs while preparing an album, searching for the handful that deserved to be recorded. For a man who spent decades entertaining audiences, choosing the right material was among the most difficult parts of his career.
THE MAN WHO KNEW WHAT COUNTRY LISTENERS WANTED
Born Harold Lloyd Jenkins in Friars Point, Mississippi, in 1933, Conway Twitty first found national success in rock and roll with his 1958 hit “It’s Only Make Believe.” But his decision to pursue country music during the 1960s changed the direction of his career.
By 1968, “Next in Line” had become his first No. 1 hit on Billboard’s Hot Country Singles chart, beginning an extraordinary run of country successes. Songs such as “Hello Darlin’,” “You’ve Never Been This Far Before,” “Linda on My Mind,” and “Tight Fittin’ Jeans” demonstrated his remarkable ability to connect with listeners through stories of love, regret, temptation, and heartbreak. Yet those songs didn’t simply appear in front of a microphone. They had to be discovered, evaluated, and carefully selected.
WHY CHOOSING A SONG COULD BE HARDER THAN SINGING IT
Twitty understood something that many successful performers eventually learn: a great voice alone cannot rescue the wrong song. The reported figure of 3,000 songs illustrates the extraordinary volume of material he was willing to consider in his search for the right recordings. He needed lyrics that sounded believable coming from him, melodies that complemented his vocal style, and stories that ordinary people could recognize from their own experiences.
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Lyrics
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Ain’t it funny how timeSteals the feelings from a love affair?And there’s no place to lay the blameIt ain’t a case of no one caresHelplessly just watch it fade awayNeither will admit it we’re both aching to sayOoh, I miss the days when we were crazy in loveWhen you weren’t so sure of meI had my little jealousiesOoh, bring back the days when we were crazy in loveI need to feel that way againRemember when we were crazy in loveOh, it used to be so easy, one touch and you were highAnd I could get intoxicated just by looking in your eyesBaby, ain’t there anything we can do?‘Cause I know you’re missing me as much as I’ve been missing youOoh, I miss the days when we were crazy in loveWhen you weren’t so sure of meI had my little jealousiesOoh, bring back the days when we were crazy in loveI need to feel that way againRemember when we were crazy in loveWe were more than best of friendsWe were crazy in loveCrazy in loveCrazy in love