Cal Smith - I've Found Someone Of My Own

In this week's episode, we're featuring the first hit album for Cal Smith: "I've Found Someone Of My Own" (1972). After several years as rhythm guitarist and frontman to Ernest Tubb's Texas Troubadours, he departed with ET's blessing and went solo. Kapp Records was his home during and after his time as a Troubadour, but success was elusive. With a glowing endorsement on the back cover of our feature album from Mrs. Ernest (Olene) Tubb, Smith joined Decca in 1972 and by that time, the songwriters were lining up for the affable entertainer. One of those writers was Bill Anderson, who enjoyed two cuts on "I've Found Someone Of My Own", including the snarky, pointed and sarcastic "The Lord Knows I'm Drinking" - which also became Cal Smith's first chart-topper. The rest of the album combines songs from rock, pop and R&B artists but Cal Smith countrified each enough to satisfy even the hardest of country hardliners. With possibly the exception of Neil Diamond's "Song Sung Blue", Cal Smith does country justice to Otis Redding's "(Sittin' On) The Dock Of The Bay"; The Free Movement's "I've Found Someone Of My Own" as well as stone country versions of Tom T. Hall's "Ballad Of Forty Dollars" and another Anderson composition in "That's What It's Like To Be Lonesome". Very enjoyable listening.