''Hello in There'' is an album released by

country A country is a distinct part of the world, such as a state, nation, or other political entity. It may be a sovereign state or make up one part of a larger state. For example, the country of Japan is an independent, sovereign state, while the ...

musician

David Allan Coe David Allan Coe (born September 6, 1939) is an American singer and songwriter. Coe took up music after spending much of his early life in reform schools and prisons, and first became notable for busking in Nashville. He initially played mostly i ...

, released in 1983 on

Columbia Records Columbia Records is an American record label owned by Sony Music, Sony Music Entertainment, a subsidiary of Sony Corporation of America, the North American division of Japanese Conglomerate (company), conglomerate Sony. It was founded on Janua ...

Recording

''Hello in There'' was Coe’s second LP of 1983 and sixth Columbia album of the decade. (He released ''Underground Album'', a collection of explicit material, independently on his own record label.) As he did on previous releases, Coe divides the record into two sections, Country Side and a City Side, although beyond this no apparent concept is evident. The opener, “Crazy Old Soldier,” hearkens back to the outlaw country sound Coe helped pioneer, with lyrics that juxtaposes regret, defiance, acceptance, and resignation, as does “I Ain’t Gonna Let You Go Again,” which features

Warren Haynes Warren Haynes (born April 6, 1960) is an American musician, singer and songwriter. He is best known for his work as longtime guitarist with the Allman Brothers Band and as founding member of the jam band Gov't Mule. Early in his career he was a ...

on lead guitar. The title track, which was written by

John Prine John Edward Prine (; October 10, 1946 – April 7, 2020) was an American singer-songwriter of country-folk music. He was active as a composer, recording artist, live performer, and occasional actor from the early 1970s until his death. He ...

and appeared on his 1971 debut, tells the story of an old elderly couple whose children have all moved away.

AllMusic AllMusic (previously known as All Music Guide and AMG) is an American online music database. It catalogs more than three million album entries and 30 million tracks, as well as information on musicians and bands. Initiated in 1991, the databas ...

’s Thom Jurek calls Coe’s reading “wonderful. He turns the lyric inward, like a reflection in a mirror.” Another cover is his rendition of

Jerry Butler Jerry Butler Jr. (born December 8, 1939) is an American soul singer-songwriter, producer, musician, and retired politician. He was the original lead singer of the Rhythm and blues, R&B vocal group the Impressions, inducted into the Rock and Rol ...

’s “He Will Break Your Heart,” and once again Coe demonstrates his abilities as an interpreter of material outside the country genre. Coe, who initially achieved fame as a songwriter at the beginning of his career, contributes four songs, including “Drinkin’ to Forget” and “Someone Special,” which quotes Hank Thompson’s “

Wild Side of Life "The Wild Side of Life" is a song made famous by country music singer Hank Thompson. Originally released in 1952, the song became one of the most popular recordings in the genre's history, spending 15 weeks at number one on the ''Billboard'' cou ...

” on the intro. Another original, “Out of Your Mind,” is reminiscent of

John Conlee John is a common English name and surname: * John (given name) * John (surname) John may also refer to: New Testament Works * Gospel of John, a title often shortened to John * First Epistle of John, often shortened to 1 John * Second E ...

’s 1978 smash “ Rose Colored Glasses,” with Coe’s vocal phrasing similar to Conlee’s. “For Lover’s, Pt. 2” is the sequel to a tune with the same name that concluded the previous album '' Castles in the Sand'', containing the same cocktail lounge opening before moving into a piano-based

Rolling Stones The Rolling Stones are an English Rock music, rock band formed in London in 1962. Active for six decades, they are one of the most popular and enduring bands of the album era, rock era. In the early 1960s, the Rolling Stones pioneered the g ...

-sounding groove.

Reception

''Hello in There'' reached #38 on the country albums chart. AllMusic: “Once more there is evidence that Coe's entire period with Columbia and his partnership with Billy Sherrill resulted in consistently high-level work despite the fact that Nashville was changing around him and his trademark brand of restless yet utterly faithful country music was being squeezed from the picture”.

Track listing

Country Side

#”Crazy Old Soldier” (Paul Kennerley/Troy Seals) #”Out of Your Mind” (David Allan Coe) #”Mister, Don’t Speak Bad About My Music” (Bjorn Hakanson/OrhanEnglund) #”Drinkin’ to Forget” (Coe) #”Gotta Travel On” (Coe)

City Side

#”He Will Break Your Heart” (Calvin Carter/Curtis Mayfield/Jerry Butler) #”For Lovers Only, Pt. 2” (Coe) #”Hello in There” (John Prine) #”Someone Special” (Coe) #”I Ain’t Gonna Let You Go Again” (Michael Stripling)

References

{{Authority control David Allan Coe albums 1983 albums Albums produced by Billy Sherrill Columbia Records albums