''Rough Rider'' 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 ...

. It was released in 1982 on Columbia.

Recording

Coe’s fourth album in two years was written and recorded during a period of marital turmoil, and the five songs he composed for the LP reflect this personal upheaval. The first two numbers, “Pouring Water on a Drowning Man” and “What Made You Change Your Mind,” are cry-in-your-beer breakup songs coming to the painful realisation that love is slipping away. The Walt Aldridge-Billy Henderson ballad “Now I Lay Me Down to Cheat” - which was a minor hit for Coe, reaching #62 - continues this theme, with the singer uttering the guilty prayer: :''Now I lay me down to cheat'' :''On the woman I love so'' :''If I die between these sheets'' :''I pray to God she’ll never know'' “Time After Time” and “Always and Never” are the closest Coe comes to anything approaching love songs, but these tunes are tinged with jaded pessimism and ambivalence. “Ice Cold Love” sees Coe and producer

Billy Sherrill Billy Norris Sherrill (November 5, 1936 – August 4, 2015) was an American record producer, songwriter, and arranger best known for his association with country artists, notably Tammy Wynette and George Jones. Sherrill and business partner Gle ...

experimenting with a synthesizer, but the result sounds thin, as if somebody was playing a video game in the studio as the song was being recorded. They fare much better on the cover of

Percy Sledge Percy Tyrone Sledge (November 25, 1940 – April 14, 2015) was an American R&B, soul and gospel singer. He is best known for the song " When a Man Loves a Woman", a No. 1 hit on both the ''Billboard'' Hot 100 and R&B singles charts in 196 ...

’s “

Take Time to Know Her ''Take Time to Know Her'' is an album by Percy Sledge. It was originally released on Atlantic Records in 1968. It was re-released in 1998 on CD. Three singles from the album placed on the ''Billboard'' charts, with the title track reaching number 1 ...

,” with Sherrill’s sweeping production couching Coe’s strong yet sensitive vocal. The song would be released as a single and peak at #58. The title track is a waltz that tells the story of a rodeo man who has a one night stand and falls in love with a “girl of the night” but is ultimately rejected by her.

Reception

According to Thom Jurek, a reviewer for

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 ...

, "''Rough Rider'' contains some of Coe's finest performances." Jurek calls Coe's readings of the two Larry Murray songs "steller," closing the LP "on a note of acceptance and regret." Ultimately, however, ''Rough Rider'' did not chart.

Track listing

All songs written by David Allan Coe except as indicated. #”Pouring Water on a Drowning Man” #”What Made You Change Your Mind” #”Ice Cold Love” #”Now I Lay Me Down to Cheat” (Walt Aldridge/Billy Henderson) #”Rough Rider” (Daniel D. Darst) #”Take Time to Know Her” (Stephen Allen Davis/Al Gallico) #”Time After Time” #”Forever and Never” #”Headed for the Country” (Larry Murray) #”Meanwhile Back in Memphis” (Murray)

References

{{Authority control David Allan Coe albums 1982 albums Albums produced by Billy Sherrill Columbia Records albums