#440 Loretta Lynn, 'Coal Miner's Daughter' (1971)

New Entry

This elusive album almost passed me by. Not available on Spotify for some reason (I chalk it down to a lazy label forgetting to open the rights to Aus and/or Spotify). It’s not on YouTube either. I tried cobbling together a playlist based on the songs available, but there weren’t many. I actually gave up and reluctantly moved onto the next album. But I just could not accept missing an album. I took a chance and signed up to Apple Music to see if it was there and lo & behold, there it was.

‘Coal Miner’s Daughter’ is an autobiographical album released when Lynn was just 39 years old. Although a young age for most, by this stage, Lynn already had 4 children aged 23, 22, 19 and 20. As the title suggests, Lynn was born a coal miner’s daughter. Her father died of the black lung when he was just 52 years old. Lynn left home at 15 years old to get married to a guy named Doolittle. She gave birth shortly after and again shortly after that. Doolittle bought her a $17 guitar in 1953 and thus started her country music career.

It’s a raw and personal album from an artist who had lived multiple lifetimes by the time she released it. Shortly after the release of the album, she wrote a book which was adapted to an Academy Award-winning film. I’m glad I pursued this record. It’s essential listening.

#rs500albums