Artists who've said that they dislike their songs/albums

[Ten Pound Hammer]

Have any country artists ever expressed dislike for their songs/albums? I'd imagine it's happened a few times.

* Travis Tritt said in his autobiography that he didn't like "Country Club".

* I've heard that George Strait doesn't like "Down and Out" or "You Know Me Better Than That", but I can't seem to verify this.

* George Jones hated the rockabilly records he did as "Thumper Jones".

* Some time ago, a member of this forum asked Natalie Maines if there were any Dixie Chicks songs she disliked, and she said that she couldn't stand "There's Your Trouble".

* Susie Allanson (who had a #2 hit in 1978 with "We Belong Together") disowned her singing career after becoming a born-again Christian.

* Tim McGraw disowned his third Greatest Hits album because of how blatant a cash-grab/stalling tactic it was.

* Jimmy Olander of Diamond Rio said he didn't like "This Romeo Ain't Got Julie Yet".

* Even before she severed her ties to country entirely, Taylor Swift was ashamed of most of her debut album, especially "Picture to Burn".

* Martina McBride said in the liner notes to her greatest hits album that she never liked "Life #9".

* The Kentucky Headhunters hated Rave On!! because they didn't think new lead vocalist Mark S. Orr fit their style.

Any others come to mind? Or verification of the George examples?

====

On a related note, I've noticed that even in their prime, Clint Black never seemed to sing "Nobody's Home" in concert, and Garth snubbed "What She's Doing Now", even though in both cases, those were among both artists' biggest chart hits (hell, "Nobody's Home" was the top country hit of 1990 on the Billboard Year-End chart!). I've found 90s setlists for both, and both songs are curiously MIA in all the setlists I found. Have they ever expressed dislike of these songs?

[sabre14]

Eric Church said in Entertainment Weekly a few weeks ago he regretted "Love Your Love The Most" and "Hell On The Heart" -- two songs he said his label needed for radio.

[bboat11]

- I haven't heard about "Down And Out" or "You Know Me Better Than That", but I have definitely heard George Strait express that he didn't really like "Living And Living Well". He said he didn't want to record it at first, and was even more unsure about it being released as a single. But it ended up being a big #1 hit for him, so I guess it worked out! I wonder if he ever came around to it or if he still dislikes it.

- I heard Martina McBride say once that in retrospect Timeless might have been faithful to the original songs to a fault. She's still really proud of the way it turned out, but I got the impression she would have made that album a little bit differently if she could do it over again.

- Martina also said (I think in the liner notes to Greatest Hits) that she felt like the studio version of "There You Are" was too soft, or something along those lines. She said that whenever they did the song live they made it much more dynamic and emotional, (probably meaning bigger and beltier) which seemed to fit the song much better than her studio interpretation.

- I might be mistaken about this one, but I thought I read somewhere that Martina was not pleased with her vocal performance when she recorded "Whatever You Say", but that version ended up making the album anyway because everyone else loved it and convinced her she was being too critical of herself.

[gardyfan]

Toby Keith has said he regrets doing "I'm So Happy i Can't Stop Crying". I seem to remember he felt like he was selling out by doing it.

[someguy]

LeAnn Rimes did not support the I Need You album at all.

[Ten Pound Hammer]

Oct 16, 2016 11:29:20 GMT -5 gardyfan said:

Toby Keith has said he regrets doing "I'm So Happy i Can't Stop Crying". I seem to remember he felt like he was selling out by doing it.

I remember reading that in Country Weekly a long time ago, but I couldn't find the article.

[onebuffalo]

* I've heard that George Strait doesn't like "Down and Out" or "You Know Me Better Than That", but I can't seem to verify this.

George Strait did not want Down And Out as his second single. Because of his newcomer status at MCA at the time (1981), he had no other choice. Which is why that song and Overnight Success (#8 in 1990) do NOT appear on the 1995 box set.

[.indulgecountry]

Pretty sure Sara Evans doesn't really care for "Cheatin'" which is a crying shame since it's a fantastic song and vocal performance. I know I've heard that she was initially reluctant to record it in the first place because she didn't care for some of the lines -- like the Pork n Beans reference in the first verse -- but I believe her first husband (the irony, lmao) persuaded her to cut it. Probably a combination of that + the true-to-life events that followed its release made it an easy song for her to axe from her concert setlist, seeing as it's the biggest hit since her mainstream breakthrough that she no longer performs. #JusticeForCheatin' :'(

[Ten Pound Hammer]

^ I wonder how many other artists don't perform songs that were big hits. As I've said, I have yet to find any proof that Clint Black ever did "Nobody's Home" during his peak touring years, or that Garth ever did "What She's Doing Now" or "Somewhere Other than the Night".

The biggest head scratcher for me was Chris Stapleton not performing "Parachute" in a concert JUST OVER A MONTH AGO.

[sabre14]

Going back to what Ten Pound Hammer said about "You Know Me Better Than That" by George Strait; George said in a special about a decade ago that he just was feeling that song at the time but if he had to record it now, he wouldn't do it.

[phil1996]

While nothing has been said about it, I guarantee Kip Moore isn't fond of Somethin Bout a Truck, considering the rest of his songs are all extremely well written and original.

[Kanenrá:ke]

I've always found it a shame that George doesn't care for "You Know Me Better Than That" as it's one of my favorites from him. Heck that album is my favorite overall.

[tonyei31]

Oct 16, 2016 14:04:31 GMT -5 Ten Pound Hammer said:

He didn't play this when I attended his show either. It doesn't appear he has played this in sets since it was released to radio. I don't think he would ever say it but it makes me wonder if his label wanted this released to radio and he had another song in mind.  He is probably just someone how doesn't want to play that song but maybe it's his way of silently sending a message to the label? Grasping at straws but my thought is that if it was a forced single release that might be a silent protest.

[josephmorgan]

Ronnie Dunn famously said he didn't want to remake "My Maria". Of course, they did, but Ronnie wanted it buried near the end of the Borderline album. It was pushed to the front, got released, and became Billboard's #1 song of 1996.

[Deleted]

I can understand an artist not being super crazy about a song or two that they end up recording or releasing as a single.

But how is it that an artist can "regret" or be "ashamed" of an entire album? Any insight on this? Is it more that they feel they were in a different place when recording it than what really shows who they are--or were they essentially forced to do it?

[Deleted]

Oct 16, 2016 21:48:35 GMT -5 tonyei31 said:

Oct 16, 2016 14:04:31 GMT -5 Ten Pound Hammer said:

He didn't play this when I attended his show either. It doesn't appear he has played this in sets since it was released to radio. I don't think he would ever say it but it makes me wonder if his label wanted this released to radio and he had another song in mind.  He is probably just someone how doesn't want to play that song but maybe it's his way of silently sending a message to the label? Grasping at straws but my thought is that if it was a forced single release that might be a silent protest.

Stapleton performed "Parachute" on Saturday Night Live before it was released to radio, though, and I doubt his record label told him that he had to do that song.

If I had to guess, I'd say that he hasn't been performing it in concert because it's already getting exposure on the radio. Meaning, he's using his time in concert to play mostly album tracks (which, technically, are all that he has at this point, aside from "Nobody To Blame" and "Tennessee Whiskey"). But I suppose it's possible that he's not the biggest fan of "Parachute". That'd be a shame, though. I absolutely love the Traveller album, and "Parachute" remains my favorite track on it.

[Deleted]

I think it is more Chris Stapleton wants to promote album tracks. I respect that greatly and it is something I wish other artists would do as I wish the artists and fans had a greater appreciation for the album tracks. It's why I respect acts like Chris Stapleton and Eric Church greatly and when I saw Cassadee Pope this summer I was surprised more than anything when she did songs like "11" instead of "I Am Invincible".

[rowdawg21]

When I was in Nashville last week I got to see my cousin play a show with Buddy Jewell. When we were out eating after the show, Buddy was talking about touring with Trace Adkins. He mentioned that Trace didn't want to record "Swing." Apparently the label thought it would be a hit since it was baseball season...

[carriekins]

It hasn't been publicly said, but Dierks isn't overly fond of Sideways and 5150.

[gonecountry]

Oct 17, 2016 13:15:06 GMT -5 carriekins said:

It hasn't been publicly said, but Dierks isn't overly fond of Sideways and 5150.

I can potentially understand Sideways, but 5150?!?!? That song is a classic!

[Ten Pound Hammer]

Oct 17, 2016 12:22:30 GMT -5 rowdawg21 said:

When I was in Nashville last week I got to see my cousin play a show with Buddy Jewell. When we were out eating after the show, Buddy was talking about touring with Trace Adkins. He mentioned that Trace didn't want to record "Swing." Apparently the label thought it would be a hit since it was baseball season...

I've also heard Trace say that he's not ashamed of "Brown Chicken Brown Cow" per se, but rather of the fact that he kept trying to ask more conservative stations to play it.

Oct 17, 2016 13:29:36 GMT -5 gonecountry said:

Oct 17, 2016 13:15:06 GMT -5 carriekins said:

It hasn't been publicly said, but Dierks isn't overly fond of Sideways and 5150.

I can potentially understand Sideways, but 5150?!?!? That song is a classic!

Sideways was just bad. It has no melody and really scattered lyrics. But 5-1-5-0? Come on!

[countrymusicjunkie]

I once heard Tim McGraw say in an interview with Larry King that he hates "My Next 30 Years" and even though it was one of his biggest hits he has never performed the song live.

[mrldt]

Oct 17, 2016 12:17:01 GMT -5 raylatch98 said:

I think it is more Chris Stapleton wants to promote album tracks. I respect that greatly and it is something I wish other artists would do as I wish the artists and fans had a greater appreciation for the album tracks. It's why I respect acts like Chris Stapleton and Eric Church greatly and when I saw Cassadee Pope this summer I was surprised more than anything when she did songs like "11" instead of "I Am Invincible".

I think she only performs "I Am Invincible" in really special occasions. For example, she played a show in the spring for the Nebraska Special Olympics athletes and it was on the setlist. I don't think she dislikes it but I do kinda get the feeling that she just wants to let that song completely die, and I don't really blame her.
I would definitely be way happier to hear "11" live than "I Am Invincible." 

[countrymusicjunkie]

Oct 16, 2016 14:04:31 GMT -5 Ten Pound Hammer said:

^ I wonder how many other artists don't perform songs that were big hits. As I've said, I have yet to find any proof that Clint Black ever did "Nobody's Home" during his peak touring years, or that Garth ever did "What She's Doing Now" or "Somewhere Other than the Night".

The biggest head scratcher for me was Chris Stapleton not performing "Parachute" in a concert JUST OVER A MONTH AGO.

I saw Garth in concert not long ago and he sang "What She's Doing Now", and I believe the music video that was released for the song was a live video of Garth singing it at one of his concerts.

[Ten Pound Hammer]

^ He didn't sing it when I saw him in Grand Rapids in May. Also, none of the 90s setlists I've found for him list it, and it was the only big hit he didn't sing on Double Live.

[Ten Pound Hammer]

Oct 16, 2016 11:34:34 GMT -5 someguy said:

LeAnn Rimes did not support the I Need You album at all.

Wasn't there one album that Curb released without consulting her, and she didn't even find out about it until she read it online?

[Uncle Lumpy]

Waylon Jennings was very critical of "Luckenbach, Texas" and I heard one of his later interviews that he hated it. And used it as an example / warning to younger artists to not cut songs they didn't like. Not disliking any songs in particular but Waylon also disliked the arrangements the producers would add to his records after he left the studio in the early days. Which led to him eventually being the first artist to take complete control of his recordings , which was unheard of in a 1970's Nashville.

You are correct about George hating the Thumper Jones recordings as well. I seen an interview years ago where he claimed he even tried to buy a destroy as many copies as he could. George also initially hated "He Stopped Loving Her Today" , but producer Billy Sherril wouldn't stop pestering him til he cut it. George left the studio saying "nobody is going to buy that morbid son of a bitch".

While Pam Tillis said she was "proud" of all of her work , she regretted her later Arista albums veered too Pop-Country.

Legend has it that Patsy Cline hated a big portion of her discography cause it was infused with popish overtones. She wanted to be a female Hank Williams but producer Owen Bradley was constantly pushing her into the blooming cosmopolitan sound.

I don't know how true but I heard Merle Haggard didn't really care for "Today I Started Loving You Today" and that's why the arrangement was so sparse. He cut the song as a demo.

Tammy Wynette didn't want to cut "Another Lonely Song" & had to be talked into it by producer Billy Sherrill . She was upset with a line in the song where the narrator curses while talking to god: "I shouldn't give a damn".

I haven't heard which songs in particular he disliked but can imagine which ones , but Tracy Byrd was angry that he was pegged as the novelty song guy.

Mark Chesnutt has been saying in a lot of recent interviews that he detested "I Don't Want to Miss a Thing " and regretted letting the label pressure him into cutting it. He warned them it was a one time thing but when it was time to cut the next album , the label had another pop song they wanted him to record and he asked to be released from his contract.

Not exactly the same thing but Alan Jackson initially wrote his #1 hit "I'll Try" for Faith Hill. When she declined , he wrote "some ole pop song" for her (I Can't Do That Anymore ).

It seems like I remember Tim McGraw didn't initially want to record "Angry All The Time" but Faith talked him into it.

Supposedly Reba cut almost all of her early Mercury songs from her show and said they were too "fluffy". But I always chalked that up to just wanting to showcase her more current MCA music (at the time).

Not the same thing but Tracy Lawrence complained radio was playing "Alibis" too much and feared the public would get sick of him.

No Hit Wonder Matt King was pressured into cutting a remake of "Rub It In" but only after the label promised to not release it as a single. When the label reneged and released it anyways , Matt left the genre to pursue a career in Americana .... never to be seen again.

[someguy]

Oct 17, 2016 20:32:59 GMT -5 Ten Pound Hammer said:

Oct 16, 2016 11:34:34 GMT -5 someguy said:

LeAnn Rimes did not support the I Need You album at all.

Wasn't there one album that Curb released without consulting her, and she didn't even find out about it until she read it online?

I'm pretty sure that's the one.

[KeepDeanWeird]

Oct 28, 2016 20:57:39 GMT -5 someguy said:

Oct 17, 2016 20:32:59 GMT -5 Ten Pound Hammer said:

Wasn't there one album that Curb released without consulting her, and she didn't even find out about it until she read it online?

I'm pretty sure that's the one.

Yes, the INY album (1st version) was released during Rimes litigation with Curb - it was a compilation of soundtrack songs and tracks that didn't make albums. Surprisingly, it's not that bad, but I get why she disowned it. Rimes was still so hot then that it became a Country #1 album and Billboard #10.

[seak05]

Blake's called Boys Round Here stupid a whole bunch of times (and also said that bro countries crap), semi-joking.

Also he's dropped "over" from his set list several times, it's the only #1 song of his that isn't part of his regular set list.