Sometimes She Forgets
Encyclopedia
"Sometimes She Forgets" is a song written by Steve Earle
. Earle recorded it on his 1995 Train a Comin'
album.
The highest charting version of the song was recorded by country music
artist Travis Tritt
, and was released in August 1995 as the lead-off single from his first greatest hits album Greatest Hits: From the Beginning
released in 1995. It peaked at #7 in the United States, and #6 in Canada.
, Earle indicates that he wrote the song in 1979. At that time he was staff writer in Nashville, before he had a recording contract. Earle did not record the song on his first four studio albums, but an early version was included on a set of demos, Uncut Gems, in the early 1990's. Earle's management circulated the demos to other artists when Earle's career was threatened by his drug use and he had been dropped from his label. This resulted in Tritt's covering the song, as well as recording of lesser known versions by Martin Delray
(1992) and Stacy Dean Campbell
(1995). After getting sober in 1994, Earle recorded the song, as well as some of his other early work, on his acoustic album Train a Comin'
, released February 28, 1995.
'-type thing," Tritt says, referring to the classic Eagles song. "It's got a real good rhythm, almost a calypso kind of thing in there."
Deborah Evans Price, of Billboard
magazine reviewed the song favorably, saying that it has an "intriguing calypso flavor that plays appealingly against the solid country lyric." She goes on to say that Tritt's strongest asset is his vocal and he delivers the song with "heartfelt authority."
Tritt's music video was directed by Michael Merriman. The video features a view of New York City. It peaked at #1 on CMT's Top 12 Countdown (now CMT's Top 20 Countdown) in 1995.
Tritt's version charted in the U.S. and Canada.
Steve Earle
Stephen Fain "Steve" Earle is an American singer-songwriter known for his rock and Texas Country as well as his political views. He is also a producer, author, a political activist, and an actor, and has written and directed a play....
. Earle recorded it on his 1995 Train a Comin'
Train a Comin'
Train a Comin' is an acoustic studio album by Steve Earle. The album, Earle's first in five years, was released in 1995. In addition to Earle, it features Peter Rowan, Norman Blake, Roy Huskey, and Emmylou Harris...
album.
The highest charting version of the song was recorded by country music
Country music
Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
artist Travis Tritt
Travis Tritt
James Travis Tritt is an American country music singer from Marietta, Georgia. He signed to Warner Bros. Records in 1989, releasing seven studio albums and a greatest hits package for the label between then and 1999. In the 2000s, he released two albums on Columbia Records and one for the defunct...
, and was released in August 1995 as the lead-off single from his first greatest hits album Greatest Hits: From the Beginning
Greatest Hits: From the Beginning
Greatest Hits: From the Beginning is the title of the first greatest hits compilation issued by American country music singer Travis Tritt. Released in 1995 on Warner Bros...
released in 1995. It peaked at #7 in the United States, and #6 in Canada.
Background
In the liner notes from Train a Comin'Train a Comin'
Train a Comin' is an acoustic studio album by Steve Earle. The album, Earle's first in five years, was released in 1995. In addition to Earle, it features Peter Rowan, Norman Blake, Roy Huskey, and Emmylou Harris...
, Earle indicates that he wrote the song in 1979. At that time he was staff writer in Nashville, before he had a recording contract. Earle did not record the song on his first four studio albums, but an early version was included on a set of demos, Uncut Gems, in the early 1990's. Earle's management circulated the demos to other artists when Earle's career was threatened by his drug use and he had been dropped from his label. This resulted in Tritt's covering the song, as well as recording of lesser known versions by Martin Delray
Martin Delray
Michael Ray Martin is an American country music artist, known professionally as Martin Delray. He worked as a songwriter in the 1980s, with his writing credits including "Old Fashioned Love" by The Kendalls...
(1992) and Stacy Dean Campbell
Stacy Dean Campbell
Stacy Dean Campbell is an American country singer-songwriter, author and TV host.Campbell's father was a gospel singer, though he was raised by his grandparents. Campbell moved to Nashville after his brother, Spencer, launched a professional career there. He became a songwriter for Tree Music, and...
(1995). After getting sober in 1994, Earle recorded the song, as well as some of his other early work, on his acoustic album Train a Comin'
Train a Comin'
Train a Comin' is an acoustic studio album by Steve Earle. The album, Earle's first in five years, was released in 1995. In addition to Earle, it features Peter Rowan, Norman Blake, Roy Huskey, and Emmylou Harris...
, released February 28, 1995.
Travis Tritt Version
Tritt has described his version as a departure from his usual style. He told Billboard magazine that he and co-producer Gregg Brown cut the song with a little different flavor. "It's got a different feel from anything you've heard from me in a long time, maybe ever. The way we cut this song reminds me almost of a 'Tequila SunriseTequila Sunrise (song)
"Tequila Sunrise" is a song written by Don Henley and Glenn Frey, and recorded by the Eagles. It was the first single from the band's second album Desperado...
'-type thing," Tritt says, referring to the classic Eagles song. "It's got a real good rhythm, almost a calypso kind of thing in there."
Deborah Evans Price, of Billboard
Billboard (magazine)
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
magazine reviewed the song favorably, saying that it has an "intriguing calypso flavor that plays appealingly against the solid country lyric." She goes on to say that Tritt's strongest asset is his vocal and he delivers the song with "heartfelt authority."
Tritt's music video was directed by Michael Merriman. The video features a view of New York City. It peaked at #1 on CMT's Top 12 Countdown (now CMT's Top 20 Countdown) in 1995.
Chart positions
Tritt's version of "Sometimes She Forgets" debuted at number 63 on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks for the week of August 19, 1995.Tritt's version charted in the U.S. and Canada.
| Chart (1995) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks | 7 |
| Canadian RPM Country Tracks | 6 |