Walk the Way the Wind Blows
Encyclopedia
Walk the Way the Wind Blows is the third album released by American country music
singer Kathy Mattea
. It was released in 1986 (see 1986 in country music
) on Mercury Records
. This album produced Mattea's first Top Ten country hit in "Love at the Five and Dime", which reached #3 on the Billboard
country charts. Following this song were three more Top Ten hits: the title track at #10, "You're the Power" at #5, and "Train of Memories" at #6.
"Love at the Five and Dime", which features backing vocals from Don Williams
, was also recorded by Nanci Griffith
on her 1986 album The Last of the True Believers
. "Song for the Life" has been covered by several artists, and was originally recorded by Rodney Crowell
on his 1977 debut Ain't Livin' Long Like This. This song would later be released in 1995 as a single by Alan Jackson
.
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...
singer Kathy Mattea
Kathy Mattea
Kathleen Alice "Kathy" Mattea is an American country music and bluegrass performer who often brings folk, Celtic and traditional country sounds to her music. Active since 1983 as a recording artist, she has recorded seventeen albums and has charted more than thirty singles on the Billboard Hot...
. It was released in 1986 (see 1986 in country music
1986 in country music
This is a list of notable events in country music that took place in the year 1986.-Events:* January 18 — "American Country Countdown" with Bob Kingsley expands from three to four hours. Several new features — including a chronological playback of songs reaching No...
) on Mercury Records
Mercury Records
Mercury Records is a record label operating as a standalone company in the UK and as part of the Island Def Jam Motown Music Group in the US; both are subsidiaries of Universal Music Group. There is also a Mercury Records in Australia, which is a local artist and repertoire division of Universal...
. This album produced Mattea's first Top Ten country hit in "Love at the Five and Dime", which reached #3 on the 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...
country charts. Following this song were three more Top Ten hits: the title track at #10, "You're the Power" at #5, and "Train of Memories" at #6.
"Love at the Five and Dime", which features backing vocals from Don Williams
Don Williams
Don Williams , is an American country singer, songwriter and a 2010 inductee to the Country Music Hall of Fame. He grew up in Portland, Texas, and graduated in 1958 from Gregory-Portland High School. After seven years with the folk-pop group Pozo-Seco Singers, he began his solo career in 1971,...
, was also recorded by Nanci Griffith
Nanci Griffith
Nanci Griffith, is an American singer, guitarist and songwriter from Austin, Texas.-Biography:...
on her 1986 album The Last of the True Believers
The Last of the True Believers
The Last of the True Believers is singer-songwriter Nanci Griffith's fourth album, and her last with the folk music-oriented Philo Records. The acclaim accorded her from her previous Once in a Very Blue Moon and the current album would gain her a contract with a major recording company after this...
. "Song for the Life" has been covered by several artists, and was originally recorded by Rodney Crowell
Rodney Crowell
Rodney Crowell is a Grammy Award-winning musician, known primarily for his work as a singer and songwriter in country music....
on his 1977 debut Ain't Livin' Long Like This. This song would later be released in 1995 as a single by Alan Jackson
Alan Jackson
Alan Eugene Jackson is an American country music singer, known for blending traditional honky tonk and mainstream country sounds and penning many of his own hits. He has recorded 13 studio albums, 3 Greatest Hits albums, 2 Holiday albums, 1 Gospel album and several compilations, all on the Arista...
.
Track listing
- "Walk the Way the Wind BlowsWalk the Way the Wind Blows (song)"Walk the Way the Wind Blows" is a single by American country music artist Kathy Mattea. Released in 1986, it was the second single and title track from the album Walk the Way the Wind Blows. The song reached #10 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart.-Chart performance:...
" (Tim O'BrienTim O'Brien (musician)Tim O'Brien is an American country and bluegrass musician. In addition to singing, he plays guitar, fiddle, mandolin, banjo, bouzouki and mandocello...
) – 3:43 - "Train of MemoriesTrain of Memories"Train of Memories" is a single by American country music artist Kathy Mattea. Released in 1987, it was the fourth single from the album Walk the Way the Wind Blows. The song reached #6 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart....
" (Andy Byrd, Jimbeau Hinson) – 2:48 - "Reason to Live" (Joanne Christy, Johnny Pierce, Geoff Levin) – 3:21
- "Evenin'" (Mitchell Parish, Harry White) – 3:34
- "Leaving West Virginia" (Kathy Mattea) – 3:43
- "Love at the Five and DimeLove at the Five and Dime"Love at the Five and Dime" is a single by American country music artist Kathy Mattea. Released in 1986, it was the first single from the album Walk the Way the Wind Blows. The song was Mattea's breakthrough hit, becoming her first top 10 hit and eventually peaking at No...
" (Nanci GriffithNanci GriffithNanci Griffith, is an American singer, guitarist and songwriter from Austin, Texas.-Biography:...
) – 3:36 - "You Plant Your Fields" (Wendy Waldman, Donny Lowery) – 3:08
- "Back Up Grinnin' Again" (David Goodman) – 3:02
- "You're the PowerYou're the Power"You're the Power" is a single by American country music artist Kathy Mattea. Released in 1987, it was the third single from the album Walk the Way the Wind Blows. The song reached #5 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart....
" (Craig BickhardtCraig BickhardtCraig Bickhardt is an American country music singer and songwriter. His musical career includes co-writing credits for The Judds, Steve Wariner, Kathy Mattea and others. He was also a member of S-K-B, formerly S-K-O, after Paul Overstreet exited that band, and he has released three studio albums...
, F.C. Collins) – 3:02 - "Song for the LifeSong for the Life"Song for the Life" is the title of a country music song written by American singer Rodney Crowell. Crowell first recorded the song in 1977 on his debut album Ain't Living Long Like This, and since then, the song has been covered by several other artists...
" (Rodney CrowellRodney CrowellRodney Crowell is a Grammy Award-winning musician, known primarily for his work as a singer and songwriter in country music....
) – 3:59
Personnel
- Kathy Mattea – vocals, background vocals
- Charlie Anderson – harmonica
- Bruce Bouton – guitar, pedal steel guitar
- Tommy Cozart – drums
- Bill Donohue – piano
- Bessyl Duhon – accordion
- Ray Flacke – guitar
- Béla FleckBéla FleckBéla Anton Leoš Fleck is an American banjo player. Widely acknowledged as one of the world's most innovative and technically proficient banjo players, he is best known for his work with the bands New Grass Revival and Béla Fleck and the Flecktones.-Early life and career details:Fleck was born in...
– banjo - Pat Flynn – guitar
- Jim HornJim HornJim Horn is an American saxophonist and woodwind player. He was born in Los Angeles, and after replacing saxophonist Steve Douglas in 1959, he toured with member Duane Eddy for five years, playing sax and flute on the road, and in the recording studio...
– horn - Wayne Jackson – horn
- Quitman Dennis – horn
- Chris Leuzinger – guitar
- Kenny Malone – percussion
- Tim O'BrienTim O'Brien (musician)Tim O'Brien is an American country and bluegrass musician. In addition to singing, he plays guitar, fiddle, mandolin, banjo, bouzouki and mandocello...
– guitar, Mandolin - Mark O'ConnorMark O'ConnorMark O'Connor is an American bluegrass, jazz, country and classical violinist fiddler, composer and music teacher. O'Connor's music is wide-ranging, critically acclaimed, and he has received numerous awards for both his playing and his composition...
– fiddle - Brent Rowan – guitar
- Milton Sledge – drums
- Buddy SpicherBuddy SpicherBuddy Spicher is an American fiddle player.Spicher started in the late 50s as part of the backing band for Audrey Williams, the widow of Hank Williams, later with Hank Snow, the Charles River Valley Boys....
– fiddle - K. Susan Taylor – guitar
- Bobby Wood – keyboards
- Bob Wray – bass
- Wendy Waldman – background vocals
- Don WilliamsDon WilliamsDon Williams , is an American country singer, songwriter and a 2010 inductee to the Country Music Hall of Fame. He grew up in Portland, Texas, and graduated in 1958 from Gregory-Portland High School. After seven years with the folk-pop group Pozo-Seco Singers, he began his solo career in 1971,...
– background vocals - Craig Bickhardt – background vocals
- Vince GillVince GillVincent Grant "Vince" Gill is an American neotraditional country singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist. He has achieved commercial success and fame both as frontman to the country rock band Pure Prairie League in the 1970s, and as a solo artist beginning in 1983, where his talents as a...
– background vocals - Jim PhotogloJim PhotogloJim Photoglo, born James G. Photoglo, who also performed simply as Photoglo, is an American pop singer from Inglewood, California. He released two charting albums in the early 1980s and had two hit singles, "We Were Meant to Be Lovers" and "Fool in Love with You" .After his career as a pop star...
– background vocals
Chart performance
| Chart (1986) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| U.S. Billboard Top Country Albums | 13 |