Jean Shepard - Slippin' Away

In this week's episode, we're featuring Jean Shepard's return to form: "Slippin' Away" (1973). Absent from the Top 5 since 1964, Shepard enjoyed a re-entry therein with the title track, written by fellow Opry star Bill Anderson. "Slippin' Away" also marked a change of labels for Jean Shepard (from Capitol to United Artists) - and although her stay near the top was shortlived, it allowed the feisty, opinionated and staunch torchbearer for traditional country music to be introduced to a whole new generation of fans. Stu Basore's steel guitar is a highlight on the whole release - especially on a sublime rendition of Tammy Wynette's "'Til I Get It Right"; "Come On Phone" provided a follow-up single to the title track and "Think I'll Go Somewhere (And Cry Myself To Sleep)" was the second Bill Anderson tune on the album, and you'll be hard pressed to find a more sorrowful version of that song. A fair and accurate representation of Jean Shepard at her best.