Red Simpson – “The Man Behind The Badge” LP (1966)
Country music has always been music for the working man, with the result that there have been a few sub-genres such as “Trucker Country” and “Logger Country” that were crafted to cater to more specific groups of working people. But “Cop Country”? Nice try, guys, but no cigar, but it’s not like this LP isn’t thoroughly entertaining. I really can’t believe no Punk bands ever covered any of the songs on this record. Could it get any more easy? I don’t think so. For, you see, many of the songs on this LP possess the unique quality of using the same lyrics one could use in sarcasm as one would use in seriousness. What the Hell am I talking about? Listen to the lyrics of “The Highway Patrol” or “County Sheriff”! Every song on this LP is great and masterfully written by Red Simpson and other country music pros and I’ve never understood why this hasn’t achieved some sort of cult status, as it really is a great LP although, clearly, the “Cop-Country” genre didn’t exactly catch on. The song “The Highway Patrol” did chart in some parts of the country, however. Both of my copies of this LP are completely beat to shit, yet, this rip sounds strikingly as if it was taken off a CD. Fancy that.
SAMPLE TRACKS:
Download HERE
I suspect this was done with a little tongue-in-cheek, but I don’t see how they could have imagined any commercial potential for it. Some really great tunes on this record, though.
actually, highway patrol was covered by poison idea on the SWAT record. Long live Pig Champion’s knowledge of obscure records and my knowledge of obscure Pig Champion rants.
http://www.amazon.com/Deep-Inside-Cops-Mind-S-W/dp/B0000004GZ
The man has good taste!
Thanks for the Red. What a Fantastic “sounding” Rip! If you did this one yerself…what software are ye using?
It’s actually that Japanese import CD that came out ten years ago. Both of my LPs are in pretty lousy shape so I used this instead. As far as I know, these recordings are out of print again.
hahaha, this is another reason why I love your blog. Left fielders like this one. It’s actually good country, but what was Red thinkin? Even oakies from muskogee hate cops.
Punks today lack the wit for any subversive sarcasm. I could have easily seen Frank Discussion or Jello twisting “Highway Patrol” back in their prime.