Friday Five: Louisville

Louisville’s been a popular song topic for many country artists, whether they use it as the title of an instrumental (Bill Monroe’s “Louisville Breakdown”), sing about the Kentucky Derby, or pay tribute to one of the city’s finest products (several songs mention a good ol’ Louisville Slugger). And let’s not forget that the grisly “Banks of the Ohio” could take place in Louisville, which is located on the river.

5. Bill Evans – “They Say You’re Never Lonely in Louisville”

Here’s a fine jazz song from the banjo genius’ most recent album, In Good Company.

4. Jim Lauderdale – “Louisville Roll”

This bluesy cut is on Lauderdale’s 2010 album, Patchwork River. Turns out that soul music sounds good on him.

 

3. Don Williams – “Follow Me Back to Louisville”

If you really love the man, you’ll follow him back home. That sound you just heard is a few thousand women pulling out their suitcases.

 

2. Dwight Yoakam – “Louisville”

Poor Dwight’s been waiting six weeks in that “old river town” for a woman who’s never going to get her act together and join him. This song, a Pat Gallagher/Jann Browne co-write, topped out at #75 on the charts in 1990 when Browne released it as a single off of her album Tell Me Why. 

 

1. Grandpa Jones – “Eight More Miles to Louisville”

Jones’ banjo tune is a classic that’s been sung by June Carter, Sam Bush, and a whole bunch of artists in between.