An amiable second-stringer, country crooner Tommy Overstreet (1937-2015) had a string of hits in the 1970s, never quite hitting Number One, but leaving behind a lot of loyal fans. An Okie kid who started out working in Texas and the Southwest, Overstreet came to Nashville in 1967 and slowly worked his way up through the ranks and in later years opened a venue in Branson, Missouri. He was mostly a mellow singer, but had some rugged twang in there as well. (Amazing true fact (according to the Wikipedia): Overstreet was apparently related to 1920's crooning star Gene Austin, who recorded the original hit version of "My Blue Heaven"(!) Here's a quick look at his work...




Discography - Best-Ofs

Tommy Overstreet "The Best Of Tommy Overstreet" (Varese Sarabande, 1998)
This sadly out-of-print collection covers the bulk of his hits for the ABC/Dot label in the 1970s, and while the material strains a little bit, it's really no worse than many of Overstreet's countrypolitan contemporaries. Sometimes he'd try and go all Waylon on us, other times he'd be more croony and soft... But on balance, he was really alright. This CD best-of is probably more worth having than his original LPs, but either way would be kinda rewarding, in a corny kinda way. (Amazing true fact (according to the Wikipedia): Overstreet was apparently related to 1920's crooning star Gene Austin, who recorded the hit version of "My Blue Heaven"(!)


Tommy Overstreet "Solid Gold Hits" (Laser Light Records, 1993)


Tommy Overstreet "Country Gospel Favorites" (Madacy Records, 2006)
A 3-CD set of religious recordings...


Tommy Overstreet "Welcome To My World Of Love" (Acrobat Records, 2008)


Tommy Overstreet "Heaven Is My Woman's Love: Tommy Overstreet Sings His Hits" (IMC Records, 1998)


Tommy Overstreet "20 Classic Songs" (Varese Sarabande, 2008)
Re-recorded versions of his old hits...




Discography - Albums

Tommy Overstreet "Gwen (Congratulations)" (Dot Records, 1971) (LP)


Tommy Overstreet "This Is Tommy Overstreet" (Dot Records, 1972) (LP)


Tommy Overstreet "Heaven Is My Woman's Love" (Dot Records, 1972) (LP)


Tommy Overstreet "My Friends Call Me T.O." (Dot Records, 1973) (LP)


Tommy Overstreet "Woman, Your Name Is My Song" (Dot, 1974) (LP)


Tommy Overstreet "I'm A Believer" (ABC/Dot Records, 1975) (LP)


Tommy Overstreet "Greatest Hits, v.1" (ABC/Dot Records, 1975) (LP)


Tommy Overstreet "Live From The Silver Slipper" (ABC/Dot Records, 1975) (LP)


Tommy Overstreet "Turn On To Tommy Overstreet" (ABC/Dot Records, 1976) (LP)
(Produced by Ron Chancey)

A pretty uptempo set with socko, robust arrangements and only a few drippy countrypolitan ballads. It seems like Overstreet was really trying to keep up with the times, if not ahead of the curve -- this is pretty slick and bombastic, but it's not completely cheesy. None of these songs really leapt out at me as ones I'd want in permanent rotation at Chez Sixpack, but I enjoyed listening to this record, and really hadn't expected to. Worth a spin -- among some of the better Top 40 Nashville stuff you'll hear from this era.


Tommy Overstreet "Vintage '77" (ABC/Dot Records, 1977) (LP)


Tommy Overstreet "Hangin' 'Round" (ABC/Dot, 1977) (LP)


Tommy Overstreet "There'll Never Be Another First Time" (Pinnacle Records, 1978) (LP)


Tommy Overstreet "Better Me" (ABC/Dot Records, 1978) (LP)


Tommy Overstreet "I'll Never Let You Down" (Elektra Records, 1979) (LP)


Tommy Overstreet "The Real Tommy Overstreet" (Elektra Records, 1980) (LP)


Tommy Overstreet "The Best Of Tommy Overstreet" (Elektra Records, 1982) (LP)


Tommy Overstreet "Nuggets" (51 West Records, 1982)


Tommy Overstreet "Audiograph Alive" (Audiograph Records, 1982)


Tommy Overstreet "Dream Lover" (Intercord Records, 1982)


Tommy Overstreet "Good Lovin' Feelin' " (Intercord Records, 1983) (LP)


Tommy Overstreet "Memories Old And New, v.1" (Deja Vu Records, 1984)


Tommy Overstreet "Memories Old And New, v.2" (Deja Vu Records, 1985)




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