
www.americansongwriter.com
by: Tina Benitez-Eves
The longest-serving active member of the Grand Ole Opry, Bill Anderson called on fellow Country Hall of Famers Willie Nelson, Vince Gill, Bobby Bare, and Jimmy Fortune to help him tell the story of the bygone era of country on “The Country I Grew Up With.”
“So far as I can determine, this is the first country record in history featuring five members of the Country Music Hall of Fame performing on one song,” said Anderson in a statement. “I am so proud that Willie and Vince and Jimmy and Bobby wanted to join me in taking this nostalgic look over our collective shoulders. I just hope it stirs up fond memories for everyone who hears it.”
Co-written by Anderson, Bobby Tomberlin, and Lance Miller, “The Country I Grew Up With” tells the story of the sights, smells and sounds of country music from yesteryear, or seeing Loretta Lynn, and Porter Wagoner, and other legends in the earlier days with each taking on lyrics—You could sit and watch the tractors gone by sings Nelson to Gill’s Neighbors would wave and tell you “hi” interspersed with spoken remembrances, and Anderson’s refrain message of There’s not enough love / There’s too much hate.