Track Listing

1. VAN LEAR ROSE
2. PORTLAND OREGON (DUET WITH JACK WHITE)
3. TROUBLE ON THE LINE
4. FAMILY TREE
5. HAVE MERCY
6. HIGH ON A MOUNTAIN TOP
7. LITTLE RED SHOES
8. GOD MAKES NO MISTAKES
9. WOMEN'S PRISON
10. THIS OLD HOUSE
11. MRS. LEROY BROWN
12. MISS BEING MRS.
13. STORY OF MY LIFE

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #9641 in Music
• Released on: 2004-04-27
• Number of discs: 1
• Dimensions: .21 pounds

Album Description
Loretta Lynn "Van Lear Rose" Produced and Arranged by Jack White of the White Stripes

Amazon.com
Garage-rock hero Jack White producing honky-tonk legend Loretta Lynn? And Lynn comparing him to renowned Nashville producer Owen Bradley? Yes, we all know the world is rapidly shrinking, but now we've seen everything. Most stunning of all--they nailed it. For the first time, Lynn has written all of an album's songs, and her lyrics are as cutting and incisive as ever. On the powerful, biting "Family Tree," she brings her babies to the home of her husband's mistress so that they can see the "woman that's burning down our family tree." Throughout she cunningly tackles tried-and-true honky-tonk themes of love gone bad, drinkin', cheatin', and murder. Lynn even offers a compelling slice of theological fatalism ("God Makes No Mistakes"). White's production--mostly stark and atmospheric--ranges from more-traditional country to straight-up White Stripes, with most tracks falling somewhere in between. White duets with Lynn on the rousing one-night-stand story "Portland, Oregon," but he does not need to sing to leave his personal stamp. At 70, Lynn seems thoroughly engaged and delighted; at times she delivers some of the most emotionally potent singing of her career. A decade earlier, Johnny Cash turned to rock and rap producer Rick Rubin, and the move resuscitated Cash's career. Now, Jack White has done the same for Loretta Lynn, another country legend whose music is simply too raw and honest for the contemporary country crowd. Van Lear Rose exceeds all expectations--a bold collaboration in which artists from two different musical universes forge a memorable work that neither could have created alone. --Marc Greilsamer

Excerpt from Blender magazine, May 2004 (RJ Smith) 5 STARS:
..brave, unrepeatable record that speaks to her whole life..some of the most gripping singing you're going to hear all year

Customer Reviews

WHAT HAPPENED TO ALL THE REVIEWS???????
There were hundreds of reviews for this CD but they have disappeared. Anyhow, I would like to reiterate that Loretta Lynn has released one of the most interesting and innovative country music collections in the history of country music. Admittedly, White Stripes is an acquired taste but the production is stellar, yet simple and heartwarming. Loretta sounds great and the CD cover is vintage Loretta. The songs are fantastic and class A material because Loretta wrote them all!! She is second to none as a songwriter. One only needs to hear the title track or "Miss being Mrs. Tonight" to understand this. Forget about country 'pretenders' like "Shania", "Faith", "Reba", "Martina"....Loretta is the real thing. She always has been. She always will be. She has never compromised just to "do what sells". This CD proves that point and I wouldn't be surprised if we see her at the CMAs this fall collecting a few awards for this project!! It is outstanding!!!!

I wish I could give this CD more than five stars!
Too be honest- I have been in love with Mrs. Loretta Lynn since I was five and saw her on Hee-Haw. But at 39 her voice and lyrics have blown me away in manner that i was unprepared for in this life. I could fill this review with a great lines about how good the CD is. But I ask you to just listen and you will hear great music, great music- that has no bounds and yet is so country that you will wonder what CMT, GAC and the other nashville idiots who give us Toby, and Kenny, and Jimmy Buffet for God's sake are thinking. People if you really love country and not just the cute butt of Tim or Shania than this what it all about. Take from a man who found what was missing all along with this sweet. sweet woman!

LISTEN
I'm 22, and have never heard of Loretta Lynn before this. I almost feel embarassed calling myself a fan of country music after I found out just how big she was back in those days. Just when the country music scene is heavily populated by artists like faith hill, shania twain and tim mcgraw (I do admit they ARE good) - the comeback of Loretta Lynn is so new, fresh and unique that it feels like the debut of a new artist.

Two things attracted me to this CD. First, a nomination for Best Country Album at the 2005 Grammy Awards and 2 contributions to Best Country Song. Second, the temptation to buy a CD produced by Jack White so much more when the artist concerned is a 70-ish past country big-timer.

Jack White first: After Elephant (White Stripes), I BELIEVED in Jack White. He had the sight for good music, albeit 'weird'. Then, there was a bit of an appetizer on White's talents in country music on the soundtrack to Cold Mountain. But on Van Lear Rose, you shouldn't expect the songs to be as 'folk-sy' and 'mountain-eesh' (if those are proper words) as in Cold Mountain. Jack White has unleashed killer beats and guitar riffs I never imagined could be found on a country CD - let alone on the CD of a 70-year old lady.

On Loretta Lynn - the least that you should pay attention to is, after having said it so many times myself, her age. Her voice boasts strength, clarity and control. Mind you, she SINGS. It is hard to find singers who truly sing nowadays, but Loretta Lynn does it, and boy does she do it well. I was pleasantly surprised by her voice.

Above the voice, is of course, the music. She wrote all 13 tracks on her own - man, her creativity is astounding. I can't name my favourite tracks here, because you don't skip a single song on this CD. 3 songs, in particular, truly packed a punch: "Portland Oregon", "Mrs Leroy Brown" and "Have Mercy". Jack seems to be pushing these songs towards the rock boundaries, but Loretta does a mighty fine job pulling them back to country roots.

Alongside the interesting louder tunes is "Miss Being Mrs", a song Loretta wrote about being a widow. The accompaniment to this song is accoustic guitar and it is so darn good. Other tracks to note are Van Lear Rose, and Story of My Life. Another 'fun' song, but just as good is "Little Red Shoes" where Loretta tells a little story to some background music.

It is this absolutely fantastic team of modern-day rock star and country-western honky-tonk queen that does the job. Both Loretta and Jack have produced a gem of an album. The sound here is slightly atmospheric, perhaps due to the analog production insisted by Jack White.

Van Lear Rose is first class. Sure to nail the Best Country Album award.