Having heard tracks from the Judds' Wynonna and Naomi EP, when their Why Not Me album came out later in 1984, I grabbed it, and recorded it onto a cassette tape, which helped get me through the most monotonous Caribbean amphibious cruise since Colombus' men almost mutinied in the fifteenth century looking for the Spice Islands. I played it until I wore the sound off it. The title track, also the first album single released, went all the way to #1 on the country chart, with the album staying on the charts for nearly four years, and making their debut full studio album double platinum. The Judd's country superstar mother/daughter combo with phenomenal vocal harmony was cemented almost instantly, and at only 7 years and as many albums - voted the top country duo every single year - their performance and recording career was tragically cut far too short, far too soon. But this track will always be 24 karat solid gold.
{Sorry for the tardiness. This was teed up Saturday night, but I had urgent business until well after midnight Sunday. It's still Sunday in Hawaii...}
A fellow gator sailor! What ship were you on? We may have crossed paths.
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ReplyDeleteLHA-4 USS Nassau
If it wasn't a cursed ship, it would do in a pinch.
First day out of port, they break most of the fresh water condensers, so we're taking Navy showers (two squirts of Right Guard and a clean t-shirt) for the duration.
Second day out, we sail into a hurricane. Spend a week travelling around it, corkscrewing like a mofo. Greenest I've ever been without puking, and most of even the experienced sailors were blowing chow overboard.
Then a month of heat and mosquitoes to Honduras.
Then back to amphib assault Onslow Beach, in pouring rain.
Followed by two weeks playing in the mud before we went back to barracks.
I totally get WWII amphibious troops now.
If all I had to do to get off a hellship like that was assault a beach to kill Japs or Germans, I'd be the first guy over the rail into the landing craft, and it would be a small price to pay to never go back to the gator freighter.
I was on the Nashville (LPD-13). Same $&*#, different ship.
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