"Shotgun Rider" by Joe Sun

Song#:  0193
Date:  05/31/1980
Debut:  87
Peak:  71
Weeks:  6
Genre:  Country Crossover



Pop Bits:  Joe Sun (real name James Paulsen) was a former DJ who decided to move to Nashville and see if he could make it in the music business. It took a few years, but he eventually signed with Ovation in 1977 and a year later released his debut album. His first country chart hit would be his biggest when "Old Flames Can't Hold a Candle to You" hit #14. He would go on to have more country chart song through to 1985, but this song would be his only entry on the pop charts.

ReduxReview:  This is a pretty good country crossover tune. I'm a bit surprised it didn't do better on the country chart. The arrangement sounds a bit dated these days, but it's a nice song even if not very memorable.

ReduxRating:  6/10

Trivia:  Double Shot! 1) Dolly Parton covered "Old Flames" in 1980 and took it to #1 on the country chart.  2) "Old Flames" was co-written by Hugh Moffatt and Patricia Rose Sebert. Sebert has a daughter who became a major pop star - Ke$ha. Ke$ha actually did her own version of "Old Flames" and put it on her "Deconstructed" EP, a bonus disc that came with the fan edition of her 2012 "Warrior" CD. Sebert has also co-written songs that appear on Ke$ha's albums.

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