Jeannie C. Riley: Mini-skirted minx country singer

As I continually slimmed down my record collection over the years, the works of certain artists who I knew would never, ever come out on CD tended to be the ones that I kept. Translation: I have a weirdly lopsided record collection that veers sharply — there is no “in between” to speak of, to be clear here — from several dozen live PiL bootlegs to the collected works of one Jeannie C. Riley.

Doesn’t ring a bell? Remember “Harper Valley PTA“?

Of course you do. Jeannie C. Riley was HOT, a late 60s/early 70s mini-skirted corn pone minx of the Nancy Sinatra variety, but Nashville style. Jeannie C. Riley was a staple on shows like Hee Haw and The Porter Wagner Show and things like that when I was a kid. I thought she was mega-sexy and over the years I collected each and every one of her long playing efforts, each record like the ones that came before it, and the ones to come after, each trying desperately hard to come up with another hit song, a second “Harper Valley PTA,” if you will. Over and over and over and over and over again. Even if she never really had another hit song, some of the results are pretty great as you can see for yourself. Make sure to download the MP3 of her extremely nutty paen to modern womanhood, The Rib.

The Girl Most Likely

Okie From Muskogee

Good Enough To Be Your Wife

The Cotton Patch

Country Girl

(Richard Metzger is a guestblogger)