CMT Blog: Archive

Kelly Willis' What I Deserve Is My Favorite Texas Album

Posted: January 6th, 2009 at 2:22 pm  |  By: Craig Shelburne  

Kelly Willis

This week, the CMT News team is covering some of our favorite music out of Texas. (Read the first installment, a feature story on Reckless Kelly.) So I thought I’d chime in with my own personal favorite album out of Texas, Kelly Willis’ What I Deserve. She released it in 1999 when I happened to be living in Austin, trying to stay positive when I couldn’t seem to get it together. (I was 24.) Plus, I’m a sucker for up-tempo melodies with despondent lyrics, and this one has both in spades. She’s one of the most natural country singers I’ve ever heard, and the laidback production suits her soprano perfectly. I remember she was once described by a reviewer as an “angel with hell scorched wings,” and I’d have to agree. Also, her version of “Wrapped” (on this album) is definitive, with no offense to George Strait. Ten years later, I can still put on What I Deserve and let it play in its entirety. You deserve to hear it, too.

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Filed Under: Albums, News, Recommendations, Songs
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Reader Comments

  • Blake says:

    Posted: January 6th, 2009 at 2:33 pm  

    I am 24 and can’t seem to get it together. And I love this album. Great stuff.

  • Kim says:

    Posted: January 6th, 2009 at 3:29 pm  

    Thanks for all the Tx coverage! the article on Reckless Kelly was great. Kellly Willis will always be a favorite down here!

  • Darren says:

    Posted: January 6th, 2009 at 9:26 pm  

    Kelly Willis was great in the late 80s-mid 90s I loved her style than all of a sudden i dont know what happened she fell off the face of the earth and when she came back her material wasnt as good. I loved her songs I DONT WANT TO LOVE YOU BUT I DO,RIVER OF LOVE,TAKE A PEICE OF MY HEART, I wish she would come back to that style. As i understand it she also did work with KEVIN WELCH who was Equally as great and also faded. His songs were TILL I SEE YOU AGAIN,TRUE TRUE LOVE NEVER DIES

  • J.R. Journey says:

    Posted: January 6th, 2009 at 11:25 pm  

    I’ll chime in with Blake (but I’m 25) … can’t seem to get it together and I’ve always loved this album.

  • Jackie says:

    Posted: January 7th, 2009 at 11:51 am  

    I love Kelly too. I first found her on the soundtrack of Thelma and Louise, and fell in love with her voice. I like her older stuff too, but it is all good!

  • Leeann says:

    Posted: January 8th, 2009 at 8:34 am  

    Kelly is awesome! Glad to see coverage on her.

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