Josh Turner: Songs That Should’ve Been Singles
What's your favorite song from Turner?
The process of choosing a single for radio is often as arduous a task as writing the song itself. Each month, Sounds Like Nashville will feature a different artist and explore songs from his or her catalogue that we wish made it to radio. Make no mistake, this is no critique of the artist or label, it’s simply a list of songs we love so much that we think deserve to be in the spotlight. This month, we take a closer listen to Josh Turner’s back catalogue and find eight gems that warrant airplay.
“In My Dreams” — from Long Black Train
Josh Turner introduced himself to country audiences in 2003 with his excellent debut album, Long Black Train. It was here that his deep baritone was first showcased, as well as his ability to sing heartfelt ballads and tug on heartstrings. On the Casey Beathard and Tony Martin penned “In My Dreams,” Turner comments on how some men dream about building fortunes and having fame. However, he sees things differently. Instead, he focuses on his wife: “What makes you happy, makes me happy too / In my dreams, your dreams come true,” he croons on the sweet song.
“Way Down South” — from Your Man
On the feel-good “Way Down South,” the South Carolina native sings about growing up in the South. From working on a farm to shooting squirrels, Turner paints a vivid picture of his Southern upbringing. Written by the singer, “Way Down South” highlights Turner’s vocal talent and fun side. With acoustic instruments that give the feel of a front porch pickin’ party, Turner adequately gets the Southern lifestyle across on the song.
“So Not My Baby” — from Everything Is Fine
On “So Not My Baby,” Turner is lamenting a breakup. While he keeps calling his ex’s phone in hopes that she’ll answer, he soon realizes that she’s gone for good. “You’re so not my baby / It’s making me crazy / It’s breaking my heart and my world half in two / You’re so not my baby / Hey, I should be okay / But you know what? / I’m so not over you,” he sings on the heartbreaking tune.
“Trailerhood” — from Everything Is Fine
Another song penned by Turner, “Trailerhood” is an upbeat jam that reflects on life in the trailer park. With a beat that begs to be danced to and tongue-in-cheek lyrics of the trailer existence, on “Trailerhood” Turner sings of the laid-back lifestyle and colorful personalities often found here. “Blue-collar rednecks feelin’ fine / A couple o’ sips off a year-old shine / Everyday’s about feelin’ good / Way down yonder in the trailerhood,” Turner observes. “Trailerhood” is an anthem for trailer parks everywhere and no doubt a fun song to play for a crowd.
“Nowhere Fast” — from Everything Is Fine
Turner teams up with Grammy Award-winning soul singer Anthony Hamilton on the powerful “Nowhere Fast.” The memorable duet highlights each singer’s soulful vocals as they sing of their regrets in life and the lessons they’ve learned along the way. Reflecting on advice they received from others to not live selfishly and to never turn their backs on family, the striking ballad leaves a lasting mark.
“Lovin’ You On My Mind” — from Haywire
The sultry “Lovin’ You On My Mind” showcases Turner’s deep and sexy vocals as he sings of daydreaming about his lady and their previous night together. Written by Chris Stapleton, Kendell Marvel and Tim James, “Lovin’ You On My Mind” showcases Turner’s vocal power. Turner’s vocal range, coupled with stirring blues-inspired instrumentation, makes “Lovin’ You On My Mind” a song that would make Marvin Gaye proud.
“As Fast As I Could” — from Haywire
On the standout “As Fast As I Could,” Turner thanks his wife for waiting for him to come into her life. The sweet sentiment has Turner singing of ending up on dead-end roads as he searched for her. “I tried to rush finding true love / It didn’t pan out like I thought it would / It took me some time, but I got here as fast as I could,” he explains. Turner wrote the uplifting love song with Jeremy Spillman, and the track’s thoughtful lyrics and soaring string accompaniment make it a surefire hit at radio.
“Good Problem” — from Punching Bag
On “Good Problem,” Turner’s fun side is showcased with ear-grabbing fiddle and banjo accompaniment. The upbeat track has the singer admitting that loving his lady is a full-time job but he’s more than okay doing it. “It’s a full-time job but I’m alright with that / Lovin’ you, that’s a good problem to have,” he sings. Turner’s vocal range impresses on the song as does the track’s melodies, which stay with the listener long after “Good Problem” is played.
