About The Song
“We’ve had three or four songs in our career that when you think of T. G. Sheppard, you think of those songs. I call them ‘signature’ songs.”
That’s T. G. Sheppard’s way of describing the biggest records in his career, and the coup de grace came with “I Loved ‘Em Every One.” Buoyed by a haunting, minor-chord progression and a catchy, repetitive chorus enumerating romantic exploits, the record, in Sheppard’s view, was timed perfectly.
It was the “Urban Cowboy” era in country music. Cowboy boots, hats, jeans and pickup trucks were hot. Movie soundtrack albums, such as “The Electric Horseman” and “Urban Cowboy” were big on the radio, but the music had an unmistakable “pop” sheen to it. Various country acts had benefited in the not-too-distant past from hits that crossed over onto the pop chart. Warner Bros. was likewise ready to capitalize on the trend with T. G. Sheppard.
The company shipped “I Loved “Em Every One” to pop and country stations at the same time and the record entered both charts the same day – March 14, 1981. Although “I Loved ‘Em Every One” didn’t perform as well on the pop side as Warner Bros. had hoped (peaking at #37), the single vaulted into the number one slot of Billboard’s country chart on May 16, 1981.
“I Loved ‘Em Every One” was not the first record of producer Buddy Killen’s career to be associated with Billboard’s pop chart. An Alabama native, Killen had a widely-varied career in music. He was hired by legendary music executive Jack Stapp in 1953 (for $35 a week) to pitch songs for Tree Publishing Company. Among his early accomplishments, Buddy was responsible for securing “Heartbreak Hotel” for Elvis Presley. Killen’s instrumental recording of “Forever” went to #9 in 1960 and he produced 27 charted singles for soul star Joe Tex.
As a musician, Buddy played bass on such number one country hits as George Jones’ “White Lightning” and Leroy Van Dyke’s “Walk On By.” He toured with Hank Williams’ Drifting Cowboys during the last few months of Williams’ career, and later worked the road in bands fronted by Ray Price and Jim Reeves. As a songwriter, Killen co-wrote (with Bill Anderson) “I May Never Get To Heaven,” which was a number one hit for Conway Twitty in 1979.
Video
Lyrics
I’ve known some painted ladies that sparkled in the light
Country girls that loved the lovers moon
Some I never really knew, though I always wanted to
Some I only met once in a room
Some said they liked my smile, others of ’em stayed a while
While others left me on the run
This is the only way, only way I have to say
I loved ’em every one
Big, little or short or tall, wish I could’ve kept them all
I loved ’em every one
Like to thank ’em for their charms, holdin’ me in their arms
And I hope they had some fun
Here’s to the ladies in saloons and living rooms
Summer nights that lasted until dawn
Here’s to the memories, everyone’s a part of me
Oh, I loved ’em every one
Big, little or short or tall, wish I could’ve kept them all
I loved ’em every one
Like to thank ’em for their charms, holdin’ me in their arms
And I hope they had some fun
Big, little or short or tall, wish I could’ve kept them all
I loved ’em every one
Like to thank ’em for their charms, holdin’ me in their arms
And I hope they had some fun