Room Service (1978) by The Oak Ridge Boys
- Papa Merv
- Apr 29, 2022
- 3 min read
-- Posted today (4/29) in honor of the birthday of Duane Allen, the quartet's lead singer from 1966-Present (2022). This was their 2nd album after the shift from gospel to secular country music, and it is full of catchy and gorgeous songs.
I feel a tad guilty for posting an Oak Ridge Boys album prior to a Statler Brothers album. The latter are by far my favorite country group, and I (and my dad) have far more Statlers' albums. But, again, the birthday dictated this one. Some Statler Brothers favorites will be coming soon!
I believe my first exposure to the Oak Ridge Boys was on a cassette tape my dad owned, where a tribute quartet sang Oak Ridge Boys' hits on side 1 and Statler Brothers hits on side 2 (or vise-versa). At various points I picked up several Oak Ridge Boys phonographs during some thrift store searching, and this was my favorite of those.
Why I like this album
It has a LOT of good songs on it. While two of them, "Cryin' Again' and 'Come On In' became hit singles (both #3 on US Country charts), and one, "I'll Be True To You" was a repeat of their #1 hit from the preceding album, several other tracks could easily have been hit releases as well.
The sound is multi-layered and interesting. It has the 'traditional country' instruments of acoustic guitar, dobro, mandolin, fiddle, banjo, and pedal steel guitar, but also other instrumentation (differs from song to song): wah-wah electric guitar sound common to mid-seventies pop/rock music, beautiful string orchestration, piano, electric keyboards, and of course the 4-part vocal harmony.
The Oak Ridge Boys were all very talented singers - Duane Allen trained in both opera and gospel
The styles range from ballads, to bluesy, to light pop, to upbeat country
Favorite Tracks
If There Were Only Time for Love: this a lighter tune, and it just makes me happy. Uplifting message, catchy tune, beautiful chord progressions and key changes, gorgeous bell-toned guitars and keyboards, I could listen to this song every day.
But I Do: a ballad, with a gentle piano-driven verse with solo vocal, building to a dramatic chorus complete with electric guitar solos, pounding piano, and orchestra. The contrast between soft solo vocals and passionate full-voiced 4-part harmony would be jolting but for the well-crafted crescendo from the instruments.
If You Can't Find Love: moderately upbeat album opener, almost a disco style but with country chord progressions. Perfect interplay of jazzy electric guitar and piano. Very catchy rhythm and tune.
I Can Love You: upbeat album closer; I love the cascading electric keyboards on the verse, and the leaping vocal bass line and swelling strings in the chorus. The tenor takes the lead on this one. Another infectiously happy tune.
Honorable Mentions
It Could have been Ten Years Ago: A good tune about memories, the verse is pretty straight-forward country, while the chorus is more impressive with its harmonies, strings, and sweet pedal steel guitar.
Lots of Matchbooks: a solid honky-tonk country tune about memories, with solos from each quartet member and an a-cappella chorus leading into the hand-clapping ending
Lay Down Your Sword and Shield: a grittier, slow, bluesy tune, lyrics a bit sensual at times but I appreciate the underlying message: to develop a solid relationship, you must put aside offenses and let down your defenses. The guitars and Rhodes piano take turns groovin' on this track.
Final words
Digging out these tunes has made me want to explore the rest of the Oak Ridge Boys' Catalogue. And there are over 65 albums to explore: over 30 were in the gospel genre (1958-1976) and then over 30 were secular country (1978 to 2021 and still going). They've had the same line-up since 1972 (with exception of 5 albums in late 80s and early 90s when they had a different baritone) -- that is pretty dang impressive.
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