Original image by There Stands the Glass.
Crystal Gayle’s hair is one of the seven wonders of country music. An audience of about 1,000 marveled at its splendor at Ameristar Casino on Saturday, November 12. The vocalist joked that a precondition of becoming a member of the Grand Ole Opry was an obligation to sweep the stage with her ankle-length mane after shows.
Backed by a sextet of Nashville cats and her sister Peggy Sue Wells, Gayle’s 75-minute performance featured such a paltry portion of her countrypolitan hits from the 1970s and 1980s that the setlist made my brown eyes blue. She favored showcasing her crack band, covering standards and indulging in cornpone humor.
The regrettable format allowed Peggy Sue to steal the show. In addition to singing “Don’t Come Home a Drinkin’ (With Lovin’ on Your Mind),” the classic song she co-wrote with big sister Loretta Lynn, Peggy Sue told the evening’s bawdiest jokes. Unlike the demure Crystal, the salty Peggy Sue loves the spotlight.
The passing of time has given me a new appreciation of Gayle. Forty years ago I derided her for being more closely aligned with Karen Carpenter than with her revered big sister. But I still prefer Gayle’s collaboration with Tom Waits to her hits. Yet the gentle sway of songs including “Ready for the Times to Get Better” melted my cold, cold heart at a Kansas City casino last night.