Conway Twitty’s album How Much More Can She Stand was first released in 1971. It contains only eight tracks, two of them penned by Twitty himself.
How Much More Can She Stand feels in part a little of a tribute to some of Twitty’s fellow artists and songwriters. There are two covers of songs which had recently been big hits. This was a popular practice among country artists: it is standard to find two or three covers on a country album from this era. They frequently covered each other. It often looks like a direct trade. Almost “you covered mine so I’ll cover yours”. However, since the extended Hank Williams Medley takes up the space of two songs, the proportion of covers goes up.
As ever, though, Conway makes them his own. His rendition of the Kristofferson-penned Sammi Smith hit Help Me Make It Through the Night is treated to a powerful and heartfelt delivery from Conway with his trademark voice-breaking growl. His cover of the swamp-funk-flavoured Amos Moses, written and first recorded by Jerry Reed, doesn’t quite meet up to the original. Although that’s a very tall order, since Reed was such an individual performer. Bob Moore’s little bass riff brings a little of the funk he also added to Reed’s record.
The Hank Williams Medley shows his admiration, as so many of his colleagues’, for the prolific and revered songwriter. He brings his own touch to them, while still maintaining the integrity of the songs. His recording of the tender The Last One To Touch Me speaks to his ability in treating songwriters’ work with respect and understanding what could be brought out of it. His own compositions Just Like A Stranger and Let Me Be The Judge stand up against all the other songwriting giants featured here.
My Highlights…
I enjoy the bounce of Let Me Be The Judge and the sentimentality–which was then fast becoming Conway’s trademark–of the Dolly Parton penned The Last One To Touch Me. His delivery and song choice matched perfectly to create records which the female-oriented country fandom would want to buy. There is a sensitivity in the way his voice caresses the listener. He knew when to use its power. In these earlier years of his country tenure, the times he used its vulnerability feel quite authentic and almost involuntary.
Track Listing
- How Much More Can She Stand
- Everyday Family Man
- Help Me Make It Through The Night
- Just Like A Stranger
- The Last One To Touch Me
- Amos Moses
- The Memory of Your Sweet Love
- Let Me Be The Judge
- Hank Williams Medley: Cold, Cold Heart / I Can’t Help It (If I’m Still In Love With You) / You Win Again / They’ll Never Take Her Love From Me / Wedding Bells / Take These Chains From My Heart / Your Cheatin’ Heart
In Conclusion…
The flavour of this album is largely sensitive and sentimental. These were some of Conway Twitty’s unique selling points. He was differentiated from some other male artists by the tenderness and passion in his smooth love songs. How Much More Can She Stand showcases this amply. This is broken by the higher-tempo Everyday Family Man, Let Me Be the Judge and the undeniable groove of Amos Moses. These two tracks keep the 8 tracks from any potential for monotony.
When enjoyed on its original format of long-playing vinyl, it must have been something of a shock to be greeted by Amos Moses when beginning the second side. As a listening experience though, How Much More Can She Stand is very pleasant. It has a nice balance between peppy contemporary country and Twitty’s trademark tenderness.
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