The Open Mind Of John D. Loudermilk
by John D. Loudermilk

From Mercury 10/19/2017 20:18 | #199787

Loudermilk was 35 when he released this strange gem. He had been active and successful as a country singer and songwriter since the early 60s. This is interesting to me cuz this album is not country almost at all. Its sort of a strange, at times a bit psychedelic, folk rock album with some small country moments. Everything from the incredible cover art to the name of the album to the production style just screams out that Loudermilk was trying to get some love and attention from all dem weird longhairs. And all in all the album works really really well.

Depending how you listen to it, either side 1 or side 2 is a near perfect run of songs which if as great on the other side as well would put this in the top 7 or 8 albums on this list. I say that cuz on apple music and in the reissue of this album a few years ago, the tracklisting was switched around and about 35 minutes of music was added. On this reissued version "Goin' To Hell On A Sled" opens side 1. But Per RYM and other sources the original opening track is "More Than He'll Have To Give" and continues on to make for a very cool side 1. Then side 2 opens with the absolutely bonkers, honest-to-goodness CLASSIC "Goin' To Hell In A Sled". This is followed up by the equally amazing "The Jones'". As a matter of fact not a song on Side 2 is less than great. Its got this casual, not trying to hard, style which reminds me of Josh Ritter a lot of the time. The songs are political, but they are ambiguous on which side of the isle they come from. The words mostly paint Loudermilk as being an artist firmly stuck in the middle watching all the craziness of the late 60s, with a bewildered and comical look on his face.

Again, if the whole album was as solid as side 2 this would be on my chart. As it is, it really is another lost gem. Check it out.


"They're hip and they're slick
and they're flashy, sophisticated and cool
To them the clerk and the worker
are just rednecks and clods and fools

This family named Jones that comes into our homes
And tells us what to wear and where
And tell us what to drive and why
And tells us what to smoke and vote
And tells us what to drink and think
And think we listen and try to be like them" - The Jones'