80's Ladies
by K. T. Oslin

Three cheers for K.T. Oslin! It is very rare in the music industry for a woman in her mid forties to begin a singing career and have some commercial hits. The only other woman I am aware of in contemporary country music that had a hit climb the charts at that age was Reba McIntyre.

80's Ladies must have been a breath of fresh air in 1987. Changes were in the air in Nashville at that time, as the neo-traditionalist era was in full swing. But Oslin was not trying to steer country music back to it's roots. She challenged the establishment to combat ageism, sexism, gender norms, and original lyrical content that focused on life's challenges instead of hammering on typical rural culture.

Oslin, like so many folk songwriters, faced incredible challenges in fitting their dynamic style in the narrow Nashville mold. She would have had even a harder time fitting in during contemporary times.

80's Ladies and the corresponding LP is a nice blend for Oslin. Her spunk and spirit give the LP color. The production is fairly dated, but it must have been pretty unorthodox in the Nashville scene. And the singing is exceptionally bluesy and soulful for someone in the country genre.

Track Pick: 80's Ladies