The fifteenth studio album from Tammy Wynette.
The 1972 album highlights the feelings of homemakers as they stand by their husbands through the 11 tracks featured. Tammy Wynette, who had her own share of marital issues with George Jones, as well as her other husbands, chose to make the album highlight the heartache that sometimes can come with marriage.
Ironically, this album would be released a year before the tumultuous divorce between Wynette and Jones.
The album peaked at number two on the Billboard Hot Country Albums chart in January of 1973, with three singles serving as standout tracks that charted individually. “My Man (Understand),” “Good Lovin’ (Makes It Right),” and “‘Til I Get It Right” all eventually sat at #1 on the Country Singles chart.
The album’s lead single, “My Man (Understands),” is a standout single from the album, as it highlights the loyal feeling that a woman feels standing by her man and how you can feel safe and secure in a relationship with the right man. The track highlights the essential sound of the late ’60s and early ’70s country with quick but whimsical melodies, long twangs, and dreamy vocals from Wynette.
“My man, understandsHe holds me in the palm of his handAnd I like it, I like itHe’s a dream, the real thingHe always makes me feel like a queenAnd I love it, I love it”
While tracks like “My Man (Understand)” highlight the warm and fuzzy feelings your man can bring you, tracks like “Bridge Of Love” talk about the hardships when things in your relationship are not picture perfect.
The song that plays onto the melody of “Wheel On The Bus” almost mimics the safe feeling you get listening to classic children’s music but with a morbid twist through the lyrics, highlighting anything but light and airy feelings.
“When the bridge of love starts falling down
Falling down, falling down
The bridge is strong but when things go wrong
It’s down, down, down
One hand a-reachin’ out to another
Makes a bridge of love, will you be my brother
The bridge is strong but when things go wrong
It’s down, down, down…”
My Man tells a complete story through each song, highlighting the highs and lows of being in a long relationship. Perhaps elements of this album reflected the good and bad of her marriage.
If there is one takeaway from the album… it ain’t always sunshine and rainbows.
“Things I Love To Do”
“Gone With Another Man”
“Good Lovin’ (Makes It Right)”