New Queen of the Country Classic Sound Kelley Swindall Talks About Her All-Time Favorites

On the eve of the release of her new album ‘You Can Call Me Darlin’ If You Want,’ Kelley Swindall dishes on the all time greats that inspired her.

Singer/songwriter Kelley Swindall is known for being a little bit Lucinda, perhaps a bit of Patsy, and a dash of Dolly. As she releases the title track to her upcoming album, You Can Call Me Darlin’ If You Want (Velvet Elk Records), Swindall clearly demonstrates that she’s much more than a sum of those who have come before – the self-described “country cantadora” is blazing trails all her own.

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Swindall didn’t start out with plans to be a country music star. The Atlanta, Georgia native moved to the bright lights of New York City to be a stage actress. A heartbreak led to her writing a song to get revenge – and the rest is history.

Her album is full of honest songwriting that’s at once a raw journey through the ups and downs of life and love as it is a wildly exuberant joyride. Timeless and classic with an edge, each song feel as comforting as a vintage T-shirt while maintaining an exciting newness. Swindall deftly brings best elements of outlaw country and seasons them with vintage jazz and blues for a true roots experience.

“Darlin’” is a standout example of Swindall’s ability to skillfully walk that line, kicking off the song with a spoken-word warning that’s so Dolly-esque, listeners will find themselves doing an audio double-take.

Since Kelly is so into the classic sound, we asked her to let us in on some of her all time country favorites. Take a walk down memory lane and revel with her in these greats:

Kelley Swindall Personal Picks — Top Country Classics

THE DEVIL WENT DOWN TO GEORGIA – I grew up in a town called Stone Mountain. Every summer, there was a laser show projected on the side of the mountain, and people would come from all over the south to see it. From the time I was in kindergarten through high school, I’d go multiple times every summer. Everyone did. The show was the same every year – with the same songs and graphics – but that didn’t make a difference. “The Devil Went Down to Georgia” was always my favorite part. Charlie Daniel’s fiddle-playing and the way he talk sings the verses was so full of energy and always got me riled up. Also, the fact the song took place in my home state made me feel really cool.

SONG OF THE SOUTH – When I was ten, my mom threw me a surprise birthday party and a girl in my class gave me a Walkman and a cassette of Alabama’s greatest hits. First off – that was awesome because it felt really grown up to me. At that time, I adamantly said I didn’t like country, but since it was the only cassette I had, I listened to it. The second this song started I was transported to another time and place. The harmonies. The melody. The energy. It made my heart sing, and I was a convert.

DON’T TAKE THE GIRL – When I was around ten, my dad was in prison and my mom hired a girl, Nicole. She was our sometimes babysitter and fulltime help around the house, as there were seven of us and my mom needed it. Nicole LOVED this Tim McGraw song, which had just come out at the time. She played it over and over in the car when she’d drive me around, and I fell in love with the story. I learned every word and thought it was so clever how the little boy changed his tune about the little girl as he grew older.

LONG BLACK VEIL – My dad used to sing this song so much when I was a little girl that I thought he had made it up. It was a haunting melody about a man who’s wrongly accused of a murder and hangs for it. It wasn’t til years later – after I had left home and heard a recording of Johnny Cash singing it – that I realized it was actually a real song and that my Dad hadn’t made it up. LOL! I just figured he’d made it up like all the stories he’d make up and tell us kids to entertain us . 

CRAZY – My father was a huge Patsy Cline fan and would play her records all the time. I fell in love with her the first time I heard her voice. She’s a steel magnolia and arguably one of the greatest influences on my music. 

DON’T CRY JONI – This is another song I would hear riding with my dad and really haven’t listened to since. It’s the tale of a girl that’s in love with her next-door neighbor, but he leaves their town looking for bigger and better things. After a few years, he realizes what he really wanted was always right next door to him. However, when he returns to profess his love for Joni (the girl next door), he’s devastated to learn that she gave up hope on him and married his best friend, John. This song tore me up every time I heard it.

SUNDAY MORNING COMING DOWN – I realized while making this list that over half of these country songs I love so much are a direct result of my dad. He would play this song – particularly on the way to church on Sundays – and it always made me feel nostalgic and a little sad, though I didn’t know why. I definitely didn’t understand what “Sunday Morning Coming Down” meant – on an intellectual level – back then. Years later when I was in high school, I remember mentioning to him one Sunday evening – how Sundays always made me feel sad – and he said they always made him feel sad, too.