David Allan Coe Has Loretta Lynn’s Approval for the Country Hall of Fame
There could be a lot more David Allan Coe news in 2017 than we’ve seen from the country legend for quite some time. And depending on how you feel about the blending of country and rap depends on how you will likely receive it. It started off on New Years Day when Coe released a remake of his song “Take This Job and Shove It” with the hick-hop duo The Moonshine Bandits. And if you’re worried about what the mighty David Allan Coe is doing cavorting with country rappers, there might be more where that came from.
David Allan Coe has been working in the studio with Average Joes owner and country rap artist Colt Ford on a new album that will reportedly include his “Take This Job and Shove It” collaboration with The Moonshine Bandits, also scheduled to appear on the Bandit’s new album. This is according to a feature in the Mansfield News Journal posted during a video shoot for the new song filmed at the Ohio State Reformatory in Mansfield where Coe once spent three years of hard time during his young adulthood.
The feature says Coe has another rap song worked up for his forthcoming album, and as long-time Coe fans have heard before, he professes to be one of the first rappers ever. “I probably made the first rap album that was ever made,” Coe said. “I’ve been doing rap for a long time, long before anyone knew anything about it. I just didn’t know to call it rap.”
Saving Country Music spoke to a representative from Average Joes who said David Allan Coe and Colt Ford are friends, but Coe hasn’t officially signed to the Average Joes label, and there’s no specific plans to release Coe’s new record at the moment. In June of 2016, Coe plead guilty to obstruction charges due to IRS back taxes, and ordered to pay fines and taxes totaling $980,911.86 for his tax delinquency between 2008 – 2013, and before. Perhaps a new record will help him recoup some of his losses.
The checkered past of David Allan Coe often has country fans pontificating on if he’ll ever make it into the Country Music Hall of Fame. Though many Hall of Fame experts believe he’s a long shot, one Hall of Famer thinks he belongs. Loretta Lynn, speaking to Broadway on The Electric Barnyard recently, and asked if Coe should be in the Hall, answered,
“I think he should.” When it was brought up that David Allan Coe has a checkered past, Loretta’s response was, “So does everybody else. You just don’t know about all of it.”
January 12, 2017 @ 7:53 pm
Hard to say if he ever will or not. He had some really good songs, but some of the underground stuff might be all it takes to keep him out…
January 14, 2017 @ 7:16 pm
He is the best lyricist in country music history! He belongs in the HOF. Stop the PC BS and judge artists on their contributions and talent!
January 14, 2017 @ 7:30 pm
To be clear, i wasn’t saying whether that’s what I thought or not, just saying that it very well could be a deciding factor for those who do the voting.
January 12, 2017 @ 8:14 pm
He started all that rap stuff when Kid Rock gave him that hat. Weird shit. That’s when he started walking out and flipping the bird, doing the High step run thing across the stage, all that weird stuff. He was so proud that kid rock gave him a hat and called him an influence, like everyone loves kid rock?? DAC mopped the floor with kid rock in his prime. Last time I saw him was about 8 years ago. 2 LOUD electric guitars (including his), no bass player, and a very amateur drummer,,,,,weird.
January 13, 2017 @ 11:49 am
The “rap” he’s referring to is his spoken word album Requiem For A Harlequin from 1974. It was released on Plantation Records and has been out of print ever since — no CD, no digital. Original copies fetch quite a bit online in the rare instances when they crop up. But the whole thing is available on YouTube if you want to hear (if I wasn’t commenting from my phone I’d provide a link). No singing at all, and each side of the record is treated as an individual concept, merely titled “The Beginning” and “The End”, respectively. Near as I could tell last time I listened, it was about growing up on the streets or something to that effect (he makes mention of the “asphalt jungle” a billion different times). As it stands these days, it’s just another pop culture institution he’s trying to take credit for (similarly to his claim of being the first outlaw).
January 12, 2017 @ 8:16 pm
He is a real songwriter, that’s how I choose to see DAC. I 100% support a bid for him to join hall of fame. But I won’t give any rap song, hybrid rap song, or anything even close to this he does a listen. There are very few country legends left, so people are going to try to latch on to them and drink from their fan pool. I wish he would just write a couple more REAL songs, I think if he came out with some legitimate music right now it would go a long way to repairing his legacy. But no one can deny his contribution to country music, including his hits for others, his wild antic, bringing true outsider edge to country, and even the xrated stuff he has had a huge impact.
January 13, 2017 @ 11:40 am
The x-rated albums had a huge impact for all the wrong reasons and represent some very tangible reasons for why this man will never make it into the Hall. He DESERVES to be inducted, and more than a few people in the industry would likely agree. But his PR is a dumpster fire.
January 13, 2017 @ 11:54 am
I agree 100%, I liked the xrated when I was a kid, but now it’s just blemish, on him and me lol.
January 12, 2017 @ 9:26 pm
not enough hits, also can you make a case he should go in if Jerry Lee Lewis, Jerry Reed and all the pre 1940 bedrocks like Bradley Kincaid, Carson Robsson, Lulu Belle & Scotty and more comtemporary artists such as Tanya Tucker or Dottie West?
January 13, 2017 @ 11:38 am
“Not enough hits”? This isn’t about commercial success; plenty of inductees lack Luke Bryan and Blake Shelton’s radio numbers, but ask any true fan of country music if those two belong in the Hall. Love him or hate him, David Allan Coe was an artist’s artist from his debut until he was dropped from Columbia Records in 1989. After that he rapidly devolved into self-parody, but even then he self-released a few gems along the way that would be held up as classics if more people heard them and it wasn’t the age of Garth/Shania. As a person he’s as loathe some as they come, but damn if his actual music (the non-x-rated material, at least) doesn’t deserve some respect.
January 13, 2017 @ 2:23 pm
Remember we have almost every record label executive from the 50’s in the Hall that had anything to do with country music, many of which are not household names. You also have a lot of songwriters who didn’t have many hits themselves. I agree that Coe’s “checkered past” could, and probably will keep him out. But the argument of putting him in is his cultural impact, which is hard to argue against.
January 14, 2017 @ 8:20 pm
It’s absolutely about commercial success. It’s a Hall of FAME!
January 15, 2017 @ 12:04 am
You’re right on with :Jerry Lee Lewis, & LuluBelle /Scotty. There’s also the Bailes Brothers,Johnnie & Jack, Molly O’Day,and Wilma Lee/Stoney Cooper,who were performing their Hearts out,from the 1930s,until the 21st Century,,that have been passed by for an Induction. Every year that goes by, these Artists,are more to be forgotten by the popular vote,in the voting process for the Hall Of Fame. Their contributions are forgotten,too.
January 13, 2017 @ 2:40 am
YES ! End of story.
January 13, 2017 @ 4:43 am
Being from Mansfield, this was big news. We have a section of town called “Little Kentucky”. A lot of families moved up here many years ago to work at the steel mill. Its rumored that some of the houses in Little Kentucky still have dirt floors. Basically the article states Coe did a stint at the Ohio State Prison here several years ago. They filmed Shawshank Redemption there and do haunted prison tours. Coe is still popular in these parts, and you can still find his greatest hits record on the jukebox in every honky-tonk in town.
January 13, 2017 @ 5:10 am
I’m from Ashland, I remember reading about this on facebook. Yes DAC has always been real popular around here with the 16-25 year old boys. Especially a lot of his x-rated stuff
January 13, 2017 @ 6:51 pm
Yes sir, DAC is very popular in these parts. I’m over in New Washington and he’s in every jukebox in every bar I’ve been to in my neck of the woods. Remember back when 101.3 WNCO didn’t suck and Coleman in the Mornin’ and the Tabernacle Quoir used to do the “You never even called me by my name” sing along? Good stuff back then. He’s still in he rotation in my music.
January 13, 2017 @ 6:30 am
In terms of songwriting and actual music, DAC is rightfully a legend. I think the problem folks have is his public persona. He’s a marketing nightmare. He looks ridiculous with the wig, kind of like he’s copying George Clintons look. And his live shows aren’t good ….Sound mix, band choice etc. Part of it is age, part bad management. IMO he needs a retooling, new band, manager who cares, marketing strategist. Gonna happen? Doubt it.
January 13, 2017 @ 11:29 am
All of that is true, but the biggest problem with DAC has always been DAC. He’s a braggart that tries to coast off of the fame of others whilst telling anyone that will listen that he paved the way for that star to begin with. Generally speaking, he’s perceived to be an asshole and those x-rated albums have added the charges of racist and misogynist (among others). That his love show sucks is merely icing on the cake.
January 13, 2017 @ 7:07 am
Sure, he’s a whack job and a train wreck, much like Johnny Paycheck (Did I just write a country song?). But I think of him as the last of a dying breed, a TRUE outlaw. A man who doesn’t just sing about prison, but actually done hard time. He’s authentic. I know he hasn’t done himself any favors with all the antics and preposterous claims over the years, but there is no denying the street cred of David Allen Coe. And more importantly, the legacy and longevity of songs like “The Ride,” “Take This Job,” “You Never Even Called Me,” “Jack Daniel’s If You Please,” “If That Ain’t Country,” etc. speak to the greatness of his artistry, in my opinion. If nothing else, he’s one of the most colorful (beard included) characters that country music has ever seen, and will ever see. Love him or hate him, David Allen Coe has always been a true original. Long live the original Mysterious Rhinestone Cowboy. Do something right for once, Nashville. Put him in the Hall. Because Miss Loretta said so.
January 16, 2017 @ 12:16 pm
For many years I had a cassette tape of a George Jones album that I loved. At some point I lost it, and a couple days ago I thought maybe I could find it on iTunes. No such luck, so I started looking around for one of the songs on that album I liked best, “I Still Sing the Old Songs.” Damned if it wasn’t written by DAC. Can’t find that album but George’s version of “I Still Sing the Old Songs” is on YouTube (albeit sounding a bit echo-y): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DTybrpZe6Rc Such a beautiful song.
January 13, 2017 @ 7:39 am
It will never happen. Imagine the blowback from parts of the press if Coe actually got in? Hell, Country music got roasted over the ridiculous Beyoncé kerfuffle, imagine what it would look like if a guy who actually released openly racist albums got in? Coe is a complicated figure and while he appears to be a complete train wreck of a human being, he definitely has some historically great songs in his catalogue. That being said, the Country Music Hall of Fame would be insane to put in a guy who would be such an easy target for the press to go after regarding character concerns. And Coe doesn’t seem the type that is interested in going on any sort of media blitz to try and apologize for his past actions/comments/song titles to try and smooth the waters over.
Loretta is probably correct here, but those underground XXX/Racist albums that Coe but that are now all over YouTube basically make his hall case DOA.
January 13, 2017 @ 11:32 am
YouTube isn’t the worst of it: he openly advertises and sells those x-rated albums through his site. It’s literally in the title when you search his name and the results pop up. When I tried to cite it on Wikipedia the automated content censors flagged the URL as spam.
January 13, 2017 @ 12:08 pm
Yeah, Coe openly still selling those albums and seemingly being proud of their content pretty much guarantees he will never make the Hall. Which is fine, I mean I’m sure David Allan Coe would love to be in the Hall, but considering some of his recent life choices and some of the reports about the recent quality of his live shows, he seems to have more immediate concerns to deal with.
At the end of the day, in the current social and political environment that we find ourselves in, the Hall would be insane to even try to induct Coe. It would reinforce all the wrong, negative stereotypes that dog the genre and would distract from all of the other nominees on that year’s ballot/induction.
January 13, 2017 @ 12:39 pm
“Imagine the blowback from parts of the press if Coe actually got in?”
The “press” hasn’t been held in such low regard since the pamphleteers of the French Revolution. The mainstream media is a bunch of contemptible liars and propagandists. Of course, intelligent people have known this for a long time. Who cares what they think? Mock them, ridicule them, troll them, and if you think you can make a buck, sue them.
January 13, 2017 @ 1:34 pm
Sure, the mainstream media is not held in high regard, but is David Allan Coe of all people really worth the inevitable blowback from social justice warriors and ignorant sections of the mainstream press? As a country music fan living in a pretty liberal state, I would say no. I would also assume that the Hall of Fame would say the same thing. Plus, it would have the unintended consequence of the Coe nomination overshadowing all the other nominees, which isn’t really fair to all the other artists, many of which are probably better human beings than David Allan Coe will ever be or ever has been. I like DAC’s music, but by many objective standards the man is a deeply flawed individual. Ironically (to some at least) those flaws probably helped him write his most famous songs, while also being what disqualifies him from ever getting in.
January 16, 2017 @ 12:26 pm
RD, as a journalist myself, I gotta speak up to say I heartily disagree with your characterization of the mainstream press, unless you’re talking about TV news. Longstanding pillars of the mainstream media like the New York Times, the Washington Post, etc., have plenty — repeat, plenty — of faults, no question, but in general they’re working hard to cover the important issues of the day with fairness and integrity. We’d be worse off than we are without them.
November 22, 2020 @ 9:25 am
Thanks for the laugh.
Thomas Jefferson was right about newspapers.
January 13, 2017 @ 8:46 am
Guess you forgot me, from the prison ! ! ! WAS there with David, and was “Promised” a copy of anything that was done for our back room COEllection ! ! have been gathering his stuff for the last 30+ years. CAN send pics if ya might want to see. Bill
January 13, 2017 @ 10:01 am
Ask Garth Brooks to induct him and do a duet. I’d pay to see that.
January 13, 2017 @ 11:12 am
They better put Hank jr in there first
January 13, 2017 @ 12:11 pm
and I’d like to see him and Dolly do “All My Rowdy Friends Are Coming Over Tonight”
January 13, 2017 @ 12:11 pm
I’m sure Garth couldn’t get through it without crying like a child.
Gotta love the irony when i’m most of the voters are Just as racist.
January 13, 2017 @ 12:13 pm
I’m sure*
January 13, 2017 @ 1:13 pm
Unless you understand the PROCESS by which the C.M.A. selects new inductees, you are wasting your time with idle, uninformed speculation. Here is how it works and I speak as a past chair of one of the CMA committees..
A committee of 12 meets to generate the initial field of at least 10 nominees.
There is one final nominee each year in the MODERN category and one in the VETERAN’s category. The third category rotates between NON-PERFORMER, SONGWRITER and TOURING/STUDIO MUSICIAN, this year will see a songwriter inductee, last year it was turn for NON-PERFORMER and Fred Foster was chosen.. Each of these 5 categories has its own committee. A performer becomes eligible for the VETERANS category 40 years after they make their first national impact. In Coe’s case — and Hank Jr.’s, they are now considered VETERANS, Coe’s first charter in ’74, Williams even earlier.
OK, each of the committees generates the initial field. Those nominees are then sent to the Hall of Fame voters of which there are an undisclosed number but at least 100, their identities are not disclosed.. All have to be CMA members and all have to have shown knowledge of the country music world by virtue of having been involved in it for a specified number of years, not sure how many but at least 10. After that vote, the top 5 vote getters in each of the 3 categories each year are then again submitted to the voting committee with the top vote getter in each category becoming the inductee. It is BY FAR the HARDEST music Hall of Fame to get into — there have only been about 125 inductees in the 50 years since the Awards began. Contrast that with the Rock and Roll Hall which has over 700 members and which began after the country hall. Questions?
January 13, 2017 @ 3:16 pm
I fully understand the process but that don’t make it right……. lets take garth and vince gill for example they should not be in there before people like Hank Jr. or Tanya tucker and many other deserving artists.. even some of the veteran artists who I love like connie smith how many records did she sell how many arenas has she filled She is a great singer and a fine lady but does she have more credentials than Hank Jr. no way…… as far as Coe Id love to see him in the hall he would stir things up a bit and make all the powers that be a nervous wreck!
January 15, 2017 @ 12:14 am
John Lomax III, you are right.
January 13, 2017 @ 2:31 pm
I think he deserves it… But that doesn’t mean anything.. The CMHF are like the Grand Ole Oprey,, stuck up… i.e. The “Grand” Ole Oprey whores Hank Sr.’s Image/music/legacy,, but to my knowledge have YET to reinstate him…..He’s really never done anything worse than anybody else,as Loretta stated… Time will tell..
January 13, 2017 @ 3:47 pm
For starters, I’m pretty sure Loretta didn’t publish a song like “N***er F***er.”
IIRC, Voe defends that language by pointing to all the “gangsta” racial content and animus. What’s good for the goose, etc.
He has that right, too. But it doesn’t make it right, and Loretta should know that.
Crap aside, I like Coe’s spirit, and he’s a born writer.
January 14, 2017 @ 12:57 pm
I’m fully aware of what your saying,,, at the same time,,It’s called “Freedom of Speech” and although I personally found the “Bootleg” stuff in bad taste,, and actually demanded my friend stop playing it for me,as he was laughing,thinking it was SO funny.. It IS his right to say whatever he wants.. It’s our choice whether we listen to it or not.. that said… Loretta recorded a sonbg called “Pill” at a time when contraception wasn’t even talked about..she got a LOT of grief for that song..and I know it doesn’t come close to DAC’s more offensive tracks,,it’s the fact that maybe she understands where he is coming from.. I also think that if he had continued to publish such material THAT would be a different story.. but he did not.. We are all human and make mistakes.. Should Cash , Jennings , Jones or any of the countless other members who sometimes did less than appropriate things in their lives not be inducted ? Who’s to say “what’s Right?”.. I guess the board of the HOF in this case….
January 13, 2017 @ 3:13 pm
John Lomax III – Thanks for your insight!
January 13, 2017 @ 5:23 pm
The Hall of Fame isn’t, or at least shouldn’t be, a popularity contest. His character has nothing to do with his musical contributions other than possibly improving the quality of his music.
January 13, 2017 @ 8:22 pm
Thank you, Megan! We should remember that Hank Sr. (God rest his soul) struggled profusely with his own demons and even took a shot with a pistol at his wife. And George Jones (May he rest in peace), well, if you don’t know by now…
January 13, 2017 @ 8:26 pm
I’d understand his never getting in given the reasons all mentioned already but man oh man his 1970s-1980s output was so strong – up through “Rides Again” his albums, largely written by himself, were so complete, so well put together, probably due in large part to hall of famer Sherrill- each song seamlessly blending into the next. Were he to have died in 1983 he’d already have been enshrined I bet.
January 14, 2017 @ 12:40 am
You people and the racist shit, Hell everyone was a racist in the 60’s I grew up in Arizona where “N***** don’t let the sunset on your ass in town” was a sign on the city limits, Hell I remember Waylon Jennings being a disc jockey in phoenix and playing Johnny rebels songs on the radio,
January 14, 2017 @ 1:02 pm
I’m gonna call you out on your statement JR,, NOT everyone was a racist in the 60’s.. just because it was the “norm” doesn’t mean everybody thought it was right.. and Yes , I am a White Boy !
January 14, 2017 @ 9:52 am
I like to play his music on the jukebox for shock & awe effect.
January 14, 2017 @ 4:34 pm
Okay, I’ll break with the pack mentality, and say that the Stanley Brothers deserve to go in before DAC (taking nothing away from his significant musical contributions) or pretty much anyone else y’all bark about, and that it should have happened when Dr Ralph was alive to receive the honor. Enough of my soapbox, though.
January 15, 2017 @ 1:46 pm
As a lifelong Stanly Brothers fan, I couldn’t agree more!
January 16, 2017 @ 9:44 am
The Stanley brothers were bluegrass artists and good ones and they have been awarded entry in the bluegrass hall of fame! In my book that’s there genre and they have been taken care of
January 14, 2017 @ 6:41 pm
Can’t speak for any official institution but DAC is in my hall of fame and that’s the only one I really care about
January 14, 2017 @ 8:28 pm
David Allan Coe is not going to be elected to the Country Music Hall of Fame.
The guy who had a more serious “candidacy” was Johnny Paycheck–who had the hit with “Take This Job”–but even he has not been selected.
Racism’s probably more of an impediment than attempted homicide.
January 15, 2017 @ 11:12 am
I would add that DAC has basically killed his own chances to ever get in the hall. All he would have to do is go around doing some interviews saying how remorseful he is for some of his words/songs/actions/whatever and he would probably be pretty much forgiven. DAC has basically taken the exact opposite approach, which is essentially trying to make money still off his XXX albums, turning in poor performances, and generally appearing to be a continued train wreck of a human being. Americans LOVE a good redemption story, see George Jones, but when the guy seemingly refuses to even try and be redeemed, no one is going to feel sorry for him. There is a reason that Roger Clemens and Barry Bonds aren’t in the Baseball Hall of Fame and 99% of it is that they seemingly refuse to admit any wrongdoing. The same holds true for DAC, he might have the accolades to get in, but he continues to be his own worst enemy.
January 16, 2017 @ 2:48 am
Re DAC: I certainly agree with what you say about how Coe has conducted himself.
But he’d be a hard sell for the H-o-F even if he said the right things. The Hall is biased toward hitmakers–and mainstream songwriters. Coe’s a talented artist. But he only had three top-10 hits in his career (and one top-5). Paycheck had at least ten top-10’s and had the massive #1 with “Take This Job.” And Paycheck has also been recognized as a top-tier vocalist who (depending on the source) was even a major influence on George Jones. Among “outlaws,” Paycheck and, of course Hank Jr. would get in ahead of Coe.
Re baseball: Sorry, you’re in error there. The baseball writers have blackballed the steroid users (or anyone who they’re quite sure was a user) irrespective of whether they “admit” wrongdoing. Mark McGwire admitted it and came clean–and I don’t think he ever got more than 25% of the vote. The latest story is that there’s a shift among the baseball writers with new blood coming in and that Clemens and Bonds have a good shot at getting elected–whether they come clean or not.
January 15, 2017 @ 9:44 pm
That’s one I honestly think we’ll see in the near future – PayCheck’s bona fides overshadow some of those already in and I believe time will dull some of the edges of his later career. His backing work in the 1950s, his songwriting, the Little Darlin’ years, and then again, as with Coe, the sharp 1970’s outlaw years albums – solid, solid case for the HOF. And of course, anyone who’d let George Jones make him ride a moped for thousands of miles behind the car with the band – vote him in already!
January 15, 2017 @ 12:08 am
Whether you like Mr Coe,or not, and besides his naughty tunes, his song: “You Never Even Called Me By My Name”, has been a No.1, Bar Anthem of America,for almost 40 years. Everyone sings it at Bars,Parties. It’s on the same line as: Family Tradition,as a Favorite, Sing-Along,Party Song.
January 15, 2017 @ 5:38 pm
This is one of those lessons in life that the young should take note of. Sometimes, no matter how talented, we do shit that is harmful to ourselves and it can come back later in life and bite us in the ass.
DAC will never be in the HOF and as a self described “outlaw” he should understand that.
January 15, 2017 @ 9:43 pm
David Allen Coe should be doing rap music with his nephew’s group, Pimpadelic. If he’s still selling “For Adults only”, then he’s profiting off of one badly racist song.If he re-recorded and released it without the offending song, he’d be in the HOF tomorrow.
January 18, 2017 @ 8:56 pm
Put him in hall of fame he is more country than Taylor Swift Luke Bryan ever will be each person has to be there self when I look at country music artists of today ant but a handful that you can hear the experience of artists from yester years as Waylon Jennings said be yourself play it your way sing it your way so don’t keep someone who deserves it out cause folks got to be political correct like Loretta said every person has skeletons