A random conversation with friends this weekend has led me down a rabbit hole and I can't get up.
She was the first female country singer to go platinum -- Don't It Make My Brown Eyes Blues and Talking In Your Sleep major cross-over hits. She has a star on Hollywood Walk of Fame near her older sister, Loretta Lynn. Old videos show she is a way stronger singer than Loretta.
She is still married to her childhood sweetheart, has two kids. I'm wondering if she's taken a cue from Dolly. Maybe it's just wishful thinking...
This video from 1982 HBO special just did it for me. I find her SO totally attractive. What's the deal? Is it just me? Good people of DL, break it down for me.
Offsite Link| by Anonymous | reply 100 | March 21, 2021 10:01 PM |
It's so hard to believe Loretta (trash) is her sister.
| by Anonymous | reply 1 | March 5, 2017 9:44 PM |
Grammy for Brown Eyes Blue.
| by Anonymous | reply 2 | March 5, 2017 9:48 PM |
"One From The Heart" - Crystal and Tom Waits, great soundtrack.
Offsite Link| by Anonymous | reply 4 | March 5, 2017 10:00 PM |
She is really good for someone named after a White Castle clone
| by Anonymous | reply 5 | March 5, 2017 10:00 PM |
Crystal has long, long hair, almost down to her feet - it's one of her trademarks. Now that she has gotten older - 66- can you believe the massive job it would take to dye her hair on a regular basis? Yikes!
| by Anonymous | reply 6 | March 5, 2017 10:06 PM |
This early version of DIMMBEB from the Midnight Special is the best.
Offsite Link| by Anonymous | reply 7 | March 5, 2017 10:06 PM |
She's a dead-ringer for every elderly woman who sells "inspired by" perfumes in every flea market in Florida.
Without the hair and makeup, she wouldn't look too bad for someone pushing 70.
Offsite Link| by Anonymous | reply 8 | March 5, 2017 10:13 PM |
I liked this one from before she hit it biggish.
Offsite Link| by Anonymous | reply 9 | March 5, 2017 10:15 PM |
Crystal and Loretta were GORGEOUS in their day. Native American goddesses.
| by Anonymous | reply 10 | March 5, 2017 10:16 PM |
Donuts make my brown eyes blue.
| by Anonymous | reply 11 | March 5, 2017 10:22 PM |
Seems she had one too many bumps at this year's Grammy Awards.
Offsite Link| by Anonymous | reply 12 | March 5, 2017 10:40 PM |
Just kidding. I love her hair and she always reminded me of a Princess.
Offsite Link| by Anonymous | reply 13 | March 5, 2017 10:44 PM |
I was borderline obsessed with Crystal Gayle when I was a little kid - probably an early indication that I was a gayling, etc
I too like the One from the Heart soundtrack. I learned about it from a friend who's a big Tom Waits fan. At first I thought he was mistaken when he told me it was a collaboration with Crystal Gayle, they're such an unlikely pairing. But it works.
| by Anonymous | reply 14 | March 5, 2017 10:49 PM |
Loretta inducted Crystal into the Grand Ole Opry this past January.
Offsite Link| by Anonymous | reply 15 | March 5, 2017 10:59 PM |
R1, that's a bit unfair to Loretta and Crystal. Why do you call Loretta trash? If it hadn't been for Loretta's success, Crystal wouldn't have had her career. They were born almost 20 years apart, raised in different times in different geographic areas with different educational opportunites. You may not like her music but to call her trash is idiotic.
| by Anonymous | reply 16 | March 5, 2017 11:08 PM |
I may have inadvertently outed myself to my entire high school by submitting a charcoal portrait of Crystal Gayle in our annual student art exhibit my senior year. I'd worked on the drawing for a full semester and was very proud of it. Unfortunately,it was overworked beyond any drawing anyone had ever seen before and I did not win any award, not even "participant."
I titled my portrait "Crystal".
| by Anonymous | reply 17 | March 5, 2017 11:16 PM |
r17, please post the drawing
| by Anonymous | reply 18 | March 5, 2017 11:17 PM |
She was lovely, though strangely personality free. But this was pre-MTV so that image shit didn't matter much anyway. Great voice, simple melodies -- plus a classic soundtrack to a Coppola film to her credit.
| by Anonymous | reply 19 | March 5, 2017 11:19 PM |
It's definitely a '70s look and came from a Native American Country Girl mix. Rita Coolidge had a version of it:
Offsite Link| by Anonymous | reply 20 | March 5, 2017 11:20 PM |
OP
She's fantastic.
Loretta just released a new album that's wonderful too.
| by Anonymous | reply 21 | March 5, 2017 11:23 PM |
As well as one of the Whites from The Wonderful Whites of West Virginia (when young):
Offsite Link| by Anonymous | reply 22 | March 5, 2017 11:23 PM |
yes, Crystal was also a coal miner's daughter, and she had that hair.... I used to wonder what would make my brown eyes turn blue, not quite getting her meaning.
| by Anonymous | reply 23 | March 5, 2017 11:30 PM |
I must see r17's portrait of C.G. too.
| by Anonymous | reply 24 | March 5, 2017 11:37 PM |
The lyrics don't all make sense but here she is at her loveliest. Makes me tear up even after all these years. Mary! (There, I said it for you).
Offsite Link| by Anonymous | reply 25 | March 5, 2017 11:42 PM |
I went to Hawaii in 1998 and went shopping in some indoor flea market on one of the islands. There was one booth that sold shells and jewelry and the proprietress had long hair almost like Crystal's. She had Crystal Gayle music playing, and framed autographed photos of Crystal Gayle on the wall of her booth too. I thought that was cool, so many female stars have fans that worship their music and emulate their style but I guess I didn't expect there to be a cult of Crystal Gayle.
| by Anonymous | reply 26 | March 6, 2017 12:08 AM |
White trash = assholes with brown eye
| by Anonymous | reply 27 | March 6, 2017 12:19 AM |
Just You and I - Duet with Eddie Rabbitt from that brief point in the early eighties when countrypolitan music became a sensation.
Offsite Link| by Anonymous | reply 28 | March 6, 2017 12:22 AM |
I want to see the notorious portrait , R17. Don't deny us!
| by Anonymous | reply 30 | March 6, 2017 12:26 AM |
Picking Up After You - my favorite track from One from the Heart.
I agree that the pairing with Tom Waits seems nuts, but for the most part I think it works. The jarring combination of her mannered singing and clarity with his whiskey-soaked, heavily punctuated delivery holds more chemistry than it should. (It falls short of the Tom Waits/Bette Midler match-up, however.)
Offsite Link| by Anonymous | reply 32 | March 6, 2017 12:26 AM |
One person is posting all responses to this thread, except me.
| by Anonymous | reply 33 | March 6, 2017 12:32 AM |
I loved that one, R9. I wore her records out when I was a kid.
| by Anonymous | reply 34 | March 6, 2017 12:40 AM |
Don't forget her dueting for the theme from "Another World".
| by Anonymous | reply 35 | March 6, 2017 12:56 AM |
Sorry, couldn't post it with my phone.
| by Anonymous | reply 36 | March 6, 2017 12:57 AM |
[quote]Help! I've fallen in love with CRYSTAL GAYLE!
God, you're a tard.
| by Anonymous | reply 38 | March 6, 2017 1:11 AM |
R25 Yes! "When I Dream". Such a beautiful, haunting song. Listening to the lyrics, I believe it's about a woman who has just about everything, except the man that she loves/wants.
| by Anonymous | reply 39 | March 6, 2017 3:47 AM |
R38, be gone. You have no power here.
| by Anonymous | reply 40 | March 6, 2017 12:29 PM |
Crystal is slick and Loretta is COUNTRY.
| by Anonymous | reply 41 | March 6, 2017 12:34 PM |
long hair on an old woman is UGLY.
| by Anonymous | reply 42 | March 6, 2017 12:57 PM |
i wonder if she ever wipes her ass with her hair?
| by Anonymous | reply 43 | March 6, 2017 12:58 PM |
R25 Which of her lyrics don't make sense?
["Don't it make my brown eyes blue" = "doesn't it make my brown eyes very sad."]
| by Anonymous | reply 44 | March 6, 2017 1:15 PM |
Congratulations, OP! That 1982 HBO video is a gold mine. Holds up very well today.
| by Anonymous | reply 46 | March 7, 2017 3:35 PM |
Gary Morris did the original version of "Wind Beneath My Wings," which became a hit for Bette Midler when she sang it in [italic]Beaches[/italic]:
Offsite Link| by Anonymous | reply 47 | March 7, 2017 3:39 PM |
Have you been talking in your sleep about her?
| by Anonymous | reply 48 | June 25, 2018 9:00 PM |
She (and Gary Morris) took us away.
Offsite Link| by Anonymous | reply 49 | June 25, 2018 9:12 PM |
Wow, mannered singing is putting it mildly. She makes Cher sound like a virtuosa. Crystal Light had a pretty sweet sounding voice and that nice little trill at the top but she didn't know how to sing at all. She has no breath support and cuts her phrases short, the end notes just trail off. And when she goes to hit a high note she winds up for it with a little vocal hiccup. Very bad singing, honestly. She sounds very choppy.
| by Anonymous | reply 50 | June 25, 2018 9:19 PM |
Haul out that portrait R17!
| by Anonymous | reply 51 | June 25, 2018 10:06 PM |
I'm not a huge fan of her performance in OP's link, but I usually like her singing. (And I like her recording of Half the Way, but that performance just misses the mark, I think.) Perhaps R50 may have only heard than one performance because those comments don't really apply to her singing at R37. Or here:
Offsite Link| by Anonymous | reply 52 | June 26, 2018 12:25 AM |
Crystal wasn't a huge success outside of the Country and AC charts. She had only three solo Top 40 singles on the Hot 100, and "Half The Way" was the third, peaking at No. 15 in December of 1979. Obviously, a much bigger success on the Country charts, with over 30 hits reaching the Top Ten, and almost half of them hitting the top spot. Despite the Country-Pop crossover successes of the late 70s/early 80s, particularly for Kenny Rogers, Crystal never managed that continued mainstream success.
Here's the video, her first ever, for "Half The Way".
| by Anonymous | reply 53 | June 26, 2018 1:38 AM |
Side note: its amazing to look at the Top 40 chart the week of Dec. 15th 1979 when "Half the Way" peaked. You had:
Rock (Jefferson Starship, Tom Petty, Foreigner),
Pop (Hall & Oates, Little River Band, Kenny Loggins),
Country (Crystal, Kenny Rogers, Anne Murray),
R&B (Smokey Robinson, Commodores, Stevie Wonder),
Disco (Donna Summer, Yvonne Eliman, Kool & The Gang),
Adult/Easy Listening (Captain and Tennille, Barry Manilow, ABBA)
Plus however you want to categorize Prince...
And making its debut at No. 40, the song that would (in)famously become known for launching a music revolution, "Video Killed the Radio Star" by The Buggles.
Literally something for everyone.
| by Anonymous | reply 56 | June 26, 2018 2:08 AM |
We need to see the portrait, r17!
| by Anonymous | reply 57 | June 26, 2018 2:14 AM |
Half the way is her best song.
| by Anonymous | reply 58 | June 26, 2018 2:19 AM |
her song "don't it make my brown eye blue" was in reference to her asshole after getting fucked.
| by Anonymous | reply 59 | June 26, 2018 1:44 PM |
Wow just blocked the dickhead who kept making the "asshole" comments. He thought his last comment was so funny he posted another comment right after that said "LMAO"...at his OWN comment. How fucking pathetic can you be?? No one thinks you're funny. Stop trying to make fetch happen. Dick.
| by Anonymous | reply 61 | June 28, 2018 5:20 PM |
I play my bongos, listen to Odetta, and then I iron my hair. Dig?
| by Anonymous | reply 62 | June 28, 2018 5:51 PM |
R17 's Mom threw out all of his artwork as well as his childhood toys and comic books
| by Anonymous | reply 63 | June 28, 2018 6:34 PM |
I love her.
This is a beautiful song - We Must Believe in Magic
Offsite Link| by Anonymous | reply 64 | June 28, 2018 6:51 PM |
Eat me out, lick my cooch....don’t eat me out half the way!
| by Anonymous | reply 65 | June 28, 2018 7:43 PM |
Francesco Scavullo took some stunning photos of Crystal Gayle for her “Miss the Mississippi” album.
| by Anonymous | reply 67 | June 28, 2018 8:13 PM |
Written and inspired by Art Bell’s program. He was a big fan of hers. Beautiful song!
Offsite Link| by Anonymous | reply 68 | June 28, 2018 8:25 PM |
I'm seeing her in concert in August.
I also have that 1982 HBO concert on DVD and it is great to pop in and listen to on occasion.
| by Anonymous | reply 69 | June 28, 2018 8:46 PM |
Hate to say but the 2018 Crystal could take some makeup lessons from big sis. Stop with that awful black eyeliner for starters.
| by Anonymous | reply 70 | June 28, 2018 9:06 PM |
does that bitch still have hair down to her knees?
| by Anonymous | reply 71 | June 29, 2018 1:02 PM |
I have been a longtime fan of Crystal Gayle. All the songs posted here brought back the beautiful memories. I have many of her songs on my playlists. In addition, I use iHeartRadio for music and play an Anne Murray channel that Crystal pops up from time to time. Thank you r68 for the Midnight in the Desert, a song I was not familiar with. It was beautiful! However, you left out one of my favs.....
Offsite Link| by Anonymous | reply 73 | June 29, 2018 10:15 PM |
R74 Sound of Goodbye and Why Have You Left I think are my 2 favorite songs of her. She so plaintive on Goodbye in some sections. Thanks for sharing!
| by Anonymous | reply 75 | July 1, 2018 3:36 AM |
Love Crystal, love her voice and her music ("Talking in Your Sleep" is lovely).
Plus she sang at the concert for gay and transgender rights in Nashville a few years ago and was one of the few acts to agree to perform when many didn't. She'll always have my respect.
| by Anonymous | reply 77 | July 1, 2018 3:48 AM |
I live in Nashville, and used to see her around. She was always very sweet and nice. She used to own a store here that sold knick knacks, but it closed.
If I'm not mistaken, she belongs to some religion that does not allow women to cut their hair?
And...this, without a doubt, is my favorite song of hers, and one of my favorites songs, period.
Offsite Link| by Anonymous | reply 78 | July 1, 2018 4:06 AM |
Isn't Sylvia their baby sister? Weird that they didn't all have the same last name
| by Anonymous | reply 79 | July 1, 2018 4:11 AM |
Sylvia is not related to them. Both Crystal and Loretta were born with the last name Webb, but Loretta used her married last name, and Crystal (born Brenda) used her middle name.
| by Anonymous | reply 80 | July 1, 2018 5:03 AM |
Bitches, I’m going to have a Crystal Gayle binge tomorrow because of this thread. I’m already getting emotional from so much nostalgia!
| by Anonymous | reply 81 | July 1, 2018 6:22 AM |
[quote] Plus she sang at the concert for gay and transgender rights in Nashville a few years ago
That must have been quite the conundrum since trannies want to erase gay rights.
| by Anonymous | reply 83 | July 1, 2018 7:00 AM |
I love her ANOTHER WORLD duet with Gary Morris. They both sound great.
| by Anonymous | reply 84 | July 1, 2018 7:13 AM |
My mother and I were fortunate enough to see Crystal and Kenny Rogers in concert in the early 80's. Gallager and his watermellon act opened for them. This was on Derby eve in Lexington, KY. There happened to be a few celebs there that night in town to attend derby next day in Louisville. Debbie Reynolds and the champ Muhullmod Al i with one of his wives walked in with security guards. Kenny's wife Mary Ann was also there and they announced the news of expecting 1st child. Crystal's hair was down to her ankles. It was a very memorable nignt. (please excuse any spelling errors)
| by Anonymous | reply 85 | July 1, 2018 7:57 AM |
Billy, is that you posting these obsessive Crystal Gayle posts? I had a boyfriend in the early 2000's who was OBSESSED w/ Crystal Gayle. He was a member of her fan club (which is comprised of total white trash), has T-shirts, letters, the works. It was kind of endearing, I guess. He had a beer can for a dick and was great in bed, which made my brown eye very happy.
| by Anonymous | reply 86 | July 1, 2018 4:05 PM |
did he make your brown eye blue, r86?
| by Anonymous | reply 87 | July 2, 2018 11:57 AM |
Just saw her concert yesterday and it was great fun.
She is very generous performer letting her band perform/sing some songs on their own and bringing out sister/back-up singer Peggy Sue for duet on Coalminer's Daughter and letting Peggy Sue do a very hilarious comedy routine about talking trash about her neighbors.
The hair is still down to her ankles but very thin at the bottom. She'd actually do herself a word of good to cut it below the shoulders as it is still quite thick and beautiful til it hits her knees.
Her voice was awesome and rich. Usually when a female singer hits a certain age (I believe she is pushing 70) it can harden and deepen...but she still sounds as lovely as ever.
I paid $5 for an 8x10 and met her after the show and got it signed along with a selfie. Very sweet and she remembered me laughing so hard (I was in the 4th row) at Peggy Sue's comedy act.
| by Anonymous | reply 88 | August 19, 2018 9:13 PM |
Did she take you away, r88?
| by Anonymous | reply 89 | August 19, 2018 9:37 PM |
My grandparents would listen to her albums while they had cocktails before dinner. "Here I go down that wrong road again," my grandmother would say as she poured herself a second g & t.
| by Anonymous | reply 90 | August 19, 2018 10:11 PM |
R89, I wish. She had a hot young guy playing the fiddle for her.
The queen who was running her merch table was also pretty cute for a guy on his late 40s.
Again, she was sweet and hilarious. I thanked her for coming back to our area since last time her tour bus was stolen. She looked at me and deadpanned, "Were you the one who took it?"
| by Anonymous | reply 91 | August 20, 2018 1:59 AM |
I wish i knew why she recorded a song called "Don't It Make My Brown Eye Blue?" Was she into anal?
| by Anonymous | reply 92 | August 21, 2018 12:06 PM |
she was the queen of anal.
| by Anonymous | reply 94 | August 25, 2018 12:20 PM |
My mother had long hair like Gayle and so I grew up loving her look and voice. I also think and that she and Tom Waits were excellent together. I listen to those songs at least once a month. I love her and I think he is a genius.
As for Loretta being " trash" - that is a flat out lie. I can't stand people who can't look beyond upbringing to see greatness. I was raised in a upper middle class family and we all loved and still love Miss Loretta. We think of her as family.
| by Anonymous | reply 95 | August 25, 2018 4:15 PM |
crystal gayle was classy and loretta lynn was trashy.
| by Anonymous | reply 96 | August 26, 2018 1:40 PM |
If you’re into bdsm you can tie her up with her own hair.
| by Anonymous | reply 97 | August 26, 2018 4:06 PM |
she's into anal. she sings a shitty song about her brown eye
| by Anonymous | reply 98 | August 26, 2018 9:43 PM |
I read somewhere that the song was written as an ode to Gayle giving up her Native American roots for life among white people - hence her brown eyes turning blue.
| by Anonymous | reply 99 | March 21, 2021 9:20 PM |
Speak singer who had a soft pleasant voice with decent enunciation.
| by Anonymous | reply 100 | March 21, 2021 10:01 PM |
