SotD: Cindy Lee Berryhill, “She Had Everything”

The impetus for this blog was a conversation I had over lunch back in July. My dear college friend Judy teaches English at another institution of higher learning here in KY, about ninety minutes away from me; the last three years we’ve made a point to meet over a meal sometime during the summer months. This year we did Mexican in Danville and followed up with some ice cream at DQ.

Toward the end of our chat, we discussed writing, particularly my interest in creating what I called “pseudo-memoir.” I’d been creeping toward this in some of my Facebook posts over the previous year.  We wondered if FB really was the right venue for such a thing, and Judy asked, “What about a blog?”

The idea clearly resonated, because less than 24 hours later, my first four posts were up.

Earlier we’d talked about a tape I made and sent Judy back in the late 80s. It featured several female artists, I believe with three or so tracks from each. I remembered I put Basia, Jane Siberry, and Sinead O’Connor on there, but Judy reminded me about one I’d completely forgotten: Cindy Lee Berryhill.

I first encountered Ms. Berryhill on the 1988 Rhino CD compilation Don’t Read While You Listen! (which features this classic as a hidden track). She piqued my interest enough to rescue her debut disk Who’s Gonna Save The World? from a cutout bin soon afterward. Today’s song is World’s lead track. It’s probably been 25 years or more since I listened to it with any frequency, but it’s a good one.

I’ve been surprised at how much I’ve wanted to write these past three-plus months, but ideas have kept popping into my head. You helped create a bit of a monster, Judy, but I’m most grateful!