Opera meets Opry in this self-centered song that opens Liz Anderson’s 1968 RCA album, Like a Merry Go Round:
“Me, Me, Me, Me, Me” also served as the B-side of Anderson’s “Cry, Cry Again” RCA 45.
It was my friend and indefatigable record collector, Tom Avazian, who pointed out that Liz Anderson not only wrote much of her own material but also a number of songs for her daughter, Lynn — including at least five songs that made top 40 on the country charts.
Lynn Anderson’s ‘hard country’ take on “Wave Bye Bye to the Man” – a mother and child’s declaration of independence from a bad dad – provides a musical punch that perfectly matches the lyric:
Interesting to hear Lawanda Lindsey’s version of the song from the previous year (1968) and notice how the flute part takes some of the edge off the song. As lovely as it sounds, the flute, unfortunately, is no match for the twin guitars that kick off Lynn Anderson’s driving version. Oddly, “Wave Bye Bye to the Man” ended up as a B-side to “Our House is Not a Home” (unless, inspired by The Beatles’ example, this was intended as a double-A side).
Anderson recorded for the Chart label for four years beginning in 1966, until she got a record deal with almighty Columbia in 1970. “Wave Bye Bye to the Man,” however, is notable for its renegade sound and darkly humorous sensibility that is very much in keeping with what Shelby Singleton and Plantation Records were putting out at the same time. Song included on 1970’s Uptown Country Girl (Lynn would go on to release two more albums that year, having also released three albums the previous year).
“Wave Bye Bye to the Man” – Music and lyrics by Betty Jo Gibson and Buck Lindsay.