Carl's Scrapbook: The 80s: Original Songs

 LOVE'S GONNA GET YOU (1986)
(Carl Chambers) Ricky Skaggs Music, BMI

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The line -- "Love's Gonna Get You" -- came from a play on the line that the '80s TV character "Maude" used to always say, "God'll get you for that". I never liked the idea of using God's name for such a trivial purpose -- but the idea of good bringing a later judgement for wrong was a principal truth I didn't mind exploiting.

"Love's Gonna Get You" was in the first batch of songs I wrote after Welk released me from my contract with them. It was one about five songs I demoed on four-track cassette to take with me on a songwiters junket to Nashville. I had also (as was my custom) given a copy of the demos to Jesse for Ricky Skaggs to hear. Jesse played the songs for Ricky on the plane ride to their next gig and gave me a call from the first airport they dropped into to say Ricky wanted to put "Love's Gonna Get You" on hold. I was stunned. Of all the tunes on that demo, that would have been the last one I would have thought he would want to record. Actually, I had Buck Owens in mind when I wrote it.

Not only did Ricky record the song in 1986,-- but he made it the title song of his new album and it was the first single release. Unfortunately, I think the song may have been a little too far afield for Ricky's hardcore bluegrass/country fans and it only made #4 on the Billboard chart, although it did stay at #4 for four weeks. I was always flattered that he used my guitar identity lick and basic arrangement. Another cool thing was that my cousin Jesse was the bass player on Ricky's "Love's Gonna get you" cut.


Other Original hits and misses from the 80s: