This Week's Forgotten Gem of the '80s - Lucinda Williams' "I Lost It"

Though many listeners probably never heard the tune until its inclusion on the 1998 breakthrough Americana release Car Wheels on a Gravel Road, the passionate, melodic "I Lost It" actually dates back to a very early Lucinda Williams album, 1980's Happy Woman Blues. One of the people in the dark on that fact happened to be myself, until a few short moments ago when I realized that this track was nearly 20 years old when I first added it to my collection. The 1980 version features a slightly inflated sense of Louisiana shuffle primitivism than the more rock-flavored recording I know so well, but Williams' songwriting prowess announces itself forcefully years before she drew the acclaim she now receives. Mournful lyrics combined with Williams' raggedly gorgeous vocal delivery prove here that this artist has not merely grown better with age but has always been a rich contributor to American music culture.

• Sample or download "I Lost It" here.

• Official Lucinda Williams Website

Album Cover Image Courtesy of Smithsonian Folkways