Loretta Lynn — Van Lear Rose

Can Jack White do for Loretta Lynn what Rick Rubin did for Johnny Cash? Van Lear Rose isn’t quite as revolutionary as Cash’s American Recordings, but White does do a mighty fine job guiding the Coal Miner’s Daughter.

Taking production, arranging and some performing duties, White helps Lynn unlock a rocked-up album with a huge country heart. Don’t be mistaken — Lynn still sounds like herself, but she’s done away with the cheesiness of the ‘80s Nashville production that’s killed so many classic country stars. Lynn is a true C&W genius and her compositions about her family, life story and other classic country themes (there’s one song called "Women’s Prison" and another called "Miss Being Mrs.") are some of the best the genre has to offer.

And if you don’t like it so old-fashioned, check out, "Portland Oregon," her duet with White, which proves the White Stripe is capable of much more than "Seven Nation Army" style riffs. Seems that the young pup and the grand dame are teaching each other new tricks.

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