Fastest Growing Heartache In The West

Album: Beaucoups Of Blues (1970)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Starr's sophomore solo effort is a collection of country tunes, including this tale of heartache written by Nashville songwriters Larry Kingston and Frank Dycus. Dycus, who penned his first hit "Lilacs and Fire" for George Morgan two years earlier, was still working as a welder building trailers for U Haul when inspiration struck. He told Nu Country TV: "I was working in the factory then and looked up at the counter and it said Tennessee Steel - the fastest growing steel warehouse in the south. I looked at it again and thought I got the fastest growing heartache in the south. I got together with Larry Kingston and he said 'the fastest growing heartache in the west - we came here from Arkansas for a better way of life and she got into California booze and California men.' That's how the song originated. It was actually about me but we moved it to a different setting. A lot of times you take bits and pieces out of your life and you can't write the truth when you're living with a woman that's causing you heartache. We had to make it like we got this friend of mine."

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Corey Hart

Corey HartSongwriter Interviews

The Canadian superstar talks about his sudden rise to fame, and tells the stories behind his hits "Sunglasses At Night," "Boy In The Box" and "Never Surrender."

Jesus Christ Superstar: Ted Neeley Tells the Inside Story

Jesus Christ Superstar: Ted Neeley Tells the Inside StorySong Writing

The in-depth discussion about the making of Jesus Christ Superstar with Ted Neeley, who played Jesus in the 1973 film.

Rob Halford of Judas Priest

Rob Halford of Judas PriestSongwriter Interviews

Rob Halford dives into some of his Judas Priest lyrics, talking about his most personal songs and the message behind "You've Got Another Thing Comin'."

Michael W. Smith

Michael W. SmithSongwriter Interviews

Smith breaks down some of his worship tracks as well as his mainstream hits, including "I Will Be Here For You" and "A Place In This World."

Jimmy Webb

Jimmy WebbSongwriter Interviews

Webb talks about his classic songs "By the Time I Get to Phoenix," "Wichita Lineman" and "MacArthur Park."

Michael Bolton

Michael BoltonSongwriter Interviews

Into the vaults for this talk with Bolton from the '80s when he was a focused on writing songs for other artists.