Giving it that Gary Stewart moan.
Lately, I have found myself on a deep dive into the stellar covers that Zach Top has done over the past year or so. From George Strait’s “Nobody In His Right Might Would’ve Left Her” all the way to Billy Currington’s “Good Directions,” Top can sing just about anything under the sun. From the classics to the hits from the 2000s, he puts his old soul flare on it all.
One of my favorites of all time from Top is his cover of Gary Stewart’s “She’s Actin’ Single (I’m Drinkin’ Double).” Nothing hits like the wail of Stewart’s sad and longing lyrics. While that might be my favorite, this one is quickly growing on me. Last year, Top performed another Stewart classic, laying down “Flat Natural Born Good-Timin’ Man.”
Top laid down a sensational cover at Nashville’s Basement East at the end of 2023. The single appeared on Stewart’s Steppin’ Out album, released in 1976. The rock and roll-inspired track is rough and around the edges compared to the rest of Stewart’s clean-cut classic country catalog, but “Flat Natural Born Good-Timin’ Man” makes for a killer beer-drinking tune.
Top lays down a stone-cold version of the track, letting it rip with his band. Before firing up the melody, he gets ready, making sure he has suave on stage, popping the collar of his jean jacket, noting he can’t let Drake Milligan “out cool” him.
“Come on. Let’s tell them a story that Gary Stewart wrote.”
With his vocal delivery, Zach Top proves once again he is an old soul in a young body. He keeps his signature smooth twang but draws out the last note of each verse a little longer as Stewart does. He also adds a little bit of the blues to his voice and melody to fit his style.
“I’m goin’ down on Whiskey Row
Where them good lookin’, high heeled honeys go
Those free wheelin’ girls sure ’nuff a friend
Of a flat natural born good timin’ man…”
I am fully convinced Top is incapable of laying down a lousy cover… and at this rate, he just might be one of the most talented dudes in country music.
Of course, without the original, we would not have this stellar cover. So while you’re here, fire up the original.
