Music history is funny. You have these moments where an artist is so big, so untouchable, that they can basically do whatever they want. In 1989, Randy Travis was that guy. He was the face of the "New Traditionalist" movement, the man who supposedly saved country music from its glossy, pop-obsessed "Urban Cowboy" phase.
Then he did something weird.
He took a 1959 R&B classic, added a booming doo-wop bass vocal, and released it as a country single. Randy Travis: It's Just a Matter of Time wasn't just another hit; it was a pivot point. People forget how much of a gamble this actually was at the time.
The Song That Almost Wasn't Country
Originally, "It's Just a Matter of Time" belonged to Brook Benton. It was a soulful, silky R&B masterpiece written by Benton along with Belford Hendricks and Clyde Otis. Before Randy ever laid eyes on it, the song had already been a number one R&B hit and a top ten pop hit.
It had also been "countrified" before. Sonny James took it to the top of the country charts in 1970, and Glen Campbell had a go at it in 1986. So, why did Randy need to do it again?
The truth is, he didn't even record it for his own album at first.
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The track was actually cut for a multi-artist compilation called Rock, Rhythm & Blues. The project was a collection of 1950s covers produced by Richard Perry—a guy known more for working with Rod Stewart and The Pointer Sisters than anyone in Nashville. Randy was the lone country representative on the project.
He liked the recording so much that he decided to make it the lead single for his fifth studio album, No Holdin' Back.
That Distinctive, Deep Sound
If you listen to the track today, the first thing that hits you isn't Randy’s signature baritone. It’s that deep, rumbling "boom-boom-boom" bass vocal in the background. That was actually Richard Perry himself providing those low notes.
It felt different.
Most country songs in '89 were leaning back toward the fiddle and steel guitar (which Randy usually championed). But this? This had synthesizers. It had a string section. It felt like a 1950s prom song that happened to have a North Carolina farm boy singing the lead.
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Honestly, some critics hated it. They thought Randy was "going Hollywood" or losing his traditionalist edge. But the fans? They didn't care. The song shot to number one on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart on December 2, 1989. It became his tenth chart-topper in just a few short years.
Why the Gamble Worked
You've gotta understand the context of 1989. The "Class of '89"—Garth Brooks, Alan Jackson, Travis Tritt, Clint Black—was just arriving. These guys were younger, hungrier, and bringing a new energy. Randy was the "old guard," even though he was only thirty.
By releasing a cover that crossed genres, Randy proved he wasn't just a one-trick pony who could only sing about "Diggin' Up Bones." He showed a vocal dexterity that most of his peers couldn't touch. He wasn't just a country singer; he was a vocalist.
The Hidden Gems of the No Holdin' Back Era
While "It's Just a Matter of Time" got the glory, that era produced some of Randy's most nuanced work. Look at the tracklist of that 1989 album:
- "He Walked on Water": A song about his great-grandfather that still makes grown men cry.
- "Hard Rock Bottom of Your Heart": A massive four-week number one that proved he could still dominate the "radio" sound.
- "Mining for Coal": A beautiful ballad co-written by Matraca Berg.
The album eventually went double platinum. It’s kinda wild to think that a cover song from a rock-and-roll compilation was the engine that drove that whole success.
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The Meaning Behind the Lyrics
The song itself is a bit of a "told-you-so" anthem, though much gentler than Randy's actual song called "I Told You So." It’s about a man watching a former lover leave, knowing with absolute certainty that she'll realize her mistake.
"After I gave you everything I had, you left and you called me a clown..."
There’s a quiet confidence in the delivery. Randy doesn't sound angry. He sounds patient. That patience reflected where he was in his career—sitting at the top of the mountain, watching the industry change around him.
How to Appreciate This Era Today
If you’re a modern country fan who only knows Randy from "Three Wooden Crosses," you owe it to yourself to go back to the No Holdin' Back record. It represents a moment when country music was trying to figure out its identity between the 80s and the 90s.
Actionable Steps for the True Fan:
- Compare the Versions: Listen to Brook Benton’s 1959 original, then Sonny James’ 1970 version, and finally Randy’s 1989 take. You’ll hear how Randy kept the "cool" of the R&B version while keeping the "soul" of the country versions.
- Watch the Music Video: It’s a simple performance clip, but it captures Randy’s magnetic stage presence before his health struggles changed everything.
- Listen for the Bass: Pay attention to Richard Perry’s background vocals. It’s a production choice you rarely hear in country music anymore.
- Check out the B-Sides: Specifically "Somewhere in My Broken Heart," which was co-written by Billy Dean (who later had a huge hit with it). Randy’s version is arguably more "pure."
Randy Travis didn't just sing songs; he curated a specific feeling of American nostalgia. Whether it was a soul cover or a gospel hymn, he made it sound like it had always belonged in a Nashville honky-tonk. "It's Just a Matter of Time" remains the best example of his ability to color outside the lines without losing his soul.