You know that feeling when you're flipping through the radio and a guitar lick just grabs you by the collar? That’s basically the experience of hearing Tempted by Marty Stuart for the first time. Released in 1991, it wasn't just another song on the charts. It was a statement. In an era where Nashville was starting to get a little too "polished" for some folks, Marty Stuart walked in with a mouthful of attitude and a telecaster that sounded like it was plugged directly into a lightning bolt.
Marty wasn't exactly a new kid on the block back then. He’d already spent years playing mandolin with Lester Flatt and touring in Johnny Cash’s band. He was the "hillbilly rock" guy, the man with the scarves and the gravity-defying hair. But "Tempted" felt different. It was the title track of his fifth studio album, and it remains, arguably, the peak of his commercial powers.
The Nashville Airport Shuttle Inspiration
Most people think great songs are written in dark rooms with whiskey and candles. For "Tempted," the truth is a lot more mundane. Paul Kennerley, the legendary songwriter who co-wrote the track with Marty, actually got the initial melody while he was riding a shuttle bus at the Nashville airport.
Imagine that. You’re just sitting there, luggage at your feet, engines idling, and this grooving, flirtatious tune starts bouncing around in your head.
Kennerley and Stuart were a powerhouse duo. They’d already hit it big with "Hillbilly Rock," but they wanted something that felt a bit more "solid groove" and a little less "frantic strut." When they got together to finish "Tempted," they created something that bridged the gap between the 1950s rockabilly of Sun Records and the high-production 90s country sound. Honestly, it’s one of those tracks that sounds just as good in a dive bar as it does on a stadium PA system.
Why the Sound Actually Matters
If you listen closely to the recording, the production is incredibly tight. We're talking about Tony Brown and Richard Bennett at the helm—two guys who basically defined the "cool" side of 90s Nashville.
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The guitar work is where it really gets interesting for the gear nerds. Marty Stuart isn't just a singer; he’s one of the greatest pickers to ever live. On "Tempted," you’re hearing a specific kind of "twang" that comes from his 1954 Fender Telecaster. But this isn't just any guitar. It’s "Clarence," the legendary B-Bender Telecaster formerly owned by Clarence White of The Byrds.
That mechanical "pull" you hear—the way the notes bend upward in a way that sounds like a pedal steel—that’s the B-Bender in action. It gives the song its signature "lonesome but rocking" vibe. It’s also got that driving backbeat that reminds you of Steve Earle’s early stuff. It’s country, yeah, but it’s got a rock 'n' roll heart.
Breaking Down the Chart Success
Let's talk numbers, but I'll keep it quick. "Tempted" wasn't a number one hit, but it was Marty’s highest-charting solo single in the United States.
- It peaked at number 5 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks.
- The album itself was eventually certified Gold in both the U.S. and Canada.
- It spawned four radio hits, including "Little Things" and "Burn Me Down."
Even though he eventually hit number 2 with Travis Tritt on "The Whiskey Ain't Workin'," "Tempted" is the one that solidified Marty as a solo superstar. It proved he could carry a record on his own without needing the "outlaw" cred of his famous friends to prop him up.
Critics at the time, like Jana Pendragon of AllMusic, were pretty much floored. She gave the album 4.5 stars and noted that Stuart was "just as deadly" on the ballads as he was on the uptempo rockers. She wasn't wrong. The album is only about 30 minutes long, but there isn't a single second of filler on it.
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The Music Video and the "Style" Factor
You can't talk about Tempted by Marty Stuart without mentioning the visual side of things. The music video, directed by John Lloyd Miller, leaned hard into Marty’s charismatic persona.
Marty has always been a curator of country music style. In the "Tempted" era, he was leaning into the Manuel Cuevas-designed rhinestone suits and the "coolest man in Nashville" aesthetic. He wasn't trying to look like a rugged ranch hand; he looked like a rock star who just happened to be obsessed with the Grand Ole Opry.
In a weird way, the song’s lyrics—about being tempted by a love that might be a bit dangerous—perfectly matched his stage presence. He was the guy your mother warned you about, but he was also the guy who could play a bluegrass mandolin solo that would make you cry.
What Most People Get Wrong About the Song
A common misconception is that "Tempted" is a simple, straightforward country-pop tune. It’s actually pretty complex.
If you listen to the way Marty plays it live today with his band, The Fabulous Superlatives, they often do a "beefier" and slightly slower version. It brings out the soulfulness of the lyrics. It’s not just about a guy wanting to flirt; it’s about that internal struggle of trying to stay "true" while being pulled in a different direction.
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Also, people often forget how much Johnny Cash is in the DNA of this record. Marty was a member of the Cash family (formerly married to Cindy Cash) and a longtime member of the Tennessee Three. While "Tempted" is more pop-leaning than a typical Cash song, that "boom-chicka-boom" rhythm is buried right there in the foundation.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Musicians
If you're a musician trying to capture that "Tempted" sound, or just a fan who wants to dive deeper, here is how you actually "get" the Marty Stuart vibe:
- Study the B-Bender: If you want that specific pitch-bend, you need to look into Clarence White’s legacy. It’s a mechanical system inside the guitar that changes the game.
- Listen to the Album's Deep Cuts: "Blue Train" is a Cash cover on the Tempted album that shows how Marty updates the classics. It's a masterclass in modernizing tradition.
- Check Out the Producers: If you like the "clean but punchy" sound of "Tempted," look for other albums produced by Tony Brown from that era (like Vince Gill or Reba McEntire). He was the architect of the 90s Nashville sound.
- Watch Live Performances: Go find a recent video of Marty and His Fabulous Superlatives playing this. Kenny Vaughan (Cousin Kenny) and Marty have a dual-guitar telecaster chemistry that is arguably the best in the business right now.
Marty Stuart eventually stopped chasing the radio charts to focus on preserving country music history and making more traditional records like The Pilgrim or Way Out West. But "Tempted" remains that perfect moment in time when the "history" and the "hip" collided perfectly. It’s a song that doesn’t age because it was already rooted in something timeless.
Next time it comes on the radio, turn it up. That telecaster deserves to be heard.
To really appreciate the evolution of this sound, you should listen to the 1991 studio version of "Tempted" back-to-back with a live version from the last year or two. You’ll hear a musician who has only gotten better with age, turning a radio hit into a cornerstone of American roots music.