Today's Song You Should Know: 'Candy Colored Glasses' - By Big Kenny

I am constantly fascinated by music that remained unreleased for years. Sure, sometimes the songs aren't very good and leaving them unheard by the general public was a wise move. But often when the music is eventually released, you listen to it and wonder why the music label didn't have enough faith in the material to release it at the time it was produced.

That was certainly my reaction when I first heard this song from William Kenneth Alphin, best known by his stage name Big Kenny. You likely are familiar with Kenny thanks to the success of Big & Rich. But before he and John Rich formed the duo, Kenny bounced around the music business for years.

He originally signed a deal in 1999 with Hollywood Records and he recorded a solo album that remained unreleased until 2005, after the success of Big N' Rich. And unlike that duo's music, the album "Live A Little" is a captivatingly weird mix of rock, psychedelic electronica and roots country. Given the state of the music radio in 1999, I can see why the label might have been worried about its commercial success. But creatively, the album has some wonderfully quirky moments.

"Candy Colored Glasses" is the lead track of the album & the label must have at least sent a promo version of the track out to some stations, because I remember playing it back in 2000 or so. I have always loved the song's mix of musical elements and despite its odd intro, I'm surprised it wasn't a hit back then. Co-written by Kenny and Hanna–McEuen's Jaime Hanna, the song is catchy as hell and I don't think a week has gone by since I first heard it that I haven't played it at least a couple of times.

I enjoy Big & Rich, but "Candy Colored Glasses" makes me wonder if Big Kenny isn't some big pop rock star in an alternative universe where this song dominated the charts in 1999 & 2000.