Late-Career Masterpieces

By Robert Silva, About.com Guide

Porter Wagoner gained hipster cred in the 21st century for his left-field repertoire. Creepy songs like "First Mrs. Jones" and "The Cold Hard Facts of Life" were collected in the 2006 compilation The Rubber Room. Released in 2007, Wagonmaster was a fitting goodbye to the singer, who died the same year. "Committed to Parkview," about being interred in a mental hospital, shows Porter had lost none of his trademark weirdness in old age; it was written for the singer by Johnny Cash. Although the disillusion of Wagoner's partnership with Dolly Parton occasioned her bittersweet classic "I Will Always Love You," the album's "My Many Hurried Southern Trips" (co-written by Parton) proves he still doesn't mind sharing royalties with her.