As you well know by now, I have very eclectic musical tastes. I like some Jazz, now and then. I can always crank up some AC/DC and New Wave, sure, in limited doses. One musical genre I rarely touch on is country. I by, no means, am any sort of expert on Country music. 90% of what I know I gathered from Ken Burns mini-series “Ken Burns: Country Music”. Which by the way, is one of the best documentary min-series you will ever watch. Anyway, even before Burns came out with that series, I liked Country music. I went to school in Tennessee, you had to at least listen to it to be accepted. No matter, I tended towards Country Rock and enjoyed Johnny Cash and Merle Haggard so I was good.
I, still to this day, listen to all sorts of Country and I can say without reservation, my tastes still continue to be eclectic.
What follows is a list of some of the music I have enjoyed over the years. Some of it typical Country (Bluegrass as well), some of it Country Rock. Some of it, very well known songs and some, not so much.
I would say that everything for me revolves around Johnny Cash. He was my first true Country artist and anything before or after still revolves around him. I get all his flaws and I really don’t care about that backstory, although knowing his history is very important in understanding the artist and his music. Picking a favorite from Cash is impossible. His career was so expansive and so important that there really isn’t one song that encapsulates the artist. However, since I am making lists, I am obligated to put one out there. I will go with “Ring of Fire”. What is interesting is that Johnny Cash did not write the song, his wife did (and Merle Kilgore) and it was about her falling in love with him. Her sister, Anita, recorded it first and then Cash put his own take on it and it became a huge hit for him. Normally, I don’t include anything recorded before 65-66 but this song is special.
“Man of Constant Sorrow”, written by Dick Burnett performed by dozens of bluegrass and country artists. Hard to pick one version I like better than any other so I will just leave it at that. The song became famous after George Clooney mimed it in “‘O Brother, Where Art Thou?”. Random tidbit:Dan Tyminski sang the song in the movie. It’s a great bluegrass song even though it was written in 1915. A must listen to version is Allison Kraus and Union Station from their Live album.
Something about “Crazy” by Patsy Cline just sends shivers up and down my spine. Written by Willie Nelson, performed by dozens of artists over the years, the song has legendary status in recorded music history. Patsy Cline’s version is clearly the standard bearer and it is beautiful. Again, another song from before my 1965 cutoff but I don’t care. Any list of great Country songs has to include this one. There isn’t a person on this planet that hasn’t heard it and loved it.
My last Country song is “Copperhead Road” by Steve Earle. Song about Moonshining in Eastern Kentucky/East Tennessee. Earle is an interest character, he plays a hard rock/bluegrass thing that is actually very good. This song is more of a mix of rock and country than bluegrass but it’s still worth a listen.
Now that we have morphed over to Country Rock I will start with Tennessee’s best country rock. Charlie Daniels (who passed away roughly two years ago) was a legend in Tennessee. He was a fiddle player, singer songwriter and was a great American. Another artist that I find it hard to pick one song especially since his library has been played to death on FM radio but I will give it a shot. I have mentioned “Trudy” in previous columns and it still stands out for me. A story about a dude who picked a fight with the wrong guy. Typical southern story but Charlie Danile’s just makes it lively good fun and I could put “South’s Gonna Do It Again” in that genre as well.
Another song I am sure I have mentioned is Little Feats’s “Dixie Chicken”. I love a good story when I listen to music, it keeps me engaged I guess and “Dixie Chicken” has a great story. A guy meets a girl in a bar in Memphis and gets drunk with her, he ends up being married and before you know it, she’s gone. Happens all the time. Anyway, the live version is better than the studio version and as a matter of fact Waiting for Columbus is actually one of the best live albums you will buy. Little Feat were very underrated when Lowell george was fronting the band and since he passed away, they still don’t get the credit they deserve.
The Marshall Tucker Band is another favorite Southern Band of mine and I think that one song encapsulates their sound better than any other and “This Old Cowboy” . Fast paced rhythms and lyrics, it’s a great song about heartache (sort of) and moving on. Typical Country.
A great story to e is key to any Country song and that goes for Country Rock as well and “Two Hangmen” by Mason Proffit fits that bill. It is the story of guess what? Two Hangmen. It has a unique story and I think it worth a listen.
Some may argue about this next song but tough, I think the group had a mix of Country/Rock/West Coast vibe that gives them a wide range and again, it’s my list. Hot Tuna’s “Water” is an instrumental and it may not seem like a Country Rock song but I can’t say it’s not. Probably one of the few instrumentals I will include in any list. Another song worth a listen.
Another group that, for me, is very hard to name one song is Lynryd Skynrd. I mean really? Impossible but I will throw one out there that is less popular (and yes, this is a duplicate mention again). “Ballad of Curtis Lowe” is a standout because it tells that story of Ronnie Van Zandt meeting this blues picker and becoming friends with him when no one else would. Listen to the lyrics and you can see all this playing out and how it impacted Van Zandt in his later life.
“Traveling Shoes” by Elvin Bishop is another fun song to listen to. It cooks from the opening guitar riff. The album version is much better than the single.
The Eagles “Bitter Creek” from Desperado is another song to add to your playlist for sure. Simple song, simple lyrics but you can see the talent bursting from this group. They are going to be big some day.
My last song is “Toulouse Street” by the Doobie Brothers. Not actually a Country Rock song but the acoustic guitar and the harmonies seem Countrish so I put it on this list. Plus, The Doobies have been so overplayed over the years, it’s always nice to find a song that has been underplayed.
Granted this is a very short list and there are dozens and dozens of songs that could be included. I would love to hear some other song ideas that I might include in future postings.
Thanks for the great "ride" into the weekend. You know we'll all be humming at least one of your....and our choices!