Country music suggestions please?

In My Humble Opinion
1

Hi everyone, I’m new here and I hope you don’t mind if I request a few musical suggestions. I’ve always liked “Dead Flowers” by the Rolling Stones and lately I’ve been trying to hunt down some more country music with the same vibe.

I’m vaguely familiar with country music; I’ve listened to artists like Hank Williams, Loretta Lynn and Charley Pride… they definitely have their moments but it’s just not what I had in mind. (Plus, I’m not into the preachy, family-values stuff that some of them are fond of.)
GEORGE JONES (his older stuff, at least) is about the closest to my tastes so far, and I really like “Satin Sheets” by Jeanne Pruette… but it seems to me that there’s much better stuff out there that I’m missing. Oh, and I really enjoyed David Allan Coe’s records, but those seemed more like sneering parodies of country (great music, though, esp. on the X-rated tape I heard.)

Anyways. If anyone can relate to what I’m talking about I’d sure appreciate any suggestions. Thanks!

2

Rolling Stones is country? That’s a revelation to me…

I don’t know if this will help but one group that I like is Farmer’s Daughter… they aren’t too bad IMHO

3

I would really, really like to help, but I’ve never heard “Dead Flowers” by the Rolling Stones. Maybe if you could list some of the Jones and Coe songs that you like (or any other specific songs), I could come up with some suggestions.

4

If you like the Stones’ “Dead Flowers” you should like the Flying Burrito Brothers, the Desert Rose Band, and Chris Gaffney.

If you like George Jones, check out Vern Gosdin - sometimes called the poorman’s George Jones.

5

Hey Kat, I appreciate the reply. George Jones songs that come to mind are Tennessee Whiskey, Still Doin’ Time, That Right Left Hand, If Drinkin’ Don’t Kill Me…
As for David Allan Coe, I like most of LH Redneck (as well as most of his greatest hits), and off the X-rated album I love the music for “Pick em, Stick em” and “F**k you one more time.” (Too bad the lyrics make me feel like an idiot just listening to them.) So, I guess I’m into that traditional, “no-frills” sound that doesn’t get too goofy. Thanks again for your help.

PS - Topaz: Thanks for the Farmer’s Daughter suggestion, they are more contemporary than I prefer but I’ll give 'em a chance. Oh and the Rolling Stones can do country when they want to – “Far Away Eyes” is another example.

6

Hey Kawliga, I just fired up Napster and checked out a couple of VERN GOSDIN songs. They’re great, I love 'em! Thanks for the tips!

7

Have you tried Merle Haggard and Doug Stone? Maybe Roger Miller. I want to suggest Randy Travis also, but I don’t know if that’s only because I’ve been listening to A Man Ain’t Made of Stone or not.

And, of course, Johnny Cash. It’s a theory of mine that everyone likes something by Johnny Cash.

8

More: Marc Chesnut and possibly Clint Black.

9

What you want is the more Texas or non-Nashville country.

Charlie Robison
Chris Wall
Cory Morrow
Don Williams
Jerry Jeff Walker
Johnny Cash
Merle Haggard
Owen Temple
Pat Green
Robert Earl Keen
Waylon Jennings
Jack Ingram
Roger Creager

I can name some song titles if you want. Also Rolling Stones is more Blues Rock, you should listen to Stevie Ray Vaughan.

10

Lyle Lovett is my only suggestion but some consider him more blues than country. I’d say he’s a bit blues/gosphel and country.

Best first Lyle CD to get would be Joshua Judges Ruth. Track three “She’s Already Made Up Her Mind” is possibly one of the best sad songs sung from the male perspective in it’s genre.

11

Thanks guys! Your suggestions have been great. In fact I already got my hands on a Merle Haggard tape…

TexasSpur: I think you hit the nail right on the head; that’s pretty much exactly the kind of stuff I was looking for. As for songs, would I be correct in assuming that I should go for the older stuff by each artist?

12

Alright…lived near Nashville for a while, and I’m an enthusiastic guitar/fiddle player, myself.

Depends what you like. But here are some of my own favorite Country/Bluegrass recordings/artists.

Dolly Parton/Emmylou Harris/Linda Ronstadt. “Trio.” It’s got David Lindley playing Hawaiian lap steel guitar on one cut, and some relatively early Mark O’Connor Nashville session fiddle playing on it. The vocal arrangements are exquisite. There are actually two “Trio” albums, but I prefer the first one.

Also, Dolly Parton’s “The Grass is Blue.” Straight ahead bluegrass. Top notch.

I like a lot of stuff from Alison Krauss and Union Station.

Steve Earle (particularly “Copperhead Road.”)

Vince Gill is a tremendous musician, an outstanding guitarist with a lot of affection for country roots, although he can still make old forms sound fresh.

Brad Paisley. Killer guitar player.

John Anderson. Particularly “Seminole Wind.”

Mark O’Connor and the New Nashville Cats. One word. Wow.

Bill Monroe and the Bluegrass Boys. Recordings from the 1940’s and 50’s. How many people almost singlehandedly INVENT an entire friggin’ GENRE of music? If you don’t know who Bill Monroe is, you simply don’t have a working knowledge of American music.

A recording called “Strength in Numbers” from fiddler Mark O’ Connor, Banjo player Bela Fleck, Bassist Edgar Meyer, and Dobro player Jerry Douglas.

If you like that, and you like classical music, too, try “Appalachian Spring” from O’Connor, Meyer, and reknowned cellist Yo Yo Ma.

O’Connor’s record “Heroes,” where he basically plays duets with all his childhood fiddle/violin playing heroes. Yeah, I’m an O’Connor fan.

“Country Boy Can Survive,” from Hank Williams, Junior.

“Diggy Diggy Lo” and “Louisiana Man,” from Cajun fiddler Doug Kershaw. (Yeah, there’s country music besides Nashville.)

Asleep at the Wheel (Good Texas Swing stuff. Also check out Bob Wills, Spade Cooley, and Johnny Gimble for this stuff.)

A duet record from Chet Atkins and Mark Knopfler (yes, of Dire Straits. Knopfler’s a wonderful country guitarist) called “Neck and Neck.”

Lonnie Mack.

Arlen Roth.

At the tender age of 17, I believe that LeAnn Rimes is one of the very best pop singers in the world. She had her first big hit at the age of 13 or so with “Blue.”

Who can forget Patsy Cline?

And Willie Nelson?

A song by Jimmy Webb called “The Highwayman.”

“Fancy, Don’t Let me Down,” from Reba McIntyre.

A compilation record called “Country, Rythm, and Blues” I think. Puts black R&B and white country artists together in the studio together with delightful results.

The Nashville Bluegrass Band. Stuart Duncan on Fiddle.

That ought to get you started.

13

What, nobody mentioned Johnny Cash?

And to echo panzer…STRENGTH IN NUMBERS is one of the god-DAMNEDEST recordings ever!

I would recommend pretty much damn anything that Edgar Meyers has had a hand in. In addition to SIN and APPALACHIAN SPRING, he’s done wonderful trio recordings with banjo and mandolin, and guitar and dobro. Fleck and Douglas were involved…can’t remember the mandolinist and the guitarist, but they were right up there with 'em.

If you can find any of the New Grass Revival recordings from the '70s and '80s, they’re great stuff, too. Fleck got his start with them, and Sam Bush is one of my favorite fiddler/mandolinists.

And Old And In The Way. Jerry Garcia on banjo, Vassar Clements on fiddle, David Grisman on mandolin…fine stuff.

Fuck. Now I’m hungry for cornbread and butter beans.

14

Ukulele Ike:

Yeah, Old and In the Way was a delightful recording. Heck, ANYTHING with Vassar Clements playing fiddle is fantastic. He’s a cool, cool player.

By the way…it’s not exactly country, except in the Irish sense, but I’m a big fan of the Chieftains and the Battlefield Band, too.

Clint Black is really cool. Chris LeDoux has some very nice stuff.

OOoohh…just remembered…if I can get the name right, Riders in the Sky. The guys who did “The Cowboy Way.”
WONDERFUL musicianship from what, the 40s?

And since you’re a Ukelele kind of guy, how about some Hawaiian music. After all, that’s country, too! Raymond Kane. Cecilio and Kapono. Ledward Ka’apana. There’s some really nice stuff on the latest Hapa recording.

Kanaka Wai Wai, by Olomana. Wonderful song, by two really really good musicians.

15

LCStrawhouse, you are on the verge of discovering some wonderful music. If you like Dead Flowers, then I have a good idea of the vibe you’re looking for. Try these:[ul]
[li]Dwight Yoakam- Comes the closest among current singers to capturing the old Bakersfield vibe (the underpinning of the country-esque stuff the Stones were doing in the 70’s). Pick up Guitars, Cadillacs, Etc., which is Yoakam’s masterpiece.[/li][li]Buck Owens. Try some of his early stuff. Owens and Merle Haggard together created the so-called “Bakersfield sound,” a phrase used to describe the country music movement in the 60’s that grew up among the displaced Oklahomans of Bakersfield, California. With all due respect to Texas, the Bakersfield sound is what inspired the Stones and Yoakam.[/li][li]Merle Haggard, as mentioned by other posters, was the master. In addition to his own recordings, I highly recommend Tulare Dust: A Tribute to Merle Haggard, which has some beautiful covers of his best songs. Pay attention to the artists doing those covers. They are the ones making music in that style today. (And yes, Yoakam is in there.)[/li][li]If you like the above, also give a listen to The Derailers, for a more modern take on the sound. Their Reverb Deluxe CD carries on the tradition, with a hip new twist.[/ul][/li]
TRY THOSE. If you like them, I’ll be happy to give you some more suggestions.

16

By the way, as proof of the Stones’ source of inspiration, I cite the Bakersfield reference in “Far Away Eyes.”

17

Much appreciated, Spoke, Panzerman and Ukelele Ike! You guys deserve a few beers on the house. I’ll most certainly check out your recommendations.

18

The Orange Blossom Express. The version I heard was a very impressive fiddle solo, with double stops and glissandos. I also like Reba McEntire’s She Thinks his Name was John, and Sold!, by John Michael Montgomery.

19

LC Strawhouse

Actually a lot of the people I mentioned are younger and still coming out with great music. For people not living in Texas, a completely different type of country music enjoys high popularity here. It is not pop nashville country at all. Not all of the songs are light love songs with simple lyrics. Of course that Nashville country is still more popular here and does get a lot more radio play, but the kind I mentioned is getting to be more popular.

Charlie Robison
Chris Wall
Cory Morrow
Jerry Jeff Walker
Owen Temple
Pat Green
Robert Earl Keen
Jack Ingram
Roger Creager

All of these guys are younger and entering their primes now. These guys play a harder country with more intelligent lyrics. I really wish that people who say they despise country music would listen to some of this stuff and see if they still have that same opinion.

20

If you dig rock and roll and want to get your feet wet with country, try Johnny Cash and Junior Brown.