# The Essential Music Library: Country & Western **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 16, 2005, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-essential-music-library-country-western/335850 "2005-12-16T02:33:18Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![ultrafilter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/3d9bf3/32.png) [@ultrafilter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ultrafilter)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2005, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-essential-music-library-country-western/335850/1 "2005-12-16T02:33:18Z")
The Essential Music Library project is an attempt to get the many musical minds of the SDMB to sit down and discuss what works are absolutely necessary for a well-stocked musical library. There will be roughly 20 threads detailing a variety of genres so that we can get the depth that would be missing from a single-threaded discussion and the breadth necessary to cover what’s out there. This thread’s topic is country and western. As **picker** explained in the project planning thread, this is meant to include old, new & alt-country. Previous threads: [Project Planning](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=335665) | [Classical](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=336834) | [Rock](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=337956) | [Jazz](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=339051) | [Modern Rock](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=340081) | [Blues](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=341203) | [Punk/Post-Punk/New Wave](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=342310) | [Opera/Choral Music](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=343551) | [Rap/Hip-Hop](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=344056) | [Gospel](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=344690) | [Electronica](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=345226) | [Contemporary Classical](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=345831) | [Pop](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=345832) | [Film Music/Musicals](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=346844) | [R&B/Soul](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=347413) | [Grass & Roots](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=348001) | [Funk/Disco](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=348507) | [Non-Western/World](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=349132) ---
**Author:** ![Dancy\_McDance\_Dance](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/57b2e6/32.png) [@Dancy\_McDance\_Dance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dancy_McDance_Dance)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2005, 2:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-essential-music-library-country-western/335850/2 "2005-12-16T02:51:58Z")
Everything by Hank Senior. ---
**Author:** ![tracer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tracer/32/20578_2.png) [@tracer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tracer)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2005, 2:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-essential-music-library-country-western/335850/3 "2005-12-16T02:56:38Z")
ELWOOD BLUES: “What kind of music do you usually have here?” CLAIRE: “Oh, we got both kinds. Country **and** western.” ---
**Author:** ![Rodgers01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b19c9b/32.png) [@Rodgers01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rodgers01)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2005, 2:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-essential-music-library-country-western/335850/4 "2005-12-16T02:57:09Z")
**Marty Robbins** – Gunfighter Ballads & Trail Songs **Johnny Cash** – Live at Folsom Prison ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2005, 3:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-essential-music-library-country-western/335850/5 "2005-12-16T03:01:00Z")
Any 60s stuff by the giants of country: Loretta Lynn Conway Twitty George Jones Merle Haggard ---
**Author:** ![jackelope](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a6a055/32.png) [@jackelope](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jackelope)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2005, 3:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-essential-music-library-country-western/335850/6 "2005-12-16T03:12:26Z")
Jimmie Rodgers. I can’t say I’m familiar enough with him to name specific songs/albums, but his yodeling is still influencing country singers today, and he was the [first person inducted](http://www.countrymusichalloffame.com/inductees/jimmie_rodgers.html) into the country hall of fame. (He also, in his “Singing Brakeman” persona, made the first music video, for what that’s worth.) ---
**Author:** ![F.U.Shakespeare](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/aca169/32.png) [@F.U.Shakespeare](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/F.U.Shakespeare)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2005, 4:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-essential-music-library-country-western/335850/7 "2005-12-16T04:01:07Z")
Ditto on Cash and Hank Sr. If you have everything the Carter Family recorded between 1927 and 1941, you have pretty much the Old Testament of country music. (_Not_ western – see [this thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=345425) for more details). Roy Acuff was another primordial country artist. I second all those mentioned so far. I would also add Kitty Wells, Webb Pierce, Dolly Parton, and others who will come to mind later. Since the meta-topic doesn’t have a separate category for bluegrass (on which I am not an expert), I will mention Bill Monroe, Flatt & Scruggs, and Josh Graves. ---
**Author:** ![ultrafilter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/3d9bf3/32.png) [@ultrafilter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ultrafilter)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2005, 4:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-essential-music-library-country-western/335850/8 "2005-12-16T04:22:54Z")
> [@F. U. Shakespeare](#): > > Since the meta-topic doesn’t have a separate category for bluegrass (on which I am not an expert), I will mention Bill Monroe, Flatt & Scruggs, and Josh Graves. Check the grass & roots thread. ---
**Author:** ![Rashaverak](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/a5b964/32.png) [@Rashaverak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rashaverak)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2005, 4:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-essential-music-library-country-western/335850/9 "2005-12-16T04:46:01Z")
[Dwight Yoakum](http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll) for a comtemporary take on the shuffle. A perfect antidote to modern Nashville mediocrity. ---
**Author:** ![Feydeau](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/df788c/32.png) [@Feydeau](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Feydeau)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2005, 4:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-essential-music-library-country-western/335850/10 "2005-12-16T04:56:32Z")
I’m not certain whether we’re nominating/suggesting/whatever individual songs or entire albums. Given that, Patsy Cline. Especially _Crazy._ And _I Fall to Pieces._ ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Lendervedder](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_lendervedder/32/8488_2.png) [@Happy\_Lendervedder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Lendervedder)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2005, 5:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-essential-music-library-country-western/335850/11 "2005-12-16T05:04:20Z")
Yeah, I was going to mention Dwight-- my favorite country singer. I’d add: Willie Nelson, _The Essential Willie Nelson_; George Strait, _Latest, Greatest Straitest Hits_. And I don’t know if he’s Country ‘n’ Western, per se, but I’ll also nominate Steve Goodman’s _No Big Surprise: Anthology_. Steve Goodman was an awesome songwriter, who was covered by some biggies in the country music arena, and he doesn’t always get his due. ---
**Author:** ![Enginerd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/bcef8e/32.png) [@Enginerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enginerd)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2005, 6:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-essential-music-library-country-western/335850/12 "2005-12-16T06:54:27Z")
Two Willie Nelson albums. _Phases and Stages_ (1974): about the breakup of his marriage. When it was released as a record, the first side was from the woman’s point of view and the second from the man’s. Each of them go through shock, anger, recovery, and eventually acceptance. It’s a heartbreaking record to listen to, but it’s one of my favorites. _Red Headed Stranger_ (1975): A western movie in music. Just a brilliant album from start to finish. Uncle Tupelo’s _No Depression_ (1990): One of the early ventures into alt-country. It’s widely acknowledged as the album that started the movement, but I don’t think that’s really accurate - other artists had been putting out punk-infused country records (or country-infused punk ones) before this was released. It’s still a great album, though, and it definitely belongs on this list. Highwaymen: Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson and Kris Kristofferson. An amazing collection of talent. The songs the recorded were good ones, but they didn’t always live up to the men playing them. Lyle Lovett’s _Live in Texas_ (1999): More than any of his studio albums, this live recording really showcases Lovett’s different influences, from country to jazz and blues to gospel to rock and roll. He’s got a great band, a great voice, and he writes amazing songs. And a hearty endorsement of Dwight Yoakam as well. ---
**Author:** ![Labdad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/439d5e/32.png) [@Labdad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labdad)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2005, 1:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-essential-music-library-country-western/335850/13 "2005-12-16T13:57:57Z")
[Merle Travis](http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&token=ADFEAEE4781CDF49A97620C8852D1599E620D210DF4BF58150234558C0B73844810473FD0DA7C6CCB7E577B479AAB326AE590DD9CFE9468DA1&sql=11:yyd9kept7q7v~T1). His influence on country music is incalculable. [Lefty Frizzell](http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&token=ADFEAEE4781CDF49A97620C8852D1599E620D210DF4BF58150234558C0B73844810473FD0DA7C6CCB7E577B479AAB326AE5E08D9C8EA468DA1&sql=11:jec1z84ajyv8~T1). Another one of the early giants. He changed country vocals the way Merle Travis changed guitar. Finally, [Don Gibson](http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&token=ADFEAEE4781CDF49A97620C8852D1599E620D210DF4BF58150234558C0B73844810473FD0DA7C6CCB7E577B479AAB326AE5F0FD9C9E8468DA1&sql=11:f84gtq4ztu43~T1) If he had written nothing other than “Sweet Dreams,” he’d deserve inclusion. But consider the fact he wrote “Oh Lonesome Me” and “I Can’t Stop Loving You” _on the same day!!_ ---
**Author:** ![slortar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6bbea6/32.png) [@slortar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/slortar)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2005, 2:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-essential-music-library-country-western/335850/14 "2005-12-16T14:20:00Z")
Roy Acuff Ralph Stanley Jim Reeves Marty Robbins Boxcar Willey Statler Brothers Kitty Wells George Jones Tennessee Ernie Ford Just off the top of my head. Just showing my leanings towards older artists…newer C&W tends to give me hives. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Labdad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/439d5e/32.png) [@Labdad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labdad)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2005, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-essential-music-library-country-western/335850/15 "2005-12-16T17:12:35Z")
Popping back into the thread to mention that no discussion of essential C&W is complete without Chet Atkins. As a guitarist, he was without peer, but to fully understand what he did for Country, take a look [here](http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&token=ADFEAEE4781CDF49A97620C8852D1599E620D210DF4BF58150234558C0B73844810473FD0DA7C6CCB7E577B479AAB32FA6500FD2C0EA53ECBC1B&sql=11:08q2g4fttv3z~1~T40B) - seven pages of albums from 1953 to present where he was either a musician, producer or arranger. The artists range from Elvis to Jim Reeves to Eddy Arnold to Don Gibson to Willie Nelson to Charley Pride to etc., etc., etc. Country music on the pop charts would have never happened without Chet Atkins. ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2005, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-essential-music-library-country-western/335850/16 "2005-12-16T20:00:45Z")
The pre-pop work of Dolly Parton. ---
**Author:** ![Wartime\_Consigliori](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/9d8465/32.png) [@Wartime\_Consigliori](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wartime_Consigliori)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2005, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-essential-music-library-country-western/335850/17 "2005-12-16T21:37:10Z")
**Glen Campbell** performing these Jimmy Webb songs: _Wichita Lineman, Galveston, By the Time I Get to Phoenix, Highwayman_. **Charlie Rich** performing _I Take It On Home_ and _Behind Closed Doors_. **Ray Charles** : _Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music_ **George Jones** singing anything ---
**Author:** ![Wartime\_Consigliori](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/9d8465/32.png) [@Wartime\_Consigliori](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wartime_Consigliori)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2005, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-essential-music-library-country-western/335850/18 "2005-12-16T21:47:35Z")
_\_ Throw in a couple of **Buck Owens** tunes while we’re at it. ---
**Author:** ![AuntiePam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@AuntiePam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AuntiePam)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2005, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-essential-music-library-country-western/335850/19 "2005-12-16T22:44:18Z")
Faron Young, please, and Hank Snow. I’d suggest Jimmie Dale Gilmore, but he’s still at cult status, or whatever you call that black hole where reside original, exceedingly talented but not well-known singers and writers. How about the singing cowboys? Sons of the Pioneers, Roy Rogers, Gene Autry, Tex Ritter? ---
**Author:** ![Godfrey\_Daniels](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Godfrey\_Daniels](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Godfrey_Daniels)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2005, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-essential-music-library-country-western/335850/20 "2005-12-16T22:53:10Z")
Bob Wills, Spade Cooley, and Asleep At The Wheel in the Western Swing category. Wanda Jackson, Janice Martin, Carl Perkins and Charlie Feathers for Rockabilly. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-essential-music-library-country-western/335850.md?page=2)