Which country albums should I explore?

[Edwin1961]

Yes! I second that. It just may be Country music’s first “concept album”.

More of an example of the country-rock genre would be Mason Proffit-the band John Michael Talbot was in with his brother Terry before he went exclusively Christian. 1972’s ROCKFISH CROSSING is my favorite.

The seventies was my favorite decade for country music. Charlie Pride, Freddy Fender, Dolly Parton, Emmylou Harris (featuring a shredding Albert Lee on lead guitar). . .

I could go on and on but I’m at work now. I’ll try to give you some specific album names later.

For me too, anything before 1990 are my favorites songs. I do like some of the currents but not like when I really liked the music from the ‘REAL’ era of country music.

 

[bluerose]

Sorry, thought I was done. A lot of my favorite '70s (and earlier) acts were named, but here’s a few others:
Conway Twitty–love that “growl”!
Asleep at the Wheel–you want Western swing? You got it! Love their version of “Route 66”!
Ricky Skaggs–I think he was instrumental in rekindling interest in bluegrass back in the early '80s
Johnny Rodriguez–along with Freddy Fender, another great singer from the '70s

Hey, did anyone mention Reba McEntire? Her earlier stuff is the best IMO.

As mentioned before, the '70’s were a great decade for country music… as the lovely Barbara Mandrell one put it, it was “Country When Country Wasn’t Cool”! (my anthem!)

 

[Karen1996]

Anything and everything by George Strait.

Conway Twitty

Ricky Van Shelton

Alabama

Clint Black

Ronnie Milsap

Kathy Mattea

Dwight Yoakum

 

[Edwin1961]

As mentioned before, the '70’s were a great decade for country music… as the lovely Barbara Mandrell one put it, it was “Country When Country Wasn’t Cool”! (my anthem!)

Of course the 70’s was great for country, look what was popular back then…disco! And to some extent, it’s rap today, and those who hate rap, don’t have much to turn to and country is a good alternative.

 

[Noman]

A good Country music CD I have is Three Wooden Crosses. It is a combination of religious and inspirational Country music.

christianbook.com/Christian/Books/product?sku=WWCD58229&event=AFF&p=1026924

I have heard that Brad Paisely’s latest CD, Time Well Wasted, is excellent.

 

[Sir_Catholic]

A good Country music CD I have is Three Wooden Crosses. It is a combination of religious and inspirational Country music.

christianbook.com/Christian/Books/product?sku=WWCD58229&event=AFF&p=1026924

I have heard that Brad Paisely’s latest CD, Time Well Wasted, is excellent.

I have Three Wooden Crosses. I agree that it is very good.

 

[Moneo]

:dancing: :dancing: :dancing:

I have printed out each and every one of your replies and I am really grateful to all of you… there are enough suggestions to keep me busy for months!!

I saw “Red-Headed Stranger” in a local CD shop a week or so ago in the Imports section, so on the basis of your suggestions, I’ll pick it up and listen to it over the weekend and will let you know what I think.

Thanks again! You folks are great!

 

[Setlew]

Country music has changed a great deal over the years, but there are basically two categories: electric-based, honky-tonk style, and the more traditional acoustic style. I personally prefer the latter, but there are many, many good songs and artists from both.

Here’s a few of my personal favorite songs:

Johnny Cash: “Sunday Morning Coming Down”. Get the original version from 1970, sit down and close your eyes. A country masterpiece with a beautiful story - a sunny Sunday morning on a quiet city street, with a haggard man stumbling down its sidewalks in search of something worth living for.

Merle Haggard and Willie Nelson: “Pancho and Lefty”. From the early 80’s, a great song about a pair of outlaws. Written by Townes Van Zandt.

Emmylou Harris: “Born to Run” and “Sweetheart of the Rodeo”. Two beautiful songs, one fast and one slow. Emmylou is one of those artists that generally does her own thing (in her case, a mix of bluegrass/acoustic and folk-rock), and these are two of her best songs.

Joan Baez: “The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down”. Great story song, great singing.

Bob Dylan and Johnny Cash: “Girl From the North Country”. A quiet, almost meditative song with guitars and singing. Nice.

Charlie Daniels Band: “Orange Blossom Special” and “The Devil Went Down to Georgia”.

Willie Nelson: “Always on My Mind”, “On the Road Again” and “The City of New Orleans”.

Merle Haggard: “Big City”, “Are the Good Times Really Over For Good” and “I Wonder If They Ever Think of Me”.

Hank Williams Jr. “A Country Boy Can Survive”.

…and after you get all those, grab greatest-hits albums of Waylon Jennings and the Highwaymen, and you’ll have made a good start! But only a good start…

 

[puzzleannie]

. As for Texas, it’s one of the states in the U.S. I’d most like to visit, so that I could visit Austin. Is it as great a place for music as people make it out to be? I!!

well there are people down here who claim Austin is not really part of Texas

 

[Edwin1961]

well there are people down here who claim Austin is not really part of Texas

Well isn’t Texas considered a country within a country?

 

[Paganus]

Hank Williams Jr. “A Country Boy Can Survive”.:

“There ain’t nothin’ wrong with the country - 'cept in the city.”
-Brother Dave

 

[Paganus]

I have Three Wooden Crosses. I agree that it is very good.

Could someone explain why there are only three wooden crosses? I still don’t get it:

The Preacher, the Teacher, and the Farmer all get crosses.

The Hooker survives and later has the Preacher who inspires the Singer to sing the song.

What happened the Bus Driver???

 

[kim3260]

Could someone explain why there are only three wooden crosses? I still don’t get it:

The Preacher, the Teacher, and the Farmer all get crosses.

The Hooker survives and later has the Preacher who inspires the Singer to sing the song.

What happened the Bus Driver???

They didn’t metion him maybe he survived???

 

[didymus]

P.S. No country radio stations where I live. I’m not from the U.S.!! That’s why I need the suggestions, since I’m not likely to hear anything new or different. :irish2:

Thanks!

No country music stations? Where are you? What is your immigration policy? I’m packing now!!

 

[Moneo]

Ooooh, Didymus… that’s not going to win you many friends on this thread! Funny though…

Thing is, when I was young and silly, I used to hate country music. I cut my teeth on 60s pop and rock–The Beatles, The Byrds, The Mamas & The Papas, The Beach Boys, The Kinks, The Rolling Stones, The Monkees, ALL the great Motown singles and the like–then moved on to to the heavier stuff–The Who, Led Zeppelin, Jimi Hendrix, Santana etc. Later I got heavily into blues and soul records, then folk… I just kept adding to my palette.

And along the way I fell in love with Bob Dylan, and it’s through his influence that I went back and started checking out traditional country and folk. So now I love country too!

Basically, I listen to pretty much everything.

As for where I live…

I’m Irish and Scottish, though I currently live in Spain.

 

[Edwin1961]

Ooooh, Didymus… that’s not going to win you many friends on this thread! Funny though…

Thing is, when I was young and silly, I used to hate country music. I cut my teeth on 60s pop and rock–The Beatles, The Byrds, The Mamas & The Papas, The Beach Boys, The Kinks, The Rolling Stones, The Monkees, ALL the great Motown singles and the like–then moved on to to the heavier stuff–The Who, Led Zeppelin, Jimi Hendrix, Santana etc. Later I got heavily into blues and soul records, then folk… I just kept adding to my palette.

And along the way I fell in love with Bob Dylan, and it’s through his influence that I went back and started checking out traditional country and folk. So now I love country too!

Basically, I listen to pretty much everything.

As for where I live…

I’m Irish and Scottish, though I currently live in Spain.

Did you see the link I posted eariler about listening to country music over the Internet?

 

[ridesawhitehors]

I have to give a shout out for my favorite singin’ cowboy legend!
Chris LeDoux

God rest his soul.

Also, contemporary votes for:

Keith Urban ~ romantic pop/country, very musical, good guitar. He is also sort of … uh hum… ‘hot’
Montgomery Gentry ~ american outlaw country rock.
Brad Paisley ~ clever cowboy crooning.
Rascal Flatts ~ country band with soul and tooooo fun.

 

[Moneo]

Edwin 1961:

Yes, I did. THANKS!! And just as soon as I get my ADSL high-speed connection hooked up at the end of this month, rest assured that I will be listening!

Continuing thanks to all who have helped me out here. If all the discussions are this good, I think I’m going to enjoy my time on this forum.

GOD BLESS!

 

[lak611]

For bluegrass, I recommended the Stanley Brothers, Bill Monroe, Allison Krauss and Union Station, and Ricky Skaggs.