Classic Country Thread

[Bad Gopher]

I think you hit it on the head-I feel like anyone that was in the John Prine galaxy possesses that kind of ethos. Not that he was the progenitor of that movement (I read a book some time ago about the outlaw country origins and he was brought into the fold by the likes of Guy Clark and Jerry Jeff Walker) but Prine was definitely a connector between generations of outlaw/alt country.

On the eclipse trip last year (same trip where my buds and I went to those dance halls) we went to the chili place in Austin that Guy Clark sings about, and we had Mad Dog Margaritas. Step by step, getting closer to be ready to die.

For the longest time, I was clueless that it was Prine singing on this song.

 

[Ope3]

I only saw Jerry Jeff Walker perform once, but so glad I didn't miss out on seeing him completely.

Mr. Bojangles

 

[Bad Gopher]

Holy shit, Barbara! This song is .

 

[Bad Gopher]

This thread is like ladeling out the ocean. I'm not exaggerating when I say that I could post one kick-ass song here per day and never run out in what's left of my lifetime.

Charlie Pride was one of my dad's favorites, and this is his best-loved song, at least by me. Growing up, I never understood why a northerner would like the Country genre so much and why there were so many country radio stations around the state. For some reason, it was only in my middle age that it finally occurred to me: it's the music, stupid! The beautiful music and virtuoso musicianship, more sophisticated and intricate than is commonly recognized and given credit for. There are few songs more beautifully written and performed than this one.

 

[Bad Gopher]

As long as we're on my dad's hit parade, Kitty Wells might have been his favorite singer. I can't even tell you how many times I heard this one growing up.

 

[Bad Gopher]

If you're a classic Country fan, you owe it to yourself to carve out a couple hours and watch this 1967 movie: Road to Nashville. I happened to catch it by accident one night on Turner Classic Movies, and I was like, WHAT IS THIS?? Fair warning: it's either the dumbest great movie ever or the greatest dumb movie ever. The plotline is silly and practically non-existent, but it's a treasurehouse of some of the most prominent Nashville Sound-era artists giving performances. I could watch this over and over again, not the least of which because it co-stars Connie Smith at her peak of yumminess. I recently bought a used DVD of it, because you never know when it might be taken down off this or other platforms.



Worth noting: most people aren't too up on the Stoneman family, but as you see, they were awesome. Roni Stoneman--the first lady of banjo--died just last February. Many of you would recognize her from Hee Haw, where she landed as their house banjo player as well as a comedic role as Ida Lee Nagger.

EDIT: I should have added--Connie is married to Marty Stuart, who was named after Marty Robbins, her co-star in the film.