Please help a Blues-Rocker learn about Country Music

[Wowbanger]

I grew up with commercial Country Music on the radio at home. Frankly I hated most of it. When I listen to commercial Country radio stations here locally or try to tune in to CMT, frankly, I hate it now too.

But...

As a kid I really loved Johnny Cash and Hank Williams and some of the older Country and Western artists. Then came Willie, man that's great music, the real thing. Later I learned about Lyle Lovette and loved it.

Then I got a Telecaster. Mostly because of Roy Buchanan and Chrissie Hynde. Then I found this place. I heard names bandied about that I don't know. I bought a Junior Brown cd for the helluvit. Between the hat and the Guit/Steel I had to check it out. Then I got another another. I got the Little Willies CD and I love it. It's the opposite of the stuff that I call "Commercial Country."

I saw Vince Gill on the Clapton "Crossroads" DVD. I had to pick my jaw up off the floor and reset it. He smoked everyone on that thing.

Here's my dilemma and request. Commerial Country Music makes me gag. It hits me like Rap or Hair Metal, all posing and stereotyped, affected vocals. But there's some killer guitar slingers out there. Can someone help me sort through the former to find the latter? What Gill CD is going to have stuff like what I saw on "Crossroads"? Is a Brad Paisley CD going to be a waste of my money because while the Guitar Slingin' is great the tunes are too much like what I hear on mainstream Country outlets?

Thanks!

[Stefan]

Originally Posted by Wowbanger

Is a Brad Paisley CD going to be a waste of my money because while the Guitar Slingin' is great the tunes are too much like what I hear on mainstream Country outlets?

Yes, for you probably. The music of Brad is pretty much in the radiofriendly, mainstream format. I am not a big fan of "radiofriendly" country music either. But I do like Brad Paisley very very much. He has his twists and turns in the songs that appeal to us guitarplayers. Vince Gill is a bit of a crooner and I have never been a fan of his voice so I don´t know what records to buy. He is a damn fine git-player though!!

Have you heard of Johnny Hiland? He has a solo record out now that I am sure you´ll like.

Redd Volkaert is another fine guitarslinger and a personal favorite of mine! Albert Lee, Ray Flacke and Brent Mason are also household names in the Countryguitar genre. Brent and Ray are first of all, studiomusicians, but they do have some solorecords out.

Then you have the old heroes like James Burton, Chet Atkins, Jerry Reed, Merle Travis, Jimmy Bryant, Joe Maphis just to name a few...

My alltime hero on the acoustic is Doc Watson. I plays his own mix of blues/country/bluegrass and old-time.

[BluesOwl]

lot of good country or country-ish stuff out there.
Its just that the mainstream country industry doesn't really support it. Some on the list below aren't really country purists, but dabble well in it.

My faves:
Buddy and Julie Miller
Campilongo
Steve Earle
John Hiatt
Hellecasters
Derailers
BR549
Mavericks
Bill Frisell
Hank Williams III

I'm sure others can suggest more.

I feel a lot of the current country offerings are:
trendy
fad-ish
linked to certain visual cues..the right looks, trucks, girls, parties, the "yee-haw" factor.
Also trying to tug on your patriotic or Christian heart strings instead of great song structure or lyrics.
It seems corporate. I think there has always been some of that (flashy outfits for example).

This is just my opinion

I hope that if you "dig around" you can find something you like. I'm not sure of a sure-fire way to dig though.

[SteveY]

Bill Kirchen comes to mind. He's not strictly Country but he does blend in some excellent Country into his DieselBilly Telecaster slingin', and he always plays to the song, no matter what genre he's playing.

[sound dog]

For starters, there's a wonderful disc called "Nashville Guitars" that you can find online relatively cheap. All instrumental, all jaw-dropping stuff...you won't be sorry, believe me.
Also, I'd recommend anything by Bill Kirchen.
The Instrumental Hits of Buck Owens & the Buckaroos has lots of great Don Rich stuff...also check out the Don Rich Anthology on Sundazed.

[GoldieLocks]

I'll see if I can help you on your way. I got into Country music by way of Lynyrd Skynyrd & Hank Williams Jr.. (I rocked my way in). Then the Georgia Satellites bumped me in some more. Then Travis Tritt/Marty Stuart/Dolly Parton.
Here's some Smokin' Country albums with Great guitar & songs.

1) Dwight Yoakam - Dwight Live
2) Kentucky Headhunters - Electric Barnyard
3) Travis Tritt - It's all about to change
4) Wynonna - The Other Side
5) Vince Gill - High Lonesome Sound
6) Bo Ramsey & the Backsliders - Live
7) Billy Jo Shaver - Unshaved (live)
8) Pete Anderson - Dogs In Heaven
9) Emmylou Harris - Luxury Liner
10) Marty Stuart - Soul's Chapel

THere's tons more, but the problem is many country artists have a few good rippin' tunes & then the radio ballads. I hate 90% of country radio, but the other 10% is worth listenin' too.
Here's some good bands with great guitar...Highway 101, Lee Roy Parnell, Diamond Rio, Wynonna, Confederate Railroad, The Ranch (before Keith Urban went CHEESE).

Now i'm into bluegrass pickers like Jerry Douglas/Sam Bush/Allison Krauss.

[ibobunot]

Hayes Carll
Jeffrey Foucault
Kevin Welch
Delbert McClinton
Gina Villalobos
Neko Case
Robbie Fulks
The Spares
Kasey Chambers
The Amazing Rhythm Aces

[0le FUZZY]

Lissin tew sum old Waylon &/or Merle haggard and let yer heart and soul slide roun the werds and wade threw the music. Think about fambly, loves in yer life, hard times (iffin yew haff had any) and the joy of livin.

If yew kin fine it fine "I need a shoulder to cry on" by Merle and lissin tew the music and put yerseff in his shoes. Yew mite be moved .

I luv Outlaw country but "Window up Above" by George Jones always moved my spirit back when and I became a country music lover (knott all of it) and moved into a new era for my bad seff from a soul/rock to an all roun music lover. I gree thew bout the new but as my bottom line reads--------

[bw]

Dale Watson!Straight up honky-tonk with some fine playing.His first 2cds are a good place to start-"Cheatin' Heart Attack" and "Blessed Or Damned."If you can find the The Hollisters "The Land Of Rhythm And Pleasure" buy it also!!!Oh yeah, that Waylon fellow has got some mighty fine music also!bw

[byrdbrain]

Columbia Country Classics is a fine anthology series, and a great foundation to any country collection - everything from The Carter Family to David Allan Coe.
As far as guitar flash is concerned, you get plenty of blindingly good stuff on the Rhino Records compilations Legends of Guitar: Country, Volumes 1 & 2.
And don't forget George Jones, Lefty Frizzell, Johnny Paycheck, etc.

[Telemarkman]

I once was a blues-rocker myself - in fact still is - and I didn't much like country music, at least the most commercial part of it. But a friend whom I played with some 35 years ago, introduced me to some great country artists that made me realize that there really isn't that much difference between country and blues. There is a reason country has been called "the white man's blues".

You'll get a good start with those artists mentioned by Ole FUZZY : Waylon, Merle and George Jones.

Personally I will add Johnny Cash and good, ol' Hank and an artist that was introduced to me just a couple of weeks ago : John Cody Carter ! (Thanks FUZZY.)

[0le FUZZY]

No! Thank yew Telemarkman.

If Wowbanger has the time or will take the time he can cee a rite now rite arm, good hearted present day, hard workin country music maker with roots from the past.

Take your time and check all the links and pictures (click)

And/Or check the links here on my signature fer a peek at one of us haffin fun and doin it rite.





MY KIND OF MUSIC !(click)


SMORE !!(click)


Please visit my page

[petebradt]

Hank Garland.

[woodman]

for another slant on country, try some western swing from Bob Wills, Spade Cooley, Milton Brown -- there's a blues thread running through it that leads to hillbilly jazz if you care to go there.

[TG]

Get thyself a copy of Arlen Roth's 'Masters of the Telecaster' DVD. Loads of info on how do do various country style licks...and a few amazing film clips of various tele players as well.
If you liked Vince Gill wait 'til you get a dose of Jerry Donahue.....

[Geo]

Listen to this station some on the web. There is all kinds of great
country spanning 40 or more years and you'll hear classic players.

http://www.wsmonline.com/

[Jelly]

While we're on the subject of getting into country, does anybody have the Buck Owens disc set called "BUCK OWENS 21 #1 Hits: The Ultimate Collection" ? I'm eyeing it on iTunes and wonder if it's a good compilation.

[lilhatchet]

Don't know if you have checked out Shooter Jennings at all some good southern style rock/country with some good guitar work not mainstream country at all.

[smitty54017]

None of Vince Gill's CD's really capture his talent, much like Brad Paisley. Gill's CD "The Key" has a lot of more traditional country music, but it's lacking in guitar mastery. Gill and Paisley's CDs are meant for commercial radio. Unfortunately, pushing sex appeal and cheesy songs are more important than talent.

Do a search for Vince Gill on Youtube and you'll find some Austin City Limits footage...AWESOME.

As far as mainstream country with good tele pickin, you're not going to find it. For the most part, most Marty Stuart CD's have good Tele content, nothing mind blowing, but good. You might also want to pick up "The Buck Owens Collection: 1959-1990". Don Rich and Buck Owens are the fathers of Tele country music. A lot of Dwight Yoakam's stuff is also good, but some of it is also aimed at commercial radio. His "Live From Austin Texas" is a great CD with Pete Anderson on lead guitar. Finally, early CD's from The Derailers are excellent. Their newer disks are more radio friendly and lack the twang of their early stuff.

[Wowbanger]

Wow, cool, lots of suggestions. Thanks a ton.

Fuzzy, Merle Haggard - oh man, he's the real deal. I have to admit I had to get over a good deal of prejudice since I heard "Fightin' Side of Me" when I was a kid. I promise to check all your suggestions out.

Thanks, all. I have a feeling it's just that we have to get through the chaff to get to the wheat in everything. Now I have some direction. Any more is still very welcome!

[roadkillbill]

Hey Wowbanger...your post reminded me of this great clip posted earlier by Mark Davis...Vince Gill's performance on the Crossroads DVD knocked me out too..


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WFbyiHyF07w

[0le FUZZY]

I had to get over a good deal of prejudice since I heard "Fightin' Side of Me" when I was a kid

I kinna figgered that out as I wassa trynna figger yew out HEE! HEE!

On this forum we dance all roun the poly-tick-kill sides of stuff sew we don't git throwed out of here.

I will say however, that those early songs of Merle are the wons that got me all charged up cause I new that someone popular ceen thangs the way I did then (and still dew).

Iffin yew git a chance lissin tew Merle's "The way I am". Won of hiss last real country soul songs that I bought the album for sew I could learn the won song.

On yer side I haff ta say "Yew mite be a Redneck if " com-mo-dee issa liddo silly and goes over the edge in shinin the bad lite on sum of the good folks of our country.

I wish yew well on yer quest for the feel of this style of music in yer heart. I hope yew suck-seed in doin sew.


0le FUZZY

[pick & 2 fingers]

A few more to check out that I didn't see mentioned...

George Strait. Lots of Reggie Young pickin.

Vern Gosdin. Not a lot of guitar...some....but they don't call him "The Voice" for nothing.

Keith Whitley. Died way too young. Some cheesy 80's country-pop production, but he had a cry in his voice that rivaled Merle & Lefty....speaking of...

Lefty Frizell. "I Never Go 'Round Mirrors" (also done by K. Whitley) is just incredible.

[zooropamofo]

Marty Stuart: This One's Gonna Hurt You
Vince Gill: High Lonesome Sound
Mighty Merle Haggard
Jerry Reed
Steve Wariner

[Brian blaut]

Wowbanger,

we basically have the same story on how we came into Country Music. Ever since finding this place, all the sudden there is more great guitar music to listen too than I will ever have time to get too.

As for Brad Paisley, well I love his music. And mind you, no one dislikes main stream country music more than I did. But, I really really like Brad. He is an amazing player. Not just in the chicken picken, but in the way he mixes Jazz and Bluegrass in. He certainly does have some more mainstream sounding songs, but don't let that stop you. Do yourself a favor. Go and get "Mud on the Tires" (not the