Never thought this could happen to me: country music.

[P Thought]

I became attached to country music early in my guitar-playing journey. The old-timey music--my first song was "Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain", and my next several were Hank Williams classics--was very accessible to porch-caliber newbies like me who just wanted to sing along to themselves while they strum chords 3 at a time, and learn lyrics that are easy to remember and tunes that are easy to sing. I still appreciate it because I don't have to "sweep" or use complex hard-to-finger chords, though a 3 or a 6 comes along now and then, and I can play solo lines here and there.

Also, country music caught me at a time I needed it, my first ('way too young) marriage circling the drain. I was a mess, but Hank Williams helped pull me through. My playlist has expanded to include many of the artists and writers mentioned here, but the oldies are still my favorites.

P.S. Every Sunday morning RFD TV runs Marty Stuart and Porter Wagoner reruns back to back. Both classic teevee shows, together they're like a museum of great country music

 

[Abre]

I want to hear from someone who drinks lambic and listens to Edith Piaf.

Anyone? @johnny k I think this one is in your wheel house.

I am not familiar with lambic, but I find drinking a bit of absinthe and listening to Edith Piaf absolutely sublime.

My favorite "country" music is when Jim Heath and Deke Dickerson play it. Also love a good western swing and waltz number.

 

[2HBStrat]

I became attached to country music early in my guitar-playing journey. The old-timey music--my first song was "Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain"...

One of the earliest country songs that I liked was "Don't it Make my Brown Eyes Blue" by Crystal Gayle. Although I'm pretty sure that's a crossover song. I also liked "El Paso" by Marty Robbins.

I didn't say modern country sucks….don't put words in my text!

I didn't say that you said that.

I don't listen to country radio but my wife and I eat at a local steakhouse every week or so. And that's where I hear modern country. What I hear there lots of times sounds like Abba soundtracks with twangy voice added on top. I don't find it very appealing.

I don't listen to country regularly at all, just enough that I'm at least somewhat current on the hottest songs and artists. Morgan Wallen and Maren Morris are two country artists that are also played on the pop stations. And don't forget Shania Twain back in the day.

 

[johnny k]

What goes with Cow Punk? Tequila?

jason and the scorchers, beat farmers, mojo nixon, dash rip rock, they all go great with tequila. Or cowpunk.

 

[985plowboy]

…..As long as it’s the good stuff and not that pop/disco/tractor rap crap they play on the radio.

Dude!
I’m stealing “Tractor Rap” from you.
It’s perfect.
Well done!

 

[985plowboy]

I firmly believe that we are witnessing tomorrow’s classic country today in non mainstream artists;
Tyler Childers
Sturgill Simpson
Colter Wall

 

[Monoprice99]

Also, my wife and I were eating out, and the waitress called me "dollface". My wife can't get over it.

At least it wasn't this type of an exchange.

 

[2HBStrat]

I firmly believe that we are witnessing tomorrow’s classic country today in non mainstream artists;
Tyler Childers
Sturgill Simpson
Colter Wall

I doubt it.

Today's 'classic country' songs were yesterday's country radio hits...Tammy Wynette, George Jones, Waylon, Willie, Johnny Cash, George Strait, Alabama, Brooks & Dunn, Loretta, etc. Household names. It's pretty unlikely that Tyler Childers, Sturgill Simpson and Colter Wall will have hits on modern country music. So, what this means going forward is, while those artists are popular with a sub-set of country music fans, they unlikely to be that popular with those who listen to modern country radio, because they haven't been heard nearly as much. Tomorrow's future 'classic country' will more likely songs by artists who are on country music top 40 charts and are being played on modern country music radio right now...Morgan Wallen, Kenny Chesney, Carrie Underwood, Keith Urban, Jason Aldea, Kane Brown, Chris Stapleton, Luke Combs, etc.

Just my opinion.

 

[HootOwlDude]

I am actually drinking beer and listening to country music. I actually want to. I've been this way for a few weeks. I thought it would pass, but no.

Understand i am talking about REAL country music. Loretta. Merle, George jones, buck Owen's, Tammy wynette, Barbara Fairchild, Conway Twitty, and some hank williams.

Move over, bruce.

Good, old country is some of my favorite music for sure. Always has been.

 

[gtrplr]

I grew up listening to the “Cowbell Jamboree” on KPOC, Pocahontas, AR. In the ‘60’s that station played all the top hits as well as regional artists. Early ‘60’s I listened to a lot of Hank Williams. Late ’60’s found me into Creedence and Paul Revere. Early ‘70’s went to the Beatles and Zeppelin, Late ‘70’s to Bob Wills and Jerry Jeff Walker. ‘80’s were Alabama and Restless Heart. Early ‘90’s were Garth and Keith Urban, late ‘90’s were Sons of the Pioneers and Marty Robbins. ‘00’s brought a whole bunch of junk I didn’t care to listen to, so I just went back to my earlier favorites. Throw Little River Band, Allman Brothers, Clapton, Skynyrd and a whole crapton of others into the mix and you have a small sampling of my musical influences. Guitar influences include, but are not limited to, Atkins, Reed, Buchanan, Gatton, Lee, Jerry Donahue, Wes Montgomery, Joe Pass, Johnny Smith, Eldon Shamblin, Clapton, Page, Santana and a ton of session musicians whose names I never learned. You can probably put Tedesco, Glen Campbell and Larry Carlton in that latter group. Basically, I’m a sponge. I soaked up everything.

For some reason I tend to like songs, rather than artists. Merle Haggard and Willie Nelson are two of the finest songwriters ever in country music, yet both have written songs I don’t care for. And I’m not a fan of “tractor rap” in general but there’s a few of those that I do find catchy and fun. And a couple that I just downright love. “Cover Me Up” by Morgan Wallen will always find a place in my playlist.

Sorry for the lengthy post. I’m still recovering from having a laser shoved in my heart a couple of weeks ago, and didn’t have much else to do on a lazy Saturday morning.

 

[985plowboy]

I doubt it.

Today's 'classic country' songs were yesterday's country radio hits...Tammy Wynette, George Jones, Waylon, Willie, Johnny Cash, George Strait, Alabama, Brooks & Dunn, Loretta, etc. Household names. It's pretty unlikely that Tyler Childers, Sturgill Simpson and Colter Wall will have hits on modern country music. So, what this means going forward is, while those artists are popular with a sub-set of country music fans, they unlikely to be that popular with those who listen to modern country radio, because they haven't been heard nearly as much. Tomorrow's future 'classic country' will more likely songs by artists who are on country music top 40 charts and are being played on modern country music radio right now...Morgan Wallen, Kenny Chesney, Carrie Underwood, Keith Urban, Jason Aldea, Kane Brown, Chris Stapleton, Luke Combs, etc.

Just my opinion.

You makes sense.
I’m afraid you are spot on.
I’ll chalk mine up to wishful thinking!

 

[Jakedog]

Dude!
I’m stealing “Tractor Rap” from you.
It’s perfect.
Well done!

I didn’t invent it, but I don’t remember where I heard it.

 

[teletail]

When I was a child, my older brother & cousins were into the rock bands of the day. Of course, the radio pop music was omnipresent. Country was my dad's music. All he ever listened to. I wasn't a fan. I have to credit Dwight for lighting the spark, but it was seeing a Jr. Brown gig that brought it all back home to me. Now I love CC, but it's akin to jazz. I have to be in the mood for such.

Yup. Dwight was my gateway drug to country bliss. Just like I followed Eric Clapton back to Muddy Waters, I followed Dwight back to Buck Owens, then found Hank Williams Sr and all the rest.

 

[Heartbreaker_Esq]

I’m not a fan of “tractor rap” in general but there’s a few of those that I do find catchy and fun. And a couple that I just downright love. “Cover Me Up” by Morgan Wallen will always find a place in my playlist.

This makes sense, as "Cover Me Up" is actually a cover of a Jason Isbell song. Given you love the song, and some of your other preferences, I'd encourage you to give Jason Isbell's work a listen. I would particularly recommend the albums Southeastern (which has "Cover Me Up" on it), and The Nashville Sound. The former is a bit more acoustic, and the latter is a bit more electric, but both are great.

 

[Ron R]

Tomorrow's future 'classic country' will more likely songs by artists who are on country music top 40 charts and are being played on modern country music radio right now...Morgan Wallen, Kenny Chesney, Carrie Underwood, Keith Urban, Jason Aldea, Kane Brown, Chris Stapleton, Luke Combs, etc.

Speaking of Luke Combs, can we please stop acting like Luke Combs' cover of Fast Car is something special? I just don't hear nearly the depth of emotion Tracy Chapman brought to the original.
Not directed at you, by the way, but your mention of him just triggered me.

 

[ChicknPickn]

I am actually drinking beer and listening to country music. I actually want to. I've been this way for a few weeks. I thought it would pass, but no.

Understand i am talking about REAL country music. Loretta. Merle, George jones, buck Owen's, Tammy wynette, Barbara Fairchild, Conway Twitty, and some hank williams.

Move over, bruce.

But - - if you weren't drinking the beer, would you still be listening? Just kidding, folks. Country licks have been sneaking into my playing for a while now.

 

[Ron R]

I am actually drinking beer and listening to country music. I actually want to. I've been this way for a few weeks. I thought it would pass, but no.

Understand i am talking about REAL country music. Loretta. Merle, George jones, buck Owen's, Tammy wynette, Barbara Fairchild, Conway Twitty, and some hank williams.

Move over, bruce.

Well, Bruce was a fan of country music. You can certainly hear it in some of his later releases.

 

[Tele-beeb]

I am actually drinking beer and listening to country music. I actually want to. I've been this way for a few weeks. I thought it would pass, but no.

Understand i am talking about REAL country music. Loretta. Merle, George jones, buck Owen's, Tammy wynette, Barbara Fairchild, Conway Twitty, and some hank williams.

Move over, bruce.

I think we could argue that country music is for grown-up that still like music…. Other styles,

 

[blowtorch]

I like honkytonk, notsomuch with the country.
And other than a smattering of traditionalists revisiting it (early Dwight, Wayne the Train, etc) they quit makin honkytonk back around the time actual rock 'n roll petered out... so early 60s

Generally i don't care for most anything more recent than earlier Johnny Cash.
There's an exception here and there

 

[kctelegas]

Check it out.