C/W music Audiogon members

One can hardly claim to be a music lover without acknowledging the import/influence of "da white blues." While C&W per se isn't my first choice, it's influence in music that I do love is undeniable - e.g. covers of Hank Williams and Patsy Cline by the Cowboy Junkies, the eclectic Lyle Lovett, Chris Isaak, the Dead, the Beatles (Rocky Raccoon, Act Naturally), etc, etc. Not to mention Johnny Cash's self-titled MONO LP of just a few years ago - he's still going strong! Like they said in "The Blues Brothers," "We've got both kinds of music here - Country AND Western!" Cheers, -John

Damn! TWO people beat me to that one! Oh Well.....;-)

You knew an old redneck like me would have to chime in. C/W music, (and we do have to make the distinction from the “old” stuff compared to what they call “country” today,) has had some great voices and songwriters. Today’s country, except for a few exceptions in genuine voice and guitar work, can be ignored, just like “pop” music, where there isn’t a dime’s worth of difference between one artist and another. I remember that one of my best and worst concert experiences occurred with the same artist, Hank Williams Jr. The first time I saw him in the early 80’s, he began the concert solo, switching medleys from guitar to piano, and singing in a bass voice that was awesome. Saw him again the next year and he was so drunk half the crowd walked out. Just following his family tradition, I guess. If anyone cares to try it, you can hear Bocefus, (Williams Jr.,) at his best on “Whiskey Bent and Hell Bound” from 1979. He went downhill from that, IMHO. Waylon Jennings’s “Greatest Hits” (1979) will let you hear his guitar heavy beer guzzling’ sound. And my favorite dark horse is David Allan Coe, esp. his start right after prison. He has a 1978 “Greatest Hits” album as well, but the darkest, moodiest, and most poignant country music I have ever heard is on “The Mysterious Rhinestone Cowboy” that is from about 1977. There is a cut called “Crazy Mary” that runs chills up and down my spine. Willie Nelson’s “Stardust” is NOT a C/W effort, but deserves a try by anyone serious about music. (Is that a strong enough statement?) Also enjoy Clint Black, George Straight, Allan Jackson, and John Anderson. Other great artists have been mentioned above, and there is also the whole other genre of ‘Country Rock.’ And Craig, forget about Albert, I’m waiting for Sugarbrie to post here. [:)] Charlie

I was raised in the Midwest but never listened to a lot of CW though I do have a few people bands that I enjoy. There was a band named "Asleep at the Wheel" that I enjoyed seeing live a few times in the mid 70's (lots of trippy steel guitar, at their live perfomances anyway). I dont have any of ELH's solo stuff but I do have a CD entitled "Grevious Anglel" by Gram Parsons that has her as backup on many of the songs. I have also seen her live as well as Bonnie Rait (who was performing in a small bar in Iowa City in the 73 or 74). Dan Vet recently turned me onto LL who reminds me a bit of Harry Neilsen in a way. Although I haven't heard him for 15 years I was also somewhat taken by Buck Owen's voice in the mid 80's though I never payed him much mind when he was younger and smoother sounding. When I was in highschool my mother heard "Honky Tonk Woman" by the Stones and always considered them a CW group after that no matter what type of song they were doing. She used to blast them when she was running the vacuum cleaner which confused some of my anti establishment friends at the time.

Alison Krauss singing "Heaven's Bright Shore" is a gift from above (I'm listening to it right now). Damn I'm getting old. That was 12 years ago on her second cd. She was still under 18.

Danvetc, I'm surprised you didnt mention your almost name sake and his band. And David, Asleep at the Wheel is a western swing band in the tradition of Bob Wills. Try Merle Haggard's tribute to him or Wills's Tiffany Transcriptons.

One more I will be surprised if anyone has ever heard: Mother Earth Presents Tracy Nelson Country, 1969 on reprise and it has been reissued on cd. If you liked Linda Ronstadt singing I Fall to Pieces, listen to Tracy's version.