What is good country music?

[vchimpanzee]

Here's a good example of what I'm looking for in country radio. I don't live where I can hear this station, but the article was in a newspaper I read (on paper) at the library.

http://www.newsobserver.com/news/tarheel/story/566737.html

 

[vchimpanzee]

I was listening to "Car Talk" and they played a song I've never heard on country radio but should have. "Galaxy 500" by Rev. Horton Heat. It was great.

 

[MaskMan]

Went to the Martina McBride concert in Winston-Salem, NC last night and the woman can sing! She did several older songs in tribute to female country signers of the past. Included "Stand By Your Man", and Loretta Lynn's "You're Not Woman Enough to Take My Man"... it's great that there's a singer today that has the power to sing those great old songs. On the other hand, one of her warm-up bands was "Little Big Town" and while there were some talented signers, they were basically a rock band signing songs with a country theme. They even did two songs by Fleetwood Mac for crying out loud! And, one of the lead singers was wearing a John Lennon T-shirt. I'm afraid this is what is happening to today's country. I think bands that are really rock bands are embracing country because it's more popular. Personally, I enjoy a more accoustical sound with out the synthesizers and heavy metal sound. For some great old country music, check out WIST Country Legends 98.3, broadcasting from Thomasville. Their more music/less talk format is just great for hearing the older artists.

 

[vchimpanzee]

Went to the Martina McBride concert in Winston-Salem, NC last night and the woman can sing! She did several older songs in tribute to female country signers of the past. Included "Stand By Your Man", and Loretta Lynn's "You're Not Woman Enough to Take My Man"... it's great that there's a singer today that has the power to sing those great old songs.

Martina McBride has always been pop to me. I'm glad she's doing older songs. But a concert would surely include some of the pop material.

On the other hand, one of her warm-up bands was "Little Big Town" and while there were some talented signers, they were basically a rock band signing songs with a country theme. They even did two songs by Fleetwood Mac for crying out loud! And, one of the lead singers was wearing a John Lennon T-shirt. I'm afraid this is what is happening to today's country. I think bands that are really rock bands are embracing country because it's more popular.

Thank you. I couldn't understand why, if they were doing a good old mountain tune like that one Andy Taylor used to do, I wouldn't like it. They're just Triple-A. Some Fleetwoood Mac songs are okay, I guess, but they're not country.

Personally, I enjoy a more accoustical sound with out the synthesizers and heavy metal sound.

It doesn't have to be acoustic. Some of the older electric-sounding country is good.

For some great old country music, check out WIST Country Legends 98.3, broadcasting from Thomasville. Their more music/less talk format is just great for hearing the older artists.

I do, when I'm in the area. It's great. Actually, it's only their license that's in Thomasville.

 

[vchimpanzee]

It has been a year since I was a regular listener of a station that included new country, so I haven't been keeping up with new songs I liked. But I did happen to land on stations when they were playing what I consider to be good songs.

"Find Out Who Your Friends" are by Tracy Lawrence and "Good Directions" by Billy Currington.

 

[vchimpanzee]

I can't remember the name of it, but Josh Turner did a good song I heard on the radio. Maybe "Firecracker", but I don't know.

 

[PTBoardOp94]

Firecracker is his latest song.

 

[Wabbit_Season]

Opinions are like... well, you know how the saying goes.

If you are to look for a definition of "country", one could use the yardstick that has been used in years past and apply it to today's music: If, in looking back to the 40's, the 50's, the 60's, we use the Billboard charts and the artists and songs that charted to define "country" as a whole, would we not then use the same yardstick to define the format today?

What are the hits? Who are the core artists?

Sure, there were fringe rock tunes that made the country charts every now and then....Bob Seger, The Eagles, even frickin' George Burns all charted back in the 70's and 80's. But while they may have charted, they could not in good conscience be used to define "country". They were interlopers.

So, today, using that logic, Toby Keith, Kenny Chesney, Brooks & Dunn, Alan Jackson, Rascal Flatts (yes, Rascal Flatts), Martina McBride, Keith Urban, et al., all contribute significantly to what is "country" in the 21st century.

Like it, hate it, try to wish it away or try to hold on to the past, but this IS "country". Just ask all the listeners who make Kenny Chesneys albums go triple platinum, or sell out Rascal Flatts' concerts.

To define "country" as one specific sound is to say that "Foggy Mountain Breakdown" is bluegrass, and anything that veers too far to the left or the right could not possibly be.

You want a definition of country? Look at the charts. Look at what "country" stations play. Look at what "country" fans buy.

That's "country".

At least in 2007.

 

[vchimpanzee]

So, today, using that logic, Toby Keith, Kenny Chesney, Brooks & Dunn, Alan Jackson, Rascal Flatts (yes, Rascal Flatts), Martina McBride, Keith Urban, et al., all contribute significantly to what is "country" in the 21st century.

Like it, hate it, try to wish it away or try to hold on to the past, but this IS "country". Just ask all the listeners who make Kenny Chesneys albums go triple platinum, or sell out Rascal Flatts' concerts.

To define "country" as one specific sound is to say that "Foggy Mountain Breakdown" is bluegrass, and anything that veers too far to the left or the right could not possibly be.

You want a definition of country? Look at the charts. Look at what "country" stations play. Look at what "country" fans buy.

That's "country".

At least in 2007.

I didn't ask what is "country". I asked what is "good country". I have no use for Keith Urban or Rascal Flatts and little interest in Brooks and Dunn or Kenny Chesney.

 

[Richard_Nibbler]

As for new country, I am digging on Josh Turner and Carrie Underwood. But for real/old country, Patsy Cline, Johnny Cash, Mearle Haggard and so on.

 

[Wabbit_Season]

I didn't ask what is "country". I asked what is "good country". I have no use for Keith Urban or Rascal Flatts and little interest in Brooks and Dunn or Kenny Chesney.
[/quote]

Well, then, ask yourself the question. Listen to more of what you like, and less of what you don't. Simple.

 

[vchimpanzee]

I didn't ask what is "country". I asked what is "good country". I have no use for Keith Urban or Rascal Flatts and little interest in Brooks and Dunn or Kenny Chesney.

Well, then, ask yourself the question. Listen to more of what you like, and less of what you don't. Simple.
[/quote]Easy for you to say.

If I am lucky I get a country legends station. But they don't play Alan Jackson or any of the new stuff, which is just as well because any station that opens that can of worms overdoes it.

 

[vchimpanzee]

As for new country, I am digging on Josh Turner and Carrie Underwood. But for real/old country, Patsy Cline, Johnny Cash, Mearle Haggard and so on.

Carrie Underwood I don't care for. It may be she is a good enough singer. But the instrumentals that go with her style are pop, plain and simple. I once heard "Jesus Take the Wheel" on a stereo at my aunt's house. That's about as bad as anything I've heard. Stereo just makes it worse.

 

[genius]

While I had always listened to country growing up in the 70s, it usually wasn't by my choice(parents music) and most of the country music in the late 1970s one could either take or leave, I still enjoyed the classics-you know, Williams Sr, George Jones, Johnny Cash, Patsy Cline, Merle Haggard etc.

But I belive the best era of country music I've lived through would definitely be the late 1980s. I absolutely loved the music and the singers-George Strait, Shenandoah, Restless Heart, Rosanne Cash, K.T. Oslin, The Judds, Eddie Rabbit, Rodney Crowell, Oak Ridge Boys, Southern Pacific, Highway 101, Don Williams, Vern Gosdin, Kathy Mattea, Ricky Van Shelton, Ronnie Milsap, Tanya Tucker-OK I think everyone gets the picture

I'm also fond of 90s country, but not quite as 80s country. 00s country is okay, only a few good songs here and there. I've also enjoy listening to alternative country whenever I can some. I remember back in the early 90s when Kelly Willis had a couple of minor hits such as "Little Honey" from the movie Thelma&Louise and I liked her. I aslo have found myself enjoying Donna Hughes

 

[vchimpanzee]

I'm able to listen to a country legends station more in my new car than I was in my old one. They seem to play a lot of 80s music, which is fine with me.

The one song that songs like today's pop garbage is "Come On In" by The Oak Ridge Boys, but when they're all singing together it can't be anything but country.

Well, "Bobbie Sue" is 50s-style rock and roll, but it works for me. Especially with Richard on bass. I can't recall hearing that one on the station.

 

[genius]

I'm able to listen to a country legends station more in my new car than I was in my old one. They seem to play a lot of 80s music, which is fine with me.

Yes, I do to! If I'm not listening to 106.3 the Range in the car, I usually will sit back and listen to the Classic Country channel on Music Choice. In addition, the two other country stations in town air classic blocks on the weekends, one station does it Saturday mornings, the other on Sundays.

I should add some of my country songs off the top of my head that I like from the 80s:

"You Look So Good in Love"-George Strait
"The Cowboy Rides Away"-George Strait
"Diggin' Up Bones"-Randy Travis
"Why Not Me"-The Judds
"Seven Year Ache"-Rosanne Cash
"A New Shade of Blue"-Southern Pacific
"I Believe in You"-Don Williams
"Stranger in My House"-Ronnie Milsap
"That Rock Won't Roll"-Restless Heart
"Can't Even Get the Blues"-Reba McEntire
"A Tender Lie"-Restless Heart
"Right in the Wrong Direction"-Vern Gosdin
"Two Dozen Roses"-Shenandoah
"Fishin' In The Dark"-Nitty Gritty Dirt Band
"Eighteen Wheels"-Kathy Mattea
"Blue Moon with Heartache"-Rosanne Cash

And there's plenty more where that came from!

 

[BlueHen]

But I belive the best era of country music I've lived through would definitely be the late 1980s. I absolutely loved the music and the singers-George Strait, Shenandoah, Restless Heart, Rosanne Cash, K.T. Oslin, The Judds, Eddie Rabbit, Rodney Crowell, Oak Ridge Boys, Southern Pacific, Highway 101, Don Williams, Vern Gosdin, Kathy Mattea, Ricky Van Shelton, Ronnie Milsap, Tanya Tucker-OK I think everyone gets the picture

A couple years ago I was lambasted on this board for suggesting a specialty program featuring '80s music ("Nobody wants to hear that stuff") since the stations today which play "your all-time favorites" rarely play anything more than 10 years old.

In addition to the artists you listed, my favorites from the '80s include:
"I Need More Of You" Bellamy Brothers
"Just Lovin' You;" "Can't Stop My Heart From Loving You" The O'Kanes
"They Rage On;" "I Will Be There" Dan Seals
"But You Know I Love You" Dolly (not 9 To 5)
"Life's Highway" Steve Wariner
"You're Out Doing What I'm Here Doing Without" Gene Watson
"The Love She Found In Me" Gary Morris
"Scarlet Fever" Kenny Rogers
"A Little Good News" Anne Murray
"What She Is (Is A Woman In Love);" "Too Many Times" Earl Thomas Conley
"He's A Heartache" Janie Fricke
"One Promise Too Late" Reba
"On The Other Hand" Randy Travis

and remember that novelty hit "My Toot Toot" by Rockin' Sidney?
Finally, I always waited for KT Oslin to come out with a sequel to "80s Ladies" for the '90s.

 

[PTBoardOp94]

Suggesting 80s songs? I'll try and keep it down to a single song per artist...

Alabama - 40 Hour Week
Barbara Mandrell - Crackers
Conway Twitty - That's My Job
Dan Seals - God Must be a Cowboy
Dolly Parton - I will Always Love You (could be a late 70s record?)
Don Williams - Rake and a Ramblin' Man
Eddie Raven - Joe Sure Knows How to Live
George Jones - He Stopped Loving Her Today
Janie Frickie - Don't Worry 'Bout me Baby
Johnny Cash - Sunday Morning Coming Down (may be a '79 record?)
Johnny PayCheck - Old Violin
Kenny Rogers w/ Dolly Parton - Islands in the Stream
Lee Greenwood - Dixie Road
Mickey Gilley - Talk to Me
Randy Travis - Forever and Ever, Amen

I agree with many of the suggestions in the last couple of posts...Tried not to reporcude

 

[WPPCProductions]

I prefer Classic country, as I started Listening in the 70's. new country sounds like rock and roll.Like Big & Rich. To get the younger demos to tune in,I Think stations will have a problem keeping the younger listeners if they have Loretta Lynn,Patsy Cline, Ray Price,Ferlin Husky and Roy Acuff playing all the time.I've have not checked the arb ratings on classic country stations yet ,but they are probably in the basement.
in the mean time the arb's are hot for the new country music.

 

[truthandjustice]

I like this topic. I'm a big fan of Classic Country but seeing we are discussing the 80's here is my list.

George Jones, He Stopped Loving Her Today
Barbara Mandrell, I Was Country When Country Was Uncool
Johnny Lee, Looking For Love
Desert Rose Band, Summer Wind
Dwight Yoakum/Buck Owens, Streets Of Bakersfield
The Judds, Why Not Me
Roseanne Cash, I Don't Know Why You Don't Want Me
Rodney Crowell, After All This Time
Skip Ewing, The Coast Of Colorado
KT Oslin, Hey Bobby
Shenandoah, Sunday In The South
Skip Ewing, The Gospel According To Luke
Hank JR, Whiskey Bent & Hell Bound
Waylon Jennings, Rose In Paradise
Waylon Jennings, Will The Wolf Survive
Earl Thomas Conley, Love Don't Care
Eddy Raven, Sometimes A Bad Girl/Sometimes A Lady
Alabama/KT Oslin, Face To Face
Bellamy Brothers, Do You Love As Good As You Look
Don Williams, Heartbeat In The Darkness
Keith Whitley, I'm No Stranger To The Rain
Bellamy Brothers, You'll Never Be Sorry
Dolly Parton, Don't Call It Love
Alabama, Theres No Way.

There is plenty more