Well, where do you start with country music? If you think that it's sweet sticky stuff about drink, death, cheating wives, silver-haired mothers, faithful dogs, the girl at the bar, trains, temptation, trucks and rhinestone suits, then you're probably right. But here is a totally biased guide to the country music racks: all the records you can fit on the head of a pin.
Today's new country stars such as Ricky Skaggs and the Judds owe much more to the music of the Forties and Fifties, so go back to the start and hear Bill Monroe, the Eddie Van Halen of the bluegrass mandolin, or the scary and perfect harmonies of the Louvin Brothers. Try to find their Songs Of Tragic Life. While Best Of collections will serve you well, you should beware of later inferior re-recordings — beware of showbusiness.
Then there was Hank Williams, singer and writer of some of the saddest and most chilling songs in any kind of music. There is not a wasted track on his 24 Greatest Hits Volume I and II on MGM. An original soul man, his songs have been recorded by Ray Charles (Modern Sounds Of C & W) and Al Green as well as countless country stars. He also brought danger and sex appeal to the upright tradition, before the rock 'n' roll of Big Joe Turner was cleaned up for the pop kids and Elvis Presley was still listening to Bill Monroe records and thinking about "Blue Moon Of Kentucky" (which was to be one of his first Sun recordings).
In fact, many of the greatest rock 'n' roll singers were country singers in disguise. Later, when rock 'n' roll shoes were hung up or put in temporary mothballs, three of Sun Records' other great discoveries hit the country charts and became even bigger stars.
Johnny Cash is best known now for some of his more novelty hits ("Boy Named Sue"), but earlier collections show a sadder style as on "I Still Miss Someone." Jerry Lee Lewis started out with country songs such as "Crazy Arms" and went on to record such gems as "What Made Milwaukee Famous Made A Loser Out Of Me" (later done by Rod Stewart). His Mercury compilations and the self titled album on Elektra are worth your money.
To hear another soul singer in country disguise just listen to "Woman Left Lonely," written by the composer of some of Aretha Franklin and Percy Sledge's biggest hits, and one of the finest tracks on The Best Of Charlie Rich.
Patsy Cline, whose life story is now on celluloid, was the first woman country singer with sass and style. You'll find her knowing singing on the Best Of on MCA, or the Sweet Dreams soundtrack album. Her protege Loretta Lynn takes things further, with shocking things like "You Aren't Woman Enough To Take My Man," "The Pill," "One's On The Way," all to be found on another MCA Best Of, but do avoid Pregnant Again unless you have a strange sense of humour.
The greatest of the heartbreak singers is George Jones. With his tragic tone and elastic phrasing, he makes most jazz singers seem clumsy and obvious. Having recorded over 100 albums, finding the very best is hard. Even collections overlap, and you may find later re-recordings of his hits a bit lacking. If you start with the King Of Country Music, you'll find other re-issues on Liberty, RCA, Ace, Rounder and Mercury.
Look out for such songs as "The Window Up Above," "She Thinks I Still Care," "Say It's Not You," "Big Fool Of The Year" and even "Good Year For The Roses" if you want the real thing. There are less good songs on the recent CBS albums, but a collection should include "A Man Can Be A Drunk Sometime But A Drunk Can't Be A Man" and "If Drinking Don't Kill Me Her Memory Will."
Equally brilliant is Merle Haggard. Both the Best Of and Very Best Of are just that, including the wonderful "I Threw Away The Rose," "No Reason To Quit" and "I Am The Lonesome Fugitive," whilst you shouldn't miss out on a Conway Twitty collection that includes "Image Of Me" and "Lonely Blue Boy."
Duet records are very popular in country. George Jones has recorded with Gene Pitney (and much worse...). Among the best are Porter Wagonner's recordings with the young Dolly Parton. Their Burning The Midnight Oil may be hard to find, but you'll know it by its brilliant cover and the immortal "Her And The Car And The Mobile Home Are Gone." There are many gems in Dolly's pre-Hollywood records, from the famous "Jolene" to the chilling "Down From Dover."
The Byrds' Sweetheart Of The Rodeo was my introduction to country, and started that erratic style called "country-rock" — from the Eagles to the Long Ryders. You'll be able to get this record in cheap price re-issue by now, and it still sounds fresh.
The man behind the Byrds' change of style was also responsible (in one way or another) for the next five recommendations. Gram Parsons was completely ignored by the country establishment, yet after leaving the Byrds he formed the Flying Burrito Brothers and recorded one of the greatest country rock 'n' roll records ever: Gilded Palace Of Sin. I was asked to compile his two solo albums Gram Parsons and The Return Of The Grievous Angel, into one self titled disc, but actually both albums are brilliant if you can still find them.
One of the best features of these last mentioned are his heartfelt duets with Emmylou Harris. After his early death she continued to record a mixture of Parsons' songs and country standards on two beautiful albums, Pieces Of The Sky and Elite Hotel.
There are so many trends and styles to follow, not to mention excellent careers that span 30 years in some cases — country singers sometimes live a long time — that you need a mint to be able to afford even these recommendations. And what about Willie Nelson's "Bloody Mary Morning," Waylon Jennings' "The Only Daddy That'll Walk The Line," such classics as "I'm Just An Old Chunk Of Coal But I'm Going To Be A Diamond Some Day," "You're The Reason Our Kids Are Ugly," "Take This Job And Shove It" and "Drop Kick Me Jesus Through The Goalposts Of Life."
I wish you all the very best of luck.
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