Country and western music

I do not know anything about this genre, really. But I do have the J. Cash collection CD Box and like it. So I burned some cool stuff for a dear friend who now says she's hooked on the C&W thing but has problems finding songs or artists she likes.

For Christmas I gave her a book she'll probably hate (short notice and all that) but I want to make up for her birthday. That would be two weeks from now. Have just spent the evening listening to songs in the amazon country section but ...

H.E.L.P. !

Clue: Likes J. Cash and his versions of Hurt and One and also the older stuff like Devil's Right Hand and Long Black Veil, etc. went down well.

Guess the way to go is either very classic (help!) or very cool (Dixie Chicks?)

Dixie chicks are great so is Garth Brooks (my personal fav)... but try go to www.cmt.com and listen or see what is new, and ask your friend really what she likes.
There is alot of more pop sounding stuff and alot of cross over happening now a days.
If she is more into classical stuff then I would recommend - Lyle Lovitt or Brad Paisley.

Definitely Dixie Chicks for sure. Maybe try out Keith Urban, Craig Morgan, Dwight Yoakam and Faith Hill. You'll probably find Toby Keith and Gretchen Wilson a little too redneck. Shucks, there are so many artists and sub-genres in C & W. You might want to have a look at a list of artists on the Wikipedia's Country Music entry too. Have fun. Yee-haw!

Hank Williams is a definite must, as is Willie Nelson. And David Allen Coe for when you've heard enough about being in prison, gettin' drunk, pick-up trucks, the rain, trains and Momma.
You Don't Have To Call Me Darlin'

Ok for the record there is new country and old country. I only listen to the old stuff. If your friend likes the old stuff like Johnny Cash, then do them a favor and don't bother with anything since about 1990. At some point Contry turned into pop with a cowboy hat on.

Some recommendations are merle Haggard, Willie Nelson, Hank Williams and Hank Jr, Dwight Yoakum, George Strait (old stuff), Alabama, Charlie Pride, Johnny Horton.

Edit- Definitely get a Patsy Cline "best of" for them also.

I can't believe I'm putting my 2 cents in on a country music thread...but...fuck, I can't help myself.

First off, I HATE country music. However, because my parents are who they are...and the area I'm from I suppose...I've seen nearly all the above mentioned in concert.

So, although I won't say much for the music, I can tell you who are (imo) the best country music performers from the above.

Garth Brooks is a true entertainer, if he ever tours again and you're a country music fan, go see him...but if your friend really likes his music, I don't believe he'll tour again...

Faith Hill...very impressive singer, but also very much an entertainer. Maybe if your friend likes her CD, she could enjoy a show or two...

Oh, another one that died...not that he's been mentioned, but: Waylon Jennings http://www.waylon.com/ ...I'd definately check out Waylon if your friend likes Cash. Seen him at a couple biker rallys...and a metallica show...

Maybe I can comment more after a few more names are thrown out...

There is, of course, old and new country but there are several "new" artists that go back to their more traditional roots. I don't know what it is about Cash that she likes, but if she likes more traditional stuff give her what PP suggests. Does she know about Pandora? It's great for finding new music.

If she likes newer, traditional music, Scott Biram, Hank Williams 3, Old Crow Medicine Show. Go from there.

Sometimes it feels like I'm the only country fan in Germany...*sigh*

For ageless country listen to Guy Clark.

He's damn good, writer of such classics as "Desperados waitin' for a train" and "She ain't going nowhere, she's just leaving". His songs are probably better known as cover versions than in the original as his voice is supposedly too rough for radio.

Works as a guitar maker due to his desire to be independent of the Nashville mafia and their dislike of his independent stance and his subsequent lack of big label deals.

Definitely Brad Paisley. He is a new face with the old sound.


Couldn't of said it better myself. Post Achy Breaky, the amount of redneck Hip-Hop hollering has become deafening.

Chicks-check
Brad Paisley (saw him on Leno last week)-check
Buffet with Alan Jackson for the song "It's Five O'Clock Somewhere"- double check!
Dolly Parton (Jolene / My Tennessee Mountain Home)-check
Charlie Pride-check
Jerry Lee Lewis-check
Boots Randolph-check
The extremely rare Elvis and Jerry Lee and Carl Perkins and Johnny Cash jamming session (I have an original copy we found at a flea market in Nashville)-double check (Million Dollar Quartet)
Loretta Lynn-check
Patsy-check

That should do you for now.

I'd recommend Gram Parsons & Uncle Tupelo for more of an Americana country-rock type music. Also 70's Emmylou Harris.

wow, thanks!

that sure helped, already checked some of the names out.

It's five O'clock somewhere. One of the best country songs in a long time.

Although I don't like Country & Western, I can handle some Country Rock. Dwight Yoakam, The Eagles, Ozark Mountain Daredevils, Alabama and Blackfoot are good artists

Alan Jackson, Dierks Bentley, Gary Allan, Keith Urban, Trace Adkins, Tim McGraw, Garth Brooks, Shania Twain, Carrie Underwood, Sara Evans, LeeAnn Rimes, Faith Hill, and Loretta Lynn.

I'm thinking this thread could be the makings for a country night out at the Rattlesnake or Oklahoma Country Saloon.. YEEEHAAAWWW

so I'm new to the country scene but this guy is scary... thanks, but no thanks (or are his racist lyrics supposed to be ironic/funny? if yes, I didn't get the joke)

p.s. still working my way through the list(s) and found some gems
thanks

Stay away from post Achy Breaky shit without a guide. A lot of them really are rednecks.

is there a guide in print or do I have do hire someone

achy breaky hearts are alright with me. real rednecks never will. so I'm treading carefully here.

I am talking Billy Ray Cyrus. That was the transition point from real Country to redneck hip-hop hell.
http://www.radio-locator.com/ Find yourself a country station and listen to some stuff yourself.

List Of Country Music Performers.

I don't agree with you there, but everyone is intitled to an opinion. I think what Billy Ray did for country music was bring it to the forefront of the music industry and re-popularized it from the twang of Conway Twitty.
At the time when Billy Ray became popular so did - Garth Brooks, Trisha Yearwood, Brooks and Dunn, Alabama, Randy Travis, Patti Loveless, Dwight Yokam, Michelle Wright, Mark Chesnutt... the list goes on.

There are still different kinds of country music. I posted a link to CMT.com and there is different radio stations to listen to depending on what kind of C/W music you want to hear. I personally love the Southern Rock station and also the Garth Brooks Radio - not only playing Garth, but Garth's favs: like Lynard, Trisha, Boston, Kansas, Charlie Daniels Band, ect.

I listen to a station daily at work from Ipod radio - Kickin Country, and there is alot of music on there that I don't like, for me its too twangy and too hilbilly or redneck.

as soon as I read:

I too was going in the direction of:

so, there is a chance that what your "friend" may really like is ... alt-country. (there are actually several names for this genre including Americana. see wiki)
alt-country is (in my humble opinion) essentially the punk reaction to the Garth Brooks disco. It took modern country music back towards its roots of actually saying something, while entertaining. (disco being just pure entertainment.) I really like this definition:


http://www.gumbopages.com/music/insurgent.html

to sample this, i highly recommend:
- Uncle Tupelo
- (early) Wilco (the more current songs are also really good, but have clearly and intentionally moved away from alt-country)
- Jeff Tweedy (look for bootleg recordings of live performaces, especially those at Lounge Ax)
- Son Volt
- the Waco Brothers
also see the listing in the gumbopages.com link above.

on a final note, in order to fully appreciate alt-country you probably need to have some grounding in the traditional country music, many of it noted by others earlier in this thread.

I'm not a huge country fan but I like Garth Brooks. I also like a few songs from bands like Big and Rich (Save a Horse Ride a Cowboy), Charlie Daniels Band (Devil Went Down to Georgia) and a few others. Can't listen to much of it but in moderation. Some of it's really good. The rest is sad and depressing.

Kenny Rogers is my country music blokie of choice and I do not mind Garth Brooks at all. Would like to have seen him live

I was not at all fond of country until I was persuaded to go see Garth Brooks live.
Brilliant (which means "excellent" for the non-Brits out there

All three of you have obviously commited indescriable atrocities in a previous life, there can be no other explanation.

Quatsch.

It's okay Bern, you have many admirable qualities that may just about balance your Garth Brooks thing. dont worry about it, you'll be able to look back on it one day and weep copiously. sorry I mean laugh.

What can I say, Yeti? I'm just a redneck woman at heart...

As mentioned earlier :
Willie Nelson
Johny Cash
Waylon Jennings
Hank Williams (Snr and Jnr)

Can't believe people like his dross :
Garth Brooks

Can't believe she hasn't been mentioned :
Emmylou Harris - voice of an angel and songwriting talent to boot

Plug for a good australian artist:
Kasey Chambers

The concert was in a previous life.
Actually when I was first asked to go I thought she said Garth Crooks, and I thought "so that's how Crooksy is earning his living now"

The man is quite right - buy Gram Parsons first and everything will become clear. The Complete Reprise Sessions should cover the lot, although it may spoil you for life.

With taste like that, I can almost overlook your love for Neil Young Mr bucket. Almost. That my last pub quiz saw me get a Kylie Minogue question wrong and a Neil Young one right worries me more.
Should anyone want to go the way of alt-country, Grant Lee Buffalo - Storm Hymnal or Bonnie "Prince" Billy or the compilation Cowboys in Scandinavia (which would lead you towards the towering majesty The Cardigans - Long gone before daylight of course). And listen to some Dolly, look past the rhinestones because she has the songs.
Oh and ask DrivingWest or UpQuark about altcountry and bluegrass respectively, they are the best experts I know of for those styles.

I wonder if either of them plays Banjo?

Everyday I need a bit of Emmylou's voice.