The 20 Greatest Country & Western Songs of All Time.

[Kutjara]

1. Um...
2. Er...
3. Ah...
4. Anyone?
5. Oh, wait, there was that one that went...no, never mind, that was crap.
6. Um...
7. What about...no.
8. Ah...
9. zzzzzzzzzzz
.
.
.
.

[Catshrink]

1. Like a rhinestone cowboy...

not the Glenn Campbell version, but the Johnny Carson send up. I pee my pants just thinking about it. :rofl:

[jobycom]

23. In fourth grade I wrote a version calle "Rhinestone Catfish."

I ran into a friend I hadn't seen in over 20 years recently who remembered the song and some of the words.

[wildhorses]

2. if such a thing exists I bet

He Stopped Loving Her Today~George Jones will be #1

not saying I think it but, I'd bet it

[mvd]

43. That would probaby be my #1

And I was thinking that some of the new ones, like Dierks Bentley and Rascal Flatts, are overrated.

[begin_within]

3. "The Wayward Wind" baby!

[gmoney]

4. Hank Wlliams "Hey Good Lookin' "

Hank Williams "I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry"
Hank Williams "Your Cheatin' Heart"
Hank Williams "I Saw The Light"
Patsy Cline "Crazy"
Patsy Cline "Walkin' After Midnight"
Johnny Cash "Folsom Prison Blues"
Johnny Cash "I Walk the Line"
Johnny Cash "Get Rhythm"
Tennessee Ernie Ford "Sixteen Tons"
Gram Parsons & Emmylou Harris "Love Hurts"
Flying Burrito Brothers "I'm Your Toy"
Hank Snow "A Fool Such as I"
Dwight Yoakam "Guitars, Cadillacs"
Dwight Yoakam "Honky Tonk Man"
Steve Earle "Guitar Town"
The Knitters "Call of the Wreckin' Ball"
Tammy Wynette "Stand By Your Man"
Blues Brothers "Stand By Your Man"
Lyle Lovett "Stand By Your Man"
and of course
Stevie Goodman "You Never Even Call Me By My Name"

In stream of conciousness order...20 great country songs, if not the greatest...

[StellaBlue]

75. I HATE that song

Hey Good Lookin'

mainly because I remember hearing a really horrible, horrible cover of it over and over when I was little, in like 1985 or something. Uck. I hate it even more than that "makin whoopee" song, for the same reasons.

[regnaD kciN]

5. "Past the Point of Rescue"...

...hands down, the greatest C & W song to come out of Ireland! ;-)

[wildhorses]

6. Hal Ketchum?? isn't he from upstate NY--

biography--http://www.halketchum.com/Biography.htm


Last night I dreamed you were back again
Larger than life again, holding me tight again
Placing those same kisses on my brow
Sweeter than ever now, lord I remember how
Couldn't get enough of kissing, do you know how much you're missing
No you don't, but I do

The days like a slow train trickle by
And even the words that I write refuse to fly
All I can hear is your song haunting me
Can't get the melody out of my head, you see
Distractions are amusing, do you know how much you're losing
No you don't, but I do

But I do, and I wonder if I'm past the point of rescue
Is no word from you at all the best that you can do
I never meant to push or shove you, do you know how much I love you
No you don't, but I do

I swore I'd never fall like this again
Fools like me never win, came to my knees again
Can't close the door on likely hood
Things might be just as good, I always believed they would
Gotta let your love invite me, baby do you think it might be
No you don't, but I do

But I do, and I wonder if I'm past the point of rescue
Is no word from you at all the best that you can do
I never meant to push or shove you, do you know how much I love you
No you don't, but I do

But I do, and I wonder if I'm past the point of rescue
Is no word from you at all the best that you can do
I never meant to push or shove you, do you know how much I love you
No you don't, but I do
I know you don't, but I do
I know you don't, but I do

[regnaD kciN]

53. He may be, but...

...the song was written by Mick Hanly, who is Irish. (Well-known Celtic singer Mary Black did a really nice cover on her "No Frontiers" album -- it may even predate Ketchum's recording -- although she dropped the last verse. BTW, in the original, the line is the second verse is "Distractions I've been using...")

[Left Is Write]

63. That's the way the line goes in Hal's version also.

[Left Is Write]

31. Ireland?

[Parche]

7. country

Country is NOT even music!!!

Country and Rap =CRAP

[Ron Green]

8. "Pick Me Up on Your Way Down"

by Charlie Walker (1958) is a good one that's been recorded many times by lots of fine performers. There are tons of great country songs, but a few DUers have their heads so far up their ass they can't see (or hear) that.

:-)

[Radical Activist]

9. I don't think I could pick anything done after 1980.

Maybe Steve Earle.

[underpants]

10. Here you go

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=105x5750035

[Bunny]

11. You Never Even Call Me by My Name

YOU NEVER EVEN CALLED ME BY MY NAME
(Steve Goodman)
David Allan Coe - 1975


WELL, IT WAS ALL THAT I COULD DO TO KEEP FROM CRYIN'
SOMETIMES IT SEEMED SO USELESS TO REMAIN
BUT YOU DON'T HAVE TO CALL ME DARLIN', DARLIN'
YOU NEVER EVEN CALL ME BY MY NAME

YOU DON'T HAVE TO CALL ME WAYLON JENNINGS
AND YOU DON'T HAVE TO CALL ME CHARLIE PRIDE
AND YOU DON'T HAVE TO CALL ME MERLE HAGGARD ANYMORE
EVEN THOUGH YOU'RE ON MY FIGHTIN' SIDE

AND I'LL HANG AROUND AS LONG AS YOU WILL LET ME
AND I NEVER MINDED STANDIN' IN THE RAIN
BUT YOU DON'T HAVE TO CALL ME DARLIN', DARLIN'
YOU NEVER EVEN CALLED ME BY MY NAME

WELL, I'VE HEARD MY NAME A FEW TIMES IN YOUR PHONE BOOK (Hello, Hello)
AND I'VE SEEN IT ON SIGNS WHERE I'VE PLAYED
BUT THE ONLY TIME I KNOW I'LL HEAR "DAVID ALLAN COE"
IS WHEN JESUS HAS HIS FINAL JUDGMENT DAY

SO I'LL HANG AROUND AS LONG AS YOU WILL LET ME
AND I NEVER MINDED STANDIN' IN THE RAIN
BUT YOU DON'T HAVE TO CALL ME DARLIN', DARLIN'
YOU NEVER EVEN CALLED ME BY MY NAME

SPOKEN:
WELL, A FRIEND OF MINE NAMED STEVE GOODMAN WROTE THAT SONG AND
HE TOLD ME IT WAS THE PERFECT COUNTRY & WESTERN SONG. I WROTE
HIM BACK A LETTER AND I TOLD HIM IT WAS NOT THE PERFECT COUNTRY
& WESTERN SONG BECAUSE HE HADN'T SAID ANYTHING AT ALL ABOUT MAMA,
OR TRAINS, OR TRUCKS, OR PRISON, OR GETTIN' DRUNK. WELL HE SAT
DOWN AND WROTE ANOTHER VERSE TO THE SONG AND HE SENT IT TO ME,
AND AFTER READING IT, I REALIZED THAT MY FRIEND HAD WRITTEN THE
PERFECT COUNTRY & WESTERN SONG. AND I FELT OBLIGED TO INCLUDE IT
ON THIS ALBUM. THE LAST VERSE GOES LIKE THIS HERE:

WELL, I WAS DRUNK THE DAY MY MOM GOT OUT OF PRISON
AND I WENT TO PICK HER UP IN THE RAIN
BUT BEFORE I COULD GET TO THE STATION IN MY PICKUP TRUCK
SHE GOT RUNNED OVER BY A DAMNED OLD TRAIN

AND I'LL HANG AROUND AS LONG AS YOU WILL LET ME
AND I NEVER MINDED STANDIN' IN THE RAIN
NO, A' YOU DON'T HAVE TO CALL ME DARLIN', DARLIN'
YOU NEVER EVEN CALL ME
WELL I WONDER WHY YOU DON'T CALL ME
WHY DON'T YOU EVER CALL ME BY MY NAME

[MrCoffee]

14. it even says it's the best CW song, right there in the song!

it's a self-fulfiling prophecy!

[av8rdave]

22. It's the only country song I like

[Drum]

12. The Tennessee Waltz.

[Dulcinea]

13. "Copperhead Road" by Steve Earle?

Does that qualify?

If not, "I Walk the Line" or "Walking after Midnight."

[jobycom]

25. I'd count it, and suggest Transcendental Blues, by Steve Earle. nt

[mvd]

40. Steve has so many great ones

His earlier ones are more country - "Guitar Town," "Devil's Right Hand," "I Ain't Ever Satisfied"

[Left Is Write]

64. I love Guitar Town.

[MrCoffee]

15. Blue Eyes Cryin' In the Rain - Willie Nelson

[MrCoffee]

16. Amarillo By Morning - George Strait

[MrCoffee]

17. Whiskey Bent and Hell Bound - Hank Jr.

[Zomby Woof]

18. ZombyCountry

1. "Blue Yodel No. 9" - Jimmie Rodgers

2. "I'll Never Get Out of This World Alive" - Hank Williams

3. "No Depression" - The Carter Family

4. "Folsom Prison Blues" - Johnny Cash

5. "Funny How Time Slips Away" - Willie Nelson

6. "Mama Tried" - Merle Haggard

7. "Pancho and Lefty" - Townes Van Zandt

8. "If I Had A Boat" - Lyle Lovett

9. "I've Been Everywhere" - Hank Snow

10. "Walking The Floor Over You" - Ernest Tubb

11. "Sin Wagon" - Dixie Chicks

12. "Dallas" - The Flatlanders

13. "Ring of Fire" - Johnny and June Carter Cash

14. "Rosie Strike Back" - Rosanne Cash

15. "Night Life" - Willie Nelson

16. "Me and Billy The Kid" - Joe Ely

17. "Lay Lady Lay" - Bob Dylan

18. "Family Tradition" - Hank Williams, Jr.

19. "Walkin' After Midnight" - Patsy Cline

10. "Harder Than Your Husband" - Frank Zappa ;-)

[Ron Green]

19. Alright, Zomby, 14 outta 20 ain't bad!

:P

[Bridget Burke]

29. Who is this "Zappa" guy? Doesn't sound very Country.

Actually, you've got a great list.

I'd add a few by George Jones. Emmylou Harris used to open her shows with his "Ragged but Right." "She Thinks I Still Care" can't be beat. And "He Stopped Loving Her Today" is one of two numbers that kept me sitting in my parked car even though I'd reached my destination--because I didn't want to turn off the radio. (The other is Sviatoslav Richter's solo piano "Pictures at an Exhibition.")

Buck Owens & his Buckaroos were totally hot until Don Cherry died. I'd recommend "The Race is On" as a fine example of their West Coast energy.

And I love stone Honky Tonk. Lefty Frizzel singing "I Love You A Thousand Ways." Floyd Tillman's "I Love You So Much It Hurts." And Ernest Tubb always makes me want to "Waltz Across Texas."

Of course, Honky Tonk came from Western Swing. How about "San Antonio Rose" by the Great Bob Wills? Don't even get me started on Bluegrass & Old Timey.

If people want to remain deaf to so much great music, that's their problem.

(Joe Ely's playing in my neighborhood, late this December!)

[Zomby Woof]

37. Dammit

I knew I missed Emmylou... and Lefty too. x( :-)

Bob Wills is someone I need in my collection. :thumbsup:

If you see Joe, enjoy! :D

[Left Is Write]

30. I might add....

Faron Young's "Hello Walls"

Marty Robbins' "El Paso"

[Spider Jerusalem]

34. And Lefty Frizzell's "The Long Black Veil".

[wildhorses]

77. Willie Nelson wrote Hello Walls, IIRC n/t

[Left Is Write]

83. He also wrote Crazy, but people still associate it with Patsy Cline.

Just like Hello Walls is associated with Faron Young.

[blitzen]

41. Good list....mine would be different, but

would definitely include several of those artists...There is so damn much good country that it's impossible to do a list like this.

Here's a post of mine from last night re: country music bashers, with some of the artists i like


http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=105&topic_id=5749033&mesg_id=5749405


I'm going to see Bill Kirchen (of Commander Cody fame) live tonight at a bar a couple blocks from my house!!!

[Dr Fate]

82. Nice. n/t

n/t

[swag]

20. "The Race is On" by George Jones

"Stand By Your Man" by Tammy Wynette
"Love's Gonna Live Here Again" by Buck Owens

oh, several others.

[XNASA]

28. "The Grand Tour" by George Jones

Step right up, come on in
If you'd like to take the grand tour
Of a lonely house that once was home sweet home
I have nothing here to sell you,
Just some things that I will tell you
Some things I know will chill you to the bone.

Over there, sits the chair
Where she'd bring the paper to me
And sit down on my knee
And whisper oh, I love you
But now she's gone forever
And this old house will never
Be the same without the love
That we once knew.

Straight ahead, that's the bed
Where we'd lay in love together
And Lord knows we had a good thing going here
See her picture on the table
Don't it look like she'd be able
Just to touch me and say good morning dear.

There's her rings, all her things
And her clothes are in the closet
Like she left them
When she tore my world apart.

As you leave you'll see the nursery,
Oh, she left me without mercy
Taking nothing but
Our baby and my heart.

Step right up, come on in...

[Dr Fate]

81. THe entire "Grand Tour" LP is quite solid and one of his very best...

Featuring the title track- but the whole record rocks... His best 70's record that I have heard...

[Red State Rebel]

21. Anything by Patsy Cline and He Stopped Loving Her Today by George Jones

[gpandas]

26. a very sad tune

[Left Is Write]

32. I can't help getting a little misty at He Stopped Loving Her Today.

[jobycom]

24. I'll give you a list

I could be persuaded of others, and the order isn't perfect. Just some of my faves.

1 I'm so lonesome I could cry--Hank WIlliams
2 He stopped loving her today-- George Jones
3 The Dance-- Garth Brooks
4 Amarillo by morning--George Straight
5 My heroes have always been cowboys--Willie Nelson
6 Pine Box-- Doug Stone
7 Blue eyes crying in the rain--Willie Nelson
8 Bus to St. Cloud--Trisha Yearwood (written by Gretchen Peters)
9 Coal Miner's daughter--Loretta Lynn
10 I will always love you--Dolly Parton
11 Joleene--Dolly Parton
12 Ruby--Kenny Rogers
13 The Pill-- Loretta Lynn
14 El Paso-- Marty Robbins
15 Amanda-- Waylon Jennings
16 Friends in low places--Garth Brooks
17 Independence Day--Martina McBride (also written by Gretchen Peters)
18 Are you sure Hank done it this way--Waylon Jennings
19 King of the Road--Roger Miller
20 Maybe it was Memphis-- Pam Tillis

[Left Is Write]

33. "Amanda" -

I far prefer Don Williams' version.

My mother might pick "Blue Eyes Crying In The Rain" - what a beautiful song.

[GumboYaYa]

36. It is almost impossible for me to pick my favorite

songs by willie and Waylan. There are just so many to pick from.

[mvd]

39. Those are good choices

Some by other artists:

"Nothing But The Wheel" - Patty Loveless
"Something In Red" - Lorrie Morgan
"Leave The Pieces" - The Wreckers
"Walking After Midnight" - Patsy Cline
"Who Says (You Can't Have It All)" - Alan Jackson
"Men And Mascara" - Julie Roberts
"I Walk The Line" - Johnny Cash
"D-I-V-O-R-C-E" - Tammy Wynette
"Not Ready To Make Nice" - Dixie Chicks
"Pocket Full Of Gold" - Vince Gill
"Alcohol" - Brad Paisley
"Four Walls" - Jim Reeves
"Let's Go To Vegas" - Faith Hill
"When You Say Nothing At All" - Keith Whitley & Alison Krauss did it
"What A Crying Shame" - The Mavericks
"No One Else On Earth" - Wynonna Judd
"Wounded" - Little Big Town
"Kerosene" - Miranda Lambert
"Forty Hour Week (For A Livin')" - Alabama
"A Thousand Miles From Nowhere" - Dwight Yoakam

[Left Is Write]

65. "What A Crying Shame" ---

If I could only listen to one song on your list, that would be the one.

[jobycom]

76. Good list. You worked in some people I wanted to list.

Johnny, Dwight, and Patty, especially. And Alison Kraus's "When you say nothing at all" would have been on my list if I'd thought of it. I had the Mavericks "All you ever do is bring me down" on my list, and bumped them. Wasn't easy--who can bump Flaco Jimenez and Raul Malo?

Freddie Fender, The Texas Tornados, Conway Twitty, Merle Haggard, Merle Haggard again... 20 ain't long enough to even scratch the surface.

[mvd]

86. Thanks

I could have just as easily picked "Blame It On Your Heart" by Patty Loveless. One of the funniest non-comedy genre songs, yet it also works as a woman-scorned song.

[wildhorses]

27. David Allen Coe said that Steve Goodman had written the

perfect country and western song, therefore I humbly submit:

Well it was all that I could do to keep from crying.
Sometimes it seems so useless to remain.
But you don't have to call me darlin', darlin'.
You never even called me by my name.

You don't have to call me Waylon Jennings.
And you don't have to call me Charlie Pride.
And you don't have to call me Merle Haggard anymore,
Even though you're on my fightin' side.

And I'll hang around as long as you will let me.
And I never minded standing in the rain.
But you don't have to call me darlin', darlin'.
You never even called me by my name.

Well I've heard my name a few times in your phone book.
(Hello, Hello.)
And I've seen it on signs where I've played.
But the only time I know I'll hear David Allan Coe
Is when Jesus has his final Judgement Day.

So, I'll hang around as long as you will let me.
And I never minded standing in the rain.
But you don't have to call me darlin', darlin'.
You never even called me by my name.

Well, a friend of mine named Steve Goodman wrote that song,
and he told me it was the perfect country and western song.
I wrote him back a letter and I told him it was not the
perfect country and western song because he hadn't said
anything at all about momma, or trains, or trucks,
or prison or gettin' drunk. Well, he sat down and
wrote another verse to this song and he sent it to me and
after reading it I realized that my friend had written the
perfect country and western song. And I felt obliged to include
it on this album. The last verse goes like this here:

Well, I was drunk the day my momma got out of prison,
And I went to pick her up in the rain.
But before I could get to the station in my pick-up truck,
She got runned over by a damned old train.

And I'll hang around as long as you will let me.
And I never minded standin' in the rain. Ohhh.
You don't have to call me darlin', darlin'.
You never even called me,
Well I wonder why you don't call me,
Why don't you ever call me by my name?

the thing about this song in a song is that IIRC John Prine wrote the you don't have to call me darlin'

okay let the flaming begin:hide::popcorn:


:yoiks:

[GumboYaYa]

35. Here's 20 that I would include among my favorites:

20. "Waltz Across Texas" - Ernest Tubbs
19. "Luckenbach, Texas" - Waylon Jennings
18. "The Battle of New Orleans" - Johnny Horton
17. "Blue Eyes Crying In The Rain" - Willie Nelson
16. "Wabash Cannonball" - Roy Acuff
15. "Suspicious Minds" - Elvis Presley
14. "Rainy Day Woman" - Waylon Jennings
13. "Ring of Fire" - Johnny Cash
12. "Jambalaya" - Hank Williams Sr.
11. "Always On My Mind" - Willie Nelson
10. "Coal Miner's Daughter" - Loretta Lynn
9. "Mama Tried" - Merle Haggard
8. "I Walk The Line" - Johnny Cash
7. "Workin' Man Blues" - Merle Haggard
6. “He Stopped Loving Her Today” – George Jones
5. "Mamas Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up To Be Cowboys" - Willie Nelson & Waylon Jennings
4. "Sixteen Tons" - Tennessee Ernie Ford
3. “I Fall To Pieces" - Patsy Cline
2. "Crazy" - Patsy Cline
1. “Pancho & Lefty” - Townes Van Zandt

Notice how many of these have progressive themes. On edit, Emmy Lou nd Lyle should be in there somewhere, so I add Emmylou - Two More Bottles of Wine and Lyle's "If I had a Boat".

[raccoon]

38. "Pick Me Up on Your Way Down" by Charlie Walker. nt

[sendero]

42. Well....

... I can think of a few, though I don't listen to a lot of country (not in any particular order)

1) Ring of Fire - Johnny Cash
2) Crazy - Willie Nelson as rendered by Patsy Cline
3) Your Cheatin Heart - Hank Williams
4) Always on my Mind - Willie Nelson
5) Folsom Prison Blues - Johnny Cash
6) Wichita Lineman - Jimmy Webb as rendered by Glen Campbell
7) D-I-V-O-R-C-E - Tammy Wynnette
8) King of the Road - Roger Miller
9) Act Naturally - Buck Owens
10) He Stopped Loving Her Today - George Jones

[Zavulon]

44. That's like "The Twenty Greatest Repugs of the Bush Administration." (NT)

[blitzen]

45. awww, come on! I guess I have to post this again

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=105&topic_id=5749033&mesg_id=5749405

[Zavulon]

46. Sorry, no offense intended. I'm just not a fan, but I appreciate the link.

To be fair, I freely admit my taste in music is as narrow as it gets - see here: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=105&topic_id=5750028&mesg_id=5752113 .

If you don't listen to music for lyrics, all that's left is the sound - and I simply hate the sound of country. I really didn't mean to offend, though, the remark was off the cuff and not thought out. I should know better on a board with a hundred thousand members. Mea culpa.

[blitzen]

47. no problem...

i'm pretty used to the general DU bias against country--a bias that makes sense on the surface since Nashville stuff in general really does suck...

as for the sound...there a lots of country sounds so i bet there are some you wouldn't hate...Some even a bit on the "Metal" side, so you might like it.

Besides being a question of music (sound or lyrics), a lot of the anti-country sentiment is based on the notion that it's all right-wing swill...but there are plenty of left country artists (again, think Austin rather than Nashville).

[Zavulon]

48. The closest I ever came to liking a country song was one by

Charlie Daniels, it was about some guy who buried mason jars in his back yard or something like that. I didn't pay much attention to the words, but I actually kind of liked the sound. However, having found out where Daniels stands politically, I never looked into any of his other stuff.

If you have any country artists in mind with a harder sound, though, let me know - I've at least got an open mind. I like southern rock, you know, sounds like Skynryd or Molly Hatchet, but I have since been told that Skynyrd is of the sort of political affiliation that would scare me off. I'm just praying that Molly Hatchet isn't.

[blitzen]

51. here's a few

you might like Uncle Tupelo, the now-defunct band led by Jeff Tweedy (now of Wilco fame). Country-ish with a rock and even punk side. Same goes for Wilco

http://www.amazon.com/89-93-Anthology-Uncle-Tupelo/dp/B000063CN9/sr=1-2/qid=1161306248/ref=pd_bbs_sr_2/002-3637248-7743228?ie=UTF8&s=music


or this and a few other albums by Billy Joe Shaver--you wouldn't like all his stuff but the stuff with his son Eddy backing him up with smokin' hot almost metal guitar. Tragically, his son died of a drup OD a few years back on New Year's eve. I've seen him play small clubs since then and it's an almost religious experience when he dedicates some tunes to Eddy and literally sings on his knees in tears

http://www.amazon.com/Unshaven-Live-Smiths-Olde-Bar/dp/B0000009AC/sr=1-4/qid=1161307495/ref=sr_1_4/002-3637248-7743228?ie=UTF8&s=music


Waylon Jennings' classic "Waylon Live: The Expanded Edition" is very hard to beat:
http://www.amazon.com/Waylon-Live-Expanded-Jennings/dp/B000095J7S/sr=1-10/qid=1161307219/ref=sr_1_10/002-3637248-7743228?ie=UTF8&s=music


or, on the unusual side, maybe Webb Wilder

http://www.amazon.com/Town-Country-Webb-Wilder/dp/B000000FE0/sr=8-11/qid=1161307035/ref=pd_bbs_11/002-3637248-7743228?ie=UTF8&s=music


there's a bunch more but that's some of what comes to mind

[Zavulon]

55. Thanks for this!

I'll start with Billy Joe Shaver. Is it correct to assume that someone of my musical taste is likely to prefer that over the other choices to start with?

[blitzen]

57. maybe so...but only the stuff with Eddy...

especially that live album...

I love Billy Joe and think he's one of the greatest ever singer-songwriter types...but a lot of the recordings are more like the acoustic stuff that you say you don't like

[Zavulon]

58. Well, it sounds worth a chance, so I'm in.

Who knows, I might actually develop an appreciation for the other stuff. The odds are against it, but then again the odds were against an actual drooling retard occupying the Oval Office, and look what we have now. :)

Thanks again, friend :)

[blitzen]

60. hey, i hope you enjoy

...maybe i'll try some of that metal stuff someday....or, more likely, i'll hear when my kids get a few years older

[Zavulon]

61. You should be so lucky.

Today's music is nothing like what I grew up with. If you ever want to try my side of the musical coin, try Queensryche's "Operation Mindcrime," a masterful hard rock opera which is not only my ABSOLUTE FAVORITE album of all time, but is the only album I can think of where I could sit down and recite every word in the album. If you just listen you might not appreciate it the first time, but if you read the lyric card along with it the first time should blow you away.

Iron Maiden, a favorite of mine, released a concept album at the same time, called "Seventh Son of a Seventh Son." The lead singer, in an interview, said he was perfectly happy with the album until he heard "Mindcrime," after which he could barely bring himself to tour to support his band's record. "Seventh Son" is actually a good album, but nothing compared to "Mindcrime."

You can test the waters for the price of one album, because if you're unable to appreciate "Mindcrime," which fans and critics alike almost universally loved, the entire genre is just not for you.

[blitzen]

59. also, Electric Shaver

another good CD with his son on guitar

http://www.amazon.com/Electric-Shaver-Billy-Joe/dp/B00000ILUN/ref=sr_11_1/002-3637248-7743228?ie=UTF8

[Zavulon]

62. I'll give this a shot as well, thanks :) (NT)

[idgiehkt]

49. Some Patsy Cline, some Loretta Lynn, some Emmylou Harris

of course that don't stand by your man song by Tammy Wynnette, "Delta Dawn" by Tanya Tucker...

hmmmm, that 'Friends in low places' song by Garth Brooks

"I'm Not Lisa" by Jessie Colter

something by Waylon Jennings though I don't know what

at least one song by Willie Nelson but not "On The Road Again", maybe "Always on My Mind"

and some other stuff but none of that current shlock.

edit: Dolly Parton (Jolene) and Dwight Yoakam, I left them out. Tim McGraw and Faith Hill can be on here since they are democrats, and the Dixie Chicks, I prefer "Am I the only one who's ever felt this way" by Maria Mckee, since it's the most true country song they've ever done, the others are kind of bluegrass. Speaking of bluegrass, Rhonda Vincent and the Rage will cover that angle. I may have to actually make a real list.

Is "A Country Boy Can Survive" by Hank Williams Jr. considered country or rock? I like that song
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K9xHN7VnmC4

Bocephus! :woohoo:

Because you can’t starve us out
And you cant makes us run
Cause we're them old boys raised on shotguns
And we say grace and we say Ma’am
And if you ain’t into that we don’t give a damn.

[mvd]

50. Some current stuff ruins it for the others IMO

People like Toby Keith and Darryl Worley making jingoistic tripe.. among the artists out on the charts now, I enjoy the Dixie Chicks, Sugarland, Julie Roberts, Alan Jackson, Keith Urban, Brooks and Dunn (even though they are Repukes,) The Wreckers, Tim McGraw, Faith Hill (she's inconsistent anymore,) Vince Gill, Brad Paisley

See my list above for some more.

[idgiehkt]

54. good list

For Dwight I would pick "Guitars, Cadillacs..." That is the ultimate country song.

Also "It won't hurt" both of those are Hank Williams worthy. He really kind of changed his sound to be more 'contemporary' by the time of "A Thousand Miles from Nowhere" which is a shame. I think Sharon Stone is responsible for a lot of the songs on that album, lol, I kind of wonder about that song "Wild Ride" which is my favorite song from that one.

I really don't like contemporary country music, I think Reba McEntire was the beginning of the end of good country music, it seems like it changed right around the time she came around, so I don't know many current artists, plus as soon as they say anything conservative/right wing I cross them off the list; that said if you include a contemporary artist then "Redneck Woman" by Gretchen Wilson has to be on there since she really did touch an honest chord with that song.

other old ones:
"Ode to Billie Joe" by Bobbie Gentry/"Harper Valley PTA" by Jeannie C. Riley, which are essentially the same song with different lyrics, but I prefer the first one a whole lot more.

[mvd]

66. See I like Reba a lot, up to Read My Mind

After that album, she became more ordinary. But some of her stuff has great lyrics and understated arrangements.

I like Gretchen Wilson, morso on her first CD. I think she's pretty a-political when it comes to politics.

[idgiehkt]

67. I don't really care for "Politically Uncorrect"

"And I'm for the bible
And I'm for the flag
And I'm for the working man
Me and Ol' Hagg
I'm just one of many who can't get no respect
Politically Uncorrect

I guess my opinion is all out of style
Don't get me started because i can get wild
And I'll make a fight for the forefathers' plan (That's Right)
Hell the world already knows where I stand"

I'm pretty sure she's a right-winger although I can't remember where it is that I heard this, probably from watching an interview with her or something, I've watched all the ones I've been able to catch because I liked that song so much. Reba is a definite right-winger and there is just something about her sound, probably because she is from the West instead of the south, that really kind of infected country music and changed it, the time of her becoming famous is when it really became unlistenable to me although I like a few of her individual songs.

[mvd]

68. I read a book on country music politics

Gretchen refused to take a side in it. The book is Rednecks & Bluenecks: The Politics Of Country Music. That song you mentioned is just a mindless country ra-ra - not really that telling.

We'll just have to disagree on Reba. Yep, she's an annoying RWer, but I like the neo-traditionalist sound she brought.

[idgiehkt]

71. Good for her

I don't just don't like that ambiguousness though; Dolly Parton does the same thing but she makes it pretty clear where she stands on the issues in alot of other ways like with that album "Those Were The Days". I thought it was interesting Wilson referenced Merle Haggard in that song, this was after he released that song "That's the News" that was supposed to be anti-war (I haven't heard it), and he's also pretty much disowned that song Okie from Muskogee, too, I read recently where he said that it wasn't necessary to his career and if he had it to do over again he might not even record it.

I really would like to see more artists in country like Gretchen Wilson, though, I really don't like this trend with everyone looking like Sarah Evans (definitely a right-winger) and Faith Hill; they are cute but it's not real and not gritty enough. We need tough women back in country. I really liked Terri Clark when she came around, I thought she was gonna be huge, maybe she is because I don't follow the new stuff that much but her star didn't rise like I expected it too, probably because along came the Dixie Chicks and She-Daisy (not to mention Shania) and all the singers got prissy-looking all of a sudden.

Thanks for posting about that book, it sounds really interesting, I'll have to try and find it and read it because I'd love to hear what these folks think about what is going on...so many of them have got to be scared to talk after how Natalie Maines was crucified.

[mvd]

74. You're welcome - I enjoyed the book

Unfortunately, for all Merle Haggard has said, he said he didn't vote in 2004. When pressed, he said he would have voted for Bush if he did.

I actually find Shania fun and some of Faith and SHeDAISY's songs well constructed country/pop. And the Dixie Chicks are one of my favorites. But I do like Terri Clark.

[sarge43]

52. Your Cheatin' Heart n/t

[idgiehkt]

56. yes, on any fair list, that would be #1

another contemporary one that just popped into my head is Jo Dee Messina's "Bye Bye"... it's definitely one of the best new country songs by a female I've heard
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=24oXJdG0Ilc

Also "455 Rocket" by Kathy Mattea and "Hold Me" by K.T. Oslin

I guess there would have to be a list of old country artists like Hank Williams and then a new list for ones like those I just listed.

[Dr Fate]

80. Cold, Cold Heart is better and I think it has been covered more...

...plus it has been covered outside of the genre- Tony Bennett even had it hit with it...

[Richard Steele]

69. You can't even think of ONE? Here's one for ya:

[u4ic]

70. The Rodeo Song!

:D

[Shakespeare]

72. The greatest of all time: "He Stopped Loving Her Today."

By George fuckin' Jones. There are many greats, and many close seconds, but that is the greatest country song of all time.

[Dr Fate]

79. Yeah it is- I've hardly ever heard melodrama done better. n/t

n/t

[Dem4truth]

73. Newbie here so I hope it's ok.

A Boy named Sue was pretty good when I was a Kid.

[Dr Fate]

78. Shit- there are thousands of killer dittys from the 1930's to the 1970's

I could list hundreds of killer songs w/o even thinking. Johnny Cash? Merle Haggard? Hank? Webb? Lefty? Porter? George Jones? Gram? Charlie Pride? Wille? Faron? Jerry Lee? Jimmie Rogers? Fucking Rose Maddox? Kitty Wells?Carter Family? Buck?old Dolly & Loretta?-Carl Smith? BOB WILLS? Please...

People who diss C & W- the real shit- have no idea. I truly feel sorry for them for what they are missing out on.

[SteppingRazor]

84. Oh brother...

I mean, how do you even respond to someone who can't think of a single great country song? Have you never heard of Cash? Nelson? Haggard? Williams parts I and II (hell, even III's pretty good)? George Freakin' Jones, for God's sake?! Not to mention David Allen Coe, Steve Earle, GRAM PARSONS, and so on and so on.

Country has been around longer than any modern form of music -- up to and including jazz and blues. Is it really impossible that maybe, at some point, someone has written a decent song in that genre?

[Coventina]

85. "Bales of Cocaine" by Revered Horton Heat!

Well, my sentimental favorite is "Ring of Fire".

I have to believe that Johnny & June are together again in the Great Beyond....

[Rambis]

87. Up against the wall redneck mother

Jerry Jeff Walker written by Ray Wylie Hubbbard

[SacredCow]

88. Stu Hamm's...

Country Music (A Night in Hell)

[Crabby Appleton]

89. "You're the Reason Our Kids Are Ugly"

[judaspriestess]

90. TAKE THIS JOB AND SHOVE IT - Johnny Paycheck

You never even call me by my name - David Allen Coe
Amarillo by morning - George Strait
Sticks and stones - Tracy Lawrence

[The Wizard]

91. Ray Charles

I Can't Stop Loving You

[jmowreader]

92. Lonesome Cowboy Burt is EVERYONE's favorite country song

My name is Burtram
I am a redneck
All my friends,
They call me 'Burt'
(Hi, Burt!)
All my family,
From down in Texas
Make their livin'
Diggin' dirt

Come out here to Californy,
Just to find me
Some pretty girls
Ones I seen
Gets me so horny;
Ruby lips,
'N teeth like pearls!

Wanna love 'em all!
Wanna love 'em dearly!
Wanna pretty girl-
I'll even pay!
I'll buy 'em furs!
I'll buy 'em jewelry!
I know they like me;
Here's what I say:

I'm lonesome Cowboy Burt!
(Speakin' atcha!)
Come smell my fringe-y shirt!
(Reekin' atcha!)
My cowboy pants,
My cowboy dance,
My bold advance,
On this here waitress . . .
Yodel-oh-oo-pee-hey
Yodel-oh-oo-pee!

(He's lonesome Cowboy Burt
Don'tcha get his feelings hurt)
Come on in this place,
'N I'll buy you a taste,
You can sit on my face-
Where's my waitress?

Burtram, Burtram redneck
Burtram, Burtram redneck

I'm an awful nice guy!
Sweat all day in the sun!
Roofer by trade,
Quite a bundle I've made,
I'm unionized roofin' old
Son-of-a-gun!
(He's a unionized roofin' old
Son-of-a-gun!)

When I get off, I get plastered
Drink till I fall onna floor,
Find me some Communist bastard,
'N stomp on his face till he don't
Move no more!
(He stomps on his face till he don't
Move no more!)

I fuss, an' I cuss an' I keep on drinkin',
Till my eyes puff up an' turn red!
I drool on m'shirt,
I see if he's hurt,
Kick him again in the head, yes!
Kick him again in the head, boys!
Kick him again in the head, now!
KICK HIM AGAIN IN THE HEAD!

Lonesome Cowboy Burt!
(Speakin' atcha!)
Come smell my fringe-y shirt!
(Reekin' atcha!)
My cowboy pants,
My cowboy dance,
My bold advance,
On this here waitress . . .
Yodel-oh-oo-pee-yeh
Yodel-oh-oo-pee!

(HE'S LONESOME COWBOY BURT,
A-don'tcha get his feelin's hurt)
Yeah . . . but come on in this place,
An' I'll buy you a taste,
'N you can sit on my face-
Where's my waitress?
OPAL, YOU HOT LITTLE BITCH!

(In the movie 200 Motels, right after Jimmy Carl Black finishes singing this song Rance Muhammitz, who is the devil, suddenly appears and this dialog ensues:

JCB: "Rance! What are you doing here?"
RM: 'You just called me.'
"I just said, 'Opal, you hot little bitch!'"
'I am known by many names.'
"You got a lot of friends who call you Opal the hot little bitch?')

[Deja Q]

93. 9. "And that's how my hounddog started lookin' good to me"

10. 'My wife, my sister, my friend.'
11. 'I divorced a golddigger but dated a golden retriever.'