What is Country, after all? The Cowboy Junkies use the steel guitar twang, Beck sings about rednecks, Ray Stevens and George Jones sing humor with a southern flair. Does any of this make a song country. All I know is that each of these bands creates some damn good tunes – and this comes from someone who has little patience with the Country that gets played on the radio.  Traditional Coun... [+]

What is Country, after all? The Cowboy Junkies use the steel guitar twang, Beck sings about rednecks, Ray Stevens and George Jones sing humor with a southern flair. Does any of this make a song country. All I know is that each of these bands creates some damn good tunes – and this comes from someone who has little patience with the Country that gets played on the radio.

Traditional Country:

George Jones: A favorite of my father’s, I particularly enjoy the tongue in cheek love ballads like She Thinks I Still Care (1962) and goofy drinking songs like White Lightning (1959).

Johnny Cash: I struggle with thinking of Johnny Cash as a Country Singer, but that’s probably because the genre has changed so much since 1955 when Cash broke into the scene. Cash’s discography is so immense, it’s hard to weed through and find the really great stuff (yes, that means I don’t really think it’s all great). My favorites are Ghost Riders in the Sky (1980), Casey’s Last Ride (1985), Bird on the Wire (Leonard Cohen cover).

Canadian Country:

Cowboy Junkies: sometimes they get classified as alternative rock, but mainly because nobody knows what to call this band. They’re kind of a genre of their own. I just got to see them play live at the Portland Zoo, and am now in love with Margo Timmins (13 yrs my senior, but really HOT). Some of the best covers I’ve heard came from this band, such as Sweet Jane (1969, Velvet Underground). Some of the best Blues I’ve heard came from this band, such as Floorboard Blues (1993). Some of my favorite songs ever have come from this band, such as Escape is so Simple (1990) and Cause Cheap is How I Feel (1990).

Truck Driving Country:

Red Sovine: well known for his trucker ballads, most of them depressing. My favorite is Phantom 309. Teddy Bear was a number one hit in 1978.

Dave Dudley: another truck driving music fiend, Dudley’s music is more upbeat. Six Days on the Road (1963), the song that made him famous, has a reference to speed, atypical for early Country.

Red Simpson: maybe not as well know, but big in the truck driving category. I’m a Truck (1965) is one of my favorites.

C.W. McCall: nobody today can remember this guys name but, in 1976, Convoy was a #1 hit and everybody with a CB radio thought this man was singing about them (including my dad). The movie didn’t come out until 1978.

Southern Rock:

Charlie Daniels Band: best known for The Devil Went Down to Georgia (#3 in 1979), I can’t get over the talent in this man’s voice. Big Bad John (#1 in 1961) was originally performed by Jimmy Dean, and most people who know it today know the Johnny Cash version. But none of them come anywhere near the overpowering sound created by Charlie Daniels’ voice. Uneasy Rider (#9 in 1973) was Daniels’ first big hit.

Drive-By Truckers: called Alt-Country Rock, this is one of those bands that can appeal to anyone who enjoys a good beat and a “let me do my own thing” attitude. Daddy’s Cup (2004) comes off their best selling album and has that day in the life ballad feel that many country songs have, but the music lacks the twangy rhythms which often overwhelm such songs.

Country Pop Crossover

Patsy Cline: who doesn’t know Patsy Cline? She sang plenty of traditional Country, but her greatest hits couldn’t be bound by any genre. Crazy (#2 in 1962) is one of my favorite songs ever. The song that made her famous, Walkin’ After Midnight (1957), was one she originally didn’t like because it was “just a little old pop song”. Go figure.

Roger Miller: I think the movie Swingers is what reminded us of this man’s genius with King of the Road (1965), but I remember him from my father’s 8 tracks. Dangme (1964) and Chug a Lug (1964) are typical of his sense of humor. Then, of course, Disney’s Robin Hood (1973) made him a childhood favorite of mine.

Garth Brooks: while his name alone makes your average country music hater cringe, several of Brooks’ tunes have successfully crossed over into the rock venue due to a strong influence from Billy Joel and Bruce Springsteen. The albums No Fences and Ropin the Wind have the best examples of this. Rodeo (1991) is a song about obsession that could sound like an alternative rock song if it weren’t about roping bulls. Pappa Loved Mama (1992) is one of those tongue in cheek love ballads that pokes fun at things in a way only Country can.

Folk:

Greg Brown: I include him because this brand of Folk has a very Country sound to it (enough to make my sister cringe when I play it). He’s not very well known, but that’s unfortunate as this man is amazing. My favorite song of his is Good Morning Coffee (1985), but I enjoy pretty much anything by him. He’s noted for his intimate performances, and it’s said he’s best in concert, which I think is evidenced in I Must Be in Oregon.

Shed Incorporated: A little known band that changed their name to Quality Name Brand. They’re indefinable, really. It sounds Folk-ish to me, though now they’re billing themselves as the New Classic Rock. I’d have never heard of them except some girl I met online visited from New York and took me to see their show at a bar in Portland. The energy these guys have when they play is unbelievable, and I’ve loved their music ever since.

Listed below is a playlist out of my own collection. It's not a best of, but just enough to make a good album worthy of replay. [-]