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Last Post 12/30/2004 7:04 PM by  Rev Jules
2004 in Country Music
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Rev Jules
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12/30/2004 7:04 PM
    Source: Country Music Television Title: Looking Back at a Year in Country Music News Written By: Calvin Gilbert Yes, it was the year of contemporary superstars, Loretta Lynn's artistic rebirth and the Muzik Mafia's Gretchen Wilson and Big & Rich, but country music's biggest story of 2004 centers around the upturn in album sales. According to Nielsen SoundScan, sales of country albums topped 68.1 million in 2004, an increase of 8 million units from 2003. Country music's rebound was obvious on the Billboard charts, where a No. 1 debut on the all-genre Billboard 200 chart automatically equates to a No. 1 debut on the Top Country Albums chart. Among those making a No. 1 debut on the Billboard 200: Kenny Chesney's When the Sun Goes Down, Tim McGraw's Live Like You Were Dying, Alan Jackson's What I Do, Rascal Flatts' Feels Like Today and George Strait's 50 Number Ones. Jimmy Buffett's country-oriented License to Chill topped the Billboard 200 in its first week of release to become his first-ever No. 1 on any chart. Usher's Confessions prevented Gretchen Wilson's first album, Here for the Party, from debuting at the top of the Billboard 200 although first-week sales of 227,000 guaranteed her a No. 1 debut on the country albums chart -- a major accomplishment for a newcomer who was completely unknown by the public just a few months before. When Shania Twain and Toby Keith released greatest hits albums in November, Eminem's Encore kept them from the top of the all-genre chart. However, Twain's Greatest Hits CD sold 530,000 in its first week, followed by sales of 435,000 for Keith's Greatest Hits 2, to immediately account for a big part of country music's overall sales in 2004. Behind the sales, however, are lots of smaller stories that made up the year in country music. Here's a look at some of them: January: After 12 consecutive years hosting the CMA Awards, Vince Gill announced he would not host the 2004 event. Gill said he needed a break from the high-profile post, adding that he did not view his departure as permanent. Brooks & Dunn later hosted the CBS-TV broadcast. ... Reba McEntire announced plans for her first tour in three years. ... Chris Cagle canceled all concert dates through June 1 because of vocal cord problems. ... Comic-musician Rodney Carrington signed to tape the pilot episode for his ABC sitcom, Rodney. ... Toby Keith was joined by Willie Nelson, Sammy Hagar, Aerosmith's Steven Tyler and Joe Perry and others in Houston for a live session of CMT Crossroads coinciding with Super Bowl XXXVIII. February: BMI president and CEO Frances W. Preston and singers Vestal Goodman, Sandi Patty and the Rev. Al Green were inducted into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame. ... Tim McGraw confirmed his role in Brian Grazer's film, Friday Night Lights. ... Jeff Foxworthy, Bill Engvall and Larry the Cable Guy -- who first appeared together on the Blue Collar Comedy tour -- announced plans to launch Blue Collar TV, a comedy series for The WB network. Traditional music prevailed in the country categories at the 46th annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles. Alison Krauss claimed three awards, bringing her career total to 17 and giving her more Grammys than any other Nashville artist. Other traditionalist winners included Ricky Skaggs, Vince Gill, Randy Travis and the all-star Livin', Lovin', Losin': Songs of the Louvin Brothers. ... Rhonda Vincent won five trophies, including entertainer of the year, at the Society for the Preservation of Bluegrass Music of America's 30th anniversary awards show in Nashville. ... Mark Wills parted company with Mercury Records just months after his No. 1 single, "19 Something," was named the most-played country single of 2003 by trade publication Radio & Records. March: Kenny Chesney's tour documentary, Roadcase: The Movie, debuted in Regal Cinema theaters across the nation. ... The Portrait of Billy Joe, director Luciana Pedraza's documentary on singer-songwriter Billy Joe Shaver, premiered during the South by Southwest Film Festival in Austin, Texas. ... The Country Radio Broadcasters organization honored Alabama with its annual career achievement award. Alan Jackson and his band, the Strayhorns, showed up on a tiny plywood stage at Castaways Marina in Jupiter, Fla., and performed a four-hour show to a crowd of 1,100. Jackson owns a house in the Jupiter area. ... Brad Paisley and John Mayer taped an episode of CMT Crossroads in New York City. ... Darryl Worley and Mark Wills performed an acoustic concert prior to President Bush's speech before personnel of the 101st Airborne Division at Fort Campbell, Ky. On the first night of his Guitars, Tiki Bars & a Whole Lotta Love tour, Kenny Chesney set a record at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo by selling out Reliant Stadium with a paid attendance of 70,668. ... Singer-songwriter Jamie O'Neal signed with Capitol Nashville. ... Night Train to Nashville: Music City Rhythm & Blues, 1945-1970, a 5,000-square-foot exhibit, opened at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum in Nashville. ... Rascal Flatts lead vocalist Gary LeVox's wife, Tara, delivered their second child, Brooklyn Leigh, on March 21 in Nashville. April: Toby Keith won three trophies to lead the field of winners at the CMT 2004 Flame Worthy Video Music Awards in Nashville. Dolly Parton hosted the event that included the presentation of CMT's Johnny Cash Visionary Award to Reba McEntire. ... Parton received the Living Legend award from the Library of Congress in Washington. ... Shania Twain's Up! won a Juno Award -- the Canadian equivalent of a Grammy -- for country recording of the year during ceremonies in Edmonton, Alberta. ... Wynonna was presented the CMA's Connie B. Gay Award in recognition of her dedication to promoting the CMA Music Festival and the CMA Awards. May: Toby Keith picked up four trophies, including the entertainer of the year honor, at the ACM Awards in Las Vegas. ... George Strait, Alan Jackson and Jimmy Buffett performed their first concert together on May 29 at Texas Stadium near Dallas. ... Mark Chesnutt signed to the new independent Vivaton label. ... DreamWorks Nashville, label home to Toby Keith, merged with Mercury and MCA Nashville as part of downsizing within the Universal Music Group. ... Loretta Lynn's Van Lear Rose premiered at No. 24 on the all-inclusive Billboard 200 and at No. 2 on the music trade publication's country albums chart as her highest-debuting album ever. ... Glen Campbell pleaded guilty to charges of extreme driving under the influence and leaving the scene of an accident stemming from a November 2003 arrest near his Phoenix home. He later served a 10-day jail sentence. Charley Pride underwent brain surgery in Dallas to remove a subdural hematoma, a clot created when blood vessels tear and blood accumulates in the space between the brain and its protective covering within the skull. He made a speedy recovery and returned to the road. ... Willie Nelson canceled 10 concerts, including an appearance at the Bonnaroo Music Festival in Manchester, Tenn., to recover from surgery to relieve pain in his hands and fingers caused by carpal tunnel syndrome. He, too, was back on his tour bus in short order. ... Rascal Flatts bassist-vocalist Jay DeMarcus married model Allison Alderman in Nashville on May 15. June: Tim McGraw and the Dancehall Doctors began their Out Loud tour with the Warren Brothers and Big & Rich in Virginia Beach, Va. ... With a morning performance by Jo Dee Messina, the first-ever CMA Music Festival kicked off in downtown Nashville. The multi-day festival was previously known as Fan Fair. ... The Del McCoury Band, the Sam Bush Band and Gillian Welch were among the roots-oriented acts performing at the Bonnaroo Music Festival in Manchester, Tenn. ... Terri Clark was inducted as a Grand Ole Opry member. Anita Cochran released the single, "(I Wanna Hear) A Cheatin' Song," a track featuring Conway Twitty "singing" a song written 10 years after he died. Sampling individual words from Twitty's past recordings, the words were combined and his voice tuned on a computer to create his vocal line. ... Vince Gill, Dan Tyminski, Marty Stuart and country newcomer Jedd Hughes performed at the Eric Clapton Crossroads Guitar Festival in Dallas. ... Toby Keith and Ted Nugent continued their USO-sponsored Persian Gulf tour with a stop at Camp Phoenix in Kabul, Afghanistan. ... Dolly Parton's "I Will Always Love You" was ranked as the top tune in the TV special, CMT 100 Greatest Love Songs. Warner Bros. Nashville president Jim Ed Norman resigned after operating the company's country music division for 21 years. ... George Strait headlined a concert at Fort Campbell, Ky., as part of the Army post's Week of the Eagles celebration. The show for the 101st Airborne Division's soldiers and their families also featured Vince Gill, Lane Brody, Richard Marx, Collin Raye and Dobie Gray. ... The Stepford Wives, Faith Hill's film debut, opened nationally in theaters. July: Marty Stuart was sentenced to two days in jail in Sumner County, Tenn., after pleading guilty to DUI. Stuart was arrested June 23 on the street in front of a McDonald's restaurant in the Nashville suburb of Hendersonville, Tenn. ... The Judds performed their only concert together of 2004 during a Fourth of July show at the Freedom Over Texas 2004 celebration in downtown Houston. ... A CMT Crossroads episode starring Wynonna and Heart's Ann and Nancy Wilson debuted. ... Kenny Rogers' wife, Wanda, gave birth to identical twin sons (July 6) in Atlanta. The couple named them Justin Charles and Jordan Edward. ... A portion of I-85 near Alan Jackson's hometown of Newnan, Ga., was renamed in the singer's honor. To mark the 30th anniversary of Gram Parsons' death, daughter Polly Parsons staged two concerts in California featuring performances by Dwight Yoakam, Steve Earle, Norah Jones, Jim Lauderdale, Raul Malo, Lucinda Williams and Rolling Stones guitarist Keith Richards. ... Dixie Chicks singer Natalie Maines and husband Adrian Pasdar welcomed their second child, Beckett Finn, on July 14. August: The final nominees for the 2004 CMA Awards were announced during a live telecast on CMT and CBS-TV's The Early Show. ... Maybelle Carter's 1928 Gibson L-5 arch top acoustic guitar was returned to the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, thanks to Murfreesboro, Tenn., philanthropist Bob McLean. One of Carter's heirs had placed the instrument on consignment at a Nashville guitar shop. During a ceremony at the Hall of Fame, Vince Gill and Marty Stuart were among those personally thanking McLean for writing a $575,000 check for the purchase. September: Hank Williams Jr., Gretchen Wilson, Montgomery Gentry and Big & Rich taped the CMT Outlaws concert in Nashville. The concert special also featured Tanya Tucker, Jessi Colter, Shooter Jennings and members of Metallica and Lynyrd Skynyrd. ... Earl Scruggs performed four sold-out shows at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum as part of his work as the Hall of Fame's artist in residency. ... Lyric Street recording artist Josh Gracin completed his military service with the U.S. Marines. ... Randy Travis' terrazzo and brass "star" was unveiled on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Willie Nelson and former President Jimmy Carter appeared at a concert at Plains High School in Plains, Ga., for the special, CMT Homecoming: President Carter in Plains. ... Carolyn Dawn Johnson took home four awards to lead the list of winners at the 2004 Canadian Country Music Awards in Edmonton, Alberta. ... A three-day auction of Johnny Cash's personal memorabilia raised $3.9 million at Sotheby's in New York City. ... Tim McGraw and wife Faith Hill were joined by Martina McBride, Kenny Chesney and others for the Franklin, Tenn., premiere of Friday Night Lights, a film starring McGraw and Billy Bob Thornton. ... Deana Carter and boyfriend Chris Hicky gave birth to a son, Gray Hayes Hicky, on Sept. 15. A number of high-profile musicians gathered in Nashville for two concerts paying tribute to George Jones. Alan Jackson, Martina McBride, Kenny Chesney, Aaron Neville and Harry Connick Jr. were among those featured during the shows taped for the PBS special, George Jones: 50 Years of Hits. ... Farm Aid 2004 near Seattle featured performances by Dave Matthews, Jerry Lee Lewis, Lucinda Williams, Steve Earle, Trick Pony, Marc Broussard, Blue Merle and Farm Aid founders Willie Nelson, John Mellencamp and Neil Young. ... Ray Price underwent heart surgery in Houston to remove a blockage in his main artery. At the moment, he has concerts scheduled through November 2005. ... Steve Earle was presented the Americana Free Speech Award during the Americana Music Conference in Nashville. October: CMA executives and New York Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg announced that the 2005 CMA Awards show will be held at Madison Square Garden in New York City. ... Bluegrass pioneer Curly Seckler and the late broadcaster and historian Bill Vernon were inducted into the International Bluegrass Association's Bluegrass Music Hall of Honor. ... The Dixie Chicks joined Bruce Springsteen, the Dave Matthews Band, James Taylor, Bonnie Raitt and others for the final show of the Vote for Change tour aimed at defeating President George W. Bush in his re-election bid. ... Sara Evans gave birth to her third child, daughter Audrey Elizabeth, in Nashville on Oct. 6. Ralph Stanley Museum and Traditional Mountain Music Center was officially dedicated in Clintwood, Va. ... Diamond Rio were presented the Minnie Pearl Humanitarian Award. ... Angela L. Herzberg, 36, wife of country singer Gary Allan, died at their Hendersonville, Tenn., home of a self-inflicted gunshot wound on Oct. 25. ... Big & Rich's "Save a Horse (Ride a Cowboy)" became the first country single to be certified gold by counting digital downloads. November: Kenny Chesney became a first-time winner at the CMA Awards, taking home the prestigious entertainer of the year prize and an album of the year trophy for When the Sun Goes Down. ... Singer-songwriter Kris Kristofferson and former record label executive and producer Jim Foglesong were inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame. ... Loretta Lynn was presented BMI's Icon Award, and Emmylou Harris received ASCAP's Founders Award during the performing rights organizations' country music awards banquets in Nashville. .... Freddie Hart, Guy Clark, Billy Joe Shaver and Dennis Morgan were inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame. Tim McGraw became a minority owner of the newly reconstituted Nashville Kats arena football franchise. ... Singer-songwriter and former rodeo champion Chris LeDoux announced he has been diagnosed with cholangiocarcinoma, a slow-growing malignancy of the bile duct. ... Mindy McCready was fined $4,000 and sentenced to three years of supervised probation and 200 hours of community service after pleading guilty to a drug charge resulting from her Aug. 5 arrest for presenting a fraudulent prescription for the painkiller OxyContin to a Nashville-area pharmacy. December: SFX Entertainment founder Robert F.X. Sillerman and Lisa Marie Presley announced that he has purchased majority ownership in the assets of Elvis Presley's estate, including Elvis Presley Enterprises. ... Chely Wright dismissed her fan club president and stopped all activities of a 17-member volunteer street team who allegedly posed as veterans or family of military personnel in requesting country radio stations to play her single, "Bumper of My SUV." ... Lynn Anderson, 57, best known for her 1970 hit "Rose Garden," was charged with drunk driving near Denton, Texas. ... Trace Adkins' wife, Rhonda, delivered their third child, daughter Trinity Lee, in Nashville on Dec. 3.
    aidan
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    12/31/2004 12:20 PM
    jules, interested to read that article, thanks. though I admit I only have a very basic knowledge of the american country music scene (I've seen 'ceol tire' on TG4 a few times, so I recognise names like kenny chesney, toby keith, etc). I'm fascinated by how politicised and polarised it is. acts seem to me (based on my dilettante impressions, as I said) either stubbornly singular and liberal (including steve earle, iris dement, johnny cash, shawn colvin, lucinda williams - all fantastic) or else carpet-chewingly conservative and musically bland (my impressions of tim mcgraw, kenny chesney and your relation alan jackson, unfortunately). I remember that you wrote a very eloquent and thoughtful review of steve earle's album; I guess I'm curious as to how the overtly conservative country acts come across for you. there really isn't such an extreme difference of expressed political idealogy in any other musical genre (apart from busted voting tory, of course....). I was heartened to see that the article above (a mainstream media source, I imagine) noted the dixie chicks and the rock against bush, without any bias. do you find that people have prejudiced ideas of american country music? I ask because I have to overcome my own prejudices in thinking about it...
    QsySue
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    1/2/2005 10:22 PM
    I may be wrong on this, but I'm pretty sure the liberal artists you reference all write their own music. The conservative/bland artists don't, generally. My impression is that Nashville churns out artists like Kenny Chesney and Tim McGraw because they're good entertainers. I would compare them to Britney Spears and um, who else is a manufactured pop star? Although I'm thinking popular country acts have more talent, because they're actually expected to be able to sing. Maybe I'm not stating this right.
    Rev Jules
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    1/2/2005 10:48 PM
    quote:
    Originally posted by aidan
    ...I guess I'm curious as to how the overtly conservative country acts come across for you. there really isn't such an extreme difference of expressed political idealogy in any other musical genre...do you find that people have prejudiced ideas of american country music? I ask because I have to overcome my own prejudices in thinking about it...
    Dear Aidan, Thanks y'all for your kind words. Some big questions there and I'll aim to keep it brief here but may come back to it later on in greater depth. 1) I must put up my hand and say that I am a die-hard country fan and like a wide range of country artists, irrespective of their opinions. I am a big fan of Brooks and Dunn, whose song 'Only in America' was played at Dubya's 2004 acceptance speech. I think that 'Beer for My Horses' (Toby Keith's rocker with Willie Nelson in support of the death penalty) is a fine little roadhouse tune and I have long been a fan of Stonewall Jackson (another distant cousin) who served in the navy and later recorded a song attacking those who were protesting against the Vietnam War, 'The Minutemen (are Turning In Their Graves)'. None of those tracks, raucous and outspoken, would be - in my mine - bland. Nor would the output of the conservative singer Merle Haggard, whose hit 'Okie from Muskogee' was an attack on the 'long hairs and the hippies' of the 1960s. Equally, I have been a fan of Steve Earle (on record but not live) since 1988, I worship the songwriting of self confessed Democrat Rodney Crowell and I firmly believe that John Mellancamp is the finest country artist of our age (regardless of whether Nashville recognizes him as such). So, in the words of Billy Bragg, which side are you on boys? Which side are you on? Well, I am on the side of music. And music is neither Left or Right, its just good or bad. Moreover, I am really not sure that country music can be philosophically divided along the lines of Left or Right either. If there is a common thread to all country artists then it is a 'f*ck you' attitude that originated in Texas. Steve Earle has it, Willie Nelson has it, Guy Clarke has it and, like him or loathe him, George W Bush has it - in spades.. The main reason I love country music, apart from the way it sounds, is because there is no 'correct' view of it. Country music is primarily seen as Christian but it can still accommodate Kinky Friedman, whose 'Ride 'Em Jewboy' was recorded by Willie Nelson. Kinky is presently campaigning to be the next Governor of Texas on a social programme entitled 'Leave No Lesbian Behind'. Metallica can be included as guests on the bill of a CMT concert. Steve Earle's long time guitarist and collaborator Buddy Miller can still record an album of gospel tunes even though Earle is dismissive of religion. And the lifelong friendship between Merle Haggard, avowed enemy of 1960s counterculture, and Johnny Cash who introduced Bob Dylan to Nashville is one of the great stories of American music. The continued frienship of Willie Nelson and Toby Keith is one of it's great mysteries. 2) Yes, people do have prejudiced views of Country Music but then, in this country, that prejudice is based primarily on a lack of access to the real thing and a surfeit of limp, MOR versions courtesy of artists such as Dominic Kirwan etc. For example, Rodney Crowell’s 2001 album ‘Houston Kid’ contained a song called ‘I Walk The Line (revisited). The original is a rootsy rocker. When I played it on Jimmy Murphy’s ‘DJ For A Day’ radio show in 2004, Jimmy remarked that the song was familiar and that he had heard it played by bands at a couple of weddings. That is because Country ‘n’ Irish act Robert Mizzel subsequently recorded it and it has become a staple of his set in venues like the Hazel Hotel in Monasterevin (Home of Country Music). In other words, it has become a standard of the Irish pub band circuit in much the same way that ‘Hallelujah’ has been kicked to death by a succession of Irish indie artists. It works the other way too. When Brooks and Dunn recorded the Brady/Keating song ‘Long Goodbye’ for their ‘Steers and Stripes’ album they turned a plaintive, softly slick, MOR Ballad into a rumbling, roughed up, depressed wail and took it to the top of the US Charts. But I do think that hip Irish audiences do relate to the music in some way. The popularity of Americana acts like Will Oldham, Ryan Adams, Alison Krauss, Gillian Welch, Iron and Wine and Richmond Fontaine is evidence of this. I have to say that I find these acts too soft spoken for me and I sometimes suspect that they have more in common with acts like Daniel O’Donnell - in terms of softening out and toning down the music - then they or their audiences might like to own up to. But that is a personal view and, in the words of a Texan I once knew, it is a view that can be countered with “Well, f*ck you and the horse you rode in on, I like to listen to it”. And that, in the end, is what really matters in country music. Now, where is my Stetson ?
    Rev Jules
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    1/2/2005 10:55 PM
    quote:
    Originally posted by QsySue
    I may be wrong on this, but I'm pretty sure the liberal artists you reference all write their own music. The conservative/bland artists don't, generally. My impression is that Nashville churns out artists like Kenny Chesney and Tim McGraw because they're good entertainers. I would compare them to Britney Spears and um, who else is a manufactured pop star? Although I'm thinking popular country acts have more talent, because they're actually expected to be able to sing.
    Actually, you are wrong there. Alan Jackson writes his own material, as does Merle Haggard. On the other hand, Johnny Cash's last records featured few of his own compositions. I include below an excerpt of a review I wrote for Cluas previously which gives my opinion on songwriting in Nashville because I am too tired to start from scratch: "a tradition has developed over the years on Music Row that the song is king, the song comes first and all that matters to the artist who records it is that it becomes a hit. Country artists don't get as hung up over who wrote what as rock musicians do. They aren't trying to be auteurs like Bob Dylan. They know that George Jones wrote practically none of his output. They just want to be Number One. It is a tradition with a long history since even Hank William recorded songs by artists such as Leon Payne as well as co-writing with musicians such as Moon Mullican. And there is no guarantee that your biggest hit will even be written by you. Saul Holiff once observed that Johnny Cash's own song 'I Walk The Line' made Cash a star but it was Shel Silverstein's 'A Boy Named Sue' that made him a superstar. Today, many major country artists such as Tim McGraw do not write any of their own material and those that do, such as Toby Keith, tend to write in partnership with another songwriter. Even exceptional solo songwriters such as Alan Jackson and Josh Turner fill out their albums with compositions by other artists."
    The_Thin_Man
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    1/3/2005 10:01 AM
    While I gladly defer to Jules' expertise on matters country, I think it's incorrect to see a 'softening' of country music in the songwriting and performance of Oldham or Welch. A 'quietening' perhaps in Oldham's case, although the rawness of his sound can cut deeper than many Nashville-recorded artists (sometimes reminds me of the plaintive singing of Charlie Rich). It's also interesting that Rubin and Cash decided to invite himself and one of his numbers onto one of the American Recordings records. Welch is quite a different proposition, having (I would argue) more in common with Appalachian foothills than Nashville bright lights. (I'm thinking in particular of the Hell Among The Yearlings album, though I'd concede that Soul Journey may take her closer to Tennessee). I suppose my real question is, where do we draw the boundaries of this country thing?
    Rev Jules
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    1/3/2005 12:40 PM
    quote:
    Originally posted by The_Thin_Man
    While I gladly defer to Jules' expertise on matters country, I think it's incorrect to see a 'softening' of country music in the songwriting and performance of Oldham or Welch. A 'quietening' perhaps in Oldham's case, although the rawness of his sound can cut deeper than many Nashville-recorded artists (sometimes reminds me of the plaintive singing of Charlie Rich). It's also interesting that Rubin and Cash decided to invite himself and one of his numbers onto one of the American Recordings records. Welch is quite a different proposition, having (I would argue) more in common with Appalachian foothills than Nashville bright lights. (I'm thinking in particular of the Hell Among The Yearlings album, though I'd concede that Soul Journey may take her closer to Tennessee). I suppose my real question is, where do we draw the boundaries of this country thing?
    Thanks Thin Man. Lot of heavy questions there. Let's see. Country music is not a pure form, rather it is a synthesis of a variety of genres that, through the genius of Jimmie Rodgers, Jack Guthrie and Hank Williams became fused into the music we know and love (or hate) today. So, it is almost impossible to categorise it definitively. I use the following rough definitions as a general rule of thumb. Country music: Music created by musicians from the southern United States (but not always. eg: Shania Twain) who make their professional home for part or all of their careers in the music industry base of Nashville and who see themselves working within a creative and performing tradition that includes Williams et al. Eg: Alan Jackson. Americana: Music created by musicians not necessarily from the Southern part of the United States (or even America at all) and which does not look to Nashville for its guidelines but which draws from America's musical roots heritage. Eg: Willard Grant Conspiracy. There is a school of thought that believes that Americana as a form truly began with the release of Bruce Springsteen's 'Nebraska'. I placed both Will Oldham and Gillian Welch within the rough definition of Americana. However, even this can move. Oldham's 'Palace Music' recording saw him go to Nashville to cut the record with some top Nashville session musicians. Alison Moorer, who once was produced by legendary Nashville supremo Tony Brown is now considered to be Americana and is presently on tour with Steve Earle. Rodney Crowell is another artist who is now within the Americana genre, even though he once owned the Billboard Country Top Ten. Now, Cash's American Recording is a point I want to postulate on for a moment. Cash did not begin his career as a country artist. He began it as a rock and roller with Sun Studios as did Elvis and Jerry Lee Lewis. Charlie Rich was also on Sun for while but his sound was more jazz influenced and his main work was as a songwriter and session pianist. So, in a sense, Cash is primarily a rocker, albeit one who crossed over into Country. Even his hit song, 'I Walk the Line' was inspired by another rocker, Carl Perkins. Furthermore, Cash’s last stand out performances were on songs written by composers within the field of rock such as U2, Nick Cave and Trent Reznor as opposed to those written by nashville tunesmiths. Of course, Country Radio had abandoned Cash long before that because, at some point in the development of Nashville, the community stopped embracing rockers such as Jerry Lee Lewis and Cash. I have a theory that this occurred around the time of the development of the Nashville Sound and subsequent format changes in radio programming. But that is just a personal hunch. I don’t really consider Oldham as ‘raw’. In my mind, John Mellancamp is ‘raw’. Nor do I see Cash’s invitation to him as anything other than a personal preference and I don’t consider it significant in a wider context. I agree about the Appalachian influence in Welch. I would also agree with the term 'quietening' as being a better way to describe the kind of music favoured by Irish audiences. I will also be bold and theorise that Daniel O'Donnell could very well do a fine version of 'I See a Darkness' if he wanted to. Overall, I find your comments very thought provoking. Its great to talk about country music for once instead of yet another thread about the usual suspects.
    The_Thin_Man
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    1/4/2005 10:31 AM
    That's about the most cogent definition of country music I can recall reading - kudos to the Reverend. There's still a couple of things that kinda trouble me (purely in a country anorak) way. The (very accurate) definitions you set as to what defines country seem quite set in stone. Can you envisage an artist producing work which expands these definitions, or introduces a fourth one? To wit, could Cash/Perkins/Tennessee Three types, rock'n'roll-based as they were, be considered as a rock'n'roll strand WITHIN country, as opposed to Sun rock'n'rollers? Likewise, is Willie Nelson country, consider the slap in the face he administered in moving to Texas? I would personally consider both Cash and Nelson as paragons of country music, but it could be the case that my sensibilities need tuning! Also (and had to ask this), as an album would you consider Dylan's Nashville Skyline (WAY overtheorised in recent times) as a country record? Or was it the first Americana recording? So many questions...
    Rev Jules
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    1/4/2005 12:36 PM
    quote:
    Originally posted by The_Thin_Man
    That's about the most cogent definition of country music I can recall reading - kudos to the Reverend. There's still a couple of things that kinda trouble me (purely in a country anorak) way. The (very accurate) definitions you set as to what defines country seem quite set in stone. Can you envisage an artist producing work which expands these definitions, or introduces a fourth one? To wit, could Cash/Perkins/Tennessee Three types, rock'n'roll-based as they were, be considered as a rock'n'roll strand WITHIN country, as opposed to Sun rock'n'rollers? Likewise, is Willie Nelson country, consider the slap in the face he administered in moving to Texas? I would personally consider both Cash and Nelson as paragons of country music, but it could be the case that my sensibilities need tuning! Also (and had to ask this), as an album would you consider Dylan's Nashville Skyline (WAY overtheorised in recent times) as a country record? Or was it the first Americana recording? So many questions...
    And I'll try to provide some answers. Where to begin ? Yes, I can envisage an artist producing work which expands these definitions. If we look at the history of music we find artists taking things in a new direction and, in time, these new directions are codified as new genres or sub genres. When I say Cash crossed over I mean that he became a leading force in both county and rock. This was recognised when he was made a member of both the Country and Rock and Roll Halls of Fame. Likewise, Perkins was also a crossover, penning hits for Cash, Patsy Cline and The Judds. Rock does play an important developmental role in Country since the music was so influenced by it, even thought it took some time for instruments like drums and electric guitars to be allowed to be played in the Grand Old Opry. Today, Travis Tritt is a country artist who likes to rock and, in fact, released a compilation entitled, 'The Rockin' Side' with cuts featuring 'Little Feat' etc. As Gilbert mentions in the article above, rockers such as members of Metallica and Aerosmith also took part in CMT sponsored concerts in 2004 and, of course, Jack White produced Loretta Lynn's 'Van Lear Rose'. However, country fans didn't think White did such a good job and the record essentially stiffed in terms of commercial sales. I personally hated it. Willie Nelson is, without doubt, a country artist. The fact that he comes from Texas only adds to his lustre as so many country greats hail from Texas. By the way, George Strait kicked off his live album at the Astros Stadium in Houston with the classic 'Deep In The Heart of Texas'. I would consider 'Nashville Skyline' as a proper country album. It was recorded in Nashville with top session men, featured Johnny Cash, Norman Blake and Charlie Daniels. In addition, the liner notes were written by Cash himself. Dylan has often acknowlegded the influence of both Hank Williams and Jimmie Rodgers in his work and has also appeared on tribute albums to both those musicians. Therefore, its fair to say that he accepts the tradition these artists shaped and attempted on 'Nashville Skyline' to add to that tradition. Thank you for asking.
    Gar
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    1/4/2005 3:30 PM
    I might be getting the wrong impression here but: Jules are you not overly impressed with the last batch of work that Cash produced (all the Rubin produced 'Unearthed' recordings)? With alot of artists, like one's you have mentioned above, criss-crossing genres, how does one define a particular artist? For example, Ryan Adams has produced Country (Whiskeytown's early stuff), Hard Rock (The Finger) and Indie Rock (Rock N Roll). Alot of reviewers simply label him as an Alt. Country artist, but in what genre should an artist like Adams be recognised? Oh and whats the best John Mellencamp cd, I just have 'Mr. Happy Go Lucky'
    Rev Jules
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    1/4/2005 6:01 PM
    quote:
    Originally posted by Gar
    I might be getting the wrong impression here but: Jules are you not overly impressed with the last batch of work that Cash produced (all the Rubin produced 'Unearthed' recordings)? With alot of artists, like one's you have mentioned above, criss-crossing genres, how does one define a particular artist? For example, Ryan Adams has produced Country (Whiskeytown's early stuff), Hard Rock (The Finger) and Indie Rock (Rock N Roll). Alot of reviewers simply label him as an Alt. Country artist, but in what genre should an artist like Adams be recognised? Oh and whats the best John Mellencamp cd, I just have 'Mr. Happy Go Lucky'
    Let’s see. I didn't think I was being overly impressed with Cash's last batch of recordings. I have previously mentioned that, if all you listen to is those last albums, you do not have a fully rounded view of him as an artist – good and bad. It’s easy to forget how low his reputation had slunk after he was first dropped from the Columbia label in 1986 and then signed to Mercury, something which turned out to be an unhappy experience for him. They only pressed about five hundred records of the last album he did for them. Lets put it this way, you wouldn't have laid easy money down in the 1980's that Cash would shake off the kitsch sheen of his Christmas albums and appearances on The Muppet Show. The American Recordings series turned out to be a late blooming for the man but, as with previous label relationships, Cash’s own song writing was downplayed in favour of interpretations of other people’s material. If you want to know just how great a songwriter he was, you only have to listen to 'Cash Sings Cash'. I don’t consider Ryan Adams a country artist, just as I don’t think Norah Jones is a country artist, no matter how many duets she records with people like Willie Nelson and Dolly Parton. I would consider Adams to be a rock musician with very diverse musical tastes. It goes without saying that his experience on Universal's alt.country imprint Lost Highway hasn't been idyllic and the label certainly isn't enthralled with his musicial development. I wouldn't be surprised if he moved labels at the end of his contract. Anyway, he was never going to become the darling of Nashville with songs like, 'Tennessee Sucks'. I can’t say what is the best Mellancamp album but my two favourites are ‘Scarecrow’ and ‘Trouble No More’.
    Binokular
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    1/5/2005 4:42 PM
    Country music albums topping the charts in the US? Doesn't suprise me. After all this is a country where the best selling vehicle isn't something sensible like a Focus hatchback, it's the Ford F-150 pickup truck, says it all really. As for Gillian Welch, of whom I would consider myself to be a fan, well she just refers to her music as "American primitive" which is probably the closest thing you'll get to an accurate description of her music. Is she country, or not? Don't know, don't care, she is a gifted songwriter who creates great music that doesn't represent a softening of any kind. Incidentally, she does appear to have some serious Country credentials. She has worked in Nashville and owns a '66 Ford F-100 Pickup truck. In hip hop terms, thats like owning a pimped out Hummer on 20 inch chrome spinners!
    Rev Jules
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    1/5/2005 6:00 PM
    quote:
    Originally posted by Binokular
    As for Gillian Welch, of whom I would consider myself to be a fan, well she just refers to her music as "American primitive" which is probably the closest thing you'll get to an accurate description of her music. Is she country, or not? Don't know, don't care, she is a gifted songwriter who creates great music that doesn't represent a softening of any kind. Incidentally, she does appear to have some serious Country credentials. She has worked in Nashville and owns a '66 Ford F-100 Pickup truck. In hip hop terms, thats like owning a pimped out Hummer on 20 inch chrome spinners!
    The comments about pickup trucks etc are cutesy, hah hah, but nonsensical. Alan Jackson has a fleet of cars, superbikes and a private plane which would put the richest rapper to shame. It doesn't make him less country. If she wants to be retro in her choice of automobile thats up to her, it means nothing. If you wanted to pick out a genuine part of her career that established her country credentials then it would be the CMA she won for her contribution to the 'O Brother, Where Art Thou ?' soundtrack, as well as her work with Ralph Stanley. You could just as easily categorise her as a folk artist etc. I'm not a fan, I think she is a whiner and a wailer, like Emmylou Harris but, as I keep on saying, its what you like listening to that matters. I stand by my view that Irish audience have a big appetite for softly sung, quiet, acoustic arranged music and Gillian Welch is another example of it. When Gillian Welch teams up with Little Feat then I'll change my opinion.
    Binokular
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    1/5/2005 9:43 PM
    quote:
    Originally posted by Rev Jules The comments about pickup trucks etc are cutesy, hah hah, but nonsensical. Alan Jackson has a fleet of cars, superbikes and a private plane which would put the richest rapper to shame. It doesn't make him less country. If she wants to be retro in her choice of automobile thats up to her, it means nothing.
    I know Jules, I was just being a bit tongue-in-cheek as usual, maybe I should have used one of these little smiley guys -> Lighten up! What I actually like about Gillian Welch is that she genuinely is moving things forward. Yes I know, everybody notices the soft strumming, appalachian influence etc, but I think she merely uses these elements as a pallete to create something truly contemporary. Her music is both fake (pastiche) and genuine at the same time. She is an apparent paradox, but many of the best artists are.I think the content of a lot of her songs may be fairly dark, but I don't get the impression of a whiner and a wailer, but then I like Emmylou Harris and Gram Parsons/Flying Burrito Brothers/The Byrds etc.
    Rev Jules
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    1/5/2005 10:17 PM
    quote:
    Originally posted by Binokular
    What I actually like about Gillian Welch is that she genuinely is moving things forward. Yes I know, everybody notices the soft strumming, appalachian influence etc, but I think she merely uses these elements as a pallete to create something truly contemporary. Her music is both fake (pastiche) and genuine at the same time. She is an apparent paradox, but many of the best artists are.I think the content of a lot of her songs may be fairly dark, but I don't get the impression of a whiner and a wailer, but then I like Emmylou Harris and Gram Parsons/Flying Burrito Brothers/The Byrds etc.
    No worries. I do take Twangdom very seriously but, as I always say, when its your quarters you choose what the jukebox plays...or something like that. As I said before, I feel she is an Americana artist rather than a pure country musician. I would encourage you, if you like her work, to seek out and listen to the music of Ralph Stanley and the Stanley Brothers because that is the source. By the way, she comes from an LA showbiz family, just like Randy Newman - Her parents composed the music for the Carol Burnett Show. Presently, I'm listening to the Hardcore Honky Tonk of Mark Chestnutt and songs like, 'The Lord Loves The Drinkin' Man'. In regards to Gram Parsons/Burrito Brothers, there is a view that The Eagles succeeded in doing what they were attempting, namely a successful merging of country and rock.
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