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Originally posted by mutch
of all the folks round these parts, Rev Jules is prob the best authority...Jules should jump in with a better relpy sometime soon...

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Speak of the Devil and he shall appear For the Devil is never far from Country Music. Well, Country music is a massive area so I would suggest that since you like Johnny Cash - a very popular choice, nobody ever seems to say, "Hey, I've just been listening to Conway Twitty and, as a result, I want to get into country music" - that you begin by exploring other artists to whom he has been connected. As a result, here are my first suggestions... Kris Kristofferson Merle Haggard Waylon Jennings Newer artists you might like... Travis Tritt Josh Turner If you have, or have access to, an iTunes account, I would search those artists first, listen to the music samples available and download a selection of tracks that catch your fancy. A note: Country Artists don't do 'albums' very well and most of them are best enjoyed through 'best ofs'. Its a long story but I say it because you could spend alot of money otherwise trying to get hooked up. Oh, and one other thing...if you listen to country music long enough you will start to feel the desire to own and wear, ahem, cowboy hats. Exhibit A, Bono at the 2005 Grammys. This doesn't have to be a life changing disaster - Mundy has happily worn one in the past - but you should be aware of it. Even Johnny Cash has not been immune.

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Originally posted by Binokular
I recently came across an MP3 by a guy called d**k Curless via the wonder of Bubblegum Machine: http://www.bubblegum-machine.com/week92.html He sounds a bit like Johnny Cash, so Jules, know anything about this guy and would you rate him in terms of good country music?

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Richard Curless was what you would call a 'truck driving' country singer in that his fans were mainly truckers and he used to play truckers coventions. He had 22 country hits including 'A Tombstone Every Mile' and his reading of 'I Walk The Line' is second only to Cash's version. He died in 1995 after becoming a Born Again Christian. He is just one of many country artists who enjoyed success for a period but have been gradually forgotten by younger audiences. He is, like many others of his pedigree, certainly worth a listen. I think The Bear Family label in Germany still release his work. You can actually download two free Curless tracks from Amazon by clicking on this link and scrolling down http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00000036I/qid=1108593034/sr=2-2/ref=pd_ka_b_2_2/002-9280332-4332807 Thanks for asking. Townes Van Zandt I'll get to when I have the time but I would suggest that Bonzo looks at people like David Allan Coe before that. By the way, Leonard 'Spock' Nimoy recorded a rather interesting version of I Walk The Line which is worth checking out. I guess he boldly walked where no man had walked before.

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Originally posted by Rev Jules
He died in 1995 after becoming a Born Again Christian.

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Originally posted by Vent My Spleen
Another option is to ease yourself into country via some of the better indie county cross over acts Uncle Tupelo, early WIlco, Gillian Welch, Drive By Truckers and so on. Hank Williams might be a lot to chew on up front. The THe did a very interesting album of Hank William's covers called Hanky Panky a few years ago.

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