Cincinnati Babyhead

Speaks his mind on music & movies!

Country Music

gVYltpil

Country music is such a broad term. Same as a rock n roll, blues and jazz. All sorts of  different styles get thrown into the various categories. Some I dig, some not so much. Country music is no exception. CB digs lots of it.

The reason for this short take is to let you folks know that Ken Burns is doing a documentary called ‘Country Music’. I haven’t seen it but because I like docs, some country, a bit of history and I like Burns’ work I would think that his new film will be very good.  It starts airing tonight in North America.

Also I think it would be a good place to get an idea where the music came from, where it went and where it is today. CB has his own opinions on all music. I don’t think this new film will change my mind but I think it will give me more of an appreciation than I already have. Watch it if you are a bit curious , you never know, you might come away with a different mindset.

Check out the “Hank” factor” below.

Waylon kinda hits the mark below. I like his style of country.

The Waterboys show how far reaching the country influence goes.

Neil has country in him big-time.

The The does the Hank thang.

There’s “TWANG” all over my music tastes. The Blasters have a truck load.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

62 comments on “Country Music”

  1. Chris
    September 15, 2019

    Thanks for the tip about the Ken Burns doc. I enjoy country. Something I have in common with my dad. We like some of the same stuff too, Emmylou Harris, Johnny Cash. I’m not impressed by today’s country scene though I think Margo Price has some talent.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    • cincinnatibabyhead
      September 15, 2019

      I’m looking forward to it also Chris. Like rock n roll, mainstream country has never done it for me. It’s always the stuff that’s not being played that i’m looking for. My dad liked all kinds of music but yeah he was an early influence with guys like Cash. I’ll see you over at you takes in a while. Later.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  2. Yeah, Another Blogger
    September 15, 2019

    Hi. I’ll probably watch this. There’s plenty to learn about.

    There’s a Linda Ronstadt doc in theaters now. Saw it last night. Liked it a lot. She was into many musical genres, including country.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    • cincinnatibabyhead
      September 15, 2019

      Burns is always worth watching. I have a pretty good general knowledge about the genre but I’m sure ill learn some more. One of the best ‘American Experience’ shows I’ve caught was on Merle Haggard. So much more to him than I knew.
      I knew Linda had the country gene. I never listened to her very much but I’ll watch a good doc anytime.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
      • Yeah, Another Blogger
        September 15, 2019

        I know you think highly of Merle. I still haven’t listened to him much, but one of these days I’m going to check him out a lot more than I ever have.

        Liked by 1 person

      • cincinnatibabyhead
        September 15, 2019

        I’m sure Merle will be a big part of the doc. Media grasped onto the “Okie” thing and that stuck with him with people that didn’t get past it. He was so much more before and after.
        Yeah I like him. He introduced me to Texas swing (plus other things) along with Asleep At The Wheel plus his vocals are some of my favorites. Hey, I like his style. Will have a take coming up sometime. Later fella and enjoy the show. I’d be interested in your take.

        Liked by 1 person

  3. Jim S.
    September 15, 2019

    CB knows that the Doc is not a big country music fan. But I *am* a big Ken Burns fan. He also goes deeper into a topic than what’s on the surface so I always learn a thing or two. So I am going to record and watch this and maybe learn a thing or two. I happened to hear “I Walk the Line” on the radio today so I guess it’s fate or something.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    • cincinnatibabyhead
      September 15, 2019

      You’re absolutely right about “goes deeper”. I think you already know how much it influenced rock n roll. I’m sure he’ll go into that. There’s so much more to the music than the stuff we’re fed. Being a musician I think you appreciate how skilled a lot of those players are. Second to none.
      You are meant to watch it Doc.

      Like

      Reply
      • Jim S.
        September 15, 2019

        It’s my destiny.

        Liked by 1 person

      • cincinnatibabyhead
        September 16, 2019

        Watched the first episode and lo and behold there was a connection between Mabel Carter an Duane Allman. Crazy man.

        Like

      • Jim S.
        September 16, 2019

        Now you’re talkin;. Let us not forget that Les Freres Allman were born and raised in Tennessee and then Florida..

        Liked by 1 person

      • cincinnatibabyhead
        September 16, 2019

        There’s country all over Duane and Dickey.

        Like

      • Jim S.
        September 16, 2019

        Yep.

        Liked by 1 person

      • Jim S.
        September 19, 2019

        Well, I watched the first episode over a couple of nights and I gotta say I enjoyed it quite a bit. I don’t think you have to be a country fan but it helps if you’re an amateur music historian like yours truly. This thing is putting a bunch of the missing puzzle pieces into the Doc’s head. I’d heard of the Carter Family and Jimmie Rodgers but knew exactly zero about their seminal influence on this genre. (I like how Burns saved the picture of the four of them together till the last. Now I know where the rockers get that whole “I will not smile for the camera” thing.) Who knew the Grand Old Opry grew out of an insurance company scheme to get more subscribers?

        Maybelle Carter – how about that? Whatever else I might think or say about Southerners you cannot beat Southern musicians. They all can play everything and play well. It’s in their blood and lineage much more than Northerners I think. (For the record, my father was born and raised in Virginia but could barely play the record player much less an instrument.) By the way, who’s that Marty Stuart character? Doesn’t anybody have the balls to tell him that unless he’s trying out for the Lion King that that mane of hair looks like complete shit? PS. I dig Vince Gill.

        Liked by 1 person

      • cincinnatibabyhead
        September 19, 2019

        “Music historian” is the in for you. There is just too much good stuff not be be caught up. It will connect many dots for you Doc. So many interesting beginnings. The one common thing is poor and hard living (I guess that’s two) and how the music was a life saver for them.
        I like about 10% of so called country but that 10 % is gold. I was just sitting down to episode 4 when you dropped your comment. The Carter Family/Rodgers for me were always talked about by musicians I dug plus hearing more modern versions of their songs sung with the passion that was in them, sold me. I do like the original Rodgers sides with Louis though. I do listen to a lot of the original Wills, Monroe and Williams. The episode when Earl Scruggs joins Monroe is a huge shift. Those guys were like some of the top musicians of the day and innovators. Like Clapton joining Mayalls band.
        I will be very interested on more of your thoughts if you continue to watch. I’m really enjoying it. Burns is hitting a lot of the right notes in my opinion. One last thing. I don’t know how familiar you are with Patsy Cline but she has one of the best voices I’ve ever heard and her recordings are class. Make sure you’re listening on a good HI FI.
        Marty Stuart is good Doc. He really keeps the torch burning for the integrity of the music. Good spokesman for the good stuff. He played with Cash for a long time and is a top notch player but he dresses funny not like you and me.
        Good comments fella.

        Like

  4. deKE
    September 15, 2019

    I may actually watch this as Burns resume speaks for itself.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  5. greenpete58
    September 16, 2019

    Townes, Hank Sr. and I are gonna pass on “Ken Burns Does Country Music” and drink cheap beer and read comic books instead.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    • cincinnatibabyhead
      September 16, 2019

      That’s because Townes doesn’t have a tv. I have a feeling they both are going to be featured especially Hank. I can give you the 5 minute review after.

      Like

      Reply
      • greenpete58
        September 16, 2019

        (You really think Hank might be featured? No, couldn’t be.)

        Liked by 1 person

      • cincinnatibabyhead
        September 16, 2019

        I trust Burns on that one.

        Liked by 1 person

      • greenpete58
        September 17, 2019

        Yeah, I think KB will get that one right. Townes, on the other hand, might be a bit too cultish for him, unless he has an astute advisor on board. Let me know. Till then, me and Lowell will keep some Lone Stars chilled for you.

        Liked by 1 person

      • cincinnatibabyhead
        September 17, 2019

        He did 16 hours so you’d think he’d give TVZ and a few of his Texas mates some love.

        Liked by 1 person

      • cincinnatibabyhead
        September 26, 2019

        Pete. Just watched the 7th episode and Townes got his due. Burns did a quick history on him (Guy Clark etc) and then ended the episode with Merle and Willy doing ‘Poncho and Lefty’ and connected the dots from them to Emmy Lou, Gram Parsons and then to our buddy Townes. I thought he handled it with class and brought a lot together. I think you would have liked it. The “categorization” of the music was brought up.

        Like

      • greenpete58
        September 26, 2019

        Thanks for filling me in, CB. I’m glad he covered Townes and Guy. (I figured Emmylou and Gram would get their due.)

        I normally would have watched this. I admire Burns’ talent and have seen almost all his other documentaries. I also like certain traditional country, and the history of music genres is always fascinating. I think I’m just burned out on Burns and his “brand.” I also don’t like the way he’s now promoted as “America’s storyteller.” Some people treat him as the be-all and end-all of all things regarding American history…which he’s not. I was real disappointed in his Vietnam documentary (which you probably read about!), as I feel he played it too safe and tried to appeal to a lowest common denominator. I also get sick of his constant preaching about race. Racism is an ongoing problem, but you can overdo the lecturing, and it can – and has – caused a disgusting backlash (e.g. five letters rhyming with “chump”).

        Anyway, that’s my story and I’m sticking to it! Glad you liked it, anyway, and thanks again for the insight.

        Liked by 1 person

      • cincinnatibabyhead
        September 26, 2019

        I felt the same way going about his style (been there), “brand” but I was curious on what he’d do with the CM subject. I don’t think he knew alot about the music going in but he must of had some good people in his ear. Labels like “American storyteller” are bullshit and are tags people like to lay on people etc. We both know he’s not the “end all”.
        I certainly didn’t drop you a line to get you to watch it (I know you know that) but I thought the TVZ touch said a lot about getting to the right folk (even though so far just a couple mentions of my buddy Jerry Jeff). See you at Guy Clark’s house that’s where well meet next time.

        Liked by 1 person

      • Phil Strawn
        September 18, 2019

        A good portion of the show on Tuesday night was about Hank.

        Liked by 2 people

      • cincinnatibabyhead
        September 18, 2019

        Yeah I watched it. I’m a huge Hank guy. Like Marty Stuart was saying “his music goes beyond any boundaries”
        I have Hank, Wills, Merle and a bunch of your Texas music makers on my spin list regularly.

        Like

      • greenpete58
        September 19, 2019

        OK, thanks Phil. My comment was intended to be (politely) sardonic. CB knows my warped sense of humor, I think. Let’s just say “my bucket’s got a hole in it.”

        Liked by 2 people

  6. BuriedOnMars
    September 17, 2019

    Fun fact: When I was a kid I wanted my parents to buy me a pedal steel guitar. I guess influenced by all of the Hee-Haw and The Dukes of Hazzard I watched. They refused my request, lol

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    • cincinnatibabyhead
      September 17, 2019

      Mars/Hee-Haw? I can’t picture it. I could see you on pedal steel though. Very cool and funny.
      I went to school with a kid who dressed up like Batman, the teachers finally had to take his costume away.

      Like

      Reply
  7. Phil Strawn
    September 18, 2019

    The Ken Burns doc is great as are all of his. This will be night 3 and he is getting into Texas music. My father played fiddle with Bob Wills and the Light Crust Doughboys and I was always around music. Dont miss it.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    • cincinnatibabyhead
      September 18, 2019

      I’ve been tuned in. It is a big chunk to cover but I think it’s doing a good job hitting on the key influences. Rogers, Carters, Wills, Monroe. Very cool on your father. When I say I’m a fan of Bob Wills, it’s the truth but the kicker for me is the fiddle (Love it in all genres). Like I said in another comment, Merle and Asleep at The Wheel steered me to Bob’s music.
      Thanks for dropping by. I’ll scoot over and have a look at your takes. Later. CB

      Like

      Reply
  8. Jim S.
    September 22, 2019

    I hope one day CB reviews some of those Gene Autry movies, maybe the ones where he fights robots underground then comes up and sings.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    • cincinnatibabyhead
      September 22, 2019

      Hopefully people stop bashing my favorite film maker Eddie Wood. Come on Doc you have to admit that those movies look interesting. I need a guest review. Up for it?

      Like

      Reply
      • Jim S.
        September 22, 2019

        Absolutely. Here you go – “Based on a few minutes of watching Gene Autry’s ‘Phantom Empire,’ its director makes Ed Wood look like fucking Kubrick.

        Liked by 1 person

      • cincinnatibabyhead
        September 22, 2019

        Now that is the kind of review that we need more of. I would watch it based on that. All those years of bashing Eddie and none of those fucking critics did their homework. By far the top review of the year.

        Liked by 1 person

    • cincinnatibabyhead
      September 22, 2019

      The only thing I knew about Gene was that he owned the Angels. Not my style but interesting story.

      Like

      Reply
      • Jim S.
        September 22, 2019

        Innocent time. And there were dozens of these singing cowboys. Are Garth Brooks and all those guys his heirs?

        Liked by 1 person

      • cincinnatibabyhead
        September 22, 2019

        I wouldn’t know an Autry song or a Brooks song if it bit me on the butt. The only singing cowboy I know is Clint Eastwood … oh hang on, he’s a jazz guy.
        They cashed in on all those guys. It was interesting how they groomed Roy Rogers to take over. That’s what I like about Burns, he does his homework. I’ll be tuning in tomorrow night for episode 5.
        Interesting note Doc, I had heard of Tex Ritter, not his music but I met John Ritter. his son (I had no idea) what a nice guy he was.

        Like

      • Jim S.
        September 22, 2019

        Yeah, Roy Rogers seemed to come out of nowhere. They had so many singing cowboys that when Autry asked for more money they told him to stick it in his ear. A shame about Ritter. I couldn’t tolerate that goofy show he was on but he went out the hard way.

        Liked by 1 person

      • cincinnatibabyhead
        September 22, 2019

        Yeah that show was something else. paid the bills i guess. At least he didnt take himself seriously. Genuine nice guy.

        Liked by 1 person

  9. hanspostcard
    September 29, 2019

    Have you seen the entire series? I thought it was brilliant that other than covering Johnny Cash’s death- the series stopped in 1996.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    • cincinnatibabyhead
      September 29, 2019

      Yes, just finished it last week. I’m with you on the series. The last episode got lost in all that mega selling stuff which i didn’t listen to. Burns just about lost me there but got back on track in the last 30 minutes.
      There are two good docs floating around on Cash. ‘JC American Rebel’ and ‘Bitter Tears’

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
      • hanspostcard
        September 29, 2019

        I have seen Bitter Tears- a good one! will look for the other- thanks. Yes I enjoyed all of the episodes -the last as you stated was a little hit and miss. Maybe the attention the series is getting will help country music get back to where it should be..

        Liked by 1 person

      • cincinnatibabyhead
        September 29, 2019

        I think the musicians will take it to the good places and the money people will take it to the other places. Hopefully young musicians will see and hear where the music came from and continue to be inspired. Good stuff Hans.

        Liked by 1 person

      • hanspostcard
        September 30, 2019

        You are right- there are folks out there who have one goal- to make money off it. I know there is good country music out there today but it’s just not getting played… kind of like rock music- you have to search for it. Thanks.

        Liked by 1 person

  10. J.
    October 2, 2019

    You know me, CB… I dig my country music. Not so much the modern ‘big hat’ stuff, but the classic stuff, and all the really good alternative country that stems from all the good stuff.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    • J.
      October 2, 2019

      Hit the reply button too soon… I’ll be looking out for the Ken Burns doc. I dare say there’ll be loads to discover.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
      • cincinnatibabyhead
        October 2, 2019

        Im with you on your first comment. With the burns doc he follows a few essential artists throughout the whole series , Cash being one, The last episode for me was the least interesting because of those bands you touched on but he redeems himself by getting back to the stuff that matters. You’ll like it.

        Liked by 1 person

      • J.
        October 2, 2019

        I guess it’s hard to ignore the big hat stuff, eh?

        Liked by 1 person

      • cincinnatibabyhead
        October 2, 2019

        I think they had to just because of the sheer volume of the sales. Not my style at all. People like George Strait, Randy Travis sound good but I have others (Like Merle, Johnny etc) that do it for me in a big way. Garth Brooks was huge and I can say i wouldnt know one of his tunes if I heard one.

        Liked by 1 person

      • J.
        October 4, 2019

        Aye, I can acknowledge that there’s some really well written songs there, but they just don’t have the spit and soul of the likes of George, Johnny, Merle, Willie, etc…

        I was actually listening to loads of Sons of the Pioneers recently. I’ve had a compilation for the longest time, but it took me a while to really go beyond that. Great stuff.

        Liked by 1 person

      • cincinnatibabyhead
        October 4, 2019

        There was so much and is still so much of this music under the radar that i just didn’t have time for that stuff you mentioned.
        A lot of those old groups will send you onto people they inspired. I remember when Merle opened the door to Bob Wills, Then I found other bands I dug like Asleep At The Wheel and Commander Cody were influenced also.

        Liked by 1 person

  11. Francisco Bravo Cabrera
    October 3, 2019

    In this present day of music sampling and mediocre musicians, Country musicians have assumed the lead and in my opinion have become the best artists around, reference playing live and in studio

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    • cincinnatibabyhead
      October 3, 2019

      You are right (Lets throw some jazz people in there also). It is a deep pool of talent. My head just explodes thinking of all those great players.
      Under the commercial, popular stuff that gets the play there is a whole sea of fantastic music.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
      • Francisco Bravo Cabrera
        October 3, 2019

        That’s a great idea!

        Like

  12. The Grand
    March 14, 2020

    Country music could be the most difficult music topic that exists. My feelings are at polar extremes – some of this music is amazing and some of it is absolute tripe to me.

    What a shame that we don’t have better ways to name the different kinds of country music, but it would be difficult. Plus, naming and categorizing things can get to be a crutch and a bad habit. It’s easy to get hung up on semantics instead of just using your ears. Nevertheless, I wish there was a way to have a basic separation to at least quickly isolate the unbearable stuff.

    Coming from NYC, I don’t know how it happened, but it’s been in my blood since forever. I even learned to play fiddle, pedal steel and a little banjo. Not everyone around me was pleased with those developments, either 😀

    It’s one of the musical genres that generates strong feelings and ends up dividing people, really. Maybe I say that because of where I live – it’s just not part of the fabric.

    As for Ken Burns, I haven’t seen the series. Curious – how did he squeeze his usual PBS angles into this one? (hehe)

    I did learn a lot from his jazz series, even if jazz aficionados hated it. In all honesty though, I’m not in a rush to see him do country music.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    • cincinnatibabyhead
      March 14, 2020

      Your first comment sums it up for me (kind of applies to all genres).
      Yes your “ear” will be the guide. It’s got us this far. Plus trusting others that we get to know.
      That’s great on your instruments of choice (explains the Jerry Douglas cut last night). You cant fight it Grand, just enjoy it. Your set last night was sprinkled with all sorts of country dirt, Fogerty’s ‘Almost Saturday Night’ is a great song no matter where we put it. How about “shit we like and shit we don’t”? I might be wrong but it seems to me that Jerry Jeff Walker was from up your way. All sorts of ghost floating around NYC.
      The Burn’s thing is worth a watch Grand. It’s amazing how many of the people I like that he touches on. Lots of great characters. Most of them come from hard lives.
      Speaking of Jerry Douglas, Burns goes into Bill Monroe heavy plus all his guys like Earl Scruggs. I think you’d get a lot out of it. Only one episode left me a little flat but the rest was very well done. But CB is easy to please.
      After noting the weapons you play, you have to watch it. Being a fiddle guy you have to be a Bob Wills guy.

      Like

      Reply
    • cincinnatibabyhead
      March 14, 2020

      One of my fellow travelers on this blog trip (Music Enthusiast. Boston guy), is a self confessed “not the biggest country guy (he’s a blues guy . CB thinks he’s just a music guy) in the world”. He watched the series and really dug it. He was blown away that the Duane Allman was mentioned in an episode. He’s a huge Brothers fan.

      Like

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  13. The Grand
    March 14, 2020

    I’ll give the series a try some time. In general, if it’s mostly about the old Grand Old Opry kind of artists, I’m not hostile to that, but it’s the country rock, plus some of the Texas and California country that I like, along with some of the modern stuff that they usually call “traditional country”. Besides country-flavored rock, I love the Mavericks, Jerry Douglas and Dwight Yoakam. I like Willie Nelson, Vince Gill, Paul Franklin and a few other artists in spots. I’m neutral on the old-timers. I won’t pick on the ones I dislike, but that includes the big hat, ripped jeans, sexy album cover kind of artists. I think it’s the way they’re produced and marketed that’s a huge part of the turnoff. They seem like a manufactured product to me. Ear-wise, the music seems slick, artificial and targeted, too.

    My fiddling was part of playing in southern rock bands in the late 70s when that music was big (Charlie Daniels and Marshall Tucker for the fiddle). I gave it up after that was over. My main instruments are keyboard, guitar and bass – a jack of all trades and master of none (or a multi-instrumentalist if you prefer). The keyboard is my current focus.

    Back in the day, my friends and I used to follow around a local guy who sang like Gregg Allman and played like Duane. He was amazing. But I have grown a little tired of the Allman Brothers, as great as they were during the Duane era – there’s just not enough of it to keep listening to it very often after so many years of repetition. It was the Music Enthusiast site (also discovered yesterday) that led to coming here. I was looking for your article about “Songs From Hell” which I didn’t find (hehe)

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    • cincinnatibabyhead
      March 14, 2020

      I probably dislike that stuff (ripped jeans etc commercial whatever they call it) more than you do (we can save that for other communications). But some people get some real enjoyment out of it. Again my ear just doesnt dig it. I’d rather listen to the Grateful Dead warm up.
      Similar to the Jazz series where it followed Armstrong and Ellington, this one follows Cash, Monroe, Haggard. I think you’d be surprised. If not I’ll buck up for a couple of Shania Twain tickets for you.
      So you’re kinda of a Mike Oldfield kinda guy. maybe a little Keith Emerson.
      I hear you on the Allmans. I’m in a kind of resurgence period with them. Like I say to Doc (Music Enthusiast) They have country all over them.
      “Songs From Hell” yeah I know a few people that would jump on that topic. That friend of CB’s that you met last night would be all over that. CB just recognizes that some of those SFH bring some happy soul a lot of enjoyment (maybe not their cat)

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