Some Of My Favorite Country & Bluegrass Songs

[jerryd6818]

Gettin' back to Bluegrass, here's one for you Jerry with one of your favs, a young David Grissman, the late Clarence White and Peter Rowan. Very early California Bluegrass band the "Kentucky Colonels"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0RkxpFvo ... re=related

Of the two, I liked "Dark Hollow" the best. My goodness, that 70's look was somethin' else. Hard to believe we once thought it was cool.

"Gettin' back to Bluegrass" Thanks T.J., that tickled me. We know where your heart lays.

I thought this one might be a little maudlin for this early in the morning but I'm puttin' it in anyway. The Wilburn Brothers doin'
Knoxville Girl and while we're doin' The Wilburn Brothers, we might as well add High On A Hilltop

That "Brother" duet singing was great, wasn't it? "High on a Hilltop" was the Osborne Brothers from Hyden, Kentucky.

I'm sure The Osborne Brothers did "High on a Hilltop" at some time or other but I got those WilBurn Brothers songs at the same time from the same place so if you thought that "High on a Hilltop" was Osborne Brothers, I'm about 99.9% sure it's not. I always like to leave myself a little wiggle room because I'm wrong so often. Just ask my girlfriend 'bout that.

[tjmurphy]

It's the Osborne Brothers. I have the record and your link opened in iTunes as the Osborne Brothers. There's that 0.1%

[jerryd6818]

While we're on the Osborne Brothers, here's one that everyone knows, especially the drunks
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_n9prNixjbg

Never heard of Townes Van Zandt?????? He's the King of the modern Texas song writers.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Townes_Van_Zandt

I've led a sheltered life. I didn't know who wrote "Pancho and Lefty" until I read that Wiki entry on Van Zandt. What a sad life. Doesn't it seem the good ones are always messed up. So are they messed up because they're good or are they good because they're messed up?

[jerryd6818]

It's the Osborne Brothers. I have the record and your link opened in iTunes as the Osborne Brothers. There's that 0.1%

Well, crap. This is getting old. Thanks for getting it right. I hate it when it's (and usually by extension, me) wrong.

They sound so much alike I can't tell the difference.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XDpnDoZRYNc

[jerryd6818]

One of our favorite sing-along songs while visiting with John Barleycorn is by Larry Gatlin and The Gatlin Brothers (dadgummit T.J. 100% sure on this one) Midnight Choir

[tjmurphy]

Here's a Nanci Griffith cover of Townes Van Zandt's song "Tecumseh Valley". This vid is from an Austin City Limits tribute to Van Zandt.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=USafrOU3 ... re=related

[jerryd6818]

I had no idea. Did you know the comedian, Steve Martin, plays bluegrass banjo?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZA_O4-1-BtA

[jerryd6818]

Here's a Nanci Griffith cover of Townes Van Zandt's song "Tecumseh Valley". This vid is from an Austin City Limits tribute to Van Zandt.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=USafrOU3 ... re=related

Beautiful. Thanks. I love a well written song that tells a story and I love harmony.

[tjmurphy]

I had no idea. Did you know the comedian, Steve Martin, plays bluegrass banjo?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZA_O4-1-BtA

Sure did. Here's Steve Martin with Earl Scruggs doing the "Foggy Mountain Breakdown". This tune is to the banjo what the "Wildwood Flower" is to the guitar. The "Foggy Mountain Breakdown" was the song played throughout the movie "Bonnie and Clyde".
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=icMTVV5Lwaw

[tjmurphy]

Here's another Nanci Griffith song that is really nice
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a9lUG4gBjSE&feature=fvw

[jerryd6818]

I had no idea. Did you know the comedian, Steve Martin, plays bluegrass banjo?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZA_O4-1-BtA

Sure did. Here's Steve Martin with Earl Scruggs doing the "Foggy Mountain Breakdown". This tune is to the banjo what the "Wildwood Flower" is to the guitar. The "Foggy Mountain Breakdown" was the song played throughout the movie "Bonnie and Clyde".
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=icMTVV5Lwaw

Remember when Flatts & Scruggs would occasionally appear on The Beverly Hillbillies?

"Orange Blossom Special" to the fiddle

and

"Steel Guitar Rag" to the steel guitar

and

What?? to the mandolin?

[jerryd6818]

"San Antonio Rose" on steel guitar.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=baP-iDr8 ... re=related

[tjmurphy]

I had no idea. Did you know the comedian, Steve Martin, plays bluegrass banjo?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZA_O4-1-BtA

Sure did. Here's Steve Martin with Earl Scruggs doing the "Foggy Mountain Breakdown". This tune is to the banjo what the "Wildwood Flower" is to the guitar. The "Foggy Mountain Breakdown" was the song played throughout the movie "Bonnie and Clyde".
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=icMTVV5Lwaw

Remember when Flatts & Scruggs would occasionally appear on The Beverly Hillbillies?

"Orange Blossom Special" to the fiddle

and

"Steel Guitar Rag" to the steel guitar

and

What?? to the mandolin?

Don't know that the mandolin has a "Wildwood Flower" tune, but one of the first tunes you learn from the instruction book is "Bile Them Cabbage Down".

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hM4vDr9_77k
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XejuGP_X7KE&NR=1 - PART II

[knife7knut]

Just came upon this thread;all I can say is WOW!!!!!!! Will have to play those links when I get time.

So many great names.Townes is an all time favorite of mine;have a bunch of his tapes.Steve Earle did a tribute album of Townes' songs awhile back and is fantastic.

Saw Ricky Skaggs in concert at the North Shore Music theater in Beverly Massachusetts many years ago.He played two full hours straight without a break and played every instrument.Concluded with an a capella gospel song and you could hear a pin drop in there it was so quiet.Spent about 2 hors after the show signing autographs.

David Grissman and Jerry Garcia did a video documentary awhile back doing bluegrass and childrens songs along with Peter Rowan and Vassar Clements(Old and In The Way).Great group!

Patty Loveless;Iris Dement;EmmyLou with Graham Parsons(Flying Burrito Brothers)and Trio(Dolly Parton and Linda Ronstadt);Nancy Griffith;too many to name.

John Prine did some great stuff with Steve Goodman and Bonnie Raitt.

Another one who started out as a punk rocker and turned to country and bluegrass is Todd Snyder (originally with a group called the Nervous Wrecks).Writes most of his own stuff and is really low key.

A great favorite is Robert Earl Keen and James McMurtrie and the Heartless Ba***rds.

Got to stop now but i'll be following this one

[jerryd6818]

The Beverly Hillbillies were a hoot. I watched the re-runs for years.

I was stationed at Port Hueneme, CA - Seabee base in late '62 & early '63. I remember Folk Music was becoming popular at the time. "Boil Them Cabbage Down" (maybe by Chad Mitchell Trio?) was one of the songs we heard a lot, along with "Charlie on the MTA", "Tom Dooley" (Kingston Trio?) and several others I can't remember right now (or maybe ever). I recall The Smothers Brothers being quite popular at the time.

"Charlie on the MTA" - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gZZ0o_fSgAw

[jerryd6818]

This is the song that got me hooked on Willie Nelson. Maybe I should say it led me to the Red Headed Stranger album which got me hooked on Willie Nelson. - Blue Eyes Crying In The Rain

[jerryd6818]

The Kris Kristofferson version of another one of my very most favorite - I want this played at my funeral - songs. Sunday Morning Coming Down

[jerryd6818]

The Bellamy Brothers did another one of my "funeral songs". - Old Hippie

[jerryd6818]

All that needs to be said is George Jones. He Stopped Loving Her Today

[jerryd6818]

Alabama always livens things up with a song that was mentioned early in this thread - If You're Gonna Play In Texas (Ya Gotta Have A Fiddle In The Band)

[tjmurphy]

Those are all great performers and all great songs. Here's my take on Nashville:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cS0cGQ6k2mQ

[jerryd6818]

Amen brother. I quit listening to the "country music" stations at least 20 years ago and within the past five or six years, even on trips, I've just about quit listening to radio, period. (except for Cub's baseball) When is the last time you heard a "modern country song" lead off with that Bob Wills fiddle intro (or at least that's what I call it)

Do you think this is what our parents were complaining about when Rock 'n Roll showed up in the early '50s?

And on a semi related subject, you can't spell crap without rap. There, now I feel a little better.

[jerryd6818]

The first time I saw Linda Ronstat, my first thought was, "what a pretty girl." Then she started singing and I thought, "Oh, no. She's going to turn ugly 'cause all that pretty is leaking out through her mouth." This pairing with an old favorite, Hoyt Axton, just about leaves me speechless. Lion In Winter

Written by Bob McDill and first released as a single by Don Williams in 1973, Amanda was on Waylon Jennings 1974 album "The Ramblin' Man". The song was re-released in 1979 as a single and went to #1 on the country charts where it stayed for three weeks.

Broken Lady was released in 1975, and won Larry Gatlin a Grammy award in 1976 for Best Country Song.


Even though it was released in 1968, this Tammy Wynette song has that 50's Country sound.
I Don't Want To Play House

[jerryd6818]

Just for T.J., two slightly different versions of the Kentucky state song.

My Old Kentucky Home in the traditional manner with some commentary

A somewhat irreverent version by Johnny Cash

[jerryd6818]

I scrolled back through the entire thread and didn't find it had been posted anywhere so here it is: Blue Moon Of Kentucky

I had never heard of this one until I read the Viet Nam book "Matterhorn" - Matterhorn

A little more Iris Dement - Our Town

Ray Stevens is always fun. He is (IMO) the king of the novelty song. This one brings back memories from my youth. The last time I remember having a "sittin' up" was in 1958 when Granny Weasel (my great-grandmother) died. All you older country boys will remember Sittin' Up With The Dead