6 replies to this topic

[Hugues]

As for the blues, I started with the classics, from Jimmie Rodgers and the Carter Family until today, and could set a long list of names, names that mean something to me, a world of sounds, spirit and feelings.

While listening to a Merle Haggard anthology right now, I notice a duet with Bonnie Owens, a female country singer who married Buck Owens and later, Merle Haggard. She sadly passed away a few years ago. I knew about her through Laura Cantrell, who wrote a lovely song called "Queen of the Coast" for her first album <i>Not the Tremblin' Kind</i> (2000), certainly one of my top favorite country-pop-rock albums of the last decade. I can't find anything of Bonnie Owens at an affordable price, unfortunately (the Bear Family 4 CDs box costs about 150 bucks).

Same goes for solo Rose Maddox, whom I enjoyed the Maddox Brothers stuff (<i>America's Most Colorful Hillbilly Band</i>) from the 40's (really pre-rockabilly at times). Laura Cantrell wrote a song about her, too ("California Rose"). But Rose Maddox's 60s solo stuff is quite hard to find.

Why no affordable reissues? Are these singers that forgotten? Am I naive to think country music should be still treasured in the US?

Edited by Hugues, 13 April 2010 - 04:07 AM.

[Andy Whitman]

As for the blues, I started with the classics, from Jimmie Rodgers and the Carter Family until today, and could set a long list of names, names that mean something to me, a world of sounds, spirit and feelings.

While listening to a Merle Haggard anthology right now, I notice a duet with Bonnie Owens, a female country singer who married Buck Owens and later, Merle Haggard. She sadly passed away a few years ago. I knew about her through Laura Cantrell, who wrote a lovely song called "Queen of the Coast" for her first album Not the Tremblin' Kind (2000), certainly one of my top favorite country-pop-rock albums of the last decade. I can't find anything of Bonnie Owens at an affordable price, unfortunately (the Bear Family 4 CDs box costs about 150 bucks).

Same goes for solo Rose Maddox, whom I enjoyed the Maddox Brothers stuff (America's Most Colorful Hillbilly Band) from the 40's (really pre-rockabilly at times). Laura Cantrell wrote a song about her, too ("California Rose"). But Rose Maddox's 60s solo stuff is quite hard to find.

Why no affordable reissues? Are these singers that forgotten? Am I naive to think country music should be still treasured in the US?

In the case of Bonnie Owens and Rose Maddox, yes, those singers are that forgotten. It's unfortunate, but the early pioneers of country music will appeal to only a small group of fanatics. That's why a great but ridiculously overpriced label like Bear Family can charge exorbitant rates for the music. Very few people will buy the music, and thus they have to charge a lot for it just to make it worthwhile. Sorry, but there's no such thing as volume discounts when it comes to Bonnie Owens. I keep eyeing that 9-disc Bear Family Louvin Brothers compilation, too. But I'm not going to pay what they're asking for it.

And you're certainly not naive to think that country music should be treasured in the US. Many people still treasure the music of folks such as Hank Williams, George Jones, Lefty Frizzell, Merle Haggard, etc. I know I do. And I treasure the music of the young upstarts who follow in that tradition -- folks such as Justin Townes Earle, Diana Jones, Laura Cantrell, etc.

[Christian]

Hank Williams has been awarded a Pulitzer Prize:

A posthumous special citation to Hank Williams for his craftsmanship as a songwriter who expressed universal feelings with poignant simplicity and played a pivotal role in transforming country music into a major musical and cultural force in American life.

[Hugues]

Thanks for reminding me of that thread, Christian, by the way.

I don't know where to start to speak about country music and the way I love it, the thing is that when I say "country music" I immediately think of some country music, a sound in my ears, but not all country music, mind you. There are certainly a whole world of awful cliches tied to the Nashville scene that doesn't even cross my mind when I think of "country music". I can't even remember the name of the latest best seller of the genre right now, but I know I don't even need to buy the least song of him. Whereas I spent quite some money to get the Patsy Cline and Kitty Wells boxsets, and I will never regret it. That Kitty Wells box stoppes before the sixties, though, and no original album of this decade has been reissued so far. But I can tell you that I'll rush to some of these sixties originals as early as they'll be released to CD (if they ever are). Because her voice on "Amigo's Guitar" is Heaven.

My latest country purchase (yesterday): Kristofferson. I waited too long for this one, it's a classic. I don't even know how this guy could put out such a great one. He may have forgotten it himself. He's more known as an actor than a singer songwriter today. But still revered by aficionados for this first LP (featuring "Me and Bobby McGee", which he wrote).

Hank Williams? I have the Original Singles Collection Plus. Absolutely indispensible. Everybody should start with that. I'd mention "I've Just Told Mama Goodbye" to give listeners an idea of his incredible delivery. He sounds like a ghost of pain or something. His voice is just like a crying wound.

[Andy Whitman]

Hugues, on 12 April 2010 - 10:32 PM, said:

Thanks for reminding me of that thread, Christian, by the way.

I don't know where to start to speak about country music and the way I love it, the thing is that when I say "country music" I immediately think of some country music, a sound in my ears, but not all country music, mind you. There are certainly a whole world of awful cliches tied to the Nashville scene that doesn't even cross my mind when I think of "country music". I can't even remember the name of the latest best seller of the genre right now, but I know I don't even need to buy the least song of him. Whereas I spent quite some money to get the Patsy Cline and Kitty Wells boxsets, and I will never regret it. That Kitty Wells box stoppes before the sixties, though, and no original album of this decade has been reissued so far. But I can tell you that I'll rush to some of these sixties originals as early as they'll be released to CD (if they ever are). Because her voice on "Amigo's Guitar" is Heaven.

My latest country purchase (yesterday): Kristofferson. I waited too long for this one, it's a classic. I don't even know how this guy could put out such a great one. He may have forgotten it himself. He's more known as an actor than a singer songwriter today. But still revered by aficionados for this first LP (featuring "Me and Bobby McGee", which he wrote).

Hank Williams? I have the Original Singles Collection Plus. Absolutely indispensible. Everybody should start with that. I'd mention "I've Just Told Mama Goodbye" to give listeners an idea of his incredible delivery. He sounds like a ghost of pain or something. His voice is just like a crying wound.

The 2-CD set 40 Greatest Hits is a great bargain, and probably as much Hank as most fans will ever want or need. Hank deserves more than a single-disc compilation because he's that important and that good, but the multi-disc box sets are probably overkill because he released his share of shlock and filler as well. The 40 hits comp gets it just right.

I do think it's somewhat amusing that he was awarded a Pulitzer Prize. It's probably because "Goodbye Joe, me gotta go, me oh my-o" sounds a lot better than it reads.

[Hugues]

Not to be picky, Andy, but the 40 Greatest Hits don't have "I've Just Told Mama Goodbye", which I can't forgive!

So, this collection costs $7, and The Original Singles Collection Plus (all the singles in chronological order over 3 CDs) twice ($15), but I'd choose the latter. Some reviewers wrote that the latter lacks the songs Hank released under the name Luke the Drifter, but it's partially wrong, since it does have the "Ramblin' Man" single at least.



Listening to this devastating performance, you understand where the early George Jones comes from, with stuff like "Just One More" and "Don't Stop the Music".

[Hugues]

The great Kitty Wells is gone.