I am an unabashed fan of good country music. You don’t it on CMT or country radio stations, which prefer to peddle celebrities in cowboy hats. I’ve been working on this partial list, mostly as a way to combat the the quizzical looks I get when I announce that, yes, I enjoy country music. For the doubters, here is what I’m talking about:
Hank Williams – the grandfather of country music. During his hard, short, and booze-soaked life, his unmistakable twang and unironic lyrics are unmatched. His best songs are genre staples, often covered yet still powerful in their simple urgency and sorrow: “I Saw the Light,” “Lovesick Blues,” “Your Cheating Heart,” “You Win Again.”
Townes Van Zandt, Live at the Old Quarter
Poet and Texas singer/songwriter. His songs are complex, thoughtful, and understated. Though his studio and live albums can be uneven, Live at the Old Quarter in Houston, Texas and Rear-View Mirror are magnificent renditions of his best-known songs, and I think his self-titled album includes some lesser-known classics. His “Pancho and Lefty” was a big hit for Willie Nelson and probably his most famous track, but merely scratches the surface of his lyric prowess. My personal favorites include “To Live is to Fly,” “Our Mother the Mountain,” “Lungs,” and “Be Here to Love Me,” especially the live versions.
Guy Clark, Old No. 1
With Townes and Steve Earle, Guy is one-third of the triumvirate of Texas musicians who exemplify what I think are the best things about country music and about music in general.
Steve Earle, Train a Comin’
I love the evolution of Steve Earle’s musical career, from the angry and confused young man who created Copperhead Road and Guitar Town, endured a downward spiral of drugs and jailtime, and came back even better. The acoustic, stripped-down Train a Comin’ is probably my favorite album, with “Hometown Blues,” ‘Mercenary Song” and “Tom Ames’s Prayer.” Transcendental Blues explores novel styles and genres, and his newer The Revolution Starts Now and Washington Square Serenade contain political songs such as “Steve’s Hammer (for Pete)” and “Rich Man’s War.” Also, his tribute to Townes van Zandt “Fort Worth Blues” is worth listening to.
Johnny Cash, At Fulsom Prison
Everyone knows and loves Johnny Cash. One of the purposes of this page is to enlighten those who think of country music as the Man in Black and a bunch of hillbillies. Still, At Fulsom Prison is rightly considered one of the best country albums ever, and you can’t get much better than “Cocaine Blues” or “25 Minutes to Go.”
Wayne Hancock, A-Town Blues
Wayne “the Train” Hancock is officially (yeah right) classified as “juke joint swing,” which combines western swing, honky tonk, blues, and big band. His songs are old-school: driven by steel guitar and bass, they involve drinking, dancing, and life on the road. His voice has a sharp edge and his easy rapport with the back-up musicians reminds me of Bob Wills. I like “Thunderstorms and Neon Signs,” “A-Town Blues,” and “Johnny Law.”
Dale Watson, Cheatin’ Heart Attack
Dale is a familiar sight in the Austin music scene, playing regularly at the Continental Club and Ginny’s Little Longhorn. It seems as though he’s very into being ‘authentic’ and carrying on the Austin honkytonk tradition, especially in songs such as “Nashville Rash.” His live shows draw heavily on western swing and are great two-steppin’ fun.
Hank Williams III, Straight to Hell
Hank 3 highlights the next generation of country outlaws. His brand of aggressive, metal-infused music struggles to break free of his status as country royalty even as he remembers “the legends” in songs like “Country Heroes.” His anti-Nashville, pro-drug stance of Straight to Hell comes to the forefront in “Dick in Dixie” and “Crazed Country Rebel,” but also falls flat in other places. Sometimes I wonder if Hank 3 will become more mature and nuanced as he ages, a la Steve Earle.
Gary P. Nunn, Viva Terlingua!
An important secondary figure in the Texas country scene of the 1970s, Gary P. Nunn recorded with Jerry Jeff Walker, Willis Alan Ramsey, and the Lost Gonzo Band. His “London Homesick Blues,” the last cut off JJR’s Viva Terlingua!, is as close to an anthem for Austin, Texas as it gets: “I wanna go home with the armadillo/Good country music from Amarillo and Abilene/The friendliest people and the prettiest women you ever seen.”
How about Jimmy Rogers? And can you really pass over Bob Wills? Both popularized and pioneered what came to be known as country for a national audience. Not as accessible to our ears today, but they still serve up a heapin’ of their songs in nearly any Texas dance hall.