Country performers for people who aren't Country Music fans

[Bush_Eats_Beef]

Simple premise: Performers who are so gifted and multi-dimensional that even though their genre of choice may be "Country" music, you don't need to be a "Country Music Fan" to appreciate them. Maybe they're the ONLY "Country" performer you like.

If your favorite isn't listed, please go for "OTHER" and tell us who it is. There was only so much I could do with nine choices, and these are all my personal favorites.

:toast:

[AntiCoup2K4]

1. Johnny Cash - the original Goth

Seriously, Johnny is respected by just about everybody in the musical spectrum. His roots were obviously in country, but the music transcends the typical Nashville formula. When your songs have been covered by everyone from the Grateful Dead to Social Distortion, that's a pretty wide audience.

[nemo137]

71. man, SD's cover of "ring of fire" is incredible.

Did Mike Ness and Johnny Cash ever sing together?

[WCGreen]

2. anyone of them...

plus....

Tift Merrit...

Neko Case....

Nanci Griffith...

Toni Price...

Slaid Cleaves...

Lucinda Williams...

[johnnie]

6. How did I know you would chime in here?

:thumbsup:

[WCGreen]

9. I can't believe I beat ya here....

[mtowngman]

10. How was the show the other night?

[WCGreen]

27. It was good, not great.....

The guy had an electric sitar and was playing it like a bango...

Kind of showing off a little too much... Detracted a bit from the music...

the harmonies were great, song selection good and the woman had a voice of, if not an angel, at least a cherub....

[peekaloo]

3. Dolly Parton should get a mention.

:-)

excellent songwriter and audience friendly.

[SeattleGirl]

23. Yes she should, and I can't believe I forgot to add her to my post!

:hi:

[doc03]

68. Have you seen the video "Blues Man" with George Jones and

Dolly Parton? That's country music. I can't stomach these new ones such as Montgomery Gentry, I think the only talent Montgomery has is spinning a microphone and shaking his head.

[johnnie]

4. Always has been Johnny for this kind of music

Every person you have up there is worth listening to though.

I got my first Johnny Cash records when I was just a little one, but my father had a lot of the other people. I grew up with good "country" music and we were from a Northern "big" city. I think that it comes down to being "Americana" and that's the music that will always be my favorite and closest to my heart.

[KitchenWitch]

5. Lyle Lovett

[Bush_Eats_Beef]

12. Definitely.

His version of The Grateful Dead's "Friend of the Devil" on the Dead tribute CD "Deadicated" is AMAZING.

Go Lyle.

:toast:

[SeattleGirl]

7. How about "Several of the Above"?

Specifically:

Johnny Cash (my personal fav -- my dad used to play a lot of his music on the guitar and sing).

Waylon Jennings

The FABULOUS Patsy Cline!

And two not on the list: Willie Nelson and Hank Williams, Sr.

(I grew up listening to country because of my dad, and I still like it, especially the older artists.)

[Bush_Eats_Beef]

14. Uh Oh...how could I have left Willie off the list?

Ooops...

:evilgrin:

[hippiechick]

8. Lucinda Williams, Allison Kraus & Union Station

... borderline country, by my definition ...

[Bush_Eats_Beef]

18. Alison had a VERY cool appearance in "Lightning In The Bottle"...

...with James Blood Ulmer. AMAZING flick, HIGHLY recommended, and a perfect example of transcending genres and labels.



:toast:

[ghostsofgiants]

11. Johnny Cash is the obvious choice...Steve Earle is great too...

And I'm not that familiar with Emmylou Harris, but she did backup vocals on a number of songs on Bright Eyes' "I'm Wide Awake, It's Morning" album, so she gets points in my books too.

[mtowngman]

13. Jimmy Dale Gilmore

his band the flatliners
the now defunct Uncle Tupelo ( if alt. country counts)

[Bush_Eats_Beef]

17. I was steering away from alt country for this specific poll...

...I'm thinking more in terms of Country performers, acknowledged as such by Country fans, who've gained wider mass acceptance.

I did an alt country poll on DU about six months ago and it got quite a few very cool responses...

:toast:

[Left Is Write]

15. Your choices plus the Mavericks

[Orsino]

16. James McMurtry

He may not really be country, but he's close. And kicks ass.

[0rganism]

33. More of a folk rocker, IMHO -- but he does kick serious ass

I was hoping he'd be on the list so's I could vote for him ;)

[Starbucks Anarchist]

41. His song "We Can't Make It Here" is Bernie Sanders' campaign song.

I also found out he's author ("Lonesome Dove") Larry McMurty's son.

[StellaBlue]

19. I also think Dwight Yoakum

He's amazing, and pretty rockabilly, via Buck Owens.

[KitchenWitch]

20. I am inclined to agree!

:hi:

[Bush_Eats_Beef]

21. He gets credit for bringing Buck out of retirement...

...as the story goes, Owens didn't need the money and didn't care about doing any more albums after "Hee Haw" folded.

I've heard Owens tell the story...supposedly Dwight showed up at the Bakersfield business office, announced he was there to see Buck, and TOLD him...not "asked," but "told" him..."You're going to make a record." Owens was impressed by Dwight's confidence and swagger, saying he reminded him of himself in his younger days. There wasn't a lot of discussion...he simply agreed to do it.

The duo recorded the song "Streets of Bakersfield" for Yoakam's "Buenas Noches From a Lonely Room" album, followed by three new and killer Owens CDs.

He went back to not making albums again after that, but still performs regularly at his club The Crystal Palace:

http://www.buckowens.com/

:toast:

[2bfree]

22. Willie Nelson

Who doesn't like Willie? I would add Lucinda Williams, Rosanne Cash and Steve Earle.

[Chovexani]

24. Johnny Cash!

I despise country music but I love Johnny Cash. He just kicked so much ass.

And anyone who manages to outgoth Trent Reznor has my undying awe. His cover of "Hurt" still sends chills down my spine.

[Blue_In_AK]

25. Can't pick one...you have a good list

Johnny Cash, Emmylou, Steve Earle, and Willie Nelson are my faves.

[tuvor]

26. Although I chose Patsy, Lone Justice transcends, too.

So does Rank and File.

Anyone remember the glory days of cowpunk better than me? I know enigmatic does.

Oh, yeah. Dwight, Steve Earle, and the Mavericks also transcend. And the Judds, too.

[taterguy]

59. cowpunk

There was never a better cowpunk group than Jason and the Scorchers.

[Lone_Wolf_Moderate]

28. I'm no country music fan, but I'll listen to the Man in Black anytime.

[DanCa]

36. Cash transcends the genere. I agree can't wait for the movie.

[RushIsRot]

29. Iris Dement!

She has the most individualistic voice I've heard in years and I love it. I do NOT like country music as a rule.

[Flaxbee]

30. John Hiatt and John Prine

if you consider them "country" then I loooooove country. Also love Willie Nelson, Emmy Lou Harris, and Johnny Cash. And Lyle Lovett!

(edited for Lyle)

[lakemonster11]

31. All of those, and Willie Nelson, too.

[swag]

32. I would add Merle Haggard and the Louvin Brothers

for two.

Good choices, pollster, and good poll.

[Broken_Hero]

34. For me...

its about Allison Krauss and Union Station, from the O'Brother Where Art Thou, to Allison solo stuff, and her current collaborations with Union Station...her voice, her fiddle...the whole pacakage to me sounds great, and i'm primarily a heavy metal, easy listening man.

[khashka]

38. Damn it!

In my list I missed Allison Krauss!

Sometimes I can be so freaking dumb.

Khash.

[DanCa]

35. Johnny Horton the singing fisherman.

John Henry, Sink the Bismark, and the Battle of New Orleans.

[khashka]

37. Voted for Patsy Cline but

Willie Nelson - "Stardust" ain't country but has a country feel to it. Even if you hate country, you'll love that album.

Emmy Lou Harris - still country but her love for traditional forms of American music gives her an edge.

I detest country with a virulent passion - but these three stand out.

Well, I'd rather slit my throat than listen to country but all three are on my iPod.

Khash.

[Oeditpus Rex]

39. Pretty much anyone these guys play

http:www.kpig.com

[hippywife]

42. Me, too!

I rarely listen to anything else. When I'm home, my puter is on and streaming the PIG!

[Oeditpus Rex]

52. I get it on another electronic device

A radio. :hippie:
Oink!

[hippywife]

61. Yeah, but

you can't get the Ham Cam on the radio. ;)

It would be nice to be able to get it all the time especially in the car but since I'm smack in the middle of the country, that ain't going to be happening anytime soon. Lucky pig, you!

[Oeditpus Rex]

62. Is there ever anything on the Ham Cam?

Every time I look, it's showing the south wall of the booth. :shrug:

[hippywife]

63. There is during PSB

on Sundays now. Which is really the only time worth watching it. I love Arden and Karson but there is only so much watching the backs of their heads a person can do, ya know? When it was working all the time, Karson used to put up pics of his baby for us to see. Unkl Sherm seemed to always turn it off.

[Starbucks Anarchist]

40. Cash and Nelson are the ones I'm familiar with.

And even though they're "alt-country," I'd have to add Uncle Tupelo to the list.

[peacefreak]

43. Dixie Chicks--

Not only are these ladies fine musicians, but they had the courage to take on *.
And Townes Van Zandt
Guy Clarke
Willis Allan Ramsey
Mindy Smith
Emmylou Harris

[Donovan61]

44. All of the above plus

Keith Urban is very good. Also Jimmy Buffett although I'm not sure he fits in any category. Another possible is relative newcomer Gretchen Wilson. She may turn out to be the female Johnny Cash, at least in music if not lifestyle.

Love the poll.

[bunkerbuster1]

45. If you can read the lyrics to "man in black" without getting a lump

in your throat, check your pulse.

#################################

Well, you wonder why I always dress in black,
Why you never see bright colors on my back,
And why does my appearance seem to have a somber tone.
Well, there's a reason for the things that I have on.

I wear the black for the poor and the beaten down,
Livin' in the hopeless, hungry side of town,
I wear it for the prisoner who has long paid for his crime,
But is there because he's a victim of the times.

I wear the black for those who never read,
Or listened to the words that Jesus said,
About the road to happiness through love and charity,
Why, you'd think He's talking straight to you and me.

Well, we're doin' mighty fine, I do suppose,
In our streak of lightnin' cars and fancy clothes,
But just so we're reminded of the ones who are held back,
Up front there ought 'a be a Man In Black.

I wear it for the sick and lonely old,
For the reckless ones whose bad trip left them cold,
I wear the black in mournin' for the lives that could have been,
Each week we lose a hundred fine young men.

And, I wear it for the thousands who have died,
Believen' that the Lord was on their side,
I wear it for another hundred thousand who have died,
Believen' that we all were on their side.

Well, there's things that never will be right I know,
And things need changin' everywhere you go,
But 'til we start to make a move to make a few things right,
You'll never see me wear a suit of white.

Ah, I'd love to wear a rainbow every day,
And tell the world that everything's OK,
But I'll try to carry off a little darkness on my back,
'Till things are brighter, I'm the Man In Black.

[lpbk2713]

46. David Alan Coe

He sounds like he ought to be in the C&W heading but he's in a category all by himself.

Likewise Doug Kershaw. If you like Cajun music.

[tsakshaug]

47. many of the above

plus
Mary Chapin Carpenter

[Lavender Brown]

49. I second MCC

[MN ChimpH8R]

48. Emmylou Harris

I can't stand country, but I adore ELH. Johnny Cash transcended genres. He was an American original. Ditto for Willie Nelson.

[jandrok]

50. Nickel Creek, The Green Cards, Kevin Fowler, Junior Brown

Kelly Willis, Iris Dement, Little Big Town, Asleep at the Wheel, Pat Green, Kevin Fowler, Charlie and Bruce Robison

[Lochloosa]

51. Dwight Yokum....

way ahead of his time. In the country music stuff....

[Taverner]

53. Steve Earle, Hank Williams III, Merle Haggard, Dixie Chicks

To name a few

[no name no slogan]

54. No votes for CHET?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?

Okay, who the hell are you people? Chet Atkins is a guitar GOD. He could play ANYTHING: country, jazz, rock, even classical if he put his mind to it. He was a master of the guitar.

I can't believe he doesn't even have ONE lousy vote.

[yellowdogintexas]

57. Chet was the MAN!

He was also very important in the production end of the biz too.

And a heck of a nice guy.

Met him once in an elevator in Nashville.

[TallahasseeGrannie]

55. Willie Nelson and Roy Orbison and Chris Isaacs

[alarimer]

56. Robbie Fulks

Specifically for

"Fuck this town" (about his days in Nashville- no so good apparently!)
"Countrier than thou"
and many more.

He is very funny.

[obxhead]

58. Coming from a Techno fan

Cash is one bad dude.

[qnr]

60. I hate current country, but for some reason I like Martina McBride.

I do like older country performers like J. Cash and the ilk though.

[tuvor]

64. I can't believe I forgot k.d. lang's early output.

Doesn't matter if you hate country. Her voice just leaves you awe-struck.

[bo44]

65. John Anderson

Seminole Wind is one of my all time favorite records. The man is a great story teller.

[MiddleRiverRefugee]

66. Ray Price

The best friend a Willie Nelson song ever had. Listen to the 'Night Life' album if you don't know whereof I speak,

[Straight Shooter]

67. Did you have Patty Loveless on your poll? (It's turned off now, level 3)

I've always thought she's one of the best. As for Emmylou, I have, like, five of her albums. :)

[MrScorpio]

69. Willie Nelson, All the way

Willie IS the man

[mvd]

70. Lots of good choices

I noticed that Kasey Chambers was left out. She's excellent.