This is either something you get or you don’t. I know I sure get it. Give me an open road or a few cold ones, either way this music will have me feeling no pain. This past weekend I spent about 17 hours driving and this was my co-pilot. When it came down to it, I could have kept going for a long time. 100% pure Americana right here – enjoy.
WAYLON
HAGGARD
THE LOUVIN BROTHERS
CASH
BARBARA MANDRELL
JJ CALE
KAREN WHEELER
LORETTA LYNN
JOHNNY BURNETTE
And just because…
SEA LEVEL
check out Good life by Justin Townes Earle. He’s brilliant.
Amazing list. I get it. I went to see Charlie Louvin play a few years ago, and when I got up the courage to speak to him he asked me who I was “dancin’ with.” (He’s 83!) Love the song you chose. Here’s my favorite: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6NXUWHaX2yk
Damn, how the hell am I supposed to sleep now? Awesome picks, bravo…
No Jerry Reed? Good list though.
Really amazing stuff……thanks!
I had the chance to meet Justin Townes father Steve Earle in Portland, amazing man. Very politically/socially charged.
My favorite is when you can find a crackling AM station somewhere in New Mexico or Wyoming that is still playing this stuff, you feel like you can drive forever…
Mark my words – in 50 years Kristofferson’s, Sunday Morning Coming Down, is gonna be a class in most colleges. It should be one today.
Tintin — that is a great tune. Here’s another version with Cash and Kristofferson together.
so what do you drive?
I know you love the classics, but Jamey Johnson is doing similar stuff now that always brings the pain home, check out “high cost of living”
How about a few cold ones AND an open road? Nothing will make you more authentic than drinking and driving.
Steve Earle is the Man! Hardcore. Right up there with Waylon and Merle.
Only sober.
These great songs could not be written and performed now because of the goddamn sense of irony and sarcasm that pervade everything today…
just got my hands on a mix called Griddle Greasin’ Daddies and Dirty Cowboys-
By far the funniest and dirtiest country songs I have ever heard.
If you can’t find it let me know I will get ya copy.
Not everyone admits to liking Bobby Weir’s singing voice, or even accepts that he has one, but I’ve always had a soft spot for the Dead’s version of ‘Mama tried’. Great selection though, Continuous, especially the Cash/Kristofferson. Keep on trucking (as you were)…
“If you don’t love it, leave it”. amen.
This is what we did our drinking and driving to back in the day…
Food for the Southern Soul.
Both “Mama Tried” and George Jones “The race is on” 2 of my favorite Dead covers.
Ted,
I believe the nec plus ultra is ‘Not Fadeaway/Going down the road etc.’ and I also like ‘Walk me out etc.’ and ‘Johnny B. Goode’, but I think ‘Promised Land’ and ‘Me and my Bobby McGee’ were done better by Elvis and Janis respectively. IMHO – is that the correct vernacular?
Listen to Waylon Jennings “Drinkin’ and Dreamin’ “. Before you get in the pick-up and head West watch the movie “Junior Bonner” with Steeve McQueen.
If alright with y’all I’m adding JJW’s L.A. Freeway – Live
That Merle Haggard song represents everything I hated about the attitudes of idiots in our nation. Those people thought “Easy Rider” had a happy ending. And Haggard thought Johnny Cash wasn’t “all that.” Bad choice to include.
Matt,
You’re now walkin’ on the fightin’ side of me.
Where’s the love for David Allen Coe?
I can’t help it man. I just love the Grateful Dead. I love Elvis and Kris too(he was with Janis when he wrote that song) I love it all. Glenn Campbell is an amazing song writer. I recently saw Elvis Costello with his Nashville buddies and they tore the place apart! John Doe, Dave Alvin, Stevie Ray (his bro Jimmy). Graham Parsons! Don’t we all want to be Bad Blake? Fuck man, I even like Buck Owens. James Taylor did a great cover of “she thinks I still care” on a live album about 15 years ago. I have Waylon Jennings autobiography on tape. He’s reading it. It’s amazing. I’m going to send it to Mr. Williams for his next road trip.
That said, I’m personally waiting for the Big Audio Dynamite tour in 2011. I
John Hiatt
All apologies Mr Williams! I am from real hillbilly stock, and I really want to just enjoy Merle. But hey, try out Johnny Cash’s “Johnny Cash Sings the Ballads of the American Indian: Bitter Tears”!
That Merle Haggard song is really aggressive.If you supported the Vietnam war you could as well support Hitler.
Close all the Honkytonks by Johnny Paycheck.
His name alone speaks volumes.
Yep. Had some Merle Haggard 8-tracks from the early 70s. Good stuff. Back in the day, there was a fantastic hole-in-the-wall record shop in downtown Wheeling, West Virginia whereyou could pick up some incredible, if obscure, old time hillbilly albums. Still have a few somewhere.