Your top five favorite artists: Classic Country through Outlaw Country

brianlux

Two part question, both starting with Jimmy Rogers and the Carter Family (who basically kicked off country music in 1927) and ending with the Outlaw Country movement  (yes, there is a bias here on my part- sorry, just classic country, no New Country, Country Rock, or "countrypolitan"):

1. Which classic country artists in this period do you enjoy listening to the most?  and,

2  Who are you favorite country music songwriters from this period?

I hesitate to put a number on this but maybe to avoid those page long lists of every country musician you ever like maybe keep each list to around five or so. 

I'm going with 5 each:

Favorites to listen to:

Willie Nelson

Waylon Jennings

Johnny Cash

Merl Haggard

Ernest Tubb

Favorite country song writers:

Willie Nelson

Johnny Cash

Kris Kristofferson

Ernest Tubb

Dolly Parton

Pap

Johnny Cash & Steve Earle

ConorKavanagh

Johnny Cash
Kris Kristofferson
Willie Nelson
Hank Williams
Glen Campbell

tempo_n_groove

You guys keep putting Cash.  I think he only wrote one of his greatest hits?

tempo_n_groove

Favorites to listen to are  Johnny Cash, Randy Travis, Lyle Lovitt, Loretta Lynn, Marty Robbins.

Song Writers Kris Kristopherson, Loretta Lynn, Alison Krauss, Kenny Rogers, Hank Williams Sr.

brianlux

tempo_n_groove said:

You guys keep putting Cash.  I think he only wrote one of his greatest hits?

Whether hits or not (this is about your favorites, not necessarily hits), here are some of the great songs written by Cash:

"Cry, Cr, Cry"

"Don't Take Your Guns to Town"

"Five Feet High and Rising"

"Folsom Prison Blues"

"Get Rhythm"

"Hey Porter"

"Home of the Blues"

"I Still Miss Someone"

"I Walk the Line"

"The Man Comes Around"

"Man in Black"

"Tennessee Flat Top Box"

tempo_n_groove

brianlux said:

tempo_n_groove said:

You guys keep putting Cash.  I think he only wrote one of his greatest hits?

Whether hits or not (this is about your favorites, not necessarily hits), here are some of the great songs written by Cash:

"Cry, Cr, Cry"

"Don't Take Your Guns to Town"

"Five Feet High and Rising"

"Folsom Prison Blues"

"Get Rhythm"

"Hey Porter"

"Home of the Blues"

"I Still Miss Someone"

"I Walk the Line"

"The Man Comes Around"

"Man in Black"

"Tennessee Flat Top Box"

I love Man Comes around.  That was later on in his life so I for sure didn't think he wrote that one.  Most of the others I knew he wrote too.

My favorite song from him is his duo with Kristopherson when they do Long Black Veil.

brianlux

tempo_n_groove said:

brianlux said:

tempo_n_groove said:

You guys keep putting Cash.  I think he only wrote one of his greatest hits?

Whether hits or not (this is about your favorites, not necessarily hits), here are some of the great songs written by Cash:

"Cry, Cr, Cry"

"Don't Take Your Guns to Town"

"Five Feet High and Rising"

"Folsom Prison Blues"

"Get Rhythm"

"Hey Porter"

"Home of the Blues"

"I Still Miss Someone"

"I Walk the Line"

"The Man Comes Around"

"Man in Black"

"Tennessee Flat Top Box"

I love Man Comes around.  That was later on in his life so I for sure didn't think he wrote that one.  Most of the others I knew he wrote too.

My favorite song from him is his duo with Kristopherson when they do Long Black Veil.

Oh yeah!  Long Black Veil is great.

Some of my other favorite Cash songs were written by Peter LaFarge who wrote most of the songs for Cash's great indigenous people's topical album, Bitter Tears.

tempo_n_groove

brianlux said:

tempo_n_groove said:

brianlux said:

tempo_n_groove said:

You guys keep putting Cash.  I think he only wrote one of his greatest hits?

Whether hits or not (this is about your favorites, not necessarily hits), here are some of the great songs written by Cash:

"Cry, Cr, Cry"

"Don't Take Your Guns to Town"

"Five Feet High and Rising"

"Folsom Prison Blues"

"Get Rhythm"

"Hey Porter"

"Home of the Blues"

"I Still Miss Someone"

"I Walk the Line"

"The Man Comes Around"

"Man in Black"

"Tennessee Flat Top Box"

I love Man Comes around.  That was later on in his life so I for sure didn't think he wrote that one.  Most of the others I knew he wrote too.

My favorite song from him is his duo with Kristopherson when they do Long Black Veil.

Oh yeah!  Long Black Veil is great.

Some of my other favorite Cash songs were written by Peter LaFarge who wrote most of the songs for Cash's great indigenous people's topical album, Bitter Tears.

Is Peter related to Pokey?

brianlux

tempo_n_groove said:

brianlux said:

tempo_n_groove said:

brianlux said:

tempo_n_groove said:

You guys keep putting Cash.  I think he only wrote one of his greatest hits?

Whether hits or not (this is about your favorites, not necessarily hits), here are some of the great songs written by Cash:

"Cry, Cr, Cry"

"Don't Take Your Guns to Town"

"Five Feet High and Rising"

"Folsom Prison Blues"

"Get Rhythm"

"Hey Porter"

"Home of the Blues"

"I Still Miss Someone"

"I Walk the Line"

"The Man Comes Around"

"Man in Black"

"Tennessee Flat Top Box"

I love Man Comes around.  That was later on in his life so I for sure didn't think he wrote that one.  Most of the others I knew he wrote too.

My favorite song from him is his duo with Kristopherson when they do Long Black Veil.

Oh yeah!  Long Black Veil is great.

Some of my other favorite Cash songs were written by Peter LaFarge who wrote most of the songs for Cash's great indigenous people's topical album, Bitter Tears.

Is Peter related to Pokey?

Peter LaFarge was the son of Oliver LaFarge who wrote Laughing Boy, a novel about the struggles of the Navajo in the southwest.

There a great deal of interesting info on Peter La Farge in this excellent book about Cash:

tempo_n_groove

brianlux said:

tempo_n_groove said:

brianlux said:

tempo_n_groove said:

brianlux said:

tempo_n_groove said:

You guys keep putting Cash.  I think he only wrote one of his greatest hits?

Whether hits or not (this is about your favorites, not necessarily hits), here are some of the great songs written by Cash:

"Cry, Cr, Cry"

"Don't Take Your Guns to Town"

"Five Feet High and Rising"

"Folsom Prison Blues"

"Get Rhythm"

"Hey Porter"

"Home of the Blues"

"I Still Miss Someone"

"I Walk the Line"

"The Man Comes Around"

"Man in Black"

"Tennessee Flat Top Box"

I love Man Comes around.  That was later on in his life so I for sure didn't think he wrote that one.  Most of the others I knew he wrote too.

My favorite song from him is his duo with Kristopherson when they do Long Black Veil.

Oh yeah!  Long Black Veil is great.

Some of my other favorite Cash songs were written by Peter LaFarge who wrote most of the songs for Cash's great indigenous people's topical album, Bitter Tears.

Is Peter related to Pokey?

Peter LaFarge was the son of Oliver LaFarge who wrote Laughing Boy, a novel about the struggles of the Navajo in the southwest.

There a great deal of interesting info on Peter La Farge in this excellent book about Cash:

So Pokey and Peter are not related?  Interesting that they have that name and are in music together.

I'll look into that book Brian, thanks.

brianlux

tempo_n_groove said:

brianlux said:

tempo_n_groove said:

brianlux said:

tempo_n_groove said:

brianlux said:

tempo_n_groove said:

You guys keep putting Cash.  I think he only wrote one of his greatest hits?

Whether hits or not (this is about your favorites, not necessarily hits), here are some of the great songs written by Cash:

"Cry, Cr, Cry"

"Don't Take Your Guns to Town"

"Five Feet High and Rising"

"Folsom Prison Blues"

"Get Rhythm"

"Hey Porter"

"Home of the Blues"

"I Still Miss Someone"

"I Walk the Line"

"The Man Comes Around"

"Man in Black"

"Tennessee Flat Top Box"

I love Man Comes around.  That was later on in his life so I for sure didn't think he wrote that one.  Most of the others I knew he wrote too.

My favorite song from him is his duo with Kristopherson when they do Long Black Veil.

Oh yeah!  Long Black Veil is great.

Some of my other favorite Cash songs were written by Peter LaFarge who wrote most of the songs for Cash's great indigenous people's topical album, Bitter Tears.

Is Peter related to Pokey?

Peter LaFarge was the son of Oliver LaFarge who wrote Laughing Boy, a novel about the struggles of the Navajo in the southwest.

There a great deal of interesting info on Peter La Farge in this excellent book about Cash:

So Pokey and Peter are not related?  Interesting that they have that name and are in music together.

I'll look into that book Brian, thanks.

I can't find anything that connects Pokey and Peter LaFarge (I resist making dumb jokes about pokey peters, haha!).  I don't know anything about Pokey LaFarge but his write up on Wikipedia sounds interesting and he looks familiar- I must have seen him on film or video somewhere. 

Pap

I forgot to mention Victoria Williams.

OffSheGoes35

I've been listening to Willie Nelson lately. He's my number one. I've always liked Johnny Cash. I like some Waylon Jennings songs. I'm glad you started this thread, brianlux, so I can listen to the others listed. 

What the heck is "countrypolitan"? Do I even want to know?  

dankind

Favorite performers: Patsy Cline, Loretta Lynn, Emmylou Harris, Dolly Parton, Linda Ronstadt (sub Waylon for Ronstadt if she's too poppy)

dankind

Favorite writers: Dolly, Merle, Waylon, Willie, Hank 

Gibson

I'm really new to country, but I can't put Chris Stapleton's catalogue down lately. I'm guessing he doesn't really qualify for this thread, though.

dankind

Gibson said:

I'm really new to country, but I can't put Chris Stapleton's catalogue down lately. I'm guessing he doesn't really qualify for this thread, though.

Yeah, Dwight Yoakam is one of my favorite songwriters, but I felt even he was too recent.

brianlux

OffSheGoes35 said:

I've been listening to Willie Nelson lately. He's my number one. I've always liked Johnny Cash. I like some Waylon Jennings songs. I'm glad you started this thread, brianlux, so I can listen to the others listed. 

What the heck is "countrypolitan"? Do I even want to know?  

I love Willie Nelson!  I saw him at the Dixon Fair Grounds in 2005 and it was one of the best shows and one of the very best sounding shows I've ever seen live.  It was outdoors and the sound was phenomenal! 

Yes, Waylon is great too!  My favorite is the most excellent LP, Honky Tonk Heroes.

And I was just talking to a friend about how I got turned on to Ernest Tubb.  My wife and I were on the return leg of our one cross-country trip.  We were camped out in this rustic campground in Southern Indiana and the one radio station we were able to pick up was coming up the airwaves from Kentucky.  The station was playing all classic country music and the one that really got me was Ernest Tubb.  There was a train whistle to the east of the campground that echoed through the hills in the dark of night with Ernest Tubb on the radio.  What a great experience!

OK, now if you don't want to know what countrypolitan is, DO NOT READ FURTHER?        

"Countrypolitan" is a country/pop cross-over music.  And actually, there are some decent artists that were involved so if there are fans here, we could lift that "restriction" (like I'm gonna hold anyone to some stupids "rules", lol).

Very cool to hear about your country likes!

brianlux

dankind said:

Gibson said:

I'm really new to country, but I can't put Chris Stapleton's catalogue down lately. I'm guessing he doesn't really qualify for this thread, though.

Yeah, Dwight Yoakam is one of my favorite songwriters, but I felt even he was too recent.

I don't know Stapelton, will have to check it out.  Yoakam is well rooted in classic country.  I love his stuff- good to see him mentioned here!

This is my go-to Dwight Yoakam LP:

dankind

His debut was so strong. 

And I have a soft spot for Population Me. 

dankind

He’s actually a decent actor, too. 

OffSheGoes35

brianlux said:

OffSheGoes35 said:

I've been listening to Willie Nelson lately. He's my number one. I've always liked Johnny Cash. I like some Waylon Jennings songs. I'm glad you started this thread, brianlux, so I can listen to the others listed. 

What the heck is "countrypolitan"? Do I even want to know?  

I love Willie Nelson!  I saw him at the Dixon Fair Grounds in 2005 and it was one of the best shows and one of the very best sounding shows I've ever seen live.  It was outdoors and the sound was phenomenal! 

Yes, Waylon is great too!  My favorite is the most excellent LP, Honky Tonk Heroes.

And I was just talking to a friend about how I got turned on to Ernest Tubb.  My wife and I were on the return leg of our one cross-country trip.  We were camped out in this rustic campground in Southern Indiana and the one radio station we were able to pick up was coming up the airwaves from Kentucky.  The station was playing all classic country music and the one that really got me was Ernest Tubb.  There was a train whistle to the east of the campground that echoed through the hills in the dark of night with Ernest Tubb on the radio.  What a great experience!

OK, now if you don't want to know what countrypolitan is, DO NOT READ FURTHER?        

"Countrypolitan" is a country/pop cross-over music.  And actually, there are some decent artists that were involved so if there are fans here, we could lift that "restriction" (like I'm gonna hold anyone to some stupids "rules", lol).

Very cool to hear about your country likes!

Red Headed Stranger is so very soothing to me. "Hello Walls" makes me laugh, but who hasn't been there? Walls make great company. 
I'm not big on going to concerts, but I wouldn't mind going back in time to see Willie live and outside in 2005. 
For anyone who loves Johnny Cash & Willie Nelson, this episode of Storytellers is a must-see:

https://youtu.be/f37IhmRwIMA

Ernest Tubb is on my list. I'll have to close my eyes and imagine I'm in a campground; not in Southern Indiana though, that place was bad juju for me. 

I'll report back after I listen to Ernest, Dwight Yoakam, and Chris Stapleton. I already like a few Chris Stapleton songs I heard in the past.

OffSheGoes35

dankind said:

Favorite performers: Patsy Cline, Loretta Lynn, Emmylou Harris, Dolly Parton, Linda Ronstadt (sub Waylon for Ronstadt if she's too poppy)

Great list right there. 👍

brianlux

dankind said:

He’s actually a decent actor, too. 

For sure!

OffSheGoes35 said:

brianlux said:

OffSheGoes35 said:

I've been listening to Willie Nelson lately. He's my number one. I've always liked Johnny Cash. I like some Waylon Jennings songs. I'm glad you started this thread, brianlux, so I can listen to the others listed. 

What the heck is "countrypolitan"? Do I even want to know?  

I love Willie Nelson!  I saw him at the Dixon Fair Grounds in 2005 and it was one of the best shows and one of the very best sounding shows I've ever seen live.  It was outdoors and the sound was phenomenal! 

Yes, Waylon is great too!  My favorite is the most excellent LP, Honky Tonk Heroes.

And I was just talking to a friend about how I got turned on to Ernest Tubb.  My wife and I were on the return leg of our one cross-country trip.  We were camped out in this rustic campground in Southern Indiana and the one radio station we were able to pick up was coming up the airwaves from Kentucky.  The station was playing all classic country music and the one that really got me was Ernest Tubb.  There was a train whistle to the east of the campground that echoed through the hills in the dark of night with Ernest Tubb on the radio.  What a great experience!

OK, now if you don't want to know what countrypolitan is, DO NOT READ FURTHER?        

"Countrypolitan" is a country/pop cross-over music.  And actually, there are some decent artists that were involved so if there are fans here, we could lift that "restriction" (like I'm gonna hold anyone to some stupids "rules", lol).

Very cool to hear about your country likes!

Red Headed Stranger is so very soothing to me. "Hello Walls" makes me laugh, but who hasn't been there? Walls make great company. 
I'm not big on going to concerts, but I wouldn't mind going back in time to see Willie live and outside in 2005. 
For anyone who loves Johnny Cash & Willie Nelson, this episode of Storytellers is a must-see:

https://youtu.be/f37IhmRwIMA

Ernest Tubb is on my list. I'll have to close my eyes and imagine I'm in a campground; not in Southern Indiana though, that place was bad juju for me. 

I'll report back after I listen to Ernest, Dwight Yoakam, and Chris Stapleton. I already like a few Chris Stapleton songs I heard in the past.

Red Headed Stranger is such a strong classic.   "Soothing" is a good description- absolutely! 
I also really like Willie Nelson Sings Kristofferson.  And of his more recent albums I think Ride Me Back Home is terrific as well.

MedozK

Have to agree with most on here.
For my listening:
George Jones
Merle Haggard
Waylon Jennings
Willie Nelson
Jerry Reed

However, I do include George Strait, Hank Williams Jr. and Randy Travis on my all time list listen list. I know they are later than what you want, but being an 80s kid, they were big part of my musical collection and still are.

Kristofferson, Hank Williams, Dolly Parton, Townes Van Zandt probably my top writers

brianlux

MedozK said:

Have to agree with most on here.
For my listening:
George Jones
Merle Haggard
Waylon Jennings
Willie Nelson
Jerry Reed

However, I do include George Strait, Hank Williams Jr. and Randy Travis on my all time list listen list. I know they are later than what you want, but being an 80s kid, they were big part of my musical collection and still are.

Kristofferson, Hank Williams, Dolly Parton, Townes Van Zandt probably my top writers

I do include George Strait, Hank Williams Jr. and Randy Travis on my all time list listen list.

Great artists, for sure, and true to their roots.

Kristofferson, Hank Williams, Dolly Parton, Townes Van Zandt

Yeah, for sure, top-notch writers!