RE: A Question [Extremely LONG] and other stuff
Jon writes re the Kenny/Ann-1979, G*rth/Shania-1999 comparison: It's not a bad comparison, especially if you look forward a little bit - 1979 was a low point, followed shortly by the Neo-Trads (Skaggs, early McEntire, et.al.) - but it has its limits; "rules" is a pretty slippery term. Murray and Rogers each had 3 #1s that year (one of Rogers' was with Dottie West), but Conway Twitty did, too, Waylon Jennings had 2, John Conlee had 2, Charley Pride had 2, Don Williams had 2, and Mel Tillis, Moe Joe, and Willie Nelson Leon Russell all hit that position, and when you get deeper into the charts there was plenty of good stuff around (e.g., Emmylou Harris had two Top 10s and another two that just missed). The problem, as it were, is that country music history is generally too complicated to allow for the kinds of general statements about the health of the field that folks often seem compelled to make. I don't think that Wahl was comparing radio play (other people have had #1 records this past year, too, obviously) but was looking at in terms of *sales*, which is what most of the articles I've read have focused on as well; You have G*rth and Shania and then everyone else. And re: McCall on Chesnutt and the Damnations: I guess McCall thought there was some other point; maybe he thought that enthusiasm is a *starting* point for making good music, not the ending point. I wouldn't give the new Chesnutt 4 stars, but I wouldn't give the Damnations TX 3, either, not on a country music scale, anyhow (meaning both albums). Guessing don't count for much g. But I think this goes a long way to explaining why Jon doesn't "get" much of what most people refer to as alt.country, where enthusiasm is *only* the point of making good music. Re: Country.com encyclopedia: Walser's in there, and so are Dale Watson, Kelly Willis, Townes Van Zandt, BR5-49, Julie Buddy Miller, the Flatlanders and Foster Lloyd, to take a few randomly-chosen (ha) instances. I don't have the disk to check, but I'm almost positive Walser is *not* in there. The main problem I have with it is that it's almost exclusively Nashville country based and doesn't take into account non-Nashville acts. I'll keep the disc, though, My dog loves shiny frisbee. g. Jim, not running for president of anything
RE: A Question [Extremely LONG] and other stuff
Jim says: I don't think that Wahl was comparing radio play (other people have had #1 records this past year, too, obviously) but was looking at in terms of *sales*, which is what most of the articles I've read have focused on as well; You have G*rth and Shania and then everyone else. Ah, well, that's different. But in that case, it seems to me that a comparison with sales in other genres today is relevant, too, i.e., do you find the same kind of inverted pyramid with respect to sales, with a handful of acts accounting for a hugely disproportionate percentage of units. I will be surprised if the situation is radically different in pop or rock, and if that's so, then it would suggest that a solution might not be specific to country music either, and that one would want to look at least as closely at the situation in other fields as at the situation in country music 20 years ago. Still, it sounds worth checking out. And re: McCall on Chesnutt and the Damnations: I guess McCall thought there was some other point; maybe he thought that enthusiasm is a *starting* point for making good music, not the ending point. I wouldn't give the new Chesnutt 4 stars, but I wouldn't give the Damnations TX 3, either, not on a country music scale, anyhow (meaning both albums). Guessing don't count for much g. But I think this goes a long way to explaining why Jon doesn't "get" much of what most people refer to as alt.country, where enthusiasm is *only* the point of making good music. No, I get it just fine. I just don't generally *like* music that features enthusiasm sans skill. There are plenty of musicians who have both (IMO, of course; enthusiasm is at least in part in the ear of the listener), so I don't see much reason to settle for just the one. Obviously, there are exceptions, but not many. Re: Country.com encyclopedia: Walser's in there, and so are Dale Watson, Kelly Willis, Townes Van Zandt, BR5-49, Julie Buddy Miller, the Flatlanders and Foster Lloyd, to take a few randomly-chosen (ha) instances. I don't have the disk to check, but I'm almost positive Walser is *not* in there. That's interesting. If you don't mind checking, I'd appreciate it; I'm curious as to whether there's much difference in content between the print version and the CD-ROM one, and Walser is definitely in the former. The main problem I have with it is that it's almost exclusively Nashville country based and doesn't take into account non-Nashville acts. Aw, baloney. It might not devote enough space to "non-Nashville acts," whatever that means (what's a Nashville act? One on the Nashville division of a major label? recorded exclusively in Nashville? recorded sometimes in Nashville? lives in Nashville? lived in Nashville for a while?), to suit some folks, but I'll bet there's not a dozen pages out of the 600+ in the print edition that doesn't have a "non-Nashville act" entry by any reasonable definition of the term. Maybe the CD-ROM's different... Jon Weisberger Kenton County, KY [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://home.fuse.net/jonweisberger/
Re: A Question [Extremely LONG] and other stuff
Cheryl writes: Our second question is: Where can I find Merle Haggard's tribute to Jimmie Rodgers? I almost spit coffee through my nose on this one line. LOL! Ya know this name thing has really got me bugged, especially cause I need to name something centered around this"Big Tent" type of music and I can't find a one that's satisfactory. AND I've been looking for YEARS! On another note, been reading some 'zines lately and found some interesting stuff. I recommend Modern Screen Country Music (Shania Twain centerfold inside-I kid you not) for the column by Waylon Wahl that draws comparisons to the country music scene of 20 years ago (ruled by Kenny Rogers and Ann Murray) and today (ruled by G*rth and Shania)? Also, how could Michael McCall give the new Mark Chesnutt 4 stars and the Damnations 3 stars in the new Tower Pulse. Seems kinda backward to me, especially because he doesn't like the D-nations for having more "enthusiasm than expertise." I thought that was the point. I received a copy of "Country.com's Century Of Country Music: The Definitive Country Music Encyclopedia" CD-ROM. Went looking for the Derailers. Not there. Thing is fairly useless. I do understand that David Goodman has a revised copy of Modern Twang coming out. I'll wait for that one. Enough rambling... Did I say "I (heart) Cheryl Cline, today? Jim, smilin
RE: A Question [Extremely LONG] and other stuff
On another note, been reading some 'zines lately and found some interesting stuff. I recommend Modern Screen Country Music (Shania Twain centerfold inside-I kid you not) for the column by Waylon Wahl that draws comparisons to the country music scene of 20 years ago (ruled by Kenny Rogers and Ann Murray) and today (ruled by G*rth and Shania)? It's not a bad comparison, especially if you look forward a little bit - 1979 was a low point, followed shortly by the Neo-Trads (Skaggs, early McEntire, et.al.) - but it has its limits; "rules" is a pretty slippery term. Murray and Rogers each had 3 #1s that year (one of Rogers' was with Dottie West), but Conway Twitty did, too, Waylon Jennings had 2, John Conlee had 2, Charley Pride had 2, Don Williams had 2, and Mel Tillis, Moe Joe, and Willie Nelson Leon Russell all hit that position, and when you get deeper into the charts there was plenty of good stuff around (e.g., Emmylou Harris had two Top 10s and another two that just missed). The problem, as it were, is that country music history is generally too complicated to allow for the kinds of general statements about the health of the field that folks often seem compelled to make. Also, how could Michael McCall give the new Mark Chesnutt 4 stars and the Damnations 3 stars in the new Tower Pulse. Seems kinda backward to me, especially because he doesn't like the D-nations for having more "enthusiasm than expertise." I thought that was the point. I guess McCall thought there was some other point; maybe he thought that enthusiasm is a *starting* point for making good music, not the ending point. I wouldn't give the new Chesnutt 4 stars, but I wouldn't give the Damnations TX 3, either, not on a country music scale, anyhow (meaning both albums). I received a copy of "Country.com's Century Of Country Music: The Definitive Country Music Encyclopedia" CD-ROM. Went looking for the Derailers. Not there. Thing is fairly useless. Well, like with any encyclopedia, stuff's gotta get left out. Walser's in there, and so are Dale Watson, Kelly Willis, Townes Van Zandt, BR5-49, Julie Buddy Miller, the Flatlanders and Foster Lloyd, to take a few randomly-chosen (ha) instances. Personally, I think giving as much space to Walser and Watson combined, or to Jim Jesse, as to Shania Twain isn't a half-bad approach. I'm sure someone would be happy to take that fairly useless CD off your hands. Jon Weisberger Kenton County, KY [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://home.fuse.net/jonweisberger/
