I think Robbins was the greatest of Country singers. He, of course crossed the line into popular music. He added romance to the "old west". He was also kind of the real deal. He grew up in Arizona, his mother was Paiute Indian and he was a veteran. What a voice! What a personality!
I enjoyed Marty Robbins immensely but the story of his being Paiute and in some articles Choctaw seems to be somewhat of a myth. His birth certificate shows white as does his parents and grand parents.
Yea, Marty Robbins was one of my early entries into the cowboy or C&W music.
Songs like "Big Bad John", "Robbins "Big Iron", "Ghost Riders In the Sky", etc really tripped my trigger back in the late 50's early 60's.
It was also about that time that I thought the Steel Guitar work I saw on "The Grand Ole Opry" was the coolest instrument ever.
These days I still prefer the C&W ballads but with rougher edges. Most of my favorites have already been mentioned but here are a few other artiest and songs I enjoy.
Big Iron- Marty Robbins
Ghost Riders in the Sky - steel guitar
John Fogerty - Rattlesnake Highway.
Steve Earle - Copperhead Road
Robert Earl Keen - Corpus Christi Bay
And for all you Texans and want-a-b Texans this is my favorite song about the Alamo.
From the opening, haunting refrains of "Deguello", (Slit Throat), played by Santa Anna to indicate that "No Quarter" would be given, to the final rousing chorus this song does that moment in history proud. (Personal Opinion only of course
Wagoneers - “Stout and high”
They gave all this land and promised a new start For we who tried and lost Now they say they want it back and take it back they will They say at any cost
Come on Santa Anna Give us your best try Come on Santa Anna These walls are stout and high
One by one, day by day the enemy floods the plains There must be thousands out there Colonel Travis talks of help, I hope it's comin' soon Help is our only prayer
Come on Santa Anna Give us your best try Come on Santa Anna These walls are stout and high
The Sunday dawn burned fiery red, degüello cut the air Look out boys here they come The more we kill the more there are, the closer that they get The louder beats the drum
Come on Santa Anna Give us your best try Come on Santa Anna These walls are stout and high
The fightin' at the northern wall seems to have stopped Did you see Travis fall God save Texas and my kids, have mercy on my soul Great God they're in the wall!
Come on Santa Anna Give us your best try Come on Santa Anna These walls are stout and high
I like that one too. I guess my favorites were some of his biggest hits (now classics) "El Paso" (of course), "Devil Woman" (I believe I once had the pleasure), "Red River Valley" and the song that nobody could sing like he did - "The Streets of Laredo".
A bit of history on ''Red River Valley'' many people think the song is about the Red River in Texas it is about the Red River Valley that forms the border between MN an ND and runs into Canada. The song was written by a Metis women to her white British lover just before the Metis Wars of 1875...Shades of Louis Riel.
This is a great rendition of the song with Chris Issac and Stevie Nicks.
The original words to ''Red River Valley''..
The Red River Valley
From this valley they say you are going, I shall miss your bright eyes and sweet smile, For alas you take with the sunshine That has brightened my pathway awhile.
Chorus:
Come and sit by my side if you love me, Do not hasten to bid me adieu. But remember the Red River Valley And the girl who has loved you so true.
For this long, long time I have waited For the words that you never would say, But now my last hope has vanished When they tell me you’re going away.
When you go to your home by the ocean May you never forget the sweet hours That we spent in the Red River Valley Or the vows we exchanged mid the bowers.
Will you think of the valley you’re leaving? Oh, how lonely and dreary ’twill be! Will you think of the fond heart you’re breaking And be true to your promise to me.
The dark maiden’s prayer for her lover To the spirit that rules o’er the world His pathway with sunshine may cover Leave his grief to the Red River girl.
There could never be such a longing In the heart of a white maiden’s breast As dwells in the heart you are breaking With love for the boy who came west.
I don't have anywhere near the knowledge of country music as I do of traditional and 60s folk music, but there are a few movies that have country music themes and some pretty good music - Tender Mercies, Nashville, I Walk the Line and Coal Miner's Daughter. There are others - maybe I should do an article about them.
I think Martina McBride has one of the best female voices in country music, ever.
I still remember where I was the first time I heard Independence Day . I thought who is this because she is tiny but she has a huge voice. I bought the CD the next day. The song still gives me chills.
Allison Kraus is another favorite. I saw her when she was about 21 because my sister lives close to the Bill Monroe's bluegrass festival in southern Indiana. I couldn't believe that voice came from a relative teenager.
I remember that when Martina McBride was at the top of her game, so was Faith Hill, and it seemed like Faith Hill always edged her out for CMA awards and so forth. I like them both, but preferred Martina.
I remember that when Martina McBride was at the top of her game, so was Faith Hill, and it seemed like Faith Hill always edged her out for CMA awards and so forth. I like them both, but preferred Martina.
Faith Hill always seemed just a bit too polished and a created artist. IMO.
I love Mary Chapin Carpenter, and yes, I'd call her music country. I just heard "Down At the Twist and Shout" a few weeks ago and started singing along. My son looked at me like I'd grown an extra head. He's a Luke Bryan fan
I'm making chicken and dumplings for the first time in over a decade and I'm not sure if I'm doing it right. It seemed like a good day for soup but I didn't want just chicken soup with noodles. I can make a decent buttermilk biscuit but this is not something that I grew up eating so I'm not real sure if I'm doing it right.
I made rolled dumplings and when I put them in the chicken stock they all stuck together, so I thought that I ruined it. They are now separate so I think that I'm ok.
I've made these so many times that I have memorized the recipe. I use a food processor so they are very simple.
You can use self-rising flour for that recipe, but you need to leave out the salt and baking powder that the recipe calls for because SRF already has it in it. You need to use real butter in that recipe.
The next time I make chicken and dumpling I need to remember to roll out the dumplings much thinner (closer to 1/8") because they were over a centimeter thick when they fluffed up in the stock. They tasted fine but it took almost twice as long for them to cook. I feel like I ate a brick, but it was really good.
I'm thinking beef and rice soup tonight. I wanted to make beef barley soup, but couldn't find any barley when I did my pre-snow stockup shopping on Friday.
I've made it a few times and tried different methods but the barley always gives it a gummy and slimy texture. I know how to make perfect rice in 5 different ways but I'd either starve or be able to wear a size 5 if I had to eat barley on a regular basis.
We got between 5 and 6 inches, but it's not quite done yet. Schools are already closed tomorrow.
I had to make a run to get cat food about 3:00 pm and the roads are clear here. He had a chance to use the snowblower for the first time in over a year, so the driveway, sidewalks and most of the neighbor's walks are clear because he loves to play with loud toys.
Yeah, I made some food ahead last weekend, including a beef roast, and now I need to use the last of it before it goes bad. Soup seems like a good way.
Likely, I posted his stuff several times over there. Glad to see you remember.
Sturgill’s drummer Miles Miller and my oldest son were close friends in school. My whole family is drummers......brother, my 2 sons, daughter in law, and 2 nephews. Anyway, Miles had started school band playing trumpet or something but would come by our drum room and mess around on the kit. One day, I was practicing Zeppelins “Fool in the Rain” as I have my whole life. It’s a tricky song to get the groove just right. Miles listened to it a few times, sat down and played it perfectly........it was clear he was an extremely gifted musician even at a young age. Sturgills whole band are exceptional musicians......and their music is definitely worth sharing.
Let me introduce you to another local band. I first heard them at a festival last fall and was totally blown away. Their album “Waiting for the fall” is fantastic. Trippin Roots
With the exceptions of Willie and Yoakam, most of the slop that passes for C&W today is just pop music with a goober accent. I stopped listening to C&W back in the early 70's when it started changing into some kind of glitter bullshit and country rock was becoming more popular. What they call country rock in C&W circles today is generally pretty pathetic. Rock and roll musicians took over ownership of C&W music in the late 60's. Byrds, New Riders, Poco, etc, etc, etc, etc.
Seems like the formula for success on the C&W side of the music business today is owning a guitar, being able to play it is optional, Having long hair, which cracks me up since I was around in the 60's/70's when these goobers were at the front of the anti-hippie movement. And an exaggerated southern accent, with a straw cowboy hat that looks like it was driven over after it left the store. I can only imagine what some of the great C&W musical legends that have passed on are looking down on what passes for C&W music are thinking about the cookie cutter crap coming out of Nashville today.
Country Western or Rock a Billy...Who cares a song by one of the best bands evers...''The Band'' Robbie Robertson, Levon Helm, Rick Danko and Garth Hudson.
You get up every morning 'fore the sun comes up Toss a lunchbox into a pickup truck A long, hard day, sure ain't much fun But you've gotta get it started if you wanna get it done You set your mind and roll up your sleeves You're workin' on a working man's Ph.D
With your heart in your hands and the sweat on your brow You build the things that really make the world go around If it works, if it runs, if it lasts, for years You bet your bottom dollar, it was made right here With pride, honor and dignity From a man with a working man's Ph.D
Now there ain't no shame in a job well done From driving a nail to driving a truck As a matter of fact I'd like to set things straight A few more people should be pullin' their weight If you wanna cram course in reality You get yourself a working man's Ph.D
When the quittin' whistle blows and the dust settles down There ain't no trophies or cheering crowds You'll face yourself at the end of the day And be damn proud of whatever you've made Can't hang it on the wall for the world to see But you've got yourself a working man's Ph.D
Now there ain't no shame in a job well done From driving a nail to driving a truck As a matter of fact, I'd like to set things straight A few more people should be pullin' their weight If you wanna cram course in reality You get yourself a working man's Ph.D
Heard It In A Love Song - The Marshall Tucker Band
Where I grew up, "Black Velvet" played on pop stations. And nobody knew quite how to categorize Bonnie Raitt.
But I like 'em both, whatever category they're in.
Detroit City - Bobby Bare
I think Robbins was the greatest of Country singers. He, of course crossed the line into popular music. He added romance to the "old west". He was also kind of the real deal. He grew up in Arizona, his mother was Paiute Indian and he was a veteran. What a voice! What a personality!
I enjoyed Marty Robbins immensely but the story of his being Paiute and in some articles Choctaw seems to be somewhat of a myth. His birth certificate shows white as does his parents and grand parents.
Irregardless he was one hell of a singer.
Marty Robbins was also a NASCAR racer
Yea, Marty Robbins was one of my early entries into the cowboy or C&W music.
Songs like "Big Bad John", "Robbins "Big Iron", "Ghost Riders In the Sky", etc really tripped my trigger back in the late 50's early 60's.
It was also about that time that I thought the Steel Guitar work I saw on "The Grand Ole Opry" was the coolest instrument ever.
These days I still prefer the C&W ballads but with rougher edges. Most of my favorites have already been mentioned but here are a few other artiest and songs I enjoy.
Big Iron- Marty Robbins
Ghost Riders in the Sky - steel guitar
John Fogerty - Rattlesnake Highway.
Steve Earle - Copperhead Road
Robert Earl Keen - Corpus Christi Bay
And for all you Texans and want-a-b Texans this is my favorite song about the Alamo.
From the opening, haunting refrains of "Deguello", (Slit Throat), played by Santa Anna to indicate that "No Quarter" would be given, to the final rousing chorus this song does that moment in history proud. (Personal Opinion only of course
Wagoneers - “Stout and high”
My favorite of his is The Hanging Tree from the movie of the same title starring Gary Cooper.
I like that one too. I guess my favorites were some of his biggest hits (now classics) "El Paso" (of course), "Devil Woman" (I believe I once had the pleasure), "Red River Valley" and the song that nobody could sing like he did - "The Streets of Laredo".
A bit of history on ''Red River Valley'' many people think the song is about the Red River in Texas it is about the Red River Valley that forms the border between MN an ND and runs into Canada. The song was written by a Metis women to her white British lover just before the Metis Wars of 1875...Shades of Louis Riel.
This is a great rendition of the song with Chris Issac and Stevie Nicks.
The original words to ''Red River Valley''..
The Red River Valley
From this valley they say you are going,
I shall miss your bright eyes and sweet smile,
For alas you take with the sunshine
That has brightened my pathway awhile.
Chorus:
For this long, long time I have waited
For the words that you never would say,
But now my last hope has vanished
When they tell me you’re going away.
When you go to your home by the ocean
May you never forget the sweet hours
That we spent in the Red River Valley
Or the vows we exchanged mid the bowers.
Will you think of the valley you’re leaving?
Oh, how lonely and dreary ’twill be!
Will you think of the fond heart you’re breaking
And be true to your promise to me.
The dark maiden’s prayer for her lover
To the spirit that rules o’er the world
His pathway with sunshine may cover
Leave his grief to the Red River girl.
There could never be such a longing
In the heart of a white maiden’s breast
As dwells in the heart you are breaking
With love for the boy who came west.
Yep one of the greatest songs ever about lost love.....
You nailed it.
That bit of history is much appreciated.
Now that you mention it, there was the king of "lost love" - "Gentleman" Jim Reeves!
YES! that magical perfect voice....
I don't have anywhere near the knowledge of country music as I do of traditional and 60s folk music, but there are a few movies that have country music themes and some pretty good music - Tender Mercies, Nashville, I Walk the Line and Coal Miner's Daughter. There are others - maybe I should do an article about them.
Most country today sounds like a cross with pop music.
Loretta Lynn, she was country...
She was definitely that.....
Ms. Lynn will always be the Queen of Country as far as I'm concerned
I think Martina McBride has one of the best female voices in country music, ever.
I still remember where I was the first time I heard Independence Day . I thought who is this because she is tiny but she has a huge voice. I bought the CD the next day. The song still gives me chills.
Allison Kraus is another favorite. I saw her when she was about 21 because my sister lives close to the Bill Monroe's bluegrass festival in southern Indiana. I couldn't believe that voice came from a relative teenager.
"Independence Day" is great. I think the song that best showcases her voice is "With a Broken Wing".
I just listened to Broken Wing for the first time in about 10 tears. Now I'm crying.
Have you ever had a bad day like this..............?
Right?
I remember that when Martina McBride was at the top of her game, so was Faith Hill, and it seemed like Faith Hill always edged her out for CMA awards and so forth. I like them both, but preferred Martina.
I'm not big on bluegrass, but I can listen to Alison Krauss. Loved this duet with Brad Paisley.
Faith Hill always seemed just a bit too polished and a created artist. IMO.
I think Faith Hill has a great voice, but I think Martina's is better, and Martina's music has more heart.
We are in 100% agreement.
Would this be considered country music?
This song gives me the chills,
I love Mary Chapin Carpenter, and yes, I'd call her music country. I just heard "Down At the Twist and Shout" a few weeks ago and started singing along. My son looked at me like I'd grown an extra head. He's a Luke Bryan fan
And yeah, Alan Jackson is one of the greats.
This is one of the joys of being a parent.
I had to Google him. I agree.
I'm making chicken and dumplings for the first time in over a decade and I'm not sure if I'm doing it right. It seemed like a good day for soup but I didn't want just chicken soup with noodles. I can make a decent buttermilk biscuit but this is not something that I grew up eating so I'm not real sure if I'm doing it right.
Dumplings are something I never acquired a taste for. I can make a biscuit taste tastes ok, but it ain't pretty.
I made rolled dumplings and when I put them in the chicken stock they all stuck together, so I thought that I ruined it. They are now separate so I think that I'm ok.
I've made these so many times that I have memorized the recipe. I use a food processor so they are very simple.
Thanks! My mom's recipe uses self-rising flour. She does drop biscuits, and they come out pretty and yummy. Mine come out tasting good, but misshapen.
You can use self-rising flour for that recipe, but you need to leave out the salt and baking powder that the recipe calls for because SRF already has it in it. You need to use real butter in that recipe.
The next time I make chicken and dumpling I need to remember to roll out the dumplings much thinner (closer to 1/8") because they were over a centimeter thick when they fluffed up in the stock. They tasted fine but it took almost twice as long for them to cook. I feel like I ate a brick, but it was really good.
I'm thinking beef and rice soup tonight. I wanted to make beef barley soup, but couldn't find any barley when I did my pre-snow stockup shopping on Friday.
I can't make beef and barley soup to save my life. It always gets gummy like okra.
How much snow did you get? There is about 4" here in NE Ohio and I was on the northern edge of the storm.
Dear Friend Sandy: 6:50 PM now (EST).
Still have no idea what Mrs. E. and I shall have for din din tonight.
It is in the 20's F.
Will soon be in the teens.
Not super motivated to go out of doors now.
Thinking of a pasta meal.
Tomato Basil sauce.
Whole grain pasta.
Seasoned with garlic and onion powders, oregano and bay leaves, grated Parmesan cheese, fresh chopped mushrooms and onions and extra virgin olive oil.
Serve with hot pomegranite green tea.
Side of fresh greens salad with cured pitted olives and artichoke hearts vineagrette.
Good night to eat hot, snuggle by the fire place; maybe catch a movie on Netflix tonight.
The great indoors has its appeals.
Enoch, Using an Old Country Family Recipe for Boiling Water.
This would be my first try at beef barley soup.
We got between 5 and 6 inches, but it's not quite done yet. Schools are already closed tomorrow.
It's in the 20s, here, too, and I've barely set foot outside.
Pasta and a salad sound good, too. I also like pomegranate green tea, but I drink mine iced.
I'll probably snuggle with the dog and continue watching "The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel" on Amazon Prime. It's a bit raunchy, but hilarious.
We will watch a movie in Spanish from Mexico. "Roma".
Got great reviews.
Say hi to Mrs. Maisel for us.
E.
I've made it a few times and tried different methods but the barley always gives it a gummy and slimy texture. I know how to make perfect rice in 5 different ways but I'd either starve or be able to wear a size 5 if I had to eat barley on a regular basis.
I had to make a run to get cat food about 3:00 pm and the roads are clear here. He had a chance to use the snowblower for the first time in over a year, so the driveway, sidewalks and most of the neighbor's walks are clear because he loves to play with loud toys.
Sounds good on cold and snowy night, I grilled steaks and kielbasa last night and did enough for several meals
A neighbor plowed my driveway for me. I hear the roads are good now, but it's supposed to get cold enough overnight that they could refreeze.
Yeah, I made some food ahead last weekend, including a beef roast, and now I need to use the last of it before it goes bad. Soup seems like a good way.
We lit the grill on Friday night because burgers sounded really good. I need to clean the lid and the grate because it looks nasty.
The day I learned it was ok to buy frozen biscuits was the day I heard 2 grandmothers discussing which was the best brand at the commissary
My mom buys them now and then, even though she bakes good biscuits. It's just her and dad, now, and baking biscuits for two is a bit of a waste.
Roger Miller King of the road
Johnny Cash. Rusty Cage
Jimmy Dean. Big Bad John
Johnny Cash. Twenty five minutes to go
Don't have a clip, but who can forget Garth Brook's "Friends In Low Places"...
My thanks.
Kids, sheesh......
There's more, A LOT MORE.......
One more for good measure.....
Well two more
Gotta have more Stafford.......
Was it you who introduced me to Sturgill Simpson on the Vine?
Likely, I posted his stuff several times over there. Glad to see you remember.
Sturgill’s drummer Miles Miller and my oldest son were close friends in school. My whole family is drummers......brother, my 2 sons, daughter in law, and 2 nephews. Anyway, Miles had started school band playing trumpet or something but would come by our drum room and mess around on the kit. One day, I was practicing Zeppelins “Fool in the Rain” as I have my whole life. It’s a tricky song to get the groove just right. Miles listened to it a few times, sat down and played it perfectly........it was clear he was an extremely gifted musician even at a young age. Sturgills whole band are exceptional musicians......and their music is definitely worth sharing.
Let me introduce you to another local band. I first heard them at a festival last fall and was totally blown away. Their album “Waiting for the fall” is fantastic. Trippin Roots
With the exceptions of Willie and Yoakam, most of the slop that passes for C&W today is just pop music with a goober accent. I stopped listening to C&W back in the early 70's when it started changing into some kind of glitter bullshit and country rock was becoming more popular. What they call country rock in C&W circles today is generally pretty pathetic. Rock and roll musicians took over ownership of C&W music in the late 60's. Byrds, New Riders, Poco, etc, etc, etc, etc.
Seems like the formula for success on the C&W side of the music business today is owning a guitar, being able to play it is optional, Having long hair, which cracks me up since I was around in the 60's/70's when these goobers were at the front of the anti-hippie movement. And an exaggerated southern accent, with a straw cowboy hat that looks like it was driven over after it left the store. I can only imagine what some of the great C&W musical legends that have passed on are looking down on what passes for C&W music are thinking about the cookie cutter crap coming out of Nashville today.
I'm with you. I can't listen to any country written after 1978.
I'm not real big country fan but there are a few.
Heard this one on the radio a week or so ago. Hadn't heard it in years.
Not a country music fan but I might as well post one by a woman from my state.
Came out the year I was born.
I was always trying to figure out what "she and Billy Joe were throwing off the Tallahatchie Bridge"
There has been speculation. One I heard was a baby that didn't make it.
Definitely Glen Campbell, I saw him in Las Vegas when he was in his prime, the talent was unbelievable.
But, this has also been one of my favorite songs...
The "Original" Southernaires in 1941 during their Southern tour.
That's my Mom in the front.
"If That Ain't Country" and "You Never Called Me by my Name" (the perfect Country and Western Song) by David Allen Coe. (Can't get them to link up)
Country Western or Rock a Billy...Who cares a song by one of the best bands evers...''The Band'' Robbie Robertson, Levon Helm, Rick Danko and Garth Hudson.
Hard to believe Levon has been gone almost 7 years. What an immense talent.
He sure was a outstanding talent. He, and now Danko are both gone. That only leaves Robbie Robertson and Garth Hudson.
Wanda jackson - Hard Headed Woman
Working Man's PhD _ Aaron Tippin
You get up every morning 'fore the sun comes up
Toss a lunchbox into a pickup truck
A long, hard day, sure ain't much fun
But you've gotta get it started if you wanna get it done
You set your mind and roll up your sleeves
You're workin' on a working man's Ph.D
With your heart in your hands and the sweat on your brow
You build the things that really make the world go around
If it works, if it runs, if it lasts, for years
You bet your bottom dollar, it was made right here
With pride, honor and dignity
From a man with a working man's Ph.D
Now there ain't no shame in a job well done
From driving a nail to driving a truck
As a matter of fact I'd like to set things straight
A few more people should be pullin' their weight
If you wanna cram course in reality
You get yourself a working man's Ph.D
When the quittin' whistle blows and the dust settles down
There ain't no trophies or cheering crowds
You'll face yourself at the end of the day
And be damn proud of whatever you've made
Can't hang it on the wall for the world to see
But you've got yourself a working man's Ph.D
Now there ain't no shame in a job well done
From driving a nail to driving a truck
As a matter of fact, I'd like to set things straight
A few more people should be pullin' their weight
If you wanna cram course in reality
You get yourself a working man's Ph.D