[heliospower]

i've never initiated a discussion before. it gives me that nasty public speaking sensation you get. so.... country. i fled one of the hipper threads after tootling on about jazz/country and blues/country fusion, but i'm fascinated by ur-country artists like charlie louvin and james hand, and their younger disciples like gillian welch. anyone have a good steer on things like johnny cash rarities? any devotees of telecaster wizards like albert lee, roy buchanan, danny gatton?

[Nightfly]

Originally Posted by heliospower

i've never initiated a discussion before. it gives me that nasty public speaking sensation you get. so.... country. i fled one of the hipper threads after tootling on about jazz/country and blues/country fusion, but i'm fascinated by ur-country artists like charlie louvin and james hand, and their younger disciples like gillian welch. anyone have a good steer on things like johnny cash rarities? any devotees of telecaster wizards like albert lee, roy buchanan, danny gatton?

heliospower,

Wow.. Danny Gatton one of the greatest guitarists no one knows about
but should..saw him when he was alive in Washington DC, where he mostly played and lived..he didn't like to travel ,it hurt his career.. amazing player. On Emusic there is a rare good live performance of him ..Did you know that Danny Gatton taught Roy Buchanan how to play..they were room mates..imagine those jams. I Will post later with more about Johnny Cash rarities and more about the late great Roy Buchanan..by the way...great post!

see you later,

[squash54]

Originally Posted by heliospower

i've never initiated a discussion before. it gives me that nasty public speaking sensation you get. so.... country. i fled one of the hipper threads after tootling on about jazz/country and blues/country fusion, but i'm fascinated by ur-country artists like charlie louvin and james hand, and their younger disciples like gillian welch. anyone have a good steer on things like johnny cash rarities? any devotees of telecaster wizards like albert lee, roy buchanan, danny gatton?

I don't know if this is the kind of thing you are looking for, but I was going to post this recommend anyway to aknowledge the 40th anneversary of the death of Elvis.
Last year Neil Young released an album called 'Prairie Wind'. On it is a track called 'He Was the King'. Someone so famous, whose name I can't right now remember, once said 'Everyone thinks writing good country music is easy, until you try it'. I think this is one of the best new pieces of country I have heard - it lifts my spirits every time I listen to it. (The other stuff on the albim is pretty good too, imho).

[Nightfly]

Originally Posted by heliospower

i've never initiated a discussion before. it gives me that nasty public speaking sensation you get. so.... country. i fled one of the hipper threads after tootling on about jazz/country and blues/country fusion, but i'm fascinated by ur-country artists like charlie louvin and james hand, and their younger disciples like gillian welch. anyone have a good steer on things like johnny cash rarities? any devotees of telecaster wizards like albert lee, roy buchanan, danny gatton?

Hello Heliospower,

These are some of my favorite downloads from some of the artists from your post that I am familiar with and some of my own:

Johnny Cash my favorite collection is "The Man In Black:The Definitive"
Collection ....has the early Sun right through to late material and every song a keeper and represent the best that country has to offer.
some of his later albums "Unchained"--"The Man Comes Around"--"Cash"
These albums are very deep personal statements..often dark but always
intense and artistic.(above on Mp3Sparks)
A rare release The Louisiana Hayride Archives on Emusic is a early
live concert I believe 1959. is a great historic item when Johnny was
young and his voice wasn't as deep yet.

Roy Buchanan best collection is Sweet Dreams:The Anthology
has more of his earlier work that I prefer.
"Hot Wires" "When a Guitar Plays The Blues" Both albums show off
his amazing technique with some great natural effects and his raging
telecaster. (the above is on Sparks)
A rarity is "Malaguena" a collection of studio outtakes for collectors
with a killer version of Peter Gunn ..the sound varies but it's all about
the guitar playing..(this one is on Emusic)

Danny Gatton he did not record all that much but a late album is available on Sparks called "Crusin Duces" I believe this was his last album
and show cases why he was considered a legend.

Willie Nelson these 2 albums are Willie doing something a little
different "Teatro" produced by Daniel Lanois and is accompanied
by Emmy Lou Harris throughout the record..It is sparse ,features his
old beat up classical guitar and a diverse selection of songs that
creates a certain cool vibe while still being country and another
album is "Countryman" where Willie works with Reggae greats
and creates Country-Reggae quite successfully.

Gram Parsons one of the original singer song writers who helped
create country/rock though he leaned toward the country side is one
of my favorites..Check out "G.P." featuring the introduction of Emmy Lou
Harris as his back up singer and partner..wonderful songs and performances.
and his other classic album is "Grievous Angel" (both On Sparks)

I also like Dwight Yokam, Don Williams and as stated above Emmy Lou Harris.
among others...

This does not include alternative-country performers out there that are
making some great rocking music.

Take care,

[Kalvin Kleenex]

Originally Posted by Nightfly

Gram Parsons one of the original singer song writers who helped
create country/rock though he leaned toward the country side is one
of my favorites..Check out "G.P." featuring the introduction of Emmy Lou
Harris as his back up singer and partner..wonderful songs and performances.
and his other classic album is "Grievous Angel" (both On Sparks)

Wow, Gram Parsons went beyond country. He was this kind of artist that I'd call "terrific-dramatic". I mean those singer/songwriters that go far beyond an specific music genre: great writers, great players & great singers. They can cross your heart with their performances (studio and live). Another exemple, but not a country artist, were Jeff Buckley (I recommend his live albums: Mystery White Boy and Live At Sin-e, both available at sparks).

Kalvin

[chris7]

Originally Posted by Nightfly

heliospower,

Wow.. Danny Gatton one of the greatest guitarists no one knows about
but should..saw him when he was alive in Washington DC, where he mostly played and lived..he didn't like to travel ,it hurt his career.. amazing player. On Emusic there is a rare good live performance of him ..Did you know that Danny Gatton taught Roy Buchanan how to play..they were room mates..imagine those jams. I Will post later with more about Johnny Cash rarities and more about the late great Roy Buchanan..by the way...great post!

see you later,

Dear Nightfly,

Although I am not a "Country" person I do like a guitarist, so I was intersted in your write up of Danny Gatton. Being from the UK I have never heard of him. I had a look round and I see mp3fiesta has the 2cd Anthology of him for less than $2, so I will be checking that out this week. Have you heard most/all of the songs on there?
Regards Chris

[Nightfly]

Originally Posted by chris7

Dear Nightfly,

Although I am not a "Country" person I do like a guitarist, so I was intersted in your write up of Danny Gatton. Being from the UK I have never heard of him. I had a look round and I see mp3fiesta has the 2cd Anthology of him for less than $2, so I will be checking that out this week. Have you heard most/all of the songs on there?
Regards Chris

Chris

If you like guitar you Will not be disappointed his singing is OK and his
songs are just vehicles to get to his solos...for $2 it is a good investment
also do you know Roy Buchannan ..if you like guitar check him out as well..
These artists are really not country they are Blues guitarists all the way,
maybe with a tinge of country on a song or 2 ..Heliospower's point was
that they were masters of the Telecaster guitar, and indeed they were.
Yes unfortunately many people from the US have never heard of him either,
but is a legend among US guitar players and fans of American Blues and
Country.He only played in the Washington DC area so when I was younger
me and my musician friends would take a road trip to DC 4hrs just to see Danny Gatton play..and always worth it!

Thanks for your interest,

[heliospower]

thanks for the parcel of leads on cash, nelson and co.
the names danny gatton and roy buchanan seem to conjure still, 15 years and more after they left us.
Chris7, enjoy the danny gatton thing. dannygatton.com is maintained by the executors of his estate, and contains both audio and video for free download. if you find yourself curious to explore his music, he did some jazz (Redneck Jazz Explosion, Relentless with Joey Defrancesco), lots of rockabilly (The Humbler, with singer robert gordon), and a tour de force called Cruisin' Deuces (see nightfly's hotlist), all instrumentals with excellent production.
Nightfly, i actually shared one year of high school with gram parsons down in florida, and saw him perform live just before he was signed. he was not interested in freshmen, so i can't say we were friends. and sadly, dead a few years later after lighting the way for many, including the byrds, keith richards, emmylou et al.
Kalvin, i'll check out jeff buckley on your sayso. when discussing artists who light up the darkness and make life worth living, one often transcends genre. thanks again for the responses...... let's talk some more.
ps. thanks squash for mentioning prairie wind. i caught the video in a friend's collection, and the whole show is wonderful, as good as Down From the Mountain for my money.

[Nightfly]

Originally Posted by heliospower

thanks for the parcel of leads on cash, nelson and co.
the names danny gatton and roy buchanan seem to conjure still, 15 years and more after they left us.
Chris7, enjoy the danny gatton thing. dannygatton.com is maintained by the executors of his estate, and contains both audio and video for free download. if you find yourself curious to explore his music, he did some jazz (Redneck Jazz Explosion, Relentless with Joey Defrancesco), lots of rockabilly (The Humbler, with singer robert gordon), and a tour de force called Cruisin' Deuces, all instrumentals with excellent production.
Nightfly, i actually shared one year of high school with gram parsons down in florida, and saw him perform live just before he was signed. he was not interested in freshmen, so i can't say we were friends. and sadly, dead a few years later after lighting the way for many, including the byrds, keith richards, emmylou et al.
Kalvin, i'll check out jeff buckley on your sayso. when discussing artists who light up the darkness and make life worth living, one often transcends genre. thanks again for the responses...... let's talk some more.
ps. thanks squash for mentioning prairie wind. i caught the video in a friend's collection, and the whole show is wonderful, as good as Down From the Mountain for my money.

Wow .. a brush with greatness...very cool..
I saw Gram with The Flying Buritto Bros..
and once in the early days doing a radio show in NY with Emmy Lou I believe
that was his live album released years later...Yes without him there would be no country rock..There's a great Tribute DVD out made by his old cohorts.
His contribution on the Byrds "Sweet Heart of the Rodeo" changed country
rock forever one of the first mainstream country rock, influenced albums.
Gram showed the world that you could be a rebel and still be sensitive at the same time.

I saw Gatton with Robert Gordon great rock a billy set...Actually went to see
Gordon and got the excellent bonus of Gatton on guitar...
Also on Emusic there is a ton of rare Willie Nelson early works and 70's
material that you don't see much elsewhere.

[Nightfly]

Originally Posted by squash54

I don't know if this is the kind of thing you are looking for, but I was going to post this recommend anyway to aknowledge the 40th anneversary of the death of Elvis.
Last year Neil Young released an album called 'Prairie Wind'. On it is a track called 'He Was the King'. Someone so famous, whose name I can't right now remember, once said 'Everyone thinks writing good country music is easy, until you try it'. I think this is one of the best new pieces of country I have heard - it lifts my spirits every time I listen to it. (The other stuff on the albim is pretty good too, imho).

Squash .. "Prairie Wind" was a very nice album easy going a nice departure
for Neil...and I am familiar with his touching tribute to Elvis...my mom
left me a her collection of Elvis collectibles..that I have showcased...that
song always reminds me of her..