Post by TomLine on Oct 21, 2016 12:39:52 GMT -5
UN-COUNTRY
by Tom Lineaweaver
by Tom Lineaweaver
Do you remember 7up commercials where that beverage was called, "The Un-Cola"? Well, the music I'm going to share now would fit into the category. Every once in a while, a Country artist would do a song or two that are not Country. Even Charley Pride has done that. Do you remember the the disco years? Well, Charley did a song that could only be called disco, and is an example of what I call un-country.
My favorite un-country song is done by Leann Rimes....
Here's that song by Charley that sounds disco...
This is probably Ronnie Milsap's most popular un-country song....
Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton came out with this un-country song in the 70s...
Some artists has made a living doing un-country. Elvis Presley, for example. He was called the king of rock 'n' roll, but really, he the king of un-country. Here's one that hit the Country charts in the 70s....
Loretta Lynn is pure Country, not so for little sister Crystal Gayle....
Dolly Parton has done a few un-country songs...
Eddie Rabbit is another un-country artist...
I remember when I was younger the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band was played on Rock stations. Today they are considered Country.
T.G. Sheppard had some good Country songs, this is not one of them...
Here's that song by Charley that sounds disco...
This is probably Ronnie Milsap's most popular un-country song....
Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton came out with this un-country song in the 70s...
Some artists has made a living doing un-country. Elvis Presley, for example. He was called the king of rock 'n' roll, but really, he the king of un-country. Here's one that hit the Country charts in the 70s....
Loretta Lynn is pure Country, not so for little sister Crystal Gayle....
Dolly Parton has done a few un-country songs...
Eddie Rabbit is another un-country artist...
I remember when I was younger the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band was played on Rock stations. Today they are considered Country.
T.G. Sheppard had some good Country songs, this is not one of them...
So, what's the difference? Country music is a specific genre of music. The instruments are not as important as how they are played. There are many rock songs where you can hear a steel guitar. On the other hand, Johnny Cash seldom if ever had a steel guitar in his music. Even a buzz tone guitar can sound Country.
Here's an example of that....
Most often though buzz tone guitars are found in rock. Therefore, it's how you play an instrument that matters in the various genres of music.
There is some Country that use almost no classic country instrument. No steel guitar, banjo, or fiddle. They use full orchestration, like this by Eddie Arnold...
Both Eddie Arnold and Jim Reeves did music like that. Yet they were pure Country.
Then there's brass. Probably the most famous Country song that used brass is "Ring of Fire," by Johnny Cash. But then, there's Danny Davis and the Nashville Brass...
Here's the same song with no brass, but with fiddle, banjo, etc....
So the first 10 songs above I call un-Country because all the elements of Country music are not there, even though they are considered Country by the music industry today. But then, what do they know. I'm a Country music lover, and have been most of my life, now 60 years and counting. I know the difference between Country music and un-country.
The difference between Country music and un-country are like the difference between a wife of 50 years that has been faithful, and that young bimbo that might titillate your fancy for a moment, but will never be faithful.