Essential Country Songs that every non PSG player must know

Paul Seager · Post by **Paul Seager** » 5 Aug 2015 10:36 am

I am now active in a small country band, playing a lot of covers from the classic honky tonk era and starting to add some western swing numbers too.

Since starting this project it's given me something to focus on and my steel playing has progressed more in the last year than at any time before. Unsurprisingly I'm often copying (or at best trying to flatter) the great players of the past and I thought I'd create a post that all can contribute to in a similar vein.

So let me have your suggestions for the "Essential Country Songs that every non-PSG should know". I suggest that the criteria for a song is that it contains an important riff or melody that every country player should have in their vocabulary. It might come from a PSG player but must be playable on a non-pedal instrument. Please avoid comments like "everything Jerry played on" or "just listen to Bob Wills", I'm looking for a focused list!

I'd like to kick off with Hank William's 'Honky Tonk Blues' as that is what I've spent the last 30 minutes listening to.

\ paul

Joe Burke · Post by **Joe Burke** » 5 Aug 2015 11:25 am

Hey Good Looking is a good one. Always gets people clapping. Often even dancing!

Adam Nero · Post by **Adam Nero** » 5 Aug 2015 11:59 am

Time Changes Everything for sure. Catchy, simple melody and a very doable twin guitar part built right in for you.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iJqPk8VU11E

Paul Honeycutt · Post by **Paul Honeycutt** » 5 Aug 2015 12:12 pm

Most anything by Bob Wells and the Texas Playboys or Hank Williams.

Stephen Abruzzo · Post by **Stephen Abruzzo** » 5 Aug 2015 3:52 pm

Jambalaya. I guess by Hank Williams? Great tune for just singing or jamming with pedal steels, electric guitars and lap steels.

Nate Hofer · Post by **Nate Hofer** » 6 Aug 2015 4:25 am

Of coarse you need the instrumentals:
Steel Guitar Rag (whether you play it live or not)
Pan Handle Rag
Remington Ride

Vocal tunes:
San Antonio Rose
You're Cheating Heart

Norman Evans · Post by **Norman Evans** » 6 Aug 2015 5:53 am

Here's a good one, Deep Water
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6DW_zU3ZtdQ

Andy Henriksen · Post by **Andy Henriksen** » 6 Aug 2015 7:16 am

I play in a similar band. While many songs, I'm sorta making stuff up to support the singer and lead guitarist, there are a few that I have specific lead duties on:

Walking After Midnight is really fun and recognizable by darn near everyone.

You should definitely have a few ET songs in the repertoire - we play Thanks a Lot and Driving Nails in my Coffin, but there are several others with equally iconic steel intros and solos.

Some Lefty Frizzel stuff, too, is good - If You've got the Money lays out nicely in C6.

Family Tradition works out well in E13, but could be reworked for a different tuning.

We also play Bloody Mary Morning (on my C6 neck) and its a real hoot.

Swinging Doors is fun on non-pedal (again, C6 for me, but could work in any tuning, I'm sure)

Peter Lindelauf · Post by **Peter Lindelauf** » 6 Aug 2015 8:41 am

I'd put a few Gram Parsons songs in the classic honky tonk category. Return of the Grievous Angel, Hickory Wind, and Sin City.

For an older tune, You're the Reason. Here's John Fogerty's version. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wc3uq90mT6U

Jana Lockaby · Post by **Jana Lockaby** » 6 Aug 2015 9:02 am

I can't believe no one has said "Roly Poly". I get asked to sing that one more than any other song I know. It's fun to play as wel.
Maybe it's a Texas thing? lol

admin · Post by **b0b** » 6 Aug 2015 9:50 am

Steel Guitar Rag
Sleepwalk

Your Cheatin' Heart
I Can't Help It
I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry

Walkin' After Midnight
Wild Side Of Life / Honky Tonk Angels

Walkin' The Floor Over You
Waltz Across Texas

San Antonio Rose
Faded Love

Paul Seager · Post by **Paul Seager** » 7 Aug 2015 12:04 am

This is what I am after, thanks so much. I'm pleased to see that our program already covers at least a third of the suggested songs and most of the artists.

I can't believe no one has said "Roly Poly". I get asked to sing that one more than any other song I know. It's fun to play as wel. Maybe it's a Texas thing? lol

I love that song, it's definitely on the "To do" list ... and our front man is from Texas!

Walking After Midnight is really fun and recognizable by darn near everyone.

Yep, even here in south Germany. I play and sing that one!

Steel Guitar Rag (whether you play it live or not)

LOL, yeah no matter how much you practice and how fast you get, it always goes off the rails in the gig - Now I know why Cindy used this as a right-hand exercise in her video!

and as for "Drivin nails in my coffin", here is my inspiration from the late great Buddy: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qnEMOQTh27s

Greg Moynihan · Post by **Greg Moynihan** » 7 Aug 2015 3:51 am

I learned to play Willie's vocal part for Crazy and Stardust, those tunes usually get a nice reception so long as I don't crash and burn.

Also Patti Page had great country and pop hits, I'm working on Tennesee Waltz and Old Cape Cod.

Doug Beaumier · Post by **Doug Beaumier** » 7 Aug 2015 5:22 am

My list is similar to b0b's and others:

Sleep Walk
Steel Guitar Rag
San Antonio Rose
Waltz Across Texas
Walking After Midnight

Earnest Bovine · Post by **Earnest Bovine** » 7 Aug 2015 7:36 am

Peter Lindelauf wrote:I'd put a few Gram Parsons ... Grievous Angel, Hickory Wind, and Sin City.

Who? Sorry, but these new songs are too modern, and therefore ineligible for consideration here.

Peter Lindelauf · Post by **Peter Lindelauf** » 7 Aug 2015 8:33 am

If you don't know who, maybe check YouTube. Definitely the feel of classic honky tonk without being stuck in the 50s. A number of artists like Parsons, Steve Earle, and Dwight Yoakam have kept the genre alive -- in spirit and in their music. To my ears in any case but then I'm not a purist when it comes to what's ineligibile.

This version even has a honky tonk in it. Always wondered if that's a beer bottle hitting the floor at 2:34 or so.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bqf9p9MpZBU

admin · Post by **b0b** » 7 Aug 2015 9:27 am

As far as I know, there is no non-pedal steel guitar on any of Gram Parsons' records.

Jana Lockaby · Post by **Jana Lockaby** » 7 Aug 2015 9:43 am

Gram Parsons is too modern? Well, I'm feeling really young now. Thank you. I suppose it would depend on your audience?
I agree. A lot of his stuff sounds very "country" to me. His songs might not be as familiar to a crowd in Texas, as they might be else where, but as long as people can dance, most of the time, they don't care. I've had people not from Texas, and one or two that were, ask, "Who is Bob Wills?", and they were not what you could call "young". (Shock!) lol

Not really what you would call "essential", but just a suggestion for the OP, Johnny Bush's song "Green Snakes" a fun one, and a crowd fav where I live.

Peter Lindelauf · Post by **Peter Lindelauf** » 7 Aug 2015 11:00 am

Certainly the case, Bob. Point taken. But Hickory Wind (and the others) render nicely in A6 or C6 on lapsteel. Not quite what the OP asked for though. I digressed by including songs that sound good on lapsteel and are good honky tonk tunes. Pardon me.

Doug Beaumier · Post by **Doug Beaumier** » 7 Aug 2015 12:33 pm

"must-know" songs are not necessarily our favorite songs. I've played Sleep Walk hundreds or maybe thousands of times in the past 40 years, but audiences still request it and they still recognize it immediately. It's a must-know tune IMO. But I wouldn't say it's one of my favorites (anymore).

Dustin Rhodes · Post by **Dustin Rhodes** » 7 Aug 2015 12:43 pm

Thunderstorms and Neon Signs by Wayne Hancock.

Robert Allen · Post by **Robert Allen** » 7 Aug 2015 5:58 pm

If you're playing in the honky tonks, you play whatever you want after 11 PM.

Dom Franco · Post by **Dom Franco** » 8 Aug 2015 8:19 am

Blue Bayou (which lays out very nice on non-pedal C6 or A6th)

Back in The Saddle Again

I'm an old Cowhand

Red River Valley

Route 66

tons more...

Paul Seager · Post by **Paul Seager** » 8 Aug 2015 9:42 am

Just going to throw my own ten (â‚¬) cents in on the Gram Parsons discussion. Yes, he is outside of what I asked but then, it was listening to Gram's version of "Cash on the Barrelhead" that introduced me to the Louvin Brothers and that whole period of music so I'm not at all put off by any suggestion of his work!

\ paul

Andy Volk · Post by **Andy Volk** » 8 Aug 2015 10:42 am

I have a soft spot for Night Life.