Favorite Country-Rock band of the late-60s/early-70s?

Jason Odd · Post by **Jason Odd** » 3 Jan 2007 5:23 pm

yeah I know, I named him, Don Felder.

Russ Tkac · Post by **Russ Tkac** » 3 Jan 2007 7:29 pm

When I saw the Eagles back in the mid-70s Bernie played an S-10 Emmons on a few songs.

Russ

Jason Odd · Post by **Jason Odd** » 3 Jan 2007 8:23 pm

well, there you go, Joe, these guys can make the list.
A country-rock band with two steel players, I guess Mason Proffit should be in as well.

John Maggard · Post by **John Maggard** » 3 Jan 2007 9:15 pm

Voted for FBB and they're a realllllly close second, but Pure Prairie League would have to be my favorite, at least the first three albums. JDCall got my interest in steel kickstarted with the first album, then blew me away with his work on Two Lane Highway.

Dick Mullowney · Post by **Dick Mullowney** » 4 Jan 2007 4:23 am

Ian and Sylvia and the Great Speckled Bird with Buddy Cage and Amos Garrett.

Brian McGaughey · Post by **Brian McGaughey** » 4 Jan 2007 7:48 am

I've got to share this with you.

Back in the late 60s and early 70s I HATED country and country rock music. Even though I spun the country hits in '74 on a little 1000 watt AM country radio station I never REALLY listened.

Now approaching 50, I'm very touched by all this music. I'm moved by the sound of the pedal steel. Country music, particularly what is refered to as "yesterdays legends" has gotten me so excited about music again that I've set aside my drumsticks to (attempt to) learn PSG. What a great puzzle!

Back on topic, the whole Gram Parsons saga can't help but draw me in. Although not familiar with every artist and group listed above, my vote's for FBBs. I will use the above list as "suggested listening"!

David L. Donald · Post by **David L. Donald** » 4 Jan 2007 8:30 am

Eagles, Asleep At The Wheel, Marshal Tucker and Byrds
need to be added.

It's a toss up between Poco and New Riders for me on the existing list.
But the 4 above are clear ommisions,
and likely the Eagles are the biggest possible winner.
Longevity; their songs still sound great today.
I wish i could say that about most of Poco's stuff.

Joe Alterio · Post by **Joe Alterio** » 4 Jan 2007 11:18 am

I really don't feel the Byrds would qualify since (a) they didn't have a steel player and (b) they really only did one album of country-rock (unless you consider "Easy Rider"). Really, 3 ex-Byrds went on to form the Burrito Brothers, so a vote for the Byrds should probably merit a vote for the Burritos....?

I really never think of the Eagles as country-rock (same as the mid-to-late '70s Poco lineup) as they were more soft rock/adult contemporary/MOR. And they did not have a dedicated pedal steel player in the group. Otherwise, we may as well include the Lovin' Spoonful and groups like that.....I really just wanted the list to be small and representative of the true pedal-steel driven country-rock groups of the late-1960s/early-1970s.

-------------------

Now, I must say that I really am quite surprised by the poll results. Of course, I fully expected Poco to be running away with this.....but I truly felt that Nesmith would not be far behind. Certainly, the music Nesmith and Rhodes made stands up today far better than most of the Burritos stuff?!? Does the Monkees stigma keep people from even seeking out the music in the first place? I wonder.......

tom anderson · Post by **tom anderson** » 4 Jan 2007 12:35 pm

I almost voted for Gene Clark since he was the best songwriter of that era, but voted for FBB. I think Rick Nelson & the Stone Canyon Band & The Everly Brothers (Buddy Emmons) should also be included.
I agree about Nesmith & Red Rhodes' stuff holding up very well. Also, his "Tropical Campfire" from 10 years ago or so is excellent.

Tiny Olson · Post by **Tiny Olson** » 5 Jan 2007 7:49 am

I voted for The Commander and The Airmen for two reasons;
1) They were my favorite band from this list back in the early 70s, I always dug Bobby Black.
2) I play for The Commander often nowadays. How could I vote for someone else.?.?

I have always loved the swing stuff and CC and His LPA did alot of that in the mix. We still do.

Sincerely,
Chris "Tiny" Olson

Garry Vanderlinde · Post by **Garry Vanderlinde** » 5 Jan 2007 11:47 pm

How cool is this...

I voted for The Burrito Bros in this pole but Poco is just as necessary. The year is 1974 I think.

billy tam · Post by **billy tam** » 6 Jan 2007 7:07 am

I voted for Poco on the list but I have to agree with Jim C. about the Byrds. However before that was Buffalo Springfield who influenced me early on as far as steel guitar was concerned.
Billy

Russ Tkac · Post by **Russ Tkac** » 6 Jan 2007 8:47 am

I think you have to look at Linda Ronstadt as a major influence in Country Rock and she also had some great steel players in her band. I'm reminded of a concert from 1974 with Dan Dougmore and Ed Black ... two for the price of one!

Also, Herb and Sneaky as well.

Russ

Jim Sliff · Post by **Jim Sliff** » 6 Jan 2007 10:27 am

As far as the Byrds go, you don't need a steel player to play "country rock", and early tunes like "Time Between" wouldn't be any more country if you added a steel. You could put that cut on a Buck Owens album and not tell anyone it was The Byrds, and likely get away with it.

This thread is a "favorite" country-rock band from the period, not a "most influential" - but clearly the most influential would have to be The Byrds; The Burritos, Eagles/Ronstadt and that lineage all branch from the '67/68 Byrds; and the Springfield, while a starting block for Poco, didn't break through the country vs rock barrier the way the Byrds did. When Lloyd Green got up to play with them at the Opry, the dividing line was erased, and it was Gram Parson's unique, short-lived "Cosmic American Music" vision that paved the way for all the rest. Poco, NRPS, The Commander, etc. all owe(d) some measure of their success to the barriers destroyed by The Byrds. I think some of those bands had better material at certain points, but they didn't break the barriers down - they followed The Byrds through a door they unlocked.

That being said - IMO Buck and the Buckaroos were a country-rock band - the whole Bakersfield sound has an "edge" to it that the slicker Nashville stuff of the time did not have.

But the Burritos are still my favorite. Hot Burrito #1 and #2 still knock me over, along with Christine's Tune and Wheels. Probably (IMHO) the 4 best country-rock tunes ever.

Frank Freniere · Post by **Frank Freniere** » 6 Jan 2007 12:06 pm

Poco (by a hair over the Burritos).

Joe Alterio · Post by **Joe Alterio** » 14 Jan 2007 5:56 pm

I'm really baffled by these poll results....how come no love for Nesmith around here? I certainly didn't think he'd be outside of the top 3.....

Randy Phelps · Post by **Randy Phelps** » 14 Jan 2007 7:05 pm

Jim Sliff wrote:As far as the Byrds go, you don't need a steel player to play "country rock", and early tunes like "Time Between" wouldn't be any more country if you added a steel. You could put that cut on a Buck Owens album and not tell anyone it was The Byrds, and likely get away with it.

This thread is a "favorite" country-rock band from the period, not a "most influential" - but clearly the most influential would have to be The Byrds; The Burritos, Eagles/Ronstadt and that lineage all branch from the '67/68 Byrds; and the Springfield, while a starting block for Poco, didn't break through the country vs rock barrier the way the Byrds did. When Lloyd Green got up to play with them at the Opry, the dividing line was erased, and it was Gram Parson's unique, short-lived "Cosmic American Music" vision that paved the way for all the rest. Poco, NRPS, The Commander, etc. all owe(d) some measure of their success to the barriers destroyed by The Byrds. I think some of those bands had better material at certain points, but they didn't break the barriers down - they followed The Byrds through a door they unlocked.

That being said - IMO Buck and the Buckaroos were a country-rock band - the whole Bakersfield sound has an "edge" to it that the slicker Nashville stuff of the time did not have.

But the Burritos are still my favorite. Hot Burrito #1 and #2 still knock me over, along with Christine's Tune and Wheels. Probably (IMHO) the 4 best country-rock tunes ever.

+1
I'm of like mind.

and while I Love Nesmith (even the Monkees CR stuff is great--what am I doin hangin round is great).. the Byrds are a whole other thing.

btw What about Michael Murphey? he had steel Peaks, Valleys, honky tonks and alleys is a great CR album.

Brint Hannay · Post by **Brint Hannay** » 14 Jan 2007 9:30 pm

It seems only fair to point out that the stated criteria for this survey as stated by Joe, whose personal survey it is, specify "a pedal steel guitarist in the band". Thus the Byrds don't qualify. Not to say I don't love their country rock stuff; "Time Between" still knocks me out every time--Clarence White's fills and solo are the benchmark of country rock Tele playing for me.

Dave Hepworth · Post by **Dave Hepworth** » 15 Jan 2007 4:47 am

What about a band called the cooper brothers from canada.They had a good steelie cant remember his name but listen to" Rock and Roll cowboys" track.Thought I would mention this band to see if there were any comments...for me its got to be NRPS and Buddy Cage.

Jim Sliff · Post by **Jim Sliff** » 15 Jan 2007 6:16 am

IMO if you use the criteria that a steel player had to be in the band full-time, you eliinate many of the most important and influential country-rock bands. Part of the whole "country-*rock*" idea is that you don't need a particular instrument to play the style...it's just the music. Just as Bill Monroe dissed any bluegrass band (saying they weren't one) that didn't have a fiddle, it really changes the playing field - not so much in the posted question, which was about "favorites", but in the sideline discuss (that was inevitable) about most influential bands.

But using the original criteria, I'd still include the Byrds somewhere. Sweetheart was steel-crazy, Lloyd Green played with them at the opry, and Sneaky used to sit in from time to time. If Gene Clark is in there, the Byrds should be as well.

Brint Hannay · Post by **Brint Hannay** » 15 Jan 2007 7:04 am

Jim, I was merely reiterating what Joe said he had in mind when he started the thread. I hope it was clear that I was expressing nothing whatsoever negative about the Byrds. In fact, I posted mainly so I could throw in my two cents about how much I like their country rock stuff. And I think their influentialness is obvious enough to be beyond debate.
Anyway, no big bone to pick. Just thought the topic was drifting a little. This thread does after all appear in the "Steel Players" section of the (Steel Guitar) Forum.

Bob Carlucci · Post by **Bob Carlucci** » 15 Jan 2007 7:17 am

Poco had the best balance... Great vocals, great musicianship,great original songwriting,,, also the least recognized...

Burritos were probably the most influential to future musicians.. however, as cool as they were, some of thier early live recordings are fairly awful...Sneaky's steel playing made that band IMHO..

Cody and band were great in concert, had catchy tunes, incredible energy, they were a ton of fun, but for some reason don't have the legacy that POCO and the FBB have...

New Riders were probably the least talented as musicians among the popular country rock groups, but they still were a blast and were my major influence...

The Byrds WERE and ARE the originators.. It began when Clarance entered the scene.. They were as big an influence on country players as they were on rockers... an American icon IMHO...

PPL .. nice songs, nice vocals, a bit "lightweight" but pleasant to listen to... no lasting legacy IMHO..

SO many others deserve honorable mention... Marshall Tucker,
The Outlaws had some great country oriented stuff mixed with that blazing southern rock guitar,
Dan Fogelberg/Fools Gold
,Grateful Dead had some VERY country sounding tunes
Steve Stills Manasses had great steel by Al Perkins,
Emmy Lou and the Hot Band was among the best of her time..
Linda Ronstadt in her early days[before she felt uncomfortable when Republicans or Christians attended her shows]
just so much great music,,, and only two ears... bob

Chris Schlotzhauer · Post by **Chris Schlotzhauer** » 15 Jan 2007 11:19 am

Pure Prairie League, The Commander

Greg Simmons · Post by **Greg Simmons** » 15 Jan 2007 12:23 pm

....how come no love for Nesmith around here? I certainly didn't think he'd be outside of the top 3.....

Joe, mucho Nez love here

; I agonized (inasmuch as you would over a web poll) over the voting, but with only 1 choice I had to go with the Burritos

.

Mike Shefrin · Post by **Mike Shefrin** » 15 Jan 2007 12:41 pm

deleted

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