The Steel Guitar Forum

Posted: **4 May 2001 6:53 pm**

Craig, My friend,
Have no fear, and keep the faith, 'cause Country AIN'T GONNA DIE!!!!!!
PEOPLE LIKE US AIN'T GONNA LET IT !!!!

COUNTRY FOREVER, AND D%&* PROUD OF IT.

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If it feels good. do it.
If it feels Country,
DO IT TWICE
JPP

Posted: **4 May 2001 8:32 pm**

I one heard someone say that a lot of today's country really is "70's rock with a twang." Pretty concise, at least for some of it. I heard a song on our local country station today which sounded almost like disco. Some of it seems unapologetically like 70's love ballads, arrangements and all. At least I have another country station alternative I can tune to when songs like that come on.

I must admit I'm a late-comer to country. I didn't grow up listening to it -- I grew up on Beatles, Doobie Brothers, Deep Purple, and The Moody Blues. But I can still tell good, contemporary country from the formulaic stuff. And I also must admit I'm more connected to Strait, Womack, and Jackson than to Jones, Haggard, and Cline. But again, that's because of being a late-comer.

I also really like the cleanness of the sound of today's recorded country. Usually, every instrument is crisp and clearly placed in the mix. Things are uncluttered and generally uncomplicated. In this nuttso world, that is appealing in and of itself. Country music also deals with the melancholy much better than a lot of other music. I appreciate that, too. And it also takes me back to the rural landsacpe that surrounded the modest little town I grew up in. Maybe that's regression into the 70s again.... Oh, well.

Why am I rambling? I dunno. It just seemed appropriate to address why country music is important, at least to me, to augment the discussion about what it is and what it no longer is.

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Bill (steel player impersonator) | MSA Classic U12 | Email | Original music! | Steeler birthdays

Posted: **5 May 2001 10:34 am**

Country music also deals with the melancholy much better than a lot of other music.

I agree.

My wife has accused me of only liking "dreary" songs. She might be right.

I like songs that rip your heart out, or make you look deep inside yourself, or give a real "message".

Just a few recent (or not so recent) examples:

"Don't Laugh at Me" - Mark Wills
"The Little Girl" - John Michael Montgomery
"Don't Take the Girl" - Tim McGraw
"Pray for Me" - not released, it's on Ty Herndon's "Steam" album -- I heard it at Tin Pan South by the writer Rob Crosby (co-written with Allan Shamlin)

Can you find music like that outside of country? I guess some rock has "deep, introspective" words -- but I can never understand the words anyway.

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The Unofficial Photographer of The Wilkinsons

Posted: **6 May 2001 2:21 pm**

Wait! I've got the slogan!

(ahem)

Put the "count" back into country

(best Willie impresion now)

"ah one, two, ah one, two, three, four . . . If you've got the money, honey, I've got the ti-ime . . . ."

OK, that was bad.

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The Unofficial Photographer of The Wilkinsons

Posted: **6 May 2001 3:49 pm**

the problem is that right now, there just doesn't seem to be a big market for "classic country".

There never was a big market for "classic country". That's the problem, the record companies are trying to make a product that everyone will buy and in the process they have wartered down the music by trying to put all musical influences into one type of music. The result being-pop sounding mushy candy coated crap.
I really don't like using classic, traditional, retro, vintage etc.....I think that's one of the major problems. Craig that's where we can start, by taking the name of our music back from the sell outs and the want to be rock artists.

Kevin

Posted: **6 May 2001 6:31 pm**

that's where we can start, by taking the name of our music back from the sell outs and the want to be rock artists

Hmmmm, gonna sneak into the music stores, and refile all the artists under the "appropriate" categories?

Hehe, time that with the CMA protest they're talking about in another thread. Then you'd REALLY get some time on the evening news.

(And I'm NOT volunteering for THAT duty).

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The Unofficial Photographer of The Wilkinsons

Posted: **7 May 2001 5:43 am**

Just make some stickers to put on the labels. It would take to much time to move 99% of the stock around.

Kevin

Posted: **7 May 2001 8:32 am**

David,
You and I could do it!

Posted: **7 May 2001 8:58 am**

Are you sure they'd let us, Theresa?

I mean, if I got stuck with that duty, the store might look something like this:

Music David Likes

Music David Hates

Music David Probably Wouldn't Like

and

They Call That Music ?

Also, does Paul have enough connections in town to get me out of jail, when he bails you out, too?

PS -- I don't suppose you know if Paul will be playing anywhere in town the week before Fan Fair, do you? If so, email me. Right now, we'll probably get into town on Saturday, June 9 and leave on Wednesday, June 13. Just attending a few select fan club parties this year . . I'm gonna let others experience the new version of Fan Fair. I wish them luck. Sounds like it'll be a mess, being downtown and all.

That, and the Wilkinsons party is on Monday, June 11, and I don't want to take a whole week this year of vacation for Fan Fair. Gotta see that party, Fan Fair proper can wait til next year.

Ack, this is getting too long, I'll email you the rest.

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The Unofficial Photographer of The Wilkinsons

Posted: **7 May 2001 9:24 am**

Kevin, I like your thinking but it doesn't have to be all classic country, though it would be nice. It's a hard topic to discuss and get all the views right. I would like to hear artists on the radio or television or whatever, getting played not just because they have a tight butt or because they look like Britany Spears. We have had young artists remix their songs for pop radio even though when interviewed they claimed they were country to the core. I also don't think songs should be refused because they are TOO COUNTRY. Gee Whiz, That's what the station is about. There is room for everybody on radio. All they have to do is play only one Garth or Shania or Faith or McGraw every hour instead of two or three each. There is room for Cash, Jones, Anderson, and the others. People that like these other artists will buy the same products advertised on the stations as well as the young ones will. Maybe not all the products but most. Plus they could add some new ones, like Geritol, Metamucel, and Depends. Like I say it's a tough subject.

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Posted: **7 May 2001 3:17 pm**

It's not the "country" music I love, It's only the vehicle that carrys the steel guitar! To deep? If you aint got steel,what kind of music do you have, Country SUCKS if it doesn;t have steel! Sorry you tele players,I luv ya fine as long as you turn down and stay in your place.If It doesn;t have Steel,It's not intresting to me,my opinion and it's maybe just me, sorry but I love steel and have spent an entire lifetime loveing it! I'm not going to listen to country music(an oxymoron)with out steelguitar! The end!
Bobbe

Posted: **7 May 2001 4:29 pm**

I think the country music business is moving in exactly the right direction. It is failing miserably (according to music row sources). Maybe when the big cheeses stop trying to make country music to sell to teenagers with ear and nose and tongue rings then we can hear real country again. In the meantime you can buy Justin Trevino's new album, "Travelin' Singin Man" and hear real country music. You will hear Dickie Overby and Rick Price play some of the best steel guitar you have ever heard. The first song is Alright I'll Sign The Papers, and it's up hill from there. No cookie-cutter pop/country on this record.

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I love both kinds of music,
Country & Western Swing.
Johnny "Dumplin" Cox
Zumsteel Tripleneck
E9th/E13th/C6th
(this week)

Posted: **7 May 2001 5:29 pm**

Country Admit It You Love It
I thought the article was positive. What's so wrong with having a slogan? Labels and brands are such an issue here, so this should make alot of people happy.
I'd like to hear Justin Trevino. I don't know his sound at all. I know Dickie is great and let's hope we'll being hearing his music on the radio.

Posted: **9 May 2001 2:21 pm**

Country Music,I admit it,I don't like it,any more,I love steel guitar,steel and country don't go together like they used to.I miss pretty songs,not much in pretty songs in this day and time. A couple here and a couple there,Not enough to make me set the buttons on the radio to a "country" station.All I ever hear is "jump around,slide across the stage" stuff! Country has turned into visual show biz. Music videos hardly show the steel during a instrumental turn around anymore, I dont care about seeing the singer dance! Conntry music? It's an oxymoron, Sorry, it's diffrent, it's NOT ABOUT THE MUSIC ANYMORE!
Its just new show biz, I love steel guitar!
I'm not negitive,I'm positively honest. There is other great music out there Bubba, Lets put some steel in it and make it even better,but don't give up on country!
Bobbe,(the debate starter)

Posted: **9 May 2001 3:08 pm**

Theresa
I play with Justin Trevino in both Johnny Bush's and Cornell Hurd's bands, and let me tell you, he is the real deal. Dumplin' is right on the buckeroos about JT! The records he produces make me want to go learn the steel solos off the CD's, knowhuttahmeanVern?

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Herb's Steel Guitar Pages
Texas Steel Guitar Association

Posted: **9 May 2001 3:57 pm**

Bobbe, I wish I'd said that. That's what I have been trying to say in 10,000,000 words or less!

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Posted: **9 May 2001 5:37 pm**

[This message was edited by Theresa Galbraith on 09 May 2001 at 10:14 PM.]

Posted: **10 May 2001 4:49 am**

* [This message was edited by Gene Jones on 01 May 2002 at 05:22 PM.]

Posted: **10 May 2001 7:45 am**

Donny: I agree that some of the security is
really tough but then consider this:

I went to the Terri Clark show and I was wearing my jacket from SGWM with a turquoise
steel on the back and she saw it. Sent her manager after me and when we met she introduced me to Kevin Post, her "Steel Guitar Man from San Antonio, Texas"! She was
into steel and proud of her steelman. Man,
you gotta like that. Best Regards, Paul

[This message was edited by Paul Graupp on 10 May 2001 at 08:46 AM.][This message was edited by Paul Graupp on 10 May 2001 at 08:47 AM.]

Posted: **10 May 2001 8:12 pm**

From everything I've heard, Terri Clark is a class act. Like MANY of the country "stars" today.

However, she's not exactly a "megastar", IMO.

When you become as famous as Shanai Twain, Garth Brooks, George Strait, etc, just how DO you handle security at concerts, etc. without appearing "elitest"? That's got to be a tough thing to do.

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The Unofficial Photographer of The Wilkinsons

Posted: **13 May 2001 6:07 pm**

What b0b said....times 10! larry