what are some great country songs you like?

Kenny Burford · Post by **Kenny Burford** » 12 Oct 2005 12:59 pm

My list is so long I am not even sure a computer is capable of storing it, but I am curious to know what some of SGF members favorites are? But Jim Lauderdale's song "King of Broken Hearts," is near the top of my list.

Mark Eaton · Post by **Mark Eaton** » 12 Oct 2005 1:20 pm

I'm with you on the list length.

Here's five off the top of my head:

Sing Me Back Home-Hag

It's Only Make Believe-Conway Twitty

Pancho & Lefty-Emmylou's version of the great Townes Van Zandt song

Just Because You Asked Me To-Waylon (Was this written by Billy Joe Shaver?) and the next one: Ride Me Down Easy-Waylon, which I'm pretty certain was written by Billy Joe.

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Mark

Billy Wilson · Post by **Billy Wilson** » 12 Oct 2005 1:44 pm

Early Willie Nelson is at the top of my list right now.

Hey Mr. Record Man
In My Own Peculiar Way
I Have Everything But You
The Healing Hands of Time

DJ Sillito · Post by **DJ Sillito** » 12 Oct 2005 2:20 pm

Lot's of favorites but here are some to mention:
1. Hungry eyes
2. Faded Love
3. Crazy Arms
4. Kindly keep it country

just to name a few.

Brett Day · Post by **Brett Day** » 12 Oct 2005 2:58 pm

"Pop A Top" Alan Jackson
"Oceanfront Property" George Strait
"Bartender's Blues" George Jones
"Workin' Man Blues" Merle Haggard
"What Do You Say To That" George Strait
"Look At Us" Vince Gill
"Cold, Cold Heart" Hank Williams
These are a few of the songs. I love any country song I hear. Brett, Emmons S-10, Morrell lapsteel, GFI Ultra D-10

Charles Davidson · Post by **Charles Davidson** » 12 Oct 2005 6:09 pm

I sang Dixie.Dwight Y.

Cody Campbell · Post by **Cody Campbell** » 12 Oct 2005 7:05 pm

THE HAG has never done wrong, by my ear.

Another sure shot is Hank Sr. (Though some of his recordings may be categorized as spoken-word, rather than "Song"). (They don't count

).

Speaking of Merle... has anyone heard his new album? (I just saw it today. I hadn't heard he was recording. I'll pick it up soetime soon, I'm sure).

[As far as specific songs... Gosh! That's so broad, I can't even think of any. Just looked throug my i-tunes list. 'Making believe', perfect example of classic country love-lament.

Satisfied Mind?

I tend to like the sad ones, though.

HE STOPPED LOVING HER TODAY is great!!].

[Edited a 2nd time to add:

I guess it's not really a preference of sad over happy, but rather slow over fast. I like some upbeat stuff too, but I'd rather hear a slow, pretty song (whether it's a sweet love song or a bitterly regretful lament). I think Steel Players might have something to do with this preference

].
[This message was edited by Cody Campbell on 12 October 2005 at 08:12 PM.][This message was edited by Cody Campbell on 12 October 2005 at 09:03 PM.]

Paul King · Post by **Paul King** » 12 Oct 2005 7:10 pm

"Mansion On The Hill" and I like the Steve Wariner song "It's Not What I Did It's What I Didn't Do". A couple more that come to my mind are "Take Me As I Am" and "Hello Darling" with Mr. John Hughey doing the honors on steel. Just about any Loretta Lynn song and many Conway Twitty songs simply because of the great steel players they had on their records, that being Hal Rugg and John Hughey. Oh yeah, I love Ray Price material, especially with Buddy Emmons playing on them.

Joy Wofford · Post by **Joy Wofford** » 12 Oct 2005 7:22 pm

Funny How Time Slips Away (Willies version)
She's Got You
Plum Creek
The Cat Came Back
Jumbiliah
Peace In The Valley

Cody Campbell · Post by **Cody Campbell** » 12 Oct 2005 7:23 pm

I remember reading in a thread about gigging, and songs that are undisirable to play. I don't know if it was 'cause they're a bore, or just over-done, but someone mentioned "Rose-colored glasses".

Maybe is just that it's so tiring, with three verses and choruses. That's understandible, but the songs always struck me as being well-written.

Just think of that really long sentence that opens the 1st verse. You don't see much writing like that in country.

I don't know much else about John Conlee, but I always enjoyed that song.

[edited to add: Joy...Jumbaliah, Wasn't he a character in the Bible?

][This message was edited by Cody Campbell on 12 October 2005 at 08:25 PM.]

David Cobb · Post by **David Cobb** » 12 Oct 2005 7:27 pm

"Blues Man", Hank Jr's version or Alan Jackson's remake of it.

"Woman, Sensuous Woman", Mark Chestnutt's version.

"What a Way to Live", Mark Chestnutt again

98.6 (Degrees and Falling) Jill King

"Where the Tall Grass Grows", Ricky Van Shelton

Leslie Ehrlich · Post by **Leslie Ehrlich** » 12 Oct 2005 10:59 pm

Here are just a few:

Ring Of Fire - Johnny Cash
Girl On The Billboard - Del Reeves
Fraulein - Bobby Helms
Love's Gonna Live Here - Buck Owens
Mama Tried - Merle Haggard
Don't Let Me Cross Over - Carl and Pearl Butler
It's Such A Pretty World Today - Wynn Stewart
Last Date - Floyd Cramer
Battle Of New Orleans - Johnny Horton
If You Got The Money (later version) - Lefty Frizzel
Wildwood Flower - Chet Atkins
A Satisfied Mind - Red Foley
Dang Me - Roger Miller
Kiss An Angel Good Morning - Charley Pride
The Door Is Always Open - Dave and Sugar

I don't pay much attention to lyrics, but the tunes all have a hook to them in some form or another. Some songs have steel in them and some don't, but then I don't think steel is a necessary ingredient to make a country song sound good.

Kenny Burford · Post by **Kenny Burford** » 13 Oct 2005 6:01 am

The point of my question is to provoke all of you to into thinking about how many things go into creating a great song. Almost all of the songs listed above are classics that have been around for decades and probably will be well into this century. Longevity to me helps define a great song. It is a statement that the song has reached a broad audience that feels connected to some part of the song whether it is the lyric or the music. I believe that when a songwriter is fortunate enough to pen a good song, and the singer and the musicians can get into the vain of it the song takes on a life of its own, such as those you have listed above. I don’t agree with Nashville on much, but I will agree with them on one issue, a great recording project has to begin with a great song. What great list of songs you have provide above, some I have not played in quite sometime, but plan on doing this weekend.

Ray Minich · Post by **Ray Minich** » 13 Oct 2005 7:10 am

In addition to the aforementioned...
Wild Side of Life - Hank Thompson
Honkytonkitis - Carl & Pearl Butler
Circumstances - Billy Walker
Just call me lonesome - Ray Price ('cause I can sing it like he does...)
I'll go back to her - Waylon
What a way to live - Mark Chessnut but also John Hughey's version

Waltz Across Texas - ET
[This message was edited by Ray Minich on 13 October 2005 at 08:40 AM.]

Gene Jones · Post by **Gene Jones** » 13 Oct 2005 9:03 am

[This message was edited by Gene Jones on 13 October 2005 at 10:48 AM.]