Flower Child

Perhaps the mother of all outlaw country music albums. Wanted! The Outlaws showed who was boss by selling a million copies, which had never been done before in country music history. This album was categorized as "Outlaw" because of the dislike that Jennings, Nelson, Colter and Glaser had for record producer Chet Adkins' newly softened and watered down Nashville country music sound. Instead of giving in to this latest trend, these musicians, along with others, took a jump and went out on thier own so that they could play their music the way they wanted to play it, raw and genuine.

Not only were these four musicans business parteners, but also very good friends, not to mention Jennings and Colter were even married. I think that these friendships added to the success of the album because of the great chemisty you hear and feel when these artists duet and jam together.

My Heroes Have Always Been Cowboys An acoustic guitar, bass guitar, and Waylons voice which is all you need. A pretty slow beat for being the first track of the album, but approprietly though, for the subject matter Waylon is singing about. This song is as good a description of the lives of these musicans and outlaws as any.

Honky Tonk Heroes Another description by Jennings of the lives that these men are leading, but alot more light-hearted and faster. And I have to mention those amazing harmonica wails.

Whats Happened To Blue Eyes I'm not the biggest fan of female country music singers and Jesse Colter is not my favorite, but I think the female presence she brings is nice among all this rough and tumble music. She does a pretty respectable job in this song, but its not my favorite track on the album by any means.

You Mean To Say Another by Colter and better than the last. She is a pretty good song writer, I will give her that. But I know why she is on the album, and its not because of her singing, haha.

Suspicious Minds A duet with Waylon and Jesse of the old Elvis song. I think the country twist is pretty interesting but a pretty yuppy song for this album. To be honest, I usually skip over this one.

Good Hearted Woman Now THIS is what I'm talkin about! Willie and Waylon singing and jamming it out live. That beginning classic rhythm is so full of anticipation. And that deep voice of Waylon just pulls you in to everything he is saying. Then Willie and his unique and contrasting trademark voice comes in and takes everything to a whole nother level. I, personally, adore the lyrics. I may be more apt to liking this song just because it is something that I have grown up listening to, but this hits home for so many people. My favorite lyric.

"He likes the bright lights and night life and good time friends
And when the party's all over she'll welcome him back home again
Lord knows she don't understand him but she does the best that she can
A-this good hearted woman, lovin' a good timin' man"

Heaven or Hell By far my favorite song on the album, and possible my favorite country song of all time. Everything is so simple in this song. The guitar riff, the lyrics, the vocals, and its only 1:41 seconds long. And who hasn't felt this before?

Sometimes it's heaven, sometimes it's hell
Sometimes I don't even know
Sometimes I take it as far as I can
Sometimes I don't even go

My front tracks are headed for a cold water well
My back tracks are covered with snow
Sometimes it's heaven,sometimes it's hell
Sometimes I don't even know

Heaven ain't walking a street paved with gold
Hell ain't a mountain of fire
Heaven is laying in my sweet baby's arms
Hell is when my baby's not there

My front tracks are headed for a cold water well
My back tracks are covered with snow
Sometimes it's heaven, sometimes it's hell
Sometimes I don't even know

Sometimes it's heaven,
Sometimes it's hell,
Sometimes I don't even know

Me and Paul Willie takes over and this song tells the humorous adventures of Willie Nelson and the drummer of his band, Paul English and all the trouble they have been getting into. And they add a little slam to Nashville while they're at it. I love the sound quality in this song, echoey and almost far away, it just reeks of old age. Great track.

Yesterday's Wine Classic Willie, this song. Much more of a poet than any of the guys on the album. This song is just another beauty by Willie, I can't really even say anything about this song, just because it is what it is. You'll just have to listen to it.

T For Texas On the complete other hand, Tompall Glaser is the rowdiest on the album and also the shallowest. Not that that is a bad thing though, it makes for a good change up. This song is just about a mixture of things. He throws in whatever he feels like singing. I rather like Tompall's mumbley trailing voice, though.

Put Another Log on the Fire I have a feeling Tompall might be like this in real life too because he calls out these orders like he's done it a million times. I would say this is my least favorite song on the album, but still its pretty entertaining.


Me And Paul

Bulldog

Despite my ice-cool, English-as-Yorkshire-pudding-in-gravy exterior, I actually do have quite a soft spot for classic country I'll definitely be keeping an eye on this thread.

I haven't come across the Outlaws before, but I do recognise a couple of the names attached to them, so I'll add that album to my swelling -to-listen-to list. I've been needing some more of this stuff to, so keep the reviews coming eh

Flower Child

Hahahaha, You just made my day, Bulldog. I really am surprised, no actually shocked you like classic country. I can't wait to pump your library full of it.

Flower Child

Okie From Muskogee

Okie From Muskogee was a live album in 1969 done no other place than in Muskogee, Oklahoma. It reached #1 on the Country Billboards in 1970. Merle picked Muskogee, Oklahoma of all places because of family ties to the town. This album being live is more special than any studio version he could have done because you get to hear the people of Muskogee reactions to the things he sang about. You get a much clearer vision of people beliefs and ways of living in this town of Muskogee and these people absolutely loved Merle for it. By far the most exciting thing that has ever happened to this town and they still talk about it to this day.

Mama Tried is the first song of the concert and most definitely gets things moving. This song is about a rebellious kid who was going to do what he was going to do and wouldn't let anyone tell him any different. He came from a good humble family that did everything right and tried to turn him in the right direction, especially Mama, but as he says in his song "I turned 21 in prison doing life without parole, no one could steer me right but Mama tried, Mama tried, Mama tried to raise me better, but her pleading I denied. That leaves only me to blame cause Mama tried"

No Hard Times is one that I really enjoy especially to sing along with. This song just makes you appreciate those ol boys who are poor as church mice, live off their land, and are just as happy as everybody else. Merle does a interesting vocal job in this one by adding some wild pitch changes.

Silver Wings is a very simple story line about Merle watching his woman fly away in an airplane. But its amazing how clear a picture he puts in your head and you can see the whole thing.

The next two tracks involve the mayor of Muskogee giving Merle a key to the city and so on. You can just hear in his voice the admiration and appreciation the mayor has for Merle.

Swingin Doors Many country bands have done a song of similar subject matter about hanging out at a bar for so long it has now become their home, but I think I like Merle's version the best. It is very catchy and has a great chorus that really makes you want to sing along, and what Ilike about it is that he never says the bar is his new home but he descibes everything in the bar that is now his. I just think it is a clever spin.

I'm A Lonesome Fugitive Another one of Merle's songs about prison and the life after.

Sing Me Back Home Probably one of Merle's best creations. A very emotional and helpless situation that tells of a man on death row that wants Merle to sing and a play a song that his mother used to sing for him so that the music can take him back to that moment in time.

Branded Man One of my favorites on this album. "No matter where I'm livin, I gotta tell them where I've been" is one of the best lyrics. He just can't get away from the "black mark" of prison no matter how hard he tries.

In the Arms of Love I don't have a lot to say about this one because I'm not real crazy about it. Probably the only weak song on the whole album though and Merle didn't even write it, Buck Owens did.

Workin Man Blues This song sums up so many lives of people around where I live its unbelievable. I would hate to think how many times my dad has played this song and sang along to every word, especially, "Hey, hey the workin man, workin man like me, ain't never been on welfare thats one place I won't be, cause I'll go back workin." Great guitar beat and rhythm on top of everything else. I think Crash Override reviewed this song wonderfully in his journal so you can go look at his.

Hobo Bill's Last Ride An interesting story that keeps you listening in this one. Merle slows her down a bit and reverts back to his old fashioned style that matches well with the old fashioned story.

Billy Overcame His Size Wow, two songs in a row about Bills. I just now noticed that. Anyway, a good message in this one. In fact they wrote it coming up to this concert in Muskogee. I feel that this song gives the message that no matter how big or small you are in size, its the things that you do that determine how big or small a person you are.

If I Had Left It Up To You Such a good one, my favorite on the album. And so sad, poor Merle. Reading the lyrics just does this no justice, mind you. This song is all in his voice.

You made plans to leave a thousand times I know
And a thousand times, I should have let you go
But each time I'll always beg you back somehow
If I'd left it up to you it'd all be over now

It'd all be over now cept the crying
I'd be used to spending all my nights alone
Wish I'd found the way to let you go somehow
If I'd left it up to you
it'd all be over now

White Line Fever Merle wrote this one for all the container drivers out there, and I bet this was certainly blaring on their radios in 1969 and 70 and if I was a truck driver (haha) I would still have it blaring. "The wrinkles in my forehead showthe miles I've put behind me. They continue to remind me how fast I'm growing old. Guess I'll die with this fever in my soul" You would think when Merle sings this song, he has been a truck driver for all his life it is so believable. And the song does make you wonder how those truck drivers do keep pushing on.

Okie From Muskogee It's worth listening to this song just to hear the rowdy Muskogee crown laugh and hoot and holler during the whole song. This song disapproves and makes fun of the hippie culture that was so big at that time (even some hippies found the song amusing and liked it anyway) and says they do everything the right way in Muskogee. Like this:

We don't smoke marijuana in Muskogee;
We don't take our trips on LSD
We don't burn our draft cards down on Main Street;
We like livin' right, and bein' free.

I'm proud to be an Okie from Muskogee,
A place where even squares can have a ball
We still wave Old Glory down at the courthouse,
And white lightnin's still the biggest thrill of all

We don't make a party out of lovin';
We like holdin' hands and pitchin' woo;
We don't let our hair grow long and shaggy,
Like the hippies out in San Francisco do.

And I'm proud to be an Okie from Muskogee,
A place where even squares can have a ball.
We still wave Old Glory down at the courthouse,
And white lightnin's still the biggest thrill of all.

Leather boots are still in style for manly footwear;
Beads and Roman sandals won't be seen.
Football's still the roughest thing on campus,
And the kids here still respect the college dean.

We still wave Old Glory down at the courthouse,
In Muskogee, Oklahoma, USA.

Not only did this song tell the other side of the story, but was an important mark in history in the eventful year of '69.



They didn't have what I wanted on Youtube so heres some actual
SONGS!!!

http://www.mediafire.com/file/imvyywzzxcn/ Mama Tried.m4a
http://www.mediafire.com/file/0itomwzymyz/ If I Had Left It Up to You.m4a

Bulldog

Ah, Merle Haggard, there's someone I've heard of but never actually done much about when it comes to getting albums. He's one of those country legends that I haven't got into simply as I don't have a clue where to start with him. I'll be having a look for that one as well then.

Basically, my road to classic country coolness started with Elvis Costello's Almost Blue - an album of c & w covers (he actually does a pretty good version of Haggard's own Tonight the Bottle Let Me Down as well). Took me a while to get into it, but it's led to me discovering some absolute gems down the years.

Anyway, top thread, top reviews. Both of those albums are now on my hitlist, so thanks for that

Alfred

I had classic country shoved down my throat at a young age, so some of these names are familiar for me.

Good luck with this!

__________________

crash_override

Great thread, can't wait to see more.

Although I would have gone with 'Swingin' Doors and The Bottle Let Me Down' for best Merle album, that album = me getting drunk by myself everytime.

__________________
My MB music journal

Flower Child

Good, good, good. Interesting about Costello.
I hope you downloaded those two little sampler songs right up there in the Merle review. The links look screwed up but they work.

Well we try to get you guys when you're young and vunerable haha. Anyway, I'm glad this thread has perked your interest. Keep checking in!

Hahaha, I think that's what it was made for! Who knows maybe I throw those albums in there too when I run out of other material. Feel welcome to put your own reviews in here, Crash.

DJB1975

No Other - Gene Clark (1974)

In my top 25 of all time.

Classic

jackhammer

I will say with all sincerity that Country music has always been associated with a certain image and in Britain especially it barely gets the time of day. This is probably because that if Country does make it's way through the musical barriers then it will ostensibly be watered down 2 nd rate crap A la Garth Brooks or Dolly Partons tits!

However, I have been doing my own digging into the genre over the past year or so and have found a rich and diverse genre of music that while it's not neccessarily conducive to myself, I have still come to appreciate many artists and albums.

Some of my picks may not even fall into the category, for which I apologise:

Alison Krauss & Union Station-Lonely Runs Both Ways
Dixie Chicks-Home
Dwight Yoakam- Best Of
Great Lake Swimmers-Lost Channels
Jim White-Wrong Eyed Jesus
Lambchop-OH(ohio)
Lucero-Tennesee
William Eliott Whitmore-Animals In The Dark

__________________