Amanda’s Journey into Country Music
My love for country music has been slowly growing over the years. I grew up listening to Patsy Cline, Johnny Cash, and more Americana music like Doc Watson, but never did any listening beyond that. In high school I started listening to Hank Williams. My parents had this album, Johnny Cash: Music That Matters to Him, and I remember liking the Hank Williams song featured on the CD. So I started listening to more Hank. His songs were simple yet heartfelt and then there was that voice.
Hank Williams – Honky Tonk Blues
It was that same Johnny Cash compilation that also led me to Marty Robbins. I must have mentioned to my Dad that I liked the song “Big Iron” on the CD. For my birthday I received Marty Robbins’ Gunfighter Ballads and Trail Songs. This album blew me away. While Hank Williams’ voice was definitely more twangy, Marty Robbins’ voice was mellifluous. I didn’t know a country singer could sound like this. Again the songs were simple, yet they always told a story and Robbins’ sang them with passion. Gunfighter Ballads and Trail Songs is now one of my all-time favorite albums. It makes me nostalgic for a time and place that I’ve only seen in books and movies. And I guess that is why I like it so much. It takes me away.
Marty Robbins – In the Valley
And now we began my discovery of the badass women of country music It started with Emmylou Harris this past spring. I don’t know how I stumbled upon her music, but I did and I’m grateful for it. She’s great and I wish I could sing like her.
Emmylou Harris – Amarillo
Next up is Dolly Parton, who I’ve only started listening to within these past couple of months. I’ll admit, I kind of wrote her off at first, blame her now (cartoonish) appearance or whatever. But, boy was I wrong to ignore her! Her music is fantastic and at times funny. I’ve mostly been listening to her earlier albums: Hello, I’m Dolly (1967); Just Because I’m a Woman (1968); The Fairest of Them All (1969). I imagine I’ll keep going through her discography and I’m looking forward to it.
Dolly Parton – I’ll Oilwells Love You
And closing out this post is Loretta Lynn. Like Dolly, I’ve only been listening to Loretta very recently. And I think I just stumbled upon her after listening to so much Dolly Parton and then seeing Loretta Lynn’s name everywhere. I imagine that Loretta Lynn’s personal history is the most famous of the three women I’ve mentioned. Especially with the movie Coal Miner’s Daughter. And from what I’ve read it also seems that she has been the most controversial with songs like “The Pill” talking about birth control. And after listening to Loretta, she sounds like one tough cookie. I absolutely love her songs and sass. I think more singer/songwriters, especially women, should aspire to have some sass and fight in their music.
Loretta Lynn – Fist City (I love the fact that she sings this entire song with a big smile).
And that brings us up to date with my new love affair with country music. I’m sure I’ll continue to discover other artists, but I’m also just content exploring the discography of the artists I’m listening to now.
That’s all for now folks!
Filed under: Music I Love, Uncategorized | 1 Comment
Tags: country, country music, Dolly Parton, Emmylou Harris, Hank Williams, Loretta Lynn, Marty Robbins, music
Great picks!