Retro perspectives & kinda whining about how it used to be, no matter what candy wrapper it's in - Complaints don't get me anywhere. Lots of great tunes and friends in my life. I remember ma friends and play on.
The mainstream radio "young country" stuff is a dud. IMHO.
I hope my kids and grandkids have the liberty, freedom & resources to keep getting educated and take care of business and make it all good. Our support is always there.
My early days figuring out how to get to a studio (photo courtesy of my sis) -
Now... the classic Dave Dudley country tune that has a stepbrother that smokes -
I think this has merit. Is it country? Better roots than most of the formulaic "YCR" radio sludge that sounds like 1970's rock retreads with a twang. IMHO.
Hank Sr's daughter (Jett) approves - her father crossed "country" lines w. social commentary as "Luke The Drifter" back in the days.
Grew up in the suburbs of Detroit when it was farm country. Hitchhicked into "the big city" whenever I could. Played a lot of tunes after meeting all sorts of folks who could really play a tune. Country music was not on my radar. A friend came back from Navy service and coaxed me into some juke joints (non-existent now, almost anywhere) when we rode our hawgs as free as we could be. Spent a bunch of time in Texas. Nashville wasn't my cup of tea. I got hooked on the "current" country stuff back then and delved into older stuff.
That was country for me.
Kathy and I have done a lot of roadtrips. One time we were noodling in Texas and I took a sharp turn off 35 to 40. "What now?" she says - Gotta see Amarillo cause that tune is always in my head and... it's the quickest way to Sante Fe where we're gonna hang out for a few weeks - "cool" she says.
Mr. "Oakie From Muskogee" did some great stuff that still stands as some fine playin'
And yes, he was as big of a hippocrite as many then and now. I guess he and Willie got over some stuff. Life is too much fun to squander on conflicts (IMHO) [RIP Merle]