I digress... I am simply stunned at the level of animosity displayed here against Garth. This man is arguably one of the greatest artists in history in ANY musical genre. He is the best selling country artist of all time and in the top 4 of any genre. I believe he is number three, just behind the Beatles and the Eagles. His accomplishments are simply amazing.
His music is timeless. He writes much of his own material. There are hardcore country cuts all over every single one of his CD's.
Bruce Bouton plays just tremendous steel on his CDs.
His concerts are grand spectacles on a scale that most artists can only dream of.
He can turn an evening with 100,000 plus into an intimate personal performance.
Garth is using the same folks in his band that he started with. When his band member "Ty England" struck out on his own, Garth did all he could to help.
He brought Chris Ledoux into the American conscience and did everything he could to help this true cowboy singer.
Garth raised 2 million dollars for "Feed the Children" with his "Beyond the Season" CD. He raised an additional 4 million for Mcdonalds Childrens Charities with the Garth Brooks Collection sold at Mcdonalds.
It's pretty clear to me that many here have never really listened to his cd's, but judge him by the radio cuts. Yeah, I agree that some of his radio cuts are not traditional country... but you know what, I think most of them are.
His new release "Good Ride Cowboy" is stone cold traditional country music. The song is a tribute to someone Garth clearly admires and misses... Chris Ledoux.
Garth is back... and I'm tickled.

btw... I think "The Dance" is one of the greatest songs ever by anyone.

For actual facts about Garth, check out the Rough Stock Garth Museum. http://www.roughstock.com/garth/chrono.html

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God Bless,
Steve Stallings
D10 9x7 Rains (On order)
D10 8x10 Emmons (Black Beauty)

quote:

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To each his own

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I've argued this point many times with Justin Trevino, who feels that all good music ended in 1972. Of course, Garth is the Great Satan to him. He allowed as how GB had some good songs when I suggested "If Tomorrow Never Comes" is one of the greatest love songs ever, as well as "The Dance," "Unanswered Prayers," and more. But, for every one of those, Justin opined, there was a "Rodeo"... which I happen to like.

I say batting .500 on great songs is a pretty good average. I would play Garth Brooks songs all night long, 24/7, if I never had to play a Lee Greenwood or Gary Morris song.

The long and short of it, I agree with Steve.

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Herb's Steel Guitar Pages
Texas Steel Guitar Association

The business of country music successfully marketted his art and the fans loved it.

GB is the ultimate success story whether you personally like him or not. I like his songs and performances because I like energy. I did not care for the "cracked vocal" style of his singing on some songs but the songs are very well crafted.

All the animosity may be attributed to generational differences. What one generation perceives jumping around on stage as an ego trip is another generation just having a good time. These same people don't get RR either - OK now I went and done it...yikes !!

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Zum U-12 w/True Tone pickup thru a Nashville 112

Strats thru a VHT Super 30

Band Pics
http://community.webshots.com/album/176544894AuXSmi

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Drew Howard - website - Fessenden guitars, 70's Fender Twin, etc.

He is exceptionally loyal--he used the band that he started with for the tours, used the same players/producer/engineer/studio for all of the songs he recorded (except maybe for the Chris Gaines thing). And believe me, he took good care of them, and still does. I work often with many of the same studio players, and they have nothing but wonderful things to say about him (and several off the record stories that back all the above up).

In a time that everyone was complaining about slick records, he cut everything in a studio that would be called a demo room by current Nashville standards--24 track analogue--no automation, usually no click track, no ProTools editing, no vocal tuning, everyone playing together at one time (through basically one cue mix as Bruce Bouton pointed out). Basically the most "real" and "pure" records to come out of that town in the last couple of decades.

He owned his own masters--no "suits" telling him how to make them--what you hear is what he wanted. I see lots of comments around here about the bean counters calling the music shots, but not there.

Is he a shrewd marketing genious? Did he use his selling power to get what he wanted (including cleaning out the upper management at his label) etc? Hell, yes, but hey, this is show business--not "show fun".

Count me in as an unashamed fan ...

(PS--what about MMM tunes, Herb? )

quote:

"To each his own is what I say, but, I agree with an interview that Waylon Jennings had, when he commented that Garth Brooks was the most insincere person he had ever met.So talent aside, I do have a personal dislike for the man."

I stopped by Jack's Tracks one time to visit Jim Rooney and Garth was there mixing one of his records, and I ended up in the front room with Garth and his producer and others, hanging out and telling stories,and insincere would be the the last adjective to ever cross my mind from that meeting. I doubt any of the people that I know that know him would ever use that, either. But hey, if Waylon said so, must be true

[This message was edited by John Macy on 17 November 2005 at 12:19 PM.]

Hey, I'm not asking anyone to even like him, just adding a little perspective to the negative press that he gets around here (and there's a lot more of that than Garth lovers).

And it can go both ways''"What I may never get is why it's so important to you Garth haters that the rest of us hate him, too."

One week, James Taylor was the featured artist, then it was Garth the next week. Brooks told a self-effacing story of when he had to duet with Taylor on 'Sweet Baby James' on a TV show, and, when it came to his turn, he (Garth) would simply dry up because of the intense reverence he felt for Taylor. He said that he was almost in tears with the embarrassment of 'failing' in front of his idol, when JT put down his guitar and just gave him a hug; after that, Brooks found his feet and the taping proceeded. He went on to say - 'After that, I nailed it! - Well, maybe I didn't 'nail it', but I did better...'

I'm not a fan of his (I'm sort-of irritated by that affected break (or half-yodel) every other word), but I have a healthy respect for any big 'name' who could make such an admission, especially when we'd have never known about it had he not related the anecdote.

Terry

[This message was edited by John Ummel on 18 November 2005 at 06:20 AM.]

He puts his whole heart and soul into it. How can you NOT admire someone who has the tallent to be able to do that? We cherish different big wig steelers and admire them because they're able to do that but we as musicians can't see that same trait to admire in Garth Brooks? Comon.....please

It was interesting when I asked 7 different friends who are NOT into country music (rock/jazz/pop people), to describe Garth Brooks's music, they all said "he's country"!

There are just a few songs (the ones already mentioned here) that I think are very good, but I still appreciate and respect him as a 'country' entertainer who has sold over 100 million records!

His organization and marketing group are amazing. Just a thought...

[This message was edited by Bill Simmons on 17 November 2005 at 03:28 PM.]

quote:

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He has exposed 'country music' to untold millions who considered country too corny or really never listened to it.

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Howard, 'Les Paul Recording, Zum SD12U, Carter D10 8/8, Vegas 400, Boss ME-5, Boss DM-3, DD-3, Fender Steel King, Understanding wife. http://www.Charmedmusic.com

quote:

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Before garth ever signed. He was going to nashville and cutting some demos at Kent Blazeys house. By the way "If Tomorrow Never Comes" was a song written by Kent Blazey and his wife Susanne. Yes it's a great song but anyone could have recorded it.

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Charles, this is incorrect. Garth and Kent cowrote the song. Below is a link to ASCAP.
Garth takes writing credits only on songs he actually wrote or cowrote.

http://www.ascap.com/ace/search.cfm?requesttimeout=300

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God Bless,
Steve Stallings
D10 9x7 Rains (On order)
D10 8x10 Emmons (Black Beauty)

1 . AIN T GOIN DOWN TILL THE SUN COMES UP
(Title Code: 310325494)
2 . ALLYSON MYRANDA
(Title Code: 310540288)
3 . BELLEAU WOOD
(Title Code: 320470764)
4 . BURNING BRIDGES
(Title Code: 320374341)
5 . CALL ME CLAUS
(Title Code: 330775185)
6 . CANARY S SONG
(Title Code: 330462601)
7 . CANARY'S SONG,A
(Title Code: 330644012)
8 . CHASE
(Title Code: 330556742)
9 . COLD SHOULDER
(Title Code: 330444676)
10 . COWBOY CADILLAC
(Title Code: 330570664)
11 . COWBOYS AND ANGELS
(Title Code: 330525561)
12 . DON T FORGET WHERE YOU COME FROM
(Title Code: 340309482)
13 . EVERGREEN
(Title Code: 350200105)
14 . EVERY NOW AND THEN
(Title Code: 350187265)
15 . EVERY WOMAN THAT I NEVER HAD
(Title Code: 350206949)
16 . EVERYTIME THAT IT RAINS
(Title Code: 350171343)
17 . FACE IN THE CROWD
(Title Code: 360341168)
18 . FOREVER LOVIN YOU
(Title Code: 360292533)
19 . FRIEND TO ME
(Title Code: 360359006)
20 . FRIENDLY BEASTS
(Title Code: 360289547)
21 . FROM WHERE I M SITTING
(Title Code: 360292195)
22 . GO TELL IT ON THE MOUNTAIN
(Title Code: 070047955)
23 . GOD REST YE MERRY GENTLEMEN
(Title Code: 070047777)
24 . HEAVEN SENT
(Title Code: 380353680)
25 . HOW YOU EVER GONNA KNOW
(Title Code: 380396465)
26 . I DON T WANT TO KNOW
(Title Code: 390515754)
27 . I'VE GOT A GOOD THING GOING
(Title Code: 390477466)
28 . IF I CAN FIX THIS BROKEN HEART
(Title Code: 390567225)
29 . IF TOMORROW NEVER COMES
(Title Code: 390468921)
30 . IN ANOTHER S EYES
(Title Code: 390580004)
31 . IN LONESOME DOVE
(Title Code: 390495259)
32 . IRELAND
(Title Code: 390555130)
33 . IT S MIDNIGHT CINDERELLA
(Title Code: 390555149)
34 . LIKE WE NEVER HAD A BROKEN HEART
(Title Code: 420373055)
35 . LONESOME SOMETIMES
(Title Code: 420447985)
36 . MEET ME IN LOVE
(Title Code: 430723461)
37 . MR RIGHT
(Title Code: 430446663)
38 . MUCH TOO YOUNG (TO FEEL THIS DAMN OLD)
(Title Code: 430398091)
39 . NEW WAY TO FLY
(Title Code: 440191900)
40 . NIGHT I CALLED THE OLD MAN OUT
(Title Code: 440211530)
41 . NIGHT WILL ONLY KNOW
(Title Code: 440211549)
42 . NO ONE
(Title Code: 440239341)
43 . NOT COUNTING YOU
(Title Code: 440182910)
44 . OLD MAN S BACK IN TOWN
(Title Code: 450221733)
45 . PAPA LOVED MAMA
(Title Code: 460299990)
46 . RED STROKES THE
(Title Code: 480247767)
47 . RIVER THE
(Title Code: 480228804)
48 . RODEO OR MEXICO
(Title Code: 480410446)
49 . ROLLIN
(Title Code: 480269798)
50 . SHE S GONNA MAKE IT
(Title Code: 490880009)
51 . SILENT NIGHT
(Title Code: 190095131)
52 . SOME THINGS NEVER CHANGE
(Title Code: 491221246)
53 . SOMEWHERE OTHER THAN THE NIGHT
(Title Code: 490728031)
54 . STANDING OUTSIDE THE FIRE
(Title Code: 490755421)
55 . STORM
(Title Code: 491231842)
56 . SWEET MEMORIES
(Title Code: 490719434)
57 . TEARING IT UP
(Title Code: 500590703)
58 . THAT OL WIND
(Title Code: 500532025)
59 . THAT SUMMER
(Title Code: 500475392)
60 . THE BEACHES OF CHEYENNE
(Title Code: 320434562)
61 . THE OLD STUFF
(Title Code: 450243095)
62 . THICKER THAN BLOOD
(Title Code: 500765720)
63 . THUNDER ROLLS
(Title Code: 500439949)
64 . UNANSWERED PRAYERS
(Title Code: 510087908)
65 . VICTIM OF THE GAME
(Title Code: 520110916)
66 . WALK OUTSIDE THE LINES
(Title Code: 530380508)
67 . WE BURY THE HATCHET
(Title Code: 530336977)
68 . WE SHALL BE FREE
(Title Code: 530370484)
69 . WHAT CHILD IS THIS
(Title Code: 230057033)
70 . WHAT SHE S DOING NOW
(Title Code: 530357383)
71 . WHAT YA GONNA DO WITH THIS COWBOY
(Title Code: 530372044)
72 . WHEN GOD MADE YOU
(Title Code: 530408078)
73 . WHEN YOU COME BACK TO ME AGAIN
(Title Code: 530526708)
74 . WHICH ONE OF THEM WILL BE YOU
(Title Code: 530465104)
75 . WHY AIN T I RUNNING
(Title Code: 530567003)
76 . WORLD WITHOUT YOU (A)
(Title Code: 530491728)
77 . YOU FORGOT THAT I COULD FLY
(Title Code: 550371794)

I think my work here is done

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God Bless,
Steve Stallings
D10 9x7 Rains (On order)
D10 8x10 Emmons (Black Beauty)

poor kids watching...!!!

(edited to remove mad face - I was being facetious)

I'm gonna burn my only Garth CD.....I'm out outta here!

Terry

[This message was edited by Terry Edwards on 18 November 2005 at 07:47 AM.]

Edited, sorry for the last comments. To quote Jerry Lee "It was the Whisky Talkin, Not Me"

I'm oughta this
cf

[This message was edited by Charles French on 18 November 2005 at 02:53 AM.]

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God Bless,
Steve Stallings
D10 9x7 Rains (On order)
D10 8x10 Emmons (Black Beauty)

"I know for a fact that Garth had no part in writing that song."

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Herb's Steel Guitar Pages
Texas Steel Guitar Association

[This message was edited by Herb Steiner on 18 November 2005 at 06:47 AM.]