But the author (Joel Selvin) had some really good insight into the state of modern country music. He referred to them as rockers in hats. Most of them grew up hanging out in malls, and calling themselves "Country" was simply a career decision. And, says Joel, "They all neeed a ladder to kiss Ernest Tubb's butt."

------------------
Bob Shilling, Berkeley, CA--MSA S10

------------------
BJ Bailey

quote:

---

and calling themselves "Country" was simply a career decision.

---

Given that "pop" acts generally get better signing bonuses than country acts (see a news article posted in a recent thread posted somewhere on this forum), why would anybody knowingly make a decision to call himself "country" if he were indeed "pop"?

------------------
The Unofficial Photographer of The Wilkinsons

The nowadays hat acts don't know anything about real country music and don't even suspect anything.

And Jason, thanks for your contribution to the Forum as it seems to me you are very well informed. However, country music was available, I know at least as far north, as Blind River, Ontario, Canada; although it would take a dedicated fan to find a source, which could be difficult at times. Which is the very reason why Ernest Tubb began the ET Record Shop which mail-ordered records around the world, guaranteeing safe sound delivery of very fragile 78 RPM's, which said a lot for the packaging. Country music had been stereotyped as being "hick," "hayseed," "hillbilly," which were expressions ET detested, so he was very instrumental in bringing the term "country and western" to the forefront.

Hey Buckaroos and Buckarettes, I have yet to see a "hillbilly" hick don an English kid mohair suit, tailored to the hilt, sport a 100X beaver hat with a crease that will still stand up by even today's Texas standards, as ET did many years ago. So, to these "country-WESTERN" artists who feel they must sport a cowboy hat, please do it with dignity, as opposed to some who appear to have sat upon it. YEEHAW! Texas Troubadour and proud of it! .....Pete

P.S. I can play the blues, too!

[This message was edited by Pete Mitchell on 05 June 2001 at 04:26 PM.]

------------------
1985 Emmons push-pull, Session 500, Nashville400, 65 re-issue Fender Twin, Fender Tele

quote:

---

Quote of the day from Merle Haggard:

"I've learned a lot since I wrote "Okie From Muskogee" and "The Fightin' Side Of Me"-I was as dumb as the rest of America. Americans have educated themselves, they know there's a double standard going on. There's not anybody in America with any education or of normal intelligence who doesn't understand that we're in the fight of our lives to maintain freedom in this country. We have been taken over my tyrants; we're being militarized. You can't go from your car to an airplane without being frisked down. We're real close to licking Nazi boots. If people don't realize it and get ahold of it, it's gonna slip right away...They've completely done away with the nightlife in America. There's no such thing anymore. The only states in the union that still have a nightlife are Texas and Louisiana. The Mothers of America have eliminated the bar business. There must have been 10,000 beer joints in California when I started playing music, and all those were breeding grounds for great musicians. SHlT, that no longer exists. When I got out of prison in 1960, I was 23 years old. From the time I was 24 till I was 30 I lived a life playing beer joints that was more fun than Donald Trump could have in America right now. The Rat Pack didn't have no more fun than I had. But that is not possible in America anymore. Fun has been totally outlawed. I'm proud I got to see it before it all went away...I feel sorry for you. If you were 50 years old you'd be madder than hell. You'd have seen America from a paradise where a guy could go to a Saturday night dance and have a fist fight, go home and heal and nobody shot at nobody. Two lane highways, entryways into each city were unique and the biggest thing that happened was the railroad train. That was the society I came out of and this chaotic mess we've got going now...I'm sorry for you.

Thanks to Felix Thursday
Section M Magazine

---

------------------
My Web Page
Sierra S-12 9&7
Peavey-2000-PX-300

BTW, here's the URL for the article online, sans photos: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/2001/06/03/CM114552.DTL
------------------
Bob Shilling, Berkeley, CA--MSA S10

[This message was edited by Bob Shilling on 08 June 2001 at 03:47 PM.]

Actually when I mentioned people signing to Southern labels, the pop labels are in Hollywood and New York, East and West, whereas there's more structure for country labels in the South, which has been overtaken somewhat by the Nashville majors, as they've gone so pop and soft that they seem to have a funky machine where any mall rat can go in and come out a scrubbed teen cowboy hat top #10 act.

Ironically back in the 1940s and 1950s Nashville was more of a launching base for the Opry broadcast and tour launching pad for the South and Southwest, where it was considered that most of the country market existed.
At that time Nashville started building up it's studio scene and the indie labels, while labels like Decca and Columbia were soon to open up Southern country divisions and change the face of the music industry.

But I wanted to say a special Thank You to bOb for posting his e-mail by Merle. It is a certain glimpse of the Giant. His mind and conclusions are as poetic as when his Mamma Tried. And that is why bOb runs this Forum. For moments like that are precious indeed. Thank you bOb ! Regards, Paul

[This message was edited by Paul Graupp on 09 June 2001 at 10:25 AM.]

quote:

---

After working with Merle for 34 years, I still respect and admire the man and probably am still one of his biggest fans for what he has done for the music we call Country. He is still my favorite singer.
Norm Hamlet

---

And after an equal number of years as a HagFan, DITTO!

I've been a HagFan since the very first time I heard him sing (1968). I remember it like it was yesterday. I was 12 years old and he's been far and away my favorite singer since then.

BTW: Bobby Wayne is actually credited in Merle's dialog on that live album with writing Harold's Super Service. Perhaps Norm can confirm that drummer Eddie Burris co-wrote Okie with Merle; check the EARLY credits/ Eddie's son Roy was in my 8th grade class. Roy told me this and I checked it out.I believe Merle later purchased all rights to his signature song.

------------------
HagFan

[This message was edited by Ron Page on 12 June 2001 at 08:07 PM.]

All these years one thing has been the same. Anyone who talks to or about me for any length of time is bound to hear the words "Merle Haggard".

I wear my admiration for the man and his music -- and his band -- like a badge of honor.

------------------
HagFan

quote:

---

You'd have seen America from a paradise where a guy could go to a Saturday night dance and have a fist fight, go home and heal and nobody shot at nobody.

---

quote:

---

The Mothers of America have eliminated the bar business.

---

While I greatly respect Mr. Haggard's musical contributions I find his views repulsive. This is why people think country music is for hicks and rednecks.

I've never been a fighter and I think DUI/DWI should be taken seriously, although perhaps not to the extreme level MAD would have it.

Don't blame the designated driver for what DJ's and jukeboxes have done to the live music scene. Bars are still busy around my part of the country, but live music isn't what it used to be.

------------------
HagFan

[This message was edited by Ron Page on 14 June 2001 at 09:36 AM.]

When I was a kid I recall seeing a movie that was sort of based on life on the road with ET and the TX Troubadors. Does anyone know anything about this film? I couldn't have been more than ten or twelve when I saw it (that would have been around 44-46 years ago) and I think the movie may have been around for a while then. I'd sure like to see it again.

------------------
Rick Richtmyer
Good News