When there were REAL Stars

[Bill McCloskey]

Actually I think the Turtles did record that Dylan song.

[Charles Davidson]

]By the way someone mentioned the GREAT songs that were being written and produced today. Off the top of my head ,here's a few writers from [the good old days]Jeepers creepers did I say that. Hoagy Carmichael =Merle =Harland Howard =Cole Porter =Buddy Killen =Ned Washington =Curly Putman =Hank Williams =Marty Robbins =Cindy Walker =Don Williams =this is just a FEW from the good old days[DAMN I SAID IT AGAIN] Who around today can fill ANY of these shoes and write song after song that become standards. Wonder if Bo-donk-a donk.[what ever the hell that is] Ride a cowboy [whatever the hell that means]batter,batter,batter, etc will become great standards like Crazy,Misty,I'm so lonesome,Moon light in Vermont,Silver Wings,etc. DON'T THINK SO. NOTHING like the good old days [KNOCK ME DOWN AND CALL ME SHORTY BY GOD ,I SAID IT AGAIN ]All you old geezers unite and tell this crazy world where it can plant a BIG one. YOU BETCHA, DYK?BC.

[Bill McCloskey]

Well, the Beatles certainly wrote their share of standards, Bob Dylan (mentioned above) certainly did as well. Stevie Wonder is another. Elton John, Neil Young, Bruce Springsteen, Tom Waits (my favorite songwriter), Lucinda Williams. Just off the top of my head.

And how about Leonard Cohen, Brian Wilson, Paul Simon, Carli Simon, Carol King, Joni Mitchell..

[Charles Davidson]

I WAS TALKING ABOUT WHAT'S GOING ON [TODAY ]THE ONE'S YOU MENTIONED ARE FROM THE [ONE MORE TIME] GOOD OLD DAYS. YOU BETCH,CHA, DYK?BC.

[Bill McCloskey]

I don't know, most of those folks are still writing songs as far as I know, all are still alive (well, McCartney is of the Beatles).

The point is, every generation has talented songwriters. Writing great songs did not stop in 1950.

[Mark Eaton]

Charlie, you mentioned some of the greats in your last post, and think of the span of years involved that combined, all those folks were working. It entailed a good portion of the 20th century. My point is that you can go across a fairly long span of time and make a list, but it stretches across several decades, so that's not exactly a fair comparison to the current popular crop of songsters.

As has already been written on this thread, and what seems to be dozens of other threads on the Forum based on the same subject matter, if you think you are going to find the great songs on the mainstream "today's hot country - all the hits!" stations, you will be for the most part, sorely disappointed. Occasionally there is a good one, I wouldn't chalk them all up to being poor quality.

There is a goldmine of great songwriters that work a little under the radar and fall more into the Americana/alt.country categories. Off the top of my head I'm thinking of Guy Clark, the already mentioned Lyle Lovett, Steve Earle and his lovely Mrs., Allison Moorer, Darell Scott, Buddy & Julie Miller, Lucinda Williams, Gillian Welch, John Hiatt, and for that matter - Bob Dylan and Merle Haggard are still writing some gems. And let's not forget Marty Stuart, and how about Jon Randall and Whisperin' Bill Anderson's Grammy winning Whiskey Lullaby as sung by Brad Paisley and Alison Krauss - the subject of the tune is so pitiful, but at the same time brilliantly rendered, that I would say it has become the "mother of sad country songs."

Go over to the bluegrass world - Tim Stafford, Shawn Lane, and Wayne Taylor of 'grass supergroup Blue Highway are incredible songwriters, and they are just the tip of the iceberg.

And if anyone needs to spend some time reading about bad morals and degenerates - open The Bible to the Old Testament - makes these young folks today look like pikers!

[Joe Miraglia]

MY grammar is poor?

Geez, getting old must really be a bummer for you to be so grumpy. have another glass of prune juice and relax. Sure I can roll, I'll roll ya one...sounds like it could do you some good.

I'm 70 years old,I don't mind getting old,just don't like to act it!

No prune juice for me ,yeck

Realy- What difference does it make if a entertainer has holes in his jeans.

Why did the stars of yesterday have to dress like cowboys on stage.Todays stars look the part of a real cowboy,holes in there jeans and a big cowboy hat,just like down on the farm. Joe

[Larry Bressington]

My oh my, It's Teatime!

[Larry Tracy]

Here are some more current great songwriters. Dave Alvin, late great Chris Gaffney, Richard Thompson, Neko Case, Peter Case, Eliza Gilkyson, Robert Earl Keen, NIck Lowe, Elvis Costello, Jim Lauderdale.

[Mark Eaton]

...Rodney Crowell and Jesse Winchester, those two are just about my favorite of all time; Alejandro Escovedo, Bruce Robison, Joe Ely, Miranda Lambert is popular, and she has written some fine songs - what is it with a lot of the folks being Texans and former Texans with the great songwriting - I always figured it is something in the water.

Patterson Hood of Drive-By Truckers, Gary Louris ex of the Jayhwks, Jay Farrar, Mary Gauthier, Patty Griffin and the list goes on...

[Bill McCloskey]

Townes Van Zandt is dead so he doesn't count. Butch Hancock would though.

[Scott Shipley]

Kris Kristofferson. Or is he screwing up classic country too?

[Mark Eaton]

And let me add to my earlier lists Scott Shipley. Dude - I love your songs!

[Scott Shipley]

Wow Mark, Thank you! I consider it an honor just to be included with those other names you mentioned. Some very heavy hitters on there.

Thanks again!

[Theresa Galbraith]

What's going on today is alot of great songwriting and artist. If you don't listen, you don't know. If you hear a few you don't care for, you automatically think everything is bad today.
I don't understand why you have to put others down just because you're not hearing what you grew up with.

[Leslie Ehrlich]

I made a statement about stars dressing like stars...

Getting back to the original topic, I could say the same thing about rock bands. Today's rock stars walk onstage wearing T-shirts and blue jeans. They look like they just walked in off the street and picked up guitars and started playing.

[Tony Prior]

MY grammar is poor?

My Gramm'ar and Gramm'par came over on a boat from Italy !



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[Dave Mudgett]

Like Bill M. - I don't really understand the point of these types of trash-talking threads - all they do is engender bad feelings all around. We're all different, always have been and always will be. Most of us come here for our common love of the steel guitar - why not let it go at that? Can't we leave the culture wars to the political blogs and talking heads on TV? Isn't there enough there?

To the original poster: I like some kitsch sometimes - Nudie suits are cool and I like to dress up for a gig when it's appropriate, but sometimes it's not. I try to act in a manner appropriate for my audience, and some listeners prefer that musicians don't separate themselves from the audience by putting on an 'act'. Further, when I go to hear music, I personally go to hear music, not look at 'stars'. I care mainly about how they sing and play, not what they look like, and I've seen some great musicians play in jeans and t-shirts. A 'big show' is cool, but not the only approach to music. But if you can't stand to see someone play in jeans and t-shirt, fine - don't go see anyone you don't want to. That's totally reasonable and everybody understands that we each have personal preferences. But I don't understand why you have to talk trash about musicians that obviously don't concern you. Unless you live in a totalitarian world, you don't get to control anybody else, they will do as they please - that's the way it works. You can clang and complain all you want, it won't change a thing.

As usual, Theresa, who is one of the downright nicest people on this forum with always a good thought for everyone, is correct - don't worry, be happy.

IMHO.

[John Steele (deceased)]

[Danny Bates]

Can somebody explain what happened to the recording industry?

Something is wrong when this guy sells tons of records.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gq0PtCer ... re=related

[Barry Hyman]

Never underestimate human stupidity.

[Lonnie Wells]

human nature has never changed. we just have more gadgets today.....

i never liked wearing those fancy rinestone shirts anyway...

things have changed with time but I still enjoy lot of the new music and also the older stuff. not just country music. heck, I love bluegrass too.
XM radio is great!

[Brad Bechtel]

My favorite Abe Simpson quote:
“I used to be with it, but then they changed what ‘it’ was. Now what I’m ‘with’ isn’t ‘it,’ and what’s ‘it’ seems weird and scary to me.”