Why does country "eat its old?...

Bob Carlucci · Post by **Bob Carlucci** » 30 Oct 2005 10:53 am

and at one time its young...

Theresa Galbraith was in the chat room recently and she expressed how grateful she was to the rock community years ago, when Paul toured with Dire Straits and was accepted with open arms by Dire Straits young fans, and rock music at large. A guy best known as a great session player for country artists was readily taken in by the rock community..

That got me thinking about how rock seems to HONOR its "seniors" and performers that may be a little "outside the box",...and country disposes of them like so much dirty dishwater..
The Rock greats of yesteryear are loved, enjoyed and PLAYED on a daily basis... how about our country greats? .. Equal treatment?... How are George, Buck,Merle, treated by the country powers that be?..now that they are grey and the sex appeal is a bit diminished...

a few years back when Johnnie Cash was winning Grammies,garnering a whole NEW generation of young fans,WHERE was the country establishment that he had a BIG part in building?.. It was the ROCK establishment that gave Johnnie the well deserved"late in life" success he enjoyed..

Why was it many years ago, when GREAT bands like POCO, Flying Burritto Bros,and the Sweetheart of the Rodeo era Byrds were making GREAT country music, the COUNTRY stations would not TOUCH them.. they were ALL played on ROCK stations..why?.. long hair? pot smokers?, too young and "hip"maybe?.. maybe it was because they were innovative?..

Geez the Byrds NEVER got on a country stations even tho' Lloyd and JD's great steel was ALL OVER the album.. I dunno, I'm ranting again, but I'd love some thought from my friends on this,,, hey, enemies are welcome too.lol... bob. [This message was edited by Bob Carlucci on 30 October 2005 at 12:31 PM.][This message was edited by Bob Carlucci on 30 October 2005 at 06:12 PM.]

Donny Hinson · Post by **Donny Hinson** » 30 Oct 2005 12:16 pm

Old rock is just a much bigger market. Also, it's "campy". The great majority of rock groups in the '50s were terribly amateur. Poor harmony, poor musicianship, but they sold well, nonetheless. It's all in the numbers. Fifty years ago, most all young people were listening to rock, not country. Now, those people are adults, trying to recapture their youth. Those who were listening to country 50 years ago are far fewer in number because they were older, by and large, than the "teeny-boppers".

Jim Phelps · Post by **Jim Phelps** » 30 Oct 2005 4:48 pm

What Donny said.... old rock is retro, old country is out, except for a small following. It's a business and numbers and $ are everything.

Paul King · Post by **Paul King** » 30 Oct 2005 4:54 pm

With all due respect, I believe country music has the longest tradition going, the "Grand Ole Opry" even though to me it is not so grand today. There are senior singers that sing on the opry every week. I personally do not follow the rock music or it's singers so I really have no idea what you are talking about. I do believe that Paul Franklin touring with Dire Straits was a great accomplishment for Paul as well as for the steel players today. He showed the steel can cross over into other various types of music. Just thinking here, do you guys know of any rock musician that has crossed over to country music that been accepted? I do not know of any but there may be some that have just slipped my mind.

Jim Cohen · Post by **Jim Cohen** » 30 Oct 2005 4:59 pm

do you guys know of any rock musician that has crossed over to country music that been accepted? I do not know of any but there may be some that have just slipped my mind.

I think Conway Twitty might fit that bill...

Steve Hinson · Post by **Steve Hinson** » 30 Oct 2005 5:13 pm

...Kenny Rogers...

------------------
http://home.comcast.net/~steves_garage

Gene Jones · Post by **Gene Jones** » 30 Oct 2005 5:31 pm

*[This message was edited by Gene Jones on 13 November 2005 at 11:47 AM.]

Larry Strawn · Post by **Larry Strawn** » 30 Oct 2005 5:49 pm

I'm still trying to sort that thing out about Bob C. and enemies??? LOL..

But I do think you have a valid point Bob..

Larry
edited for spelling
------------------
Emmons S/D-10, 3/5, Sessions 400 Ltd. Home Grown E/F Rack
"ROCKIN COUNTRY"

[This message was edited by Larry Strawn on 30 October 2005 at 05:50 PM.]

Jim Cohen · Post by **Jim Cohen** » 30 Oct 2005 5:49 pm

Gene, sometimes I think you jus' go around lookin' for fights to pick with me...

Jon Moen · Post by **Jon Moen** » 30 Oct 2005 5:50 pm

Correct me if you think I am wrong, but I think Charlie Daniels fits that description as well.

Gene Jones · Post by **Gene Jones** » 30 Oct 2005 6:08 pm

*[This message was edited by Gene Jones on 13 November 2005 at 11:49 AM.]

David Doggett · Post by **David Doggett** » 30 Oct 2005 8:03 pm

I think you could say Johnny Cash, like Conway, started as a country/gospel singer, went to rock'n'roll, then came part way back to country.

Emy Lou Harris started as a country rocker, and unlike Linda Rhonstat, she mostly stayed closer to country than to rock.

But I agree with Bob C. that it is very sad the way old country classics are excluded from most country radio stations. It is true that the Grand Ole Opry has always carried some of the old timers. And the last time I was through Nashville listening to WSM, they played modern country with some golden oldies. But many country stations do not play any golden oldies. Many rock stations don't either, but most large cities have at least one whole station dedicated to golden oldies, and one or more dedicated to classic rock. But don't the satelite stations carry classic country?[This message was edited by David Doggett on 30 October 2005 at 08:10 PM.]

Bob Carlucci · Post by **Bob Carlucci** » 30 Oct 2005 8:56 pm

I am not sure if I worded this post right... The rock establishment still holds its "big guns" in high esteem even after they are way past thier prime time years..

It doesn't seem they get tossed aside as readily as older country performers do by the country megaplex... I dunno maybe its just my perception... I can't get the picture of Johnnie Cash flippin' the bird to the country monolith out of my head... I really feel country is closed minded.. and rock isn't... I could be mistaken I guess...bob[This message was edited by Bob Carlucci on 30 October 2005 at 08:57 PM.]

Mike Winter · Post by **Mike Winter** » 30 Oct 2005 8:59 pm

I for one think it's appalling how Nashville treats the elder statesmen of country music. Here's an interesting article: http://www.takecountryback.com/2cents.htm

I remember feeling embarrassed...then angry...for Carl Smith when he only got to stand up in the crowd and wave at the CMHOF inductions a couple of years ago. I guess that's why I have so much respect for Merle, Buck, Willie and Waylon...there are countless others. They basically told Nashville to kiss their rosy reds and went on doing what they loved to do, play music...on their terms...somewhere else. The suits in Nashville toss a bone to the old guard every now and then, but lets not kid ourselves...it's all about the money...the bottom line. Nothing new.

David L. Donald · Post by **David L. Donald** » 31 Oct 2005 3:10 am

Let' see.
Mick, Keith, Ozzie, Pete, Jerry Lee Lewis, etc.
Rock gods, will still fill a room, getting called for tribute shows and career replays.

Revere them, and use them as guide posts.

George, Buck, Merle,
No MTV or radio play, and occasional flashback on the GOO.

Eat them and spit them out, or use them as compost.

May be something to this... sadly

Keith Cordell · Post by **Keith Cordell** » 31 Oct 2005 4:25 am

Country music has become the same type of business as pop- pretty, flashy and young rule the industry. It doesn't matter what sort of perversion of the music is inflicted, as long as the record SELLS! All it takes is a fake twang in the vocals and an acoustic guitar somewhere in the band... and Nashville has willfully inflicted the destruction on itself.

Rick McDuffie · Post by **Rick McDuffie** » 31 Oct 2005 4:27 am

Charlie Daniels is still primarily a rock/blues player. But he lives in Tennessee and plays the fiddle, therefore no one knows what pigeonhole to put him in.

He told my daughter: "Honey, we don't play country music- we play Charlie Daniels music."[This message was edited by Rick McDuffie on 31 October 2005 at 04:28 AM.]

Theresa Galbraith · Post by **Theresa Galbraith** » 31 Oct 2005 4:28 am

George Jones did have a PBS Special not long ago. FM stations play George, not so much Buck.

Merle is heard on FM stations too! Actually,
He and Toby Keith have a CMT special airing November 4th.

I'm happy they are being honored and heard today for a new generation. I think the industry is getting the message. JMO

Paul King · Post by **Paul King** » 31 Oct 2005 4:43 am

I can say our local radio station plays the old country. I can hear Charlie Pride, Faron Young, Ray Price, Connie Smith, Loretta Lynn, Conway Twitty, Loretta and Conway as a duo, Hank Snow, Charlie Walker and even Roy Acuff as well as some of the other older singers. They may not be getting record deals and the sidemen may be getting the screws put to them. It all boils down to the almighty dollar. I would guess it is a gamble to invest money on a singer from years gone by. So I guess I will have to listen to our local station where I can hear plenty of good country and most of all hear a lot of steel guitar.

Herb Steiner · Post by **Herb Steiner** » 31 Oct 2005 4:44 am

Rock To Country Update:

Dan Seals, formerly "England Dan" who teamed with John Ford Coley, was an evacuee from rock... well, "pop-rock" really... who is ironically now a "senior" country singer. His career in country was primarily in the 80's, was it not?

------------------
Herb's Steel Guitar Pages
Texas Steel Guitar Association

Paul King · Post by **Paul King** » 31 Oct 2005 4:44 am

Sorry guys. I double posted.[This message was edited by Paul King on 31 October 2005 at 04:46 AM.]

Charlie McDonald · Post by **Charlie McDonald** » 31 Oct 2005 4:58 am

Conway Twitty may be the king, but I remember the old days, before crossover.
Fabian, the Everyly Brothers; I'm not sure there was as much of a discinction then.

"Eat it's old..." Funny, Bob.
Count me as one of your friends.

Per Kammersgaard · Post by **Per Kammersgaard** » 31 Oct 2005 7:25 am

I believe Freddy Weller came over from Rock - he played guitar for Paul Revere & Raiders - didn't he?

PK

Bob Carlucci · Post by **Bob Carlucci** » 31 Oct 2005 7:52 am

To all.. please understand,, perception is based on experience.. I live here in the NE, and there is NO traditional country,and i see little evidence of any reverence for it... I would imagine, that in some places with a rich heritage of country music, the perception would be very different from my experience.. I live in an area where the steel is unknown and unwanted for the most part.. Guys in texas are still knockin' em dead most nights ...

If what I see on TV, and what I hear from others in MUCH of the country is accurate at all, I would say that the "youth will be served" mindset is prevalent... I honestly CANNOT remember the last time I heard a Waylon,Buck,Ray,Hank sr. etc song on ANY country station..HOWEVER my friends, I STILL hear LOTS of Hendrix, Who, Elvis,Beatles,Jeez even Paul Revere and the Raiders on rock stations.. IF my perception is skewed, my apologies, but I still think the country establishment at large should hang its head in disgrace.... bob[This message was edited by Bob Carlucci on 31 October 2005 at 10:30 AM.]

Gene Jones · Post by **Gene Jones** » 31 Oct 2005 9:04 am

quote..."I would imagine, that in some places with a rich heritage of country music, the perception would be very different from my experience.. I live in an area where the steel is unknown and unwanted for the most part"..unquote.

Bob, your assessment of the C&W scene in NY is surprisingly the same as in Oklahoma City. OKC has always been known as the place to "leave" if you had aspirations of a career in C&W.....maybe our civic leaders feel the same as those in Nashville....they are ashamed of the heritage.

But, even with Reba, Vince, Bob Wills, Toby Keith, Wanda Jackson, Hank Thompson, and numerous others, we are still a country outpost and we should be proud of our heriage.

------------------
<img width=100 src=http://genejones.bizland.com/index.1.jpg>
www.genejones.com