Heave Media

Takin' You Back

A little country goes a long way.

For a long time I didn't have a country folder on my hard drive. I simply had a folder labeled "Johnny Cash." It's taken me a while, but older country music is starting to grow on me. Aside from the musical theme, all of today's artists have been in jail. Don't worry, I won't start posting Brad Paisley songs or anything like that.

Willie Nelson - Stardust - Cover albums always prove to be a challenge. It's a real art-form to strike a balance between remaining true to the original songs as well as bringing your own style to the mix. Produced by Booker T. Jones (of Booker T & the MG's)Stardust is one of my favorite Willie Nelson albums. You should check out the remastered version that was released in 1999. After all, it contains two extra songs.

Johnny Cash - All God's Children Ain't Free - Taken from Cash's 1965 release Orange Blossom Special, this is a great and often overlooked Johnny Cash song. Cash was way ahead of his time, covering three Bob Dylan songs on this album. At the time, Dylan was still trying to shed the perception that he was just a Woody Guthrie knock-off. From 1964 to 1966 Cash released ten albums. And you thought the Beatles were tearing it up.

Merle Haggard - Okie From Muskogee - I understand Merle Haggard is not for everyone, but you should at least be a bit familiar with him. Merle ended up in juvenile hall at the age of 14 and he committed numerous small crimes in his youth. In 1957 he, along with two other men, attempted to drunkenly rob a restaurant. This led to a fifteen month stay in San Quentin. Eventually, he cleaned up his act and made his mark on the world of country music.

STREAM: Willie Nelson - Stardust

STREAM: Johnny Cash - All God's Children Ain't Free

STREAM: Merle Haggard - Okie From Muskogee

Posted by Greg Herald on Jan 16, 2008 @ 12:00 am