Hello,
As mentionned in the title, Im "country-illiterate" 😉
My favorite genres have been so far rock, blues and reggae and I want to discover something new.
On spotify, I've been listening to Johnny Cash, Merle Travis and Alan Jackson (greatest hits) these last weeks and I really loved what I've heard. I've also listen to an old very famous banjo player ("Papa sometheting") who had the reputation to be always angry, but I can't remember his name...
Well, my question is simple.
Could you please list for me 3 country and 3 bluegrass albums that I MUST hear to build myself a solid culture ?
Thanks for your answers,
Guillaume
That is a good question and I'll be checking back to see what others say.
I'm 65 but fairly new to country and bluegrass myself so I wouldn't know what to recommend as far as country and bluegrass albums. I would recommend watching Ken Burns' documentary, "Country Music." It's long but entertaining, and I learned a lot watching it.
Outside of George Strait, Reba McEntire, and Garth Brooks I can’t really speak to the country side but a few solid albums from the newer bluegrass side I think you would enjoy are
Allison Kraus and Union Station: Live
Tony Rice: Bluegrass Guitar
The SteelDrivers: Reckless
I don’t know. I think they’re solid.
Bluegrass
Tony Rice manzanita or cold on the shoulder
Doc Watson. Best of Doc Watson
Billy Strings Home or turmoil and tinfoil
Country
Hank Williams jr
Aaron Lewis
Luke Combs
Alabama
these are my favorites
And of course Charlie Daniels
I’m sticking with John Prine, Guy Clark, Townes Van Zandt. Those are off the main stream singers, songwriters. Kind of hippie/country/ storytellers I like the hippies. Kris Kristopherson too
Awesome ! Thank you so much for your answers, it opens a lot of perspective !
The only name I know from those you mentionned above is Townes van Zandt. I love his songs so much and Im actually working on "Nothin'" theses days.
Well, thanks again, Im gonna dive deep into the names you mentionned and share here some of my preferences in the next few days !
Guillaume,
Doc Watson plays some fingerstyle blues as well.
If you get guitar pro 7 you can get the guitar pro files which has the tab for both of these songs and can play them back at
a slower speed so it's easier to learn. Both files are on the Mysongbook. https://www.guitar-pro.com/en/index.php?pg=guitar-pro-whats-new.
Guitar Pro 7 is also a great tool if you write music and want to tab it out or play it back.
Here are a couple of links to some fingerstyle songs that he plays. I hope you enjoy them.
Deep River Blues
Windy & Warm Doc Watson
Thank you @rg !
I don't have guitar pro yet but I've heard it's a cool software. Im now considering buying it. I'll just have to check if it works fine on my android device before.
There is a trial version to check it out! I found a buddy to share it with. It’s $70 for a subscription and you get up to 5 computers access. So we’re paying $35 each and sharing it.
It's good to know, thanks !
In fact, I don't really use my computer... Im always with my tablet or my phone. There's an android version on google play but I don't know if it's a real version of guitar pro.
Either way, there's nothing urgent for me : I really have enough with the tabs here and on youtube to work with.
@rg Brilliant Thanks for posting.
The Earls of Leicester, They have released two albums recently.
@longbill I have that app on my phone and it's great too. I just don't think it has the songwriting capabilities. The app is like 7 bucks. Definitely worth it.
@longbill Guitar Pro is what Devin uses. He also has a great lesson showing exactly how to use it. If you get Guitar pro you can pay 2.99 a month and get Mysong book which will give you access to a ton of songs that have guitar pro files. The Doc Watson "Deep River Blues" song is on there but I didn't see a lot of country or bluegrass on there which is a little disappointing.
