8 Albums That Must Be In Your Collection
Listening to these albums are like looking at art masterpieces. You are simply awed at the awesomeness of the work itself, and equally amazed at the talent in the hands of those crafting these works of art. These are the albums that help tell you what country music is all about.
No Fences-Garth Brooks
The album of the 1990′s. Following the success of his debut album, you knew that he had a bright future in country music. However, with the release of this album, that future became now, and by the time his next album was ready to ship, this album had turned Garth Brooks from an up-and-coming young star to the hottest act in country music. The album includes the hugely popular “Friends In Low Places”, along with “The Thunder Rolls”, “Two Of A Kind Workin’ On A Full House”, and “Unanswered Prayers.” All were hits during the 1990-91 period. The album would later yield a fifth hit, “Wild Horses”, which reached the country top ten in 2001. Too many albums contain a certain amount of filler songs, but this one doesn’t. Each track is excellent.
Wanted! The Outlaws-Waylon, Willie, Jessi Colter, Tompall Glaser
While No Fences was the album of the 1990′s, Wanted! The Outlaws, was the album of the 1970′s. Released in 1976, it became country music’s first album to be officially recognized for sales of one million copies. Co-produced by Waylon Jennings, it featured solo efforts by all four artists, as well as one duet with Waylon and Jessi Colter (“Suspicious Minds”), along with two Waylon and Willie duets (“Good Hearted Woman” and “Heaven or Hell”). The material is outstanding. “Good Hearted Woman” had previously been a hit for Waylon, just missing number one. The duet version, though, would hit the top spot. “Suspicious Minds” had previously appeared on the charts in 1970, but made a second, more successful appearance in 1976, making country music’s top five, after stalling in the twenties on it’s first try. Tompall Glaser’s two entries, “Put Another Log On The Fire”, and “T For Texas” both made country’s top forty. Jessi Colter’s solo contribution, “I’m Looking For Blue Eyes”, is the same song as her previous year’s top ten hit, “What’s Happened To Blue Eyes”. As for the rest of the tracks, they stand on their own, quite nicely. “My Heroes Have Always Been Cowboys”, heard here by Waylon, would later be a hit for Willie Nelson. Speaking of Nelson, he sings “Yesterday’s Wine”, which would later hit for George Jones and Merle Haggard, along with “Me And Paul”, a song Willie would later re-record as a hit single. Simply put, when the discussion of classic country albums begins, this one should always start off the conversation.
The Buck Owens Collection (1959-1990)
I’m not a big box-set fan, in general; too often they are filled with obscure tracks, outtakes, and alternate cuts, instead of the actual hits that I generally want to hear. This collection, though, is an exception, offering mostly hits, with just a few album cuts mixed in. It covers Buck’s career, from his first chart single, “Second Fiddle”, through his last country top forty appearance with the Ringo Starr duet, “Act Naturally.” There are a couple of omissions that I think should be here, notably “Where Does The Good Times Go”, and “Great Expectations”, but overall, this is a fantastic look at the career of one of the greatest artists in country music history. If you are a Buck fan, this has to be in your collection. If you are new to Buck Owens or even country music in general, I highly recommend this as an introduction to some of the best music ever made.
Hank Williams’ 40 Greatest Hits
I include this one, because I have it in my collection, but really, there are several worthy collections to choose from. This particular collection features all of his biggest hits and most of his chart singles. These are all original recordings, as well, none having any overdubbed music added; something that was commonly done to his recordings in the ’60s and ’70s. Whenever I need my Hank fix, this is the one I pull. I haven’t played any others (many of which include the overdubs) in years.
Storms Of Life-Randy Travis
In the mid 1980′s, country music was being overrun by pop-sounding music; there wasn’t much traditional sound left, except for Haggard, Jones, Ricky Skaggs, and a couple of youngsters named George Strait and Reba McEntire, though even her songs were becoming more polished and slick. Then came 1986, and suddenly BAM! Country music was blindsided by this debut release from Randy Travis, along with Dwight Yoakam’s Guitars, Cadillac, Etc., Etc. Starting with “1982”, then “On The Other Hand”, country music fans went nuts for his pure country styling. The New Traditionalist movement had begun. On this album, you will not hear any hint of pop or rock, it’s straight ahead country. The album features four hits, “1982”, “On The Other Hand”, “No Place Like Home”, and “Diggin’ Up Bones”. The rest of the album is very good, as well, bringing strong tracks from top writers such as Troy Seals, Max D. Barnes, Paul Overstreet, and Nat Stuckey, among others. Even after 23 years, this album still holds up as a great piece of music.
Red Headed Stranger-Willie Nelson
This 1975 classic made Willie Nelson a superstar. When released, no one thought it would sell, but sell it did, and spawned two hit singles, the classic “Blue Eyes Crying In The Rain” and “Remember Me”. This album is unique in several aspects. First, it’s concept album, telling a story of a preacher who’s on the run, after killing his wife. Second, The Nashville Sound was still dominant in 1975, so the sparse instrumentation gives it a completely different sound than anything else on the country market, at that time. Third, with it’s concept premise, and sparse instrumentation, this album should not have been a big seller, as it was “too different” than the sounds of the times. But it was a big seller; a huge seller, in fact. Not only did country music fans go wild for it, but so did pop music listeners, as well.
Johnny Cash At Folsom Prison
The definitive album of his career, and quite possibly the definitive country album of the 1960′s. The album was recorded and released in 1968, gaining rapid popularity, thanks to the single “Folsom Prison Blues”. The album has sold in the millions, and has been listed on many “albums/CD’s you must own” lists. Listening to the album, it is understandable why it’s achieved the popularity that it has. Cash connects with his prison audience, sings like he knows their plights, what they endure, what they feel. And the audience responds accordingly. The original album includes well known standards such as “Folsom Prison Blues”, “Dark As A Dungeon”, “I Got Stripes”, “Jackson”, and “Long Black Veil”, among many other great recordings. One year later, Cash would release a second live prison album, Johnny Cash At San Quentin. This album is considered by many to be as good as if not even better than Folsom Prison.
Patsy Cline’s Greatest Hits
This collection has been around since 1967, and continues to sell. And why not? Patsy is only one of country music’s greatest and most influential vocalists, ever. This collection is a great introduction to her music (if by chance, you are not familiar with her music), containing her biggest hits, such as “Crazy”, “I Fall To Pieces”, “She’s Got You”, and “Walkin’ After Midnight”, among others. But beyond the hits, just listening to her sing is an amazing experience in and of itself. She had her own style, her own sound, one that’s been imitated, but never matched. Honestly, she could sing circles around about 98% of today’s female vocalists heard on the radio (Martina McBride, Reba McEntire, and maybe Carrie Underwood could hold their own). Not saying that today’s crop is that bad, she was that good. The album itself, has been certified for sales of ten million, making it the second best-selling country album by a female vocalist, trailing only Shania Twain’s The Woman In Me. This is a true classic.
By no means are these the only great albums in country music, but these are the tops, the cream of the crop, the truly definitive works of country music art. Find them, listen to them, and enjoy.
