Ken Burns' COUNTRY MUSIC Documentary

(I want to believe!)

A minced oath, if you will. Oh, I think I just figured it out. D’oh!

Using George Jones' collapse into alcoholism and homelessness and resurrection with "He Stopped Loving Her Today" to frame the era of last night's episode was pretty masterful ... similar to how Cash's fall and redemption were covered in the previous episode. Also, Ray Benson's chortling while talking about the utter chaos of Willie's July 4th picnics was priceless. I also got chills with the Roy Acuff film on the screen being lifted to reveal the new Opry crowd. That was an all-time moment right there.

Controversial opinion perhaps: was Emmylou Harris necessary? or all the minutes devoted to Gram Parsons?

Gram had to be talked about to set up Emmylou, who was necessary. I would've spent less time doing that (with Gram), though.

I may be ignorant here, but the documentary posits her as a Turning Point in the '70s that I've never read anywhere (nor do her albums bear this out).

I would have given more than 60 seconds to the likes of Barbara Mandrell, Kenny Rogers, and Dottie West.

Mandrell was basically the female Marty Stuart ffs.

exactly!

Emmylou seems more relevant in this context than Gram, but it's a fair question why she gets so much time while other artists much more central to the 70s country charts are ignored or passed over too quickly.

One obvious example: Conway Twitty (though personally I'd rather hear Emmylou than Conway in his 70s loverman mode)

I was a wee boy in the 70s, so I don't know. I will say that the utter ubiquity of Emmylou records for cheap prices must mean they sold shitloads when released.

I guess Eddie Rabbitt is going to ignored entirely. Oh well.

i'm definitely not an expert but even i thought they spent a *lot* of time on Emmylou.

Emmylou is pretty important for setting the table for the New Tradionalists, helping popularize songs by Van Zandt & Crowell, and later on basically saving the Ryman from the, er, wrecking ball.

She also sold tons of records in the '70s to audiences outside the Country spectrum.

otoh I'm glad Rosanne Cash got a spot: a crucial precursor to hot country even if she prefers to be regarded for her Americana stuff.

Self XP Of course, I think it's also weird that they completely sidestepped Linda Ronstadt, unless Trio is covered in the finale.

Gauging the bent they're taking towards the modern era, I 100% expect Trio to be covered.

Hanging out at Guy Clark's house seems like a good time, btw.

Also, Hazel Smith reminds me so much of basically every woman on my mom's side of the family. Watching her speak is a joy. R.I.P.

XP Have you seen Heartworn Highways? Like a 1/4 of it is hanging at Guy Clark's house!

No mention of Trio whatsoever, unless it was briefly mentioned and I missed it. I too assumed it would be talked about, especially considering how much time they spent on Dolly and Emmylou in the earlier episodes. Hell, it even felt like they'd set it up: they had Dolly going to Hollywood, so Trio would've been a perfect back-to-the-roots bookend.

Wow, shocked!

a way bigger hit than The Highwaymen too

you know what back-to-the-roots country album is better than trio?

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/3/33/K.d._lang_-_Shadowland.jpg

Yeah, it crossed over to the Pop chart when very few country albums did. There's only one other country album on the Billboard 1987 end-of-year albums chart, and it's Randy Travis.

xp

I never thought about setting Trio and lang against each other.

lol yes luckily we live in a world where both exist! i just think Shadowland is criminally underappreciated

Despite being raised in Alabama, I didn't grow up in a country music family. I knew basically nothing about it and assumed it was strictly for old people. k.d. lang and (loosely) Chris Isaak opened me up to that world for investigation later into my twenties. I guess that partly explains my favoring the traditionalist approach to the music, because it's the door I walked through. If I'd grown up with country radio in the 1980s, I'd likely view that stuff with less suspicion. Like, I'm a Dwight/Rosanne/Rodney partisan, but I know fuck all about people like T.G. Sheppard and Reba (<-- except her sitcom was funny fuiud).

Gauging the bent they're taking towards the modern era, I 100% expect Trio to be covered.

now that i am finally into episode 4-5 i can see how this is becoming similar to Jazz in its focus on character. i don't think i'll watch the whole thing tbh. it's something i would gladly go back to periodically though, if i had access to it.

Was jerry lee lewis’ career in country completely skipped too?

Yeah, LL, that’s exactly what I am feeling. Funny (not really) how things become more predictable as we get closer to contemporary times when the players are still alive or freshly dead as opposed to the by now mythical origin story.

I will say with their overview of George Jones i cant wait for Cocaine & Rhinestones entire season of George episodes.

i mean i already was excited but :D

obv also v much going to be :( and ;_;

Rosanne singing at the Ryman for Johnny's memorial concert got me pretty good.

Also, it reminded me of this, which was from a different Johnny/June memorial. As far as I know, this only happened once and they never bothered to pair up in the studio. Their voices together are fucking MAGICAL.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MCqpw-5KL4g

Was almost sure that was going to be /glad that wasn’t a cover of “Jackson.”

Fun fact: Jerry Leiber has a songwriting credit on “Jackson.” I think he did some doctoring or editing or something.

First recorded by The Kingston Trio!

Yet another Trio

Roseanne was booked for ACL Fest that year, but cancelled when Johnny died. They filled her slot with other artists coming up and doing two Johnny tunes apiece. I remember Ray Benson, the Drive-By Truckers, and iirc Tift Merritt playing...not sure about the others.

that record exec recalling the Judds - “Wynnona had braces & Naomi looked fantastic as always”

:/

Wasn't expecting a Gun Club shoutout

well shit i cried a LOT during that episode

Forgot Keith Whitley died so young.

They all actin' like the Highwaymen didn't happen...

Cool. Did they interview Klaus Voormann right before he died?

Sorry, that was two bad jokes rolled into one

If don't have time to watch the whole eight hours, here is a highlight reel I recommend:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O4rA1-6ah7s

They skipped over an essential period in Kristofferson's career:

https://youtu.be/PMW4Ad8fIF4?t=209

thank you for bringing that into my life, tarfumes

oh my god