Saving Country Music’s Greatest Albums of All Time
So here it is ladies and gentlemen, a list of what Saving Country Music considers to be the “Greatest Country Music Albums of All Time.” Please understand numerous factors went into this list, but the most important determining factor was influence. This isn’t our “favorite” albums, but appeal factored into this as well. You may think Garth Brooks is a dunder head for example, but the man sold as many albums than the Beatles so he probably belongs here. This is taking into consideration the wide panoram of country music, not just classic or traditional country. And as always, the aim of this exercise is sharing, and so if you see a glaring omission or would do a switch-aroo on the placement of certain titles, feel free to offer your insight in the comments section below.
SCM’s Greatest Underground Country Albums of All Time
Also note this does not include greatest hits (so yeah, Hank Williams mostly released singles), compilations (so no Wanted: The Outlaws), soundtracks (no O Brother Where Art Thou), or “crossover” albums (no Stardust). It does however include live albums. And the albums need to be really country, or really influence the founding of a country subgenre.
Willie Nelson- Red Headed Stranger
- Johnny Cash – Live At Folsom Prison
- Nitty Gritty Dirt Band – Will The Circle Be Unbroken
- Waylon Jennings – Honky Tonk Heroes
- Ray Charles – Modern Sounds of Country & Western Music
- The Byrds – Sweetheart of the Rodeo
- Johnny Cash – American Recordings (Take Your Pick)
- Patsy Cline – Showcase
- Johnny Cash – Live at San Quentin
- Emmylou Harris – Wrecking Ball
Gram Parsons – Grievous Angel
- Kris Kristofferson – Kristofferson (later Me & Bobby McGee)
- John Hartford – Aereo-Plain
- The Grateful Dead- Workingman’s Dead/American Beauty
- Garth Brooks – No Fences
- Dolly Parton – Coat of Many Colors
- Loretta Lynn – Coal Miner’s Daughter
- Merle Haggard – Mama Tried
- Roger Miller – The Return of Roger Miller
- Bill Monroe – Bean Blossom
- The Louvin Brothers – Satan Is Real
Jerry Jeff Walker – Viva Terlingua
- Hank Williams III – Straight to Hell
- Dwight Yoakam – Guitars, Cadillacs, etc. etc.
- Bob Dylan – Nashville Skyline
- Bobby Bare – Bobby Bare Sings Lullabys, Legends, & Lies
- Uncle Tupelo – No Depression
- Townes Van Zandt – Live at the Old Quarter
- Lyle Lovett – Pontiac
- Marty Robbins – Gunfighter Ballads and Trail Songs
- The Dixie Chicks – Home
- Willie Nelson – Shotgun Willie
Waylon Jennings – The Ramblin’ Man
- Merle Haggard – Swinging Doors
- Wayne “The Train” Hancock – Thunderstorms & Neon Signs
- Steve Earle – Guitar Town
- Lucinda Williams – Car Wheels on a Gravel Road
- Dolly Parton – The Grass Is Blue
- Waylon Jennings – Dreaming My Dreams
- George Jones – I Am What I Am
- Hank Williams Jr. – The Pressure Is On
- Johnny Paycheck – Take This Job and Shove It
Junior Brown – Guit With It
- Roger Miller – Roger and Out
- Waylon Jennings – Ol’ Waylon
- Willie Nelson – Phases and Stages
- Kellie Pickler – 100 Proof
- Garth Brooks – Ropin’ the Wind
- Emmylou Harris- Roses in the Snow
- Randy Travis – Storms of Life
- Loretta Lynn – Van Lear Rose
- The Highwaymen – Highwaymen
Merle Haggard – Okie From Muskogee (live)
- Tammy Wynette – Stand By Your Man
- Dale Watson – Live in London…England
- David Allan Coe –Rides Again
- Jamey Johnson – That Lonesome Song
- Kenny Rogers – The Gambler
- George Strait – Blue Clear Sky
- Guy Clark – Old No. 1
- Willis Alan Ramsey – Willis Alan Ramsey
- Ween – 12 Golden Country Classics
David Allan Coe – Penitentiary Blues
- The Dixie Chicks – Wide Open Spaces
- Clint Black – Killin’ Time
- Hank Snow – The Southern Cannonball
- Tammy Wynette – D-I-V-O-R-C-E
- Alan Jackson – A Lot About Livin’
- Dwight Yoakam – Buenas Noches From A Lonely Room
- Billy Joe Shaver – Old Five & Dimers Like Me
- Hank Williams III – Lovesick, Broke & Driftin’
- Ray Price – Night Life
Johnny Paycheck – 11 Months, 29 Days
- Bob Willis & His Texas Playboys – For The Last Time
- Garth Brooks – In Pieces
- LeAnn Rimes – Blue
- Miranda Lambert – Revolution
- Brooks & Dunn – Brand New Man
- Kris Kristofferson – The Silver Tongued Devil And I
- Hank Williams Jr. – Whiskey Bent and Hell Bound
- Flying Burrito Brothers – Gilded Palace of Sin
- Terry Allen – Lubbock
- Son Volt – Trace
- Dolly Parton, Emmylou Harris, Linda Ronstadt – Trio
- Hellbound Glory – Old Highs and New Lows
- Vern Gosdin – Chiseled in Stone
- Keith Whitley – Don’t Close Your Eyes
- Buck Owens – Live At Carnegie Hall
- Patty Loveless – Mountain Soul
- Robert Earl Keen – West Textures
- 357 String Band – Fire & Hail
- James Hand – The Truth Will Set You Free
- Randy Travis – 8 x 10
- Jerry Reed – When You’re Hot You’re Hot
- Unknown Hinson – The Future Is Unknown
- Hayes Carll – Trouble In Mind
- Jason Boland & The Stragglers – Comal County Blue
- Marty Stuart – The Ghost Train Studio ‘B’ Sessions
March 25, 2013 @ 10:15 am
A lot to chew over and I’m going to run out to check a lot of these out.
As one whose gateway drug into country was Lyle Lovett my only thought is that Step Inside This House is a very inspired Lyle album as well. Pontiac is probably my second choice and that SITH is covers may detract from the intent of the list.
March 25, 2013 @ 10:43 am
I did try to consider and show favor to albums that were mostly original material or written by the performing artist. I did think about “Step Inside This House,” but I think “Pontiac” was the album where Lyle made his most solid contribution to music. I think it’s been massively overrated, and it’s one of the albums I hope a lot of folks walk away from this list with.
March 25, 2013 @ 10:25 am
I am here for the inevitable “wheres this album?” post. Now I could have missed it but I can see what you are going for list wise and Hank Williams Jr – Whiskey Bent and Hellbound surely needs to be there. How many artists in the 80s cut their teeth playing that?
March 25, 2013 @ 10:27 am
Also double check 20 and 48 names/artist are backwards
March 25, 2013 @ 10:39 am
Thanks for the heads up, and yes, I agree “Whiskey Bent and Hell Bound” should be on there so I just added it. That’s why I left it at 80, so that there’s space if we want to keep going to 100. 80 is where my brain started hurting. 😉 It think “The Pressure Is On” is a more well-rounded album where “Whiskey Bent” is more a tale of a couple of significant songs, but a real good album nonetheless.
March 25, 2013 @ 11:38 am
Haha no worries, I know you didnt dig his last album (best one in 20 years) so maybe that put this one out of mind 😛 I love all Hank Jr from Hank & Friends to Pure Hank (been hit and miss up until this last one I figure) so was happy to see “The Pressure is On”. I dont think its as good as Whiskey Bent but to each their own. Hell when I first got Whiskey Bent however long ago I legitmately thought it was a real “greatest hits volume” like it said on the record because how good every single track was.
Now all I ask is to slip one of Newbury’s trilogies in there considering you have all his proteges on there 😉 (Kris, Guy, Townes, Coe etc)
March 25, 2013 @ 10:34 am
Nice list. I really cannot complain as all of my favorites are represented well.
March 25, 2013 @ 10:47 am
hell of a list! i think the only album i’d add would be Jerry Jeff Walker’s 1972 self-titled album which offered (i believe) the first recorded versions of Guy Clark’s “LA Freeway” and “That Old Time Feeling,” as well as Jerry Jeff classics “Hill Country Rain” and “Charlie Dunn.” otherwise, great list. pretty much sums it up
March 25, 2013 @ 10:48 am
What is the deal with Bob Willis being the the “King” yet “For the Last Time” is no where to be found? Surely this is an oversight.
March 25, 2013 @ 10:54 am
Forgot about that. BigFoot. Bob Willis is the king of Texas!! haha
March 25, 2013 @ 11:14 am
Hey Bigfoot, just added it to the list. As I stated above, the intent of this list is to be living and eventually expand it to 100. With these older artists, it was really hard to find representative albums because they released most of their music as singles. It was driving me crazy that Hank Williams, Bob Wills, and some others were not represented here, but I’ll take it that most country music fans already know about them. I saw Wills’ “For The Last Time,” but honestly wasn’t too familiar with it, and since it’s a live album with previously-released songs, was unsure if it was appropriate. After reading up on it some, I agree it deserves to be here. Thanks for the suggestion!
March 31, 2013 @ 7:34 pm
Hell of a list. there’s a couple on there i need to check out. A few of my favorites that werent listed are 1.) Johnny Paycheck’s Jukebox Charlie that was on his little darlin record label. lloyd green played some badass steel on that album. 2.) Daniel Romano “Come Cry With Me”. that album was just released though. 3.) Buck Owens’ early and rare self titled album of a session he had with Chesterfield Records producer virginia richmond set up to test him out. all the songs were written by him and are solid gold. 4.) Ryan Adams and the Cardinals “Jacksonville City Night” 5.) George Strait “Strait from the heart” includes songs written by his badass best friend Dean Dillon as well as Guy Clark and Clay Blaker. Honky Tonk as fuck. 6.) Tift Merritt “Bramble Rose” 7.) Sir Doug and the Texas Tornadoes “Texas Rock For Country Rollers”. 8.) Radney Foster “Del Rio, Tx 1959” 9.) Chris Knight’s self titled. 10.) Dale Watson “Cheatin’ Heart Attack”. 11.) Don Williams “Country Boy”. 12.) Doug Kershaw “Louisiana Man” 13.) Emmylou Harris “Elite Hotel” 14.) Joe Ely’s self titled. 15.) Keith Whitley “I Wonder Do You Think Of Me” this whole album is so good i could shit. especialy when “I’m over you” comes on. 16.) Willie Nelson “Phases and Stages. Great concept album about a break up. side 1 is the womans side of the story and side 2 is the mans. it takes you somewhere else just like red headed stranger does. these arent in any particular order.
I’m not trying to be an asshole and say you left these out. i’m just sharing in case somebody sees something here they havent heard or for anyone who appreciates these ones as well. glad you put redheaded stranger up there at number 1. that album got me into alot of other shit. i’m also glad you put up willis alan and no fences too. solid solid list man.
a tip of the hat to all you sons of bitches. have a good one.
-SCUMWRANGLER
April 1, 2013 @ 6:39 am
Phases and Stages is at #46. Not trying to be an asshole, either. Just that I agree with you and earlier I had searched the list to see if it was there.
Another conceptual album that I enjoy but that came out about 25 years later was Marty Stuart’s The Pilgrim.
April 1, 2013 @ 12:46 pm
Jack i guess i read that list a little too fast. haha. I didn’t realize that Marty Stuart album was conceptual. I’ve never listened to the whole thing before until you said something about it. It’s pretty damn good, i’ll say that much. Thanks for bringing it up cause I just bought it. Marty’s the man.
-Scumwrangler
April 30, 2013 @ 7:18 pm
Bob Wills “For the last time” is definitely in my top 10 albums of all time. Amazing record.
March 25, 2013 @ 10:52 am
Dam i didnt know you liked Garth Brooks, Kenny Rogers, Clint Black, Miranda Lambert soo much. EWW. I didnt even know they were consider country. You even ranked them more than Waylon’s best album “This Time”. I enjoyed Red Headed stranger but I think the Highway Men is the best album here. Its the collaboration of the super best friends haha. And no Tanya Tucker? I think 357 String band kicks some of these artists asses (Barf Brooks) but arent they considered bluegrass not country. If country is loosely interpreted like that then Scott Biram “Dirty Old One Man Band” album needs to be on here. O well lots of good choices but more worthy albums deserve more credit than the pop elk.
March 25, 2013 @ 11:31 am
As I expressly stated above in the introduction:
“This isn”™t our “favorite” albums, but appeal factored into this as well. You may think Garth Brooks is a dunder head for example, but the man sold as many albums than the Beatles so he probably belongs here. This is taking into consideration the wide panoram of country music, not just classic or traditional country.”
Specifically to Scott Biram, I (and I think many others) would consider him more of a punk blues musician with country influences, and so he probably doesn’t belong on this list. If/when we do a punk blues list, Biram will probably be on there.
The point of this list, as with most of my lists, is to attempt to broaden musical perspective and fill in gaps of knowledge for people out there searching for good music. Many times I end up educating myself in the process as well, which is the most enjoyable part for me. Please understand that is the point, not to reinforce anyone’s current perspectives or tastes.
March 25, 2013 @ 11:36 am
No offense Trigger from this reasoning ” but the man sold as many albums than the Beatles so he probably belongs here. This is taking into consideration the wide panoram of country music,” one day even Taylor Swift can be here based on how the public perceives her as country artist and she sold probably close to as many albums as Barf Brooks. Please clarify. Dont mean to always sound like an ass lol.
March 25, 2013 @ 1:32 pm
If this list was based on sales, Shania Twain would have 3 albums in the top 10. But she’s not on this list because she’s not country. Garth Brooks is on this list because he is. I’m not saying I love his music or I agree or am happy with where he took the genre, but if his name was kept off this list it would be illegitimate.
Folks are going to have to get over the Garth Brooks stereotype. It doesn’t mean you have to like the music, but it in no way compares to Shania Twain or Taylor Swift. It is country. It may have felt like pop country at the time, but today, they wouldn’t even play Garth Brooks on the radio from how country he sounds. Trust me, go back and listen.
Here’s more on the subject:
https://savingcountrymusic.com/why-time-has-been-kind-to-garth-brooks-music
March 25, 2013 @ 3:30 pm
I would argue “much to young to feel this damn old” one of the greatest country songs, this coming from a person who is not a Garth brooks fan. It would be biased not to have Garth Brooks on the list as he was the title wave that symbolized a big shift in country music. We may not all like it but it was country and at some points it was good country
March 26, 2013 @ 10:43 pm
I agree 100%. Garth Brooks was country with some rock influences, which is very different from straight up pop. While he was not as traditional as George Strait, he had many good country songs. To argue that Garth was not country would be like saying that Ronald Reagan was not conservative because he offered amnesty to illegal immigrants.
Shania is not a country singer. I have read her autobiography and as far as I can recall she had nothing to say about the direction of mainstream country music. She didn’t seem to care if her music was country or not, and the description of her early days in Nashville suggested that she didn’t have much appreciation for country music’s traditions. Shania and Taylor both used country music fans to launch their careers, and then largely abandoned the country genre once they found international success.
March 31, 2013 @ 7:39 pm
Hell, I love no fences.
June 24, 2014 @ 9:58 pm
Garth Brooks, Kenny Rogers, Miranda Lambert, okay. I can see why someone might not think they’re all that country or at least dispute their inclusion here. But Clint Black? Who in the hell thinks HE isn’t country? Have you actually listened to his music or were you too distracted by the year he came onto the scene/his pretty boy image to pay much attention? “Killin Time”? “A Better Man”? “Put Yourself in My Shoes”? “We Tell Ourselves”? “No Time to Kill”? “A Good Run of Bad Luck”? “Half Way Up”? “Cadillac Jack Favor”? “Like the Rain”? Have you even heard any songs by this guy? Sure, he’s cut his teeth on poppy ballads like “When I Said I Do,” but for every one of those he has five hard country songs that would sound just right coming out of a barroom jukebox (and the former isn’t even bad nor is it unrecognizable as country). In fact, I’d call his sound a more natural “evolution” of classic country than Sturgill Simpson and the like that I wish hadn’t been abandoned. If more stuff on the radio sounded like Clint Black we’d be in a lot better shape (same goes for Garth Brooks as well).
March 25, 2013 @ 10:54 am
Well, if I were to pick my favorite country album from my collection, it would be Hank Williams 40 Greatest Hits. I know it’s a compilation, but i think it’s an extremely important one.
March 25, 2013 @ 11:33 am
I’ll probably to a Greatest Hits/Comps list at some point. My bet is it will be on there 😉
March 25, 2013 @ 10:59 am
For most of the classic country singers, I usually bought compilations when I used CDs and for the last decade I (legally) download individual songs, so I can’t say that there are too many albums that I really have attachments without having the check what songs are on that.
But just off the top of my head, I would add Hank William Jr. and Friends and
Robert Earl Keen- West Textures,
March 25, 2013 @ 11:39 am
What do people think is Robert Earl Keen’s definitive album. Is it “West Textures?” I struggled to figure out the best one to include here. And generally speaking I think Red Dirt got a little under-represented, but this is a hard chore and I kept stumbling to find those definitive albums.
March 25, 2013 @ 11:51 am
I think West Textures, (Road Goes on Forever, FIve Pound Bass, Leaving Tennessee etc.)
BUt you could also say Gringo Honeymoon (Title Track, Merry Christmas from the Family, I’m Coming Home, Think it Over One Time, Lynville Train, Dreadful Selfish Crime)
March 25, 2013 @ 4:16 pm
Bigger Piece of Sky deserves some consideration as his best album.
March 25, 2013 @ 8:38 pm
It’s a great album, and everyone has different favorites, but I think if you are talking about the “definitive” album, you need to put West Textures or Gringo Honeymoon first.
West Textures, has the Road Goes on Forever, which is definitely Keen’s signature song.
Gringo Honeymoon has about half a dozen songs that the still plays at nearly every show.
The only song from A Bigger Piece of Sky that he still plays regularly is Corpus Christi Bay.
March 25, 2013 @ 9:01 pm
I’d definnitely go with West Textures or Gringo Honeymoon. I honestly can’t choose between them. I love “Mariano” & “Sonora’s Deathrow” on West Textures, and I love “Think it Over One Time” and “Gringo Honeymoon” off of Gringo Honeymoon.
March 26, 2013 @ 4:27 pm
I haven’t been to all of his shows, but in the last year and a half or so I’ve seen him play Corpus Christi Bay, Amarillo Highway, Jesse With the Long Hair Hanging Down, Paint the Town Beige, and Daddy Had a Buick, all from Bigger Piece of Sky. A couple of those were at Floore’s one night when he played till 2 am so maybe you have a point. Come to think of it he finished with So I Can Take My Rest.
March 26, 2013 @ 11:50 am
I think REK’s best studio album is Gringo Honeymoon. The best live record is #2 live dinner Best live country record of all time for my money Willie Nelson and family live.
March 25, 2013 @ 11:04 am
Number’s 1 through 80 should be George Jones.
March 25, 2013 @ 1:36 pm
This comment deserves more likes.
March 25, 2013 @ 2:51 pm
So does the Possum. I understand that lot of the production/Nashville in his sound might turn away more underground folks than, say, Waylon or Cash, but the dude’s voice is like the God particle of country music.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M7n20NsFXy8
March 26, 2013 @ 6:47 am
Like Waylon himself said “If we could all sound like we wanted to we would all sing like George Jones.”
March 26, 2013 @ 11:38 am
There is no better singer than George Jones, and there is certainly none more country than Jones.
March 25, 2013 @ 11:06 am
Good list, see a lot of my favorites on there as well. I know this is all personal opinion, and we’d all have complaints about each others lists, but very surprised to see Terry Allen’s Lubbock on Everything didn’t make the cut.
March 25, 2013 @ 1:37 pm
We’ll have to check that one out. Thanks for the suggestion!
March 25, 2013 @ 3:04 pm
Lubbock On Everything is a great album! great suggestion
March 25, 2013 @ 11:06 am
The fact that Wanted! The Outlaws isn’t on this list is killing most all cred of it.
March 25, 2013 @ 11:19 am
As I stated in the introduction, compilation albums of previous material do not qualify. We will probably to a comp/tribute/greatest hits list at some point, and I can assure you it will be #1. Obviously, it’s one of the most important albums in country music history, if not THE most important. But if I included it, I’d have to consider all compilations albums, and that wasn’t the spirit of this list.
March 25, 2013 @ 11:11 am
A few others
Randy Travis-Old 8 x 10
Son Volt-Trace
March 25, 2013 @ 11:37 am
I just added 8 x 10. I had it on the list at one point. It was right on the bubble. But since we’re expanding beyond 80, it deserves to be there.
March 28, 2013 @ 10:12 am
I don’t know how you feel about them, Trig, but I think Whiskeytown’s “Stranger’s Almanac” and “Faithless Street” are both extremely important country albums. You can hate Ryan Adams all you want for being a pompous douche, but much like Gram and the Byrds, even if the people weren’t, the music was stone cold country.
March 28, 2013 @ 10:29 am
I think you’re absolutely right, Rob. I think those are two great albums. I have stayed away from Ryan Adams solo albums because (1) I think he’s a special kind of jerk and (2) I don’t trust his editorial decisions (or lack thereof). I’ve been thinking of picking up his Heartbreaker album for a long time, but thus far I just.. can’t… do…it.
March 28, 2013 @ 11:38 am
Heartbreaker is pretty good, still has a lot of his Whiskeytown flair. “To Be Young,” “Oh My Sweet Carolina” are great tracks. After that, his good songs are few on far between on the following albums.
March 25, 2013 @ 11:24 am
A lot a times when I try to think of my favorite albums, I want to pick a Buddy Miller solo album, but can’t decide which one, as I think they’re all excellent. So, I would say pick any of his three Hightone releases: Your Love and Other Lies, Poison Love and Cruel Moon.
I think Buddy is significant in that he has high visibility in the Americana world and is also one of the more Country artists in that realm.
March 25, 2013 @ 1:38 pm
We need one of these lists for Americana.
March 26, 2013 @ 4:42 am
I nominate every album from “Beggars Banquet” to “Exile on Mainstreet.”
March 26, 2013 @ 5:28 am
Magnificent four album run (with Let It Bleed and Sticky Fingers in between). Maybe the best. For my money, that’s when it becomes a fair fight between the Beatles and Stones.
March 25, 2013 @ 11:26 am
Just a couple I would of added..Ray Price – Night Life, Billy Joe Shaver – Tramp on your street and Guy Clark – Old No. 1
March 25, 2013 @ 11:28 am
My bad Old No. 1 is on there
March 25, 2013 @ 1:41 pm
“Night Life” is a good one. Ol’ Ray deserves to be on this list somewhere.
March 25, 2013 @ 11:32 am
Some records missed. Chiseled in Stone- Vern Gosdin, Keith Whitley- Don’t Close Your Eyes, Willie Nelson- Spirit, Rodney Crowell- Diamonds and Dirt. Those are the first ones that come to mind.
Also really with the Kellie Pickler again? No way she is on any all time greats list….
March 25, 2013 @ 4:10 pm
Definitely need Vern
March 25, 2013 @ 11:47 am
I remember watching a video with Joe Buck (probably from a link on this site) where he talked about how he once dismissed country music as his parents’ music until he heard that album. Just nodded my head. For me, it was a drive in the late ’80s from New Jersey to Long Island and listening to a public station that was playing classic country songs. Many Hank Sr. songs. It ws right then that I started to “get” country music that didn’t have a rock component. Bought the 40 Greatest Hits album shortly after.
March 25, 2013 @ 11:48 am
Oops. Meant to link to Trigger’s response to my Hank Sr. 40 Greatest Hits comment.
March 25, 2013 @ 1:46 pm
Yes, that was from that Swedish documentary from a few years back. Great quote.
At the 6:40 mark (audio is out-of-sync)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8LwzO2Ih9DQ
March 25, 2013 @ 11:49 am
Really enjoyed this list, and thanks for putting the time in to create it. One thing that comes to mind for me is that it may be premature to put any of the newer underground country artists on a list like this (Hank III, Hellbound Glory, .357 String Band, etc.). I have no doubt that they’ve been influential within the underground community (and I’m a fan of all of them), but I have yet to see their influence spilling over into the mainstream.
I suppose you addressed this when you said “This is taking into consideration the wide panoram of country music, not just classic or traditional country.” To me it just doesn’t seem at this point like they’re at the same level of importance as most of the rest on the list.
March 25, 2013 @ 1:51 pm
I think that is a fair point, but yes, I did want to try and represent all the facets of country, including the underground. Some may see an album like Emmylou’s “Wrecking Ball” and say it’s not country, but I think its significance is what is important.
.357 String Band and Hellbound Glory may be somewhat presumptuous, but I do believe Hank3’s “Straight to Hell” had a huge impact on country music as a whole, creating a country music underground, breaking down barriers by being recorded DIY style in someone’s home, a first for the CMA, the first parental advisory sticker for the CMA, and caused insurgence of younger people to get into traditional country music (for better or worse). The strangeness of Disc 2 was also groundbreaking.
March 25, 2013 @ 2:32 pm
Hellbound glory Old Highs and New lows definitely deserve to be on the list. It redeems your Garth Brooks and Miranda pick lol. I wouldn’t push it but Whitey Morgan deserve some love too. (Honky Tonk and Cheap Motels). The only reason why I wouldnt put it on is its over-reliance on cover songs and remakes. So much talent shouldnt need them.
March 25, 2013 @ 6:30 pm
I don’t think this list represents ENOUGH newer albums… Where’s “Bury Me Where I Fall” by Joseph Huber? Top ten album of all-time and you can include all genres in that list. Also, STH is ranked way too low. I skip songs on almost all country albums but never Straight To Hell, or Joseph Huber solo albums.
March 27, 2013 @ 8:35 pm
Seriously… Ropin’ The Wind is better than Bury Me Where I Fall?
March 27, 2013 @ 9:45 pm
Nobody said anything about “better.” This is meant to be an all-encompassing list that attempts to factor in numerous metrics and takes everyone’s tastes into consideration.
March 28, 2013 @ 6:22 pm
Why take bad taste into consideration? And better implies best, which is a synonym of greatest.
March 25, 2013 @ 12:10 pm
I think Ramsay Midwood – Shootout at the OK Chinese Restaurant would be a nice addition
March 25, 2013 @ 1:52 pm
Sounds like a cool one, we’ll check it out!
March 25, 2013 @ 12:12 pm
Corb Lund- Losin’ Lately Gambler
Buck Owens – Together Again
March 25, 2013 @ 12:12 pm
I realize this might stretch the definition of “album,” but how about The Flatlanders – More a Legend Than a Band?
Unless it is considered “crossover,” I’d also add The Flying Burrito Brothers – Gilded Palace of Sin.
March 25, 2013 @ 3:03 pm
“Gilded Palace of Sin” was on the bubble when putting the list together. Since I’d already put “Sweetheart of the Rodeo” and “Griveous Angel” so high, I didn’t want folks thinking I was shoving Gram Parsons down their throat. Adding it to the list now.
March 26, 2013 @ 12:15 pm
Shove away Garth (not Brooks, from old SNL routine). Gilded needs to be up there, possibly higher than Sweetheart, at least the original Sweetheart with Gram’s vocals replaced by Roger’s.
March 26, 2013 @ 12:31 pm
…should have said “with Gram’s vocals restored as originally intended.”
March 25, 2013 @ 12:24 pm
With respect to the Johnny Cash American Recordings albums, it’s tough for me to pick between the first two (American Recordings and Unchained. Coming in third would be Solitary Man. Sure, The Man Comes Around had Hurt on it and the video was powerful, but I thought the album was a little hit or miss. Title track was great, though.
March 25, 2013 @ 1:54 pm
That is why I lumped them all together like I did. Rating those albums is like asking a rainbow what its favorite color is. Think we can all agree they’re great and significant.
March 25, 2013 @ 2:52 pm
I hear ya, man. Just fun stuff to talk about. 🙂
March 25, 2013 @ 6:36 pm
I dig me some Cash and this includes the American recordings but they’re damned near all rehashed songs so I ‘d strike them from the list.
March 25, 2013 @ 12:26 pm
Although it’s hard to justify on a list like this, you can’t underestimate the importance of the O’ Brother Where Art Thou soundtrack…
March 25, 2013 @ 1:35 pm
I made a similar list recently. I did 100, 100 CDs that I actually own so some older albums that I haven’t bought on CD got left off. Odd that you let people make suggestions to your list.
How come no Marty Robbins “Gunfighter Ballads and Trail Songs”? Did you have Charlie Pride, the first black Country and Western star. You also seem to be missing all the truck driving country music. You included the Byrds but no “Guilded Palace of Sin” or GP’s solo albums. One Townse Van Zandt album also seems sparse, why no “Our Mother the Mountain”? What about Bob Dylan’s “Nashville Skyline”? It isn’t Dylan’s best album but him and Johnny recording together in Nashville was a big deal.
You’re also missing a lot of the string band and old timey country, it is true they didn’t release a lot of albums, what about “Satan is Real” by the Louvin Brothers. I’d definitely have another Emmylou album too, how about “Spyboy”?
Seems like you need more fiddles and banjos. What about Neil Young’s country albums either “Old Ways” which has Walon Jennings on it or even “Harvest” which was recorded in Nashville with Emmylou, Linda Ronstadt and James Taylor and the Stray Gators including the late Ben Keith. What about “Trio” by Emmylou Harris, Linda Rondstadt, and Dolly Parton, my mom played the heck out of that in the 80s.
Here is my recent list of 100 CDs I own:
http://blog.muschamp.ca/2013/03/07/my-favourite-albums/
March 25, 2013 @ 3:17 pm
Hey Muskie,
Thanks for the suggestions and the link. Marty Robbins is already on there. I’ve added Flying Burrito and “Satan Is Real” subsequently.
As for “Spyboy,” since it is a live album that basically represents the content of “Wrecking Ball,” I thought one was enough. Good album, but maybe a little redundant for the list, maybe give a chance to another name.
Bob Dylan’s “Nashville Skyline” is an excellent suggestion and I’m going to add it now. I swear I remembered it when I was putting together the list, but it must have slipped my mind before I typed it out.
March 25, 2013 @ 3:33 pm
Spyboy was a great live album. Saw them a couple of times. First intro to Buddy Miller, who was on guitar and mandoguitar (?).
Speaking of live Emmylou albums, another great one was Emmylou Harris and the Nash Ramblers At the Ryman. Saw them as well. What. a. band.
March 31, 2013 @ 3:12 pm
Buddy Miller and Julie Miller opened for Steve Earle and played with Steve Earl in the Dukes before I saw the Spyboy tour, or at least that was how things were in Canada.
April 1, 2013 @ 6:01 am
Thanks, Muskie. Actually, I just meant that the Spyboy album and tour was my first introduction to Buddy Miller. When I saw them, Emmylou recommended from the stage that we check out Buddy’s and his wife Julie’s albums on Hightone Records. As I was very impressed with his playing and very strong singing, I looked into his and Julie’s albums and fairly shortly thereafter bought all three Buddy albums out at the time and both of Julie’s albums. I’d give each one of those five albums a solid A. The only proper Steve Earle album I think I had at the time was his bluegrass album The Mountain with the Del McCoury Band, which I believe came out in the same year as Spyboy (1998). By the time I got around to seeing Steve with the Dukes (2004,I believe), Buddy was no longer in the lead guitar slot.
March 25, 2013 @ 1:42 pm
Pretty good list. I was surprised to see the Dixie Chicks on there though. I reckon they’ve been important to country music as a whole though. And maybe I’m just biased and I know it hasn’t been widely listened to but The Boomswagglers’ album should be on there. That one is a classic.
March 25, 2013 @ 7:38 pm
I’ve always thought that Boomswagglers album could become a cult classic, and it still very well could. It’s one of those albums that years down the road will still hold up, and could blow up at any moment.
March 26, 2013 @ 7:33 am
You got a good point there. At some point I’m sure it’ll get passed around widely enough to gain a bigger following, and those guys deserve it. It’s one of the greatest albums ever made.
March 25, 2013 @ 2:04 pm
Nice list, Trig! My personal list would be very close to this. I would add Turnpike Troubadours and 3 Pears to it.
March 25, 2013 @ 3:05 pm
Turnpike Troubadours are REALLY, REALLY good right now. Wouldn’t be surprised if those boys are selling out arena in two years.
March 26, 2013 @ 11:58 am
Just saw them recently for the 1st time live Blew me away
March 25, 2013 @ 2:20 pm
That list is pretty good. Lots to discuss. It’s hard to argue with a lot of it. I’m pretty biased, but I’d like to see some of the old 90’s alt-country guys on there, Old 97’s, Whiskeytown, Uncle Tupelo, some of those dudes. Or the Flatlanders first record. Again, HEAVILY biased in that direction.
March 25, 2013 @ 3:07 pm
Uncle Tupelo and “No Depression” are on there. An alt-country list might ne needed at some point in the future.
March 25, 2013 @ 3:34 pm
Shit. My bad. I’d like to see your alt-country list as well as maybe an explanation of the difference between underground country vs. alt-country or Americana or whatever they call it. I’m a little hazy on the difference. Still, great list.
March 25, 2013 @ 2:24 pm
Two glaring omissions for me: Billy Joe Shaver – Old Five and Dimers Like Me and also The Louvin Brothers – Satan Is Real. Thanks for doing this list!
March 25, 2013 @ 2:55 pm
Old Five and Dimers is on there….I missed first go around as well. It’s #68
March 25, 2013 @ 3:04 pm
Whoops! Well thanks for pointing that out.
March 25, 2013 @ 3:09 pm
“Satan Is Real” is a glaring omission. Super important album. Maybe that was the one I couldn’t sleep last night thinking I forgot. Adding now.
March 25, 2013 @ 2:26 pm
I don’t quite know how Unknown Hinson’s album made that list, but the fact it was released by a major label like Capitol/EMI Nashville was some kind of miracle! (lol)
Who or what in the hell is a “Ween”?
March 25, 2013 @ 3:11 pm
Gotta check out that album. One of my personal favorites of all time. The most genius country parody album ever released.
March 25, 2013 @ 3:36 pm
Rick Moranis’ country parody record “The Agoraphobic Cowboy” is pretty damned good, too. (If you’re interested in respectful parodies.)
March 25, 2013 @ 6:38 pm
Everyone needs to listen to Fluffy. Now.
March 25, 2013 @ 9:53 pm
Reading this article made me want to listen to Fluffy… and I did. It would appear I’m not the only one
March 26, 2013 @ 10:29 am
Piss Up a Rope
March 25, 2013 @ 2:29 pm
Terry Allen – Lubbock
March 25, 2013 @ 3:07 pm
I forgot about Terry Allen. There definitely needs to be some Lubbock Mafia representation on there though, if we’re gonna get nit-picky about an otherwise great list.
March 25, 2013 @ 2:34 pm
Merle Travis – Folk Songs of the Hills
March 25, 2013 @ 6:43 pm
Merle Travis fer sure. I Don’t know Folk Songs of the Hills but if it has any of Dark As Dungeon, Nine Pound Hammer, or I Am a Pilgrim on it, it’s worth adding without a doubt.
March 26, 2013 @ 6:11 am
Track listing for Folk Songs of the Hills
Nine Pound Hammer
John Henry
Sixteen Tons
Dark as a Dungeon
That’s All
Over by Number Nine
I Am a Pilgrim
Muskrat
This World is Not My Home
John Bolin
Possum up a Simmon Tree
Barbara Allen
Lost John
March 26, 2013 @ 10:28 am
shit… with all those tracks, i’d put it on TWICE.
March 25, 2013 @ 2:48 pm
Glad to see Johnny Cash up there more than once 🙂 I do think that an album that gets overlooked a lot, but was very influential and one of Johnny’s best, was his album…
“Bitter Tears: Ballads of the American Indian”
March 25, 2013 @ 3:20 pm
I absolutely love the fact that you gave props to Ween’s album, that band is absolutely brilliant, and their one country album altough lyrically very Ween, was just a great country album musically. Very nice!
March 25, 2013 @ 3:46 pm
Good list I would have added Jerry Jeff Walkers Viva Terlingua or a man must carry on to the list and for REK albums would have added Gringo Honeymoon Would have also added some Ray Wylie Hubbard Eternal and Lowdown.
March 25, 2013 @ 4:14 pm
“Viva Terlingua” is on there and we added REK’s “West Textures.” I think Ray Wylie Hubbard would argue he’s not country. 😉
March 26, 2013 @ 9:13 am
My bad, did not see Viva Terlingua on the list. I think Ray Wylie is a lot of things and country is one of them.(weather he beleives it or not) He wrote redneck mother for crimney sakes. The cowboy twinkies days certianly had more country leanings than the blues leaning later albums. Check out the live from ciblo creek country club record a very organic accoustic sparese yet full band record that covers a lot of country territory on it. Also from my perspective Chris Wall’s live at Gruene Hall record is an all timer for me. I’m glad to see TVZ’s live at the old quater on here. I agree with a lot of others Vern Gosdin should be on the list somewere.
March 25, 2013 @ 4:06 pm
Wow Miranda made the cut. I didn’t know what your take was on her. Especially being married to the biggest Jackass in country.
March 25, 2013 @ 5:36 pm
Another vote for Terry Allen. Lubbock would be a solid addition. If I had a problem it would be tryin to figure out which of his _other_ albums to add.
March 25, 2013 @ 6:21 pm
Great list. Most of my complaints would be more personal preference. However, since you have some Bluegrass here you have to include JD Crowe & The New South. Great album and very influential.
Others of the top of my head I would consider are Nashville Skyline (Very influential), Trio by Parton/Ronstadt/Harris, Tramp On Your Street (already mentioned), What I Deserve by Kelly Willis, Lucinda William’s self-titled album, Strangers Almanac by Whiskeytown and The List by Rosanne Cash.
I’m sure I’ll think of a few more.
March 25, 2013 @ 6:22 pm
The one thing I would change from just glancing at the list is Guy Clark – Old No.1. You placed it at 60. On my personal list it would be top 5 if not 1st. But I understand why you wouldn’t put it there for this list. I think it should be in the top 50 if not 25
March 25, 2013 @ 6:28 pm
Sorry this doesn’t pertain to the article, but here is Blake Shelton’s latest single going to radio tomorrow… http://vimeo.com/61706086
March 25, 2013 @ 6:35 pm
Great mix, here!
My personal faves:
Johnny Cash ”“ American Recordings (Take Your Pick)
Bob Dylan ”“ Nashville Skyline
The Dixie Chicks ”“ Home
Lucinda Williams ”“ Car Wheels on a Gravel Road
Loretta Lynn ”“ Van Lear Rose
The Dixie Chicks ”“ Wide Open Spaces
Plus I have LeAnn Rimes’ ‘Blue,’ though it’s been quite a while since I’ve listened to it… And George Strait’s ‘Blue Clear Sky’ was great — my mother has that on cassette, but I used to borrow it from time to time.
March 25, 2013 @ 6:35 pm
No Porter Wagoner????
Satisfied Mind, The Cold Hard Facts of Life, The Carroll County Accident or Wagonmaster…
March 25, 2013 @ 7:39 pm
Im surprised that The Band-S/T isnt on this list. Yeah it did stray from the country sound here and there, but it played a key role in revitalizing America’s interest in the genre.
Dillard & Clark-Fantastic Expedition of Dillard & Clark is a masterpiece that got overlooked too.
Would have loved to see some Poco and Jason and the Scorchers on here as well but otherwise a pretty solid list that generates discussion and new things to check out.
March 25, 2013 @ 7:46 pm
Adding to the above discussion about REK, I agree he needs to be added to the list. However, the “Red Dirt” genre wouldn’t exist without Bob Childers. He is cited time and again by Jason Boland, Cody Canada, Michael Hosty, Stoney Larue, etc. as being the guy that made it all happen. Nothin’ More Natural, Circles Toward the Sun, Kindred Spirits, Ride For the Cimarron… Take your pick. As far as best of genre, Boland’s Comal County Blue is legendary…
I also think that Hasil Adkins has to be represented. Southern WV, Boone County in particular has given a lot to country music and culture. Hasil and the Whites have had a huge influence on Hank III and many other country artists.
I was going to discount this guy, but since you included Ween, I’d have to say that CW McCall’s Wolf Creek Pass or Black Bear Road should be on the list. From the same era, The Smokey and the Bandit soundtrack by Jerry Reed is another serious consideration. CW McCall’s song Convoy and the movie Smokey and the Bandit spawned entire genres of music and film, and significantly affected country music and culture.
March 26, 2013 @ 4:58 am
Definitely need a trucker album on there; “Black Bear Road” is probably THE representative trucker album.
March 25, 2013 @ 7:53 pm
Thanks for all the suggestions folks! I’m taking them under advisement and will add albums where seen fit.
March 25, 2013 @ 8:04 pm
Bobbie Gentry- Ode To Billie Joe
…she sold piles of this record and according to wikipedia,knocked Sgt.Pepper off the #1 spot during it’s fifteen week run at the top.
March 25, 2013 @ 8:41 pm
Good addition of Mountain Soul. I was about to suggest that. Patty Loveless is one of the more mainstream artists who should get more credit from traditional fans. She had a few pop country albums (that were her most popular) in the mid 1990s, but her late 80s/early 90s stuff is pure traditional country, and her recent bluegrass albums are amazing.
March 26, 2013 @ 8:17 am
“Patty Loveless ”“ Mountain Soul”
Must have been added to the list after I posted last night. Patty’s one of my very favorites anyway (I have a soft spot for 1994’s ‘When Fallen Angels Fly,’ which struck me as an especially fine mix of country-pop and traditional sounds), but ‘Mountain Soul’ is a most excellent pick!
March 25, 2013 @ 8:56 pm
This a very nice list and I appreciate the effort. Here’s a few I’d like to see;
John Prine – The Missing Years. Chose this as Prine received major label promo on the classic first album (and follow ups). This album was out of nowhere, as the title states.
Terry Allen – Lubbock On Everything. It’s hard to leave Terry off a list of underground country. This is an all time classic.
Doug Sahm – Doug Sahm & Band. This is my strongest argument of omissions. Doug was underground the underground and did it better than anyone.
Steve Earle – Train A Comin. Similar to Prine’s missing years. Steve was a known/previously promoted artist. But he was down & out from addiction and possession arrest before he released this amazing album (5 years after his last release).
Chris Knight – Chris Knight. I would argue any of his albums, but the debut seems most appropriate. I’ve never understood how Chris has flown so far off the radar.
The Bottle Rockets – Bottle Rockets. Their debut is a classic. Of course, they also recorded a kick ass tribute to Doug Sahm.
Son Volt – Trace. I appreciate the Uncle Tupelo inclusion. In my opinion – Trace was the best album released in the 90’s.
Uncle Tupelo – Anodyne. As mentioned, appreciate the UT No Depression inclusion. But since we’re talking about country – Anodyne is awesomely countrified and includes a cover duet with Doug Sahm.
A few more (that may or may not fit here). I realize I’m off on a vein that many don’t consider country (but I do);
Whiskeytown – Strangers Almanac
The Jayhawks – Tomorrow The Green Grass
BR549 – BR5-49
Cowboy Junkies – The Trinity Session
James McMurtry – It Had To Happen
Alejandro Escovedo – Gravity
Cracker with Leftover Salmon – O’ Cracker, Where Art Thou?
March 25, 2013 @ 8:59 pm
One more; Buddy Miller – Midnight and Lonesome
March 25, 2013 @ 11:40 pm
Good suggestions. A lot of these would work as greatest alt-country albums.
March 26, 2013 @ 6:17 am
Having UT’s No Depression on there makes sense as it was such a landmark album, but I would say that Anodyne was their best album. Other Alt-Country/Americana-ish favorites of mine not yet mentioned, I don’t think:
Bottle Rockets – The Brooklyn Side
Jayhawks – Hollywood Town Hall
Wilco – Being There
Gillian Welch – Revival, Time (The Revelator)
Cowboy Junkies – Black Eyed Man
Lucinda Williams – Lucinda Williams, Sweet Old World
John Hiatt – Bring the Family, Slow Turning, Perfectly Good Guitar
Vic Chesnutt – West of Rome, Is the Actor Happy
Chuck Prophet – No Other Love, Let Freedom Ring
Steve Earle – five album run from Train a Comin’ to Transcendental Blues
Drive-By Truckers – The Dirty South, Decoration Day, Southern Rock Opera
Patty Griffin – Impossible Dream, Children Running Through
Eilen Jewell – Sea of Tears
Graham Parker – Struck By Lightning (out of left field, I know.)
Alejandro Escovedo – More Miles Than Money (live)
James McMurtry – Live in Aught Three
Ray Wylie Hubbard – pick however many you want from Dangerous Spirits to The Grifter’s Hymnal
Jim Lauderdale – Headed for the Hills (first collaboration with Robert Hunter)
March 26, 2013 @ 7:49 am
I know it’s a stretch to call him Americana, but Richard Thompson is much beloved by many in that community. A few great ones by him:
Rumor and Sigh
Shoot Out the Lights
Mock Tudor
Electric (new one and my favorite since 1999’s Mock Tudor)
March 25, 2013 @ 10:08 pm
Nice work, this is a really good list. Here”™s some more that you might consider. Sorry if I missed one that”™s already on there or someone already suggested, I looked over it pretty fast.
Jimmy Buffet- Living and Dying in ¾ Time
Corb Lund- Cabin Fever or Losing Lately Gambler
Dierks Bentley- Up on the Ridge
Whiskey Town- Faithless Street
Travis Tritt- Its All About to Change
Turnpike Troubadours- Diamonds and Gasoline or Goodbye Normal Street
Hayes Carll- Trouble in Mind
Willis Allan Ramsey- Willis Allan Ramsey
March 25, 2013 @ 11:34 pm
Willie Allan Ramsey is on there. That’s one I hope a lot of people don’t recognize but look further into.
Just added Hayes Carll’s “Trouble in Mind”
March 25, 2013 @ 10:26 pm
George Jones-With Love
George Jones-First time live!
Jamey Johnson-That lonesome song
Vern Gosdin- Chiseled in stone
Keith Whitley-Don’t close your eyes
March 25, 2013 @ 11:38 pm
“That Lonesome Song” is on there.
Keith Whitley and Vern Gosdin have been added. Thanks for the suggestions!
March 26, 2013 @ 6:00 am
Obviously, the questions becomes “what is country?”
I saw James McMurtry and John Prine mentioned above. If they meet the standard of “country,” then you can’t leave them off. John Prine’s self-titled debut might be his best. Diamonds in the Rough was the most “country” of his early albums.
As far as McMurtry, I don’t think he’s ever released an album that wasn’t and “A” or “A+.” Too hard to pick one. You can diss him as too “NPR” or whatever, but there is no better song writer.
March 26, 2013 @ 8:04 am
RD, I’d say that the only way McMurtry can be considered NPR is that he leans left politically. My guess is that he wouldn’t have a lot of patience for anyone resembling the NPR Elitist archetype described here a while back. Intense dude.
March 26, 2013 @ 10:00 am
I would consider both of those artists “alt-country” more than country, but if they had released an album that had big reverberations in the country world, then we could include them on this list.
March 26, 2013 @ 6:25 am
I think you need a little Buck Owens in there, or am I missing it? Live at Carnegie Hall??
Mike
March 26, 2013 @ 7:28 am
I second this!
March 26, 2013 @ 10:03 am
I’ve had a bunch of Buck Owens suggestions, but each one names a different album. We need to build a consensus about what album to add.
March 26, 2013 @ 6:50 am
great list…lots of albums i need to check out.. i would place a vote for bill monroe and doc watson somewhere in there…there is a folkways release that features their live performances “off the record: vol 2” …amazing.
March 26, 2013 @ 6:59 am
Bean Blossom is up there. But I guess that’s more of a various artists album.
I have the Bill Monroe/Doc Watson album of which your speak. You’re right. It’s a great one.
I guess the problem with earlier artists is that some of them pre-dated the album era. If a compilations list is made, here are two candidates:
Bill Monroe – The Essential Bill Monroe and His Bluegrass Boys (1945 -1949)
Doc Watson – The Essential Doc Watson (on Vanguard)
March 26, 2013 @ 7:56 am
Hey Trig,
Long time reader but just signed in to comment and give my .02. You left off, what I feel, one of the most influencial and relevant bands from the Austin, TX scene. The Derailers with Tony Villanueva were about as big as you could get in that particular area and were a big influence on many artists. As for album, pick one, from Reverb Deluxe, Jackpot or Full Western Dress.
Newt
March 26, 2013 @ 8:23 am
Speaking of Carnegie Hall:
Flatt and Scruggs: Live at Carnegie Hall!
March 26, 2013 @ 8:46 am
Trigger, nice list.
Doug Sahm should be on there for his influence on the 90’s underground alone.
‘the most important determining factor was influence’
Unfortunately by only considering long playing albums you undermine what is stated as the reason for the list. The LP only took dominance in the 60’s. Although there are great LP’s from the 50’s the dominate format at the time was the 45 and before that the 78.
To have a list based on influence but exclude the founding fathers solely due to the fact that the ‘modern’ format was not yet created seems silly. Have a cut off year of say 1963 to exclude ‘greatest hits’, but don’t simply ignore pre-1960 recordings.
For a 1960’s onwards list though it covers at lot of ground.
March 26, 2013 @ 10:10 am
My intention is to do a list including these albums at a later date, and may even call it “Most Influential” or something. I just felt adding comps and greatest hits would muddy the whole process. I believe it trying to push original releases of material that display the content in the way the artist intended it to be first, so that things like “theme” and “mood” can be garnered from songs, that sometimes is erased in compilations.
March 26, 2013 @ 8:47 am
This list is incomplete without Chris LeDoux! World champion bronc rider and he went through three livers. That is a real country musician.
March 26, 2013 @ 10:07 am
Love Chris LeDoux, but this is not a list of artists, it is a list of albums. What Chris LeDoux album do you think is the caliber of the rest of that albums listed above? Thanks for the input!
March 26, 2013 @ 10:01 am
Since I’m seeing this in multiple comments, I think it is important to note that this is not a list of artists, it is a list of albums. Just because we like an artist, doesn’t mean they had that one career album that really helped change the music. Sometimes their best songs are splayed out across many different albums. If you see an artist that you think deserves to be on here, think about their one definitive album that you think really had an impact, not just that their name isn’t here and so we must shoehorn one of their albums on to this list where it doesn’t really belong.
And keep the suggestions coming. We’ll try to stretch the list to 100 before cutting it off.
March 26, 2013 @ 10:30 am
I would kick out “The Pressure is On” and replace it with, “Habits Old and New”. Just check out the songs on the two of them if you don’t agree.
March 26, 2013 @ 10:33 am
John Prine/ Souvenirs
March 26, 2013 @ 10:36 am
it might help Terry Allen cause for Lubbock (On Everything), but it’s worth mentioning anyway. i think that (Lubbock) was the first, or one of the first, albums Lloyd Maines ever produced. that’s worthy of some recognition in my book.
March 26, 2013 @ 11:07 am
No Lucky Tubb but you put Kellie Pickler? Bad day at the office Triggerman. No Hank Sr? Bleh. Guess there’s no accounting for taste when the circle gets broken. Glad to see Lyle on there. I agree with 95% of youns list iff’n you care.
March 26, 2013 @ 11:35 am
What Hank Sr. album that is not a compilation would you suggest?
March 26, 2013 @ 11:19 am
While perhaps not in the vein of some of the other greats on the list, my favorite album of all time is Hal Ketchum’s “Awaiting Redemption.” Great music from one of the most underrated artists in the genre.
March 26, 2013 @ 11:31 am
Hal Ketchum havn’t heard that name in a looong time. One of the first concerts I went to as a kid.
March 26, 2013 @ 11:38 am
I second the Live At Carnegie Hall album.
March 26, 2013 @ 11:39 am
I meant this as a reply to Trigger for the Buck Owens album.
March 26, 2013 @ 1:41 pm
Added!
March 26, 2013 @ 12:08 pm
Brooks and Dunn’s album “Brand New Man” should be on the list. It ushered in the 90’s country and specifically “them” for the next decade or so. They added an energy missing in the 80’s but remained country in their subsequent albums. We may hate “Boot scootin boogie” but we should not ignore “Neon Moon” or “Lost and Found” or the title track “Brand New Man” as well as many good songs released by them in that decade.
March 26, 2013 @ 12:56 pm
The 90’s is the decade I started giving up on country music.
March 26, 2013 @ 1:34 pm
I agree. That was another one I mulled when putting the list together but apparently forgot about later.
March 26, 2013 @ 12:12 pm
Jason boland and the stragglers-Conakry county blue
Bob Childers/jimmy lafave- I ain’t no jukebox
March 26, 2013 @ 1:42 pm
Added “Comal County Blue.” Great album, you were the 2nd or 3rd to suggest it, and I wanted to get more Red Dirt representation here. Thanks for the suggestion!
March 26, 2013 @ 12:18 pm
@ jack
It makes me no never mind whether Hank made compilations or not. His body of work speaks for itself and to exclude him for the liked of pop country just ain’t right
March 26, 2013 @ 1:47 pm
The point of this list is discovery. It is explained at the top why Hank Williams is not included, so I don’t think anyone will look at this list and infer that Hank Williams had no influence on the music. Or since he still mentioned in connection with the list, even if there is someone out there that is from a different planet and has no idea who Hank Williams is, they will still take the time to discover him. And nobody is “excluding” him for pop country. Hank Williams’ legacy is way more powerful than any stupid list I could ever compose.
March 26, 2013 @ 12:26 pm
willy tea 4 strings?
March 26, 2013 @ 12:26 pm
Great list I know alot of work went in it. I was working on a list of deserted island cds. and a few of your picks were on my list. I only had 10 so far.
March 26, 2013 @ 12:33 pm
Well, compilations are typically left off of “best albums” lists and he did state he was excluding them form this particular list. Of course, that means a lot of earlier country greats are automatically excluded. There’s no Jimmie Rodgers, Carter Family or Roy Acuff on here, either.
For what it’s worth, Hank Williams’s 40 Greatest Hits would be ranked #1 among the country albums that I own.
March 26, 2013 @ 12:35 pm
Response to Yep It’s Me.
March 26, 2013 @ 12:59 pm
Really glad to see Hank III Satan is Real in the top 25. That album came out when I was 18 years old, and until that point, I had no interest in country music. But, I liked Hank III and his style. Through his introduction to this world of underground, not on the radio country, I’ve found music I LOVE! Going to Hank shows, talking to his fans, hearing his opening bands, and looking for music like his that I liked, I’m now proud to say I’ve given almost every album on the list a listen. Some, I love. Some, not so much. But, my introduction to all of it through Hank III deserves some major props to Hank and that album! And, I realize Hank III seems to have hit his peak with Satan is Real, as his more recent music hasn’t been as good, in my humble opinion, but Satan is Real was a damn good album and I’ll always love it for the introduction it gave me to music I now love! Awesome list!! 🙂
March 26, 2013 @ 1:03 pm
It’s a shame the founding artists didn’t release albums but we all have to remember they only released singles back in those days. Imagine if Jimmie Rodgers released a whole album of blue yodels back in the 20’s of course the technology wasn’t there. I still have an old Hanks 78. It only has 2 songs on it one on each side. I still think you can include box sets etc on greatest lists.
March 26, 2013 @ 2:02 pm
Two albums that I believe should be considered:
Waylon Jennings and Willie Nelson – ‘Waylon and Willie’. I know that some of the songs on that record had been previously released, but as an album it was pretty monumental.
Radney Foster – ‘Del Rio, TX 1959’. I think it’s certainly one of the top 50 country records, every song is so well written.
March 26, 2013 @ 3:05 pm
Gary Stewart “Out Of Hand” one of the best honky tonk albums ever….
March 26, 2013 @ 4:01 pm
Some of my personal favorites:
Nanci Griffith — ‘Last of the True Believers’ and ‘Lone Star State of Mind’ (1986) (I prefer the former, which has “Love at the Five & Dime” and “Goin’ Gone” on it, but I must admit it’s probably more folk than country)
Suzy Bogguss, ‘Somewhere Between’ (1988 debut)
Carlene Carter, ‘I Fell in Love’ (1990)
Mary Chapin Carpenter, ‘Come On Come On’ (1992) and ‘Stones in the Road’ (1994) (though more of a folk artist, she really seemed to strike a chord with the country community during the first half of the ’90s)
Kim Richey, self-titled (1995) and ‘Bitter Sweet’ (1997) (the former seemed to have more of an influence on female country artists in the ’90s — roughly half of its songs have been covered by the likes of Trisha Yearwood, Lorrie Morgan, Mindy McCready, Patty Loveless and Suzy Bogguss — but I actually prefer the latter album)
***
Rosanne Cash’s ‘Interiors’ (1990) is another I’d recommend; not one I’ve listened to a lot, but it was pretty powerful stuff…
March 27, 2013 @ 7:44 am
I think Lone Star State of Mind is the first album I ever bought that wasn’t in the Rock/Pop or Blues section at a record store. I have a vivid memory of hearing NYC DJ Vin Schelsa play Ford Econoline on his Idiot’s Delight program while I was driving on Route 22 in New Jersey. Had to have it. Also, one of the last vinyl LP’s I ever bought. Last of the True Believers was a great one, too. Other favorites of mine by Nanci are One Fair Summer Evening (live) and Other Voices, Other Rooms. Haven’t kept up with her latest releases as much as either she’s gone a bit too adult contemporary for me or my tastes have changed.
March 27, 2013 @ 1:23 pm
‘Other Voices…’ was my introduction to Nanci, too — aside from other artists’ covers of her songs such as “Love at the Five & Dime” (Kathy Mattea), “Outbound Plane” (Suzy Bogguss) and “It’s a Hard Life Wherever You Go” (Emmylou Harris). ‘The MCA Years: A Retrospective’ was next, and I worked my backwards from there. (I also have ‘Flyer,’ ‘Other Voices, Too’ and ‘Clock Without Hands.’)
‘One Fair Summer Evening’ is great — I especially love the spoken intros on “Trouble in the Fields” and “Five & Dime” 😀 — and ‘Once in a Very Blue Moon’ is another favorite of mine.
March 28, 2013 @ 6:33 am
I’m paraphrasing, but I think it went something like this: “Woolworths all over the world have this wonderful smell. It’s like popcorn and chewing gum rubbed on the bottom of a rubber soled shoe.”
With respect to “Other Voices”, I thought I read somewhere that Townes Van Zandt once named her version of “Tecumseh Valley” as his favorite cover of oneof his songs. I also have Other Voices 2 and Flyer. Little Love Affairs is a good one , too.
Maura O’Connell does a real nice version of “Trouble in the Fields” on her Helpless Heart album.
I think the two Mary Chapin Carpenter albums you mention are her classics. I saw her before Come On, Come On came out (together onstage with her friend Shawn Colvin, who I’d never heard of!). I think it was shortly before the Grammy’s, where she had been nominated for Down at the Twist and Shout and was scheduled to per from the song with Beausoleil on stage with her (She won!). Anyway, that night she did a new song called I Feel Lucky. This time, it was Chris Isaak with his hand up on her thigh and not Dwigtht Yoakam.
The first show I ever saw after moving to the DC area in 1990 was Roseanne Cash on her Interiors tour. My country album collection was puny at the time, but I did have her Hits 1979 -1989 album. One song I remember from Interiors that she played was On the Surface. I bought the Interiors album fairly recently after reading her Composed autobiography, which I recommend. Haven’t given it much of a chance yet. Black Cadillac and The List are other albums by her that I enjoy.
March 26, 2013 @ 4:38 pm
Yeah,kinda suprised there’s no John Prine up there.
“John Prine”
‘Sweet Revenge”
“The Missing Years”
“German Afternoons”
“Fair and Square”
‘Storm Windows”
Take your pick
March 27, 2013 @ 12:24 pm
That’s why I suggested, Souvenirs, cover all the bases.
March 26, 2013 @ 5:44 pm
If you’re going to include 3 Garth brooks Albums, do you think Alabama deserves at least one mention, Maybe Mountain Music or The Closer You Get.
I know they aren’t everyone’s favorites and they put out a lot of crap, but like Hank Jr, everyone who got into traditional country through country music (not punk rock) used to love them and still loves a bunch of their songs.
March 27, 2013 @ 6:25 pm
Good call, Mike.
March 26, 2013 @ 7:10 pm
Charley Pride – In Person. If you want Charley at his best, this is it. Recorded on two tracks, the band was on fire. I can listen to this over and over. (Of course as a pedal steel guitarist, I listen to Lloyd Green as much as Charley.)
March 27, 2013 @ 6:21 am
That’s one hell of a list! This is the first time that I didn’t need to correct you to add additional bands/albums…haha!
March 27, 2013 @ 8:30 am
I have 2 bear family box sets that are my favorite music.
Life’s Like Poetry Lefty Frizzell
Untamed Hawk Merle Haggard
I don’t think Lefty ever gets the recognition he deserves.
March 27, 2013 @ 11:28 am
Great list. I would include:
Turnpike Troubadours-Diamonds and Gasoline
Randy Rogers Band-Live at Billy Bobs
Nitty Gritty Dirt Band-Live Two Five
Jason Boland-Bourbon Legend
Ryan Bingham-Mescalito
Pinto Bennett and the Famous Motel Cowboys- Ravages of Time
March 27, 2013 @ 12:33 pm
Ryan Adams/ Cold Roses
March 28, 2013 @ 2:18 am
I would almost add Habits: Old and New from Jr. too. Because Conway is a pimp, him too. If Garth goes, Alabama and Oakridge Boys do too lol. Jerry Clower needs a forum one day as well.
March 28, 2013 @ 8:44 am
How about Hag’s “Serving 190 Proof”..and I think out of all the great Hank Jr albums he put out from 1976 to around 1984-85 “Rowdy” is a slight favorite of mine for best….1.”Dixie on My Mind” (Hank Williams, Jr.) ”“ 2:37
2.”Texas Women” (Williams) ”“ 2:28
3.”You Can’t Find Many Kissers” (Williams) ”“ 2:36
4.”Give a Damn” (Williams) ”“ 2:34
5.”Ain’t Much More” (Williams) ”“ 2:30
6.”Ramblin’ Man” (Williams) ”“ 3:36
7.”I Got a Right to Be Wrong” (Dickey Betts) ”“ 3:08
8.”Footlights” (Merle Haggard) ”“ 3:54 which I think is better than Hag’s original
9.”Tennessee River” (Randy Owen) ”“ 3:06
10.”Are You Sure Hank Done It This Way” (Waylon Jennings) ”“ 3:05
also back when HE GAVE A DAMN and wrote and played on his records instead of phoning it in…:)
March 28, 2013 @ 5:45 pm
Trigger,
I was just watching Roy Orbison’s 1982 appearance on Austin City Limits. Two of earlier albums In Dreams and Crying, were groundbreaking, although by that time he was considered more of a “rock n roll” act than a country or rockabilly act. Also, I was reminded of his posthumous Mystery Girl album… Traveling Wilburys Vol.1 is one of the best albums ever released in any genre. It certainly had country influences, but was not a country album…
March 29, 2013 @ 5:20 am
Trigger,
Sorry I keep adding these piecemeal, but I keep thinking of different albums.
Charlie Daniels Band – Fire on the Mountain, Million Mile Reflections, Simple Man
Marshall Tucker Band – Searchin’ for a Rainbow, Carolina Dreams
March 29, 2013 @ 8:57 am
Damn should have thought of the CDB’s fire on the mountian record all timer for sure. Trudy is still one of the best song’s ever to crank up when traveling long destances to keep the blood flowing. The CDB has had an untold influence on lots of artists.
March 29, 2013 @ 6:04 am
Fire on the Mountain is precious to me. I think of that album as my most significant gateway to country music. I don’t think I was ready for a full country yet and there was plenty of rock and roll on that album. But songs like Long Haired Country Boy, Georgia (maybe my favorite), Trudy and their cover of Orange Blossom Special (my introduction to bluegrass) were undeniably country. I’d say their second album (Nightrider) was almost as good.
I have a soft spot for those first three Outlaws albums, when Henry Paul was still with them. After he left, they become less and less country and more generic rock. Still a hell of a lot better than the likes of 38 Special, but I stopped buying their albums.
March 29, 2013 @ 7:52 am
I’m a longtime reader and very few times have I commented but……
In my opinion, Hank Williams Jr’s albums “New South” and “Hank Williams Jr. and Friends” are both way better albums than “The Pressure is On”. His best album ever is “HW Jr. and friends” in my opinion.
March 29, 2013 @ 8:12 am
I think, in general, a really good list. I think maybe you’ve given priority to the artists’ earliest contributions and, if so, that’s fine. My one nitpick would be that I like the Dirt Band’s ‘Circle 2’ and Hayes Carll’s ‘KMAGYOYO’ as much or more than the ones that made your list.
March 30, 2013 @ 8:40 am
I would really like to see J.D. Crowe & The New South up there..
March 30, 2013 @ 8:23 pm
This list lacks credibility! No “Habits Old & New” by Hank Jr.? Are you serious??
March 31, 2013 @ 10:35 am
The list is good you did a lot of hard work but I have to ask how you could not include any music by Jimmie Rodgers, The Carter Family Lefty Frizzell and Hank Sr. You take those out of the mix and where country be today.
March 31, 2013 @ 8:51 pm
Because these artists did not release their songs in albums, they released them predominately in singles. I agree they these are essential artists to the genre, but without any albums aside from compilations that are excluded from this list, there just isn’t a proper albums to add from these artists.
March 31, 2013 @ 2:22 pm
This is a good list with many of my favorite records. HOWEVER. There is one hugely glaring omission here.My personal favorite songwriter and country artist of all time is unrepresented and as far as I can see no one has mentioned it. No records by Tom T Hall ? While several could be in a top 100 list such as this, “In Search Of A Song.” should be in the top 10 of any Country Music list !
March 31, 2013 @ 3:27 pm
You’ve added a lot of my suggestions to this list since it was in the 80s and now it is 98. I still think some of Neil Young’s country albums should be on there, he was as big of star as Dylan and bigger than Dylan at different times. Canada has made a lot of contributions to Country music from Hank Snow to of course Shania Twain who I would describe as “Pop with a cowboy hat”. I describe most “New Country” as “Pop with a cowboy hat”.
There is Cowboy Junkies who toured with Townes Van Zandt, Blue Rodeo who are damn fine live band and have lasted and influenced many. There is also a host of newer alt-country bands not to mention k.d. lang her early stuff was country music, she thought she was Patsy Cline reincarnated.
I personally would lobby for the inclusion of Blackie and Rodeo Kings and of course “The Band”, perhaps if it has to be a studio album “Music from Big Pink” but I prefer “The Last Waltz”. Most of those were in my top 100 album list I posted.
I own Ween’s country album, I also own the Supersuckers country albums, I like the Supersuckers better than Ween. I also included “Luther Wright & the Wrongs Rebuild the Wall”. That is kinda a novelty album, but mainly it is just awesome.
I’d also include the Meat Purveyors even the Old 97s if you’re including the best of Bloodshot records plus the Waco Brothers…
April 1, 2013 @ 6:29 am
The Cowboy Junkies Trinity Session album rightly gets a lot of praise, but my personal favorite of theirs is Black Eyed Man. Looks like their touring with Townes Van Zandt produced two songs for the album (Townes’ Cowboy Junkies Lament and CBJ original Townes’ Blues). Also, their cover of To Live is to Fly was my introduction to the song.
Other country/rootsy (I won’t say Americana 😉 ) Canadian artists that I enjoy are Kathleen Edwards, Corb Lund, and Lindi Ortega. I’ve been meaning to check out some of the legendary Ian Tyson’s cowboy song work, as I was quite taken with his voice on a duet he did with Corb Lund.
March 31, 2013 @ 10:26 pm
I haven’t commented in a while but have to say I’m very pleased to see Jason Boland & The Stragglers Comal County Blue made the cut. In my mind, it would’ve been a good bit higher on the list simply because its an absolute gem of a country album. They just don’t get much better. Either live album could be included as well & really a good case could be made for most of their catalog. Their new album, Dark & Dirty Mile comes out in May. My opinion on what I’ve heard so far is that it’s going to be able to stand right next to CCB.
I understand the inclusion of Garth, but why In Pieces over No Fences or even Ropin The Wind?
The only album I can really take issue with is Kellie Pickler. Not on the quality of work, which is quite good, but it’s extremely difficult to argue that an album that was not commercially successful (by her previous standards at least) or has proven to have influenced her peers should be ranked that high. I’d have put Bolands work higher (partially because it was easily his best selling work) and probably not have included this one at all, or at least no higher than about 95.
Why not include Lucero or Cross Canadian Ragweed? I realize theyre not the most traditional of bands but each has one or two albums that would’ve fit quite well.
Otherwise I have no real questions about the list & would like to commend you for including Gram Parsons, The Flying Burrito Brothers, The Byrds & The Grateful Dead. All those albums are great & vastly influential.
April 1, 2013 @ 8:59 am
Neil Young covered Ian Tyson’s most famous song “Four Strong Winds”. My dad liked him and Gordon Lightfoot even more. He has albums as duet with his wife and they did a country rock hybrid call “Great Speckled Bird” which toured across Canada in a train with the Grateful Dead, Janis Joplin, and the Band. A documentary of that tour was finally released a few years back called “Festival Express” or something similar. The lead guitarist in “Great Speckled Bird” was Amos Garret who I have seen play. He’s considered a Tele master, though he doesn’t play like them Texas guys.
My sister likes Corb Lund but I prefer the already mentioned Luther Wright and and even better guitarist with a rootsy sound is Luke Doucet. He held down and may still hold down the lead guitar spot in Sarah McClaughland’s band. But he and his wife have a band now called “Whitehorse” like the town in Northern Canada. They do a mean cover/duet.
April 1, 2013 @ 11:00 am
Thanks for clearing it up. It is a nice list.
April 1, 2013 @ 1:18 pm
How about a greatest songs of all time?
April 2, 2013 @ 3:39 pm
I’m sure we will do that list at some point.
April 2, 2013 @ 3:45 pm
I will look forward to it.
April 1, 2013 @ 1:18 pm
Gotta rally for Lee Ann Womack! I think ‘There’s More Where That Came From’ REALLY hit commercial country in the gut in 2005. Whatta woman.
April 1, 2013 @ 8:29 pm
I genuinely feel that your Garth Brooks selections are out-of-order.
“Ropin The Wind” was probably his best; and In Pieces, while damned good, was not nearly as influential as his self-titled debut album, which I don’t even see on the list.
His first album was a lightning-in-a-bottle moment for country music. It elevated the career of the best (and possibly last) of the singing cowboys in Chris LeDoux; who, together with Garth, brought a little bit of rock-n-roll to country without ever quite crossing that line. That single album STARTED the hat-act era of country, starting and/or accelerating the careers of countless singers from the early 90s through about 1999. It literally changed the course of country music for the decade that followed it. Garth’s success, which started with “Much Too Young” from that album, brought so many others along with it (Ty England, Martina McBride, Chris LeDoux, Trisha Yearwood, and others can directly thank Garth for their careers).
I actually agree with you on Kellie Pickler’s 100 Proof being on this list though. I feel the under-the-radar success and critical acclaim of that record will only help good female traditional country singers like Brandy Clark and Lindi Ortega get their foot in the door and/or push it open further.
Also, for the last two spots…
Well, some will want me to have a cat scan after saying this, but I genuinely feel Kevin Fowler’s “Beer, Bait, and Ammo” should be on the list. No, Kevin doesn’t have some other-worldly singing talent, but his staying power, his fanbase, and the direction of Texas country over the last decade as a whole all have roots in that single album. He proved that a guy with average singing talent, but a deep passion and the ability to write fun songs, serious songs, and deep and meaningful songs can make a dent in music; and doesn’t need a reality contest show to do it. Kevin’s also one of my favorites because what you hear on the album is what you get when you see him live, and most can’t deliver like that.
The ones that didn’t want me to have a cat scan will probably want me straight-up committed after this one. I think the last spot should go to Shania Twain’s self-titled debut album. It was real country, and it, combined with the album after it, definitely shook up country music.
April 2, 2013 @ 5:13 pm
A few favorites that I don’t think have been mentioned yet:
Merle Haggard – Big City
Emmylou Harris – Pieces of the Sky
Ralph Stanley – Clinch Mountain Country
Seldom Scene – Scene 20: 20th Anniversary Concert
Levon Helm – Dirt Farmer
April 4, 2013 @ 10:08 pm
I’ve been thinking about this one, even after I commented last night. This list is both provocative and thought-provoking, which is awesome.
I’ve been trying to find a glaring omission. Something that changed country in a big way, was well done, and is missing; and I think I found it.
Rick Trevino’s self-titled album and Dos Mundos, together.
One released in Spanish, one in English, by a Mexican-American country singer, who had enough staying power to put out hits through a decade, and opened the door for a few others to follow (most notable among them being Emilio).
The album was good, the songs on it still good to this day; and it made a difference, and was filled with original material that is real country.