“Time Don’t Wait” Video Brings Marty Stuart Full Circle with Lakota Tribe
In 1964 when Johnny Cash released his landmark record Bitter Tears, it wasn’t yet fashionable to regard the plight of the Native American, or to record concept records. In fact Bitter Tears is arguably the first concept record in the history of country music, and one of the first in American popular music overall. Composed of songs written by folk singer Peter LaFarge and a few Johnny Cash originals, the centerpiece was of the record was the song “The Ballad of Ira Hays” about one of the soldiers depicted in the iconic “Battle of Iwo Jima” statue. Hayes was a Native American who died in obscurity and poverty.
Fast forward to the mid 80’s when a young guitar player named Marty Stuart joined Johnny Cash’s band after the death of Marty’s mentor, Lester Flatt. Part Choctaw himself, it was a visit to the Pine Ridge Reservation of the Lakota in South Dakota while playing with Cash that had a profound effect on Stuart. After witnessing both the poverty and indomitable spirit of the Lakota people, it began a lifelong friendship with the tribe that still exists to this day.
To the Lakota Tribe in the Black Hills of South Dakota, Marty Stuart is known as O Yate’ o Chee Ya’ka Hopsila or “The man who helps the people.” When Marty married Connie Smith in 1997, it was on the Pine Ridge Reservation. In 2005, Marty Stuart released his own concept record based on the struggle of Native Americans called Badlands: Ballad of the Lakota. Marty Stuart wrote every one of the songs, except a cover of Johnny Cash’s “Big Foot.”
Marvin Helper, a Medicine Man of the Lakota who was a close friend of Marty’s and recently passed away, says of him, “The spirits bring in the name. He will carry that for the rest of his life. The Lakota name that has been given to Marty Stuart is O Yate’ o Chee Ya’ka Hopsila. He is adopted into the Lakota tribe …he is now family.”
Once again Marty Stuart has released a concept record, this time called Way Out West, and one many regard as one of the best country records to be released so far in 2017. For the video of the song “Time Don’t Wait,” Marty returned with his band The Fabulous Superlatives to the Pine Ridge Reservation. Locations in the video include Wounded Knee, the grave of famous Lakota warrior Red Cloud, and other parts of the Pine Ridge area. Cinematographer Reid Long conducted the shoot.
“The results are absolutely exquisite,” Marty Stuart says. “I invite the viewer to come along with me and the Superlatives to Pine Ridge. By way of Reid Long’s camera, we’ll take you deep inside of a world filled with wonderful people, that most people don’t even know exist.”
October 18, 2017 @ 11:44 am
Love this. Was fortunate to have seen them last month and they were amazing. My favorite country lp of the year.
October 18, 2017 @ 1:10 pm
Still one of my top 10 Country & Western albums of the year. When I was filling up my mom’s phone with music and asked her what she wanted to listen to first, she pointed to the Badlands record. It’s been a long road of hard earned respect for Marty. It’s like they say in the poetry world, you don’t get respect until you turn 80, nobody takes you seriously. It’s nice to see artists like Marty and David Rawlings and Gillian Welch and Ray Benson etc. being elevated into the upper echelons of Alt. Country.
October 18, 2017 @ 1:18 pm
Great video! I love this album
October 18, 2017 @ 1:42 pm
Excellent tune and clip! 🙂
October 18, 2017 @ 1:54 pm
Damn you are so good at finding material that makes good articles. Thank
for this. I love the song “The Battle of Ira Hayes” and wasn’t it about that time Cash started to wear black suits.?
October 18, 2017 @ 3:19 pm
VERY cool story! Marty is a super cool guy, though. Way Out West is definitely in my top 5 releases of this year…maybe even my top 3. gonna watch this video on a larger screen when i get off work tonite! ????
October 18, 2017 @ 3:22 pm
Wasn’t Marty Robbins realising Western concept albums before 64′? And couldn’t you consider Hanks Luke the drifter stuff a concept record? Idk, is why I’m asking.
October 18, 2017 @ 5:40 pm
It really depends on how you define a concept record. That’s why I said “arguably.” As for the Luke The Drifter material, I would say that’s hard to call a concept, even though that is how it was packaged after Hank’s death. It was a pseudonym for his Gospel material, and he recorded the songs one at a time, usually during other sessions for his country material. In fact Hank never released an album at all, just a series of singles, like most everyone did in those days.
October 19, 2017 @ 5:59 am
I don’t think that a collection of songs simply having the same theme is necessarily a “concept” album. I think it has to move through some period of time and/or tell a story.
October 19, 2017 @ 5:41 am
Gunfighter Ballads and Trail Songs by Marty Robbins was released in 1959. Never heard it called a concept album, but upon considering it, maybe it is. The record is a definitive go to source for cowboy songs as much as anything. But then again Sons of The Pioneers made albums of cowboy music prior to that and they aren’t considered concept albums, themed albums , yes. Might be a good topic, country music concept albums, certainly Cash had his share of them. Ride This Train was another one.
October 18, 2017 @ 4:35 pm
I’m still sweet on this guy!
October 18, 2017 @ 5:08 pm
“Bitter Tears” wasn’t even Cash’s first concept album, and Sinatra had made them before him.
October 18, 2017 @ 5:09 pm
I know this will be blasphemy on this site but… I love Marty’s spirit and image but he’s just an average songwriter and singer. The idea of the video is excellent but the music is just the Byrd’s “Feel A Whole Lot Better” riff with an average melody and lyrics. This doesn’t make me want to buy an album or listen again. His best songs were co-written with Paul Kennerly.
October 18, 2017 @ 6:19 pm
he’s more than spirit, image, and writer
he’s also a world-class musician, loving historian, astute collector, skillful explorer, and beloved bandleader
he’s a key element in country music culture
October 18, 2017 @ 6:26 pm
I agree with all of that and you lead to my point exactly. I admire his guitar and mandolin playing, his love for preserving the history, and fun live shows. I just don’t think he’s made important music as an artist that generations will be going back to for years to come. His songwriting and singing doesn’t hold up so well. Its not bad, its just not great. I still love him for who he is. I just don’t find myself wanting to listen to his albums past a first listen. Musically he hasn’t explored anything new at all when you compare him to a Jim Lauderdale who melodically took traditional country to a new place. Lyrically he pales compared to a Lucinda Williams or Dwight Yokam. Singing wise it’s okay but again I don’t find myself moved by it. Just my humble opinion.
October 18, 2017 @ 7:13 pm
I actually agree, but Yoakam is (with others) the highest bar to measure writers by
I’d rather hear Marty’s Old Mexico or Truck Driver’s Blues than anything by Shane McAnally
October 18, 2017 @ 7:19 pm
But Yoakam is his contemporary as well as Lucinda, and Lauderdale. I’m just making the point that we love Marty for who he is musicianship but the songwriting and singing do not shine as bright as the Jaime suits. I have no use trying to compare anything I like to Shane McAnally… although I will say the Midland song “Drinking Problem” is a pretty damn good song. I hate to say it and it’s nothing those posers did but it’s probably a better commercial traditional country song than most Marty that writes.
October 19, 2017 @ 5:57 am
Lauderdale and Williams lack the true Radio hits in country and big time star power that Marty has and for that reason, in terms of “country” music Marty is a much bigger name. Lauderdale has recorded great country music but he ends up poster boy for Americana , whatever that is. Williams did score a hit with Passionate Kisses thanks to Mary Chapin Carpenter though. I see her as a mix of styles, blues, rock, country etc. Again , she’s big in the Americana movement.
How do I think Marty stacks up against other country music industry writers? I don’t see his writing akin to Kristofferson or Yoakam, but he has written good songs with great melodies, hooks and certainly has good subject matter. Check out some of his concept slbums, he has many.
October 19, 2017 @ 6:07 am
Lauderdale lacks radio hits? You might want to ask George Strait about all the #1 hits Lauderdale has written for him, and Patty Loveless, and the Dixie Chicks, and George Jones. I wasn’t talking about star power, I was talking about songwriting and singing. If you think Marty Stuart is in the same league with Jim Lauderdale or Dwight Yoakam, on either, you can’t hear. Lucinda may be considered Americana now but those songs are pure country and akin to modern day Hank Williams music. .. who was also a blend of blues, country, and helped invent rock-n-roll. I know all of Marty’s music. I do like “The Pilgrim” especially the song “Red Red Wine.” Still I say he may get into the Hall of Fame for who he is and what he represents and deservedly so but his singing and songwriting are just good not great. The song on this post is very average. I disagree with you about his melodies for the most part they are just okay and his lyrics as well. Just compare them to the folks I’ve been talking about. He’s done a great job of aligning himself with the great of country music so people put him in that category.
July 14, 2024 @ 10:38 pm
I just came across your comments about Marty Stuart’s singing and songwriting, and had to add my own two cents, knowing that it’s really not worth very much, but at least it’s mine. Your assertions about Marty’s questionable talent lead me to believe that you haven’t really bothered to take a dive into his back catalogue that much, if at all. Instead of trying to defend Marty (which, being a legend, he really doesn’t need), I’ll just invite you to have a listen to The Pilgrim, a masterpiece that is one of the greatest albums of all-time (country or otherwise). You might also have a listen to his Badlands album, a collection of songs about the Lakota Tribe, of which Marty is an honorary member. His new album, Altitude is also pretty great. I could also mention his guitar and mandolin playing, as well as his band The Fabulous Superlatives, but that would just be beating a dead horse. The guy is a one in a million talent, and I say this as a musician who has been around the block a few times. One last thing; when you listen to the Pilgrim, listen to it all the way through; you will never be the same, and you will never again call Marty’s songwriting or singing skills into question.
October 18, 2017 @ 10:25 pm
I agree, for the mostpart , with your comments, jessie . BUT— I think Marty writes from a different place than contemporary , trendy pop writers . His songs are memorable , have an easily accessible narrative /hook and are musically performable ( if that’s a word ) by an ACTUAL BAND . For me ….particularly in these times ….that is a musical oasis I’ll visit anytime .
October 19, 2017 @ 10:16 am
‘Way out West’ is the best album of the year in my opinion, and his live performance is superior, got to see him last June in NJ.
On the topic of concept albums, don’t forget Waylon Jennings’ ‘White Mansions’ from the late 70’s early 80’s, a real masterpiece as well!
October 19, 2017 @ 5:05 pm
Waylon had some songs on White Mansions but its a Paul Kennerley concept album. All the songs were written by Paul and performed by Waylon, Jessie Colter, John Dillon, Steve Cash, guitar by Eric Clapton,
Legend of Jessie James is great too. Again, all songs written by Kennerley.
October 19, 2017 @ 12:01 pm
At any rate, let’s give Marty credit for broadening the things country songs can be about. He proves that country music can be for adults interested in a world beyond the college-age bar.
Not that there’s anything wrong with the college-age bar.
October 19, 2017 @ 8:00 pm
I’m a little embarrassed to admit that I was a late-comer to Marty Stuart’s music. But I snapped up “Way Out West” based on the SCM recommendations and I’ve never looked back. If you’re looking for votes on Release of the Year, I’d be happy to put this one on my ballot paper.
October 20, 2017 @ 2:25 am
Hi, I’m 32 and my friend *just* introduced me to Marty Stuart’s music. So, this is his current single, right? Does anyone know what radio format would play this particular style of country? I’d love to request it to help it gain spins.
October 20, 2017 @ 7:18 am
Americana would be the format, if anyone.
October 20, 2017 @ 4:31 pm
Marty and his band are gems. As a live band, they have few peers.
October 22, 2017 @ 6:58 am
Band and song sounds like The Desert Rose Band….and I mean that as a compliment.