Vintage Album Review – Ween’s ’12 Golden Country Greats’
If the unusual and offbeat of the country music realm is something you love to delve into—if the Roger Miller’s, the Shel Silverstein’s, and the John Hartford’s hold a special sway on your heart, and something just a little strange, unexpected, and funny is where you find enjoyable wrinkles in the forgotten shadows of country music’s otherwise explored reaches, then this album from the experimental and absurd rock band Ween made in 1996 just might be one of the coolest things you’ll ever hear from country music’s curious underbelly, if not for the entertainment factor, then for the sheer wonder of how something like this ever got made.
The case of a rock band making a straight laced country album is not a unique occurrence in itself. In the late 90’s, this was sort of a fad. The West Coast punk band The Supersuckers released the country album Must’ve Been High in ’97 and Social Distortion’s Mike Ness released Cheating on Solitaire in ’99. But before either of those, the two-man group Ween convinced their major label Elektra Records to fund a recording trip down to Nashville, TN to put together a country record in the classic, “golden” form. This was not the case of a rock band swapping out a country music alter ego. Ween’s 12 Golden Country Greats took the same approach to making country music as artists had for generations. They wrote the songs, went into the studio, and hired some of the best singers and pickers in the business to back them up.
Recorded at Owen Bradley’s legendary Bradley’s Barn studio at his farm just outside of Nashville, 12 Golden Country Greats featured The Jordanaires as backup chorus singers, Country Music Hall of Famer Hargus “Pig” Robbins on piano, Nashville A-Team member Buddy Spicher on fiddle and mandolin, Charlie McCoy on banjo and harmonica and a host of other instruments including Tuba, drummer Buddy Harman, and a stable of other notable Nashville musicians who at the time may have been considered past their prime to some in Nashville. However to Ween, they were perfect.
But you better not roll up to 12 Golden Country Greats expecting a completely straightforward and wholesome country music good time. Though there are some songs on this album that very much fit that model and any humor and subversion is so well hidden or non-existent you might as well be listening to country radio in 1966, Ween makes their own mark on the country experience by being offbeat, to downright ribald in places. The variety on the album is wicked, and you have no idea what to expect next.
One of the factors in making 12 Golden Country Greats timeless is that you probably couldn’t make a record like this today. Some of the players have since passed away, and some of the songs would never pass the censors of a major label in this politically correct world.
Songs like “You Were The Fool,” “I’m Holding You,” “Powder Blue,” and “Pretty Girl” veil their absurdity so deftly, you can listen to them as Ween being gads, or as good old country music. “I Don’t Want To Leave You On The Farm” darn near holds up against any given country song of the era and can stand alone from this album as a serious country music contribution. But then you have songs like the absolutely ridiculous and lewd “Piss Up A Rope”—probably the album’s signature song, whose salty language has been busting ribs for years. “Mr. Richard Smoker” is more of a jazzy tune, and leaves little to the imagination in describing a homosexual night lifer and his conquests.
Adding to the layers of absurdity is the fact that 12 Golden Country Greats only contains 10 songs. There were two other recordings during the Bradley’s Barn Ween sessions—a tribute to Jerry Garcia (who died near the recording period) called “So Long, Jerry” and another song called “Sweet Texas Fire,” both of which eventually surfaced on the flip sides of 7-inch’s. Another song that did make it, “Powder Blue,” originally ended in an archived audio rant from Muhammad Ali. Due to licensing issues, the Ali audio was never supposed to appear on the song, but in a mix up, Elektra printed the first batch of albums with Ali included. In later editions the song ends abruptly at the 3:14 mark. At one point Ween assembled many of the album’s session players in a backing band called The Shit Creek Boys and took them out on tour.
The legacy Ween’s 12 Golden Country Greats has left probably depends on who you ask. It is one of those albums that you’re either in the know about and it looms quite large in not just your country music ethos but in your entire music world, or you’ve never heard of it, or would never get it. It takes a certain amount of an unsettled frame of mind to really enjoy the album in its proper context. But what has allowed it to withstand the test of time is that there’s nothing else like it, and despite all the absurdity, it was still made from a sincere love for the classic sounds of country music’s golden era.
Two Guns Up.
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Preview & Purchase Tracks From 12 Golden Country Greats
Playlist for 12 Golden Country Greats:
ShadeGrown
September 27, 2014 @ 10:10 am
Everyone needs this album. Absolute classic. If you aren’t familiar I recommend downloading “Fluffy”. Thanks for bringing more light to this album Trig.
Phineas
September 27, 2014 @ 11:08 am
Don’t know about Fluffy will have to check it out – I am actually in the process of moving and just re-found this album yesterday underneath a couch…I’ve always loved it but never knew the full story thanks for this!
hoptowntiger94
September 27, 2014 @ 1:01 pm
I never knew about this album, but I just finished downloading it. I will listen to it tonight. The only Ween song I had in my itunes library prior was ‘You Fucked Up” cause it was used in the show ‘Weeds.’
bumhead
September 27, 2014 @ 4:49 pm
Love this album. Was deep into the Boognish back in the day. You should take a listen to Deaner’s side-project, The Moistboyz, track “American Made and Duty Free” (Moistboyz II). Trashing bro-country since 1996.
Another notable album from this era is Jello Biafra and Mojo Nixon’s album, “Prairie Home Invasion.”
Che
September 30, 2014 @ 11:10 pm
Moistboyz II is one of those albums forgotten by iTunes…
Trigg, you are the fucking man, this album meant the world to me when it came out
Tom
September 27, 2014 @ 5:30 pm
Just wanted to say thanks Trigger for writing about the album. It’s been a long while since I’ve listened to it straight through. Ween’s best album in my opinion. I was having a bad day but hearing this again has helped bring back memories of better years. Thanks.
James
September 27, 2014 @ 6:09 pm
Wow, Trigger! I was always hoping that you would review this album. Your 2 guns up fortifies my confidence in you as someone that knows good music when you hear it. This album is definitely interesting. “Japanese Cowboy” has always been a personal favorite of mine. For you other readers looking for quality, diverse song writing with an cool weirdness, look no further than Ween. Other albums I recommend include: “The Mollusk”, “The Pod”, and “Pure Guava”.
Grae
September 27, 2014 @ 6:32 pm
Wonderful album – didn’t leave the turntable for months when it came out – probably one of the albums that turned us from being an alt-punk band playing with country tunes into a full fledged country rock band with alt-punk attitude! I’d recommend Choclate and Cheese as well!
Blackwater
September 27, 2014 @ 6:39 pm
2 Guns up is a little generous, but I agree pretty much with everything Trig says. You gotta have a deep appreciation of all types of music to listen to Ween. I’ve always loved their “Transdermal Celebration” and “I Don’t Want It”. If these guys weren’t so bombed out on drugs, I think they could’ve been a pretty good band.
Two other suggestions on rock bands making a country album. Bourbon Crow’s “Highway to Hangovers” and Black Rebel Motorcycle Club’s “Howl” are two magnificent albums that country/americana connoisseurs will appreciate.
Trigger
September 27, 2014 @ 10:29 pm
I think that time has justified any top ratings this album receives. There may be “better” country albums, but the uniqueness of this coming from a non country band and using legendary musicians to flesh it out makes it something even more special than the sum of its parts, which already deserved high praise.
Acca Dacca
September 28, 2014 @ 2:23 pm
So in theory is it almost like a pseudo Will the Circle Be Unbroken in aesthetic? That intrigues me. Arg!! Quit posting these reviews, Trigger! My wallet can’t take any more of this! 😛
Acca Dacca
September 28, 2014 @ 2:26 pm
Also, still waiting on the Gravity review for B&R. If you decide not to review it, tell me and I’ll quit asking. As such, I feel the need to check every few days to see if my anticipation is warranted. Of course, I don’t know how many other people around here would care, but I’m sure some would! 😛
Trigger
September 28, 2014 @ 11:33 pm
Acca Dacaa,
I truly appreciate your zeal for the Big & Rich review, and I hope to get one posted soon. I have been listening to the album. Unfortunately it’s not just a desire to post an album review that results in one getting posted. I have to find the right words, and that is the most difficult part of my entire job running this website: finding the right words for reviews that ultimately not a lot of people are going to read. If/when I do post a review, I’m afraid you are not going to like what I have to say. I think what you would really like for me to do is go back and review Big & Rich’s previous albums that loom large in your personal music ethos.
I have posted 8 album review, and a movie review in the last 8 days. That is personal record, and I am still way behind on reviews, and have Marty Stuart and Lucinda Williams both coming up this week which are must-review material. I do my best to post as many reviews as humanly possible because I believe in them. But ultimately I am still a one man operation and can’t review everything.
I really appreciate your desire to see me speak on Big & Rich, and I hope to fulfill that request eventually.
Acca Dacca
September 29, 2014 @ 12:30 am
Thanks, and I understand. I haven’t been TRYING to badger you, that’s just implicit I suppose. And yes, as we’ve talked about before, their older albums are what I consider to be their best material, particularly their debut Horse of a Different Color. As for me not liking what you have to say about Gravity, not likely. I’ve listened to the album at least 8 times and it’s their safest and most derivative album to date. I like it better than their 2012 album Hillbilly Jedi, but it’s not their best material or anything. It’s most frustrating to me as a fan because a bunch of people are hearing those slicked up pop hooks and claiming that it’s their “best album ever!” B.S.
Acca Dacca
September 29, 2014 @ 12:38 am
By the way, if you mean I won’t like what you have to say in terms of how I acted about your Montgomery Gentry rant, that won’t happen. I actually regret that as well as my argument with Clint on the Kenny Chesney review so I’m not going to troll your post if I don’t agree. I’ll obviously comment but not haunt it.
Lunchbox
September 27, 2014 @ 7:03 pm
whats the story with the artwork? that cover is dope…
Trigger
September 27, 2014 @ 10:30 pm
I don’t know, I’m not really finding any information on it, but I always assumed it was either Remington, or meant to look like a Remington.
bumhead
September 28, 2014 @ 3:46 am
The artist; Chuck DeHaan.
Lunchbox
September 28, 2014 @ 8:48 am
appreciate the help gentlemen
Matt
September 28, 2014 @ 6:58 am
As a long time Ween fan, I really appreciate this review. You hit the nail on the head with this one. Dean Ween is a guitar hero in every sense, and the players on this album are legendary. I often like to think of how the outside players could take certain recordings on this album seriously, and it cracks me up.
Me and Paul
September 28, 2014 @ 7:46 am
I remember reading once that the title refers to the number of musicians hired for the album. I’ve always loved this one.
Sam Jimenez
September 28, 2014 @ 4:47 pm
I vaguely remember this being released, but never heard it. I always thought it was just a joke or something. Just listened to it for the first time, and yea! Great album! Thanks for bringing it back up. I’m gonna listen to it more closely tonight.
Steffan May
September 28, 2014 @ 5:21 pm
Thanks for the review, and for bringing a landmark album to the consciousness of those who may not otherwise have heard of it. Ween is a polarizing band for sure, but for those of us who get it, they bring a lot of entertainment value. My personal favorite track on 12 Golden County Greats is “Help Me Scrape the Mucous Off My Brain.” It works on many levels.
“I think I spent the dog food money…but he’ll love me just the same.”
Classic!!
Shelly
September 29, 2014 @ 7:13 pm
I check into SCM daily and love the music this sight promotes and turns me on to, with that said…. WEEN! I love this band, I once heard an interview with gene where he was asked about the meaning behind this or that and he admitted that he puts very little thought into writting his songs at all, not too many song writers would admit that but that’s ween for you they have always done exactly what they wanted to do and never compromised, never apologized and have always been very honest their opinions and who they are as musicians. You mentioned trig how it’s amazing that this album ever got made, it’s amazing these guys ever had a career considering that they never conformed to any standard whatsoever and did whatever the hell they wanted to do from day one, this album included. the result is such a broad and interesting range of sound and style, if you are a fan of their music beyond just this album you have such a wonderful appreciation for how brilliant these guys are and how much they have done for music that may never be fully appreciated. I wish they would get back together dammit!
JOHN SCHAEFFER
September 27, 2019 @ 4:43 pm
I first heard this album in 1996 when it came out during the stoney days of college. Ween is from the area of PA that I grew up. They were sort of hometown heroes to us. To see how far they went is pretty amazing. One might not give such an effort much hope for holding up for over 20 years but lo and behold it has. It’s cool to see a 2014 review and other folks appreciate it too.
June
December 1, 2021 @ 6:59 am
Ween fan here, loved reading this review. The great thing about Ween is that unlike a lot of the other genre-defying weirdos they’re compared to (Frank Zappa, for example), they treat every genre they try with as much respect and sincerity as they can, even if they’re rather silly. They could’ve just recorded this as a silly joke in their basement, but no, they actually went the extra mile, and it paid off dividends.