I had a brief conversation with a local country bass player a while back that stuck in my mind. I was picking his brain for advice on getting started playing bass in a country band and he told me to learn the numbering system, a few chords on guitar, and the classics.

If you had to pick 5-10 songs that you would consider the most popular country songs ever that any band would know, what would they be?

From when I started gigging back in 1976, these were the standards every band did that they kept doing for at least 10 years. I quit playing country when Garth Brooks' fans and the line-dancers ruined the biz.

"Good Hearted Woman" by Waylon Jennings
"I Walk The Line", and "Folsom Prison Blues" by Johnny Cash
"Crazy" by Willie Nelson, the classic recording by Patsy Cline
"Hey, Good Lookin'", "Jambalya", and "I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry" by Hank Williams (the first and only one that really counts)
"Crazy Arms", or "Heartaches By The Numbers" for some classic country shuffle type stuff
"He Stopped Lovin' Her Today" and "The Race Is On" by George Jones.
"Okie from Muskogee", "Workin' Man Blues", "Today, I Started Loving You, Again", and "Tonight The Bottle Let Me Down" by Merle Haggard

There's a bunch of others I'll kick myself for not recalling too...
John

^ +1 to all of the above,especially "Crazy Arms" and "Heartaches By the Number".Country shuffles are becoming a lost art form.

Ain't It Funny How Time Slips Away-Willie,many covers.
Night Life-Willie,Ray Price.
Amanda-Waylon Jennings
Whiskey Bent and Hell Bound-Hank Williams Jr.
Redneck Mother-Jerry Jeff Walker

EDIT:Whiskey River-Willie

Lay you down, Conway Twitty
Family Tradition. Hank Jr.
Here's a quarter, Travis Tritt
Rocky Top, Osborne brothers
Cry cry cry, Johnny Cash

Forever and ever, amen. Randy Travis. Good one for a couples' dance or something.

Thanks gentlemen! Anyone else?

No Garth??? Friends In Low Places and Ain't Goin' Down Till The Sun Comes Up are musts.

No Dwight??? Fast As You and Guitars, Cadillacs are musts.

Also, Skynyrd and Allman Bros are always welcome at country gigs.

No Garth??? Friends In Low Places and Ain't Goin' Down Till The Sun Comes Up are musts.

No Dwight??? Fast As You and Guitars, Cadillacs are musts.

Also, Skynyrd and Allman Bros are always welcome at country gigs.

Well, I don't consider Garth to be classic at all. I find Skynyrd an abomination anyway, and real Allman Bros playing won't be happenin' in any classic country band I could imagine.

Now, Mr. Yokam is a different story. He's firmly rooted in classic country and a lot of his material SOUNDS like classic country. Those others you mentioned while they may be popular at certain kinds of country gigs, aren't what I'd call classics in any way.

Perhaps because of my aversion to the way Garth's sucess has negatively impacted the sale of country music. See, when Billboard switched the charts data collection from calling record stores and getting (apparently highly subjective) opinions of the top selling records to using actual point-of-sale data collection, Garth's CD went from somewhere like 10 or so to #1 that week. And Metallica got knocked down from 1. Record company sales staff were shocked and took notice right away.

So that's why all of a sudden we had generic pop music being foirsed off as "country" music. The big rock shows, the screaming guitars, the glitz, the folks who can't sing in tune, the dumb lyrics, all pass as country music if the singer wears a hat and they slip a few seconds of fiddle or pedal steel into the track.

I don't blame Garth at all- he's following his muse and while I don't pay much attention to his music, it's who HE is. It's the mindless followers. Plus the mindless radio programmers who'll play someone young who sounds just like Merle Haggard, but won't play Merle.

So, now you kids, get offa my lawn!!

John

From when I started gigging back in 1976, these were the standards every band did that they kept doing for at least 10 years. I quit playing country when Garth Brooks' fans and the line-dancers ruined the biz.

"Good Hearted Woman" by Waylon Jennings
"I Walk The Line", and "Folsom Prison Blues" by Johnny Cash
"Crazy" by Willie Nelson, the classic recording by Patsy Cline
"Hey, Good Lookin'", "Jambalya", and "I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry" by Hank Williams (the first and only one that really counts)
"Crazy Arms", or "Heartaches By The Numbers" for some classic country shuffle type stuff
"He Stopped Lovin' Her Today" and "The Race Is On" by George Jones.
"Okie from Muskogee", "Workin' Man Blues", "Today, I Started Loving You, Again", and "Tonight The Bottle Let Me Down" by Merle Haggard

There's a bunch of others I'll kick myself for not recalling too...
John

Oh, man! That's a nice list. Add some Gary Stewart and Dwight Yoakam to it and it will be golden! O.K. it is golden, but even more so.

Well, I don't consider Garth to be classic at all. I find Skynyrd an abomination anyway, and real Allman Bros playing won't be happenin' in any classic country band I could imagine.

Now, Mr. Yokam is a different story. He's firmly rooted in classic country and a lot of his material SOUNDS like classic country. Those others you mentioned while they may be popular at certain kinds of country gigs, aren't what I'd call classics in any way.

Perhaps because of my aversion to the way Garth's sucess has negatively impacted the sale of country music. See, when Billboard switched the charts data collection from calling record stores and getting (apparently highly subjective) opinions of the top selling records to using actual point-of-sale data collection, Garth's CD went from somewhere like 10 or so to #1 that week. And Metallica got knocked down from 1. Record company sales staff were shocked and took notice right away.

So that's why all of a sudden we had generic pop music being foirsed off as "country" music. The big rock shows, the screaming guitars, the glitz, the folks who can't sing in tune, the dumb lyrics, all pass as country music if the singer wears a hat and they slip a few seconds of fiddle or pedal steel into the track.

I don't blame Garth at all- he's following his muse and while I don't pay much attention to his music, it's who HE is. It's the mindless followers. Plus the mindless radio programmers who'll play someone young who sounds just like Merle Haggard, but won't play Merle.

So, now you kids, get offa my lawn!!

John
Um, OK?

George Strait goes over well. We play "amarillo by morning" always packs the floor.

So, now you kids, get offa my lawn!!

John
__________


great gran torino reference...

bump

King of the Road - Roger Miller (great Bob Moore Bass line)
Walking after Midnight - Patsy Cline
On The Road Again - Wille

'Green Snakes on the Ceiling' - or anything else by Johny Bush

Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain-Willie Nelson
Wasted Days and Wasted Nights-Freddy Fender

Silver Wings!

In the late 70's I was playing
1. Family Tradition-Hank Jr.
2. I believe in you- Don Williams
3. Storms never last- Waylon
5. Folsom prison- Johnny Cash

And if you were from the "south" you would know you don't tell people to get off your "lawn"!
It's your "yard" or "property"! Go easy on Jimmym!

And if you were from the "south" you would know you don't tell people to get off your "lawn"!
It's your "yard" or "property"! Go easy on Jimmym!

+1 ...Ain't that the truth...dadgumit

And if you were from the "south" you would know you don't tell people to get off your "lawn"!
It's your "yard" or "property"!

I had to think back aways,but as I recall it was "Get OUTTA my yard!"

I had to think back aways,but as I recall it was "Get OUTTA my yard!"

That's it Brother!!

Blue house painted white

Well, I don't consider Garth to be classic at all. I find Skynyrd an abomination anyway, and real Allman Bros playing won't be happenin' in any classic country band I could imagine...

It's all the same really no matter what the genre - older generations are rooted in one sound while newer generations gravitate towards another. Sometimes they coincide peacefully but more often than not, they don't.

I'm more concerned with just the songs because the majority of bands nowadays (at least in this region) will play a wide variety of stuff instead of limiting themselves to just classic country or just modern country. I'd like to get a leg up in learning some tunes that I'm likely to encounter.

I appreciate your guys' help!

"Outta my yard", "offa my property", must be regional differences, like the songs are. I just remember Mr. King down the street telling us to get "offa my lawn!" everytime we walked by his house.

"Silver Wings" GREAT song one that I said I'd kick myself for missing, along with the Freddy Fender song and some other several Don Williams songs.

John

Had a couple other suggestions, but since JTE is still very active in this thread, I think I'll keep them to myself rather than suggest something else and get my head handed to me again. Sheesh!

Had a couple other suggestions, but since JTE is still very active in this thread, I think I'll keep them to myself rather than suggest something else and get my head handed to me again. Sheesh!

Go ahead man, this isn't his thread. :D Let me remind everyone this isn't a debate, we're not arguing what is classic country and what isn't. I'm not even asking for solely classic country songs. I'm just asking for suggestions on the most recognizable country songs; be it classic, modern, whatever.

OK, NKU, since it's your thread and not JTE's :p:

"All You Ever Do Is Bring Me Down" by the Mavericks
"I Like It, I Love It" and "Indian Outlaw" by Tim McGraw (hey, I don't like it either but they're classics at this point
"You Never Even Call Me By My Name" by David Allan Coe (skip the rap about the perfect country song and just get a couple drunks up to lead the audience in singing the last verse and people will love you)
"Suspicious Minds" by Elvis, but the Dwight version is cooler

Hey, JimmyM-

I certainly didn't mean to "hand your head to you". It's a VERY nice head, in a James Brown-meets-Devo fashion :)

I really enjoy your post! I took the request from LKU as seeking classic country songs. The thread has gone away from that interpretation, no problem. Like I said, I haven't played in a country-oriented band in a long time. While I have played Skynyrd stuff at country gigs, I don't consider them, nor Garth, et. al. to be classic country. But if the idea is to list some standard songs played at country gigs, I see it as a different list than "classics".

But what I really want to get across is I have a lot of respect for what I know of JimmyM here on TB, and didn't mean to offend you at all!

John

Just some miscommunication, no big deal. :D

I learned to play in "country" bars in south Alabama.. so coming from a hands on experience..Skynyrd is a must have in the set..Gimme Three Steps, Sweet Home Alabam and Simple Man are always crowd pleasers..even Straight to Hell by Drivin' and Cryin' always gets them pumped up and singing along..but then so do all the "classics" mentioned earlier..

I play bass in a small town in Texas so I reckon I could contribute a few songs. Walk on by (Leeroy van Dike), Pop a top, Leaving and saying Goodbye (Faron Young), Lonesome Fugitive, The way I am and The Fighting side of Me (Mighty Merle), anything by Hank Senior and Buck Owens. I think Dwight learned a lot from Buck. :smug: John, it's nice to see ya-i used to enjoy your posts at FF.

Hey Guys, I'm in a country band that do covers i saw this thread and couldnt help but look, heres my bands set list.


I COULDN`T LEAVE YOU IF I TRIED - RODNEY CROWELL
GONE COUNTRY - ALAN JACKSON
I LOVE THE WAY YOU LOVE ME - JOHN M MONTGOMERY
BE MY BABY TONIGHT “
COWBOY LOVE “
LITTLE SISTER - DWIGHT YOKAM
YOUR MAN - JOSH TURNER
I DON`T CARE IF YOU LOVE ME - THE MAVERICKS
FOREVER AND EVER AMEN - RANDY TRAVIS
SMALL TOWN SATURDAY NIGHT - HAL KETCHUM
BOOT SCOOTING BOOGIE - BROOKS AND DUNN
PUT A GIRL IN IT - “
GTRS AND CADDILLACS - D YOKAM
DESPERADO - THE EAGLES
TEQUILA SUNRISE “
WALK RIGHT BACK - THE EVERLY BROTHERS
LIVING ON LOVE - ALAN JACKSON
HUSBANDS AND WIVES - BROOKS AND DUNN
ANGEL OF NO MERCY - COLIN RAYE
B4 THE NXT TEARDROP FALLS - FREDDY FENDER
REDNECK GIRL - THE BELAMY BROTHERS
SWING - TRACE ADKINS
JOHNNY CASH JUNKIES - BROOKS AND DUNN


what do you think to that??



www.boywithabass.com

Hey, JimmyM-

I certainly didn't mean to "hand your head to you". It's a VERY nice head, in a James Brown-meets-Devo fashion :)

I really enjoy your post! I took the request from LKU as seeking classic country songs. The thread has gone away from that interpretation, no problem. Like I said, I haven't played in a country-oriented band in a long time. While I have played Skynyrd stuff at country gigs, I don't consider them, nor Garth, et. al. to be classic country. But if the idea is to list some standard songs played at country gigs, I see it as a different list than "classics".

But what I really want to get across is I have a lot of respect for what I know of JimmyM here on TB, and didn't mean to offend you at all!

John
Dig...OK, all is well :D

I still disagree about Garth, though. Garth isn't my favorite, but he's got some gigantic songs that always go over in "classic country" settings. You can't choose a song list solely on what you like personally, you know? Well, you can, but if you're looking to gig, sometimes you have to play songs you don't like because the audience likes them. Or you don't work.

Don't forget Buck Owens!
Act Naturally
Tiger by the tail
Who's gonna mow your grass----classic!
Crying time

Well, I'm not sure we can all agree on classic country. I'm in a country/rock band, and we're going back a little further than some of these songs:

Harper Valley PTA - Jeannie C Riley
Rub It In - Billy Crash Craddock
I'm Hurt - ??
Seven Spanish Angels - Willie and Ray
Memory of a Memory - Johnny Paycheck
He Stopped Loving Her Today - George Jones
I Love How You Love Me - ??
Maybe - ??
Blue Moon Of Kentucky

Mama Tried - Merle Haggard
Pancho & Lefty - Townes Van Zant
Close Up the Honky-Tonks - Red Simpson
Rock Salt & Nails - Utah Phillips
I'm A Honky-Tonk Man - Johnny Horton
Montgomery in the Rain - Steve Young

Slightly off topic, I "discovered" an album back in the early 70's titled "Seven Bridges Road" by a guy named Steve Young. I bought it because of all the Nashville studio cats on it and I became a major fan. Great song writer, great country voice, incredible flat picker (he was once Steven Still's lead guitar player before "Buffalo Springfield") Since then every release was on a more obscure label but I have bought every one I found. Check the guy out; especially the early stuff. He wrote "Seven Bridges Road" (Eagles) / "Lonesome, On'ry and Mean" (Waylon Jennings) / and "Montgomery in the Rain" (Hank, Jr)

Dig...OK, all is well :D

I still disagree about Garth, though. Garth isn't my favorite, but he's got some gigantic songs that always go over in "classic country" settings. You can't choose a song list solely on what you like personally, you know? Well, you can, but if you're looking to gig, sometimes you have to play songs you don't like because the audience likes them. Or you don't work.

Oh, I'm well aware of the dichotomy between "good music" and "what people will pay to hear". I've played Garth Brooks, Billy Ray Cyrus, Skynyrd, Led Zepplin, and Conway Twitty songs enough to know. I've even been able to learn to like playing songs I can't imagine liking to hear.

If it were up to me, Rodney Crowell would be universally hailed as one of the greatest songwriters of the last 25 years, but I've played more songs by less songwriters. That's OK, because I play music because I enjoy that interaction with the rest of the band. At least for me, that really only happens on stage. Therefore, the band's gotta gig. At that point, my own tastes become way less important than what the leader percieves that the bar owner percieves that their customers want. Gets convoluted pretty quick.

Peace 'n' love...

John

Learn that one that goes 1...5...1...5... what was that called?

Learn that one that goes 1...5...1...5... what was that called?

Meat and 'taters! :p

I don't think there are any. I've never heard a song that "every bassist everywhere" likes.

I started playing country for the first a few months ago. Here are some tunes that shaped my perception of how to play country bass:

Folsom Prison Blues and Walk the Line by Johnny Cash for classic country.

Standing Outside the Fire, Friends in Low Place and Tearin' it Up by Garth Brooks for modern-classic country :p

For modern country... Gone and What Do You Think About That by Montgomery Gentry. Here for the Party by Gretchen Wilson. Country is my Rock by Trent Tomlinson. Ladies Love Country Boys by Trace Adkins.

Gotta add some George Jones-how about It's Been a Good Year for the Roses, Love Bug and The Grand Tour? And Waylon Jennings The Only Daddy That Will Walk the Line?

Old thread revival.
If you are talking country classics you need some more oldies in there. How about:

Webb Pierce - Why Baby Why, In the Jailhouse Now, There Stands the Glass
Faron Young - "Live Fast, Love Hard, Die Young", Hello Walls, Wine Me Up
Ray Price - San Antonio Rose, Heartaches by the Number, Crazy Arms
Ernest Tubbs - Walking the Floor Over You, Thanks A Lot
Kitty Wells - I Dont Claim to an Angel, How Far Is Heaven
Porter Wagoner (best suits too) - Green Green Grass Of Home, Misery Loves Company

My country band hosts an open stage at a local VFW and all the old timers come out. They play a lot of these songs. They like the "modern" stuff like Buck, Willie and Waylon, and even Dwight too. Funny thing is these older people come from miles around to dance. Usually all dressed up too. We'll be doing a sound check and they start dancing! Its probably one of the funnest gigs I've played.

Now excuse me while continue my search for a powder blue suit with white piping.

I had to think back aways,but as I recall it was "Get OUTTA my yard!"

To complete the phrase it was (and I quote):

"Gitchieass offama propty!"

That looks more like what my band leans towards. I got my new assignments this week (they didn't give me any artists names):

Peanut Butter
Pretty Words
D-I-V-O-R-C-E
I Can't Help It
Blues Eyes Crying in the Rain
Storms Never Last
Easy Lovin'
Blue Kentucky Girl

We almost worked up "Swinging Doors", too. I've pitched "Working Man Blues" and "I Ain't Living Long Like This" to them, too.

BTW -those VFW gigs pay good money. Same goes for American Legion Hall gigs around here. Gotta find me a Nudie suit somewhere... :cool: