June 01, 2004

my top ten

My ass is still chapped from watching that Top 100 Country Music Songs countdown last night. I totally disagree with the judges. If "Stand By Your Man" is the greatest country song of all time, I'm a got-dam brain surgeon. Here is MY Top 10:

10) "Blue Moon of Kentucky" by Bill Monroe, the Father of Bluegrass.

9) "I Walk The Line" by Johnny Cash.

8) "Help Me Make It Through The Night" by Kris Kristofferson.

7) "Orange Blossom Special" by any of dozens of people.

6) "Gentle On My Mind" by John Hartford.

5) "Mama Tried" by Merle Haggard.

4) "Faster Horses" by Tom T. Hall.

3) "Foggy Mountain Breakdown" by Lester Flatt and Earl Scruggs.

2) "Crazy" by Patsy Cline.

1) "I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry" by Hank Williams.

I had to leave off a lot of really good songs, but that's my Top 10. I like my list a lot better than the one the judges chose last night.

Comments

I agree with your list. Their's is way too commercial.

Posted by: drc on June 1, 2004 11:55 AM

"Angel Flying Too Close to the Ground" -- Willy Nelson

Posted by: Seppo on June 1, 2004 12:55 PM

I like your list a lot better too.

Posted by: Mick on June 1, 2004 01:05 PM

Aw, man... I left Bill Monroe & Flatt and Scruggs off my list because they were bluegrass. Sure, it's a subset of C&W, but really needs its own top 10 category.

Incidentally, I have about 30 different versions of "Orange Blossom Special" in my iTunes collection. Best is a live version by the Charlie Daniels Band, worst (IMHO, anyway) is by Johnny Cash who does the fiddle part with a harmonica. I mean, c'mon, Johnny, I know you hated the Nashville establishment, but would it have killed you to hire a session fiddler?

Posted by: El Capitan on June 1, 2004 01:07 PM

Delta Dawn, I Never Promised You a Rose Garden and King of The Road would make my top ten. I like your list though.

Posted by: Joy on June 1, 2004 02:16 PM

Good list. Here's mine, just off the top of my head. But I figure if they come to mind without prompting, they must be good:

10. Luckenbach, Texas, Waylon and Willie
9. Walking the Floor Over Your, Ernest Tubb
8. Empty Bottle, a Broken Heart and You're Still On My Mind, The Byrds on Sweetheart of the Rodeo
7. Wings of a Dove, Ferlin Husky
6. The Dance, Garth Brooks
5. The Fugitive, Merle Haggard
4. D-I-V-O-R-C-E, Tammy Wynette
3. Crazy, Patsy Cline
2. Long Black Veil, Lefty Frizzell
1. Cheatin' Heart, Hank

Posted by: rivlax on June 1, 2004 02:49 PM

“Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain” and how could you have left off—“He Stopped Loving Her Today”?

Posted by: Jim on June 1, 2004 05:16 PM

Great list Rob...My list:

10. 6 Days - Red Simpson
9. The Race Is On - George Jones
8. Coal Miner's Daughter - Loretta Lynne
7. Excuse Me, I Think I 've Got A Heartache - Buck Owens
6. The Bottle Let Me Down - Merle Haggard
5. Ring Of Fire - Johnny Cash
4. You Never Even Called Me By My Name - David Allen Coe
3. Your Cheatin' Heart - Hank Williams
2. Honky Tonk Angels - Kitty Wells
1. Will The Circle Be Unbroken - The Carter Family

Posted by: Brent on June 1, 2004 06:03 PM

Oh lawd NO - no Garth!!
Thanks for no George Strait either.
Your list rocks!

Posted by: Okie on June 1, 2004 06:29 PM

I agree with your list for the most part, but I'm with Brent on saying that Buck Owens belongs in there.

Posted by: gooseneck on June 1, 2004 06:37 PM

If I were going to pick a Buck Owens song, it would be "Act Naturally."

Posted by: Acidman on June 1, 2004 06:44 PM

NO DAVID ALLAN COE????

What is this, "mainstream country night"?

Posted by: Kim du Toit on June 1, 2004 08:30 PM

Dang, I forgot all about Gentle on my Mind. Wow, what a great song. Now I have to go digging around and actually pull out a RECORD.

Posted by: og on June 1, 2004 08:51 PM

Nah, Kim. DA Coe's there. Go check out the comments on Acidman's 'I Call Bullshit' post.

There is, however, very little Jerry Jeff Walker being mentioned lately. Can't believe no one's brought up "Up Against The Wall, Redneck Mother".

Posted by: El Capitan on June 1, 2004 08:53 PM

I thought about coming up with my own, but...

Your list is plenty close enough...

Posted by: mostly cajun on June 1, 2004 08:55 PM

Not just Crazy.. but the version done with the Nelson Riddle orchestra.

Wow..

Posted by: zeluna on June 1, 2004 09:35 PM

What?! Where's Ray Stevens' "The Streak"? Where's "Convoy"? Where's... ah never mind.

Posted by: Beast of Bourbon on June 2, 2004 04:36 AM

A song that may not make anyone's top 100, but sure is how I hope that Rob manages to get Quinton to think of him is "Daddy's Hands" by Holly Dunn. If time and circumstances allow for that, then he can consider his time well spent.

Posted by: orwoody on June 2, 2004 12:15 PM

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June 01, 2004

my top ten