dwight yoakams - a hipster from the hills

[frankiepop]

are u a dwight yoakam fan? i thought dwight yoakam was probably hip enuf to have his own thread at jc. i love his hillbilly music. i think he's about the coolest country guy since johnny cash. maybe coooler. very kewl.

he sings cool. writes cool. band plays 'em cool.

dwight is bald. but he hides under a big cool cowboy hats. writes cool movies and acts (cool.) rainyday & bluenoter say they have a thing for him in his tight blue jeans. i think he has directed too. just....well a country renassaince kinda guy!

i enjoy most his music but i like the cd this time ...with songs like 'pocket of a clown' or 'Since I Started Drinkin' Again' and 'little ways.' i like the cd he did with buck owens and 'streets of bakersfield'


What I don't know might not hurt me
If I stay dumb and no one tells
But if I find out that you've been cheatin'
What I don't know might get you killed

...
Chorus:
Smith and Wesson juries hold a real mean, nasty court
And the verdict that they pass is never slow
So keep on a wearin' that little poker face
'Cause soon enough your cards will have to show

[bluenoter]

Fpop--

I haven't gotten on you about your spelling in a long time, but surely you'd agree that Yoakam deserves to have his name spelled correctly. It doesn't have an s at the end.

I've never heard him, AFAIK.

[bluenoter]

Originally Posted by frankiepop

rainyday & bluenoter say they have a thing for him in his tight blue jeans.

Thought you could slip that in when you edited, eh? Ms. Rita sees all!

Folks, I don't say that.

[Squaredancecalling Steve]

"Guitars, Cadillacs and Hillbilly Music" is an indisputable modern country classic! And one he first produced on a small indy label.

For a while, George Strait was about the only high-visibility neo-traditionalist in Nashville, but he has helped spawn a whole new generation. And yes, I'd agree Dwight Yoakam, along with Randy Travis, are probably the two best of the younger group.

[frankiepop]

to put travis in a yoakam thread is far worst than mispelling yoakam's name.


that's blasphemy!


see u in hell

[frankiepop]

.

.. on you about your spelling ..

..fixed! i am a fan but...

I've never heard him, AFAIK.

sorry, ur hipness scale just took a big dunk

i now pronounce u:

[frankiepop]

ran.. tr..v.. how dare you...edit that out! rt, my god..

do u compare kenny to charlie? nooooooooooooooo

i suppose next you will tell me well dwight barely by a scintilla edges out...squeeks by...nudges past...

no wrong this is the majors and tee ball...leader of the free world and dog catcher...hemingway and thelil..ghandi and thelil...chris rock and thelil....70s show and sopranos...hines and sqdances...

[AntManBee]

The best Yoakam album by far that I've heard (admitting I haven't heard every single one of them, but a few none the less) is this simply packaged album of all acoustic takes:



However, in Yoakam's vein, I think there is none yet to outcool Gram Parsons.

[stonemonkts]

I'm not familiar with his music, but one thing for sure, he was fantastic as the white trash asshole in Slingblade.

[Squaredancecalling Steve]

of Randy Travis's Best #1 Hits Album

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com essential recording

Following the bland, smothering urban-cowboy era of the early 1980s, Randy Travis's loose, flexible vocal phrasing and stripped-down, traditional accompaniment was the breath of fresh air. Along with Dwight Yoakam and George Strait, Travis epitomized the new traditionalism that dominated the remainder of the decade. While his Haggard and Frizzell influences were obvious, his relaxed delivery and flair for understatement set him apart. His voice, plangent and brimming with heart, its twang neither softened nor downplayed over time, remained at the core of his music. Beginning with his first No. 1, "1982," through the snappy "Too Gone Too Long" and the exquisite "I Told You So," Travis and producer Kyle Lehning created a body of music that has stood the test of time, not to mention more recent trends. While this collection isn't complete, it's a fine survey of the pinnacle of Travis's career. --Rich Kienzle
------------------------------------------------------------------------



Ricky Skaggs is another neo-traditionalist who should be given props here.

°°°°°°

But if you're dipping a toe into contemporary country music for the first time, I'd strongly suggest get George Strait's Greatest Hits, vol. 2 first, and his vol. 1 second, and Asleep At The Wheel's first Bob Wills tribute album (all-star guests everywhere!) third, and then I'd check out Ricky, Dwight, and Randy.

[Captain Hate]

Originally Posted by Squaredancecalling Steve

Ricky Skaggs is another neo-traditionalist who should be given props here.

Absolutely!!

[Gary Sisco]

Hey, now. He was great in Slingblade (really great) but his character wasn't "white trash," just your standard redneck. He was a construction contractor, after all. Awesome film that also had John Ritter's best performance. And Billy Bob's as well. Easily in my top ten or twelve flicks.

[al j]

Originally Posted by Squaredancecalling Steve

"Guitars, Cadillacs and Hillbilly Music" is an indisputable modern country classic! And one he first produced on a small indy label.

That whole record (GUITARS, CADILLACS, ETC) is indispensable! Dwight's lead picker, Pete Anderson, is one of the true greats of the last few decades, in any genre, IMO. Check out the record in Rita's post for a taste.

[Root Doctor]

I can remember discussing the merits of Yoakam, Travis, and Steve Earle with Peter Guralnick, just as they were making a name for themselves. We both agreed that Travis was the pick of the litter at that point. His "Storms of Life" is a great record; it's a shame he lost his focus so quickly.

I have most of Yoakam's stuff, and it's all good. Pete Anderson is always a trip.

John Anderson was the great neo-traditionalist hope before Strait, who cuts an awful lot of crap.

[Enforcer]

I like him, too. And yeah, terrific acting turn in Sling Blade. Mmm-hmmm.

[Root Doctor]

I guess referring to "Dwight Yoakams" is in the tradition of "Ernest Tubbs."

[stonemonkts]

Originally Posted by Gary Sisco

Hey, now. He was great in Slingblade (really great) but his character wasn't "white trash," just your standard redneck. He was a construction contractor, after all. Awesome film that also had John Ritter's best performance. And Billy Bob's as well. Easily in my top ten or twelve flicks.

I agree with you on Ritter. I thought his performance was astonishing (I never knew he could act so well before seeing him in that film).

Thornton was incredible, but I thought he was even better in The Man Who Wasn't There (Coen Bros.).

Sorry to derail the thread. On topic, I once saw a Yoakum music video which I enjoyed

[Squaredancecalling Steve]

`Doctor]
John Anderson was the great neo-traditionalist hope before Strait, who cuts an awful lot of crap.[/QUOTE]


Unfortunately true, and -- much as I love Strait -- it has gotten worse in recent years. Still, Strait's best stuff is classic, and there's a lot of it.

[Chris D]

Yoakam's cool, but he's essentially been running straight out of the Buck Owens playbook.

[Tanager]

Originally Posted by Joe Christmas

That whole record (GUITARS, CADILLACS, ETC) is indispensable! Dwight's lead picker, Pete Anderson, is one of the true greats of the last few decades, in any genre, IMO. Check out the record in Rita's post for a taste.

Hell, yes. Anderson throws some jaw-dropping licks all over the place on Yoakam's first couple of records. Hillbilly Deluxe is a fine Anderson showcase.

Not to sound like a parrot, but count me among the Ricky Skaggs admirers. Kentucky Thunder is a helluva band, and I think I said in posts long ago that you could put strings on a refrigerator and Skaggs could fucking make it sound good.

FWIW, I am not sure I agree with Yoakam being straight out of the Buck Owens playbook. He's got a bit more Appalachia-hounddog-mournfulness to his sound, to my ears. Strongly influenced, yes (Yoakam himself would tell you as much, I'd wager, since he's recorded with Owens, IIRC).

[Squaredancecalling Steve]

Originally Posted by Chris D

Yoakam's cool, but he's essentially been running straight out of the Buck Owens playbook.

Yes, Yoakam's essentially updating the Bakersfield honky-tonk sound of Buck Owens and Merle Haggard.

[groover]

I haven't yet checked out Yoakam's music, but he was very good in "Sling Blade", adding depth and realism by creating sympathy for what was possibly intended to be an unlikeable stock character in the original script. My favorite part of that movie was when his band was arguing about an arrangement during their jam session. Sounded just like one of my band's rehearsals.

[Root Doctor]

Originally Posted by Squaredancecalling Steve

`Doctor]
John Anderson was the great neo-traditionalist hope before Strait, who cuts an awful lot of crap.

Unfortunately true, and -- much as I love Strait -- it has gotten worse in recent years. Still, Strait's best stuff is classic, and there's a lot of it.[/QUOTE]

I thought Strait's early records were terrific, particularly his first with "Everytime You Throw Dirt On That Girl (You Lose a Little Ground)." He had a great run through the early '90s ("Pure Country" is where I checked out), with his western swing-inspired stuff being very choice. Even when he was consistently good, though, he would still cut a stinker like "Marina del Ray."

[Dr Dave]

Originally Posted by Joe Christmas

That whole record (GUITARS, CADILLACS, ETC) is indispensable! Dwight's lead picker, Pete Anderson, is one of the true greats of the last few decades, in any genre, IMO. Check out the record in Rita's post for a taste.

There it is! Pete Anderson is Dwight's secret weapon. He produces the stuff, too. Or he did, anyway. Anderson one of my favorite "country" guitarists; I add the quotes because he's one of these guys who plays about 10% of what he knows...

[Tanager]

Originally Posted by Dr Dave

There it is! Pete Anderson is Dwight's secret weapon. He produces the stuff, too. Or he did, anyway.

I may be wildly wrong, but I think it's "did."

[Squaredancecalling Steve]

Originally Posted by Root Doctor

I thought Strait's early records were terrific, particularly his first with "Everytime You Throw Dirt On That Girl (You Lose a Little Ground)." He had a great run through the early '90s ("Pure Country" is where I checked out), with his western swing-inspired stuff being very choice. Even when he was consistently good, though, he would still cut a stinker like "Marina del Ray."

The number of Strait's records that have made their way into the organized dance repertoire is incredible. I think he's probably passed Hank Williams at this point. (Of course, Strait writes none of his own material.) But something like "The Fireman" -- I've done three different kinds of dances to it on three successive nights: I sing the singing call to it, I cue the classic round dance to it, and I lead the line dance to it: it has always been the ultimate record for a real fast Tush Push! Strait's always featured some great fiddling on his records -- Amarillo By Morning, Right Or Wrong, Am I Blue ...

[jeff54]

I have the Just lookin for a Hit CD and just love love love Streets of Bakersfield. But if your talkin about neo traditionalist country you can't leave out Junior Brown

[Squaredancecalling Steve]

Originally Posted by jeff54

But if your talkin about neo traditionalist country you can't leave out Junior Brown

Junior Brown's GREAT, although he stretches things way beyond tradition at times! His surf medley is mind-blowing -- I dig The Ventures and Dick Dale, but Junior takes it up a couple of notches and mixes in some Hendrix touches!!

[Gary Sisco]

"There's something wrong with you, Doyle."