Country Music by Ken Burns

[Richard Tarleton]

Fabulous, Padraig, thank you.

[Serial_Apologist]

As a jazz researcher, should I have been watching this series? Although I am one who has never much liked Country music in its various manifestations I do know a little about its origins and links with European folk musics, but admittedly I think I know more about how it has been adapted into other genres, eg rock and jazz, than the music itself. Ken Burns' series on jazz was brilliant up to a certain point in its history, after which one felt prejudices on his part coming into play in the depictions of free jazz and fusion in particular, though I would imagine these would not apply in this series.

[johncorrigan]

I don't think I'd ever thought about it before Episode 1 - I didn't realise the banjo came from Africa, with slaves.

One of the instruments seen as an ancestor of the banjo is the ngoni, Richard, one of the griot instruments of Mali. One of the top exponents is Bassekou Kouyate here with his band Ngoni Ba.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZSPmh-6-bpg

[Richard Tarleton]

Thank you john.

Just watched episode 2 - again, excellent. Will save 3 for later on.

[johncorrigan]

Thank you john.

Just watched episode 2 - again, excellent. Will save 3 for later on.

I love Hank Williams' music and this was a stunning programme in this series. He's one of those performers that I would take pretty much any record by him. Last night we had Bill Monroe, Lester Flatt, the young Earl Scruggs, the Carters with the very photogenic June, and the wonderful songs and country song lifestyle of Hank Williams. He said: 'when anyone threatened me, I wanted nobody more by my side than my Ma with a broken bottle in her hand!'

Also loved that the insurance company that sponsored the Grand Ole Opry would send its agents out on a Saturday night and take notes of houses that were playing the programme, and then turn up there on the Monday to sell those houses insurance complete with Country music freebies. Who needs algorithms - just shoe leather. Fabulous episode with more wonderful photographs and footage.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m000bpkc/country-music-by-ken-burns-series-1-3-the-hillbilly-shakespeare-19451953

[johncorrigan]

I'm just about to watch episode 6 of this excellent series. 5 took us through the mid 60s with some fine coverage of Johnny Cash including this rather out-of-it take on Hank Williams with Bob.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UYKS0jZpARI

I was particularly surprised at the influence of Loretta Lynn - I don't think I had realised her importance to women's development in Country Music; and she does some fine singing off the cuff during interview. Merle Haggard was pretty great too - one wild guy! The film takes us to Cash's redemption in Folsom Prison's concert. 'Country Music' continues to be a most enjoyable set of documentaries for me.

[cloughie]

I'm just about to watch episode 6 of this excellent series. 5 took us through the mid 60s with some fine coverage of Johnny Cash including this rather out-of-it take on Hank Williams with Bob.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UYKS0jZpARI

I was particularly surprised at the influence of Loretta Lynn - I don't think I had realised her importance to women's development in Country Music; and she does some fine singing off the cuff during interview. Merle Haggard was pretty great too - one wild guy! The film takes us to Cash's redemption in Folsom Prison's concert. 'Country Music' continues to be a most enjoyable set of documentaries for me.

Loretta’s sister Crystal Gayle did quite well too!

[johncorrigan]

Loretta’s sister Crystal Gayle did quite well too!

True, cloughie, though she never sounded very country to me. The only time I really took much notice of Loretta Lynn was when Sissy Spacek played her in 'Coal Miners Daughter', and that was really because Sissy was one of my favourite actors.

[Richard Tarleton]

A great series. Episode 6 fascinating - I hadn't appreciated Kris Kristoffersen's back story.

Episode 5 - indeed, and didn't small aircraft take a terrible toll of popular musicians in the US? (I don't think we'll be hearing about Jim Reeves in this series but he was big on jukeboxes in the West Country when I was growing up ) - Patsy Cline in a Piper Comanche, Jim Reeves and Buddy Holly in Beechcrafts.... I was surprised to learn that Loretta Lynn was still with us, to be honest. I don't think I was ever quite the right demographic for Tammy Wynette (Ep.6), I'm stuck with the Billy Connolly version

The story of Glen Sherley did not end well as we know...

Looking ahead to the last two episodes, I think I was losing touch with country music by this stage, but the episodes will doubtless be riveting and full of surprises as they have been thus far.

[johncorrigan]

A great series. Episode 6 fascinating - I hadn't appreciated Kris Kristoffersen's back story.

Episode 5 - indeed, and didn't small aircraft take a terrible toll of popular musicians in the US? (I don't think we'll be hearing about Jim Reeves in this series but he was big on jukeboxes in the West Country when I was growing up ) - Patsy Cline in a Piper Comanche, Jim Reeves and Buddy Holly in Beechcrafts.... I was surprised to learn that Loretta Lynn was still with us, to be honest. I don't think I was ever quite the right demographic for Tammy Wynette (Ep.6), I'm stuck with the Billy Connolly version

The story of Glen Sherley did not end well as we know...

Looking ahead to the last two episodes, I think I was losing touch with country music by this stage, but the episodes will doubtless be riveting and full of surprises as they have been thus far.

According to the Beeb there's still three to go, Richard. On Jim Reeves, my Mum loved Jim Reeves and I think my Dad bought her lots of his records. I was thinking of him during Episode 5 because I'm pretty sure she had a version of him singing 'Two Worlds Collide'. I remember in summer '64 me and my pal were cycling down Love Street in Paisley and on a board outside the newsagent it said 'Jim Reeves dies in plane crash'. I thought, 'Oh no! My Mum will be so sad'. I rushed home, worried all for her all the way, and said to her, 'Mum, I've got some really bad news for you...Jim Reeves has died in a plane crash.' And she just said, 'Aw son. That's too bad!' Didn't seem that bothered...stuck with me all these years. I still think of that day every time I go past that shop.

By the way, Loretta Lynn made a record with Jack White of the White Stripes in the last few years. I thought she was good value in the documentary. Looking forward to seeing Kris Kristofferson in ep 6.

[cloughie]

True, cloughie, though she never sounded very country to me. The only time I really took much notice of Loretta Lynn was when Sissy Spacek played her in 'Coal Miners Daughter', and that was really because Sissy was one of my favourite actors.

Depends what you want from ‘country’. Lovely voice and blessed with great musicians for her recordings.

[johncorrigan]

Depends what you want from ‘country’. Lovely voice and blessed with great musicians for her recordings.

Very true. She came a long way from Butcher Hollow.

[johncorrigan]

A great series. Episode 6 fascinating - I hadn't appreciated Kris Kristoffersen's back story.

Episode 5 - indeed, and didn't small aircraft take a terrible toll of popular musicians in the US? (I don't think we'll be hearing about Jim Reeves in this series but he was big on jukeboxes in the West Country when I was growing up ) - Patsy Cline in a Piper Comanche, Jim Reeves and Buddy Holly in Beechcrafts.... I was surprised to learn that Loretta Lynn was still with us, to be honest. I don't think I was ever quite the right demographic for Tammy Wynette (Ep.6), I'm stuck with the Billy Connolly version

Kris Kristofferson and 'Sunday Morning Comin' Down' - that is one wonderful song, Richard. Here's Kris and Johnny on it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YcPW6R9yRzE

I love the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band 'May the Circle be Unbroken' records. Here's the title track when they remade the record 30 years ago. Fantastic stuff.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7bRJLkNqNXI

...and George Jones has one wonderful voice, in my opinion. Great episode indeed.

[Richard Tarleton]

Kris Kristofferson and 'Sunday Morning Comin' Down' - that is one wonderful song, Richard. Here's Kris and Johnny on it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YcPW6R9yRzE

I love the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band 'May the Circle be Unbroken' records. Here's the title track when they remade the record 30 years ago. Fantastic stuff.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7bRJLkNqNXI

...and George Jones has one wonderful voice, in my opinion. Great episode indeed.

Two great clips, thank you John. Is there anyone who wasn't in that Nitty Gritty Dirt Band jam session? It somehow reminds me of those other two great jam sessions, Roy Orbison's Black and White Night, and the "Almost Grown" jam session in Tutti Frutti

[johncorrigan]

Two great clips, thank you John. Is there anyone who wasn't in that Nitty Gritty Dirt Band jam session? It somehow reminds me of those other two great jam sessions, Roy Orbison's Black and White Night, and the "Almost Grown" jam session in Tutti Frutti

Richard, after episode 6 the old algorithms were at work on YouTube and turned up this Kristofferson classic, here performed by Willie Nelson with help from Kris and the other Outlaws - Willie makes an amazing job of it. I had forgotten how good some of those early KK songs were.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ybs59DTTlVU