Favorite 70s Country-rock Bands???

Subject: Favorite 70s Country-rock Bands???
From: Bobert
Date: 30 Dec 12 - 09:11 AM

Well, the Byrd's thread opens up the logical followup thread on the other country-rocks bands of the 70s... And beyond...

My favorite was Poco and I have at least 6 or 8 of their LPs in my collection...

How about yours???

B~

Subject: RE: Favorite 70s Country-rock Bands???
From: GUEST
Date: 30 Dec 12 - 10:02 AM

Poco, the Outlaws, the Eagles (of Course) Pure Prairie League, Flying Burrito Brothers, Commander Cody and The Lost Planet Airmen, American Flyer, and many more who I'm sure will come back to me later. :)

Subject: RE: Favorite 70s Country-rock Bands???
From: BobKnight
Date: 30 Dec 12 - 10:05 AM

Sorry, that was me signed in as Guest above. Forgot the Allman Brothers. :)

Subject: RE: Favorite 70s Country-rock Bands???
From: Semofolkie
Date: 30 Dec 12 - 10:06 AM

Aww shoot! I was hoping to throw "Missouri" into this mix, but it looks like they were conceived in the late 60s.

Subject: RE: Favorite 70s Country-rock Bands???
From: Bobert
Date: 30 Dec 12 - 10:54 AM

Can't leave out New Riders and the Purple Sage...

B~

Subject: RE: Favorite 70s Country-rock Bands???
From: pdq
Date: 30 Dec 12 - 11:16 AM

Ricky Nelson was never far away from Country Music, covering songs by Hank Williams, Willey Nelson, Carl Perkins and Johnny Cash.

In 1966 and 1967 he made it official, doing two consecutive Country albums, but included in the musician were Clerence White, Glenn Campbell, Glen D. Hardin, James Burton and other "usual suspects" from the southern California music scene of the era.

By around 1969, he had added Randy Meisner from Poco and Tom Brumley, one of the greatest pedal steel players of alltime, whom he bribed away from Buck Owens with a fatter paycheck.

Subject: RE: Favorite 70s Country-rock Bands???
From: Bobert
Date: 30 Dec 12 - 11:59 AM

Yeah, shame we lost him... Ricky had his problems but, hey, that's what makes for good alt-country music...

B~

Subject: RE: Favorite 70s Country-rock Bands???
From: Janie
Date: 30 Dec 12 - 12:12 PM

Well, I'll take a dive back into the 60's with you, Semo and add International Submarine Band to the list.

Subject: RE: Favorite 70s Country-rock Bands???
From: michaelr
Date: 30 Dec 12 - 12:13 PM

Barefoot Jerry, Mason Proffitt, Ozark Mountain Daredevils, Loggins & Messina...

Subject: RE: Favorite 70s Country-rock Bands???
From: pdq
Date: 30 Dec 12 - 12:21 PM

The original version of the Doobie Brothers was organized by Tom Johnston who is from the Central Valley in California.

Northern California style Country Rock.

I think the group was ruined by the addition of Michael "Mumbles" McDonald.

Subject: RE: Favorite 70s Country-rock Bands???
From: GUEST,Tunesmith
Date: 30 Dec 12 - 12:43 PM

I saw Poco back in the 70s in the UK. They were supporting the band "America".
I loved that Poco line-up with Paul Cotton. Great stuuff!

Subject: RE: Favorite 70s Country-rock Bands???
From: Bee-dubya-ell
Date: 30 Dec 12 - 01:45 PM

Nitty Gritty Dirt Band

Subject: RE: Favorite 70s Country-rock Bands???
From: michaelr
Date: 30 Dec 12 - 02:06 PM

And from the UK: Matthews Southern Comfort.

Subject: RE: Favorite 70s Country-rock Bands???
From: Spleen Cringe
Date: 30 Dec 12 - 02:14 PM

Manassas...

Subject: RE: Favorite 70s Country-rock Bands???
From: Murray MacLeod
Date: 30 Dec 12 - 02:26 PM

I cannot believe we are 14 posts into this thread and nobody has mentioned Country Gazette ...IMO the greatest country-rock band of all time.

Every member of the band was a virtuoso in his own right, and together, they were just sensational.

Saw them only once, at Cambridge back in the 70's ... I will never ever forget that performance ...

Subject: RE: Favorite 70s Country-rock Bands???
From: pdq
Date: 30 Dec 12 - 02:36 PM

Not to argumentative, but I question the inclusion of about half of the groups mentioned as Country Rock.

The Outlaws, Allman Brothers, Missouri, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Barefoot Jerry and the Charlie Daniels Band are certainly Southern Rock, aka Redneck Rock.

I'm not sure where to put Mason Proffitt and the Ozark Mountain Daredevils.

Nitty Gritty Dirt Band predates Country Rock, being started in 1965. Folk Rock?

One of the most successful Country Rock groups, from a commercial point of view, was Rick Robert's group Firefall.

Subject: RE: Favorite 70s Country-rock Bands???
From: Bobert
Date: 30 Dec 12 - 02:48 PM

I agree with pdq... Mason Proffitt, however, fits the bill but, IMHO, bands like the Allman Brothers, Lynyard Skynard and Charlie Daniels don't...

BTW, I know one former member of Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Less Thompson, who owns a recording studio, Cabin Creek Studio, where I recorded a song a few years back...

B~

Subject: RE: Favorite 70s Country-rock Bands???
From: Lonesome EJ
Date: 30 Dec 12 - 02:49 PM

Byrds68-73
Buffalo Springfield (Probably the first real country-rock band)
Flying Burritos (first four albums)
Poco
New Riders of the Purple Sage
Pure Prairie League
Dillard and Clark Expedition
Marshall Tucker band

Subject: RE: Favorite 70s Country-rock Bands???
From: Bonzo3legs
Date: 30 Dec 12 - 02:55 PM

The Albion Country Band?

Subject: RE: Favorite 70s Country-rock Bands???
From: michaelr
Date: 30 Dec 12 - 03:29 PM

Country Gazette was a pretty much straight-ahead bluegrass band. Not much rock there.

Subject: RE: Favorite 70s Country-rock Bands???
From: Beer
Date: 30 Dec 12 - 03:29 PM

Would Creedence Clearwater Revival fit here?
Adrien

Subject: RE: Favorite 70s Country-rock Bands???
From: pdq
Date: 30 Dec 12 - 03:33 PM

Trivia, but Country Joe and the Fish, the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band and the Grateful Dead all started out as Jug Bands!

Subject: RE: Favorite 70s Country-rock Bands???
From: Ed T
Date: 30 Dec 12 - 04:49 PM

Kentucky Headhunters and the Georgia Satellites:


Keep your hands to yourself

Subject: RE: Favorite 70s Country-rock Bands???
From: Janie
Date: 30 Dec 12 - 04:58 PM

In some ways these country rock bands were a small fraternity, with many of the same musicians moving into and out of the above bands over the years - at least those bands that were mostly California based.

Subject: RE: Favorite 70s Country-rock Bands???
From: Ed T
Date: 30 Dec 12 - 05:09 PM

Marshall Tucker Band:- from 1977


Can't you see

Subject: RE: Favorite 70s Country-rock Bands???
From: Peter Butler
Date: 30 Dec 12 - 05:46 PM

Head Hands & Feet featuring Albert Lee

Subject: RE: Favorite 70s Country-rock Bands???
From: pdq
Date: 30 Dec 12 - 05:48 PM

Sorry, but Marshall Tucker, 38 Special, ZZ Top and a host of others are all Southern Rock.

The Kentucky Headhunters, at least the initial three members, were known to go to Chicago and jam in hardcore Blues clubs, including the one run by Buddy Guy. Even their mommies don't know what to call their act.

Subject: RE: Favorite 70s Country-rock Bands???
From: Bobert
Date: 30 Dec 12 - 06:13 PM

Yup, Marshall Tucker is Southern rock... And while I absolutely love CCR, I wouldn't put them into that country rock category... Actually, they kinda are so unique that they are hard to put in any category...

There were also a few country rock solo players... James Lee Stanley and Rusty Weir come to mind...

B~

Subject: RE: Favorite 70s Country-rock Bands???
From: Ed T
Date: 30 Dec 12 - 06:21 PM

Sorry,

Yes Marshall Tucker (and Kentucky Headhunters and Georgia Satellites) is indeed Southern Rock. However, country rock (blues and rockabily) was so influential in artists in other genres - such as prevously mentined Creedence Clearwater Revival, I find the exact cross over difficult to differentiate. Where is the line to be drawn in such a progression?

Subject: RE: Favorite 70s Country-rock Bands???
From: Ed T
Date: 30 Dec 12 - 06:39 PM

Ok, for CR purists, (as many CRv artists hopped in and out of country rock) how about Linda Rodstat, when she was with the Stone Poneys?

Subject: RE: Favorite 70s Country-rock Bands???
From: pdq
Date: 30 Dec 12 - 06:51 PM

The Stone Ponies were Folk Rock.

Later work by Linda Ronstadt, Emmylou Harris and perhaps even Jackson Browne were Country Rock.

I took a chance on some recent groups ('cuz the CDs were too cheap) and found that Electric Range (mid 90s by some leftover 60s types) and The Last of the Good Guys (both the group and the CD name) are first rate Country Rock.

The art form lives on.

Subject: RE: Favorite 70s Country-rock Bands???
From: Ed T
Date: 30 Dec 12 - 07:03 PM

OK, I call defeated. I don't know any country rock bands.

Subject: RE: Favorite 70s Country-rock Bands???
From: GUEST
Date: 30 Dec 12 - 07:09 PM

How about Sir Douglas Band/Doug Sahm and Band/Texas Tornadoes.

Subject: RE: Favorite 70s Country-rock Bands???
From: GUEST,Larry Saidman
Date: 30 Dec 12 - 07:10 PM

Sorry, that last post was from me. Don't know why I'm registered as 'guest'.

Subject: RE: Favorite 70s Country-rock Bands???
From: Lonesome EJ
Date: 30 Dec 12 - 07:22 PM

And who decided what fits as country-rock and what fits as southern rock? Because a band is from the south, Marshall Tucker for example, they get pigeonholed with ZZ Top? Sorry, doesn't hold water. They have more in common with bands like Poco and even country roots sources like Bob Wills than with 38 Special,Lynyrd Skynyrd et al.
And I wouldn't really classify Firefall as Country Rock, but much closer to MOR pop.
I would also argue the idea that 1965 "predates" country rock. Again...sez who? The Byrds recorded Time Between around that time, the Buffalo Springfield had Go and Say Goodbye and I Am a Child, and the Beatles were already covering Buck Owens. Gram Parsons usually gets the nod as the Father of Country Rock, but mainly because he used the Byrds to try to pry the lid off of Nashville and open it up to the long hairs already in rock, and to an amazing extent, he had success, though most of it came after his death.

Subject: RE: Favorite 70s Country-rock Bands???
From: pdq
Date: 30 Dec 12 - 07:43 PM

Yes, Sir Douglas Quintet and other Texans worked in California in the late 60s, but that does not make them Country Rock.

Texas Rock like the Flatlanders equals anything that came out of any part of the US. Often called Alternative Country, hard to put boundries around that also.

The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band is now listed as begining in 1966. Used to be listed as 1965 but the name and musical style were different.

The nomination of Buffalo Springfield is perfectly on the mark. Many Country Rock pioneers came from there when the group broke up.

Subject: RE: Favorite 70s Country-rock Bands???
From: Janie
Date: 30 Dec 12 - 08:22 PM

Found this. The Rise of LA Country-Rock

re: Country Rock vs Southern Rock. There is a lot of cross-over and cross pollination - always has been within the super-genre of Rock. Seems to me that most of the bands most of us agree on as representing "country rock" from the 70's pulled mostly from the influence of the"Bakersfield" country sound.

I'm inclined to think of Marshall Tucker as more southern rock than country rock, but there is no clear line in the sand. In general, when I think of southern rock, I think it tends to sound less "folky", has a stronger element of hard rock and blues, especially with those guitars, and still a good dash of country, and the vocal harmonies are less "pretty" and more driving, more influenced by black southern gospel and spiritual.

Subject: RE: Favorite 70s Country-rock Bands???
From: Janie
Date: 30 Dec 12 - 08:38 PM

And no one has mentioned one of my fav bands of all time - The Amazing Rhythm Aces.

And if a rock band does a country album is that album country rock or a rock band doing a country album?

I sure have had a good time piddling away the day going where youtube, your comments, wikipedia, etc has taken me. I am taking a rare two days off for New Years. 4 days at home and determined to do nothing useful.

Thanks for starting this thread, Bobert.

Subject: RE: Favorite 70s Country-rock Bands???
From: michaelr
Date: 30 Dec 12 - 08:42 PM

And I wouldn't really classify Firefall as Country Rock, but much closer to MOR pop.

I second that, LEJ, and I would put The Eagles' output after their second album in the same category.

The lines are blurry, to be sure. It's not just LA that defined country rock, but also Southern hippies like the Ozark Mountain Daredevils or Barefoot Jerry, who have a lot more in common with both the California sound and Appalachian folk than they do with Marshall Tucker Band.

To my mind, the epitome of country rock was Emmylou Harris and the Hot Band from Pieces of the Sky to Quarter Moon in a Ten Cent Town.

Subject: RE: Favorite 70s Country-rock Bands???
From: pdq
Date: 30 Dec 12 - 08:43 PM

I agree with Bobert that Credence Clearwater Revival was unique, not Country Rock at all.

They were looked at with skepticism by the "hipper" Bay Area groups who felt they were suited for fraternity parties and drinking beer.

Which is true. What's wrong with that?

They played the Fillmore now and then, but so did Waylon Jennings.

John Fogerty made them a success on the strenght of his songwriting, but he did evolve into good guitar player and a good showman.

Subject: RE: Favorite 70s Country-rock Bands???
From: Ed T
Date: 30 Dec 12 - 08:48 PM

Thanks Janie, On the link you provided, one comments makes reference to a 7 part series on Youtube. This is the first part, the rest is there also:
From The Byrds To The Eagles Part 1 of 7

Subject: RE: Favorite 70s Country-rock Bands???
From: Bobert
Date: 30 Dec 12 - 09:33 PM

You are very welcome, Janie...

Actually, I had my own country-rock band back then... We called ourselves "Doctor Rupert (me) and the Wiggly Digits"...

We did a pretty nice version of "Sin City"...

B~

Subject: RE: Favorite 70s Country-rock Bands???
From: Beer
Date: 30 Dec 12 - 10:30 PM

A new term in music.... CCR.... Swamp Rock.
ad.

Subject: RE: Favorite 70s Country-rock Bands???
From: Sandy Mc Lean
Date: 30 Dec 12 - 11:30 PM

With the appearance of country rock bands and the demise of classic country in the '70's I found myself drawn more to other types of folk music.

Subject: RE: Favorite 70s Country-rock Bands???
From: GUEST,gillymor
Date: 30 Dec 12 - 11:51 PM

The Grateful Dead got both the sweetness and the hard edge of country music as did The Band.

Subject: RE: Favorite 70s Country-rock Bands???
From: GUEST,DDT
Date: 31 Dec 12 - 12:33 AM

Brewer & Shipley?

Subject: RE: Favorite 70s Country-rock Bands???
From: SonnyWalkman
Date: 31 Dec 12 - 08:21 AM

Michael Nesmith needs to be in the list somewhere, a very early counrty-rock pioneer. Those first 3 'First National Band' albums are classics. They all feature the wonderful O J 'Red' Rhodes on pedal steel - one of the all time greats.

Subject: RE: Favorite 70s Country-rock Bands???
From: GUEST,Dave Illingworth
Date: 31 Dec 12 - 09:30 AM

I would definitely choose Amazing Rhythm Aces. But a particular favourite of mine was the classic Joe Ely Band    -   with Ponty Bone
(accordion), Jesse "Guitar" Taylor (lead-guitar), Lloyd Maines (steel)
-   with wonderful songs by Ely, Butch Hancock and Jimmy Dale Gilmore.
I still play the first four albums (on vinyl) by that line-up - just sad I never got to hear them in the flesh

Subject: RE: Favorite 70s Country-rock Bands???
From: pdq
Date: 31 Dec 12 - 09:47 AM

As the Flatlanders, Ely, Butch Hancock and Jimmy Dale Gilmore made a comeback in the last 10 or so years.

You can still see them live and better than ever. Tons of new great material.

Subject: RE: Favorite 70s Country-rock Bands???
From: Lonesome EJ
Date: 31 Dec 12 - 11:45 AM

Sweetheart of the Rodeo, released in 68, is generally tagged as the first "country-rock" album, but it was in fact a fairly straight country and western album, the fact that it was done by the Byrds giving it the rock slant. But in fact, several bands were already at work on the country-rock amalgam, with much more of the sound that later became identified with that genre.
Parsons had already done Safe at Home with the International Submarine Band, but this effort too was more of a country album than country-rock. Fact is, except for a few songs with the Burritos, like Devil in Disguise and Lazy Day, Gram was a devotee of honky tonk and gospel country styles and never strayed far from them.
Gene Clark was carving out a country-rock sound with the Dillards before Sweetheart, although he met with little commercial success. Clarence White released an album with Nashville West that is very much a country-rock album, in 1967. This cut from 67, a cover of a Waylon Jennings song, is closer to country-rock as it would be known, than anything on Sweetheart.

Subject: RE: Favorite 70s Country-rock Bands???
From: Janie
Date: 31 Dec 12 - 12:22 PM

Yeh, LEJ. As I was going back and listening to cuts from"Sweetheart..." yesterday, as well as to a bunch of Graham Parsons, not just ISB, I was thinking "this ain't rock, this is country."

Subject: RE: Favorite 70s Country-rock Bands???
From: Lonesome EJ
Date: 31 Dec 12 - 12:52 PM

Yes, Janie, and a good thing, too. What those albums did was present country in a form that was actually much closer to what it had been in the 40s and early 50s, before Nashville had begun to prettify the music with lush production arrangements, harmony choral backups, and orchestration. The sound was more immediate, and the use of traditional instrumentation like fiddle, mandolin, and banjo, took some C&W staples in a welcome roots direction.
The main crime of Sweetheart was that Parson's lead vocals were later overdubbed by Mcguinn, whose approximations of Gram's accent and style gave the record a slightly satirical and phony edge. Compare Christian Life which Gram, as a fan of the Louvins and a former divinity student, really meant, with Roger's yokal accent and spin on it. And I don't blame Roger for what he did, in face of a potential lawsuit by Lee Hazlewood against Columbia. But much of the gumption of the original recording was lost.

Subject: RE: Favorite 70s Country-rock Bands???
From: pdq
Date: 31 Dec 12 - 01:07 PM

I believe that Nashville West recording was eventually released on CD by Sierra Records. It shows up very cheap on eBay on occasion.

Here is the website for    Sierra Records

(hint, hint) they have a few copies of Gene Parson's "Kindling" on CD, returns from Tower going out of business...(trivia) Gene Parsons (later Byrds drummer, no relation of Gram) was married to Bob Gibson's daughter for a long time...they worked as a Folk duet

Subject: RE: Favorite 70s Country-rock Bands???
From: GUEST,Larry Saidman
Date: 31 Dec 12 - 01:43 PM

I'm bemused by all the arguing about categories....country rock vs. southern rock vs. Texas country, etc. Yet, amidst all the arguing, nobody has mentioned what the criteria is for what catgory? What distinguishes one category of music from another. What specifically is the criteria for a song to be called "country rock"?   It all seems pretty arbitrary to me.


Is it important?   Probably not. Although it obviously is for pdq and others.

Subject: RE: Favorite 70s Country-rock Bands???
From: Janie
Date: 31 Dec 12 - 01:51 PM

No argument, LS. Just discussion. For me, threads like this are educational and thought stimulating.

Subject: RE: Favorite 70s Country-rock Bands???
From: Lonesome EJ
Date: 31 Dec 12 - 02:30 PM

Larry, the topic is a springboard for conversation on music. I'm not too hung up on what slots to put it in, or in how to define the slots.

Subject: RE: Favorite 70s Country-rock Bands???
From: Janie
Date: 31 Dec 12 - 02:39 PM

I don't disagree, LEJ, but, being an east coast hillbilly, that more pared down Bakersfield sound to which you refer also reflects more of the "western" roots of what came to be called Country & Western. At least that is my visceral take on it. You, PDQ and just about anyone else posting to this thread know a lot more about music in general and the history of North American music than do I.

I just likes it. I don't study it.

Subject: RE: Favorite 70s Country-rock Bands???
From: Janie
Date: 31 Dec 12 - 02:40 PM

was responding to your prior post, LEJ, not your most recent post.

Subject: RE: Favorite 70s Country-rock Bands???
From: pdq
Date: 31 Dec 12 - 02:56 PM

Touble is, when you let a category get to big and amorphous, it becomes meaningless.

Subject: RE: Favorite 70s Country-rock Bands???
From: Lonesome EJ
Date: 31 Dec 12 - 05:43 PM

That's true pdq. And for purposes of discussion it pays to have some guidelines. A discussion that includes Gene Parsons and Richie Furay under the heading of country rock should probably preclude Jim Morrison, Nat King Cole, and Beethoven. I think we could get Pete Seeger in there within 3 degrees of separation, though.

And Janie, I'm not sure at all that I know more about American music history than you do, from what I have seen andheard from you!

Subject: RE: Favorite 70s Country-rock Bands???
From: Bobert
Date: 31 Dec 12 - 05:47 PM

pdq and I may not agree on politics but we're on the same page when it comes to music... Yeah, there's a major difference between the Byrds kinda country rock and Waylon Jennings kind or Charlie Daniels... Those of us who were influenced by the 70's country rock movement pretty much are on the same page on who is and who doesn't make the list...

I mean, "labels" aren't a bad thing if it allows us to better discuss certain styles of music without dragging in other bands that folks happen to like...

I mean, I'm not trying to sound like a snob... Just trying to get some good discussions about a special genre of our musical past...

B~

Subject: RE: Favorite 70s Country-rock Bands???
From: Stewie
Date: 31 Dec 12 - 07:59 PM

I don't think Steve Young has been mentioned.

Joe Ely's non-Flatlander albums were also great, particularly 'Live Shots'.

--Stewie.

Subject: RE: Favorite 70s Country-rock Bands???
From: GUEST,DDT
Date: 31 Dec 12 - 10:30 PM

Seals & Crofts?

Subject: RE: Favorite 70s Country-rock Bands???
From: Bobert
Date: 31 Dec 12 - 10:33 PM

No...

B~

Subject: RE: Favorite 70s Country-rock Bands???
From: GUEST
Date: 01 Jan 13 - 12:14 AM

By the by, anyone know where one might get a copy of "Wabash Cannonball" by the Charlatans (who later metamorphosed into Dan Hicks and His Hot Licks)? Really nice cover of the tune, the best IMO.

Thanks in advance.

Subject: RE: Favorite 70s Country-rock Bands???
From: pdq
Date: 01 Jan 13 - 11:44 AM

"Wabash Cannonball" seems to be on a Charlatan archival CD from 2004 called "San Farancisco, 1969".

Label: Acadia ACA 8067

Subject: RE: Favorite 70s Country-rock Bands???
From: GUEST,DDT
Date: 01 Jan 13 - 12:24 PM

You sure?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JvsDmGk4rhI

Subject: RE: Favorite 70s Country-rock Bands???
From: voyager
Date: 01 Jan 13 - 12:58 PM

One vote for Emmy Lou Harris's
Hot Band
voyager

Subject: RE: Favorite 70s Country-rock Bands???
From: Pete Jennings
Date: 01 Jan 13 - 01:12 PM

Emmy Lou always gets my vote!

Subject: RE: Favorite 70s Country-rock Bands???
From: Bobert
Date: 01 Jan 13 - 05:49 PM

Yeah, Emmy Lou is definitely part of this genre... I mean, anyone who cut his or her teeth with Gram Parsons had to have *that sound*... Might of fact, she's still doing 70s country rock...

B~

Subject: RE: Favorite 70s Country-rock Bands???
From: GUEST, Paul Slade
Date: 01 Jan 13 - 05:59 PM

Chilli Willi & The Red Hot Peppers. Anyone else have fond memories of South London's premier pub-rock western swing band?

Subject: RE: Favorite 70s Country-rock Bands???
From: pdq
Date: 01 Jan 13 - 06:10 PM

Hello GUEST, Paul Slade...

Have you heard of the group Eggs Over Easy?

I have seen where people credit them as the first British pop rockers/country, er, whatever you want to call 'em.

Austin DeLone was from LA and had connections with the seminal Country Rock groups.

Subject: RE: Favorite 70s Country-rock Bands???
From: GUEST
Date: 01 Jan 13 - 06:23 PM

Much appreciated, pdq.

Subject: RE: Favorite 70s Country-rock Bands???
From: GUEST, Paul Slade
Date: 02 Jan 13 - 04:06 AM

I remember Eggs Over Easy from the pub rock days, but I never saw them live at the time.

I did see Chilli Willi & The Red Hot Peppers, though, headlining at Hove Town Hall in August 1974, when Ian Dury's Kilburn & The High Roads were supporting them.

The Willis' front man Philip Lithman later became "Snakefinger" Lithman and joined US cult band The Residents. They (CW&TRHPs) were managed by Jake Rivera, soon to become the founder of Stiff Records, and had The Monkees' Mike Nesmith as a producer for some sessions. Pete Thomas, the Willis' drummer, went on to join Elvis Costello's band The Attractions.   

Wikipedia has more info on this excellent little band. To hear them play Desert Island Woman click this YouTube link.

Incidentally, Ian Dury once remarked that, if everyone who later claimed to have seen Kilburn & The High Roads live had really done so, they's have had to be playing the Royal Albert Hall every night instead of a string of tiny pubs. Believe me, though, if I was making up my own claim to have seen them, I'd also make up a far hipper venue than Hove Town Hall.

Subject: RE: Favorite 70s Country-rock Bands???
From: GUEST,Dave Illingworth
Date: 02 Jan 13 - 08:57 AM

Thia could run and run. I like most of the bands mentioned, but still rate that Joe Ely Band with Lloyd Maines, Ponty Bone and Jesse Taylor as one of the best (and the album "Live Shots" shows why I am sad I never witnessed this paricular line-up).   I have kept in touch with Ely's later (and fine) work and am a Flatlanders fan. But I would not class them as country-rock --    the acoustic sound is wonderful, but not rock. File under "Americana".
No-one has mentioned the wonderful Gary Stewart, who sadly killed himeself some years ago. Although basically an updated honk-tonk singer (with occasional brushes with bluegrass), he could really rock.
Check out his version of Rodney Crowell's "Ain't Living Long Like This" on his "Your Place Or Mine" album (with Mac Gayden on slide-guitar).   Not anywhere near as good an album, "Cactus And A Rose" came out in 1980 (but was possibly recorded in 1979). But it did include Gregg Alman, Dickey Betts and similar as backing musicians.
Stewart could sing 50s rock'n'roll (as could Ely) and that is always
a bonus for me in the country-rock stakes. Which reminds me, doesn't
The Band also qualify ?

Subject: RE: Favorite 70s Country-rock Bands???
From: Acorn4
Date: 02 Jan 13 - 10:23 AM

From the UK, Brinsley Schwarz, featuring a very young Nick Lowe.

Brinsley Schwarz live

Subject: RE: Favorite 70s Country-rock Bands???
From: pdq
Date: 02 Jan 13 - 12:23 PM

I don't know whether Paul Slade would prefer to be known as a fine singer-songwriter or as a British rocker. Either way, it's nice to have someone of his stature contribute to the daily tusssel at Mudcat.

Subject: RE: Favorite 70s Country-rock Bands???
From: Lonesome EJ
Date: 02 Jan 13 - 12:52 PM

???

I thought Paul Slade was a journalist

Subject: RE: Favorite 70s Country-rock Bands???
From: GUEST, Paul Slade
Date: 02 Jan 13 - 12:56 PM

A quick Google search reveals that my other alter-egos include a boutique owner, a DJ and a bloke who died last November. I blame the multiverse...

Subject: RE: Favorite 70s Country-rock Bands???
From: Lonesome EJ
Date: 02 Jan 13 - 01:06 PM

So, back to pdq's question, would you rather be referred to as a fine singer-songwriter, a journalist, or a bloke who died last November?

Subject: RE: Favorite 70s Country-rock Bands???
From: pdq
Date: 02 Jan 13 - 01:24 PM

Sorry folks, I'm just trying to keep this going.

It seems to be a discussion of "what qualifies as Country Rock", rather than "which Country Rock groups do you like".

To keep that thought, can anyone name a group from northern California that qualifies?

Does "Eggs Over Easy" fit the bill, and if so, do British groups that took their lead also qualify?

Subject: RE: Favorite 70s Country-rock Bands???
From: Lonesome EJ
Date: 02 Jan 13 - 01:44 PM

New Riders of the Purple Sage would certainly qualify as a Northern Cal country rock outfit. The first few albums were primarily short John Dawson-penned songs that had both country and rock themes and instrumentation.

Subject: RE: Favorite 70s Country-rock Bands???
From: pdq
Date: 02 Jan 13 - 02:09 PM

Without getting into a detailed discussion about New Riders of the Purple Sage, suffice it to say that they evolved over the years.

The first live gigs were spaced-out psych. Their later stuff, especially "Who Are Those Guys?", was well-produced Country Rock, and other records were still different. Buddy Cage gave them a very "heavy" sound at first.

I was luckey nough to buy a copy of "Midnight Moonlight" by NRPS, done in the mid 1980. It's no-BS John Dawson with a more acoustic backing led by one Rusty Gautier. Almost bluegrass. Has my favorite version of "Glendale Train".

Subject: RE: Favorite 70s Country-rock Bands???
From: Lonesome EJ
Date: 02 Jan 13 - 02:15 PM

well, PD, the very first release with Garcia on steel would fit all of my parameters for country rock. No extended noodling, mainly three minute tunes, and not much evidence of the jam band tendencies that may have come to the fore in the days they opened for the Dead.

Subject: RE: Favorite 70s Country-rock Bands???
From: pdq
Date: 02 Jan 13 - 02:29 PM

You must not realize what they sounded like in 1969 before they recorded their first album.

Jerry made weird spaced-out sounds come out of the pedal steel and there were extended jams. The record company was liberal, but not stupid. Hence, the commercial nature of their first record.

BTW, they didn't really open for the Dead in the early days. The Dead mutated into NRPS by having Pigpen, Kreutzmann and Weir leave the stage, being replace by John Dawson and David Nelson. Jerry moved to pedal steel.

The did not become a stand-alone unit until later.

Subject: RE: Favorite 70s Country-rock Bands???
From: Bobert
Date: 02 Jan 13 - 03:26 PM

BTW, seein' as Mason-Proffitt was brought up earlier, while I never thought of them in the same light as Flying Burrito Brothers or Poco, I did enjoy their sound... I believe their were two Talbott (sp-?) brothers in the original band and, if I am not mistaken, one went on to write and perform "Faith" music...

(I have got to get to my LP collection...)

B~

Subject: RE: Favorite 70s Country-rock Bands???
From: Lonesome EJ
Date: 02 Jan 13 - 03:30 PM

Yep, never saw them until about 71 or so, when I think they may have opened for Jefferson Airplane with Cage on steel. I did see them recently, well....about three years ago...and it was mainly extended jamming stuff. It appeared to be what the twenty-somethings in the crowd wanted to hear, but I was a bit disappointed. The original members left were, I think, Torbert, Nelson, and Cage.

Subject: RE: Favorite 70s Country-rock Bands???
From: pdq
Date: 06 Jan 13 - 06:00 PM

Just because groups fall into different categories doesn't mean they incompatible.

I just noticed that a concert in Englishtown, NJ 3 SEP 1977 billed the Marshall Tucker Band, the Grateful Dead and the New Riders of the Purple Sage at one show.

It dew over 125,000 people, the biggest music event of the year.

Subject: RE: Favorite 70s Country-rock Bands???
From: GUEST,Big Al Whittle
Date: 06 Jan 13 - 08:15 PM

In England we had some amazing country rock bands.

I suppose you cite famous people - I think Mark Knopfler was the first person in England to really master country rock guitar and write massive hits.

But there was also a strong domestic country scene in the 1970's and early 80's. Thatcher finished it off when she closed the mines and the miners welfares where they all did gigs.

Subject: RE: Favorite 70s Country-rock Bands???
From: GUEST,Gern
Date: 06 Jan 13 - 09:29 PM

I'm azazed to quickly find mention on this thread of Eggs Over Easy but nothing of favorites like Poco or the Amazing Rhythm Aces. How about Commander Cody? Does Gene Clark count in this category?

Subject: RE: Favorite 70s Country-rock Bands???
From: Bobert
Date: 06 Jan 13 - 09:50 PM

Heck, yeah, he does...

B~

Subject: RE: Favorite 70s Country-rock Bands???
From: michaelr
Date: 06 Jan 13 - 09:53 PM

Well, Guest Gern, if you actually read the thread, you'll be "azazed" to find all those artists mentioned.

Bobert, the founders of Mason Proffitt were brothers John and Terry Talbot. After the demise of the band they released a duo record, The Talbot Bros. (Warner, 1974) which is an absolute gem of the genre. John Michael Talbot is now a preacher in, I believe, Southern California.

Subject: RE: Favorite 70s Country-rock Bands???
From: Janie
Date: 06 Jan 13 - 09:53 PM

Actually, Gern, all the above have been at least mentioned, but I well know that it is easy to miss stuff when a thread goes beyond 30 or more posts.

Always especially glad to encounter another Amazing Rhythm Aces fan.

Subject: RE: Favorite 70s Country-rock Bands???
From: Janie
Date: 06 Jan 13 - 10:16 PM

Thanks for reminding me of Mark Knopfler, Al. Talk about fusion!

Subject: RE: Favorite 70s Country-rock Bands???
From: PHJim
Date: 06 Jan 13 - 11:27 PM

I would think Paul Siebel's 1970 album Woodsmoke & Oranges would qualify.

Subject: RE: Favorite 70s Country-rock Bands???
From: pdq
Date: 07 Jan 13 - 08:43 PM

Like Paul Siebel, Jerry Jeff Walker is from Upstate New York.

In June of 1968 (there's that year again) Walker recorded two songs for a 45 rpm "single" record, one side being "Mr. Bojangles".

Some success led to a more elegant version "Mr. Bojangles" with David Bromberg, who was not one the first recording (AM hit). Also led to a complete LP record.

Walker said that he did the best Country record that he could at that time. That is what he was trying to do.

Paul Siebel would probably say the same thing. He has always been a huge fan of Hank Williams and one can assume that "Woodsmoke & Oranges" was intended to be a Country record.

There was no Rock in 1962, no Folk Rock in 1964 and no Country Rock in 1968. Names have to catch up with "what's happening".

Subject: RE: Favorite 70s Country-rock Bands???
From: Stewie
Date: 07 Jan 13 - 10:22 PM

I don't think any mention has been made of the great Terry Allen. 'Lubbock on Everything' was a 70s double LP, and a gem. Reissued on CD in 1995:

Lubbock on Everything.

--Stewie.

Subject: RE: Favorite 70s Country-rock Bands???
From: GUEST,gillymor
Date: 08 Jan 13 - 12:00 PM

Big Al writes;

'I suppose you cite famous people - I think Mark Knopfler was the first person in England to really master country rock guitar and write massive hits.'

What about Albert Lee? Not sure of the chronology but he is a great
player and wrote Country Boy which was a big hit for Ricky Scaggs in the states.

Subject: RE: Favorite 70s Country-rock Bands???
From: GUEST,Big Al Whittle
Date: 08 Jan 13 - 12:57 PM

There were some monster talents on the English scene though - Kelvin Henderson's band didn't have a single ordinary musician in the line up. I was in awe of them.

Subject: RE: Favorite 70s Country-rock Bands???
From: PoppaGator
Date: 08 Jan 13 - 01:12 PM

Can't believe that no one has mentioned the very wonderful ASLEEP AT THE WHEEL.

***********

My recollection of the New Riders vis-a-vis the Grateful Dead ~ from 1970-72 ~ is different from how someone described it above. NRPS would OPEN the show with Jerry Garcia on pedal steel and John "Marmaduke" Dawson on vocals. Songs were pretty much straight-ahead country throughout all the sung parts, with Jerry laying down fairly orthodox steel-guitar background licks, but of course the instrumental breaks would sometimes move in the direction of outer space.

The Riders would leave the stage and after a short intermission, Jerry would return with his regular six-string electric and his Grateful Dead bandmates for another couple hours of music. He really worked some long hours back then.

I suppose the other arrangement described above, with the New Riders personnel coming on stage mid-gig while all the Dead members except Jerry took a break, would have been the earlier routine, before NPRS developed enough repertoire for "opening-band" status...but that's just my guess.

Also, on the subject of Grateful-Dead related "country-rock" projects, let's not forget OLD AND IN THE WAY. Probably not "country-rock," but straight bluegrass. And of course, the Dead themselves featured plenty quite a few country-music songs, some in a more straightforward manner than others, but they can hardly be categorized as a "country-rock band."

Subject: RE: Favorite 70s Country-rock Bands???
From: pdq
Date: 08 Jan 13 - 03:12 PM

Albert Lee is on five of Emmylou Harris's records from 1977-85, but not all.

He is considered one of the Country Music guitarists of alltime, not just Country Rock and Rock.

Subject: RE: Favorite 70s Country-rock Bands???
From: Spleen Cringe
Date: 03 Jul 15 - 09:49 AM

Just discovered Goose Creek Symphony and Rich Mountain Tower. Country rock from the early 70s. Both pretty good...

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=_qBqmkSQn1Y

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=u2xH_TrhTGY

Subject: RE: Favorite 70s Country-rock Bands???
From: GUEST,Guest - ex yank now an Ozzie
Date: 03 Jul 15 - 10:26 PM

saw them late in '65 in Carson City Nev but became big part of the S.F
scene The Charlatans with Dan Hicks ... they were hot ... if you look them up on You Tube you better put in '1960s' because there's a newer mob using the name ...