I agree with Mudjack on everything except for us being snobs. Music is like anything else; the more you put into it, the more you get out of it, and there are no shortcuts. So, for folks that put no effort into it, the top hits are about all they can handle. If a person has only one or two records, they are not likely to be Tommy Jarrell or Gid Tanner.

And (I know this will sound shameful to some), I have tried for years to write songs bad enough for the radio. I no longer believe that I can save America's culture with good music, so if I could write a song here and there that makes tons of money (think Achy Breaky Heart) so that I could do what I wanted the rest of the time, I'd do it. I tried to write disco songs back in the 70's. It's hard to get into that mindset of total inanity if you don't fit into it naturally.

So, I encourage all you writers out there, try to write a bad song now and then. Why shouldn't we get those big royalty checks and accept trophies at the Country Music Awards IN HOLLYWOOD if somebody has to? Then we could buy the best tents and instruments and spend all our time at our favorite festivals all year long. Maybe even have them catered.

Provocatively, Chet