Stompin Tom could have more degrees than a thermometer and it doesn't change the fact that his recordings were made with NO respect for the listener. Just because your musical constituency is Blue collar, or country, is no excuse for constant bum notes from the band. (due I'm certain to lack of rehearsal) Granted, he's proud of his "outlaw" personna, but it was "THE MAINSTREAM" he criticized for not playing his records.

When Woody Guthrie was told to "clean up his chord changes and timing" he walked. But he never BLAMED them for wanting him to make better (or more "sober") recordings.

I read where Bob Wills was angry for many years that "The Jazz Community" wouldn't take his music seriously, but he NEVER clicked into the fact that if you're going to play five beats in a bar at least once in every song, you won't be taken seriously by anyone but your fans.

Rick