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.