Our unrelenting quest to identify the ‘top 10 americana albums ever’ moves unstoppably on. We have more road behind us than is left in front, but the last miles are set to be as thrilling and enthralling as anything that has gone before. No doubt we will see familiar and celebrated landmarks and the journey is also sure to unearth some little known beauty spots too. Only when this adventure is completed will we be able to look back, count the miles and pick out the highlights. Taking the wheel this week is Russell Murphy who drives himself around the bend, whilst expertly guiding us to some fascinating destinations: Continue reading “AUK’s top 10 americana albums ever: Russell Murphy”
Tag: Dwight Yoakam
AUK’s top 10 americana albums ever: Guy Lincoln
At AUK we are on a quest to find the ‘top 10 americana albums ever’. Over the last few months our writers have been going through an internal monologue of constant torment in trying to narrow the whole history of americana down to just ten albums. When every writer has had their say, a shortlist of the most frequently chosen albums will be drawn up and voted on, in order to generate the definitive AUK writers top ten. After a brief summer hiatus, we are back with an eclectic list from AUK writer Guy Lincoln. Continue reading “AUK’s top 10 americana albums ever: Guy Lincoln”
Classic Americana Compilations: “Tulare Dust – A Songwriter’s Tribute to Merle Haggard” (Hightown Records, 1994)
Merle Haggard has always been categorised as one of the great American Country Singers but, when it comes to songwriting, his talents are often overlooked. So, when a bunch of top Americana singers and songwriters came together, to produce a tribute to Haggard as a writer, it was time to take a proper, in-depth listen to some of the songs that came from his pen. Continue reading “Classic Americana Compilations: “Tulare Dust – A Songwriter’s Tribute to Merle Haggard” (Hightown Records, 1994)”
Classic Americana Albums: Dwight Yoakam “Guitars, Cadillacs Etc. Etc.” (Reprise Records, 1986)
When Dwight Yoakam’s debut album ‘Guitars, Cadillacs, Etc. Etc.’ was released in 1986 it was completely at odds with the prevailing trend in country music towards a soft ‘crossover’ sound. A look at some of country’s best selling records of that year show just how far away from its folk roots country music had strayed. Alabama, Exile, Juice Newton, Anne Murray, Ronnie Millsap and Marie Osmond – all had insipid and diluted down number one records aimed at the wider market. The big record companies were even turning their backs on country legends like George Jones and Merle Haggard, by then seen as too country for mainstream tastes. Continue reading “Classic Americana Albums: Dwight Yoakam “Guitars, Cadillacs Etc. Etc.” (Reprise Records, 1986)”