Looking for some American experiences (70s southern rock, country...) - suggestions please!

So I've been having a great time with basically two typical American musical streams: southern rock (broadly speaking) and country.

Southern rock: I love the old Lynyrd Skynyrd stuff, I also love those olde ZZ Top albums and I recently started to dive into CCR partly because my mom used to love them. Maybe I misclassified these groups as a whole as southern rock, but they all have this down to earth USA feel to them which I find myself enjoying more and more. It's a bit of a daunting task to find out more of that 70s goodness, I kinda stopped after The Allman Brothers and Molly Hatchet (are those even representative?).

Country: to be quite honest my first country experience was the country radio station in GTA: San Andreas. I loved lots of the songs on there though, especially the Statler Brothers. And recently I found myself enjoying Gunfighter Ballads by Marty Robbins. But I'd like to know what the classic country singers/albums are, especially with male vocalists.

So since most of you are from the States, I was hoping that you could provide me with some tips or insights. I trust you guys more than articles by The Rolling Stone and all those other things I found when googling my questions.

For country, you can’t go wrong with Hank Williams, Johnny Cash, George Jones, Willy Nelson, George Strait, and Randy Travis. I also recommend Larry Gatlin and the Gatlin Brothers since you liked The Statler Brothers.

I have precious memories of sitting on the front porch of my grandmas house listening to Hank Williams Senior.  We were listening to this small record player in between us and when the record would get to the end she would say "Sugar, turn that record over".  

Hank Williams Senior doesn't have a ton of work cause he died young but I highly recommend it.  

I Love the old country, although the country of the 70's was very hit or miss for me.  

Guitar-wise, Merle Travis and Chet Atkins have very distinct styles that many of us who choose to abuse our fingers on a fret board "attempt" to emulate.  

Doyle Dykes is a modern musician that plays in-the-style-of Merle Travis and Chet Atkins.  He has a Youtube channel with his "Sunday String Along".....I just Love him and his testimony and he is a Freaking Freak that can just play like few others.  

Marty Stuart played with the old-school country stars, just like Doyle Dykes.  Marty and his band The Superlatives put a modern (electric) spin on what I consider Country music.  Marty got Kenny Vaughn to be a guitarist in his band.....Marty backed up Kenny on his LP......I LOVE that stuff!!....two Great guitarists in the same band enjoying each other.  That's the kind of stuff that hits me in the gut and makes me smile.  

Anyway, I have been binging Marty Stuart and The Superlatives stuff for the last year and enjoying it very much.

Yesterday, at work, a patient and I were listening to Charlie Pride.  I suggest you check him out.

Thanks guys, that helps a lot

OK I was in Berlin to pick up the passport of my youngest today at the Dutch embassy, and I bought a 2 CD compilation album by Hank Williams Senior, all gospel songs apparently.

Pethead's story about his grandma really struck a chord And my wife seems to like it (it's playing right now).

If you want real country music with a Christian message, not today's pop with a fiddle or a fake nasal twang, check out the online station HLE Radio.  They play a ton of artists that hold true to more traditional forms of country music and that shine brightly the name of Jesus.  This isn't regurgitated worship music with the country sound.  This isn't southern gospel with 4 guys and a piano player.  This is real country music that sings original songs about the Lord.

My brother is super picky about anything gospel related.  He loves this station and even has gotten their church service on there on Sundays being beamed around the world.  If he says it is really good, then I believe him. He can't stand most of what K-Love or other CCM stations play but loves HLE Radio.

I'd add Waylon Jennings for country, Marshall Tucker band for southern rock and Charlie Daniels for a mix of the two. Charlie became a believer and did a couple albums for the Christian market.

Yes definitely Marshall Tucker for some southern rock.

alldatndensum wrote:If you want real country music with a Christian message, not today's pop with a fiddle or a fake nasal twang, check out the online station HLE Radio.  They play a ton of artists that hold true to more traditional forms of country music and that shine brightly the name of Jesus.  This isn't regurgitated worship music with the country sound.  This isn't southern gospel with 4 guys and a piano player.  This is real country music that sings original songs about the Lord.

My brother is super picky about anything gospel related.  He loves this station and even has gotten their church service on there on Sundays being beamed around the world.  If he says it is really good, then I believe him. He can't stand most of what K-Love or other CCM stations play but loves HLE Radio.

You answered my follow-up question that I wanted to save for like six months later Thanks a lot

Here are some more Southern rock classics to check out, from bands not mentioned yet:

The Outlaws - Green Grass & High Tides
The Outlaws - Ghost Riders In The Sky
The Outlaws - There Goes Another Love Song
Henry Paul Band - So Long
Henry Paul Band - Grey Ghost
Henry Paul Band - Crossfire
Rossington Collins Band - Don't Misunderstand Me
Rossington Collins Band - Prime Time
Little Feat - Dixie Chicken
Little Feat - Oh Atlanta
Blackfoot - Highway Song
Blackfoot - Train Train
Johnny Van Zant - Coming Home
Charlie Daniels Band - The South's Gonna Do It Again
Charlie Daniels Band - The Devil Went Down To Georgia

^I had that Rossington Collins LP on cassette at one time.  There were several songs that I played over and over, including "Don't Misunderstand Me"....

For your consideration, Bob Wills.

^That's got a nice vibe going on, thanks for the tip

Constantine wrote:Here are some more Southern rock classics to check out, from bands not mentioned yet:

Great suggestions, especially Outlaws (LOVE those) and Blackfoot, thanks!

Southern rock is a mix of blues & country, and jam band. The Allman Brothers is a great start - Eat a Peach, and Live at Fillmore East, then Brothers & Sisters and most of the catalog. Also may want to check out Blackberry Smoke. Not a bad song in the catalog and they often have country guests. Good stuff. Others: Black Crows, Gov’t Mule. Great genre with lots of great music!!

From All My Friends, a tribute to Greg Allman. The whole thing is worth a listen, especially when Vince Gill plays.

Pethead wrote:For country, you can’t go wrong with Hank Williams, Johnny Cash, George Jones, Willy Nelson, George Strait, and Randy Travis. I also recommend Larry Gatlin and the Gatlin Brothers since you liked The Statler Brothers.

Don't forget Merle Haggard or The Highwaymen.

Shane Smith and The Saints 

https://youtu.be/Gjak2LnYlrA

Shane Smith and The Saints

Not strictly Country - they are a combo of Roots, Red Dirt, Folk, Rock, Bluegrass and Country...but yes they fit generically in the country realm.

However,  note their subtle,  sneaky heaviness.

https://youtu.be/8cnhbqEZn_4

It was awesome watching 1000 cowboy hats start banging when this went off in concert.

Albums you need (you might have some of these):

Randy Travis: Storms of Life, Always and Forever, Old 8x10

Alan Jackson: Here in the Real World, Don't Rock the Jukebox, A Lot about Livin' (And a Little 'bout Love)

George Strait: anything, but start with Strait from the Heart, Right or Wrong, Does Fort Worth Ever Cross Your Mind, Ocean Front Property, Chill of an Early Fall, Lead On, Blue Clear Sky, Carrying Your Love with Me

Reba McEntire: Whoever's in New England, For My Broken Heart 

Dwight Yoakam: Hillbilly Deluxe 

George Jones: I Am What I Am, Cold Hard Truth

L8T wrote:Marty Stuart played with the old-school country stars, just like Doyle Dykes.  Marty and his band The Superlatives put a modern (electric) spin on what I consider Country music.  Marty got Kenny Vaughn to be a guitarist in his band.....Marty backed up Kenny on his LP......I LOVE that stuff!!....two Great guitarists in the same band enjoying each other.  That's the kind of stuff that hits me in the gut and makes me smile.  

Anyway, I have been binging Marty Stuart and The Superlatives stuff for the last year and enjoying it very much.

This is who I was going to suggest. I'm not really into country / bluegrass, but the Superlatives have a special appeal to me.

There are a lot of good suggestions already. Let me second Hank Williams, Merle Haggard, and Dwight Yoakum in particular, as well as add Clint Black, Blackhawk, John Anderson, and Brooks and Dunn (up to If You See Her). There are others, but I think this is a good place to start.

Theonymic wrote:There are a lot of good suggestions already. Let me second Hank Williams, Merle Haggard, and Dwight Yoakum in particular, as well as add Clint Black, Blackhawk, John Anderson, and Brooks and Dunn (up to If You See Her). There are others, but I think this is a good place to start.

Good call on Brooks and Dunn. Brand New Man is a great album.

Thanks for the suggestions guys, gonna get around to checking all of them.

Pethead wrote:...

Alan Jackson:  A Lot about Livin' (And a Little 'bout Love)
...

This is the only one I have from that list. I love it and my wife also 'discovered' it recently.

Whiskey Meyers is good, modern southern rock and check out Turnpike Troubadours.

Hank Williams Jr is pretty essential too.