Country Rock, Roots Rock, Southern Rock, and Americana
 

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Spent most of my time exploring music in 2015 focusing on the roots revival of the late 60s / early 70s, the reincorporation of southern American styles into rock and roll post-Beatlemania / British Invasion. The early collaborations of Duane Allman and various R&B musicians in the 60s, the dazzling complexity of blues and jazz fusions by The Allman Brothers Band, the amazing country flavored soundscapes produced in Nashville with The Beau Brummels, the weird crossroads of traditional country and psychedelic rock explored by The Byrds, the fast paced and precise jams of Poco, the thick acoustic textures combining folk rock, old western styles, and blues by America, the nostalgic and playful nods to New Orlean's ragtime, blues, and country by The Band, CCR, and Dr. John, the bizarre combinations of funk, soul, gospel, blues, and country by Bobbie Gentry, the massively thick fuzz injected jams of Canned Heat, the incorporation of country and blues styles into Humble Pie's boogie rock. This thread is for examples of rock and roll pulling inspiration from traditional blues, country, gosepl, R&B, soul, bluegrass, western swing, and jazz.

Ah, don't get me started. These kinds of rock are some of the most important genres in my life. I've been rockin' to CCR, Allman Bros, Skynyrd, Eagles, Johnny Cash, and more for my whole life. Down On the COrner was my toddler jam. Now my jam is Pour Some Sugar On Me, but you can't drag me away from these bands.

Listened through Tumbleweed Connection for the first time earlier this week, I knew Elton John was a fantastic musician but I didn't know he did a southern styled album, it's fantastic.

Tumbleweed Connection wasn't the only early EJ album to feature "Southern" stuff. Quite a few on Honky Chateau as well.

Nice, just skimmed through the album, sounds great too, I'll probably take it on the highway tomorrow morning. Just loosely saying "southern" styled because I don't feel like typing out pulls inspiration from traditional blues, country, gosepl, R&B, soul, bluegrass, western swing, and jazz every time.

I heard it twice yesterday. Perfect album, but not as good as GYBR.

Every once in a while I'll revisit an album with a great reputation that I didn't care for upon first listen under the assumption that I must have missed something, or that it simply wasn't the right day to hear it. Sure enough I mistakenly overlooked the excellence of Little Feat's Sailin' Shoes and Dixie Chicken when I initially heard them last year. I think it was Lowell George's vocals that freaked me out the first time but after giving them a second chance I've learned to love them, and more importantly, giving the albums full dedicated listens has revealed the brilliance of his songwriting, for example the skittery prog-rock interlude that emerges out of Texas Rose Cafe at 2 minute mark, an otherwise fairly simple slinky texas blues tune. Both of these albums are essential for americana and southern rock fans. The music is built on a solid foundation of 60's rock and roll, country, blues, and R&B but always has this aura of strange meandering influences that gives each track a very unique character, both albums are interesting front to back with fantastic musicianship from every member.

Another revisit, Stephen Still's Manassas album, front to back on the highway this morning. Can't believe it didn't jive with me the first time I heard it, it sure as hell is now. What a sprawling album, absolutely packed with talent front to back from all members and a remarkable showcase of Stephen Still's versatility as a songwriter and musician. This is Stills' personal masterpiece, a massive double-album demonstration of his appreciation for roots music and his ability to pull it into his own musical vision. The album is divided into four sections, each demonstrating Still's mastery and interpretation of the genres that influenced him, yet the attention to track arrangement allows the album to remain cohesive as a whole, flowing seamlessly from rock n' roll, to country/bluegrass, to folk, to blues, and back to rock. This album is essential listening for fans of southern American styles of music, for fans of CSN&Y, The Allman Brothers, Buffalo Springfield, The Band, Little Feat, Dillard & Clark, Paul Butterfield, The Rolling Stones, and The Grateful Dead.

And now the hunt for a vinyl copy begins.

Although he's from the UK, how about some Terry Reid for some roots rock:

^ That's a really good description of events! I also have been listening to Bobbie Gentry again. She was more of a pioneer in terms of music, and her role in the industry, than I gave her credit for. Reunion, Fancy, Did Me Wrong and Apartment 21 are among my favourites.

Prompted by this thread I'm going to look at Little Feat, the BBrummels, Stephen Stills and Terry Reid. While Plankton's suggestion focuses on rock, (a word which I see occurs three times in the thread title), I'm going to go down the folky/Americana end of the spectrum.

First up are The Felice Brothers, who have been a favourite of mine for many years. Why not check out this thread -or even bump it ?
http://www.musicbanter.com/country-f...-brothers.html

Another band with a hint of Dylan and some excellent lyrics are Blitzen Trapper, who do the Byrds better than the Byrds do. This is the title track of a great album:-



And finally this álbum, which is as bluesy as you might expect given the protagonists. It's a one-off collaboration with a 17-year-old Ry Cooder. This particular track is a bit more rocking than most of the album, but I mostly chose it because it shows how RC must've influenced Beefheart's composition,Sure 'Nuff n' Yes I Do :-