Can’t Take Chris Stapleton As The #1 Artist in Country For Granted
Here we are with a nice, tidy little bow wrapped around 2018, with the barrage of end-of-year lists finally published and in the past, the confetti from New Year’s celebrations all swept up, and the promise of an exciting new year of country music on the way. But how good or bad really was country music in 2018? How much progress was made in the effort to save country music? That’s kind of a complicated question, and one you can try to answer in a few different ways.
If you go by the measure of who the biggest artist in all of 2018 in country music was, and you’re being honest with yourself, it was a good year, with maybe some fair reservations. It wasn’t a great year, but a good one. Chris Stapleton was once again the biggest artist in country music according to Billboard, which took into consideration overall chart performance for songs and albums to come to that conclusion. This is Stapleton’s second time at this spot. He also was the biggest artist in 2016 in the aftermath of his now legendary CMA Awards wins and performance in November of 2015, and was #2 in 2017, just behind Sam Hunt, who had his (then) historic run at #1 with “Body Like a Backroad.” Chris Stapleton was helped in 2018 by finally breaking through the radio barrier, and scoring his first #1 with “Broken Halos.”
The problem with Chris Stapleton being the #1 overall artist in country is that he’s Chris Stapleton, and simply his name evokes strong opinions from country fans on both sides of the fence, and frankly, opinions that are often out-of-sync with the reality of things. For many country traditionalists and purists, Chris Stapleton’s name is mud, charged with being no different than Luke Bryan or Thomas Rhett. Hell he wrote songs for those guys, and was out there singing with former boy band member Justin Timberlake. But to the leering press who only know country music from the outside looking in, Chris Stapleton is the essence of traditionalist country, paraded as a country hero because he’s got a big beard and barely any radio play. He might as well be the 2nd coming of Waylon. Just ask The New York Times. Other mainstream fans despise Stapleton because he’s won so many awards over their preferred artists.
Of course the truth of things lies somewhere in between, and in between is not somewhere you want to be in 2018, or 2019. Because people don’t like in between. They despise and distrust pragmatists, and people who won’t take a stance one way or the other. There is no mental capacity for someone who doesn’t fit within a binary assessment, in country music or anywhere else. Either you have to be an absolute purist, or you have to be a pop sensation. There is no in between.
Yes, Chris Stapleton did write songs for some of country’s biggest arena stars, which traditionalists love to point out. But he didn’t write those songs for them specifically. He wrote songs to put food on the table for his family, and superstars chose to cut them. Yes, he’s won big-time mainstream industry awards, partially due to his time as a songwriter, making friends and allies throughout the business who in turn reciprocate their appreciation by voting “Stapleton” whenever they see the name on a ballot.
But to lump Chris Stapleton with the Bro-Country lot is nothing short of diseased, not only because it’s flatly incorrect, but it’s making country fans who do show fair concern about the direction of the music out as out-of-touch, no different than the media members who really think that purists stand behind Stapleton 100%, like he’s Cody Jinks or something. The all-genre entertainment media have no idea who Cody Jinks even is, let alone what he’s been able to achieve as an independent performer. To them, Kacey Musgraves is an underground artist, and Stapleton is only popular by accident. The Turnpike Troubadours are some bar band that Miranda Lambert used to date the lead singer of, and Midland is an authentic Texas honky tonk outfit. Tyler Childers is a virtual unknown.
So ultimately, what does it mean that Chris Stapleton was the biggest artist in 2018 in country music? It means that it wasn’t Luke Bryan, that it wasn’t Jason Aldean, that it wasn’t Florida Georgia Line, despite their historic #1 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart via their collaboration with Bebe Rexha, “Meant To Be,” which broke Sam Hunt’s thought-to-be insurmountable record from 2017. The performance of “Meant To Be” in 2018 also underscores that there is still a lot of work to do. Bro-Country, and Metro-Bro weren’t eradicated in 2018, and they likely never will be. But they were neutralized, marginalized, put on the wane, and with Chris Stapleton as the #1 artist, this prognosis is verified. Luke Combs coming in with the overall #1 record in 2018 with This One’s For You is further evidence of this trend.
Chris Stapleton is a good artist. He’s good for country music. He writes quality songs, and cuts them with an actual band, live in a studio. He doesn’t use drum machines or synthesizers. His music isn’t composed on a laptop with seven songwriters and four producers. His soulful, R&B-style voice made him the perfect superstar for our time, but his songs, arrangements, and sound are decidedly country. Chris Stapleton can’t help that he’s got a one-in-a-million voice, and can write songs to suit it, and that they’ve been received so well he’s outselling everyone else, and sucking up all of the industry awards. Success shouldn’t be seen as a burden on an artist, it should be taken with an honest assessment of the output itself, and if it’s worthy, celebrated so it will hopefully go on to be duplicated.
And what was one of the things Chris Stapleton did with all of this success, and the enhanced spotlight it came with? He invited an up-and-comer in Brent Cobb, and a traditionalist in Marty Stuart and His Fabulous Superlatives out with him on the road in 2018. Chris Stapleton’s success is opening doors all across the country music landscape, mainstream and independent, for artist who write their own songs and record with their own bands to have an opportunity. There’s now an economic model of how to succeed without radio, and without big producers. Kacey Musgraves followed that path, and now has her own Album of the Year trophy to show for it with Golden Hour.
Chris Stapleton was not Saving Country Music’s pick for the 2018 Artist of the Year. His last two records feel like also-ran’s of Traveller material, and if Stapleton is going to come even close to sustaining this momentum for yet another year, he’s going to have to dig deep within himself and be an artist, write some new stuff, find a wrinkle to keep what he does interesting, and prove he has something in him beyond one big moment at an awards show now over three years ago.
But if you can’t look back and appreciate that we live in an era when Chris Stapleton is consistently the biggest artist in all of country music after years of suffering under the Bro-Country regime—whether you’re a country traditionalist or a reasonable mainstream country fan—then you will never be happy about the state of mainstream country music. And that’s a shame.
Matsfan/Jatsfan
January 3, 2019 @ 11:28 am
Pretty much spot on. I really like him and his music. I have never heard any of the songs that Luke Bryan, etc. cut so I have no perspective on the baggage that brings. I am a Traveler – era fan and learned of the SteelDrivers after his breakthrough. Although I agree about his two most recent records, I have nothing but positive vibes at this time about CS.
HotRod
January 3, 2019 @ 12:40 pm
His time with the Steeldrvers and the Jompson Brothers was his best work.
Trigger
January 3, 2019 @ 1:02 pm
Stapleton’s time in the SteelDrivers is another example of why it’s unfair to call Chris Stapleton a puppet of the industry put out there simply to fool the public into thinking they’re being delivered something rootsy. You don’t spend years cutting teeth in a bluegrass outfit if you don’t take the music seriously.
win a Lil Dale trades his spurs for wings
January 3, 2019 @ 5:19 pm
hay trigg my pastor tolt me the last time he was in jail he said he hurd a story about back in 91 win Tracy Lawrence was shot out side of the Quality Inn in down tow n Nashville that it was a conspiracy orcastrated by the highest levels of music row in a effort to make him a hero by fightin the gun men off or if he died that wooda reely helped gin up album sales for his album Sticks and Stones witch was releesed with in a month after he got shot trigg wut do you no about this story here?
albert
January 4, 2019 @ 12:38 am
this can’t be L’il Dale . L’il Dale can’t put ONE sentence together and this person did . who do you think you’re kidding mister. we know a L’il Dale imposter when we can’t see him . nice try .
Charles Rettig
November 26, 2019 @ 10:34 pm
Yeah their are several bluegrass bands like the Steeldrivers and Old Crow that got me started keeping up with bluegrass. If you haven’t already listen to Stapelton with the Johmpson Brothers. Album name as well. It’s my Stapleton album of choice for a while now.
TwangBob
January 3, 2019 @ 12:12 pm
I’m good with this about Chris… the nod by Billboard magazine certainly does mark a movement in the right direction for Country Music.
SteveB
January 3, 2019 @ 12:12 pm
I also can’t speak to “Contemporary Country” (or Pop) as I don’t listen to it, and have almost no exposure. I think I have heard one Rascall Flatts song and I looked up Luke Bryan and some other up and coming “country artist” and found them wanting.I did enjoy Chris Stapeleton’s debut and found it refreshing to hear content like that across spectrums with friends who are not in to “Roots Country” or Country at all,finding him appealing.that being said, I got pretty tired of hearing it everywhere, to the point where I didn’t want to listen to it. I certainly don’t begrudge him his success , and he certainly has done his time in the trenches, but there are an awful lot of artists out there delivering much deeper content who, I think, ultimately have more to offer. I can only listen to so many songs about whiskey. He DOES seem to be a pretty humble dude, however, and deserves kudos for taking advantage of his popularity to pull others up with him while he is getting the airplay.
Billy Wayne Ruddick
January 3, 2019 @ 12:13 pm
Good article. The answer is definitely in between. Personally, he’s never made it into any regular rotation of mine, and I’ve tried several times (and not just because he isn’t “country enough). That’s especially true with his latest releases. Great blues voice though, and it’s a great thing that he is getting praise above and beyond the other nauseating Nashville acts. Finally, the second to the last paragraph is 110% true.
SmirkDave
January 3, 2019 @ 12:26 pm
Chris needs to record more of his own songs to have a more lasting legacy.
altaltcountry
January 3, 2019 @ 12:43 pm
One of the few times I’m happy to be in the middle.
If the main reason Billboard chose Stapleton was chart performance, then there’s hope that the hype machine is losing its power, or that the hype machine is choosing better (if not the best) artists to promote. Either way, that’s reason to celebrate.
Trigger
January 3, 2019 @ 1:06 pm
Billboard’s proclamation of Chris Stapleton as “Artist of the Year” is solely based on data. Now, you can question the efficacy of chart data these days, but this is not someone’s opinion. That’s one of the reasons I think it speak to a changing tide in the mainstream that is leading more people to understand they have alternatives to the stuff played on radio. Stapleton is a bridge to the independent/traditional/Americana world. It’s good that bridge is healthy. It’s hurtful if we burn that bridge.
altaltcountry
January 3, 2019 @ 6:17 pm
I trust data charts (as opposed to radio statistics). The various top album / song / artist of 2018 polls that I’ve seen have almost always favored true country artists as opposed to the posers.
I’m biased, but your work on Saving Country Music is a powerful counterweight to the machinations of the hype machine. The more I navigate through the back pages of SCM, the more I appreciate your hard work and wisdom.
Tyler
January 7, 2019 @ 8:44 am
Stapleton was my bridge to traditional country about 18 months ago. I was listening to a Steeldrivers Pandora station when Tyler Childers came on and I was hooked. Started finding similar artists and then found this website that opened up the world of roots/American/traditional country. You take the bad with the good, but all in all he’s good for the future of country music
Seth of Lampasas
January 3, 2019 @ 12:45 pm
The thing about him is he had 40 some odd years of material accumulated to draw from when he recorded Traveler, and that was the cream of the crop, judging by the comparative quality of his last two releases. I think a long break with the wife and twins and no touring for a while would be good for him so he can relax and crank up the songwriting machine again.
JB-Chicago
January 3, 2019 @ 12:51 pm
I agree with Billy Wayne Ruddick above in that he’s just never made it into my rotation but I still appreciate what he’s done and where he is as far as sticking it to the mainstream row ass kissing machine (especially in the awards arena…lol) I still love when I’m in a bar and a band launches into one of his tunes even if it is after a Bro/Pop row artist/song. It just says something! It says someone else we on here all know, love, and deserves it as well might catch the same break sometime soon to stir the pot. Ya never know…………
Fuzzy TwoShirts
January 3, 2019 @ 1:06 pm
Look, any year that I get to watch the Luke Bryan fans ball their big baby fists and scream at clouds and write angry facebook posts with poor grammar is a good year.
I don’t even care about Stapleton.
I’m just siding with anyone who pisses on pop Country’s parade
altaltcountry
January 3, 2019 @ 6:29 pm
Move over, bro. I’ve been drinking Very Old Barton all day long and I’ve really got to go.
Saving Bro Country Music
January 3, 2019 @ 1:10 pm
Not that it undermines your overall point, but it’s worth noting that the Billboard Artist 100 (which provides the methodology for these “top artist” charts) seems to overly value pure album sales. There is some debate as to whether that makes sense.
If you believe pure sales are about INTENT (how much you like the artist), then this methodology makes sense.
If you believe pure sales about about DEMOGRAPHIC (some people just don’t buy music anymore; some people just don’t stream music), then this methodology doesn’t seem valid.
But it’s just something to consider when discussing Chris Stapleton as this year’s #1 country artist … as well as his viability as a #1 artist in years to come.
altaltcountry
January 3, 2019 @ 6:25 pm
Your comments are in keeping with the trend of “modern” listeners to prefer individual song streams over albums via streamng. But country music (more than any other genre) is the Valhalla of album excellence. The resurgence of vinyl (vintage and newly pressed) augurs well for a renaissance of country music albums. So “overly valuing pure album sales” may be a leading indicator rather than a lagging one.
Black Boots
January 4, 2019 @ 6:02 am
You just wanted to say augur
Seth of Lampasas
January 3, 2019 @ 8:27 pm
What exactly is the value system in this case and how does it work? Also, the best adjective to the system being described is subjective. Rigged may be too string a word, but the record industry gets a larger cut from albums than streams, so common sense tells you there’s an incentive for The Row to promote vinyl over data.
Trigger
January 3, 2019 @ 9:25 pm
No doubt Stapleton’s strength is album sales, but he did have a #1 song this year, another single that has been climbing the charts, and a very strong tour that turned in impressive box scores. I think this is a more well-rounded “Top Artist” distinction than when he earned it in 2016.
Kevin Smith
January 3, 2019 @ 1:18 pm
I know I’ve commented enough on Stapleton. I suppose you could consider me an apologist to the keep it real country crowd as regards his music. Look, some of us love Southern Rock and Blues as much as we love Honky Tonk. To me, he blends all 3 into one mighty fine and tasty gumbo. I agree with the guy who said his best work is with Steeldrivers and Jompson Brothers. Absolutely. But do yourself a favor if you still are on the fence, pony up some greenbacks and go see his live show! No gimmicks, he ain’t a pretty boy shakin it at the ladies, no auto tune, no fake anything, just a man, his songs his voice, a drummer, bass player and a background singer wife. That’s it, no frills. And with something that basic he entertains huge crowds, every night. Add the aw shucks persona he rocks and it’s a hands down winner.
EW in DFW
January 4, 2019 @ 10:42 am
I’m just a casual Stapleton fan. I didn’t buy his albums but I saw him play in Dallas last year and it was great!
Music Jedi
January 7, 2019 @ 9:54 pm
I saw him then too as he opened for the Eagles. Great show!
albert
January 3, 2019 @ 1:56 pm
”But if you can’t look back and appreciate that we live in an era when Chris Stapleton is consistently the biggest artist in all of country music after years of suffering under the Bro-Country regime……..”
Its undeniable – PEOPLE KNOW THE DIFFERENCE and will support it with dollars .
You want REAL ……you got it …Real band , real vocals , real songs ,real passion
..mission accomplished …
Fat Freddy's Cat
January 3, 2019 @ 2:10 pm
I’m not a spelling Nazi but I had to point this one out: “The performance of “Meat To Be” in 2018 also underscores that there is still a lot of work to do.”
I had to point it out because it’s unintentionally funny.
Troy
January 3, 2019 @ 2:22 pm
“Chris Stapleton is a good artist. He’s good for country music. He writes quality songs, and cuts them with an actual band, live in a studio. He doesn’t use drum machines or synthesizers. His music isn’t composed on a laptop with seven songwriters and four producers. His soulful, R&B-style voice made him the perfect superstar for our time, but his songs, arrangements, and sound are decidedly country. Chris Stapleton can’t help that he’s got a one-in-a-million voice, and can write songs to suit it, and that they’ve been received so well he’s outselling everyone else, and sucking up all of the industry awards. Success shouldn’t be seen as a burden on an artist, it should be taken with an honest assessment of the output itself, and if it’s worthy, celebrated so it will hopefully go on to be duplicated.”
Thank you, Trig. You summed up exactly how I would describe Chris Stapleton. Exceptional talent like this can’t be ignored. Due to the Stapleton Effect, it seems like more mainstream country artists are attempting to add substance into their music (some good, some bad and some that are heinous).
Smarco
January 3, 2019 @ 3:33 pm
I like Chris Stapleton well enough. With a couple of exceptions, I don’t go out of my way to listen to him. He’s good but not great at satiating my need for country music, kind of like a non-alcoholic beer.
But the fact that he’s kicking ass in today’s f’d up country music business is kick ass.
The Ghost of Hey Arnold
January 3, 2019 @ 5:02 pm
Cool for Stapleton.
But we got a bigger problem.. Hootie and the Blowfish are going to be a country act now. Just signed to Capitol Nashville.
I enjoyed their 1st album a lot… but they ain’t country
Seth of Lampasas
January 3, 2019 @ 8:32 pm
At this point, shouldn’t your name be The Ghost of The Ghost of Hey Arnold? You suffered what I thought was your second self imposed demise in a recent post, though I can’t remember which one specifically.
The Ghost of Hey Arnold
January 3, 2019 @ 8:41 pm
Dude, its poetic satire… The Rise & Fall of Hey Arnold, then it’s the demise and resurrection.
There’s only room for one hysterical queen, darling.
Seth of Lampasas
January 4, 2019 @ 9:36 am
But you have to be consistent sweetie. You’ve declared your death 2 or 3 times that I know of. And, believe me, I’ve been keeping an eye on you because you’ve been hurt so deeply in the past, and it’s very concerning to me. I have to give you credit tho; you always find the strength to come back and continue that righteous battle for mainstream radio.
Oh, you poor thing, you even gave us another example of your grandiose self-image and lack of self awareness:
“it’s poetic satire”. Not hardly, dear.
The Ghost of Hey Arnold
January 4, 2019 @ 11:34 am
I think you need to calm down and just focus on the music… jeez…
Trigger
January 4, 2019 @ 12:00 pm
Stop with the back and forth y’all. You’ve been warned before. Thanks!
Seth C Ramsey
January 4, 2019 @ 9:55 pm
Y’all really need to lighten up lol. Don’t get your panties in a bunch, boys. I’m just messing with Arnold, so hopefully he stays grounded in our stratosphere. And it was 4 comments total, Trigger. I’d hardly call that a back and forth. Anyway, y’all have a good night.
Trigger
January 4, 2019 @ 10:47 pm
4 comments, this time.
Seth of Lampasas
January 4, 2019 @ 11:19 pm
OK I’ll stop picking on Arnold.
DJ
January 3, 2019 @ 6:05 pm
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NENadF5V84M
Corncaster
January 3, 2019 @ 6:43 pm
I listen and go, “ok, it’s better than the usual commercial slop.”
But I don’t buy.
It’s like everything he puts out is a killer demo. But I have no dea what he really believes, what he has lived, or what he really cares about.
albert
January 4, 2019 @ 12:46 am
”It’s like everything he puts out is a killer demo. ”
key word is ‘killer ‘ , cornman ….but yeah …I couldn’t agree with you more .
but hell ….if it ain’t broke …..
and it most certainly ain’t
.
Corncaster
January 4, 2019 @ 3:46 am
Agreed that his voice ain’t broke, that’s for sure.
He’s like a dimed Marshall: it sounds great but is a very specific thing that can’t convey or communicate everything. You wouldn’t call Chris for something subtle.
Stapleton is the AC/DC of country music: impressive, loud, and reliable.
It ain’t noise pollution.
Big Cat
January 3, 2019 @ 7:00 pm
Nail – head. Couldn’t say it better. Stapleton isn’t my bag personally and I think there is some fair truth regarding the ‘hat’ that he wears…. That said, there’s no denying his incredible voice and what he’s done for good music in general. So cheers to the man.
Connie Odom
January 3, 2019 @ 8:10 pm
I am not sorry for the statement I am about to make. I am not concerned about an artist rising to the top fast. But what I am concerned about is talent and a voice that you could listen to all day long. Chris Stapleton does not own that. #justthetruth
albert
January 4, 2019 @ 12:50 am
Tell us YOU think has talent Connie so we have some idea as to how you could possibly say that
Tyrone
January 4, 2019 @ 7:08 pm
…..Are you high?
Charles
January 4, 2019 @ 7:13 pm
Did you seriously just say Chris Stapleton doesn’t have talent?
Connie Odom
January 4, 2019 @ 11:25 pm
Well, since you asked, I will give you my two cents. My personal favorite is Gary Allen and then there is the king George Straight, Arron Tippon, Kieth Whitley, George Gones, Earl Thomas Conley, Meryl Haggard. Do you need me to go on? Because I can and I will. Everyone has their likes and dislikes. I’m not a hater. I’m a lover. So whatever floats your boat. Im done.
Connie Odom
January 4, 2019 @ 11:33 pm
To me country music is the music, the lyrics, and most important the voice. #justsayin
Tammie
January 3, 2019 @ 11:42 pm
It really gets me when someone like you does a word vomit about something that they clearly have no idea what the hell they are talking about. For your 15 seconds of what? Claim???You do have the right and you can say what you think here, it’s your venue, but as a Country Song Writer, you do not have a clue what being gifted is. Not only does he stand alone in his lyrical genious, he has a dank gauge, runs, and falsettos that transcends any of the other “Bros” you chimed. Ask any of them and I bet they’d agree. The day you can take a Flat top, nothing else, and chill a crowd, you will have my respect to read your shit. But not until. Try writing a sports article next time bcuz you do not know shit about talent or about what it takes to convey a sound to a heart to fulfill it.
Trigger
January 3, 2019 @ 11:46 pm
Huh?
sbach66
January 4, 2019 @ 6:30 am
WTF?
JB-Chicago
January 4, 2019 @ 7:36 am
“bcuz you do not know shit about talent or about what it takes to convey a sound to a heart to fulfill it.”
Actually Tammie he does because 99% of what I currently listen to he turned me on to it. Most if not all convey’s sound that fullfills my heart on a daily basis. That was an easy one…..lol
scott
January 4, 2019 @ 7:39 am
Is Tammie lil dale in drag? Nawww, he makes more sense.
Tyrone
January 4, 2019 @ 7:10 pm
……Are YOU high?
Lone Wolf
January 4, 2019 @ 2:01 am
“Yes, Chris Stapleton did write songs for some of country’s biggest arena stars, which traditionalists love to point out. But he didn’t write those songs for them specifically. He wrote songs to put food on the table for his family, and superstars chose to cut them.” Well put, Trig! I can’t tell you how many people think when an artist writes a song for someone theyre actually sitting in the same room with them. Not necessarily, as you pointed out. It’s not uncommon for an artist to write a song for someone else and then re-record it themselves. While I can’t say I know 1/4 of the songs CS has written for other artists, could you possibly see him re-record these particular songs? Not all of them, but maybe ones that embody his style?
Michael Reddy
January 4, 2019 @ 4:45 am
When was this so called “pure country” era that some people pine after ? Country Music has always brought other influences into the mix. Merle Haggard was a jazz fan and that informed his music, Willie and Waylon took bits and pieces from, Rock, Folk, Country and Jazz to form their sound, Ronnie Milsap blended 50’s Rock and R&B, Country and 70’s pop, and today we have artists like Turnpike Troubadours who come from the same school as early Eagles, Ryan Adams and the Cardinals who mix in Punk elements, and Chris Stapleton who is a southern fried soul singer with good doses of country mixed in. I consider all of these great artists that help to broaden the tent of Country Music in interesting ways. Let the music speak for itself ’cause good music is good music no matter what label someone slaps on it.
altaltcountry
January 4, 2019 @ 2:13 pm
All true. You can find jazz-country even further back than Merle Haggard–Texas swing incorporated jazz (some of Johnnie Lee Wills’ songs on Tulsa Stampede are pure jazz with little country). Jimmie Rodgers used some Dixieland instruments on a few of his songs.
I agree that labels shouldn’t get in the way of enjoying the music. Still, labels have some value for appreciating the way individual artists create their mix. And sometimes the addition of a non-traditional element weakens the music rather than extending it. When this happens, I think it’s fair to call out the pretender (not Chris Stapleton).
Corncaster
January 4, 2019 @ 6:54 pm
Haggard never went modal jazz. He, Clint, and Freddy kept it country. You can say the same for Jimmy Bryant, Hank Garland, Buddy Emmons, Leon Rhodes, and all the guys who knew tritone subs. If chord subs went jazzy, the lyric stayed four-square country, and so on. The country players always struck a respectful balance. Not so these a**hole “disrupters” who couldn’t read a Nashville chart.
altaltcountry
January 4, 2019 @ 7:24 pm
Check out “Relaxin'” from Tulsa Stampede (you’ll have to dig up the vinyl, unfortunately; I can’t find an online / streaming version). It could easily be a performance by a bebop combo in a Harlem nightclub. And of course there are Hank Thompson’s various polka hits, and Spade Cooley’s jazz / classical mashups.
This isn’t to say that “country jazz” was a popular subgenre, just that certain bona fide country performers weren’t afraid to head in that direction occasionally. Certainly they were more comfortable with jazz than jazz performers (e.g. Sonny Rollins on “Way Out West”) were with blending in country elements.
Corncaster
January 5, 2019 @ 9:27 pm
Those are some of my favorites. They are outliers.
The Tubb bands were great. Wayne Hancock has had great players that push the harmony. We’re in the age of the add9 or sus2, I think. I don’t see how country survives without duple or triple meter, strophic lyrics, and stringed instruments.
To say nothing of, you know, the actual country.
altaltcountry
January 5, 2019 @ 11:28 pm
There are some common lyric threads / themes too. I’m not saying some great artists don’t push the envelope, but they usually do so by using the traditional themes as a background (e.g. “Wedding Band” by Mike and the Moonpies). Recent musicians tend either to expand on the traditions or ignore them (and it’s clear which I prefer). So to return to the original post, there may not be a “pure” country music based on a formula written in stone, but there’s a body of traditions, and rejecting this wisdom out of ignorance, laziness, or the desire to make a quick buck goes against 100+ years of country music.
Tex Hex
January 4, 2019 @ 9:56 am
I hear Stapleton’s influence all over Brothers Osborne’s “Port St. Joe” album, compared to their first album “Pawn Shop.” Though enjoyable enough as a pop-country album, “Pawn Shop” was drenched in studio trickery and drum machine backbeats (blame Jay Joyce for that?), whereas I think they saw (astutely) what Stapleton (and Simpson, and Dave Cobb’s stable) were doing and went a bit more traditional and organic on “Port St. Joe” (I think they’re talented enough for that – based on their acoustic performances I’ve seen online).
It’s been said before, but Stapleton’s success is opening doors for more traditional songwriting and production again. I’m not saying flood-gates, but at least a little crack in the door – giving some artists a bit more courage to walk through with something a bit more substantial, with a real chance at commercial success. That’s a good thing.
Bob Mule
January 4, 2019 @ 11:41 am
Just give me some George Strait, Alan Jackson or Clint Black. That”s Country!!