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Ken Burns: Country Music. 8 episodes. 16 Hours. Starts Sep. 15.

Featured Replies

  • Author

Glad to see that they are showing how much of a badass Merle was.  

And how much of a badass his mom was.   

And wondered if they would show Marty Stuart’s wife.  She aged well for 79.

bit of a gut punch that Barbara Mandrell is 70.   Feeling old.  

Edited by atomheartbevo

On 9/17/2019 at 7:23 AM, kevwun said:

Crazy about the station in Mexico blasting it's signal out so strong that it covered the entire US all the way to Canada.  I can't imagine hearing the radio through a barb wire fence.  All because of goat balls.

I know late to the party. But this will be discussed Tuesday in San Antonio:

https://www.tpr.org/community-calendar/event/543575

  • Author

Furk I stayed up too late binging.  

Aggy gonna put their remotes through the TV. 

Ray Benson flashing the horns from the Armadillo World Headquarters in the 70s

 

5 hours ago, atomheartbevo said:

bit of a gut punch that Barbara Mandrell is 70.   Feeling old.  

She put peanuts in my Coke if you get what I mean. Young Dolly was just unfuckingbelieveably hot. She coulda had A cups and still been smoke. Thank God we never had to find out.

10 hours ago, bluto said:

Damn dolly was pure train smoke

If you ask me to name five living people to have over for dinner at the same time, Dolly might make the list.  Absolutely fascinating life and interesting person.

A few things I've learned from the show so far.  (I'm catching up.)

1.  From the beginning, artists dumbed themselves down to appeal to the rubes.  (I found Minnie Pearl interesting.)  I knew modern artists have done it for years but I didn't know it had been going on since the beginning.  (Rap music does the same thing, if you think about it.)

2.  Nashville really played the long game and had their shit together.

3.  Emmy Lou Harris is 72 and still hot.

4.  History of the Carter family was interesting and how it later intersects with Johnny Cash.  Actually, there are a lot of intersections that I didn't realize and those have been interesting as well.

 

So I'm being required to donate to watch the last 4 episodes.  Anyone else getting that?

36 minutes ago, Aqua Buddha said:

Rap music does the same thing, if you think about it.

There are a lot of similarities between the birth and evolution of country music and hip hop.  Hip Hip Evolution on Netflix is a pretty good watch if you're interested.

24 minutes ago, Al_4_ISU said:

So I'm being required to donate to watch the last 4 episodes.  Anyone else getting that?

I think they are releasing them 1 week at a time. 

25 minutes ago, Al_4_ISU said:

So I'm being required to donate to watch the last 4 episodes.  Anyone else getting that?

WTF !!??

Just now, Onboard 2.0 said:

WTF !!??

It might be something Iowa Public Television is imposing too.

I've been watching mostly via Public Television app on my tablet, but you have to log in through your local PBS provider.

1 minute ago, Jerry Callo said:

There are a lot of similarities between the birth and evolution of country music and hip hop.  Hip Hip Evolution on Netflix is a pretty good watch if you're interested.

Except for all the murders, and explicit language, and glorification of the thug life......yeah lots of them.

 

4 minutes ago, Al_4_ISU said:

It might be something Iowa Public Television is imposing too.

I've been watching mostly via Public Television app on my tablet, but you have to log in through your local PBS provider.

I mean it's worth it and all, it just seems a bit extortionist.

9 minutes ago, atomheartbevo said:

Jessi Colter and Emmylou Harris were hot AF.   

I would argue that Emmylou is actually hotter at 70 than 25.  I don't know how that's possible, but I think that's what happened.

Just now, Al_4_ISU said:

I would argue that Emmylou is actually hotter at 70 than 25.  I don't know how that's possible, but I think that's what happened.

Some women just do not age. Have a HS friend, I'd swear she was in her early 30's and we're both 55-56.  No work done either.

14 hours ago, bluto said:

Damn dolly was pure train smoke

 

Marty Stuart must be a walking country music encyclopedia.  He's gotten more airtime than anyone so far.  Dude knows everything about everyone.

  • Author
5 minutes ago, Chewbacca said:

Marty Stuart must be a walking country music encyclopedia.  He's gotten more airtime than anyone so far.  Dude knows everything about everyone.

He’s eskimo brothers with 75% of country music.  

1 hour ago, atomheartbevo said:

He’s eskimo brothers with 75% of country music.  

That and the dude is a strong instrument savant 

1 hour ago, Chewbacca said:

Marty Stuart must be a walking country music encyclopedia.  He's gotten more airtime than anyone so far.  Dude knows everything about everyone.

His fashion sense is right out of the 18th c.

28 minutes ago, Onboard 2.0 said:

His fashion sense is right out of the 18th c.

No shit.  I've started calling him Lestat.  Dude is a fucking vampire.

  • Author
1 hour ago, Onboard 2.0 said:

His fashion sense is right out of the 18th c.

So is his wife.  

  • Author

I feel dirty for making that joke.   

This series really turned into a love letter to country music.  They aren’t covering up the bad stuff, but they are re also putting it all in context.    Friends of ours who are not country music fans, and kind of always took digs at it, are in love with all of the old music and personalities.  

I really hope they give a shout-out to Steve Goodman, guy was unbridled energy and genius

9 hours ago, Jerry Callo said:

There are a lot of similarities between the birth and evolution of country music and hip hop.  Hip Hip Evolution on Netflix is a pretty good watch if you're interested.

As a nod to this very concept, AV Club once did a series where they had their rap critic study country music and profile legendary country artists.  The article on Willie is pretty good: https://music.avclub.com/nashville-or-bust-week-4-shotgun-willie-s-concept-alb-1798216450

 

3 hours ago, atomheartbevo said:

I feel dirty for making that joke.   

This series really turned into a love letter to country music.  They aren’t covering up the bad stuff, but they are re also putting it all in context.    Friends of ours who are not country music fans, and kind of always took digs at it, are in love with all of the old music and personalities.  

Never feel dirty about sexual innuendo on Surly, be proud of your inappropriate pre-versions.

"Have you ever looked at him real close?  He looks like a possum!  Little beady eyes.  He knows he looks like a possum."

lulz

Is the story of Kris landing a chopper on cash’s lawn just myth? Seems like it woulda/shoulda been highlighted tonight (or did I miss it?)

14 hours ago, Al_4_ISU said:

It might be something Iowa Public Television is imposing too.

I've been watching mostly via Public Television app on my tablet, but you have to log in through your local PBS provider.

Watching this is making me want to review several episodes of both Otis and Tyler. 

I've been watching it off the on demand. I got caught up this weekend. Bill Malone's book is one of Tyler's main sources. Ken Burns was kinder to Jeannie C. Riley than Tyler was. 

We got to see Pig as a young man too. Session player in the Quonset hut and then at the end a player again with Sturgill. 

I have a lot of reading ahead of me. 

The 11pm central show following the re-air has had great damn concerts, tonight is Waylon. Has his reflections on his career or the song currently being played voice over during instrumental parts. Great stuff

I could have watched 16 hours of Merle Haggard interviews.  And another 16 hours of artists reciting Kristofferson lyrics   

 

I say this about every one he does, but Ken Burns has outdone himself. It's like what the guy was saying about Kristofferson's audition. Give me 4 songs. 1 or 2 might be good, but all 4 were excellent. 

17 hours ago, Onboard 2.0 said:

Except for all the murders,

Long Black Veil

El Paso

Folsom Prison Blues

Pancho and Lefty

Green, Green Grass of Home

Buenos Nochas from a Lonely Room 

25 Minutes to Go

 

4 hours ago, EMAWesome said:

Long Black Veil

El Paso

Folsom Prison Blues

Pancho and Lefty

Green, Green Grass of Home

Buenos Nochas from a Lonely Room 

25 Minutes to Go

 

No I mean the actual murders between fighting factions in the hip hop world.

22 hours ago, Onboard 2.0 said:

Except for all the murders, and explicit language, and glorification of the thug life......yeah lots of them.

 

GettyImages-78803058.jpg

27 minutes ago, Celery Man said:

GettyImages-78803058.jpg

If you don't want me mama
You sure don't have to stall
You sure don't have to stall
'Cause I can get more women
Than a passenger train can haul
 
I'm gonna buy me a pistol
Just as long as I'm tall
Just as long as I'm tall
I'm gonna shoot poor Thelma
Just to see her jump and fall

I'm about an episode behind but I didn't realize how much of a train wreck Hank Williams was.  I knew he died young from alcohol but he really went above and beyond.  Selling tickets to his wedding made me laugh.

  • Author
On 9/19/2019 at 5:49 PM, Ths71 said:


Wonder if David Allan Coe get a mention. To controversial and over the top?

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  • Author

Man, I wish my grandparents were still alive and could have watched this.  

Charlie Pride quoting Kristofferson May be the greatest thing I’ve ever seen. I have a friend who sells Charlie cars on occasion and said he was a great storyteller. I believe it.

  • Author

Tonight is the Austin episode.  You better watch, so sayeth Ray Benson at the Armadillo World Headquarters

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  • Author
1 hour ago, Asithappens said:

Nice to see that Gram Parsons made the cut.

And Guy Clark and Townes Van Zandt.  Very glad to see them make it.

I've been wondering, given that some like Conway Twitty and Tennessee Ernie Ford were left out or were just briefly mentioned in passing.

They're definitely taking a broad definition of Country in this series. I've got a great big "Fuck you!" for Ken Burns if the music of Jerry Garcia, Robert Hunter, and the Grateful Dead isn't included. 

RIP, Robert. 

Just now, WhatTheBuck said:

They're definitely taking a broad definition of Country in this series. I've got a great big "Fuck you!" for Ken Burns if the music of Jerry Garcia, Robert Hunter, and the Grateful Dead isn't included. 

RIP, Robert. 

They had a still of Jerry that was on screen for a few seconds in episode 1.

7 hours ago, Aqua Buddha said:

I'm about an episode behind but I didn't realize how much of a train wreck Hank Williams was.  I knew he died young from alcohol but he really went above and beyond.  Selling tickets to his wedding made me laugh.

Chloral hydrate, booze, and opiates are not a good choice. But, if he had undiagnosed spina bifida or other back ailments that caused him to live in constant pain or sleep in the arms of Morpheus I can understand some  of why he went there. 

Johnny Cash at his speed freakiest was equally disturbing. 

Just popping in to say that I have seriously enjoyed every moment of this documentary. This might be my favorite work from Ken Burns. Loving it. 

Last night was my wheelhouse. Tonight should be amazing too. 

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