VA-Countrypolitan Hits

DSCN1282Despite what the big sticker says, this was 25 cents.  Too many good songs to pass by.

Countrypolitian or the Nashville sound was an attempt to smooth out the rough honky tonk edges of 50’s country.  This genre would prove successful in the 60’s and 70’s.  One of the architects of this sound was Chet Atkins.  Legend has it when ever someone would ask him what the Nashville sound was, Atkins would shake loose change in his pockets and reply “Money”.  Another one of the sounds chief architects was Billy Sherrill who died on Aug 10 of this year at the age of 78.  Sherrill worked with everybody as a record producer, song writer, and executive.  His work with George Jones and Tammy Wynette are among his many highlights.

Billy Sherrill

OBIT for Billy Sherrill

I have openly stated a few times on this blog my disdain for countrypolitan, mainly because I prefer the jagged edges of 50’s honky tonk.  That being said,  this is a pretty good album of songs.  It is early countrypolitian which is not bad.  In my opinion, by the time it got to the 70’s, the genre was overblown.  But this album is 60’s stuff and includes such artists as George Jones, Kitty Wells, Jeannie C. Riley, Glen Campbell, Patsy Cline, Buck Owens, Webb Pierce, Del Reeves, Burl Ives, and actor Robert Mitchum.

DSCN1283For a sample, I went with Loretta Lynn’s “Fist City”.  A #1 hit for Lynn in 1968, this is one of the songs that got Lynn banned from the radio in the 60’s due to content.lorettalynn

 

Satisfactory record indeed and only 25 cents.