Brooks & DunnIn alphabetical order by artist:
I Betcha My Heart I Love You – Bob Wills
.jpg)
This kind of old-time western swing is an acquired taste for most, and the yodeling makes it even more inaccessible to a modern audience. But I think this is great; those years I spent in Texas helped me learn to appreciate it. I can’t find any info about the personnel on this recording. Bob Will is the bandleader and fiddle player; I don’t know who the singer is or the piano player. Anyway, if you don’t know Bob Wills and you have the slightest taste for country or for dixieland jazz you’re missing out.
Why Don’t You Love Me – Hank Williams
Another classic country tune and artist. Steve Earle once said that Hank Williams had more in common with the Sex Pistols than with Brooks & Dunn or any other cookie-cutter country crap artist coming out of Nashville these days – including, I’d say, Hank Williams Jr.. The man died penniless in the back of his car. There is an adolescent romantic in me that can’t help but respect that.
If You've Got the Money I've Got the Time – Lefty Frizzell – from the album Listen to Lefty
Why are there so many country tracks on this list? Country music is a fairly small section in my music library. Is this a coincidence? Or was country music more popular back in the early 50s? And if so, why did it’s popularity fade? I don’t think Frizzell has quite the same “edge” as Bob Wills or Hank Williams. But for the times, I suppose the lyrics to this song are on the subversive side of things.
You Rascal You – Louis Armstrong & Louis Jordan
For years I thought this was Bing Crosby dueting with Armstrong until I actually checked the liner notes on my CD. I don’t think I’ve ever heard anything else by Louis Jordan but he does a great job on this fun track.
Deception – Miles Davis – from the album Birth of the Cool
Miles Davis would go on to revolutionize American music at least two more times over the next two decades. But here we find him laying the cornerstone of cool jazz. I personally prefer the harder rhythms of bop and hard bop. But there’s no denying the importance of this recording.
Rolling Stone – Muddy Waters
Laying down the foundations of rock music. If you didn’t already know, and if you haven’t already figured it out, this track lent its name to one of the greatest rock bands of all time.
Atraente – Pixinguinha
Pixinguinha was a flute player and remains one of the most important composers in the history of Brazilian music. He wrote and performed primarily in the choro genre and is responsible for some of the most recognizable melodies in the Brazilian music repertoire.
Noche Triunfal – Trío Matamoros
If you’re familiar with the Buena Vista Social Club, this is where it all comes from. Of course, most of the Buena Vista musicians were performing as far back as the 50’s as well. But for Miguel Matamoros, 1950 was near the end of his career. There great recordings of his music from the 20s and 30s that I highly recommend if you’re into this kind of music. He died in the early 70s so didn’t live to see the explosion of global interest in Cuban music in the late 90s as a result of the Buena Vista recordings. But his influence is everywhere on those recordings.
I Betcha My Heart I Love You – Bob Wills
This kind of old-time western swing is an acquired taste for most, and the yodeling makes it even more inaccessible to a modern audience. But I think this is great; those years I spent in Texas helped me learn to appreciate it. I can’t find any info about the personnel on this recording. Bob Will is the bandleader and fiddle player; I don’t know who the singer is or the piano player. Anyway, if you don’t know Bob Wills and you have the slightest taste for country or for dixieland jazz you’re missing out.
Why Don’t You Love Me – Hank Williams
Another classic country tune and artist. Steve Earle once said that Hank Williams had more in common with the Sex Pistols than with Brooks & Dunn or any other cookie-cutter country crap artist coming out of Nashville these days – including, I’d say, Hank Williams Jr.. The man died penniless in the back of his car. There is an adolescent romantic in me that can’t help but respect that.
If You've Got the Money I've Got the Time – Lefty Frizzell – from the album Listen to LeftyWhy are there so many country tracks on this list? Country music is a fairly small section in my music library. Is this a coincidence? Or was country music more popular back in the early 50s? And if so, why did it’s popularity fade? I don’t think Frizzell has quite the same “edge” as Bob Wills or Hank Williams. But for the times, I suppose the lyrics to this song are on the subversive side of things.
You Rascal You – Louis Armstrong & Louis JordanFor years I thought this was Bing Crosby dueting with Armstrong until I actually checked the liner notes on my CD. I don’t think I’ve ever heard anything else by Louis Jordan but he does a great job on this fun track.
Deception – Miles Davis – from the album Birth of the CoolMiles Davis would go on to revolutionize American music at least two more times over the next two decades. But here we find him laying the cornerstone of cool jazz. I personally prefer the harder rhythms of bop and hard bop. But there’s no denying the importance of this recording.
Rolling Stone – Muddy Waters
Laying down the foundations of rock music. If you didn’t already know, and if you haven’t already figured it out, this track lent its name to one of the greatest rock bands of all time.
Atraente – Pixinguinha
Pixinguinha was a flute player and remains one of the most important composers in the history of Brazilian music. He wrote and performed primarily in the choro genre and is responsible for some of the most recognizable melodies in the Brazilian music repertoire.
Noche Triunfal – Trío Matamoros
If you’re familiar with the Buena Vista Social Club, this is where it all comes from. Of course, most of the Buena Vista musicians were performing as far back as the 50’s as well. But for Miguel Matamoros, 1950 was near the end of his career. There great recordings of his music from the 20s and 30s that I highly recommend if you’re into this kind of music. He died in the early 70s so didn’t live to see the explosion of global interest in Cuban music in the late 90s as a result of the Buena Vista recordings. But his influence is everywhere on those recordings.
