Is Country Music Low Class?

I won't say much today--I'll leave it up to you.

Here's the premise:   Country music is often condemned, criticized and looked down upon.  A lot of people say they don't like country music, but maybe they haven't really listened to enough of it or are basing their opinions on what they've heard about the music from other sources.

Some of the derogatory epithets or negative descriptions of country music:   Hillbilly music, backward, corny, white trashy, ignorant, barroom beer-drinkin' music, boring, stupid, old timey, trailer park muzak, farm fodder, songs sung through missing teeth, and the worst music there is.  I'm sure I've missed many other terms, but you get the idea.

So what do you think?

Is country music low class?

Roots of Country Music

          If one were to trace the roots of the earliest western traditions of music one might break it down into two basic categories--church music and secular music.  It's really not quite that simple, and there was a great deal of cross influence between the two.  The early settlers of the United States who came from the British Isles brought with them the popular music traditions of their respective homelands.

            The early music of Britain, Ireland, Scotland, and surrounding areas descended from the music of the medieval minstrels and troubadours.  As some of the more musically inclined citizenry began developing the various regional styles, they would pass on ballads and chanteys and the like for singing; and jigs, reels, and other instrumental styles for dancing and other festive occasions. This was the music they carried to their new homes in the Appalachians and other regions of North America.

            Eventually this traditional music began to be influenced by the music of the black slaves who added influences like the African banjo.  Also, the French musical influence of the Acadians from Canada eventually found its way into the newly developing American fusion music.  The music of the Americas, like music so often does, continued to draw upon other styles and branch out to create new unique sounds.

         As the country opened up and transportation networks were vastly improved, musical innovations were spread more quickly to all parts of the country.  Like the roving troubadours of medieval times, new bands of minstrels toured the country popularizing new songs that were combinations of the many styles of white and black America.  Publishing sheet music became a big business as those who were trained in music wanted to be able to play the popular songs in their own homes.

           With this emerging music trend came the first American music superstar--Stephen Foster.  He started out writing traditional parlor pieces that were romantic and sentimental.  Strongly influenced by the black music and the music of  the traveling minstrel shows, he began writing songs in a similar vein and they were received with an overwhelming enthusiasm.   His "Oh, Susannah!" became the biggest selling piece of sheet music of the era and the popular song could be heard being sung from coast to coast by blacks and whites and people of all classes.  Unfortunately, the new music publishing industry afforded little protection for songwriters and Foster eventually died penniless, leaving a legacy of some of the most beloved songs of America.

           The latter half of the nineteenth and the early twentieth century brought the influences of cowboy music and early jazz and blues styles.   With the advent of the phonograph record, the new recording industry was hungry for different styles of music to market to the public.  The style of music that we now call country was released as "hillbilly" or "old-time" music and maintained a niche in the output of the recording industry.

            Country music has continued to merge with other styles and has branched out into several subcategories.   The genre of modern country is hugely popular and is a multi-million dollar industry.  The older styles like bluegrass, cowboy music, and other forms that fall under folk categories also have loyal fanbases.  Country covers a wide range of sounds and now one person's country music may sound totally different than another's.

               Remember that next Monday June 7th will be the HEAVEN ELEVEN FAVORITE RELIGIOUS ALBUMS which you can read about here.   If you'd like to participate, add your name to the Linky list at the top of the page.   On Monday June 14th I will be posting classical favorites.   Then on Monday June 21st Alex J Cavanaugh is hosting the Twelve Favorite Movies list-- a Linky list for that one is at the top portion of this page.

Create a MySpace Music Playlist at MixPod.com

The Incredble String Band

Samples have been removed but should return after 6/8

An audio sampler track is playing when you open this post-- If it really annoys you, then pause the player at the end of the post.  However, if you are musically open-minded and adventurous then enjoy the music.


           The origins of the Country Music genre are deeply rooted in the traditional music of England, Scotland, and Ireland.  The music of these backgrounds was carried to the United States by the immigrants who were settling during the formative years of this country.

          Today I would like to focus on the music of The Incredible String Band (ISB).  ISB's album THE HANGMAN'S BEAUTIFUL DAUGHTER made my list of FIFTEEN FANTASY ISLAND FAVORITES and if my albums came down to five favorites this ISB album would be one of them.  Here is what I initially had to say about this album:


The Hangman's Beautiful Daughter (1968) The Incredible String Band -- In 1969 I was first attracted to this because of all the different musical instruments that the band members played. But when I listened to the album I did not like it very much. It sounded so weird, so alien from anything I had ever listened to before. Then I listened to it again, and then again, and then again and again, and I began to really fall in love with the intricate music and magical lyrics. The music weaves elements of old English and Irish traditional styles with Indian and other ethnic styles with a rock and blues sensibility. I'd take any one of ISB's albums, but this one is my favorite. This is music that is spell-binding and I never have gotten tired of listening to it.

            The Hangman's Beautiful Daughter was the third ISB album and met with very broad positive acclaim from critics and musicians alike.  The first two albums had been very well received, but Hangman's Beautiful Daughter is the apex of ISB's career. 

            The core musicians of ISB are Robin Williamson, who came from a folk and traditional Celtic musical background, and Mike Heron, who was primarily from a rock and roll background.  The rest of the musical accomplices are like some sort of hippie communal collective, and often that's what they were.  ISB was a true band of the sixties, with music sometimes so roughshod sounding on the surface that at times it almost sounded like a bunch of flower children high on something.  As you listen closer you can begin to realize the intricacy and skill of the craft of songwriting and performance.

              Although the songs are all written by the band members, they often sound very timeless and traditional.  Listening to ISB, one can almost imagine ancient folk music that is the root music of today's folk and country.  Even listening now forty years later, the music does not sound particularly dated like other music of that time because the music of ISB was not conforming to the sound of that time, but creating a unique sound of their own.

             As is often the case with musical collaborations, frictions of personalities and divergences of musical tastes, eventually led to the parting of ways of Williamson and Heron and they went on to solo careers.  In the nineties and into the first decade of the next century they reunited with mixed results for a series of concerts.  Among all of the members of ISB, a legacy of often interesting recorded music has been left for the enjoyment and curiosity of future generations. 

        In 1970, ISB put out what in some ways was their most ambitious undertaking-- the album titled U.   This was intended to be a theatrical musical stage production.  After a short run in England and an even shorter run in the United States, the production was canned.  This album contains some of their most bizarre work ever. After several listenings this album has grown on me and has some of my favorite songs.  I have put a few of these songs on the playlist which accompanies this post.  "The Juggler's Song" (how could I not use that one) and "Bridge Song" are two favorites from U.  Then there is "The Queen of Love", which to my taste if I were compiling a list of my favorite beautiful songs, this would probably have to be one of them.  The lyrics are sheer poetry and the orchestration almost gives it a feel of a classical art song. 

            Is this band new to you?  If you listened to the samples, did you like them?   What influences do you hear in this music?
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