country and western

[tom]

I don't know about in the US, but here in the UK, the popularity of Country and Western (I'm talking about on mainstream radio) seems to have risen and fallen approximately every decade. Not only that, but each surge in popularity seems to have involved a different style of Country and Western.

In the 50s, when I was a little kid, I remember a lot of yodelling and cool electric guitar (sometime Hawaiian-style). In the 70s it tended to be the vocals that came to the fore, while in the 90s, the Line-Dance became poplular.

Is that also the case in the States?

Also, a strange fact is that Country and Western music has always seemed to be more popular with UK mainstream radio than our home-grown Folk music.

Tom

[M.Maestro]

tom said:

I don't know about in the US, but here in the UK, the popularity of Country and Western (I'm talking about on mainstream radio) seems to have risen and fallen approximately every decade. Not only that, but each surge in popularity seems to have involved a different style of Country and Western.

In the 50s, when I was a little kid, I remember a lot of yodelling and cool electric guitar (sometime Hawaiian-style). In the 70s it tended to be the vocals that came to the fore, while in the 90s, the Line-Dance became poplular.

Is that also the case in the States?

Also, a strange fact is that Country and Western music has always seemed to be more popular with UK mainstream radio than our home-grown Folk music.

Tom

Here in the U.S., Country music tends to be more regional (i.e.rural) in its popularity more often than not. In the larger markets (N.Y., L.A., Chicago, & the like) there is more market fragmentation due to the diverse population theirin. However in the Southern U.S. (Texas, Alabama, Tennessee, South Carolina, etc) its popularity is HUGE. Modern Country music tends to be pop-oriented than the Classic C & W styles of Ernest Tubb, Kitty Wells, Marty Robbins, Buck Owens, Hank Snow, etc.

[tom]

There are several types of Country and Western styles that I quite like, but I couldn't identify them by name. I like the yodelling style, the laid back electric guitar style, and the ballads. I do admit that I couldn't listen to even the types that I like for more than an hour or so at a time. And I can't stand Line Dancing!

What does disappoint me, however, is the tendancy for mainstream UK radio to largely ignore British Folk Music. On a good week, we're lucky to get an hour's worth of Folk, whereas we tend to get several hours of Country and Western. This is a shame, because after all, Folk music is our musical heritage, and reflects the history of our society.

Tom

[peridot44]

As with everything, there is some Country & Western I like but most of it I don't. Did this genre start with so-called cowboy music (you know - men in high-heeled boots and fancy costumes with fringes and things)? I grew up with this and enjoyed what my Dad had brought records of.
I'm with Tom on line-dancing: can't see the point. Give me square dancing and barn dancing anytime.
I like a little Bluegrass, a (very) little yodelling. But, super-sad stories and protest songs turn me right off. As expected I don't know much British (or Irish) folk music and can't say I have looked for them. I do like Irish love songs - lovely melodies. Back in about 1965/6 heard on the radio a solo guitar piece played by the guitarist in Humphry Lyttleton's band, called This Town (he may have written it). I would so love to hear this again. Bad Penny Blues (first recording of it) is a great favourite since childhood. Still love it.
P