The WELL: inkwell.vue.316: Chris Carroll and Liz Mechem, "Legends of Country"

#64: Get Shorty (esau) Thu 3 Jan 08 13:58

Thu, 03 Jan 2008 13:58:00 PST

I really enjoyed the discussion, reading it all offline but never managing to pose a question. Of course, I have a few things to add but I'll let them go.

There's a little moment from several years back when Jon Stewart hosted some music awards show, probably the American Music Awards. A fairly new-on-the-scene Shania Twain performed, doing a high-gloss dance production number behind her hit of the moment. I watched it thinking, jeez, she's a knockout, but this music is basically Britney Spears dance-pop sung with a slight twang.

Jon Stewart comes back onstage and says, "So that's country music?," suppressing a barely concealed smile. "I gotta check that out." [Read entire topic]

#63: John Ross (johnross) Thu 3 Jan 08 12:48

Thu, 03 Jan 2008 12:48:00 PST

More seriously, thanks from me, as well. When I first looked through the book, I found myself making a mental list of people who should have been in it. But as we got into the discussion, it became clear that Chris and Liz probably have a similar list of their own, so the discussion moved into some interesting paths. [Read entire topic]

#62: John Ross (johnross) Thu 3 Jan 08 12:45

Thu, 03 Jan 2008 12:45:00 PST

I can just see it now...the publsher is aiming the book at the TBN market, so their list of world religions is limited to mainstream Christians and a few colorfully mistaken others -- Jews, Buddhists and Mormons. But nothing about Wiccans, Animists or the Greek Pantheon, who are just too obscure... [Read entire topic]

#61: Mark McDonough (mcdee) Thu 3 Jan 08 12:40

Thu, 03 Jan 2008 12:40:00 PST

Yeah, this was a really fun discussion. Thankfully, my wife actually kinda likes country music (at least enough not to complain when I play it), but I don't ordinarily get to have conversations about the deep cultural meaning of Nudie suits. [Read entire topic]

#60: Liz Mechem (thelizwiz) Wed 2 Jan 08 18:28

Wed, 02 Jan 2008 18:28:00 PST

Thanks to all who participated! And thanks to Cynthia for inviting us and to John for some good, probing questions. I'll be checking in every day or so, and will keep sharing news or new good country music we hear about. Now I'm on to the next writing project -- this time a book on world religions. Not too far a leap from country music. Maybe I'd better check in with the Writer's conference for some tips on curbing my longwindedness. [Read entire topic]

#59: Chris Carroll (marvy) Wed 2 Jan 08 14:45

Wed, 02 Jan 2008 14:45:00 PST

Thank you. It's been a real pleasure for me, as well. Though I learned thta my wife is quite a bit more long winded and erudite than I. Funny, that doesn't seem to be the case around the house, here, go figure! Enjoyed talking with you all, and look forward to seeing you around the Well. I've offered to treat Liz to a year if she decides to stick around so you might well see her around these parts as, uh, well. [Read entire topic]

#58: Cynthia Dyer-Bennet (cdb) Wed 2 Jan 08 13:33

Wed, 02 Jan 2008 13:33:00 PST

Thanks for the pointer, Liz.

And thanks, also, to both Liz and Chris for joining us for the past couple weeks to talk about their book, "Legends of Country," and to share so many fascinating tidbits about country music and its rich history and roots. A big tip o' the hat to John Ross, too, for so ably leading this conversation. It's been really rewarding.

Though we've turned our virtual spotlight to a new guest, this doesn't mean this discussion has to stop. The topic will remain open for further comments indefintely, so if you can stick around, please feel welcome to do so. If you must go, thanks for being here, and good luck with your next project! [Read entire topic]

#57: Liz Mechem (thelizwiz) Wed 2 Jan 08 12:03

Wed, 02 Jan 2008 12:03:00 PST

Just heard this excellent segment on Soundcheck on WNYC, an interview with Tony Russell, country music historian. He has a new book out with the word "Legends" in it too, and he keeps it real. Some good clips here, including an amazing recording from 1922.

http://www.wnyc.org/shows/soundcheck/episodes/2008/01/02

BTW, I need to correct an earlier mistake, when I attributed a theory of Russell's to Bill C. Malone, another country music historian. It was Russell, not Malone, who came up with the theory of the two strains of country music springing from either the Carter Family or Jimmie Rodgers. [Read entire topic]

#56: Mark McDonough (mcdee) Wed 2 Jan 08 06:03

Wed, 02 Jan 2008 06:03:00 PST

Merle Haggard is a guy who thinks for himself. Even when he was nominally running down all of us sandal-wearing pot-smoking types, I sensed a kindred spirit and actually owned a couple of his albums back in hippie days. [Read entire topic]

#55: cookin' something up (robertflink) Wed 2 Jan 08 05:02

Wed, 02 Jan 2008 05:02:00 PST

OTOH, nuance can ruin a good political dog fight.

BTW, my early love of country music was due, in large part, to the anti-glitz idea. I get a little "cognitive dissonance" when I see glitzy anti-glitz. [Read entire topic]