Country music has got to be the most interesting genre of them all. It’s far more complex than the average listener might guess, it’s been formed by all types of music and most genres and artists have been influenced by it.
It’s such a broad style of music that most folks can’t even agree on what is and what isn’t “real” country. It’s true mainstream country music has changed drastically over the years, but you’ll still find modern-day Nashville artists staying true to the style. You may prefer our homegrown talent in the Texas/Red Dirt scene, I sure do. Every decade and most artists have something worth listening to.
One of country music’s best, Willie Nelson, has stated that he is just inspired by music, it doesn’t matter who wrote it and who sings as long as it feels good on the ears. His all-time favorite artist is Frant Sinatra, it’s near impossible to listen to any of his albums and not think blues.
With that being said it’s not hard to understand why the biggest names in pop music and beyond crossed genres to release a project for country fans, whether it’s a single or a full-length album it’s been done forever and there’s no end in sight.
Now it’s fair to say some if not most could be cash grabs, but I want to talk about the ones that, well, seem genuine and were pulled off well.
Jazz and Big Band artists in the ’50s and ‘6os at the peak of their careers released some great country music. The king of cool and rat pack member Dean Martin starred in westerns and released two albums as Dean “Tex” Martin with originals and covers from Johnny Cash to Hank Williams. Bing Crosby released ‘Bing Crosby Sings The Great Country Hits’ in 1965. And Ray Charles had ‘Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music’ in 1962 where he reworked country hits to fit his R&B/Jazz sound.
One of the biggest names of the ’70s and ’80s Lionel Richie can do it all, from funk to ballads and in 2012 he proved he could do country too. ‘Tuskegee’ is one of my personal favorite albums. It features 13 of his hit songs performed as duets with country stars.
John Mayer is a chameleon of an artist, blues, pop, bluegrass, rock he’s done it all. But he’s also a favorite of many young country artists making it in the scene today, including local artist Mason Lively. Merle and Mayer are obvious influences. Just give Mason’s brand new single ‘Love Ain’t Done a Damn Thing’ and Mayer’s ‘Born and Raised’ a side by side comparison and then tap play on Mason’s ‘Gravity’ cover below. Mayer’s 2013 album ‘Paradise Valley is probably the closest thing to a full-fledged country project but he doesn’t put a label on it, I mean ‘Roll It On Home’ in 2017’s ‘The Search For Everything’ could easily be played on top 40 country radio any day.
That’s just a few examples, there are countless others. What is your favorite? Maybe you like Nelly singing along with Florida Georgia Line, which I think a fair argument could be made that that’s not country… at all, I mean Dale Watson would say that’s watered-down pop, heavy on the pop. But it doesn’t matter, let us know in the comments, we might not of heard it.
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