Dim Lights, Thick Smoke and Hillbilly Music: 1968

by N/A

Overview

What happened in country music in 1968 was this: it got harder and leaner in some places and much softer in others, a schism Bear Family's wonderful 1968 volume in their ongoing Dim Lights, Thick Smoke & Hillbilly Music: Country & Western Music Hit Parade quite ably illustrate. It's not so easy to say that the West Coast preferred lean, electrified twang while Music City liked things a little more polished. The opening Waylon Jennings hit "Only Daddy That'll Walk the Line" -- nicely bookended on this 31-track collection by Jim Alley's barely known version -- shows how the Nashville crew were happy to deliver tough hard rockers, while the California contingent were eager to overload their arrangements with strings, echoed guitars, and effects, all showcased on the brilliant, near-psychedelic "Wichita Lineman" by Glen Campbell. These two singles were perhaps the strongest evidence of how all the rules were changing -- and that includes the incongruous inclusions from two Gram Parsons projects, the International Submarine Band and the Byrds, neither of which came close to the charts and neither of which fit in with the rest of the material here even if they did suggest where country music would eventually go -- but apart from the strangely defiant George Jones, who feels utterly divorced from the zeitgeist, there isn't a song here that doesn't reflect the shifting sensibilities of the '60s in some fashion. Traditionalists like Charlie Louvin and the Osborne Brothers open up their sound to accommodate the changing times; Johnny Cash's spiritual hoe-down "Daddy Sang Bass" carries an electric charge; Loretta Lynn and Jeannie C. Reilly tackle feminism with "Fist City" and "Harper Valley PTA," but so does Tammy Wynette, whose "D-I-V-O-R-C-E" captures the pain of a splintering marriage, while "Stand by Your Man" illustrates its flipside. But the songs that still sound vital belong to Merle Haggard, Jerry Lee Lewis, and Tom T. Hall, acts that bridge classic traditions -- whether it's honky tonk music or folk songs -- with a modern sensibility, and "Mama Tried," "Another Place, Another Time," and "Ballad of Forty Dollars" all feel rich, fully realized, and alive, songs that still speak to modern sensibilities decades after their initial release. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine

Product Details

Release Date:	09/24/2013
Label:	Bear Family Records
UPC:	5397102172632
Rank:	111735

Tracks

1. Only Daddy That'll Walk the Line  - Chester B. Atkins  - Jimmy Bryant  - Jerry Carrigan  - Fred Jr. Carter  - Dorothy S. DeLeonibus  - Bobby Dyson  - Ray Edenton  - Hoyt Hawkins  - Roy Jr. Huskey  - Waylon Jennings  - Neal Jr. Matthews  - Charles R. "Charlie" McCoy  - Wayne Moss  - Harold R. "Ray Stevens" Ragsdale  - Hargus "Pig" Robbins  - Hugh Gordon Stoker  - Raymond C. Walker
2. D-I-V-O-R-C-E  - Bobby Braddock  - Curly Putman  - Billy Sherrill  - Tammy Wynette
3. Folsom Prison Blues  - Johnny Cash  - Marshall Grant  - W.S. Holland  - Bob Johnston  - Carl Perkins  - Luther Perkins
4. Luxury Liner  - Bob Buchanan  - Jon Corneal  -  International Submarine Band  - J.D. Maness  - John Nuese  - Gram Parsons
5. Skip a Rope  - Harold Bradley  - Henson Cargill  - Don Law  - Grady Martin  - Jack Moran  - Glenn Tubb
6. Mama Tried  - Roy Edward Burris  - James Burton  - George Jr. French  - Merle Haggard  - Norman D. Hamlett  - Ken Nelson  - Roy Nichols  - Charles "Fuzzy" Ow  - Bonnie Owens  - Red Simpson  - Lewis Augustus Talley  - Jerry Ward
7. Beneath Still Waters  - Harold W. "Pappy" Daily  - Dallas Frazier  - George Jones
8. I Wanna Live  - Glen Campbell  - Al DeLory  - John D. Loudermilk
9. Harper Valley P.T.A.  - Harold Ray Bradley  - David Briggs  - Kenny Buttrey  - Tom T. Hall  - Jerry Glenn Kennedy  - Bob Moore  - Weldon Myrick  - Jeannie C. Riley  - Shelby Singleton  - Jerry "Chip Young" Stembridge
10. Train Leaves Here This Morning  - Don Beck  - Gene Clark  - Doug Dillard  - David Jackson  - Bernie Leadon
11. The Carroll County Accident  - Jerry Carrigan  - Pete Drake  - Dolores Edgin  - Bob Ferguson  - Roy Jr. Huskey  - Mack Magaha  - George W. McCormick  - Wayne Moss  - June Evelyn Page  - Hargus "Pig" Robbins  - Jerry "Chip Young" Stembridge  - Buck Trent  - Porter Wagoner  - Donald C. Warden  - Hurshel Wayne Wiginton
12. Another Place Another Time  - Jerry Chestnut  - Eddie Kilroy  - Jerry Lee Lewis
13. I Take a Lot of Pride in What I Am  - Roy Edward Burris  - James Burton  - Leon Chase Copeland  - George Jr. French  - Merle Haggard  - Norman D. Hamlett  - Roy Jr. Huskey  - Robert D. "Bob" Morris  - Ken Nelson  - Roy Nichols  - Bonnie Owens  - Lewis Augustus Talley
14. Fist City  - Owen Bradley  - Floyd Cramer  - Pete Drake  - Ray Edenton  - Larry Estes  -  Kerr  - Loretta Lynn  - Thomas Grady Martin  - Harold Morrison  - Herman Bland "Pete" Wade  - Joe Zinkan
15. Will You Visit Me on Sundays?  - Dallas Frazier  - Charlie Louvin
16. The Son of Hickory Holler's Tramp  - Johnny Darrell  - Dallas Frazier
17. Little Green Apples  - Jerry Kennedy  - Roger Miller  - Bob Moore  - Bobby Russell
18. Ballad of Forty Dollars  - Harold Ray Bradley  - Larry Butler  - Ray Edenton  - Tom T. Hall  - Murrey M. "Buddy" Jr. Harman  - Jerry Kennedy  - Jerry Glenn Kennedy  - Bob Moore
19. Hickory Wind  -  Byrds  - Lloyd Green  - John Hartford  - Chris Hillman  - Kevin Kelley  - Roger McGuinn  - Gram Parsons  - Gary Usher
20. Rocky Top  - Ronnie Blackwell  - Boudleaux Bryant  - Felice Bryant  - Jerry Carrigan  - Ray Edenton  - Thomas Grady Martin  -  Osborne Brothers  - Bob Osborne  - Sonny Osborne  - Hargus "Pig" Robbins  - Harald Rugg  - Harry Silverstein  - Dale Sledd
21. What's Made Milwaukee Famous (Has Made a Loser Out of Me)  - Joseph T. Babcock  - Harold Ray Bradley  - Jerry Carrigan  - Ray Edenton  - Dolores Edgin  - Lloyd Green  - Jerry Kennedy  - Jerry Glenn Kennedy  - Jerry Lee Lewis  - Kenneth Lovelace  - Charles R. "Charlie" McCoy  - June Page  - Glenn Sutton  - Hurshel Wayne Wiginton  - Joe Zinkan
22. Wichita Lineman  - Glen Campbell  - Al DeLory  - Jimmy Webb
23. Holding on to Nothin'  - Jerry Carrigan  - Anita Carter  - Jerry Chesnut  - Pete Drake  - Dolores Edgin  - Bob Ferguson  - Roy Jr. Huskey  - Mack Magaha  - George W. McCormick  - Wayne Moss  - Dolly Parton  - Hargus "Pig" Robbins  - Jerry "Chip Young" Stembridge  - Buck Trent  - Porter Wagoner
24. Daddy Sang Bass  -  Carter Family  - Johnny Cash  - Marshall Grant  - W.S. Holland  - Jan Howard  - Bob Johnston  - Carl Perkins  - Luther Perkins  -  Statler Brothers
25. I Started Loving You Again  - Roy Edward Burris  - Glen Campbell  - George Jr. French  - Merle Haggard  - Norman D. Hamlett  - Billy Mize  - Ken Nelson  - Roy Nichols  - Charles "Fuzzy" Ow  - Bonnie Owens  - Lewis Augustus Talley  - Jerry Ward
26. How Long Will My Baby Be Gone?  - Thomas Rexton Brumley  - Ivy J. "Jimmy" Bryant  - Willie Cantu  - Doyle Floyd Hendricks  - Ken Nelson  - Buck Owens  - Don Rich  - J.R. Jelly Sanders
27. When the Grass Grows Over Me  - Don Chapel  - Harold W. "Pappy" Daily  - George Jones
28. I Walk Alone  - Bob Johnston  - Marty Robbins
29. Next in Line  - Owen Bradley  - Ray Edenton  - John Hughey  -  Jordanaires  - Wayne Kemp  - Joe E. Lewis  - Tommy Markham  - Norbert Putnam  - Hargus "Pig" Robbins  - Jerry Shook  - Conway Twitty  - Herman Bland "Pete" Wade  - Curtis Wayne
30. Stand by Your Man  - Billy Sherrill  - Tammy Wynette
31. Only Daddy That'll Walk the Line  - Jim Alley  - Jimmy Bryant  - J.D. Maness  - George Richey  - Cliffie Stone

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Loretta Lynn   Primary Artist,Vocals
Porter Wagoner   Primary Artist,Vocals
Buck Owens   Primary Artist,Guitar,Vocals
George Jones   Primary Artist,Vocals
Henson Cargill   Primary Artist,Vocals
Jim Alley   Primary Artist,Vocals
Merle Haggard   Primary Artist,Guitar,Vocals
Osborne Brothers   Primary Artist
Tom T. Hall   Primary Artist,Vocals
The Byrds   Primary Artist
Glen Campbell   Primary Artist,Guitar,Vocals
Conway Twitty   Primary Artist,Vocals
Doug Dillard   Primary Artist,Banjo,Fiddle,Guitar,Vocals
Charlie Louvin   Primary Artist,Vocals
Johnny Cash   Primary Artist,Guitar,Vocals
The International Submarine Band   Primary Artist
Tammy Wynette   Primary Artist,Vocals
Roger Miller   Primary Artist,Vocals
Dolly Parton   Primary Artist,Vocals
Gene Clark   Primary Artist,Guitar,Vocals
Waylon Jennings   Primary Artist,Guitar,Vocals
Johnny Darrell   Primary Artist,Vocals
Jeannie C. Riley   Primary Artist,Vocals
Jerry Lee Lewis   Primary Artist,Piano,Vocals
Marty Robbins   Primary Artist,Vocals
June Evelyn Page   Choir/Chorus
Kevin Kelley   Drums
Thomas Grady Martin   Guitar,Guitar (Electric)
Charles R. "Charlie" McCoy   Harmonica
Harold Ray Bradley   Guitar
Herman Bland "Pete" Wade   Guitar,Guitar (Electric)
Bob Osborne   Vocals,Mandolin
Murrey M. "Buddy" Harman Jr.   Drums
Hurshel Wayne Wiginton   Choir/Chorus
Raymond C. Walker   Choir/Chorus
Larry Estes   Drums
Thomas Rexton Brumley   Guitar (Steel)
Robert D. "Bob" Morris   Bass
Dorothy S. DeLeonibus   Choir/Chorus
Donald C. Warden   Guitar (Steel)
David Jackson   Bass
Roy Edward Burris   Drums
Don Beck   Mandolin
June Page   Choir/Chorus
W.S. Holland   Drums
Anita Carter   Choir/Chorus
George W. McCormick   Guitar
Gram Parsons   Guitar,Vocals,Guitar (Rhythm)
Lewis Augustus Talley   Guitar
Joe E. Lewis   Choir/Chorus
Hugh Gordon Stoker   Choir/Chorus
Harold Morrison   Banjo
Tommy Markham   Drums,Percussion
Joseph T. Babcock   Choir/Chorus
David Briggs   Piano
Bob Moore   Bass
Dale Sledd   Vocals,Guitar
George French, Jr.   Piano
Ronnie Blackwell   Bass (Electric)
Harold R. "Ray Stevens" Ragsdale   Organ
J.R. Jelly Sanders   Guitar
Doyle Floyd Hendricks   Bass
Norman D. Hamlett   Guitar (Steel)
Jerry Glenn Kennedy   Dobro,Guitar
Jerry "Chip Young" Stembridge   Guitar,Guitar (Rhythm)
Ray Edenton   Guitar,Guitar (Rhythm)
Red Simpson   Guitar
Harald Rugg   Guitar (Steel)
Dolores Edgin   Choir/Chorus
Hoyt Hawkins   Choir/Chorus
Harold Bradley   Bass (Electric)
The Statler Brothers   Choir/Chorus
Al DeLory   Conductor
Buck Trent   Electric Banjo
John Nuese   Guitar
Willie Cantu   Drums,Tambourine
Bobby Dyson   Bass (Electric)
Marshall Grant   Bass
Grady Martin   Dobro
Hargus "Pig" Robbins   Piano
Roger McGuinn   Guitar,Vocal Harmony
Chris Hillman   Vocal Harmony,Bass
Ivy J. "Jimmy" Bryant   Guitar
James Burton   Guitar (Electric)
J.D. Maness   Guitar (Steel)
Fred Carter, Jr.   Guitar (Electric)
Don Rich   Gut String Guitar
Weldon Myrick   Guitar (Steel)
Wayne Moss   Guitar (Electric)
Jan Howard   Vocals
John Hartford   Fiddle
Mack Magaha   Fiddle
Kenneth Lovelace   Fiddle
Neal Matthews, Jr.   Choir/Chorus
Jerry Ward   Bass
Jimmy Bryant   Guitar
Pete Drake   Guitar (Steel)
Jerry Kennedy   Guitar
Roy Huskey Jr.   Bass
Roy Nichols   Guitar (Electric)
Norbert Putnam   Bass
The Anita Kerr Singers   Choir/Chorus
Sonny Osborne   Banjo,Vocals
Larry Butler   Piano
Jerry Carrigan   Drums
Carl Perkins   Guitar (Electric)
Floyd Cramer   Piano
Bob Buchanan   Guitar (Rhythm),Vocal Harmony
Luther Perkins   Guitar (Electric)
Jerry Shook   Guitar
Kenny Buttrey   Drums
Bonnie Owens   Vocal Harmony
The Jordanaires   Choir/Chorus
Billy Mize   Vocal Harmony
John Hughey   Guitar (Steel)
Joe Zinkan   Bass
Leon Chase Copeland   Bass
Jon Corneal   Drums,Vocal Harmony
Lloyd Green   Guitar (Steel)
Bernie Leadon   Guitar,Vocals
The Carter Family   Choir/Chorus

Technical Credits

Jack Moran   Composer
Thomas Grady Martin   Leader
Jerry Chestnut   Composer
Donald C. Warden   Leader
Brenda Collins   Photography,Illustrations
Richard Weize   Discography
Buck Owens   Leader,Composer
Dallas Frazier   Composer
Gram Parsons   Composer
Bobby Braddock   Composer
Juergen Crasser   Mastering
Chester B. Atkins   Producer
Otto Kitsinger   Discography
Russ Wapensky   Discography
Andreas Merck   Photo Scanning
R.A. Andreas   Photography,Illustrations
Christian Zwarg   Transfers
Harold W. "Pappy" Daily   Producer
Glenn Tubb   Composer
Jerry Glenn Kennedy   Leader
Merle Haggard   Leader,Composer
Ray Edenton   Leader
Owen Bradley   Producer
Tom T. Hall   Composer
Charles "Fuzzy" Owen   Producer
George Richey   Producer
Al DeLory   Orchestration
Glenn Sutton   Composer
Bob Ferguson   Composer,Producer
Colin Escott   Liner Notes,Photography,Illustrations,Reissue Producer
Johnny Cash   Composer
Jimmy Webb   Composer
Tammy Wynette   Composer
Eddie Kilroy   Producer
Curtis Wayne   Composer
Don Chapel   Composer
Cliffie Stone   Producer
Don Law   Producer
Gary Usher   Producer
Gene Clark   Composer
Waylon Jennings   Leader
Wayne Kemp   Composer
Wayne Moss   Leader
John D. Loudermilk   Composer
Les Leverett   Photography,Illustrations
Harry Silverstein   A&R
Jimmy Bryant   Composer
Jerry Chesnut   Composer
Jerry Lee Lewis   Leader
Jerry Kennedy   Producer
Shelby Singleton   Contractor
Curly Putman   Composer
Carl Perkins   Composer
Felice Bryant   Composer
Ken Nelson   Producer
Bobby Russell   Composer
Billy Sherrill   Composer,Producer
Bonnie Owens   Composer
Boudleaux Bryant   Composer
Loretta Lynn   Composer
Bernie Leadon   Composer
Bob Johnston   Producer