Beatin' On Country Music

Beat and country music? You must be joking? It may seem ridiculous to look for country roots in beat music: The 1960s and everything they stood for appear to be galaxies away from the conservative traditionalism of the country establishment. In his excellent book Say It One Time For The Broken Hearted, English music journalist and writer Barney Hoskins traces country music's contributions to the development of soul music in the early 60s. So maybe it's also worth checking out the country in beat music? Some songs might not be country songs in a strict sense - some have a folk background, and some have mixed origins – but all are connected to country stars and the genre in general. This collection offers writers as varied as Charlie Rich, Hank Williams, John D. Loudermilk, Hoagy Carmichael, and Boudleaux Bryant – to name just a few. And the beat bands chose many evergreens and rare gems along the way. You will enjoy classics like You Are My Sunshine, Sixteen Tons, Sea Of Heartbreak, I Walk The Line, Georgia On My Mind, Danny Boy, and – of course – Jambalaya! Well-known bands like The Merseybeats, The Nashville Teens, The Downliners Sect, The Remo Four, The Searchers, The Hollies, and The Spencer Davis Group rub shoulders with the more obscure formations like Mike Warner and the New Stars, The Incrowd, Sonny Webb and the Cascades, Jerry Williams and the Violents.

Tracklisting: CD: Alex Harvey &His Soul Band: You Are My Sunshine / The Downliners Sect: Above And Beyond / The Searchers: Hey Joe / King Size Taylor & The Dominoes: Ruby Ann / Lee Curtis & The All Stars: Mohair / Sam Jerry Williams & The Violents: Darling Nellie Grey / The Poor Things: Danny Boy / Sonny Webb & The Cascades: Who Shot Sam / Billy J. Kramer & The Dakotas: Tennessee Waltz / Spencer Davis Group: Georgia On My Mind / Jimmy & The Rackets: Stick With Me Baby / The Merseybeats: Fools Like Me / The Nashville Teens: Tobacco Road / Johnny Sandon: Sixteen Tons / Mike Sheridan & The Nightriders: Lonely Weekends / The Hollies: Candy Man / Mike Warner & The New Stars: I Wonder If I Care As Much / Billy Thorpe & The Aztecs: Devoted To You