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Epilog
The Tammy Wynette Story at the Ryman Auditorium last night was a hoot. I thought I was sitting in the front row of the balcony, so I climbed the stairs and waited on line. It was not a rock crowd, felt like I was in Branson, MO to see Mel Tillis.
The usher told me I was downstairs, I wound around past the popcorn, candy, and the 5.50 drinks, hit an unusually long line for the men's room. (Not a rock crowd.) I entered the main floor, and the usher brought me toward the front. We walked right to the foot of the stage, and she sat me down front row center, best seat in the house. I was almost embarrassed, but I got over it. Thanks to Tracy Coats for that gesture, and all her help along the way to a fun and informative interview with a great artist. I had a good time talking with Barbara and Billie from Frankfort, KY. Billie and I discussed his extensive record collection, from which he does a lot of swapping and selling with other dealers, except for his classic Country albums. "Country's not for sale," he said, I took that one home.
Jim Lauderdale as George Jones was fantastic. Lots of people have tried to sing like the Possum, but Jim can actually do it. The way he moved, the way he laughed, his facial expressions, I was trying not to laugh too loud and stick out. And he had some major threads for the role. That magenta suit with the silver flowers running from the shoulders to the shoes, wow.
Most of all, the show made me long for the golden years of Country. I hope that corporate Country radio will come to see that what they're doing is really not working, all these beefcake acts and child acts chasing down some phantom youth demographic that doesn't even exist. Just please put real Country music back on the radio and lots of people will listen, because they pushed the button that will bring them Country music, not some watered down pop song with a ridiculous video. We need the styles of American music to sound different from one another so that we can have variety, not to so resemble each other that our musics have no identity anymore. We want to be able to drive, or dance, or sit and listen to Folk, Rock and Roll, Blues, Jazz, Pop, and dammit, Country. Hard Country, baby, that's what I'm talking about.
•
Click
here for a list of songs written or co-written by
Jim,
recorded by other artists.
jimlauderdale.com dualtone records
archives links artists a-z puremusic home
