Critically acclaimed music

[Razor X]

Do you have any CDs in your collection that are among your favorites even though they weren't commercially successful?  I have a huge CD collection, and I'm sure that there are plenty that I've liked that didn't sell well, but the three that I play a lot and immediately come to mind are:

1.   The Essential Vince Gill - an anthology of his early years at RCA (1983-1988).  It's a mystery to me why none of these recordings got much attention at the time, because they rank right up there with his later and better known work. 

2.  Sara Evans - Three Chords And The Truth.  Her debut album from 1997.  Critically acclaimed but too traditional to get much airplay on the radio.   The critics were right.  This album would be on my list of the ten best country albums of all time.

3.  Martina McBride - The Time Has Come.  Her debut collection from 1992.  More traditional than her later work and it definitely deserved more attention than it got.

[Tyler]

Didn't realize you were a country fan RazorX. 

Most of the music I listen to can't be heard on the national radio scene and isn't commercially successful relative to other "big name" band.

They are:

Railbenders - 3 albums: Showdown, El Segundo, and Southbound

Zac Brown Band - Live from the Rock Bus Tour.  I learned about this band here from BigJeffrey 

[Razor X]

Didn't realize you were a country fan RazorX. 

I'm a huge country fan.  Have been all my life.  I'm finding it a bit scary, though, that most of the music I'm listening to these days is older stuff.   And songs that seem like they came out just yesterday are nearly 20 years old. 

[R o b 6]

RazorX:
Have to agree with you about Vince Gill...been a fan for years. I've read reviews of his stuff for years and even non-country music critics acknowledge his talent and amazing voice. Your post makes me want to go back and dust off some of my "classic" country now. You're right, could it have been 20 years ago some of these were issued?

[shyslyguy]

Do you have any CDs in your collection that are among your favorites even though they weren't commercially successful? 

Probably about 99% of them.

Although I don't know too much about it (my first love being English folk music) - I quite like country music too. Got a few Rambling Jack Elliot CD's .... love The New City Ramblers ... got some Debra Cowan & Acie Cargill stuff & I like singers like Sara Grey & Tim Eriksen (sort of old-timie) . Got quite a few Tim O'Brien albums which I play a lot & I love Kate & Anna McGarrigle. 

Most of the contemporary chart music does very little for me at all these days I am afraid.

I'll have to check out the names you mention.   

[Vash]

I play and listen to a lot of Celtic, European and early American folk music most of which isn;t what you'd call "popular" music outside of it's own little realm.

I am currently listening to a lot of Kila, Nic Jones, Hanz Araki, Old Crow Medicine Show and The Be Good Tanyas. I have been diggin' THAT1GUY and Iron and Wine as well.

I got my hands on some really good Steeleye Span and Fairport Covention cd's recently too.

Of course The Chieftains, Dervish, Eliza Carthy and The Pogues are a staples for me (if you like Floggin' Molly or Dropkick Murpheys, you should listen to The Pogues).

[shyslyguy]

I play and listen to a lot of Celtic, European and early American folk music most of which isn;t what you'd call "popular" music outside of it's own little realm.

I am currently listening to a lot of Kila, Nic Jones, Hanz Araki, Old Crow Medicine Show and The Be Good Tanyas. I have been diggin' THAT1GUY and Iron and Wine as well.

I got my hands on some really good Steeleye Span and Fairport Covention cd's recently too.

Of course The Chieftains, Dervish, Eliza Carthy and The Pogues are a staples for me (if you like Floggin' Molly or Dropkick Murpheys, you should listen to The Pogues).

Ah ... Nic Jones .... I love his stuff ... one of my all time favourite singers & guitarists. I like Eliza Carthy too but prefer her dad ... the great Martin Carthy (it was hearing him play guitar which first got me into folk & playing guitar.)  Another of my faourite singers/guitarists is Chris Foster: http://www.folkmusic.net/chrisfoster/fostch_set.htm. Kila are good too but my fave Celtic players are Dick Gaughan (scottish) & Andy Irvine & Paul Brady (Irish).

Anyway, all great stuff. Pogues are great - Have you heard the Casey Neil Band, Vash? They're pretty good too & from Portland.

[Razor X]

Of course The Chieftains, Dervish, Eliza Carthy and The Pogues are a staples for me (if you like Floggin' Molly or Dropkick Murpheys, you should listen to The Pogues).

The Chieftains rock!

[PBurke]

i met vince hill back in 91. hell of a nice guy. love his music. most of the country i listen to is older too razor. 70's and 80's some of the 90's and a little of the new stuff.


my buddy just introduced me to drop kick murpheys and floggin molly. also like th nighty mighty bosstones.

[Jay]

I'm a huge fan of Dream Theater. Have been for 15 years.

Something about writing only 10 minute songs that prevents radio and video airplay.

[Razor X]

i met vince hill back in 91. hell of a nice guy. love his music. most of the country i listen to is older too razor. 70's and 80's some of the 90's and a little of the new stuff.

I first saw Vince Gill in concert back in 1990.  He'd just had his first #1 hit, When I Call Your Name and was opening for Reba.  I saw him again in 1995 when he was headlining his own tour with Patty Loveless as his opening act.  Probably the best concert I've ever been to.  He performed for about 3 hours straight and really gave the audience their money's worth.

[PigPen]

Yeah the mainstream country doesn't do much for me either. My music collection as a whole is pretty diverse. Some of my current favorites are from the "Red Dirt" Texas and Oklahoma bands. Cross Canadian Ragweed, Jason Boland and The Stragglers, Cory Morrow, Kevin Fowler, Junior Brown, Reckless Kelly and countless others. Ragweed has seen some national airplay, but not much. I'm with Razor on Vince Gill as well, saw him in concert a few years back and hope to see him when he comes to town in a couple of months. The guys that influence me, are Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings, Merle Haggard, George Strait, everyone mentioned above, and many others.

[herronm]

I don't want to hi-jack the thread, but you Vince Gill fans need to pick up a copy of his latest "These Days".  It is 4 CDs full of the best music anywhere (Country, Bluegrass, acoustic, gospel, jazz....).  Vince wrote every song and has never sounded better on guitar.  Great CD.

Max

[PigPen]

Thanks for the heads up Max!

[Paul]

Also a big country fan here and also of the older stuff; Waylon, Willie and Patsy Cline along with George Strait and Randy Travis.  Non commercial success I am big into the the Irish/Celtic music of The Fenians, Enya, Chieftans, and Tommy Maikem and have quite a few Southern Gospel CD's as well