In addition, I don’t know what if any special any special significance Hank Cochran has for Johnson or for today’s market beyond that of the other songwriers of his era, like Harlan Howard or Doodle Owens or Dalls Frazier. It seems kind of random.

Maybe it will all make more sense after the album is released and I get to hear some of the cuts–and also read what Jamey Johnson has to say about the project.

Also much richer for the presence of those who have come along since. That’s kind of how it works.

And in point of fact, given that bluegrass is now well into its seventh decade, there are a surprising number of second generation legends around. Jesse McReynolds, Bobby Osborne and Paul Williams perform regularly, as do slightly younger figures like J. D. Crowe, Paul Williams, Bobby Hicks, Del McCoury, Doyle Lawson, Roland White, Melvin Goins… Heck, I saw Curly Seckler at a pickin’ over at Del’s just a few weeks ago, and he was fixing to play some kind of gig the next week!

I’m looking forward to Jamey Johnson’s new album. He could do far worse than selecting the songs of Hank Cochran. In fact, he could hardly do better

But I’m flattered that the twos of youse are able to become so irate over my opinions. In a world that seems to be overrun with hateful, vulgar, bigoted, threatening statements, I post a completely innoucous statement of opinion and–What was it that Travis Tritt once said?–you’d think I said Roy Acuff was gay!