Comments on: Friday Five: Grand Ole Opry

By: Miss Leslie

Miss Leslie — Mon, 13 Dec 2010 18:20:56 +0000

I heart Jimmy Martin.

@Jon – haven’t heard Hylo’s name in ages. My Dad has a Hylo Brown LP we used to listen to –

Even though it is a type of traditionalist rebel anthem (yeah chew on that term), I have to say that I’m glad you didn’t include “Murder on Music Row” -

By: Jon

Jon — Sat, 11 Dec 2010 15:27:38 +0000

The ACL video of King Jimmy is fun to watch, but that's a pretty flabby version of the song. Check out the clip from his original recording here: http://www.allmusic.com/album/the-king-of-bluegrass-audium-r517955 . P.S. The song was written by the great Hylo Brown.

By: luckyoldsun

luckyoldsun — Sat, 11 Dec 2010 14:38:35 +0000

Didn’t he almost kill himself by falling off a stage?

By: CountryFan

CountryFan — Sat, 11 Dec 2010 11:47:58 +0000

An interesting tidbit of info — Conway’s “The Grandest Lady of Them All” was written by current Opry member Mel McDaniel.

By: Cybergrass

Cybergrass — Sat, 11 Dec 2010 05:08:50 +0000

Jimmy Martin was a class act and so is the Dirt Band (which is still going!!). Bluegrass has spread the world round and more and more artists are producing what they consider bluegrass music.

From Dierks Bently to Merle Haggard or Janie Fricke to Lynn Anderson bluegrass is there. Patty Loveless, Emmylou Harris, Marty Stuart and Dolly Parton all have deep bluegrass roots.

Jimmy Martin, however is still the king. There won’t be another like him just like there will never be another Lester Flatt or Earl Scruggs or Bill Monroe, the man who started it all.

By: Rick

Rick — Fri, 10 Dec 2010 18:15:52 +0000

Hey BadRock&Roll, just because Tom Russell is a dyed in the wool Obamavoter libtard doesn’t mean I don’t like some of his music! I think “Since Sinatra Played Juarez” is a darn near perfect country song! Music doesn’t get much better than that.

I think the Dierks Bentley’s Opry tribure song “Midnight Radio” on his “Don’t Leave Me In Love” indie debut album deserves a spot on this list! “We’ll be big stars in big cars wearing Nudie suits, singin’ on the Opry in our rhinestone boots…”

The oft recorded “Hillbilly Heaven” is basically about re-creating the Opry in heaven with deceased former participants, so it qualifies as well.

By: Dave D.

Dave D. — Fri, 10 Dec 2010 16:37:52 +0000

Audrey Auld/Sunny Sweeney’s “Next Big Nothing”. Speaking of Sunny, her version of Mama’s Opry might be in my top 20 favorite songs of all time.

By: badrockandroll

badrockandroll — Fri, 10 Dec 2010 14:12:11 +0000

Bobby Bare Jr was born on the stage of the Ryman auditorium, and Roy Acuff cut his umbilical cord with his yo-yo. Well, that’s what he says in his song. Hank lll is no fan of the Opry, which ain’t so grand anymore. But my fave Opry song is by Tom Russell. He laments that Jimmy Martin never got to be an Opry member, something that he always wanted and truly deserved. The song villifies Pete whathisname, the guy who chairs the Opry, and merges him with Jimmy’s dog Pete, the best coon dog in the state of Tennessee – run Pete run – really good song. I know that Rick will be here in a minute blading Russell as a singer and for his politics. But I rather like his voice, love that he loves Ian Tyson, and I believe that he can turn a phrase and create an image as good or better than any songwriter I can think of.

By: luckyoldsun

luckyoldsun — Fri, 10 Dec 2010 13:35:39 +0000

How ’bout John Anderson’s “Hilbilly Hollywood” off of the great “Seminole Wind” album.

By: Paul W Dennis

Paul W Dennis — Fri, 10 Dec 2010 12:44:46 +0000

Almost forgot the Wilburn Brothers 1972 single “Opryland”. The song did not chart and was never released on an album. Fortunately, there is a YouTube video available

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kIJCf0J4MSY