Thought: My favorite country ballads

Country music always has a story to tell. It could be a story about love, or heartbreak. It could be a tale of hardship, or bravery. The country ballad has sadly faded away in recent times, and I can think of no better way to immortalize it than with a blog post.

This one's for all you nostalgic ones. :)

Senorita/Don Williams

Tom Dooley (cover)/Kingston Trio

Coward Of The County/Kenny Rogers

The Deck Of Cards (cover)/Tex Ritter

Two Sparrows In A Hurricane/Tanya Tucker

Choices/George Jones

Whiskey Lullaby/Brad Paisley & Alison Krauss

Folsom Prison Blues/Johnny Cash

Great Albums (Taking Up Your Precious Time/Pretty Lights)

Year: 2006

The first full length release by electronic artist and DJ Pretty Lights. Each track is rich in melody and uniquely introspective. The album is almost completely instrumental, with only patches of vocals scattered here and there. Etta James' voice has been sampled in "Finally Moving", and the soul influence is also apparent on songs like "Down The Line", "Switch Up" and "Happiness". TUYPT is available as a free mp3 download on the official website.

Personal Picks:  "Stay", "Empty Station", "Samso" and "Try To Remember" give the album its richly dark sound.

Your Cheatin' Heart/Hank Williams Sr.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cS4LCoh0VGQ&feature=related

A song about a guilty conscience. Performed in 1952 by the one and only Hank Williams Sr.

Bright Whites/Kishi Bashi

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6wcZb80f5VE

To quote a YouTube comment -
"This is what joy sounds like."

Sunshine's Better (John Martyn) Remix/Talvin Singh

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H1hyj9yOya4

Singh has created one of the best remixes ever. Period.
(The voice is that of John Martyn, who originally performed the song.)