1960s Country Music: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly

Country music in the 1960s was a time of good, bad, and ugly. The good included the likes of Patsy Cline, the bad was represented by Glen Campbell, and the ugly was embodied by Jerry Lee Lewis.

The Good

The 1960s were a golden age for country music. Some of the best-known and most influential country artists released their most popular songs during this decade. The Beatles may have been the most popular band in the world, but country music was a close second. This was the decade that saw the rise of country-rock, the outlaw movement, and the Nashville Sound. It was a decade of change and innovation, and the country music of the 1960s reflected that. In this article, we’ll take a look at some of the best country music of the 1960s.

The Beatles

In the 1960s, The Beatles rose to become one of the most popular bands in the world, and their influence is still felt today. They popularized a new style of music known as “rock and roll” and had a profound impact on fashion and culture. The Beatles were also one of the first bands to use heavy marketing and promotion to sell their music, and they are credited with helping to pioneer the modern music industry.

The Rolling Stones

The Rolling Stones are an English rock band formed in London, England, in 1962. The first stable line-up consisted of Brian Jones (guitar, harmonica), Mick Jagger (lead vocals, harmonica), Keith Richards (guitar, vocals), Bill Wyman (bass guitar), Charlie Watts (drums), and Ian Stewart (piano). Stewart was removed from the official line-up in 1963 but continued to work with the band as a contracted musician until his death in 1985. Jones died less than a month after Stewart, leaving Richards as the only original member of the band who is still active.

The Bad

While the 1960s did produce some good country music, there was also a fair share of bad music as well. A lot of the songs were about cheatin’ hearts and drinkin’ beer, and they tended to be pretty simplistic. Additionally, the production values were often not very good, and the songs tended to sound alike.

The Byrds

By the mid-’60s, the Byrds had become one of the most popular and influential bands of their era, successfully fusing country music with jangly pop, R&B, and folk-rock. Despite their massive success, the band was plagued by infighting, drug addiction, and managerial problems. These issues came to a head in 1968 when founding member Roger McGuinn ousted bandmates David Crosby and Gene Clark. The Byrds continued on without their former comrades, but they were never able to recapture the magic of their earlier years.

The Beach Boys

The Beach Boys are an American rock band, formed in 1961 in Hawthorne, California. The group’s original lineup consisted of brothers Brian, Dennis, and Carl Wilson, their cousin Mike Love, and their friend Al Jardine. The Beach Boys began as a group dedicated to making music for fun; however, as the band members matured, they found themselves creating music that reflected the complexities and issues of growing up in America during the 1960s. The Beach Boys’ sound would come to epitomize the ” Californian Dream” – a utopian ideal of sun, surf, and fun. While the Beach Boys’ early music was influential to many rock artists that followed them, their later work is often criticized for its trite lyrics and simplistic musical arrangements.

The Ugly

1960s country music is often seen as a guilty pleasure. It’s not as highly respected as other genres, but it still has a devoted following. However, there’s one element of 1960s country music that is often derided: the fashion. The music might be good, but the fashion choices were often atrocious. Let’s take a look at some of the worst offenders.

Creedence Clearwater Revival

Creedence Clearwater Revival is often considered one of the greatest bands of the 1960s. They had a string of hits including “Proud Mary,” “Bad Moon Rising,” and “Fortunate Son.” But their music was also marked by a dark and troubled side, as evidenced by songs like “The Midnight Special” and “The Longest Ride.”

The band was founded by John Fogerty, who served as its lead singer, songwriter, and guitarist. Fogerty was raised in the San Francisco Bay Area, and his songwriting was heavily influenced by the region’s history and culture. This is evident in songs like “Green River,” which is set during the Gold Rush, and “Born on the Bayou,” which reflects the region’s Cajun influences.

Fogerty’s songs weren’t always sunshine and lollipops, however. Many of them deal with dark subjects like Vietnam (“Fortunate Son”), poverty (“Down on the Corner”), and racism (“Who’ll Stop the Rain?”). Despite their often-heavy subject matter, Creedence Clearwater Revival’s songs are some of the most indelible and enduring examples of 1960s country music.

The Grateful Dead

The Grateful Dead was an American rock band formed in 1965 in Palo Alto, California. The band is known for its eclectic style, which fused elements of country, folk, bluegrass, blues, reggae, rock, improvisational jazz, psychedelia, and space rock,[1][2] for its live performances of long musical jams,[3] and for its devoted fan base, known as “Deadheads”. “Their music,” writes Lenny Kaye, “was fluid mercury which transcended the boundaries of rock & roll.”[4] They were ranked 57th in the issue The Greatest Artists of all Time by Rolling Stone magazine.[5] The band was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1995 and their eponymous 1967 debut album entered the Billboard 200 chart in 1987 and was certified gold by the RIAA. Many of their songs have become entry-points into the canon of classic rock.[6][7]

The Grateful Dead have sold more than 35 million albums worldwide.[8] The Grateful Dead was founded in the San Francisco Bay Area amid counterculture activity. Members Jerry Garcia (guitar/vocals), Bob Weir (guitar/vocals), Phil Lesh (bass/vocals), Ron “Pigpen” McKernan (keyboards/percussion/vocals), Bill Kreutzmann (drums) and Tom Constanten (keyboards) were added as musicians. They were informally known as “the Warlocks” until November 1965 when they changed their name after a show atFillmore Auditorium. McKernan’s keyboards were swapped out with new keyboardist Tom Constanten by early 1966 as constant touring made it difficult for McKernan to stay with the band on a regular basis; other rotating keyboardists include Keith Godchauxand his wife Donna Jean Godchaux who joined permanently during 1972–1979; Brent Mydlandwho was with the group from 1979 until his death a decade later; Vince Welnickwho replaced Mydland from 1990 to 1995; Bruce Hornsbywho joined as a permanent member from 1990 to 1992 and again occasionally thereafter; Jeff Chimentiwho came aboard for most tours starting in 2003; and Rob Barraco.

Ron “Pigpen” McKernan died from liver problems on March 8 1973 at age 27; his replacement was Keith Godchaux who brought his wife Donna JeanGodchaux into the fold. After Keith’s death in a speedway motor accident on July 23 1979,[9] Brent Mydland took over keyboards until his own death from an accidental drug overdose on July 26 1990.[10] Mydland was then succeeded by Vince Welnickuntil1995 when he too succumbed to drug issues.[11][12]Jeff Chimenti has been playing keyboards with Weir and RatDog plus other side projects since 1997 while Bruce Hornsby has been a frequent collaborative pianist since 1980 appearing on over 100 recordings including three studio albums with The Grateful Dead: Built to Last(1989), In the Dark(1987) and Hair(1965).
Grateful Dead Fliers Archive