Various Artists: Beyond Nashville

The Twisted Heart of Country Music

2CD set released in October 2001 to coincide with the 'Beyond Nashville' series of concerts in London. Like Peter Doggett's Are You Ready For the Country this is a 'serious' compilation which explores the genre almost academically.

The two CDs are Sing Me Back Home with the likes of Jimmie Rodgers, Carter Family, Hank Williams, George Jones, Junior Parker, The Band, Taj Mahal and The Byrds, and Are You Sure Hank Done it this Way? with people like Lucinda Williams, Lambchop, Handsome Family, Giant Sand, Steve Earle. The Band contribute "Long Black Veil." The sleeve notes say "They gave it a funky bluesy feel that its songwriters never imagined." (There are 10 pages of sleeve notes). What's noticeable, compared to The Byrds or The Burritos, is that they innovate, not follow.

Note the originals of songs Band members have covered - "Blue Moon of Kentucky" (Levon) and "Mystery Train" (The Band).

Tracks

1. Jimmie Rodgers : Looking For a New Mama
2. The Carter Family: Intro & Theme / When Our Lord Shall Come Again
3. Leadbelly: Rock Island Line
4. Bob Wills & His Texas Playboys: Bubbles in My Beer
5. Bill Monroe & His Bluegrass Boys: Blue Moon of Kentucky
6. Woody Guthrie: Ain't got No Home
7. Hank Williams: Long gone Lonesome Blues
8. Lefty Frizell: Always Late (With your Kisses)
9. Mystery Train: Little Junior Parker & His Blue Flames
10. George Jones: Why Baby Why?
11. Carl Perkins: Put Your Cat Clothes On
12. Johnny Cash & The Carter Family: Were You there (When They Crucified my Lord)
13. Jim & Jesse & The Virginia Boys: Chicken Reel
14. Merle Haggard: The Bottle Let Me Down
15. The Byrds: I Am A Pilgrim
16. Taj Mahal: Little Red Hen Blues
17. The Band: Long Black Veil
18. The Flying Burrito Brothers: Lazy Days
19. New Riders of The Purple Sage: Glendale Train
20. Gram Parsons: Medley Live From Northern Quebec: Cash on the Barrelhead / Hickory Wind
21. Doug Sahm: Nitty Gritty
22. The Flatlanders: Dallas

CD2: Are You Sure Hank Done it this Way?

1. Ryan Adams: To Be Young (Is To Be Sad and To Be High)
2. Emmylou Harris: I Don't Wanna Talk About It Now
3. The Blind Boys of Alabama: Run For A Long Time
4. Steve Earle: Until The Day I Die
5. Gillian Welch: Orphan Girl
6. Giant Sand: Temptation of Egg
7. Stacey Earle: Must Be Lo ve
8. Willard Grant: Conspiracy Evening Mass
9. Lucinda Williams: One Night Stand
10. Lambchop: Beyond Belief
11. Handsome Family: So Much Wine
12. Alejandro Escovedo: Pissed Off 2 a.m.
13. Smog: The Desert
14. Sparklehorse: Comfort Me
15. Son Volt: Windfall
16. Noahjohn: Atlas Nails
17. Jim White: Handcuffed to a Fence in Mississippi
18. Oh Susanna: Ted's So Wasted
19. The Carter Family: Thene (Sunnyside) Out / XET Station Break
20. Los Super Seven: Paloma Guarumera

Various Artists - Beyond Nashville - 2001 - 2 CD set - UK(Manteca MANTDCD205