What's the dividing line between "classic" country and modern country?

Question

I remember when I was a kid growing up in the 90's, country music from the mid-70's and later was generally seen as modern or "contemporary" country, while stuff from the early 70's back through the 30's was considered "classic" country.

Yet, these days, if you tune into a "classic country" station online or on the radio, they play late 70's and 80's stuff all the time.

Why is this? When did "classic" country start including stuff like George Strait or Alabama? How is that "classic?" "Classic" means stuff like the original Hank Williams.

Answer 1

Classic which as pointed out, is more of a radio based format which ranges from a minimum of twenty to twenty five years old and older. So going one the premise of twenty years, anything from 1991, and earlier could be called classic. Some go with it needing to be at least twenty five years, or older. So there it would be about 1988. But classic whether it's country, or rock is nothing more than a radio format, just like Pop, AOR (Adult Oriented Rock), MOR (Middle of the Road), contemporary Country, or contemporary Rock. A better way to perhaps define Country music would be the pre golden age Anything 1931 and before, the Golden age 1931 to 1960, The silver age 1961 - 1990, and modern would be 1991 to date.



Edit point:



Toby Keith's songs there by unless recorded in, or before, have at least six years, or more years to go before they start to qualify as classics, under the standard of a twenty years.

Answer 2

To Me Classic Country Music Is **



Johnny Cash

Waylon Jennings

Merle Haggard

George Jones

Freddy Fender

Don Gibson

Hank Williams Sr.

Answer 3

It's actually quite confusing. I personally believe "video" changed everything. Vocal talent slowly took a back seat to "looks". The U.S. is extremely "visually" directed. "Classic" country to me is any song where the "Vocal" is the main instrument (and quality of song, of course). Over the course of about 5 years, vocals started being overrun by 8 electric guitars all playing the SAME THING. Jumping up and down like Axle Rose is what attracted viewers...and unfortunately, "viewers" are the same 13 year olds that BUY music. I keep hearing this nonsense about country music "evolving"...BS. The country radio stations have sold out! I generally listen to "Outlaw Country" on satellite radio. I mean, where else would you go to hear OUTLAW COUNTRY like Don Williams, Loretta lynn, Conway Twitty, George Jones, ETC!??

It's a shame that "new" singers, who actually do Country music, have no venue to play.



So, in short...classic is prior to (and the first few years of) video.

Answer 4

I agree, "Classic" Country music is and should be from singers like: Hank Williams, Conway Twitty, Johnny Cash, Dolly Parton, Tammy Wynette, etc. and "modern/contemporary" Country music should be from singers like: Reba, George Strait, Carrie Underwood, Alan Jackson, etc.



But honestly I don't know why "classic" includes the singers of today. It doesn't make sense to me either.

Answer 5

When I discuss Country Music, I always refer to 'Classic' Country as being from the period before the advent of 'The Nashville Sound', 'Countrypolitan', etc.

If the song sounds like a Classic Country song, and is from any time after about 1957, I refer to it as 'Traditional', or 'Authentic,' rather than 'Classic'

Answer 6

Conway Twitty

Answer 7

Toby Keith from his songs in 99 and below he still sings amazing songs

Answer 8

I think anything before the abysmal "Achy Breaky Heart" is classic. Anything afterwards is contemperary.