What Do You Consider Classic Country?

Question

I notice everyone seems to have different ideas what time periods "classic country" is from. Some people put it as recently as the 1980s, for me it goes back at least fifty years.

Answer 1

With the exception of VERY FEW Nashville artists and the Bakersfield sound during the 1960s, I consider classic country to be 1920s through 1950s.



P.S.

Kathleen makes a good point. In my opinion, Classic refers to a period of time (20s -60s for me). Traditional refers to instrumentation, subject matter, etc. I consider Buck Owens classic country, Dwight Yoakum traditional.

Answer 2

For me it is the songs of the 1920's of Jimmie Rodgers to around the late 1970's at best although the late 70's didn't offer that much either, From the 1980's on with a few exceptions was any of it what I call classic country. I also consider the Bakersfield material as classic ie: Wynn Stewart, Tommy Collins, Buck Owens,Merle Haggard. I really did not consider anything like Kenny Rogers as classic. If you want to hear classic I will give you my example of Ray Price before strings, I realize some consider others classic but I do not. Good question William and thanks for the opportunity to answer it with my opinion.

Answer 3

Classic country to me are artists like, George Jones, Loretta Lynn, Dolly Parton. Hank snow, Hank williams, Tammy wynette etc. But that is classic to us, But some of the younsters would consider the 80's and even the 90's as classic music.

Answer 4

I remember the first time I heard "classic rock" on the radio. I felt very old as it didn't seem that long since I 'jammed' to the same music they now called 'classic'!!!



I grew up listening to country with my dad and have since 'gone country' once rock left me dry.



To me, anything since the 1980's is new. To my kids, who the youngest is 20, anything older than a year or two is old.



Hmmm, interesting question. It's all a matter of perspective.

Answer 5

I asked a question earlier that was somewhat similar because I felt I was getting confused with "Classic" and "Traditional"..stil not sure I have it entirely sorted out in my mind. I always thought "Classic" as being the older artists like Waylon and Willie, Roy Clark, Charlie RIch, Buck Owens, Merle Haggard, Patsy Cline, Tammy Wynnett and all those that I listened to years ago but am still listening to.



I think the 80's you would find more "traditional" country as in artists keeping the sound of country alive whereas "classic" artists are as many respondents asserted were, ones that stood the test of time.



I still find myself confused because I love Mac Davis and never expected to see his name listed under the classic category.



If you are interested in reading those replies, you can find them here. Some of them were pretty clear and informative.

https://answersrip.com/question/index?qid=20071016213639AALSfYt

Answer 6

Classic Country is the Original Country I would think. . .



All the Hank Williams, Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings, Tom Paul Glacier, Jesse Colter and Johnny Cash.

Answer 7

Loretta Lynn, Tanya Tucker, George Jones, Tammy Wynette

Answer 8

To me,anything pre 1970 is Classic Country.

Answer 9

The era of Ray Price, Ferlin Husky, Faron Young, David Houston, Lefty Frizzel that's what I consider classic.

Answer 10

Anything before Kenny Rogers crossed over and gave his songs a pop beat.

For me, it's Merle Haggard, George Jones, Barbra Mandrell (lol), Johnny Cash, Charlie Rich, Loretta Lynn, and Glen Campbell.

Answer 11

There are current artists, like George Strait and Alan Jackson who sing 'Classic Country'.

Answer 12

I gues it would go back even further into the 1920's/1930's. Probably rooted in Appalachian Mt music among other places.

Great stuff.

Answer 13

I think of patsy cline, cash, danny reeve, some jerry lee lewis, jed rebel, etc. Not stuff from the 80;s. i was born in the 80's, thats not classic yet!!!