Sign In
 
 
 
 

Description of Traditional Country

 
Traditional country music's roots were born in rural American folk and blues. Inspired often by personal heartbreak, it's in a sense a folkish variation on the blues. The style's artists are less united by a common sound -- though the twang in the voice and unmistakable pedal steel are common hallmarks -- than by a common set of subjects: heartbreak, loss, drinking, cheating, and loneliness. From the pure honky-tonk of Hank Williams, to the rambling, yodeling songs of Jimmy Rodgers, to the rockin' electric guitar of Bakersfield's Buck Owens, traditional country artists sing and play music that reflects the lives, loves and losses of Middle America's country-folk.
 

Top Traditional Country Tracks

 
Play Track Artist Price
1. Twang George Strait
$1.29
2. Where Have I Been All My Life George Strait
$0.99
3. Living For The Night George Strait
$1.29
4. Easy As You Go George Strait
$0.99
5. The Breath You Take George Strait
$0.99
6. Gotta Get To You George Strait
$0.99
7. Same Kind Of Crazy George Strait
$0.99
8. El Rey George Strait
$0.99
9. Out Of Sight Out Of Mind George Strait
$0.99
10. Arkansas Dave George Strait
$0.99
11. Out Last Night Kenny Chesney
$1.29
12. Beautiful Day For Goodbye George Strait
$0.99
13. He's Got That Something Special George Strait
$0.99
14. Hot Grease and Zydeco George Strait
$0.99
15. Kiss A Girl Keith Urban
$0.99
16. Then Brad Paisley
$1.29
17. It's A Business Doing Pleasure With You Tim McGraw
$0.99
18. Maria (Shut Up and Kiss Me) Willie Nelson
$0.99
19. Troubadour George Strait
$1.29
20. Only You Can Love Me This Way Keith Urban
$0.99
21. In Color Jamey Johnson
$1.29
22. Whiskey Lullaby Brad Paisley
$1.29
23. Sideways Dierks Bentley
$1.29
24. She's Everything Brad Paisley
$1.29
25. Better As A Memory Kenny Chesney
$1.29
26. When The Sun Goes Down Kenny Chesney
$1.29
27. Summertime Kenny Chesney
$1.29
28. God Love Her Toby Keith
$0.99
29. Welcome To The Future Brad Paisley
$0.99
30. Mendocino County Line Featuring Lee Ann Womack Willie Nelson
$0.99
31. Ring Of Fire Johnny Cash
$1.29
32. Love Your Love The Most Eric Church
$1.29
33. Then (Single Edit) Brad Paisley
$1.29
34. Don't Blink Kenny Chesney
$0.99
35. Hurt Johnny Cash
$1.29
36. Sissy's Song Alan Jackson
$1.29
37. Boots On Randy Houser
$1.29
38. Gunpowder & Lead Miranda Lambert
$1.29
39. You'll Think Of Me Keith Urban
$0.99
40. Sweet Thing Keith Urban
$0.99
41. Neon Moon Brooks & Dunn
$1.29
42. Cowgirls Don't Cry Brooks & Dunn
$0.99
43. I Need You (with Faith Hill) Tim McGraw
$0.99
44. The Harder They Come Willie Nelson
$0.99
45. I Just Call You Mine Martina McBride
$0.99
46. Back To Earth Willie Nelson
$0.99
47. American Ride Toby Keith
$1.29
48. Amarillo By Morning George Strait
$1.29
49. Folsom Prison Blues Johnny Cash
$1.29
50. I Saw God Today George Strait
$1.29
 

Traditional Country Key Albums

 
America's Blue Yodeler - 1930-1931
$8.99
I Saw The Light
$9.99
Orange Blossom Special
$9.99
Showcase-With The Jordanaires
$9.99
The Essential Dottie West
$7.99
The Spectacular Johnny Horton
$9.99

 

Filed Under

 
 

Traditional Country Key Artists

 
Ferlin Husky

Ferlin Husky preferred high
end Nashville production to
complement his elastic
vocal range. He also
dabbled in honky-tonk.

Hank Locklin

Hank Locklin's silky tenor
voice blended well with the
smooth choral backing
singers that peppered his
early country songs.

Hank Snow

Snow was known for his
Traditonal Country songs
about traveling. His buttery
voice and charm made him a
regular at the Opry. Warn...

Hank Thompson

Hank Thompson fused
honky-tonk with western
swing, blending fiddles,
steel guitar, piano, bass and
drums with his baritone.

Hank Williams

Hank Williams was perhaps
the most important country &
western performer of his
time, and the most
influential country artist i...

Johnny Cash

Cash's trademark baritone
growl and disdainful sneer
were the crown and
scepter he bore as the king
of outlaw country music....

Kitty Wells

Wells' proto-feminist
persona and Honky-Tonk
songwriting paved the way
for artists such as Loretta
Lynn and Tammy Wynette...

Little Jimmy Dickens

Less than five feet tall and
equipped with a
high-pitched boyish voice,
Little Jimmy Dickens
pioneered country novelt...

Loretta Lynn

One of the first female
country singers to address
feminist issues, she was
considered an industry
maverick during the '70s....

Merle Travis

Besides Chet Atkins, Merle
Travis was an innovator of
country music guitar
picking. He wrote the coal
mining hit "16 Tons."

Red Sovine

Red Sovine sang early
truckin' songs wrapped up
in honky-tonk
instrumentation. His voice
segued from nasal twang t...

Roy Acuff

Roy Acuff's smooth,
dramatic vocal style, heard
on his first big hit, "The
Great Speckled Bird,"
changed early country m...

Slim Whitman

Slim Whitman is famous for
his distinct, yodel-style
singing voice. His hits
include "Indian Love Call"
and "Singing Hills."

Uncle Dave Macon

One of the earliest country
music celebrities, Uncle
Dave Macon played a banjo
and sang through his nose in
perfect harmony.

Vern Gosdin

Gosdin gave country music
an injection of
gospel-tinged honky-tonk.
His smooth, soulful singing
had him dubbed "The Voi...

Willie Nelson

Willie Nelson is one of the
founding fathers of the
outlaw country music
movement. Willie started off
as a songwriter. He wrote...

Rhapsody Memberships

What does Rhapsody membership mean?
Learn about the Membership Plans

Download Your MP3s Easily

Install the Rhapsody Music Store Downloader

Need Help?

Visit our Help Center
AMG - Portions of Album Content Provided by All Music Guide © 2009 All Media Guide, LLC.
© 2001-2009 Listen.com, a subsidiary of RealNetworks