I have thoroughly enjoyed this documentary series! Each episode has been informative and compelling. Several times, I have found myself ordering old CDs on Amazon real time while watching an episode. I have newfound respect for many artists that I had previously under appreciated or forgotten about. While I’m sure you all will have your own lists, mine include Dolly Parton, Jimmie Rogers, Kristofferson, Maybelle and Hank. Marty Stuart’s comments were especially moving to me. On previous “Who would we like at Telluride?” threads, many have suggested Dolly. I would be so excited to see her next June!
I agree that this is an amazing documentary on the history of country music. I like the way that Ken Burns ties the story together with a couple of themes. That being Will the Circle be Unbroken and the Saturday night Sunday morning. The influence of the Carter family and Johnny Cash on one side and Jimmie Rodgers and Hank Williams on the other. It gives you a bit different look at Cash compared to the I Walk the Line movie. My favorite quote is Caroline Carter telling that Mother Maybell wanting to record the Brewer and Shipley song One Toke Over the Line, and being asked if she knew what the song was about and replying that she thought it was a gospel song, I think she was right. I don’t know if we will get Dolly to Telluride but a couple of other artists who are featured in the documentary, Marty Stewart and Dwight Yoakam would be good additions.
I’ve watched it twice, so far. We even got to go to a pre-screening with panel discussion here in Tulsa at a Theater older than the Cain’s Ballroom. Originally it was only going to be 6 episodes long. But, after they started filming in Tulsa and realizing how much influence KVOO, The Cain’s Ballroom, and Bob Wills and the entire western swing and Tulsa Sound affected the evolution of Country they had to expand to 8 episodes. Tons of the old footage and pictures especially from the 40’s through the 60’s are from the Cain’s Ballroom. To us Tulsan’s the Cain’s is as important a musical vessel as the Rymann.
I also agree, it’s been a fantastic film, adding a greater depth to my understandings of the history of the music I love so. And at the same time I also see the side of Country Music that drove me away in the 70’s and 80’s. And all the while a stronghold of traditionalist kept the flame alive. Those folks are what makes Telluride so special. The folks who came of age post Rock and Roll, and big time Nashville Sound, yet found their path through the more traditional ways. These same folks also explored the boundaries of traditional string band music, and brought it all back around, while inspiring a whole new generation to take on the tourch and continue the bluegrass traditions.
A very good series from what I’ve seen. Loved the Honky Tonk segment about Rose Maddox. Interesting that Hank’s grand-daugther and Bocephus were featured but not Hank III. He probably takes after the old man and is too cantankerous to interview.
The Bill Monroe seg was way too tame. There are tons of better stories, and they left out the smashed Lloyd Loars
Who did the song “I want to ride in the car Hank died in”? No fair googling, yeah right.
Wonder if the Y’all-ternative movement got any coverage? Bad Livers? Whiskytown? or the immortal Slobberbone?