I Was Country When Country Wasn't Cool

I’m not sure how many genres of music should be explored in order to begin to understand the 1960s.  One that certainly can’t be overlooked is Country music (I capitalize “Country” out of respect).  But the Country music of 1962 was very different from the Country music of today.  In many ways, it was approaching the end of its “classic” phase – the steel guitar, glitter suit, combed-back hair of cliché. The cross-over “modern” country of today was barely a glimmer in the future, but formerly popular attractions such as the Grand Ole Opry and the Louisiana Hayride were being eclipsed in popular media by pop music.  

To get a feeling for Country in 1962, you have to see it and, of course, hear it.  For example:

“The Porter Wagoner Show” was one of the longest running syndicated music shows, airing in 686 episodes, in black and white from 1960 to 1966 and then in color until 1981.  I mention it largely because I remember it as a kid.  You just have to see it to understand.   

Porter Wagoner singing "Another Day Another Dollar"

One of the top Country songs of 1962 was “She’s Got You” by Patsy Cline.  This wildly popular signer-songwriter died in a plane crash less than a year later at the age of 30.  She was the first female Country artist to headline a show over the male performers.  Her 1957 recording of "Walkin' After Midnight" reached No. 2 on the Country chart and No. 12 on the pop chart, making Patsy one of the first country singers to have a crossover pop hit.   

Patsy Cline singing“She’s Got You”

 The Grammy Award for Country music in 1962 went to Jimmy Dean (of sausage fame) for “Big Bad John.”  The top selling new albums of the year included three by Johnny Cash (All Aboard the Blue Train, Hymns from the Heart and The Sound of Johnny Cash) and three by George Jones (George Jones Sings Bob Wills, Homecoming in Heaven, and My Favorites of Hank Williams).  The George Jones classic “She Thinks I Still Care) spent six weeks as the number one country song in 1962.     

George Jones signing “She Thinks I Still Care

 

You can’t end a discussion of Country music in 1962 without an homage to one of those glimmers of the future we mentioned earlier.  In April, R&B singer Ray Charles released the hugely influential Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music, which became one of the top ten County albums of the year.    

Ray Charles singing “You Don’t Know Me”

Finally, who listened to Country music in 1962?  To have some feeling for that question, consider the other popular genres of the day – Big Band (e.g., Frank Sinatra), “Champagne” music (e.g., Lawrence Welk), early pop music (e.g., Elvis Presley), R&B (e.g., Ray Charles), and many others.  Country music has been described as the music of the South and Appalachia.  

Two interesting final notes

1.To give you a perspective over fifty years, 1962 was a big year for the birth of Country stars, including Trace Adkins, Clint Black, Garth Brooks, and Sheryl Crow.

2.  “I Was Country When Country Wasn't Cool" is actually a song recorded by Barbara Mandrell (remember her?) in 1981.