The 20 Funniest Country Songs-- Part 2: 'Thank God and Greyhound'

Continued from April 18.

11.  BUBBA SHOT THE JUKEBOX--  Mark Chesnutt

12.  IT'S ALL GOING TO POT--  Willlie Nelson & Merle Haggard

13.  SHE GOT THE GOLD MINE, I GOT THE SHAFT--  Jerry Reed

14.  PICKUP MAN--  Joe Diffie

15.  IT'S FIVE O'CLOCK SOMEWHERE--  Alan Jackson & Jimmy Buffett

16.  TEN ROUNDS WITH JOSE CUERVO--  Tracy Byrd

17.  MISSISSIPPI SQUIRREL REVIVAL--  Ray Stevens

18.  ONE PIECE AT A TIME--  Johnny Cash

19.  THANK GOD AND GREYHOUND--  Roy Clark

20.  I DON'T EVEN KNOW YOUR NAME--  Alan Jackson

Name That Tune (from the above songs):  "Pour Me Somethin' Tall and Strong."  Answer below.  --RoadDog

"It's Five O'clock Somewhere"

Merle Haggard: "The Poet of the Common Man"

Born April 6, 1937  Died April 6, 2016 at age 79.

Part of the Bakersfield Country Sound along with Buck Owens.  Spend three years in federal prison at San Quentin.  Best known for his song "Okie from Muskogee which went to #41 Pop and #1 Country in 1969.  Signed with Capitol records and was on the country charts 105 times and even 12 times on the Pop.  38 Country #1s.

He had several crossover hits from Country to Pop, including "Okie from Muskogee", "The Fighting Side of Me (#92 Pop, #1 Country-1970) and "If We Make It Through December" (#28 Pop, #1 Country in 1973).

His touring back up band was called the Strangers.

His "Okie from Muskogee" is described as either Nixon-era anthem or a good-hearted spoof of heartland mores.

His "Okie from Muskogee" was my introduction to country music which I really hated back in high school and college.  In the days of anti-war and hippydom, this was the alternative.

--RoadDog

Sorry to Hear About the Death of Merle Haggard

Country legend Merle Haggard died today at age 79.  It was his birthday.  He had been suffering from cancer for many years and looking very bad the last several times I saw him.

I was listening to Classic Country WERF in Galax Country over the internet when I heard Buford Kegley make the announcement.

Merle Haggard was one of my favorite country singers and a big reason I got into country music in the mid 1970s.  You want country, HE was country.  None of that Bro stuff.  His songs could hurt you right down to your soul.  And, then there was his "Okie from Muskogee" which I first heard while in college.

I had seen it was his birthday today on the Ye Olde Disc Jockey's Almanac site by Bob Dearborn.  I also saw that this was the anniversary of the Capitol records Building in Hollywood.  Merle Haggard recorded for Capitol Records.

Puttin' Those Hippies in Their Place.

Dwight Sings Buck-- Part 2

Buck Owens was the founder of the Bakersfield Sound. Merle Haggard, another one of my favorite performers, is also a practitioner of the sound. Don Rich, a member of Buck's band was also in on the creation of this sound.

Dwight Yoakam revitalized the Bakersfield Sound (also called Bakersfield Honky Tonk with his "Little Sister" and "Guitars, Cadillacs, and Hillbilly Music." He had 17 top ten country songs and sold more than 23 million albums. I have more than a few of those.

Back Owens died March 25, 2006.

I remember John Fogerty and Creedence Clearwater Revival "Listening to Buck Owens" while looking out their backdoor. That would be great if John Fogerty would also do an album of Buck Owens music. Oh well. wishful hoping.

The 15 tracks on "Dwight Sings Buck" makes for a great road cruisin' companion if you can afford the gas.

Great Music to Listen to While Travelin' Down that Two Lane Highway. --RoadDog