Presse Archiv - Various Artists - The Bakersfield Sound 1940 - 1974 - blogcritics.org
California, is typically more authentic-sounding and less commercial than what Nashville has delivered. Wikipedia calls it "the first genre of country music to be significantly influenced by rock and roll, and as a result, the first to rely heavily on electric instrumentation and a defined backbeat. It was also a reaction against the slickly produced, orchestra-laden Nashville sound, which was becoming popular in the late 1950s."
That's about as good a capsule summary as any, but keep in mind that like most musical genres, this one tends to have rather loosely defined boundaries. Just as rock can mean anything from the Sex Pistols to the Moody Blues to Bob Dylan, music lumped together under the Bakersfield umbrella can be Tex-Mex, Western swing, rockabilly, or even mournful, syrupy ballads that could have just as easily issued from Nashville.
The geographical boundaries are as fuzzy as the sonic ones, as a massive new box set, The Bakersfield Sound 1940–1974, makes clear. The set, due out October 18, includes tracks that were recorded in Bakersfield by acts that had roots elsewhere, ranging from Bob Wills and His Texas Playboys to Brooklyn, New York–born Arlo Guthrie. It also features songs associated with Bakersfield that were actually produced in Hollywood.
As the great Merle Haggard once said, "What became known as the Bakersfield sound was always bigger than Bakersfield." And as music historian Scott Bomar points out in his extensive liner notes for this anthology, Bakersfield refers to "a movement that can't be contained within strict musical definitions." Adds Bomar: "The reality is a bit more complex than a simple label or checklist could accurately reflect."
Germany's Bear Family label, which issued the set, is known for its everything-but-the-kitchen-sink mega-boxes, and this collection is true to form.
California, is typically more authentic-sounding and less commercial than what Nashville has delivered. Wikipedia calls it "the first genre of country music to be significantly influenced by rock and roll, and as a result, the first to rely heavily on electric instrumentation and a defined backbeat. It was also a reaction against the slickly produced, orchestra-laden Nashville sound, which was becoming popular in the late 1950s."
That's about as good a capsule summary as any, but keep in mind that like most musical genres, this one tends to have rather loosely defined boundaries. Just as rock can mean anything from the Sex Pistols to the Moody Blues to Bob Dylan, music lumped together under the Bakersfield umbrella can be Tex-Mex, Western swing, rockabilly, or even mournful, syrupy ballads that could have just as easily issued from Nashville.
The geographical boundaries are as fuzzy as the sonic ones, as a massive new box set, The Bakersfield Sound 1940–1974, makes clear. The set, due out October 18, includes tracks that were recorded in Bakersfield by acts that had roots elsewhere, ranging from Bob Wills and His Texas Playboys to Brooklyn, New York–born Arlo Guthrie. It also features songs associated with Bakersfield that were actually produced in Hollywood.
As the great Merle Haggard once said, "What became known as the Bakersfield sound was always bigger than Bakersfield." And as music historian Scott Bomar points out in his extensive liner notes for this anthology, Bakersfield refers to "a movement that can't be contained within strict musical definitions." Adds Bomar: "The reality is a bit more complex than a simple label or checklist could accurately reflect."
Germany's Bear Family label, which issued the set, is known for its everything-but-the-kitchen-sink mega-boxes, and this collection is true to form.
Presse Archiv - Various Artists - The Bakersfield Sound 1940 - 1974 - Rolling Stone
The Bakersfield Sound 1940-1974 ***** Die Geschichte eines wegweisenden Country-Stils
Als musikalischer Fremdkörper auf der „Help!"-LP war die von Ringo Starr vorgetragene Version von Buck Owens' Hit „Act Naturally" eine pure Notlösung (Ersatz für seine eigentlich vorgesehene Aufnahme von Lennon/ McCartneys „If You've Got Trouble") und kein Bekenntnis der Band zu Country Music made in Bakersfield. Als die Everly Brothers Merle Hag-gards „Mama Tried" und Country-Rock-Bands wenig später Songs wie „White Line Fever" aufnahmen, geschah dies aufgrund der genre-übergreifenden Klasse der Kompositi-onen der anderen Galionsfigur dieser regionalen Spielart von Country.
The Bakersfield Sound 1940-1974 ***** Die Geschichte eines wegweisenden Country-Stils
Als musikalischer Fremdkörper auf der „Help!"-LP war die von Ringo Starr vorgetragene Version von Buck Owens' Hit „Act Naturally" eine pure Notlösung (Ersatz für seine eigentlich vorgesehene Aufnahme von Lennon/ McCartneys „If You've Got Trouble") und kein Bekenntnis der Band zu Country Music made in Bakersfield. Als die Everly Brothers Merle Hag-gards „Mama Tried" und Country-Rock-Bands wenig später Songs wie „White Line Fever" aufnahmen, geschah dies aufgrund der genre-übergreifenden Klasse der Kompositi-onen der anderen Galionsfigur dieser regionalen Spielart von Country.