Various Artists - Country Music: A Film By Ken Burns

Double LP soundtrack to the Ken Burns PBS documentary film!

Emmy Award-winning filmmaker Ken Burns chronicles the diverse roots, evolution and stylistic diversity of 20th century American country music in his new 8-part (16.5 hour) documentary premiering Sunday, September 15, 2019 on PBS.

Country Music — A Film By Ken Burns (The Soundtrack) showcases essential recordings, drawn from the nearly 600 music cues used in the documentary, covering the wide historic terrain of 20th century American country music. A tree with deep roots and ever-expanding branches, American country music evolved from songs passed down from generations of settlers and slaves until 20th century recording technology made it possible for hundreds and thousands (if not millions) of listeners to share the same musical experience on a record.

Country Music journeys from early Appalachian "hillbilly" recordings through "singing cowboys" and bluegrass, Texas swing and Tennessee rockabilly and more, all the while paying attention to the impact of radio, Hollywood and television on the evolution of American country sounds and attitudes.

"At the heart of every great country music song is a story," said Ken Burns. "As the songwriter Harlan Howard said, ‘It's three chords and the truth.' The common experiences and human emotions speak to each of us about love and loss, about hard times and the chance of redemption. As an art form, country music is also forever revisiting its history, sharing and updating old classics and celebrating its roots, which are, in many ways, foundational to our country itself."

Country Music is the culmination of eight years of research and production, including interviews with more than 100 people (40 of whom are members of the Country Music Hall of Fame, and 20 of those interviewed have since passed on). Among those storytellers are historian Bill Malone and a wide range of country artists such as Marty Stuart, Rosanne Cash, Vince Gill, Reba McEntire, Merle Haggard, Dolly Parton, Willie Nelson, Dwight Yoakam, Emmylou Harris, Kris Kristofferson, and Naomi and Wynonna Judd, as well as studio musicians, record producers and others. The film uses more than 3,200 photographs and over two hours of archival footage, including rare and never-before-seen photos and footage of Jimmie Rodgers, Johnny Cash and others.

A concert celebrating the film was filmed and recorded at Nashville's fabled Ryman Auditorium (once the home of the Grand Ole Opry) on March 27 and is slated to premiere on PBS ahead of the first Country Music broadcast.

 

Side 1

1. Can the Circle Be Unbroken (78rpm Version) – The Carter Family

2. Blue Yodel No. 8 (Mule Skinner Blues) – Jimmie Rodgers

3. Fox Chase – DeFord Bailey

4. New San Antonio Rose (78rpm Version – Bob Wills and His Texas Playboys

5. Wabash Cannonball (Album Version) – Roy Acuff

6. It’s Mighty Dark To Travel – Bill Monroe & His Blue Grass Boys

7. Foggy Mountain Breakdown (Album Version) – Lester Flatt, Earl Scruggs, The Foggy Mountain Boys

8. It Wasn’t God Who Made Honky Tonk Angels – Kitty Wells

Side 2

1. I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry (Single Version) – Hank Williams with His Drifting Cowboys

2. Crazy Arms – Ray Price

3. Ring of Fire – Johnny Cash

4. Crazy – Patsy Cline

5. Coal Miner’s Daughter – Loretta Lynn

6. Kiss An Angel Good Mornin’ – Charley Pride

7. Hungry Eyes – Merle Haggard & The Strangers

8. Stand by Your Man – Tammy Wynette

Side 3

1. You Ain’t Goin’ Nowhere – The Byrds

2. Me and Bobby McGee – Kris Kristofferson

3. Girl From The North Country – Bob Dylan and Johnny Cash

4. Are You Sure Hank Done It This Way – Waylon Jennings

5. Jolene – Dolly Parton

6. Boulder to Birmingham – Emmylou Harris

7. Whiskey River (Live) – Willie Nelson

Side 4

1. Pancho and Lefty – Merle Haggard and Willie Nelson

2. He Stopped Loving Her Today (Album Version) – George Jones

3. Streets of Bakersfield – Dwight Yoakam with Buck Owens

4. Where’ve You Been – Kathy Mattea

5. Go Rest High on That Mountain – Vince Gill

6. I Still Miss Someone (Live) – Rosanne Cash

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