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Leafs
by Gary E. Andrews - 03/04/24 12:47 PM
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As a songwriter, I tend to write more stuff that would fit into "Americana", influenced by Waylon Jennings and Merle Haggard and such... but I try to pay attention to whats being played on Modern Country radio and one song that has always struck me is "Boondocks" by Little Big Town. I realize "Boondocks" is a few years old now but its still getting played every once in awhile on my local radio station that plays all the Country hits, and it made it to #9 on the Country charts.
To me, Boondocks is one of those songs that sets the bar as far as a modern Country song. Its got hooks galore, not just a "hook", the production is great and of course the singing/harmonies are amazing. It is one of those songs that if I was one of those people in charge of such things, if it came across my desk I would immediately after listening to even half of it say "yep thats a keeper right there".
As a songwriter, I feel, and more importantly if a group of pros that I trust also feels like one of my uptempo songs doesn't live up to that level, I would have no business spending money on a Nashville demo for it and trying to run it by anyone I know in the modern Nashville recording business (maybe I'm wrong about that attitude...)... and what I'm saying is, maybe that uptempo original of mine might fit in with Americana or Indie Labels, but if it ain't as good as "Boondocks" its probably gonna get passed on by major labels in Nashville, especially with me as a nobody...
As I understand it, there are some interesting stories behind "Boondocks", that Little Big Town wrote that after being dropped by a major in Nashville and signing with Clint Black's label, and that they recorded the vocals first and then the studio musicians filled in the instruments afterwords.
Anyone with some insights on the song or the backstory of the song or production of it, I'd be interested in hearing about it...thanks
A.J. Love - Telecaster player & Songwriter
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Humm, After listening to the song I think it's a stretch to call it country. Maybe Folk/Pop/Rock. They probably didn't have enough of a following to keep a Record Deal. Keep writing.
Ray E. Strode
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well, I'm not gonna get into the whole debate about is or isn't "Country" music. But "Boondocks" certainly fit on Modern Country radio....
A.J. Love - Telecaster player & Songwriter
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AJ,
Usually when people make the "It's not country" remarks, they haven't been watching either the country or the rock, pop,folk charts. Usually they also don't look at their own songs as trying to find a place on current charts. They are going by what they define as country, rock, pop, folk, and they are usually pretty far off the current charts.
The fact is that there is a clear line of deliniation of what was rock/pop 10-15-20 years ago, and drawing it's destination in the country of today. There is a definate passing of the torch from Fleetwood Mac in the "Rumors" era of the late 1970's, and Little Big Town of today. Also the same deliniation is in Lady Antibellum, Steel Magnolia and pretty much anyone who does the male/female songs. The reason is extrodinarily simple.
Influences.
When you are growing up as an artist, a musician, or even a writer, you are influenced by 10-15 years before you. You hear it in older siblings records. You hear it on radio. You hear it in cover bands, Karaoke, etc. As a musician, you learn those records note for note. You play it in your own cover bands. You perform on gigs where those songs are requested. And as you become a writer or artist in your later years, the mid 20's, you start to incorporate those influences into your own music.
And many people don't feel the same way. You almost have to wait till the current power structure die off (sometimes literally) to be able to find your home in any chart or section of the industry. A recent thread about "Sony music firing top executives", speak to this. Certain trends in music die off or become not profitable, so lables will switch to things that are profitable. It means the tastes of the audiences who actually BUY CD's, downloads, merchandise, go to concerts, etc. SUPPORT the artists, change also.
All music is about adaptation, hearing certain influences, incorporating them into your own, and then applying your own spin. Elvis, took what had been done by Sinatra, who took what had been by Crosby, who took what had been done by Jolson, etc. It is passing the torch. And with each successive change, an enormous amount of people left behind complain that it is not like it was "in their day."
By the time Little Big Town had gotten here in Nashville, were doing writer's nights, (one of the first times I saw them was on a writer's show with several other new artists.) They were as usual turned down by many people and did lose one record deal. They ended up on Clint Black's label which at the time had the reputation as being the place where "people with no where else to go went."
The sound they developed, with cross melodies, multiple harmonies, utilizing the two male and two female singers, had as much influence from ABBA and Fleetwood Mac as anything Dolly Parton and Kenny Rogers did.
This is the nature of where country is now. The DJ's, program directors, critics, record labels, producers, musicians, advertisers, managers, agencies, etc. will have more in common with 70-90's rock than country. And of course those genre's of music have changed radically as well. What was once rock, pop, folk, blues, etc. is not today's version. The results are what you are talking about.
Any form of music is "not what we grew up with." We all sound like our parents.
The bottom line is that "Boondocks" is a well written song, Done in a unique way that went through a lot of roadblocks until it got out of the chute and ultimatley, the audience wins out. They had a large undercurrent of popularity before it was evidenced on the charts, as often is the case. Today you are more likely to hear from some new artist from You Tube as any new record release. As a matter of fact, the record companies are all releasing to You Tube, and trying to go "Viral."
That is today's music industry.
MAB
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Thanks Marc for your response. It's interesting hearing about the origins of songs and the "back-story"
I can definitely hear the 70's Rock influence on modern mainstream Country music, its undeniable.
The folks who complain about the lack of traditional Country just plain aren't looking hard enough. Some of it is still being done right there in Nashville, too, by some of the very best. Folks won't find it on Country radio, or CMT but its out there.
Marty Stuart, who I consider one of the all-time greats, is putting out incredible recordings. "Ghost Train", released this year, is amazing. And I think "The Marty Stuart Show", filmed right there in Nashville, is the greatest TV show ever (and I actually mean that literally, better than the Sopranos, better than MASH...hey I'm crazy but it keeps me from going insane)
Hank 3 (Hank Williams III) just today put out a double CD album of traditional Country music called "Ghost to Ghost/Guttertown". Hank 3 has a very dedicated and rabid following. The new album won't sell millions, but he'll generate plenty of revenue because he's putting it out himself, plus touring, merchandising, etc...
Then there is Heybale, down in Austin Texas, with Redd Volkaert on guitar and Earl Poole Ball (formerly with Johnny Cash) on piano.
The point being there is plenty of traditional Country music out there for the people that want that. Personally I love it, its my favorite kind of music, but I can get into all kinds of music... and I think there is no denying that there are a lot extremely well-crafted songs in mainstream Country music. "Boondocks" being one that came to mind when it came to this topic....
Thanks again for your insight Marc
A.J. Love - Telecaster player & Songwriter
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I used to play with Redd. Like most things that have an audience. It is out there. But record companies are in the business to make money. That is what drives any commerical enterprise. It is just that with music it is very personal. Everyone has an opinion.
But traditionally, music is marketed to the young, because once you achieve a certain age, for most people their mid to late 20's, they are into real life and don't spend as much on music as opposed to life, bills, getting married, having kids, etc. Then the disposable income dries up and they have to concentrate on other things. They don't buy CD's, or even download that much. Most people are just into other things.
MAB
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Hee hee, it's NOT by LBT ! ! It's by Joe South and was a hit in 1965 by Billy Joe Royal ! ! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Down_in_the_Boondocks_(song)
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Yeah,
That was "Down in the Boondocks." different song.
MAB
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If you like "Boondocks" (great song imo) might I humbly suggest "Barton Hollow" by the Civil Wars, sort of the same feel, rootsy delta blues kind of country...maybe a bit heavier on the blues.
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To me, Boondocks is one of those songs that sets the bar as far as a modern Country song.
I'm gonna have to disagree with this
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Well colour me a new fan.
Good music is good music. Why try to slot it into anyone's category?
LBT has 4 great young attractive vocalists who do not get in eachother's way, and the guys play a fine guitar. Add some solid songwriting skills and voila.
Thanks for brining them to my attention..
If writing ever becomes work I think I'm going to have to stop
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To me, Boondocks is one of those songs that sets the bar as far as a modern Country song.
I'm gonna have to disagree with this I'm interested in why you feel this way, if you care to elaborate...
A.J. Love - Telecaster player & Songwriter
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