Opinion? The Greatest Country Album of All Time

It's not Hank Williams, but I'll vote for:

Clint Black - Killin' Time

 

I couldn't say which is "the best" but these are my favourites:

The Essential Hank Williams (2CD - Union Square Music Limited)
Hank Williams Jr. & Friends
Johnny Cash - Fulsom Prison, San Quentin (I have the 2fer!)
Garth Brooks - The Chase
Dwight Yoakham - Hillbilly Deluxe

 

Very cool cover, and great album. Just got the twofer with another outstanding album, the 1956, Tragic Songs Of Life.

 

Oh Yeah! The Nashville West album by Nashville West, recorded live at The Nashville West. I love the title track whatever it's name is, "Nashville West" or something like that.

 

Some of my favorites.....

 

Marty Stuart "The Pilgrim"

one of the greatest of all time in any genre.

 

Sometimes my browser does not show pictures. The OP only attached a picture of the album cover, which I could not see. But thanks for the "kind" post.

 

FYI: The European pressing has two bonus tracks.

 

I've been listening to a rotation of Willie's Phases & Stages, Waylon's Dreaming My Dreams & Dwight Yoakam's If There Was a Way. Great stuff that I tried because of this thread. I'm pretty much burnt out on classic rock & modern rock. I find at 58, this kind of stuff appeals to me more & it's far easier to learn on guitar. These suggestions could keep me going for the rest of my life. Thanks all!

 

..............................IMO.

 

I'll say this is the best cowboy album of all time.

 

With the best cover.

 

Greatest Ever? Well, as subjective as that is, I cannot rate this as such (especially considering my Hank & ET and Bob Wills and Bakersfield roots), but as 'modern' era country goes, this is a great disc regardless. Not a duff song on it! In many ways, as much a rock album as country... it is my favorite Dwight disc, and I own them all!

 

Thanks to all for the recommendations.

I have or know of a lot of these. For whatever reason I've never explored Marty Robbins, Ray Price, or early Johnny Paycheck.

The first two have just been blind spots. As for Paycheck, I'm like a lot of people. I know him for stuff like Take This Job and Shove It and Colorado Kool-Aid.

 

I'm not qualified to say what the greatest country album of all time is. But I can say my favorite is Johnny Cash at Folsom Prison.

It's good!

 

Yeah, unfortunately his lunkheaded late-70s hits are what most people remember. A good rule of thumb for Paycheck is:
If he's clean-shaven on the album cover, it's a fantastic record.
If he's got a moustache, it's pretty good.
If he's got a full beard, don't expect too much... maybe you'll find an few good tracks amid the swaggering and posturing.

 

Wow I've never heard this before, this is amazing!

 

OK, thanks, I'll remember that when I'm flipping through the bins. From what I recall about his 70s material I've heard, it's gimmicky but not completely without merit.

 

Yeah funny that, the more 'normal' he looked the more menacing and difficult the music was.



This is a great 70s LP of 60s Little Darlin stuff, say the wrong thing and he's up for a bar brawl.

 

Not just a brawl... he would just as soon shoot you if you said the wrong thing.

That's a great record with some great song titles: "I Drop More Than I Drink" and "Pint of No Return" are some examples.

 

I suppose it's now considered alt-country, but it's my favorite:

Emmylou Harris - Wrecking Ball

 

Bit of a temper. Have you seen this article, your post just reminded me of it?

Paycheck – the album that never was »

 

Greatest album is a hard one to call because country music is so single oriented, but there are a handful that I would consider great listens that are extremely influential:

Louvin Brothers - Satan Is Real

Johnny Cash - At Folson Prison

Hank Jr - Hank Williams Jr and Friends

Waylon Jennings - Honky Tonk Heroes

Hank Williams - Beyond The Sunset (not an album from conception, but pulls together all the Luke the Drifter sides into a wonderful even-flowing concept album)

Randy Travis - Storms Of Life

Marty Robbins - Gunfighter Ballads And Trail Songs

Willie Nelson - Red Headed Stranger



There are probably more I would add to the list if I give it some thought