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Classic Vinyl

With John Gardiner

Dirt Band are one of the musical biggies, folks – check them out in Chatham

Tuesday, April 29, 2003

You know what was great about music in the 1960's and early 1970's – there was such a wealth of diversity and such an enormous amount of musical innovation going on. It was a truly wonderful experience to listen to AM radio back in those days when you could hear everything from Johnny Cash to Jimi Hendrix in the same block of music – Beach Boys to Cream and Dion to the Doors.
Many of the musical styles that we take for granted today came of age back during that glorious period and there's one that's sort of fallen by the wayside that I'd like to talk about in this edition of Classic Vinyl. I guess I'd have to call it country rock and it was a huge part of the music scene back when I was just getting involved in bands.
This sort of ties in with my last Classic Vinyl because Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young owe their sound to this type of music, because although CSNY would never be considered a country band, many of the bands that helped shape its sound had a real country influence.
These were bands like The Byrds and Poco that by the mid-1960's were forging a whole new sound in rock 'n' roll. If you go back and listen to the tunes these bands did, there's no denying the heavy country influence. Other things that characterize this type of music were richly textured vocal harmonies and outstanding musicianship.
Now what got me going on this genre was this year's Festival of Nations music lineup. I am absolutely thrilled to see one of the very best of these country-rockers coming to Chatham for the July 1st weekend. Yes sir, folks, the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band is still on the trail after all these years and they were one of the very early and best versions of country rock.
And although they had a string of hits in the late 1960's and early 1970's (likely the best known is Mr. Bojangles), none of those tunes are my favourite Dirt Band stuff. While country rock was more country to some bands and more rock to other bands, it went almost completely country for the Dirt Band when they travelled to Nashville to record "Will the Circle Be Unbroken" back in the early '70's.
This is one specatular album – actually three records – and this band is actually coming to Chatham, Ontario for the Festival of Nations. This is a chance to see musical legend in the flesh. If you've listened to the Circle Be Unbroken, you'll know I'm telling you the truth. This triple-album is actually a huge jam session involving the Dirt Band and some of the best musicians the country music capitol had to offer.
You'll hear Doc Watson and Earl Scruggs and Vassar Clements and just about every other huge name in country music back in that era. (By the by, I saw Vassar Clements and his band back in Guelph in the mid-1970's, and they were beyond awesome.) And this is an honest to goodness jam – between the tunes, you'll hear the musicians setting up each upcoming number. It's pure magic.
The Dirt Band were a big part of the innovation that paved the way for groups like CSNY and the Eagles. Other biggies of that later era were New Riders of the Purple Sage, the Ozark Mountain Daredevils, Loggins and Messina, Seals and Crofts – all these groups share in the same musical legacy – and I'd be remiss if I didn't mention one of my all-time favourites – Commander Cody and the Lost Planet Airmen – what an awesome band.
And this is what I miss most in the world of music these days – diversity and innovation – the chance to hear something that is truly different and filled with energy – and something that is musically different, but still a solid musical style – not like hip hop and rap today.
Anyway, if you get a chance, check out the Dirt Band at the Festival of Nations. These guy are biggies in the history of rock music, folks. They'll be tight, excellent musicians and they'll put on a great show. Spin a little of their vinyl and I'm sure you'll be buying a ticket.



John Gardiner is a 25-year-veteran of the community newspaper business, but he is also a prolific writer of moralistic short fiction he refers to as "emotional thoughtscapes" or "adult fables". Samples of his fiction can be found at:

He has also produced a noteworthy piece of humanist philosophy which can be found at: http://www.xs4all.nl/~aboiten/ad502.htm He welcomes comments on his work.