EW's Chris Willman Assembles Fine List of Essential Country Albums

Chris Willman of Entertainment Weekly has put together a primer of country music for those who may not (yet) be fans that provides both a history lesson and a look into the future of the genre.

Boiling down country into 25 albums is really tough with all of its sub-genres and the changes it has gone through over the years. Early country had bluegrass and Texas swing. During the 60's there was the split between the Nashville and the Bakersfield sounds. Even today, there are traditionalists like George Strait fighting for radio and chart space with both pop and rock versions of country.

Willman has really done a fine job in compiling this list, giving nods to many country greats but also acknowledging some lesser knowns and a few from which many country folks would turn away. Make sure to read Willman's comments about each album at the EW site to get his take on why these are some of the most important recordings in the genre.

We've taken Willman's original list and placed the albums into categories to show just how wide reaching country music has become.

The Classic Artists

• Gold - Hank Williams
• Live at Carnegie Hall - Buck Owens & the Buckaroos
• At Folsom Prison - Johnny Cash
• Hag: The Best of Merle Haggard - Merle Haggard
• Coat of Many Colors - Dolly Parton

Traditional Country Grows Up

• Red Headed Stranger - Willie Nelson
• Elite Hotel - Emmylou Harris

Country Invades Rock

• The Complete Reprise Sessions - Gram Parsons
• The Definitive Collection - Flying Burrito Brothers

Rock Invades Country

• Van Leer Rose - Loretta Lynn (produced by Jack White)
  
• Almost Blue - Elvis Costello

Keeping the Fires Burning: Traditional Country in a Modern Setting

• Guitars, Cadillacs, Etc. Etc. - Dwight Yoakam
• Trio - Dolly Parton, Linda Ronstadt & Emmylou Harris
• Guitar Town - Steve Earle
• Revival - Gillian Welch
• Modern Day Drifter - Dierks Bentley
• Home - Dixie Chicks
• Georgia Hard - Robbie Fulks
• Raising Sand - Robert Plant & Alison Krauss

Blurring the Lines: Mixing Pop, Rock and even Jazz with Country

• Come On Over - Shania Twain
• These Days - Vince Gill
• Here for the Party - Gretchen Wilson
• Crazy Ex-Girlfriend - Miranda Lambert
• Time Well Wasted - Brad Paisley
• Horse of a Different Color - Big & Rich

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