Country
An interesting compilation of artists that recorded early country rock at Spar Records in Nashville in the 1960’s.
Nearly all of the Country sessions at Spar utilized the cream of the crop of young studio musicians working in Nashville during the 1960s. Some of the legendary names who participated were Mac Gayden, Wayne Moss, Kenny Buttrey, Norbert Putnam, Lloyd Green, Hargus "Pig" Robbins, Pete Drake and Charlie McCoy.
These are the people that played on sessions with Roy Orbison, Bob Dylan ("Blonde On Blonde"), Neil Young, The Byrds ("Sweetheart Of The Rodeo"), Linda Ronstadt and went on to found the Area Code 615 band and Barefoot Jerry.
The recording of "Almost To Nashville" (featuring Lloyd Green on steel guitar) gives a hint of greatness to come.
Hal Kennedy recorded Country music for Spar but was better known as the lead singer with the Gospel group The Dixie Echoes.
Jake & Josh were actually Jake Tullock and Josh Graves from Flatt & Scruggs' band, moonlighting as a duo.
Mac Gayden's electric sitar on "Great Big Woman" and the subject matter of "Nervous Breakdown" are both quite adventurous for the day.
This compilation focuses on the original Country Rock recordings released by the Spar label which still sounds fresh after all these years. It's high time that Spar's rockin' Country sides took their rightful place in the history of Nashville music and this collection should help to shine a little light on some obscure, but nevertheless classic, old records.
- Obscure and classic country rock recordings from Nashville
- Digitally remastered