Classic Country Diminished in New Rolling Rock 500 All-time Albums

It's very easy to pick apart any given person'due south or periodical'southward "Greatest of All Time" list, especially these days when consuming lists similar these seems to exist less virtually filling the holes in one'southward knowledge base of operations (which they're intended to do), and more about inducing arguments when they don't validate i's personally-held opinions, with most readers laser focused on what isn't included on a list as opposed to what is.

But it's worth noting that Rolling Stone's new updated version of their "500 Best Albums of All Time" significantly diminishes iconic titles from the classic country canon. Originally published in 2003, and and then freshened in 2009 and 2012, a media outlet that has since launched its own country music subdomain seems to be okay giving bodily country music a downgrade.

Not only are albums similar Willie Nelson's Ruddy Headed Stranger—which is considered by many to be the greatest state music anthology of all time—knocked down the list past over 50 places on the revised list, albums similar Willie'due south Stardust, Johnny Cash'due south American Recordings, and Steve Earle's Guitar Town were taken off the list entirely. Even stuff that's more than on the country rock side that you would expect to appeal to the Rolling Stone set took a slashing. The Byrds Sweetheart of the Rodeo lost some 150 spots, and Grievous Angel by Gram Parsons got axed entirely.

What got added from country? A catch bag of very recent titles similar Taylor Swift's Cherry-red, Golden 60 minutes by Kacey Musgraves, Shania Twain'southward Come On Over, and Chief by Eric Church. Meanwhile in that location is nada from country music's Form of '89, really aught from the fourscore'south and 90'southward in general despite that time period in country experiencing a huge resurgence at the moment, along with nothing from legends such every bit Waylon Jennings, George Jones, or Charley Pride. Sure, this is non a listing of names, only of albums. But since listing makers made the lazy determination to include Greatest Hits compilations in the mix, you would expect possibly something from these names to make it in.

Meanwhile at that place were a few archetype country titles that did receive an uptick, including Patsy Cline, Dolly Parton, and Loretta Lynn, as list makers were clearly looking to emphasize the female influence in land, specially with some of the newer titles entered. Miranda Lambert's The Weight of These Wings made it in besides. Out of the eight "state" albums added in the revised listing, seven were from women, and all but one were from the mod era.

Equally far as whatsoever titles from the independent country and roots realm? About the merely one you lot can point to would be Jason Isbell's Southeastern, which came in at #458. With the manner Sturgill Simpson's Metamodern Sounds in Land Music, and Purgatory from Tyler Childers take shaken the music world beyond country, you were hoping for some interest in them perhaps, or Adobe Sessions from Cody Jinks, or Diamonds and Gasoline from the Turnpike Troubadours, though granted these titles are much more obscure. Only no dice.

Of grade Rolling Stone is always going to cater more to the rock mentality of music, and that's understandable. But information technology seems similar overall, country all the same didn't get its due. Out of 500 selections, simply fifteen could you label equally actual country, or that were land titles released on country imprints, or but 3%. Factoring albums from the greater roots globe with titles from folks like John Prine, Lucinda Williams, and Jason Isbell, it still only gets you to 6% of entries.

Beneath yous tin can see all the land titles from the well-nigh recent update of Rolling Stone'south 500 Best Albums, including what albums got diminished or eliminated, besides every bit what was upgraded and added, cleaved down by country titles then roots adjacent titles.

Country Albums Downgraded:

Johnny Cash – At Folsom Prison – Downgraded from #88 to #164

Ray Charles – Modernistic Sounds in Country Music – Downgraded from #015 to #127

Hank Williams – 40 Greatest Hits – Downgraded from #94 to #132

The Byrds – Sweetheart of the Rodeo – Downgraded from #120 to #274

Willie Nelson – The Reddish Headed Stranger – Downgraded from #183 to #237

The Flying Burrito Brothers – The Golden Palace of Sin – Downgraded from #192 to #462

Jerry Lee Lewis – All Killer, No Filler (generally country) – Downgraded from #245 to #325

Willie Nelson – Stardust – Downgraded from #260 to out of the Superlative 500

Grateful Expressionless – Workingman's Dead – Downgraded from #264 to #409

Johnny Cash – American Recordings – Downgraded from #366 to out of the Top 500

Gram Parsons – Grievous Angel – Downgraded from #425 to out of the Top 500

Steve Earle – Guitar Boondocks – Downgraded #482 to out of the Top 500

Roots Album Downgraded:

Allman Brothers Band – At Fillmore East – Downgraded from #49 to #105

The Band – Music From Big Pinkish – Downgraded from #34 to #100

The Band – The Band – Downgraded from #45 to #57

Diverse Creative person (incl. Johnny Greenbacks, Jerry Lee Lewis) – The Lord's day Records Drove – From #311 to out of the Top 500

Richard & Linda Thompson – Shoot Out The Lights – #332 to out of the Top 500

Richard & Linda Thompson – I Desire To See The Bright Lights Tonight – #471 to #485.

Country Albums Upgraded:

Patsy Cline – The Ultimate Collection – Upgraded from #235 to #229

Dolly Parton – Coat of Many Colors – Upgraded from #301 to #257

Merle Haggard – Downwards Every Road (1962-1994) – Upgraded from #477 to #284

Roots Albums Upgraded:

Lucinda Williams – Motorcar Wheels on a Gravel Road – Upgraded from #305 to #98

John Prine – John Prine – Upgraded from #452 to #149

Grateful Dead – American Beauty – Upgraded from #261 to #215

Lynyrd Skynyrd – (Pronounced 'Lĕh-'nérd 'Skin-'nérd) added at #381

Lucinda Williams – Lucinda Williams – Added at #426

Jason Isbell – Southeastern – Added at #458

Land Albums Added:

Taylor Swift – Red at #99 (officially released as a land anthology)

The (Dixie) Chicks – Fly at #224

Kacey Musgraves – Golden Hour at #270

Shania Twain – Come On Over at #300

Gillian Welch – Time (The Revelator) at #348

Eric Church – Principal at #419

Loretta Lynn – Coal Miner's Daughter at #440

Miranda Lambert – The Weight of These Wings at #480

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