You can start off with a straightforward definition of what country rock is or consider that it is a much more fluid genre that can often include rock, folk, country, all things Americana, and the specific genre of Southern Rock. Or think of all the big names in music that fall within the genre or have at some point at least dabbled with the genre - from Bob Dylan and The Rolling Stones to Neil Young, The Byrds, Gram Parsons, or say Southern rock greats like Allman Brothers Band or Lynyrd Skynyrd.
Or, if you want to add to that the more current releases with a true country star Dolly Parton taking on rock, or pop and R&B stars like Lana Del Ray and Beyonce tackling country (with Beynce topping the country single charts at the moment) you realize that country rock is as strong as it was in the late sixties and seventies. And those were the times that this genre was considered as its heyday.
Yet, from those times on, there are a number of artists and their albums that were somewhat in the shadows of those names mentioned above, or were simply forgotten,
Eight country rock albums that are deserving of more attention
Souled American - Fe
Did this album have any chance to reach a wider audience back in 1988 when it was released? Probably not, and keep on trying to find this one either in print or on streaming services, you’ll need some good luck.
Yet, it turns out that this Chicago band is what true cult artists are made of, having a small but staunch following and being covered by other artists maybe a bit too quietly. Still, it turns out to be a true roots rock classic, with some incredible songwriting, playing, and vocals.
Mike Nesmith - Magnetic South
Many listeners have bypassed the late Mike Nesmith and his wide-ranging solo career simply because he was at one time a member of The Monkees, and if you are a fan of very accomplished country rock that was quite a mistake.
Leaving aside the debate about whether The Monkees should be derided or not (and not is the answer there), Nesmith was an excellent songwriter (“Different Drum,” for example), producer (John Prine), and has a series of brilliant country rock albums of which this one (1970) sticks in memory the most. Not only is Nesmith’s songwriting top-notch, but so are his vocals, and the backup band here (The First National Band), lead by pedal steel guitarist O.J. ‘Red’ Rhodes can be counted as one of the more accomplished in country rock circles.
Little Feat - Sailin’ Shoes
One of the reasons Little Feat didn’t make it really big in the band’s prime with late songwriter, guitarist, and vocalist Lowell George was that it was actually so hard to categorize.
Were they a rock, blues, boogie, or a country band? Actually, all of those, as exemplified in this, are some of their best albums. Still, with the form of a quartet, the band had it all on this 1972 album, the perfect set of roots, Americana, country rock, whatever you want to call it, including the ultimate version of Lowell George’s staple “Willin’.”
Manassass - Manassass
This album (1972) did receive attention upon its release as the second in the series by this Stephen Stills lead band, but somehow, it just slowly fell into the shadows for no good reason.
It still is one of the best double albums around with no musical flows whatsoever. Part of it is due to some brilliant songwriting by Stills and other members of the band, where Chris Hillman and Al Perkins were among the best-known. The other part is due to flawless musicianship by all involved, coming up with a true musical stew of rock, country, bluegrass, Latin rhythms, and whatnot else.
Gene Clark - No Other
While Clark is ranked as one of the progenitors of country rock and reached wider fame as a member of The Byrds, his solo or collaborative albums, never got the wider public recognition they really deserved.
No Other, originally released in 1974 deserves its title, not only as the best among Clark's albums but as one of the best in country rock and by many standards in rock as such. Still, at the time it was released, it was derided by many critics for no obvious reason. Now it is seen (and heard) as a set of incredible songs, whether it is the title song, Silver Raven, or any other here.
Wilco - Being There
When Uncle Tupelo split up and Jay Farrar and Jeff Tweedy as the main forces in the band that spearheaded the alt-country in the early nineties went their way, not much was expected from Tweedy at the time.
Yet Tweedy and his Wilco turned out to become a major musical force, and Being There (1996) was one of their key achievements, even though some other of their albums like Yankee Hotel Foxtrot seem to have resonated more with wider audiences. Still, this sprawling, widely varied double album includes some of the best tunes Tweedy and company have come up with so far.
Lucinda Williams - Car Wheels on a Gravel Road
You can throw any musical genre at Lucinda Williams particularly if it is something coming from rock or country music and she’ll certainly come on top. Being a recording perfectionist, it took Williams six years to come up with this classic country rock album back in 1998. Labeling it as a classic might be an understatement.
From the opening “Right In Time” through the title track and throughout the 13 tracks here, Williams shows what a true country rock album should sound like.
Drive-By Truckers - Southern Rock Opera
If one album deserves its title, then it is this one from 2001. Patterson Hood and the rest of this incredible crew decided to take a look at the state of the so-called southern rock at the moment this album was conceived.
They did that not only by dissecting and re-assembling the musical elements that comprise this genre but also through its lyrical content, showing that excellent music and lyrics do not detract from, but complement each other.