Does anyone like country

Not a huge fan of the genre, but for whatever reason, I REALLY like Dwight Yoakam. Except for a couple of minor releases, I've got every cd or lp he's issued. When George Jones died I was listening to NPR's coverage of his life and it piqued my curiosity. I bought a couple of his mid-career classics and I have to admit, he was a really, really good singer. The three or four Chet Atkins releases I own are also good. IMO, the Americana/country school of Lyle Lovett, Steve Earle, etc. is a hybrid too far removed to be called "country" in the classic sense of the term.

Tostadosunidos the 5 note pentatonic scale is quite prevalent in music and not limited to country, blues and folk. Surely these groups being from the South were influenced directly or not from country music but what I find remarkable is that they seem so removed from the genre to the extent they are considering the fact they were likely surrounded by it in their youth. Their influences to my ears seem primarily blues based with a Southern rock twist which is unique. I suppose one could get some Country elements out of the music but I have never picked up on it personally. But having lived in the South as long as I have I just don't equate, particularly Skynard or the Allman Bros. to a country variation of rock but more a rock variation of blues, at least the Allman Bros, less so Skynard maybe.

I've always dug the country/bluegrass side of the genre by artists like Ricky Skaggs, Jerry Douglas, Allison Krause & Union Station. A few years ago I heard Vince Gill on Eric Clapton's 1st(?) Crossroads Festival DVD. Always thought he was just another country rocker but when I saw the DVD I shook my head sayin' "DAYUM, this boy can PLAY!". Since than he's made a few records but one absolutely stands out; 'These Days'. Released in 2006, it's a reasonably priced 4-disc set, each disc embracing a different TYPE of country music. Acoustic Bluegrass, Rockin' Country, Traditional Country & Western, and a kind-of ballads disc. Tellyawhat, this is a great record for someone that doesn't own much country music, it's an excellent dissertation on the genre. Amazing musicianship, impeccably recorded, great tunes, and guest musicians of the highest caliber. This should be considered one of the great country recordings, it is in my book!

Rosanne cash's cover of 500 miles off the list cd just played. Lovely!

Tubegroover,

I'm well aware of the use of the pentatonic scale worldwide. I was talking about rock music more or less.
I find the Allmans to have some country in their sound, esp. on "Lord I was Born a Rambling Man" and "Little Martha."
And "Sweet Home Alabama," Skynyrd's signature tune--you don't hear country in that? I sure do. I'm from East Texas originally and played some country music growing up (and since).