The Legendary Merle Haggard - Mama Tried (Live 1968)

Merle Haggard is one of the great 'outlaw' country artists. Notoriously amongst the inmates during Johnny Cash's San Quentin prison performance in 1958, 'Mama Tried' is a track that epitomizes the genre and Haggard's career. This live performance, from a TV show recorded ten years later, is as chillingly resonant today as it was then.

Brad Paisley Is Coming...

It's a great moment when an artist you love is about to release a new album. The supremely talented Brad Paisley is set to do that in less than ten days time and I am EXCITED! A reliable tune-smith, tracks I've heard from the forthcoming release, eptly titled 'This Is Country Music', have lived up to Paisley's previous offerings.

'Old Alabama' is typical Paisley, and features...Alabama(!) whilst his performance of lead track 'This Is Country Music' at the CMA Awards was a stiring defence of a genre that elicits huge amounts of passion and dedication from thousands of fans around the world (even in little old Blighty!). With a backdrop that featured country music greats including Kris Kristofferson, Porter Wagoner, Loretta Lynn, Tammy Wynette (plus some Keith Urban and Rascal Flatts thrown in for good measure!) before fading into a patriotic shot of Old Glory, this is an album that I am truly looking forward to.

Check out that performance of 'This Is Country Music' here:

Make Your Heart Bleed - Gillian Welch & Dave Rawlings

As the title suggests, this is a song that, if you let it, will make your heart bleed. This haunting harmonies, nostalgic Southern lyrics and all out mesmerising performance from Gillian Welch and Dave Rawlings of Welch's 'Wayside Back In Time' should bring you to your knees! If it doesn't, watch it again and imagine you're on a dusty sun-scorched sidewalk in Memphis. Too too good to be missed.

Jason Aldean & Kelly Clarkson Make You Wanna Stay...

If you haven't yet joined the Jason Aldean party, I won't just shout WHERE THE HELL HAVE YOU BEEN (oops I just did), but will kindly send you your first invite. Watch this sublime performance of the soaring country ballad, 'Don't You Wanna Stay', with Kelly Clarkson at the 2010 CMA awards.

The Band Perry Get A Little Bigger - You Lie

Back to my favourite new band of 2011...The Band Perry! Since I first wrote about them they've been named Best New Artist at the 2011 ACMs, received a string of CMT nominations and generally got that much bigger; and they deserve it. Here's another classic contemporary pop country track from the family trio, 'You Lie'.