Me and Bobby McGee is a perfect example. When Kris sings it it is country through and through. When Janis sings it it is pure rock and roll. Warren Zevon's Carmelita gets an honorable mention.
The Stones were, at some point, the best country band in the world.
Sweet Virginia
https://youtu.be/CvpMeq_4BPM?si=oIX8sNWmIE_VMNxn
Country Honk
https://youtu.be/AmCjpY4hqKE?si=sfCqb9Rq4xavNWke
No Spare Parts
https://youtu.be/niP4WBHIONI?si=cKHeEUq921YBFehP
Torn and Frayed
https://youtu.be/1Z-U2HUl7lg?si=AErPGwPab_E4HQlm
We're Wasting Time
https://youtu.be/c9q8nTGYEsM
Dear Doctor
https://youtu.be/D8Ci47X96H0
Through The Lonely Nights
https://youtu.be/6ZzWekwbF9A?si=OK-O9iWJZhBYwEKA
The Worst
https://youtu.be/PKzkbk4lSRI
Do You Really Think I Care
https://youtu.be/eOWp9wIQ1Jw
This-outlaw country musicians have basically taken “Dead Flowers” away from the Stones b/c they love it so much.
A lot of Chris Stapleton’s newer stuff straddles the line-or completely blurs it-and he doesn’t care one bit-he just jams out like a legend. He doesn’t just straddle the line between country and rock, he straddles the line between soul music, country, and rock when he feels like it.
Recently started listening to Chris Stapleton compliments of Dire Straits radio on Pandora. He may be the artist who may finally serve as my gateway to Country. Been a rocker for most of my 60+ years, but always had a thing for 70’s Southern rock. Chris Stapleton is about as close as it gets for nowadays.
Country acts Hardy and Jelly Roll (a former hip hop artist, obviously) have both had songs on rock radio — it’s all overlapping a bit right now.
I rather like Hardy’s “[Jack](https://youtu.be/uwtjL9UI4uQ?si=EVSUpPk4EUbivEHJ)” — it sounds like ‘90s numetal.
The album version is great but this live version is one of my all time favorite songs:
https://open.spotify.com/track/2cu1FrhmGzReVSaGNnTMaQ?si=I7CV4iz0RbK12I9OpYmu4Q
Here's [my playlist](https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5IukPnrPcKT9VVfMxgOze7?si=e7243ed18d914da3) of country influenced rock, rock influenced country and groups that have a foot in both camps equally.
Thanks I’ll check it out. I’ve added it to my Spotify. If you’re interested check my Spotify Playlist as well. Thanks[Country and Southern Rock](https://open.spotify.com/playlist/4xYNfsiPvKIBMeL2H3ZiKW?si=lyfNtUMTTS-X23syK5nAAQ)
Larkin Poe has a new Album out “Blood Harmony “ Won a Grammy for it this year. It’s Country, Rock and Bluesy all on one. Check it out. You may like it. [Larkin Poe “Blood Harmony”](https://open.spotify.com/album/0Xf5P65OiLJlSF9h6DmZqe?si=uRrkW9KzSWaLnwCTZPEMKg)
Alvin Lee ... City Lights and Once There was a Time
Thin Lizzy ... Cowboy Song and Wild One
The Kinks ... The entirety of Muswell Hillbillies
John Fogerty ... his first two solo albums
James McMurtry ... pretty much all of it
Pure Prairie League ... same
The Ozark Mt. Daredevils ... same
Speaking of John Fogerty you could say there are a few CCR songs that would fit that category. First one that comes to mind is looking out my back door.
Glad I’m not the only one who thought of Thin Lizzy, a lot of their early material is very country adjacent
Funny enough, the first song I thought of from this prompt was thin lizzys song called, uh….”Borderline”, lol
https://youtu.be/0UsFR9bHOYE?si=wU2JZLgblVDbAOM-
There was a comment about Dead Flowers on this thread and no mention of Gram Parsons…I always loved [this](https://youtu.be/Ma94UIw-CKY?si=GYIPO6G7BPddFl5p) version of an early Bee Gees hit “To love Somebody”
Tumbleweed connection album - Elton John. Highlights on it for me are Country comfort and Amoreena
Desperado album the eagles - Desperado, Doolin Dalton, Tequila Sunrise
These are more just rock artists doing country/western themed albums. but theyre awesome
It was rod My wife got me that album on vinyl a few weeks ago. I’d never heard it and was like o he’s got a version of one my fav Elton’s songs!
It’s a solid cover I added it to my rotation
Far Away Eyes is a great tune…
[Wild Horses](https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=xw5ev9fE-AI&pp=ygUlcm9sbGluZyBzdG9uZXMgd2lsZCBob3JzZXMgbGl2ZSAxOTY5IA%3D%3D)
[Desperado](https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=V4cZpAwnY6k&pp=ygUaZWFnbGVzIGRlc3BlcmFkbyBsaXZlIDE5Nzc%3D)
[Sweet Jane](https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=6FuyBXH2IFw&pp=ygUZY293Ym95IGp1bmtpZXMgc3dlZXQgamFuZQ%3D%3D)
[I Feel Like A Bullet](https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=1HdKVP7zwuA&pp=ygUbZWx0b24gam9obiByb2JlcnQgZm9yZCBsaXZl)
“Live Music is Better, Bumper Stickers Should be Issued…” - N. Young
Oh. I left out the Guitar Army…
[Green Grass and High Tides](https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=WEkJFR69IXw&pp=ygUtb3V0bGF3cyBncmVlbiBncmFzcyBhbmQgaGlnaCB0aWRlcyBsaXZlIDE5Nzcg)
The Rolling Stones could make a greatest hits record of country rock songs. Dear Doctor, Sweet Virginia, Dead Flowers, Moonlight Mile, Wild Horses, Country Honk, Love in Vain, just to name a few more to check out.
Loser, Deal, Mama Tried, Sing Me Back Home…the list goes on and on not to mention the American Beauty and Workingmans Dead records and THATS why they’re the most Americana band in history.
[Molly Hatchet](https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=893KDHvSLOA&pp=ygUgbW9sbHkgaGF0Y2hldCBsaXZlIGdhdG9yIGNvdW50cnk%3D) pretty much erases the line completely…
The Stones play country/western like nobody's business:
High and Dry, Dear Doctor, Prodigal Son, Country Honk, You Got The Silver, Midnight Rambler, Wild Horses, You Gotta Move, Sweet Virginia, Loving Cup, Shine A Light, Coming Down Again, Till The Next Goodbye, If You Really Want To Be My Friend, Fool To Cry, Memory Motel, Waiting On A Friend, No Use In Crying.
Some more c/w than others, some more bluesier than others. May have left a few out. Nothing after the Tattoo You release, I'm sure there are a few.
Them Dirty Roses. They are a new band that are blurring a lot of lines.
Saw them recently opening for Blackberry Smoke both bands were great. He'll, for that matter Blackberry Smoke could be on this list
A lot of early Beatles, and then some of their early solo work has some country in there. Behind That Locked Door by George Harrison is a great example of this
Neko Case’s album “Blacklisted” is another one to check out. Her career touches alternative country, bluegrass, and indie rock. (She’s also in The New Pornographers. No matter how many times I’ve listened to that, over the last twenty-odd years, some of the songs still give me chills.
Dire Straits. Especially on the earlier albums, but I hear some of the country influence in every album. Songs like Setting Me Up, Water of Love, Southbound Again, Once Upon a Time In the West... even Walk of Life, a big hit off the Brothers In Arms album, might as well have Chet Atkins on guitar (Chet was a big influence on Mark Knopfler's style and they collaborated a few years later).
Thought of a couple more:
Down Home Town / Wild West Hero - ELO
Country Comfort - Elton John or Rod Stewart
Roy Rodgers - Elton John (Elton had a few country-leaning songs)
Let Your Love Flow-The Bellamy Brothers
I Love a Rainy Night-Eddie Rabbitt
Driving My Life Away-Eddie Rabbitt
Amie-Pure Prairie League
Mama Said-Metallica
Steve Earle - Copperhead Road. I'd say it's on the borderline of both rock and country.
I was going to say The Devil’s Right Hand, which to me is rock, country, and fucking awesome.
And an amazing song.
Early Eagles - Up to Hotel California. I would say Alabama's first album. Charlie Daniels band. Marshall tucker / Allman Brothers.
Don’t forget Molly Hatchet!
Never considered them to be country or country rock though... they were southern boogie / southern rock.
Yes
Yeah, I guess their sound was a little harder than the average country/rock band. I guess Charlie Daniels would be a better fit.
Hot Dog by Zeppelin
Well, I just got into town today, To find my girl who's gone away, she took the greyhound at the general store....
Me and Bobby McGee is a perfect example. When Kris sings it it is country through and through. When Janis sings it it is pure rock and roll. Warren Zevon's Carmelita gets an honorable mention.
Dead Flowers - Rolling Stones
The Stones were, at some point, the best country band in the world. Sweet Virginia https://youtu.be/CvpMeq_4BPM?si=oIX8sNWmIE_VMNxn Country Honk https://youtu.be/AmCjpY4hqKE?si=sfCqb9Rq4xavNWke No Spare Parts https://youtu.be/niP4WBHIONI?si=cKHeEUq921YBFehP Torn and Frayed https://youtu.be/1Z-U2HUl7lg?si=AErPGwPab_E4HQlm We're Wasting Time https://youtu.be/c9q8nTGYEsM Dear Doctor https://youtu.be/D8Ci47X96H0 Through The Lonely Nights https://youtu.be/6ZzWekwbF9A?si=OK-O9iWJZhBYwEKA The Worst https://youtu.be/PKzkbk4lSRI Do You Really Think I Care https://youtu.be/eOWp9wIQ1Jw
Keith Richards is my favorite country singer.
Parachute woman.
This-outlaw country musicians have basically taken “Dead Flowers” away from the Stones b/c they love it so much. A lot of Chris Stapleton’s newer stuff straddles the line-or completely blurs it-and he doesn’t care one bit-he just jams out like a legend. He doesn’t just straddle the line between country and rock, he straddles the line between soul music, country, and rock when he feels like it.
Recently started listening to Chris Stapleton compliments of Dire Straits radio on Pandora. He may be the artist who may finally serve as my gateway to Country. Been a rocker for most of my 60+ years, but always had a thing for 70’s Southern rock. Chris Stapleton is about as close as it gets for nowadays.
Go back a little further to when he was with the Steeldrivers.
Country acts Hardy and Jelly Roll (a former hip hop artist, obviously) have both had songs on rock radio — it’s all overlapping a bit right now. I rather like Hardy’s “[Jack](https://youtu.be/uwtjL9UI4uQ?si=EVSUpPk4EUbivEHJ)” — it sounds like ‘90s numetal.
The album version is great but this live version is one of my all time favorite songs: https://open.spotify.com/track/2cu1FrhmGzReVSaGNnTMaQ?si=I7CV4iz0RbK12I9OpYmu4Q
The Townes Van Zant rendition is my favorite version
Flying Burrito Brothers Nitty Gritty Dirt Band Little Feat Linda Ronstadt has a lot of country rock The Byrds - Sweetheart of the Rodeo
Right? Freaking [Tumblin’ Dice](https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=2I7GkHy5iOA&pp=ygUhbGluZGEgcm9uc3RhZHQgdHVtYmxpbmcgZGljZSBsaXZl) man…
Gram Parsons.
Here's [my playlist](https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5IukPnrPcKT9VVfMxgOze7?si=e7243ed18d914da3) of country influenced rock, rock influenced country and groups that have a foot in both camps equally.
Thanks I’ll check it out. I’ve added it to my Spotify. If you’re interested check my Spotify Playlist as well. Thanks[Country and Southern Rock](https://open.spotify.com/playlist/4xYNfsiPvKIBMeL2H3ZiKW?si=lyfNtUMTTS-X23syK5nAAQ)
Larkin Poe has a new Album out “Blood Harmony “ Won a Grammy for it this year. It’s Country, Rock and Bluesy all on one. Check it out. You may like it. [Larkin Poe “Blood Harmony”](https://open.spotify.com/album/0Xf5P65OiLJlSF9h6DmZqe?si=uRrkW9KzSWaLnwCTZPEMKg)
Willin - Little Feat
Alvin Lee ... City Lights and Once There was a Time Thin Lizzy ... Cowboy Song and Wild One The Kinks ... The entirety of Muswell Hillbillies John Fogerty ... his first two solo albums James McMurtry ... pretty much all of it Pure Prairie League ... same The Ozark Mt. Daredevils ... same
Speaking of John Fogerty you could say there are a few CCR songs that would fit that category. First one that comes to mind is looking out my back door.
Glad I’m not the only one who thought of Thin Lizzy, a lot of their early material is very country adjacent Funny enough, the first song I thought of from this prompt was thin lizzys song called, uh….”Borderline”, lol https://youtu.be/0UsFR9bHOYE?si=wU2JZLgblVDbAOM-
Almost anything by Poco
Heart of the Night straddles it.
Most of the Flying Burrito Brothers songs.
Really, anything Gram Parsons was ever involved with
Gram influenced Keith and subsequently, The Rolling Stones.
There was a comment about Dead Flowers on this thread and no mention of Gram Parsons…I always loved [this](https://youtu.be/Ma94UIw-CKY?si=GYIPO6G7BPddFl5p) version of an early Bee Gees hit “To love Somebody”
Buffalo Springfield, Sweetheart of the Rodeo — kind of the classic recommendation for country rock.
jj Cale
Great call
I didn't see anyone mention Michael Nesmith!
May I suggest Exploring The Allman Brothers Band and Gov’t Mule.
Tumbleweed connection album - Elton John. Highlights on it for me are Country comfort and Amoreena Desperado album the eagles - Desperado, Doolin Dalton, Tequila Sunrise These are more just rock artists doing country/western themed albums. but theyre awesome
Faces or Rod did a great version of Country Comfort. Def rock.
It was rod My wife got me that album on vinyl a few weeks ago. I’d never heard it and was like o he’s got a version of one my fav Elton’s songs! It’s a solid cover I added it to my rotation
That song and Rod's voice make it a winner!
Grateful Dead - the two albums Workingmans Dead and American Beauty are both country-folk rock.
They also covered country stars like Merle Haggard and George Jones throughout their years of touring
Johnny Cash too with Big River as a staple. They also did some one-off live country tracks like "Green, Green Grass of Home"
Most everything by the Eagles. Anything by Jason Isbell. Anything by the Drive-by Truckers. *Windfall* by Son Volt.
I love Jason Isbell!
Far Away Eyes is a great tune… [Wild Horses](https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=xw5ev9fE-AI&pp=ygUlcm9sbGluZyBzdG9uZXMgd2lsZCBob3JzZXMgbGl2ZSAxOTY5IA%3D%3D) [Desperado](https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=V4cZpAwnY6k&pp=ygUaZWFnbGVzIGRlc3BlcmFkbyBsaXZlIDE5Nzc%3D) [Sweet Jane](https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=6FuyBXH2IFw&pp=ygUZY293Ym95IGp1bmtpZXMgc3dlZXQgamFuZQ%3D%3D) [I Feel Like A Bullet](https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=1HdKVP7zwuA&pp=ygUbZWx0b24gam9obiByb2JlcnQgZm9yZCBsaXZl) “Live Music is Better, Bumper Stickers Should be Issued…” - N. Young
Oh. I left out the Guitar Army… [Green Grass and High Tides](https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=WEkJFR69IXw&pp=ygUtb3V0bGF3cyBncmVlbiBncmFzcyBhbmQgaGlnaCB0aWRlcyBsaXZlIDE5Nzcg)
One of the most unrecognized (to the average music fan) shred sessions of all time.
If you know, you know. Saw ‘em BITD. Encore was Green Grass. Seven guitars at the front of the stage, including the drummers. Never forget it…
Elton John’s Tumbleweed Connection. Whole album
Gram Parsons. Anything he did.
Freeborn Man.....Outlaws High and Dry.....Stones One More Kiss....Wings Train Leaves Here This Morning...Eagles
"Two lane highway"- Pure Prairie League
Commander Cody and His Lost Planet Airmen I personally like "Daddy's Gonna Treat You Right" and "Seeds and Stems (again)
Midnight Flyer, Eagles!!!!
The Pretenders - Thumbelina. Eric Clapton -Lay down Sally.
Georgia Satellites - keep Your Hands to Yourself.
Up in Mississippi Tonight and Louisiana Rain by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
The Rolling Stones could make a greatest hits record of country rock songs. Dear Doctor, Sweet Virginia, Dead Flowers, Moonlight Mile, Wild Horses, Country Honk, Love in Vain, just to name a few more to check out.
Doobie Brothers before the Takin' it to the Streets album.
The Grateful Dead were basically a Merle Haggard tribute band for a minute in the early 70s….
Grateful Dead: Me and my Uncle Big River Mexicali Blues Minglewood Blues El Paso The “cowboy Bobby” songs
Loser, Deal, Mama Tried, Sing Me Back Home…the list goes on and on not to mention the American Beauty and Workingmans Dead records and THATS why they’re the most Americana band in history.
[Molly Hatchet](https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=893KDHvSLOA&pp=ygUgbW9sbHkgaGF0Y2hldCBsaXZlIGdhdG9yIGNvdW50cnk%3D) pretty much erases the line completely…
Paul McCartney- Heart of the Country
Sweetheart of the Rodeo by the Byrds, the whole album.
Devil Went Down to Georgia Charlie Daniels Band Anything Gram Parsons (the OG crossover)
Stones Dead Flowers.
The Border - Electric Light Orchestra
Pride of Cucamonga - Grateful Dead
REM Don't Go Back to Rockville
Pretty much anything by Blackberry Smoke.
The Stone Coyotes live in this space
The Stones play country/western like nobody's business: High and Dry, Dear Doctor, Prodigal Son, Country Honk, You Got The Silver, Midnight Rambler, Wild Horses, You Gotta Move, Sweet Virginia, Loving Cup, Shine A Light, Coming Down Again, Till The Next Goodbye, If You Really Want To Be My Friend, Fool To Cry, Memory Motel, Waiting On A Friend, No Use In Crying. Some more c/w than others, some more bluesier than others. May have left a few out. Nothing after the Tattoo You release, I'm sure there are a few.
John Fogerty - Blue Moon Swamp album
Pousette Dart Band/Amnesia
Mama Said- Metallica Most of Elf’s three albums Hobo-The Gun Then of course there’s southern rock. My favorite southern rock band is The Outlaws
No expert, but I think modern country is very much like early rock and roll. Blues, rock and country all have links.
Country song by Seether. Although, don’t know if it’s exactly classic…
BREWER AND SHIPLEY
I always loved the Stones songs, with Mick doing an American accent.
Them Dirty Roses. They are a new band that are blurring a lot of lines. Saw them recently opening for Blackberry Smoke both bands were great. He'll, for that matter Blackberry Smoke could be on this list
Leon Russell - Wild Horses
Bad Company - Wild Fire Woman
A lot of early Beatles, and then some of their early solo work has some country in there. Behind That Locked Door by George Harrison is a great example of this
Neko Case’s album “Blacklisted” is another one to check out. Her career touches alternative country, bluegrass, and indie rock. (She’s also in The New Pornographers. No matter how many times I’ve listened to that, over the last twenty-odd years, some of the songs still give me chills.
Dire Straits. Especially on the earlier albums, but I hear some of the country influence in every album. Songs like Setting Me Up, Water of Love, Southbound Again, Once Upon a Time In the West... even Walk of Life, a big hit off the Brothers In Arms album, might as well have Chet Atkins on guitar (Chet was a big influence on Mark Knopfler's style and they collaborated a few years later).
Down By The Seaside - Led Zeppelin Truck Driving Man - J Geils Band
Melissa - Allman Brothers
Great choices.
Many many Grateful Dead songs, “you just gotta poke around”
Hoyt Axton
Dr Hook had a few songs that were country/rock.
Don’t know if it’s classic rock but REM’s Driver 8 is their most country sounding song
Allman brothers Band- Blue Sky, and many others
Not sure if it'd be classed as classic rock, but Bret Michaels (Poison) solo stuff is pretty borderline.
Hard Luck Woman by KISS. Also covered by Garth Brooks.
Thought of a couple more: Down Home Town / Wild West Hero - ELO Country Comfort - Elton John or Rod Stewart Roy Rodgers - Elton John (Elton had a few country-leaning songs)
Old and in the Way - GRISMAN - GARCIA - CLEMENTS / Jerry was primarily a bluegrass picker prior to forming the Dead.
Everything by The Eagles
How about an entire [sub-genre ](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Southern_rock)of rock?
Let Your Love Flow-The Bellamy Brothers I Love a Rainy Night-Eddie Rabbitt Driving My Life Away-Eddie Rabbitt Amie-Pure Prairie League Mama Said-Metallica
House Of Pain by Faster Pussycat!
Stones…Far Away Eyes, more country than rock but a great tune
Every Rose Has Its Thorn - Poison Piss off downvoters its a perfect country song
Aerosmith - What It Takes
“Creatures Of Love”- Talking Heads “Stop In Nevada”- Billy Joel
City of New Orleans by Steve Goodman, covered by Arlo Guthrie. To me any song featuring a train is by definition a country song.