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Moments of Perfection in Americana

I keep seeing lots of superlative-related discussion on this site...which is cool. But when I think about what I love about Americana, it all comes down to what I call "moments of perfection," fleeting instances when circumstance, the Muse and genuine talent collide to form something timeless. In my opinion, even the greatest artists can do wrong -risk taking is part of what makes them great. I'm more interested in instances of greatness.

Here's a few from my book.

Gillian Welch in the studio with T Bone Burnett.
Gilded Palace of Sin.
Gram Parsons' influence coloring Exile on Mainstreet.
The Band's first two records.
Ry Cooder 1972-76
Muddy Waters' entire career.

Anybody else?

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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by TwangNation.com on October 13, 2009 at 11:49am

The Hot Band backing Emmylou Harris from 1974 to 1991.
Uncle Tupelo - 1987 and 1994
Car Wheels on a Gravel Road - Lucinda Williams
The Mountain - Steve Earle and the Del McCoury Band
The Basement Tapes
Willie Nelson leaving Nashville and returning to Texas in the early 70s
Sun Records

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Permalink Reply by Markus Rill on October 13, 2009 at 12:12pm

- Johnny Cash working with Rick Rubin
- Steve Earle collaborating with Richard Bennett, particularly on Guitar Town & I Feel Alright
- Springsteen - The Ghost Of Tom Joad
- John Mellencamp's run from Scarecrow through Lonesome Jubilee and Big Daddy and his subsequent band with Kenny Aronoff, David Grissom, Lisa Germano, Mike Wanchic et al.
- T-Bone Burnett's work with Gillian Welch, Bruce Cockburn, Counting Crows, Mellencamp.
- Charlie Sexton Sextet - Under The Wishing Tree
- James McMurtry's songs: Ruby & Carlos, Levelland, 12 o'clock Whistle, No More Buffalo
- Robert Earl Keen's song Shades Of Gray

for me personally:
- recording in Nashville with Duane Jarvis, Steve Conn, Dave Jacques, Bryan Owings, Fats Kaplin, Richard McLaurin and others ... and hearing my songs sounding even better than I heard them in my head!
- opening for Townes van Zandt

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Permalink Reply by Lost Hills on October 13, 2009 at 1:00pm

Taj Mahal's set in The Rolling Stones' Rock 'n Roll Circus.
The album, Doug Sahm And Band
Wide Swing Tremolo
Wilco on Austin City Limits (with Jay Bennet)
Townes Van Zandt, Be Here To Love Me

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Permalink Reply by declan culliton on October 13, 2009 at 1:54pm

Joe Ely supporting The Clash in the late 70's!

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Permalink Reply by Bart Ebisch on October 15, 2009 at 12:06am

Lynyrd Skynyrd first two albums
Harvest - Neil Young
Slobberbone & The Gourds live at TomTom club in Heythuysen, The Netherlands
Steve Earle and Buddy Miller live at Paradiso, Amsterdam
The Beat Farmers - Tales from The New West

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Permalink Reply by Gar on October 15, 2009 at 12:16pm

How about

The Jayhawks - Tomorrow The Green Grass
Son Volt - Trace
Most of Emmylou's career
Los Lobos - Kiko (though not sure it falls under the moniker of Americana)
Lyle Lovett - Joshua Judges Ruth

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Permalink Reply by Darren on October 19, 2009 at 12:30pm

If we're talking instances, I'm always laid low by the moment that Lucinda steps in to take the vocal from Steve Earle in I'm Still Standing There. A great moment in a great tune. Superlative!

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Permalink Reply by Bob Ryan on March 3, 2011 at 2:32pm

Or when Doug Sahm takes over the lead vocal from Jay Farrar on Uncle Tupelo's recording of "Give Back the Key To My Heart." Suddenly, you know exactly who the Pro is.

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Permalink Reply by ron victor on November 23, 2010 at 9:26am

roy buchanans first lp
coversof
haunted house
hey good looking
lonesome fugitive

dave edmunds lp-"get it"
nancy griffith- songs- l"lone star state of mind"
"sweet dreams will come again
tony rice lp- "native american"
waylon jennings- about everything he ever recorded
ditto johnny cash except not as completely great as waylon in my opinion

just a few-

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Permalink Reply by Gary Keenan on November 23, 2010 at 10:51am

Otis Spann--his solo albums on Everest and Candid (the latter has Robert Jr. Lockwood on a few tunes)
T-Bone Walker--his T-Bone Blues lp on Atlantic
Merle Haggard--his Sing Me Back Home album
Dolly Parton--her Grass Is Blue album
Townes Van Zandt--his Rear View Mirror live album
The Band--The Band album
Edwin Hawkins Singers--Oh Happy Day single
Frank Sinatra--When Your Lover Has Gone from In the Wee Small Hours album
Nat Cole--his recording of Stardust, arranged by Gordon Jenkins
Hank Williams--The Log Train acoustic demo

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Permalink Reply by Roscoe on November 24, 2010 at 1:57pm

Hank Williams coming to Nashville I think it's hard to top that

Steve Earle's - Train A Comin

Gp and Grievous Angel and Gram Parsons discovering Emmylou

Gillian Welch And Dave Rawlings Meeting