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 Derek on December 1, 2010 at 12:29pm
Ryan Adams and Cary Caitlin singing "The Battle"
Ryan Adams and Emmy Lou Harris singing "Sweet Carolina"
Willie Nelson's "Red-Headed Stranger"
Waylon and Willie together
Dwight Yoakam and Buck Owens,
Late 1980s Dwight Yoakam in general (especially "Readin', Rightin', Rt. 23")
I hate to say it, but "The Blues Brothers" movie is a ridiculous mash of fantastic talent - Ray Charles, Cab Calloway, Aretha Franklin, John Lee Hooker, Donald "Duck" Dunn, etc. How two white comedians, Belushi and Aykroyd, pulled that off is pure greatness.
Permalink Reply by ron victor on December 3, 2010 at 8:33am
dickey betts first solo album- highway call
allman brothers song- pony boy

and just a tad below these:
the rest of the allmans lp brothers and sisters
dickey betts 2nd and 3rd solo albums-
dickey betts and great southern
atlantas burning down
Permalink Reply by simon2307 on December 3, 2010 at 6:58pm
OCMS - Wagon Wheel
Neko Case - Guided by Wire
Devils & Dust - Bruce Springsteen
Boats to Build - Guy Clark
TvZ - Pancho & Lefty
Steve Earle - Guitar Town
Permalink Reply by Randy S on December 19, 2010 at 10:41am

yes...Pancho and Lefty...for sure...and so many good covers of it!!

Permalink Reply by Tom McD on December 4, 2010 at 5:44am
The Rolling Stones/ Dead Flowers
The Band/The Weight
Permalink Reply by Randy S on December 10, 2010 at 1:17pm

absolutely on both!

Permalink Reply by Jeremy Dylan on May 23, 2011 at 9:33pm

One of the greatest two line couplets in music history:

 

'Take me down, little Susie, take me down

'Cause I know you think you're the queen of the underground".

Permalink Reply by Mary G on December 4, 2010 at 10:52am
Ry Cooder - Nick Lowe - Jim Keltner performing The Beast In Me
*if Nick Lowe's presence makes it non-americana it was still perfection
Permalink Reply by Jeremy Dylan on May 23, 2011 at 9:34pm
Nick Lowe counts as Americana - he's written with Jim Lauderdale and produced one of the great Americana records of the 1970s - My Aim Is True.
Permalink Reply by JeffK on December 5, 2010 at 12:54pm
I agree with much that has already been posted, and there are so many, but two moments of perfection off the top of my head:

Winding Wheel by Ryan Adams

and

Kasey Chambers's cover of Son Volt's Tear-Stained Eye (love the original too).
Permalink Reply by Randy S on December 6, 2010 at 12:15pm
Most of Alison Kraus and Union Station...she's in a class by herself...the voice of angels...and they are one of the best acoustic bands going..
Permalink Reply by Jim Werkmeister on December 8, 2010 at 2:48pm
Lyle Lovett's version of "Flyin Shoes"

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Created by No Depression Feb 17, 2009 at 9:06pm. Last updated by No Depression Apr 9.