Grand Ole Opry, r.i.p ???

John P. Phillips · Post by **John P. Phillips** » 21 Dec 2002 6:19 pm

Well, I'm beginning to understand what "dinosaur" means now. I think I have become one !! Welcome me to the club guys,I guess it's about time.(Move it on over Jody, It's my turn !)
While channel surfin' tonight, I stopped for a few minutes to check out the opry. What I saw, actually brought tears to my eyes. It was the beginning of the LeAnne Womack portion and I'll bet the Solmne (sp)
Old Judge, George D. was spinning like a top in his resting place.
It looked more like the Perry Como show than the opry. Nothing but reeds, horns and one sick jazz ride on what looked to me like a semi-hollow Gibson guitar.
I honestly would not have been surprised to see ole Perry himself, or Bing Crosby, walk out on stage to duet with her. Give those oldtimers their due though, cause when they did an old cowboy song, they used the instruments that fit the song. Just ask Jody about Vaughn Monroe, he can tell ya.
Just about the MOST ATROCIOUS cut to Country music that I've seen in all my 60 years.
Like Jody said in another post,

JOHN P. PHILLIPS because he is "dipped" in Country

DANGIT I just can't help it ! I like Jazz, Big Band, and Orchestra music too but in the proper setting.
I didn't see not one instrument onstage that could relate to country other than maybe the piano !!!
I know this only applies to the televised portion but MY GOD, this is what most of the people in the country see. If they're going to do this to us die-hard purists, we haven't got a prayer of keeping the opry country !!
RAY PRICE, WE NEED TO BE RESCUED !
Gettin off my soap box now, I think I'm gonna be sick. Sure hope alka-seltzer will help.Or maybe a little B E would do the trick, Ya think, HUH ???????????

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JUST 'CAUSE I STEEL, DON'T MAKE ME A THIEF

[This message was edited by John P.Phillips on 21 December 2002 at 06:22 PM.]

Jim Vogan · Post by **Jim Vogan** » 21 Dec 2002 6:36 pm

I went in and played my Emmons and my Ric during the TV portion. When they turned the cameras off, I tuned in on the computer. I don't watch the TV portion anymore. When the older members are gone, there won't be an Opry!!!

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Jim Vogan Emmons Sd10
G.D. Walker Stereo Steel Combo
Bakelite Ric
Hilton volume pedal

Leigh Howell · Post by **Leigh Howell** » 21 Dec 2002 7:12 pm

It did'nt take long for the machine to turn Lee Ann into a product of It's imagination.
She used to record some good country material. Too bad!

Leigh

Joseph V. Sapp · Post by **Joseph V. Sapp** » 21 Dec 2002 7:46 pm

Yep,,,the lights would dim,,,you sat on the edge of your seats,,,George D. Hayes would blow that ol train whistle,,,and you just couldnt wait to see who whould come on stage!!!....Charlton, Emmons, Day, Chalker, Don Helms, or the new kid on the block,,Lloyd Green, or maby Brumley or how about conway with John on Steel,,,yep,,those were quite special for many of us,,,and to be honest,,,I'd much rather watch Austin City limits today than the crap that Gaylord is pulling over on us. Country,,,I think NOT. remember ol tater, with pee wee on steel,,,, boy talk about wanting to take your bride and swing her around the living room just one more time.... instead of Gaylord they might think about a name change to "GOODLORD" what the heck is that productions !!!!!!

Joe Casey · Post by **Joe Casey** » 22 Dec 2002 9:39 am

It's certainly too bad to see one of the true refreshing voices in Country music, disapear from the music she can really sing to be an also I can sing this.Just one of 6000000 singing what she sang last night, verses shecan be a top 10 female country artist. Nothing spectacular with her performance last night.As far as the GOO "live " portion, nothing surprises me with Pete And Steve producing. They have long lost the Opry attitude and are changing it to the POPRY. within a few years it will be a parking lot.Wonder where those two Idiots will get a new job?

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CJC

[This message was edited by Joe Casey on 22 December 2002 at 09:41 AM.]

Jeff Evans · Post by **Jeff Evans** » 22 Dec 2002 10:13 am

RAY PRICE, WE NEED TO BE RESCUED !

By what? Hardcore country such as "For The Good Times?"

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Jeff
Pale Monk of Cowtown


"...reguards yo camara exposure nad roconition..." --Speaking in unknown tongues on the Steel Guitar Forum.

[This message was edited by Jeff Evans on 22 December 2002 at 10:16 AM.]

Leigh Howell · Post by **Leigh Howell** » 22 Dec 2002 1:51 pm

Yep!! And "Invitation to the blues" "Night Life" "Farewell Party" "He stopped lovin her today" "The fugitive" And on, and on, and on!

Leigh

[This message was edited by Leigh Howell on 22 December 2002 at 01:53 PM.]

John Steele (deceased) · Post by **John Steele (deceased)** » 22 Dec 2002 2:38 pm

Aim lower, Jeff.

-John

Butch Foster · Post by **Butch Foster** » 23 Dec 2002 5:58 am

As we all agree, the TV portion of the Opry is pseudo "Country music" for folkswho don't like real country music. At 6:30 and when they pull the plug on the TV lights, the real Opry takes over.
Jimmy & PeeWee-great vocals & songs, jokes
Dave & Jean, Listen to the tone Dave gets behind Jean's vocals and when its time for him to take the lead, he really gets it done.
Johnny & Connie, John &Vince, Donna & Bill, Jim Ed's steel player, Steve Wilkerson, and Tommy White playing behind many vocalists throughout both shows. The radio is well worth catching each week while you're driving, relaxing at home, between shows, etc.

Joe Casey · Post by **Joe Casey** » 23 Dec 2002 7:02 am

HaG; We need more country songs right now....So if you got the time ,would you show the new guys how.....They don't rhyme the words no more,like you did when you wrote swinging doors...Everything they do they try to rap....So would you write us some more songs,and put Country back where it belongs, Cause most of us are tired of this crap.

Happy Holidays all

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CJC

Dave Robbins · Post by **Dave Robbins** » 23 Dec 2002 10:42 am

Joe,
how 'bout another "Momma's Hungry Eyes", eh?

"Swingin' Doors" will no doubt always be a country standard! By the way, another great version of it was Ray Price's off the "Touch My Heart" album.

Dave

Gene Jones · Post by **Gene Jones** » 23 Dec 2002 12:02 pm

Did anyone else see Merl's quote in People Magazine where he said the "awards" these days are all about how pretty your belly button is....the quote was accompanied by a cartoon of Merle with his shirt pulled up and a ring in his navel. www.genejones.com

Leslie Ehrlich · Post by **Leslie Ehrlich** » 23 Dec 2002 9:55 pm

IMHO, the Grand Ole Opry began to die when they allowed drums and electric guitars onstage. To me, the REAL Opry included acts like Roy Acuff, Minnie Pearl, the Carter Family, and Bill Munroe and his Bluegrass boys. Good old-fashioned down home country pickin' and hillbilly humour. Moving the Opry out of the Ryman auditorium was the final nail in the coffin. Moving back it to the Ryman with all the electric instruments didn't do anything for me. The only time I like watching the Grand Ole Opry is when they have a bunch of bluegrass bands playing.

Kevin Hatton · Post by **Kevin Hatton** » 24 Dec 2002 9:15 am

I was at the Ryman for that performance. A bunch of over rehearsed jazz musicians. I was appalled. It didn't belong there. Elizabeth Cook came out before hand and blew LeAnne Womack away anyhow. She's real country. If you've never heard Elizabeth Cook check her out. She is going to be a main stay at the Opry.[This message was edited by Kevin Hatton on 24 December 2002 at 09:16 AM.]

Stephen Winters · Post by **Stephen Winters** » 24 Dec 2002 12:44 pm

Not trying to start anything here, I just want to make a statement. I am a big fan of the Opry, have been all my life. I go everytime I get a chance.

The television hour is crud. Everybody, please don't judge the Opry by the television portion. The Grand Ole Opry is on from 6:30pm until midnight. Most of it is packed with good country music. The television portion is just one hour out of nearly six hours.

Before you judge, listen to the whole thing on the website, or at 650AM on your radio.

My 2 cents..

Leigh Howell · Post by **Leigh Howell** » 24 Dec 2002 3:38 pm

Stephen.
I agree wholeheartedly!

Dave Robbins · Post by **Dave Robbins** » 24 Dec 2002 10:33 pm

"Ditto" what Stephen said!

Dave

Pat Jenkins · Post by **Pat Jenkins** » 25 Dec 2002 5:59 am

Amen to what Steve said. I am rarely home on Saturday nights, but, I always catch the end of it on my way hame and then listen on the archives on www.wsmonline.com The opry is chock full of good music and fantastic musicians and entertainers. Pat