Garth Brooks is a Gateway Drug

Neither Prairie nor I are big fans of country, but we both listen to a little bit. Last night I’d popped on a compilation I made a few years ago as background music while I was cleaning house, and still had it going when Prairie came home. It turned out that she knew every song on the CD as well, and we had fun listening to some of the songs and chatting about what got us started listening to country.

In my case, while dad had some small part in it (he’s not a big country listener either, but his LP collection is responsible for introducing me to Johnny Cash when I was a youngster), it can all be blamed attributed to some of my ex-girlfriends. They listened to some, I happened to be around, and I ended up discovering that there actually was some country music that I enjoyed listening to.

Prairie can also blame credit an ex for the songs that she found that she likes. In each case, though, one of the primary artists we found was Garth Brooks. I mentioned that I’d often noticed when talking to people that, if they had even a little bit of country in their collection, there was a pretty good chance that Garth would be in there somewhere, if not the sole representative.

Which led to the realization that Garth Brooks is a gateway drug.

So now you know, kids.

Don’t do Garth.

Herewith, then, is a selection of country music approved by me (and, in most cases, by Prairie, also). It’s pretty much entirely the fun, upbeat style of country…I just can’t get into the ballads.

1. Toby Keith, How Do You Like Me Now?
2. Jodee Messina, I’m Alright
3. Garth Brooks, Two Piña Coladas
4. Mary Chapin Carpenter, Down at the Twist and Shout
5. Clay Walker, Then What?
6. Dolly Parton, Why’d You Come In Here Lookin’ Like That?
7. Clint Black, Only On Days That End In ‘Y’
8. Reba McEntire, Fancy
9. Joe Diffe, Third Rock From the Sun
10. Shania Twain, Don’t Be Stupid (You Know I Love You)
11. Tim McGraw, Something Like That
12. Lee Ann Womack, I’ll Think of a Reason Later
13. John Michael Montgomery, Sold (The Grundy County Auction Incident)
14. Trisha Yearwood, She’s In Love With the Boy
15. Brad Paisley, Me Neither
16. Collin Raye, Little Red Rodeo
17. Reba McEntire, The Night the Lights Went Out in Georgia
18. Rick Trevino, Bobby Ann Mason
19. John Michael Montgomery, Life’s a Dance
20. Trick Pony, Pour Me
21. Rodney Crowell with Johnny Cash, I Walk the Line (Revisited)
22. Dixie Chicks, Goodbye Earl

“I Walk the Line Revisited” by Crowell, Rodney with Cash, Johnny (2:43).