Country songs for non-country players?

[scienceisgolden]

I've played live for just over 40 years. i still haven't figured everything out but what hits the target, regardless of style of music, is every third song or so is one that EVERYBODY can sing along to....not necessarily just 'popular' but participatory....think of the ultimate... YMCA

Exampes from above are:

Country Roads
King of the Road

rock would be:

Barbara Ann
I Want to hold your Hand

Get the energy in the audience on side.

[kydave]

Amanda (Waylon)
Amie (Pure Prairie League)
Bartender’s Blues (George Jones)
Corvette Song (George Jones)
Dark End of the Street (Gram Parsons/Burrito Bros)
Guitars, Cadillacs, Etc. (Dwight Yoakam)
Hickory Wind (Gram Parsons)
It Could’ve Been Me (Billy Ray Cyrus)
Mama Tried (Merle Haggard)
Marie LeVeaux (Bobby Bare)
Memphis (Johnny Rivers)
Peaceful Easy Feelin’ (Eagles)
Poncho & Lefty (Townes/Wille & Merle)
Rita Ballou (Guy Clark)
Sixteenth Avenue (Lacy J. Dalton)
Song for Life (Rodney Crowell)
South of Cincinatti (Dwight Yoakam)
Tequila Sunrise (Eagles)
Third Rate Romance (Amazing Rhythm Aces)
Til I Gain Control (Rodney Crowell)
Up Against the Wall Redneck Mother (Jerry Jeff Walker)

[gracecovenant]

+1 on CCR
Drift Away -- Dobie Gray
The Weight -- The Band
Soulshine -- Govt. Mule
Keep Your Hands To Yourself -- Georgia Satellites
City of New Orleans -- Arlo Guthrie
Small Town or Pink Houses -- John Mellencamp
Loving Her Was Easier Than Anything I'll Ever Do Again -- Kris Kristoferson
Midnight Rider -- Allman Brothers
Can't You See -- Marshall Tucker Band
On and on...

[GRW3]

I would be very careful. CW fans hate perfunctory country selections. If you find a song that makes you say to yourself "I could play that in my normal set", go ahead because your rendition will be true. Avoid "only this once" songs.

[RevGeo]

Playing Critter Clubs can be pretty weird. 'Turn it down' is their mantra. Everybody in the place thinks they're your boss, so expect several people to tell you what to play and at what volume.
I'd advise learning some OLD country tunes such as:
Jumbalaya
Fulsom Prison Blues
Walk On By
Waltz Across Texas
Mama Tried
Good Hearted Woman
On The Road Again
and some 'newer' stuff like:
Margaritaville
Friends In Low Places
Chatahootchie
I Love This Bar
and any Creedence, Lynrd Skynrd, Jimmy Buffet, Merle Haggard and Waylon/Willie stuff you can come up with.

Good luck,
Rev George

[bluesbassdad]

Mostly good suggestions here.

I have to mention one of my favorite artists, whom I believe has been overlooked so far.

Don Williams.

Here are two very different songs, both favorites of mine.

"Tulsa Time"

"Good Ol' Boys Like Me"

[naccoachbob]

Desperados Waiting For A Train.
I have the lyrics and chord sheet for the Highwaymen version if you want.
Just pm.
Good luck,
Bob

[lovetheclassics]

'Let your love flow' by The Bellamy Brothers is a good feeling song people can dance to, and non country folks can dig it even if they lie and say they dont.

'Can't you see' by Marshall Tucker Band is also a good one.

Anything by Gordon Lightfoot I would think would go over fine.

'Sundown'
'Summer side of life'

[Sage97]

In addition to the previous suggestions, pick you favorite song from

The Eagles
James Taylor
Jim Croce

[SteveHung]

You can try some southern rock songs in your setlist, like Sweet Home Alabama or Simple Man by Lynyrd Skynyrd.

[Jimbolaya]

Harlem River Blues by Justin Townes Earle is pretty good.
3 chords, but I like playing it.

[sonicland]

Maybe it's my Boston upbringing but to me, at least 70% of the songs mentioned in these threads don't really qualify as "country". A lot of great suggestions given and many would go over very well but I just don't see the majority of them as country. Just my opinion.

[JBethany]

One of the most familiar artists out there with a little boogie is Hank Williams Jr. All my rowdy friends have settled down, stoned at the juke box, whiskey bent and hell bound, country boy can survive, or Country State of Mind. I always see those songs played at bars or events, and they always get a great response.

[Cobby]

Hey, this is bringing back memories. Our first paying gig was a couple of years ago at a moose lodge, and we faced the same task of trying to countrify a little bit. We ended up doing a lot of songs similar to (or exactly) what has been suggested in this thread. Good advice here! It all went over very well with that crowd. I just looked up our old setlist: We did Folsom Prison Blues, Margaritaville, Mr. Bojangles, Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain, Lying Eyes, Greenback Dollar, Bad Moon Rising, Lucille and threw in some Beatles, James Taylor, John Denver and Simon and Garfunkel... among others.

It turned out to be a lot of fun for everyone. The thing I wasn't prepared for though was the smoke. Whew! By the end of the night my throat was scratchy and I wanted to claw my eyes out. Then I went home and had to shave off all of my hair and burn my clothes...

Good luck with the gig!

[Countryguitar]

I would suggest,
Country State of Mind, Hank jr.
A country boy can survive, Hank jr.
Can't you see, Marshall Tucker Band,
Sweet home Alabama, Lynyrd skynyrd
Jambalaya, Hank Williams,
I don't think Hank done it this way, Waylon Jennings,
I'm leaving now, Johnny Cash/Merle Haggard,
Folsom prison blues, Johnny Cash,
Long haired country boy, Charlie Daniels,
Simple man, Lynyrd skynyrd,

Just a few suggestions.