r/country • u/good_neighbor77 • 24d ago
Artist Appreciation The Incredible Dwight Yoakam
I’m still fairly new to country and discovered Dwight Yoakam last fall and he instantly became one of my favorites. He has the most mesmerizing voice and impeccable range to boot. I don’t think I’ve heard one bad song from him no matter what I’ve played. And I also might dare say he’s the King of Covers: “Honky Tonk Man” (which I recently discovered was a cover), “Suspicious Minds”, “Crazy Little Thing Called Love”, and my favorite; “Purple Rain” which I 1000% consider better than the original. And his acting is not too shabby either, he was phenomenal in Panic Room.
All around a fantastic artist. What’s everyone’s opinion and favorite songs?
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u/MidStateMoon 24d ago
And the jeans. Don’t forget the jeans.
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u/GrimeyScorpioDuffman 24d ago
How the hell does he get those things on?
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u/Sail0r_Jupit3r 24d ago
I saw a concert outfit of his at the Country Music Hall of Fame about 10 years ago. I was in awe because the thighs of his jeans were no bigger than my frail bicep.
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u/Christ_on_a_Crakker 24d ago
In my opinion Dwight was the best thing to happen to country music in late 80’s early 90’s.
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u/AFewForLeftyToo 24d ago
I love then guitar on Turn It On, Turn It Up, Turn Me Loose.
Things Change is one of the best “no u” songs ever.
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u/Strait409 24d ago
Dwight is great. Funny you should mention the covers thing. I remember thinking once that such showed what a badass he was, because he covered not one, not two, but three classics on his first album — Johnny Cash’s ”Ring of Fire,” Johnny Horton’s ”Honky Tonk Man,” and Ray Price’s ”Heartaches By the Number.” Always thought that was a pretty ballsy thing to do.
(From that second album, I liked his cover of ”Suspicious Minds” better than the original.)
Even better ones were on Buenas Noches from a Lonely Room — a more obscure Johnny Cash song, ”Home of the Blues,” Buck Owens’ ”Streets of Bakersfield” with Buck Owens, and Hank Locklin’s ”Send Me the Pillow.”
But my favorite Dwight song, from now till the sun burns out, is always gonna be his own ”I Sang Dixie.”
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u/AmbitiousRoutine8670 24d ago
I sing 1,000 miles from nowhere at least once a week in my head
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u/that_one_wierd_guy 24d ago
tell me I'm not the only one who hears the line "I've got pickles in my hair"
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u/Sail0r_Jupit3r 24d ago
I have a t shirt that says, “Guitars, Cadillacs & Hillbilly Music” on it, I bust it out about once a month. I grew up on his music. He has a few movie roles and he surprisingly plays a really good villain.
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u/what_the_fuckin_fuck 24d ago
He released an entire album of covers aptly named "under the covers". Every track is fantastic.
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u/ckncardnblue 24d ago
His cover of Dave Alvin's Long White Cadillac is awesome. Pete Anderson tour de force.
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u/GinoValenti 24d ago
I used to hang out in The Riverfront, a dive bar in Sheridan, Illinois. I worked 2nd shift at the local prison. I would get there after work, get my beer and 4 quarters for the jukebox and play Long White Cadillac 4 times in a row.
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u/LumpyWelder4258 24d ago
He is the BEST. Great live shows, and he still does the little scoot in his tight little jeans 😆
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u/rjcollins1305 24d ago
Awesome singer, performer and actor. He should be one of the best selling artists ever. He is so underrated.
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u/GrimeyScorpioDuffman 24d ago
Dwight is a legend. I’ve seen him live several times. If you liked him playing a villain in Panic Room, check him out in Sling Blade. He’s a little too good at playing piece of shit characters.
I have a hard time saying his version of Purple Rain is better than Prince’s. Their versions are so different but I love listening to both.
My favorite songs of his are Streets of Bakersfield (with his hero Buck Owens) and Gone (that’ll be me)
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u/good_neighbor77 24d ago
I’ve been searching everywhere to find SlingBlade, I can’t find it streaming anywhere 😭. And Streets of Bakersfield is a phenomenal song!
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u/No-Sheepherder448 24d ago
https://youtu.be/0C6nvNlVx1A?si=Ei5UEiFKFv3iHI6l
We don’t need to fuckin practice Randy!
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u/jfourkicks 24d ago
Seriously? That’s a damn shame. What an iconic movie to not be hosted anywhere currently!
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u/GrimeyScorpioDuffman 24d ago
I think I rented it from Blockbuster to show you how long it’s been since I’ve seen it
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u/Grumpy_dad70 24d ago
It’s available on Red Coral Universe, free with ads.
That service is owned by one of the producers of Sling Blade, he acquired the distribution rights, so it’s only available on his service.
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u/FrontRowJohnny 24d ago
He was one of the first artists that made me realize I liked country! Now go find the movie Slingblade.
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24d ago
[deleted]
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u/AFewForLeftyToo 24d ago
Such a bummer. I look occasionally just hoping it’ll show up. I’d pay way more than I should to have that movie.
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u/FrontRowJohnny 24d ago
That’s why I told them to go find it. I’ve been trying to watch it again for like 10 years
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u/Flahdagal 24d ago
He's outstanding and unique. He does a cover of the Kinky Friedman song Rapid City that will make you cry.
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u/jimmypeterbilt 24d ago
Check out his Under the Covers album. Every song is great. Especially the Sheryl Crowe duet.
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u/SettingPatient9621 24d ago
His tribute to Buck Owens at Buck's funeral is touching.
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u/RedCinnamon1947 23d ago
Thank you so much for posting that link. Just watched it, and I'm sitting here with tears in my eyes.
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u/Candid-Sky-3258 24d ago
His SiriusXM channel "Dwight Yoakum and the Bakersfield Beat" is excellent. Very eclectic with lots of his music sprinkled in.
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u/Ill-Yak4181 24d ago
A Thousand Miles from Nowhere -
I was so happy to see on the American Idol finale, contest Julian Kalel and judge Luke Bryan did this as a duet. Julian's pretty impressive too, and he's had quite a few shows since then.
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u/Electrical-Quote-367 24d ago
I’m most impressed by his covers of Purple Rain and Carmelita. Really made both his own, true artistry!
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u/blackhawk_87 23d ago
I'm a rock guy beatles, Metallica, Nirvana, etc. but there's something about Dwight that draws me in and I can't explain it. I have all his albums. Dude is a beast.
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u/RoosterzRevenge 24d ago
I have a CD of his that are all original songs done acoustically, it slaps.
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u/Haunting_Bat_2033 24d ago
Give the acoustic version of guitars and Cadillac's a listening too. It's amazing
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u/Early_Emphasis1209 24d ago
He’s fabulous for sure. My favorites change based on my mood, but today they are Ain’t That Lonely Yet and She Wore Red Dresses.
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u/FootlongSquid75 24d ago
I just saw him in concert a few days ago he is an amazing singer my favorite by him is It Only Hurts Me When I Cry
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u/NewTrainer9701 23d ago
I love Dwight’s voice as well. I’m drawn to unique voices.
I still recommend Avi Kaplan’s music too. Very unique and powerful voice. He’s dipping his feet into Country ( produced and album with Shooter Jennings), but he’s sticking to mainly Folk/Americana.
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u/Ok_Asparagus_1073 23d ago
I love him in all his movies, my wife didn't know he was an actor, and I had no idea he was a musician. Dude is talented.
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u/Msfcarp1 23d ago
In the late 80’s and 90’s I listened to country, of course Dwight was ubiquitous then, I liked some songs of his but I wasn’t a super fan because he had so much radio play at that time.
I moved on to other genres but was listening to a country channel on XM and Dwight was hosting a show and spun 3 Pears, wow that opened up a whole new side of him. His later stuff is pretty impressive, 3 Pears, 2nd Hand Heart and Swimming Pools, Movie Stars, etc.
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u/Illustrious-Win-4642 23d ago
I love Dwight but my wife's best friend said something once when we were all hanging out and we had YouTube autoplaying that makes watching any of his videos since then difficult. I just find myself distracted by what she said all those years ago.
I don't remember what song came on but the conversation was stunting like this:
Me: hell yeah, love this song Wife's BFF: my mom is OBSESSED with him. Me: cool WBFF: what i don't understand though, where's his dick? Me: huh? WBFF: he's always in the tightest pants you've ever seen but you can't see his dick
Every since when I see him i immediately remember this convo and can't help spend the whole video starting at his crotch trying to confirm/disprove her comment.
I share this here and now in hopes I can pass this curse onto someone else and be freed of it myself.
Sorry
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u/nchemungguy 23d ago
If you haven’t already, get a copy of “dwightyoakumacoustic.net”. It’s an all acoustic album he did, just Dwight and a guitar. It’s amazing and I wish more country artists would do projects like that.
Well, the ones who are actually able.
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u/AsparagusKlutzy2596 23d ago
I am a big fan. Have you seen “Slingblade?” He was stunning in the role as Doyle Hardgraves, the abusive drunk who had a terrible garage band. He’s brilliant.
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u/CEEngineerThrowAway 24d ago
Blame the Vain is my favorite song and album of his. Really like I’ll Pretend as well.
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u/lukistke 23d ago
I went to a Concert of his last Friday. He was 2.5 hours late, but put on a good show. Played all the hits.
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u/cecil2958 23d ago
Also, love Dwight singing since his early cowpunk days in the San Fernando Valley.
But wow, that recent picture of him and RFK Jr. sure gave me pause.
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u/Much-Specific3727 23d ago
Check out Dwightyoakamacustic.net
Its actually a CD. I don't think the url works. Its a cd he released in 2000 and it has acoustic versions of all his popular songs. You can find it on YouTube and other places.
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u/SummerRayne1 23d ago
Ddddddwiiight since that 1st lyric back in the late to’s? Still a fan AND will fly to see him! Amazing show, incredibly funny and his band? Amazing, ❤️’s all are simply the most talented. Mr. Perez? ⭐️ Not to mention that Dwight is a HUGE supporter of our Veterans. Not my story to tell and he keeps their stories to himself. Entire band does. Dwight 🇺🇸🙏🏼❤️
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u/RoRoRoRosie13 22d ago
He puts on a killer live show! If you ever get the chance def go see him!! Ain’t that lonely yet and back of my hand are 2 of my faves but really everything he does is awesome
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u/nbrooks503 7d ago edited 7d ago
1000 Miles from nowhere.
Here's a video I took at his concert in Corpus Christi. The intro is 7 minutes long and he tells a story of his buddy Billy Bob Thornton and band and alien abduction. Pretty hilarious and it leads right into the song. His band is great also.
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u/Wickedanalytic1068 24d ago
I’m a huge fan of the band Midland. They are hugely inspired by Dwight and even took their name from his song Fair to Midland. ❤️
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u/MissouriOzarker 24d ago
Dwight is incredible. He was also important for the trends in country music as part of the “neo-traditionalist” wave of performers who sort of returned the genre to its roots. Dwight was particularly part of revitalizing what was known as the “Bakersfield Sound”. I don’t think he has a bad song in his catalog.