In August 1964, with an epidemic of Beatlemania sweeping the nation, COUNTRY SONG ROUNDUP asked 13 of Nashville's biggest hit-makers what they thought about the Beatles.
Since their answers were surprisingly free of rancor and disdain, my guess is that the the whole thing was basically fiction and the stars in question were never actually asked the question at hand. Of course I could be wrong but, really, I'm having a hell of a hard time believing that Ray Price judged 'em to be "good and country."
For the record (and the search engines) here are their responses.
Jimmy Newman: I like the Beatles. I like their stage presence but I don't like some of their tunes. They won't affect country music one way or another, but Capitol Records has been so busy pressing Beatle records that they might hold back on country releases. I cut a tune myself recently that originally had a Beatle-type arrangement. The tune, "Summer Days and Golden Sand" was written in England by the way. I switched it to a country arrangement though.
Ferlin Husky: I don't know how they done it, but they did it.
Roy Drusky: Who said they couldn't sell records.
Chet Atkins: They've done a lot for the record industry.
Simon Crum: Wish they'd let their hair grow.
Ray Price: I think they are all right - good and country.
Tompall & the Glaser Brothers: Good harmony.
Bill Anderson: They got what it takes, money.
Dave Dudley: Some of their material is fine.
Skeeter Davis: They've got a good beat.
The Carter Family: Great act.
The Browns: Good beat, good music.
Del Reeves: Smart dressers.
Disappointed that they didn't ask Porter Wagoner what he thought.
Posted by: Listener Ralphine | October 07, 2009 at 09:25 AM
"Wish they'd let their hair grow" - that comical Simon Crum, he's a card.
Posted by: twitter.com/Gatorrock786 | October 07, 2009 at 09:32 AM
Jimmy Newman! You sly ol' dog. I was just wondering if you had any new songs I could buy and then you mentioned "Summer Days and Golden Sand"...AND it was written in England. I'm going to the record store RIGHT NOW!
Posted by: Matt | October 07, 2009 at 10:34 AM
Actually, a good bit of their early output had a slight country feel. Someone is quoted in the liner notes for Apple's Live at the BBC compilation that they sounded "more country and western than most" beat groups at the time, and you can hear the rockabilly influence in that compilation.
Posted by: phillyradiogeek | October 07, 2009 at 11:21 AM
I believe that they wrote their own responses - they were as non-committal as it gets!
Posted by: Mr Fab | October 07, 2009 at 12:46 PM
I imagine Liverpool record shops were packed to the gills with great country records due to the large US G.I. presence. Seems like you were much more likely to run into real country records and real blues records in Liverpool than in many parts of the US.
Posted by: Murry the Quay | October 07, 2009 at 01:34 PM
There's a similar thing (probably wasnt answered by the Beatles themselves) from the time where Goerge Harrison lists his favourite music as "Hillbilly"
Posted by: johnny john | October 07, 2009 at 06:20 PM
Now you got me wanting to hear "The Three Bells" by the Browns.
Posted by: Dale Hazelton | October 08, 2009 at 08:46 AM
Liverpool always had a strong country music tradition-Bobby Bare came over here to record an album with the Hillsiders
Possibly the first pure country album of Beatles songs was BEATLE COUNTRY by the Charles River Bluegrass Boys on Elektra.
Bear in mind also the music which influenced them-Carl Perkins who at the time had about 3 albums on release
Posted by: Richard Astley-Clemas | October 08, 2009 at 12:50 PM