3 Alt-Country Songs That Proved the Heart of Country Isn’t All About Polished Nashville Tunes

Alt-country is a genre that really came into its own in the 1990s and early 2000s. There have been many instances in music history of country music taking a non-Nashville path, such as the outlaw country movement of the 1970s. Alt-country, specifically, took on a broader definition than outlaw country did, with many musicians blending rock, hip-hop, swing, Americana, folk, and bluegrass with the typical country sound one would expect to come out of Nashville. 

The following three songs from shortly before and during the alt-country boom were all hits, and they proved that listeners were ready for something not-so-polished. Let’s take a look at some alt-country songs worth remembering, shall we?

“Guitar Town” by Steve Earle from ‘Guitar Town’ (1986)

This rough-around-the-edges guitar-driven country tune manages to blend rockabilly with country, complete with that working-class sound, without sounding dated at all. In fact, “Guitar Town” by Steve Earle sounded ahead of its time back in 1986. This early work from Earle really helped bridge the gap between outlaw country and the then-early sounds of alternative country. And, naturally, it was a hit. “Guitar Town” by Steve Earle peaked at No. 7 on both the US and Canadian country charts.

“Cowboy Man” by Lyle Lovett from ‘Lyle Lovett’ (1986)

Alt-country musician Lyle Lovett dropped “Cowboy Man” in 1986, and I imagine few expected an alternative Western swing song to make it so high on the charts. This song is fascinating and eccentric. And it’s about as far from conventional Nashville country tunes as you can get.

“Cowboy Man” by Lyle Lovett peaked at No. 10 on the Hot Country Songs chart. It also did well in Canada, where it peaked at No. 23.

“Wagon Wheel” by Old Crow Medicine Show from ‘O.C.M.S.’ (2004)

Darius Rucker took this song, penned by Bob Dylan and Ketch Secor of Old Crow Medicine Show, to the Top 40 of the pop charts in 2013. But back in 2004, Old Crow Medicine Show dropped the OG alt-country version of the song, and it was a Triple Platinum hit for the band.

This now-legendary tune was originally penned (the chorus, at least) by Bob Dylan back in 1973. More than two decades later, Old Crow Medicine Show put together the verses, and an enduring Americana hit was born.

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