3 Iconic Country Albums Not Recorded in Nashville

For years, artists have both praised and condemned the Nashville country music scene. Some artists have scored massive success in the system, whereas others have felt incredibly restrained. Some artists have leaned into the marketable scene, whereas others have sought out a more unique environment. Whether musicians like it or not, it is still the capital of country music. However, good music is good music, and musicians can record it from anywhere.

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In recent years, a handful of country musicians have gone away from the prototypical way of doing things. Whether it’s not signing to a Nashville label or recording their music elsewhere, there is certainly a demographic of musicians who currently don’t feel the need to partake in the business of Nashville. And this isn’t a new phenomenon, as these 20th-century artists recorded some iconic albums outside of Music City.

‘Modern Sounds In Country And Western Music’ by Ray Charles

One of the most groundbreaking albums of all time is Ray Charles‘ Modern Sounds In Country And Western Music. In 1962, Nashville certainly wasn’t what it is today, though it was considered the hub of the genre. Nonetheless, Charles seemingly didn’t feel the need to record in Nashville, and he recorded this album in Hollywood and New York City.

Specifically, Charles recorded his illustrious album at Capitol Records in New York City and at United Recording Studios in Hollywood, California. Furthermore, Charles released the record with the New York-based label, ABC-Paramount Records, in 1962.

‘Shotgun Willie’ by Willie Nelson

In the canon of country music, Willie Nelson‘s migration from Nashville is very well-known. Even though Nelson was a prominent songwriter in Nashville’s 60s country music scene, his career arguably didn’t start until he moved to Austin and released Shotgun Willie in 1973.

Given that this album, in a way, symbolizes Nelson’s exodus from Nashville, he primarily recorded it at Atlantic Studios in New York City. Some additional recordings did transpire in Nashville and Memphis. Regardless, the decision to record outside of Nashville has made the album an anti-establishment symbol in the world of country music.

‘American Recordings’ by Johnny Cash

For the majority of his career, Johnny Cash was the poster child of the Nashville country music scene. That being said, it is incredibly surprising to learn that Johnny Cash didn’t record one of his final albums in the city that helped make him such an icon. The album in question is Cash’s iconic 1994 body of work, American Recordings.

When you’re Johnny Cash, you can do whatever you want. And on this album, Cash did just that. Johnny Cash recorded the album at his home outside of Nashville and in the Los Angeles living room of infamous producer Rick Rubin.

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