So here it is ladies and gentlemen, a list of what Saving Country Music considers to be the “Greatest Country Music Albums of All Time.” Please understand numerous factors went into this list, but the most important determining factor was influence. This isn’t our “favorite” albums, but appeal factored into this as well. You may think Garth Brooks is a dunder head for example, but the man sold as many albums than the Beatles so he probably belongs here. This is taking into consideration the wide panoram of country music, not just classic or traditional country. And as always, the aim of this exercise is sharing, and so if you see a glaring omission or would do a switch-aroo on the placement of certain titles, feel free to offer your insight in the comments section below.

SCM’s Greatest Underground Country Albums of All Time

Also note this does not include greatest hits (so yeah, Hank Williams mostly released singles), compilations (so no Wanted: The Outlaws), soundtracks (no O Brother Where Art Thou), or “crossover” albums (no Stardust). It does however include live albums. And the albums need to be really country, or really influence the founding of a country subgenre.

Willie Nelson- Red Headed Stranger Johnny Cash – Live At Folsom Prison Nitty Gritty Dirt Band – Will The Circle Be Unbroken Waylon Jennings – Honky Tonk Heroes Ray Charles – Modern Sounds of Country & Western Music The Byrds – Sweetheart of the Rodeo Johnny Cash – American Recordings (Take Your Pick) Patsy Cline – Showcase Johnny Cash – Live at San Quentin Emmylou Harris – Wrecking Ball Gram Parsons – Grievous Angel Kris Kristofferson – Kristofferson (later Me & Bobby McGee) John Hartford – Aereo-Plain The Grateful Dead- Workingman’s Dead/American Beauty Garth Brooks – No Fences Dolly Parton – Coat of Many Colors Loretta Lynn – Coal Miner’s Daughter Merle Haggard – Mama Tried Roger Miller – The Return of Roger Miller Bill Monroe – Bean Blossom The Louvin Brothers – Satan Is Real Jerry Jeff Walker – Viva Terlingua Hank Williams III – Straight to Hell Dwight Yoakam – Guitars, Cadillacs, etc. etc. Bob Dylan – Nashville Skyline Bobby Bare – Bobby Bare Sings Lullabys, Legends, & Lies Uncle Tupelo – No Depression Townes Van Zandt – Live at the Old Quarter Lyle Lovett – Pontiac Marty Robbins – Gunfighter Ballads and Trail Songs The Dixie Chicks – Home Willie Nelson – Shotgun Willie Waylon Jennings – The Ramblin’ Man Merle Haggard – Swinging Doors Wayne “The Train” Hancock – Thunderstorms & Neon Signs Steve Earle – Guitar Town Lucinda Williams – Car Wheels on a Gravel Road Dolly Parton – The Grass Is Blue Waylon Jennings – Dreaming My Dreams George Jones – I Am What I Am Hank Williams Jr. – The Pressure Is On Johnny Paycheck – Take This Job and Shove It Junior Brown – Guit With It Roger Miller – Roger and Out Waylon Jennings – Ol’ Waylon Willie Nelson – Phases and Stages Kellie Pickler – 100 Proof Garth Brooks – Ropin’ the Wind Emmylou Harris- Roses in the Snow Randy Travis – Storms of Life Loretta Lynn – Van Lear Rose The Highwaymen – Highwaymen Merle Haggard – Okie From Muskogee (live) Tammy Wynette – Stand By Your Man Dale Watson – Live in London…England David Allan Coe – Rides Again Jamey Johnson – That Lonesome Song Kenny Rogers – The Gambler George Strait – Blue Clear Sky Guy Clark – Old No. 1 Willis Alan Ramsey – Willis Alan Ramsey Ween – 12 Golden Country Classics David Allan Coe – Penitentiary Blues The Dixie Chicks – Wide Open Spaces Clint Black – Killin’ Time Hank Snow – The Southern Cannonball Tammy Wynette – D-I-V-O-R-C-E Alan Jackson – A Lot About Livin’ Dwight Yoakam – Buenas Noches From A Lonely Room Billy Joe Shaver – Old Five & Dimers Like Me Hank Williams III – Lovesick, Broke & Driftin’ Ray Price – Night Life Johnny Paycheck – 11 Months, 29 Days Bob Willis & His Texas Playboys – For The Last Time Garth Brooks – In Pieces LeAnn Rimes – Blue Miranda Lambert – Revolution Brooks & Dunn – Brand New Man Kris Kristofferson – The Silver Tongued Devil And I Hank Williams Jr. – Whiskey Bent and Hell Bound Flying Burrito Brothers – Gilded Palace of Sin Terry Allen – Lubbock Son Volt – Trace Dolly Parton, Emmylou Harris, Linda Ronstadt – Trio Hellbound Glory – Old Highs and New Lows Vern Gosdin – Chiseled in Stone Keith Whitley – Don’t Close Your Eyes Buck Owens – Live At Carnegie Hall Patty Loveless – Mountain Soul Robert Earl Keen – West Textures 357 String Band – Fire & Hail James Hand – The Truth Will Set You Free Randy Travis – 8 x 10 Jerry Reed – When You’re Hot You’re Hot Unknown Hinson – The Future Is Unknown Hayes Carll – Trouble In Mind Jason Boland & The Stragglers – Comal County Blue Marty Stuart – The Ghost Train Studio ‘B’ Sessions