March 21st, 2015 - Country Western Sweethearts Of The Rodeo

Good afternoon!  The Meista here today pairing "Sweetheart of the Rodeo" (Remastered with Bonus Tracks) by iconic '60s folk rock band The Byrds and a Country Western Volume Two Barrel Aged Brown Ale from a collaboration between Country Boy Brewing and West Sixth Brewing Company!  Yee-haw!!
 
Album Info:

• Artist: The Byrds
• Title: "Sweetheart of the Rodeo"
• Recorded: March 9th through 15th, 1968 at Columbia Studios, Nashville, Tennessee and April 4th through May 27th, 1968 at Columbia Studios, Hollywood, California
• Release date: August 30th, 1968 (6th studio album by The Byrds)
• Record company: Columbia Records
• Album cover art: Jo Mora
• Personnel: Chris Hillman (electric bass, mandolin, acoustic guitar, and vocals), Kevin Kelley (drums), Roger McGuinn (acoustic guitar, banjo, and vocals), and Gram Parsons (acoustic guitar, piano, organ, and vocals)
• Additional musicians: Lloyd Green and JayDee Maness (pedal steel guitars), Clarence White (electric guitar), John Hartford (banjo, fiddle, and acoustic guitar), Roy Husky (double bass), and Earl P. Ball and Barry Goldberg (piano)
• Musical style: Country rock with elements of honkytonk, traditional country, folk, and blues
• Sound: This is definitely not your "Turn, Turn, Turn" psychedelic-folk rock The Byrds!  It has a very old-time traditional Americana sound of country, rock, folk, and honkytonk.  Although a much different sound for the band, the musicianship and delivery is spot-on!
• Major themes: Love, loss, redemption, outlaws, nature, cowboy themes, etc.
• Notes: Although the country sound and direction was all Parsons, he left the band before the album was released due to contentious attitudes between he and McGuinn over the music.  Hillman would soon leave The Byrds as well and co-found the Flying Burrito Brothers with Parsons that same year.  
• Tracks:

1. "You Ain't Going Nowhere"
2. "I Am A Pilgrim"
3. "The Christian Life"
4. "You Don't Miss Your Water"
5. "You're Still On My Mind"
6. "Pretty Boy Floyd"
7. "Hickory Wind"
8. "One Hundred Years From Now"
9. "Blue Canadian Rockies"
10. "Life In Prison"
11. "Nothing Was Delivered"
12. "You Got A Reputation" (Bonus Track)
13. "Lazy Days" (Bonus Track)
14. "Pretty Polly" (Bonus Track)
15. "The Christian Life" (Bonus Rehearsal Take)
16. "Life In Prison (Bonus Rehearsal Take)
17. "You're Still On My Mind" (Bonus Rehearsal Take)
18. "One Hundred Years From Now" (Bonus Rehearsal Take)
19. "All I Have Are Memories" (Bonus Instrumental)

    Brew Info:

• Brewery: Country Boy Brewing / West Sixth Brewing Company (Lexington, Kentucky)
• Website: http://www.westsixth.com/
• Brew: Country Western Volume 2 Barrel Aged Brown Ale
• Style: American Brown Ale
• Serving: 12 ounce can
• ABV: 9%
• Pour: Very cloudy dark chocolate brown with a thick and creamy off-white head showing thick, chunky lacing and strong retention.
• Nose: Lots of bold toasty and roasty aromas along with sweeter cocoa and caramel/toffee notes.  There are aromas of toasted multi-grain bread, roasted malt, oak, bourbon, molasses, and a little peat. 
• Taste: The taste of the Country Western Volume 2 Barrel Aged Brown Aleis a wonderful and complex mix of nutty, toasty, hearty, and sweet flavors.  There are notes of light coffee, malty Graham crackers, cocoa, hazelnut, almond, vanilla, and Kentucky bourbon.
• Mouthfeel: Exceptionally smooth with a dry finish and a nice boozy kick.

Overall pairing: I can think of nothing better than the richly textured and hearty Country Western Volume 2 Barrel Aged Brown Ale from Country Boy Brewing / West Sixth Brewing Company to pair with the twangy depth of "Sweetheart of the Rodeo"!

Giddyup!