TOM T HALL: THINKING MAN'S COUNTRY MUSIC

Tom T Hall is the archetype of country music for the thinking man - with all due respect to Johnny Cash and Merle Haggard among others. His thinking is not about arcane disembodied philosophical abstractions. Rather he has spent a lot of time in close observation and contemplation of human nature, delivering his thoughts in the form of character studies. Thus his nickname: The Storyteller.

A similar approach to philosophical expression earned Shakespeare recognition for his deep insight into human psychology for his nihilistic outlook on humanity. Tom T generally comes to rather less dismal conclusions. He once described a character in a song as being "about as happy as a thinking man could be." This description in particular struck me as autobiographical.

Buoyed by Christian faith that is enlightened humanism based on the example of Christ rather than foolish judgmental dogmatism, Tom T has written many thoughtful, melodic songs that quietly and unpretentiously reach into the depths of the human experience.

Oh, and I should mention that him and the band can jam like a bitch?

TOP 10 TOM T HALL SONGS

SHOESHINE MAN 1969 (lyrics)

SALUTE TO A SWITCHBLADE 1970

ME AND JESUS 1972

YEAR THAT CLAYTON DELANEY DIED 1971

RAVISHING RUBY 1973

OLD DOGS, CHILDREN, AND WATERMELON WINE 1972

LITTLE LADY PREACHER 1971

WHO'S GONNA FEED THEM HOGS? 1971

I LIKE BEER 1975

THE HOMECOMING 1969