Road to Nashville (1967)

A little strange but far from unpleasant, Road to Nashville is a glorified gimmick held together by a lengthy parade of country & western hitmakers from 1967. The story, such as it is, finds comic actor Doodles Weaver reprising his popular character, Colonel Beedlebaum, as a bumbling movie producer sent to Nashville in search of talent for a film. While the colonel roams cluelessly through recording studios and rehearsal sessions, we enjoy the smooth artistry of Marty Robbins ("Devil Woman"), the grit of a young, clean-shaven Waylon Jennings ("Anita"), the hillbilly high jinks of Quinine Gumstump & Buck ("Cutting Room Floor"), the robust balladeering of Connie Smith ("Never Get Over Loving You"), and Johnny Cash singing with the Carter Family ("Were You There"). A few other Nashville royals are in fine form: Hank Snow, Porter Wagoner, and Lefty Frizzell, among them. --Tom Keogh Amazon.com

J: Road to Nashville

The video was about what I expected it to be. Some good songs by Robbins and some touching scenes. Was not a disappointment. January 19, 2008

Good overview of country music c. 1967

These are not, for the most part, the most memorable songs that various performed were known for, although Marty Robbins does sing "El Paso" at the end. The camera work is minimal and most the performers stand up in front of a mike and sing to a fixed camera. This ain't MTV, nor is it really a collection of what we now call "music videos." As most people note, and I agree, the Stoneman family rise waaaay above the standard fare here. I watched this at Thanksgiving and had everyone come into the TV room to watch the Stonemans. The other particularly interesting video is of Waylon Jennings. It's worth buying just to see Waylon before he became an "outlaw." No one in my family recognized him, although they thought they recognized the voice.
If you can borrow a copy, do so. If you must buy it, understand that unless you are really dedicated to 1967 country music, or are content to like only 4 or 5 performances, you might not be satisfied. It's a bit like buying an album for two or three songs, and heck, I've been doing that all my life so I feel I got my money's worth here. December 31, 2007

the road to nashville

a,1,,,,one hundred percent recomended;;;;;a brillent dvd i play this dvd every night,it is full with all my favourit country music,i just think it is a,a,1 plus,,,,,,,, July 15, 2006

Send more Stoneman Family!

A non-movie movie if there ever was one, ROAD TO NASHVILLE is a mid-60's `musical' that features a host of then popular country-western songsters and about three dozen musical numbers. Doodles Weaver carries what little plot this film contains as a Hollywood talent scout who needs to sign a passel of country-western stars for an upcoming movie. Doodles Weaver, comedian, is an acquired taste, but since his between-song scenes last all of thirty to forty-five seconds his ability to wear out his welcome is effectively neutralized.

The big stars include Marty Robbins (who produced the movie,) Kitty Wells, Faron Young, Porter Wagoner, Hank Snow, Webb Pierce, and many others. Save for Bill Anderson (I Love You Drops) and Robbins (El Paso), not many top ten hits are performed. If you're like me and a lukewarm fan of country music circa 1967 this will be a hit and miss affair. I've never been that much of a fan of Webb Pierce or Faron Young, for instance, and sitting through their performances of songs I'd never heard of wasn't a great treat. And, for anyone who's been irredeemably spoiled by CMT and MTV style videos, this heads on, singer-and-guitar-leaning-against-a-prop-fence presentation is going to come across as extremely static and uninteresting.

On the other hand, the young Waylon Jennings in on hand, singing his Bob Dylan's `Ramona'-esque `Anita.' The song was pretty forgettable, but it was cool to see the skinny, beardless Jennings before he went outlaw. And Waylon, along with everyone else, is NOT lip synching, a nice touch even though it might explain the rather poor audio quality. Hank Snow's `I've Been Everywhere" was fun. The show-stoppers, though, were the three songs performed by the traditional country Stoneman Family (where have they been all my life?) and the Carter Family alone (I Walk the Line) and the perfect, incendiary Johnny Cash/Carter Family rendition of `Were You There (When They Crucified My Lord)?'

So, four stars for the stuff I like, a tolerable passing three for the rest of it. If Rhino keeps ROAD TO NASHVILLE bargain priced I'd strongly recommend it to everyone.
November 10, 2005

Wonderful musical history lesson

Judged by any objective aesthetic criteria this is an awful movie but its parade of the great and the good from country music of its era makes it a pure joy for lovers of the music ; for those who dislike country music and demand movies which are dripping with "sophistication " it will be purgatorial to sit through .

The plot is not so much thin as anorexic -a movie executive of unbelievable stupidity is despatched by his boss to Nshville to sign up acts for a musical about country music .In the process he sees a number of performers and the overwhelming bulk of the picture is of concert footage of these acts .As befits his executive produceer stautus on the movie Marty Robbins gets the bulk of the action ,performing five numbers including Devil Woman and El Paso ,not to mention some dialogue scenes .He is as always an unalloyed pleasure to witness being in fine voice .The star is undoubtedly Johnny Cash .Lokking gaunt and emaciated ,even somewhat scary he performs ,with the Carter Family ,a spartan arrangement of Were You There When They Crucified My Lord in a sepulchral voice that is chilling in its passion ,intensity and conviction .The follow up song ,a novelty ballad called The One on The Right ,while fun ,seems out of place after that highpoint in proceedings .
Good turns from now grievously negelected greats like Lefty Frizzell,Hank Snow and Web Pierce make sure we do not stray too far away from honk tonk heaven .Factor in Connie Smith , Faron Young ,Waylon Jennings (looking almost impossibly young) and some lively modern bluegrass from the Stoneman Family and this is an irresistible package for country music fans who feel this was a great era for the music ,in an age a long way away from the polished "Nashvegas " sound of much modern country .The numbers are unimaginatively shot and the colur is watery but the music is what matters and it is largely excellent

A treat for the ears if not the eyes July 7, 2005

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