20 Country Albums Every Rock Fan Should Listen To

Country music tends to be a vulgar term in the world of rock and roll. Even though plenty of artists like to consider themselves eclectic fans of music, there tends to be something about country music that tends to get under even the most well-rounded people's skin. Even though tons of artists treat country like a scurge on society, there is some genuinely great material in the scene if you really look for it.

As opposed to the more homespun songs about life at home on a ranch, a lot of artists have come through with albums that hold on to that rock ethos while rocking an acoustic guitar in their hands. Long before the rock star was even a thought in the minds of youngsters, these songs transport you to a time back when there were only the outlaws of the country world, who were as into gunslinging as they were guitar playing.

Even though plenty of true country artists have succeeded on rock's terms, the best instances are when the rock musicians make a shift into the rustic side of the music spectrum and actually make it work. While many will think of rock as the rightful retort to country music, albums like these prove that the genres are one in the same.

Elton John seems like the polar opposite of country music on first glance. After all, who really wants to hear the sounds of old Nashville guitars coming from the same guy who dresses in sequin suits and talks about going down the golden yellow brick road? Well, just underneath those mega-sized glasses, there's a music fan who's taste goes a lot deeper.

Each a descendent of the old time Western music, both John and lyricist Bernie Taupin wrote a virtual pastiche to the American South on Tumbleweed Connection. Across songs like Ballad of a Well Known Gun and Country Comfort, you can tell that these guys have taken in the stories of the Old West and are trying to capture their fans just like the old music captured them. Make no mistake, this is not really a lifestyle that these English boys could relate to, but rather the reality that they wanted to lead when they eventually grew up.

It's also no surprise that this record became a hit in America first, with some of the songs becoming staples when John played his highly acclaimed shows at the Troubadour before he became a star. Even though it seems strange to have a down home country album from two British gentlemen, this is a glimpse into the classic Elton John right before he hit his creative peak.