Too Smooth For The Hardcore

Eddy Arnold, who died today, was a huge star in the Country field, but time has not been good to his legacy. Joel Whitburn ranks him the #1 Country charted artist, yet Arnold's move to Pop music in the 60's ticked off hardcore Country fans and critics. While Ray Price did the same thing, he doesn't get the critical heat that Arnold does. What Arnold and Price did is no different than what later generation Country acts did. Turning off the steel guitars and pumping up the strings to reach a Pop audience. Today's Country singles charts are basically Pop music with Country voices.