12 Golden Country Greats

12 Golden Country Greats
Studio album by Ween
Released	July 16, 1996 (1996-07-16)
Recorded	November 2-November 8, 1995
Genre	Country rock, alternative country
Length	33:40
Label	Elektra
Producer	Ben Vaughn
Ween chronology
Chocolate and Cheese (1994) 12 Golden Country Greats (1996) The Mollusk (1997)

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic	[1]
Rolling Stone
Sputnikmusic	[2]

12 Golden Country Greats is Ween's fifth album, and third on Elektra Records.

This album marked the first time Ween limited themselves to a specific genre of music. Bringing in a wide variety of seasoned (and sometimes legendary) Nashville musicians (including Charlie McCoy, Buddy Spicher, Bobby Ogdin and The Jordanaires), the album sought to recreate the sound of golden-age country music with a great amount of success, while also combining this sound with classic Ween on such tracks as "Piss Up a Rope." The legendary Bradley's Barn was chosen for recording the album. Later, Ween would assemble some of the session musicians again into a touring band dubbed The Shit Creek Boys.

The title of this album is likely an homage to the 1979 Throbbing Gristle album, 20 Jazz Funk Greats. Both albums contain a fewer number of tracks than the title suggests.

Track listing

The original version of "Powder Blue" runs for 4:16 and ends with a sample from Muhammad Ali. Ween were denied permission to use the sample by Ali's lawyers, but Elektra pressed the album accidentally. Repressings of the album contain a cut version, causing the song to abruptly end after the introduction "Ladies & Gentlemen, I'd like to present Muhammad Ali".

Gene sings every song except "Piss up a Rope" and "Help me Scrape the Mucus off my Brain," which feature Dean on vocals.

In the tradition of country music, during the song "Powder Blue" Gene introduces each member of the band who then plays a short solo on their instrument.

Singles

"Piss Up a Rope" was released as a single by Elektra and features the tracks "You Were the Fool" and "So Long, Jerry" (a tribute to Jerry Garcia, recorded during the 12 Golden Country Greats sessions but not used on the album.)

"Piss Up a Rope" was also released as a 7-inch single on Diesel Only Records, featuring another non-album track recorded during the 12 Golden Country Greats sessions – "Sweet Texas Fire".

Personnel

• Dean Ween – Guitar, Vocals
• Gene Ween – Vocals
• The Jordanaires – Vocals
• Pete Wade – Dobro, Guitar, 6-String Bass
• Bob Wray – Bass guitar
• Kip Paxton – Bass
• Buddy Blackman – Banjo
• Russ Hicks – Pedal Steel
• Buddy Spicher – Fiddle, Mandolin
• Bobby Ogdin – Piano
• Hargus "Pig" Robbins – Piano
• Dennis Solee – Clarinet
• Charlie McCoy – Organ, Banjo, Bass, Harmonica, Percussion, Trumpet, Tuba, Vibraphone
• Gene Chrisman – drums
• Buddy Harman – Drums
• Bobby Bradley – Engineer
• Ben Vaughn – Producer
• Chuck Dehaan – Art Direction

References