It wasn't to long ago that Blake Shelton and Ray Price had a social media feud over some of Shelton's comments regarding the sound of country music today. I want to weigh-in with an opinion using the song "Wagon Wheel".

First off, "Wagon Wheel" was originally a Bob Dylan song, also known as "Rock Me Mama". I had heard it before, I thought it had a catchy hook, but never really cared for it. Then, some years ago I heard the version put out by string band "Old Crow Medicine Show", and have ever since been whistling it, and sometimes singing it out loud if nobody can hear me.

Here is the Old Crow Medicine Show album version video from 2006...

I have been a fan of Darius Rucker's since people were still calling him "Hootie". Back in July "The Grand Ole Opry" posted a video on their YouTube channel of "Old Crow Medicine Show" joined onstage by "Darius Rucker" to do the song "Wagon Wheel".

Now, Darius Rucker has released his version of it from his upcoming album "True Believers, and the fact that he has included it on his newest album, is as big of a deal, as the way the Nashville powers that be rearranged the song.

Here's is the Darius Rucker "Nashvillized" version...

Now, it's just my opinion, but I like the one that sounds a little more "country", and less "churched up" with percussion, keyboards, steel guitars and all of that. Plus it sounds like it's a little faster tempo, not much, just enough to take the old time string band sound out.

I have always prefered the acoustic versions of songs and to be fair, when Rucker did an acoustic version in the Bing Studio, it sounded a whole lot more country that what the Nashville suits manufactured. Listen to it here...

Just for fun, share your opinion in the poll...

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