6827. Michael Martin Murphey

6827. Michael Martin Murphey - Desert Rat

- Monday, May 25, 2026

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From: Blue Sky - Night Thunder; Year: 1975; Genre: Progressive Country

Been reading a lot about a musical movement that happened in the tail end of the '60s and early 1970s that is called progressive country. Whilst admittedly was unaware of the sub-genre, I do know about the music and I generally like it quite a bit more than the mainstream country; always assumed wot I heard was part of outlaw country, but more of a close cousin to it so to speak genre wise. A lot of the rebellious nature of outlaw was indeed a part of it, and many artists wrote and recorded songs in both. However in the case of progressive country, like progressive rock it was all about expanding, (progressing), music into something new and/or fusing other forms of music with country. It's not a surprise at all then that I just happened to like many of the songs under the genre before I knew it existed.

Anyway, as you probably surmised, Michael Martin Murphey was one of the founders of prog-country and has been one I was heavily exposed to. I grew up hearing his Blue Sky - Night Thunder album a whole lot, which was one of my mother's favourites. The entire album was played a lot and, while I remember some tracks more than others, if I hear one I immediately recognize it; as with this one.

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My song pick 1 year ago today: Neil Young & Crazy Horse - Like a Hurricane

My song pick 2 years ago today: Train - Drops of Jupiter (Tell Me)

My song pick 3 years ago today: Rush - You Bet Your Life

My song pick 4 years ago today: The Youngbloods - Get Together

My song pick 5 years ago today: Heart - Never

My song pick 6 years ago today: The Nice - Country Pie/Brandenburg Concerto No. 6