It's sixteen hours long, you can binge stream it at pbs.org in two hour chunks. Don't hesitate, though, they're only free to watch for a short period of time. Then you gotta join pbs to watch at $5 a month.

This is also posted in the Off Topic forum:

Off Topic Post

ssl: Well, I felt like I learned something about songwriting, you may not.

One of the episodes delved into the songwriters around the time Willie, Waylon, and Kristofferson were writing some of their first, best, songs.

Willie sold a bunch of his big early hits for a couple hundred dollars each to pay the rent. It was with Hello Walls, that his friend and artist, Farron Young, refused to buy it, instead, he gave Willie a loan. Willie's first royalty check from that one song was $14,000 and he was able to pay Farron back. THe rest, as they say, is history.

Kris Kristofferson is probably the most highly educated songwriter in Nashville. Look up his history and what he walked away from to be a writer in Nashville. Johnny Cash helped Kris. Find a copy of the lyrics to Sunday morning coming down and read that lyric. Sheer brilliance and he probably didn't realize it at the time. Cash did, and turned it into a hit that broke down barriers.

And there's nothing short a' dying
That's half as lonesome as the sound
Of the sleeping city sidewalk
And Sunday morning coming down.

Yeah, to a song writer, there's a lot to be garnered from this even if it's only the back stories of how these guys struggled, starved, persevered, and sometimes just got plain old got lucky as writers and artists. A good keen eye will pick up the gems that are there in plain view that others miss, and perhaps even an idea for a song or two.

I liked the part where Charley Pride recites Kristofferson's "Loving her was Easier". The emphases he makes vocally at certain points made me think a lot about that song and how it's constructed.

Willie sold the royalties to two other songs for $500 as well, can't remember which ones, but he wouldn't have struggled for all those years if he had kept the royalties. Night Life might have been one.

Kris and Willie, two worth the study.

Even though I'm not a country music enthusiast/fan myself and have not watched the documentary there's quite a thread of diverse opinions here on the TDPRI forum if anyone is interested:

https://www.tdpri.com/threads/ken-burns-country-music-documentary.977206/

Get yourself a high ball or cup of mud.....the thread is 16 pages as of this typing.
Yes...I read all responses.

Carry on....and a good weekend to all.

Man! In the time it took you to read 16 pages of opinions you could have watched the first 20 minutes or so and decided for yourself if it was any good or not

I'm not a huge country fan either but I'm enjoying the documentary, just finished episode 5 last night. Very informative with lots of great stories about the early days.

Ha...you're probably right.

Don't get me wrong....I don't dislike the genre but we don't have TV access right now and we're in process of moving so daily life is in chaos at this time.

In listening to some of the posters' submissions I tend to prefer the older country from the 50's/60's.
Don't know why...maybe it's because I'm old.

I would also say the musicianship of the axe/pedal steel players is nothing short of excellent.
Makes me think I should just use my guitars as kindling.

So many of them I've never heard of.

Back to it....

I can relate to the age thing!

Definitely some great guitarists playing country, you are right about that.

Best of luck with your move!

Ha...getting old is not for the faint of heart....I'm 72, if my arithmetic is correct, that is.

(Thanks Dave.... we need all we can get as we're relocating from the west coast to the heartland....central Kansas to be more exact. Whew....a pricy, anxious, logistical nightmare)

Back to it....

In dog years, you're not even a teenager yet

Thanks GH....I needed that.

Carry on....