The Charlie Daniels Band (CDB) sums up its attitude toward genre labels in the song "Let It Roll" when its leader sings, "They can call it country, they can call it rock. But I'll play this (fiddle) till the day I drop." By blending a little rock 'n' roll with his roots as a Nashville session musician, Daniels introduced country music in the '70s and '80s to young rockers and aging hippies who otherwise might've never listened to a white-hot fiddler from North Carolina.
The band's leader became a household name in 1979 when "The Devil Went Down to Georgia" became the "Orange Blossom Special" of its time—a furious fiddle tune known beyond bluegrass circles. More genre-inclusive gifts followed, from Volunteer Jam concerts to albums as recent as 2016's Night Hawk.
Over time, Daniels' public persona became that of a proud, conservative-minded American. For example, his 2003 compilation Freedom and Justice For All gathered some of his most politically-charged material, including "This Ain't No Rag, It's a Flag," "America, I Believe in You," "Simple Man," "In America," "The Last Fallen Hero," "God Bless the Mother," "What this World Needs Is a Few Good Rednecks" and "American Farmer." While those songs capture his values, these 10 classics define the 60-plus year career of a Country Music Hall of Famer.
10. "Run With the Crowd"
An obvious song like "Tomorrow's Gonna Be Another Day" or "Drinkin' My Baby Goodbye," a beloved deep cut like "Mister DJ" or Daniels' version of "Caballo Diablo" could've made the cut here. Instead, let's start off with this dose of good advice.
9. "Carolina (I Remember You)"
Like honorable mention picks "Sweet Louisiana" and "Wichita Jail" from the CDB's Saddle Tramp album or the down-tempo ballad "Mississippi," this song builds on the country music tradition of glorifying bygone times and specific places.
8. "Damn Good Cowboy"
Like "Billy the Kid" from the High Lonesome album, this unlikely pick tells a detailed and believable story about a tough hombre. It's an amazing country-rock song, featuring the Marshall Tucker Band's Toy Caldwell on steel guitar.
7. "Uneasy Rider"
Daniels faces a series of calamities that poke fun at the friction between rednecks and hippies. Its loose narrative style makes it the honky-tonk equivalent of a Ray Stevens song.
6. "The Legend of Wooley Swamp"
Watch out, highfalutin New York City types. There's a ghost in this Deep South swamp, and Daniels is here to tell you why Lucius Clay died a restless spirit.
5. "Texas"
The CDB honors the Texas Playboys with this fierce interpretation of Texas swing. It's the sound of Bob Wills, filtered through the rock and country music he helped inspire.
4. "The South's Gonna Do It Again"
Daniels' funky take on country music from his Fire on the Mountain album coincided with the glory days of Southern rock. In this classic, he name drops his rock 'n' roll buddies in celebration of a great time to be a long-haired country boy.
3. "Still in Saigon"
While much of Daniels' patriotic material can be polarizing, all Americans should be able to appreciate the sacrifices of Vietnam veterans after digesting this heart-wrenching tale.
2. "Long Haired Country Boy"
Daniels' second best-known song speaks as directly to Southern boys, from Dallas to Atlanta, as any Hank Williams Jr. hit.
Read More: Charlie Daniels, Legendary Country Rocker and Fiddler, Dies at Age 83
1. "The Devil Went Down to Georgia"
Daniels tipped his cowboy hat to Saturday night barn dances and hillbilly fiddle tunes with this celebration of American music from his Million Mile Reflections album. It remains one of the most instantly-recognizable country songs by any artist or from any decade.
Products featured on Wide Open Country are independently selected by our editors. However, when you buy something through our links, we may earn a commission.
This story originally ran on July 13, 2018.
