In pursuit of country excellence, Derb should check out Will the Circle Be Unbroken, the album of aging country all-stars that their young rock admirers, the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, produced c. 1970. I predict he will thrill to old Roy Acuff singing “Precious Jewel” and his verse of the title song.

One difference between country and other pop music: country mentions (or used to mention) death and God.