Country Music Sales Down Twenty-Six Percent
- Industry Blog Coolfer reports that total album sales have been bleak this year, dropping 14% year-to-date over 2006. Country albums sales are down a whopping 26%.
- Former mullet-man Billy Ray Cyrus has been cast to star in an indie drama titled Flying By. He’ll play “a businessman who risks his marriage, family, and fortune to pursue his dream of being in a rock band.” The article even has the obligatory “Achy Breaky Heart” reference.
- Despite his comments stating that the Eagles will be remembered as one of the most influential acts in the history of country music Calvin Gilbert thinks the new Hall of Fame Inductees should be given priority over them and every other act performing on the show. When it comes down to it, I guess the opportunity to reel in a new audience outweighs the benefits of appealing to one you already have, but the grass ain’t always greener…
- Josh Beckett, the pitcher of the Red Sox who has been on fire lately, wore his Kevin Fowler shirt to a recent press conference.
- Austin Powell of The Austin Chronicle likes the results of Alison Krauss and Robert Plant’s collaboration.
- In a Q&A with More.com Emmylou Harris says that the most meaningful part of her career will always be meeting Gram Parsons, whom she credits for opening her eyes and ears to the music she was supposed to make.
- The producer of Ryan Bingham’s latest album tells the story of how he first discovered Bingham and got him to record Mescalito.
“He’s a guy from West Texas. He’s an amazing guy, sort of Townes Van Zandt-Steve Earle kinda guy…he’s pure. I walked into the King King one night–it’s like 12:30–there are seven people in there–no one’s paying attention. Here’s this skinny kid with a big hat and a guy behind him playing kick-snare and a high-hat, and just floored me. I was looking around wondering if anybody is seeing this–thinking, God, I hope nobody in L.A. has got hooks in him and going to ruin this.
- Carrie Underwood says, “I consider myself to be a no-ripples-in-the-water type of person and I don’t want to make anybody mad and I try to make everybody happy.” While that may be all good and noble, it also reminds me of an oft repeated Bill Cosby quote, “I don’t know the key to success, but the key to failure is trying to please everybody.”
- Interviewer Joe Hyde sat down with the Braun brothers, from the band Reckless Kelly, on their bus and discussed…music. They started out in their dad’s band playing western swing and honky-tonk music for 9 years and got to visit the Johnny Carson Show and the Grand Ole Opry while doing that. Over the years they progressed more towards the rock sound, but confess that the country influences are still there.
- Skylaire Alfvegren wrote an article about Lee Hazelwood that’s laced with his dry, sarcastic humor. For instance, when he talked about dying he said “if you have to come back a second time, I think you should come back as a cockroach. You can’t kill those sons of bitches!”
- Brad Paisley is bringing the Brentwood High School marching band with him to perform on the CMAs.
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October 26, 2007 at 6:17 am Permalink
I know Emmy Lou wrote “Boulder to Birmingham” in memory of Gram Parsons, and he’s come up a lot in Emmy Lou interviews. Was there any romantic relationship between them, or just professional? And how did Parsons die? The pinnacle of Emmy Lou’s career was before my time. Thanks.
October 26, 2007 at 8:07 am Permalink
Dave S., While it is sometimes rumored that there was a romantic relationship, Emmylou is very coy on the subject (maybe to just let the mystery linger, I don’t know.) What he did do was give her her “big break” and she has been the biggest flamekeeper for his vision of “Cosmic American Music.”
Parsons died of a drug overdose in a motel room near Joshua Tree State Park in California. It’s what happened after his death that most people talk about.
If you are interested in Parsons, I recommend the book “Hickory Wind” by Ben Fong-Torres and the documentary “Fallen Angel”. There is an interview I did with the director of that in the interview section at http://www.americanaroots.com. There is also a new book that I just got in the mail a couple of days ago, so I can’t say much about what is in it.
October 26, 2007 at 9:42 am Permalink
Is it just me, or would Tom Cruise (based on appearances alone) be the perfect candidate to play Parsons in a biopic?
October 26, 2007 at 9:47 am Permalink
Also, its been a while since I read it, but the book In the Country of Country talks a little bit about the Emmylou Harris/Gram Parsons thing. I’ll have to find my copy to remember exactly what it was, but it probably isn’t all too revealing.
October 26, 2007 at 10:32 am Permalink
That might just be you, Brody ;)
I don’t think I have that book, I’ll have to look into it. Also, “Are You Ready for the Country” has a good discussion of Parsons impact (as well as many others) if you are looking for something more about the music than the man.
October 26, 2007 at 4:47 pm Permalink
Very interesting, guys. Thanks. I’m definitely going to check some of this stuff out.
October 26, 2007 at 10:17 pm Permalink
The author of the book I mentioned quotes Phil Kaufman (friend and road manager) as saying:
However, the speculation will always remain whether anything really did happen or not. Harris declined to talk with Parson’s biographer (Ben Fong-Torres), saying “I have my own biography of Gram. I don’t want to be part of someone else’s.”
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