Elvis Debuts Songs On Charts Two Weeks In a Row With Help From Country Ladies
- It’s been ten years since Elvis Presley appeared on Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart, but he logged his second entry in two weeks with the No. 43 debut of Martina McBride’s duet on “Blue Christmas.” That follows last week’s No. 60 bow of “I’ll Be Home for Christmas” with Carrie Underwood. It also marks the first time in Presley’s 53-year chart career that he’s had songs debut in two consecutive weeks.
- The Flatlanders–consisting of Joe Ely, Jimmie Dale Gilmore and Butch Hancock–are scheduled to release Hills & Valleys, their third album for New West Records, on March 31.
- Gene Triplett has a brief Q&A with Randy Rogers at NewsOK.com.
- Still Is Still Moving republished an old Texas Monthly review of Willie Nelson’s Red Headed Stranger written by Chet Flippo.
The best of them — and this will come as no surprise to Texans — is a man named Willie Nelson who has recently recorded an album so remarkable that it calls for a redefinition of the term “country music.” The difference between Nelson’s Red Headed Stranger and any other current C&W album, and especially what passes for a soundtrack for Nashville, is astounding. What Nelson has done is simply unclassifiable; it is the only record I have ever heard that strikes me as otherworldly.
- If you bought 1998’s 10-CD The Complete Hank Williams and thought that was all the Hank you’d ever need, The Austin Chronicle’s Jim Caligiuri says–in his review of the new 3-CD Unreleased Recordings–you’re in for a big surprise.
One of the most surprising facets about these recordings is their clarity; Williams’ smooth, troubled voice has never been captured with this much warmth and presence. In 1951, he was at the top of his popularity, and this is a glorious glimpse into why that was, given that he’s simply singing about what was on his mind that day.
- Singer-songwriter Radney Foster has signed a deal with Sea Gayle Music, a publishing company co-founded by Chris DuBois, Frank Rogers and Brad Paisley.
- John Rich and Cowboy Troy–the musical equivalent of Jackass. (via NashvilleGab)
- Blake Boldt had the opportunity to catch a Hayes Carll show at Belcourt Theatre in Nashville on Wednesday and reviewed the performance for Country Universe.
Carll’s dry humor is a cornerstone of his act. (His tour is co-sponsored by satirical news source, The Onion.) After “Wild as a Turkey,” Carll noted that he tended to write long-winded songs, joking, “That one was only two and a half minutes!” … His stream-of-consciousness style, both in person and on record, lend Carll an air of authenticity that connects with those who listen carefully for hidden meaning, in his songs and in his detailed stories.
- The folks over at Big Rock Candy Mountain dubbed Boxcar Willie’s “Hee Haw Honey” as their number one, very most favoritest Christmas song of all time. At least for today. It’s just one of the songs published in a smorgasbord of Christmas cheer.
- Free Downloads: Snag a copy of Brad Paisley’s “Jingle Bells” by filling in your email address at HearSomethingCountry.com and fire up your iTunes to download Faith Hill’s “O Holy Night!”, which is the free download of the week. (via That Nashville Sound)
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December 12, 2008 at 12:07 pm Permalink
Slow news day eh?
Next Tuesday night’s Opry will be the last Tuesday show until March and they are going out with a bang. The second one hour segment will be recorded for GAC “Opry Live” and will feature Julianne Fluff, Martina McBeltem’out, and Carrie Underwear. I can guarantee I won’t be tuning in for that one…
Speaking of Julianne Fluff, her Christmas album is selling well to fans of “Dancing With The Stars” all over the US. If she would have included a DVD of herself and Chuck Wicks doing dance routines to these songs, it could have been HUGE! (lol)
December 12, 2008 at 12:09 pm Permalink
Not any slower than the rest.
December 12, 2008 at 12:13 pm Permalink
Calling people names is the height of wit, is it not?
December 12, 2008 at 12:56 pm Permalink
Calling people names is the height of wit, is it not?
…I always thought it was the repeat-whatever-you-just-said game.
December 12, 2008 at 1:34 pm Permalink
“Calling people names is the height of wit, is it not?”
Well, just more of the same from Rick the Pr***!
December 12, 2008 at 3:08 pm Permalink
Let’s not go insulting Jackass now.
December 12, 2008 at 3:15 pm Permalink
I like Julianne.
Guys, you really ought to download the Faith song. It isn’t the best from her new album, but definitely worth listening to.
December 12, 2008 at 3:45 pm Permalink
awesome review from Flippo.
too bad that decades of mediocrity from the Nashville establishment have left him regularly praising obviously compromised material in his current role as editorial director of CMT.com
December 12, 2008 at 4:54 pm Permalink
That Rich and Troy, what a bunch of kidders. Who does John think he is, Jimi Hendrix? That’s wild and wacky stuff!
December 12, 2008 at 5:05 pm Permalink
NorthTexas, you’re bustin’ my balls here!….(lol) Would you prefer if I called your favorite rock opera howling, non-country, overwrought pop diva, American Idol winning artist by other names? Would “Carrie Underwhelming” be more suitable? You fanboys and fangirls are just so hard to please…..
Chris, most of my pet names for country artists I don’t care for are relatively benign. In comparison the huge list of nicknames I have for Obama are not fit for print anywhere as I don’t want to wind up on his “enemies list”.
Its nice to see Radney Foster getting signed to Sea Gayle Music. Now if they could just bring Kim Richey on board as well so that Radney and Kim could compose together. Some new music akin to Radney’s “Del Rio, Texas” period would be appreciated.
December 12, 2008 at 5:20 pm Permalink
I have a nickname for Obama myself: “Mr. President.”
December 12, 2008 at 5:56 pm Permalink
Mr. President-elect. ;)
December 12, 2008 at 7:17 pm Permalink
“Would ‘Carrie Underwhelming’ be more suitable? You fanboys and fangirls are just so hard to please”
For someone who claims to “not give a s***” about Carrie Underwood you sure never miss an opportunity to comment about her. It’s your prerogative not to like an artist’s music but why do you feel the need to use childish nicknames?
“In comparison the huge list of nicknames I have for Obama are not fit for print anywhere as I don’t want to wind up on his “enemies list”.”
Seems you’re confusing Obama with Nixon. Oh well, just another brain-dead ditto head.
December 12, 2008 at 8:44 pm Permalink
I thought Carrie’s vocal is OVERwhelming(meaning, oversinging) to a point most of the reviewers dislike it :)
Its just creepy when you are singing a duet with someone who is.. uh.. not alive
December 14, 2008 at 9:23 pm Permalink
Honestly, Carrie’s voice is beautiful, when she’s not belting out at concerts. Proof is the songs she sings on AI specials as they were gorgeous and she was not on tour that year. I think she needs to learn to calm it down, drop the volume down some notches after a long year of concerts. Hopefully they will sing Christmas favorites at the Opry. Honestly? I’m hoping for a Carrie/ Martina duet or even a Carrie, Martina, Julianne trio with a Christmas carol. Oh and Julianne’s boyfried Chuck Wicks will be there too!
December 14, 2008 at 9:27 pm Permalink
OH and I Thank the LOrd that GAC will be showing it. With work, Christmas stress and low on funds, I can’t go and I have knee surgery on Friday. So I’ll curl up with some hot chocolate, prop my knee up and watch the Opry on GAC.
December 14, 2008 at 9:34 pm Permalink
Oh and Carrie needing to learn about dropping her volune down is the same with marching bands vs. concert bands. I assist with a high school band. During marching competition season, marching bands have to turn the volume up but get somehow the same solid sound. This is easy to do on brass instruments. The hard part is still getting that same sound-thus concert band. That’s The same with Carrie. When she sings sweet but solid, she is absolutely excellent. But when she sings strong or too strong, her voice gets that harsh sound.
December 14, 2008 at 9:36 pm Permalink
Oops “The hard part is still getting that same solid sound but at a lower volume-thus concert band”
December 15, 2008 at 2:50 pm Permalink
Touche, Northtexas – at least we now have a defining moment for *his* sitting President.
Ducking shoes seems to suit Mr. Bush
December 15, 2008 at 8:13 pm Permalink
Carrie and Martina are the 2 best vocalists in country music- period. I don’t understand why people trash them so much here. They are both outstanding, and I cannot wait for the show.
Julianne hough, however, I can live without, though she is much better then Pickler and Swiftie.
Carrie has a beautiful voice and it is versatile, which makes her interesting. She can Belt to the rafters, but she can also sing soft and sweet when she wants to.
Case in point, the Elvis presely duet, or her Desperado performance at the Grammys. There are many other examples… including her cover of “I told you So” by Randy Travis. She can sing anything, and that is what makes her special.
December 15, 2008 at 8:19 pm Permalink
Gerald– Carrie has received almost universal great reviews on her vocals in the Elvis Duet, as well as in other reviews. Her new Album Carnival Ride got pretty great reviews, though the 9513 did not like it. There are some negative reviews of course for every artist. No one is perfect.
However most people agree that Carrie’s voice is the best to come to Nashville in a long long time.
If anyone should be called “underwhelming”, it is Taylor-the-Terrible, who cannot sing her way out of a paper bag.
Can anyone here honestly say they enjoyed Taylor’s butchering of Sorry by Brenda Lee at the Grammy nomination’s concert. It was the most dreadful vocal performance I have heard in a long long time.
December 15, 2008 at 8:44 pm Permalink
I was actually being sarcastic to the statement about “Carrie Underwhelming”….
I am a Carrie fan, in case you don’t know….
Oooh, for the first time ever, I think Taylor could easily get some air time on American Idol by singing I’m Sorry on the audition, then trashed by Simon!! Atrocious!
December 17, 2008 at 11:01 pm Permalink
^ lol agree. Sorry Gerald. I misunderstood your post… and did not realize you were being sarcastic.
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