Even Elvis’ Crap Turns to Gold
- John Gerome lays out all the logistics of a Christmas album from the label side of things. Basically, the peak season for a Christmas album is between late October and Christmas, it usually sells well for a few seasons, and if it makes it to gold status, then it’s hugely successful. Gerome says Elvis’ Christmas Album is still the star at the top of the tree for many, and the biggest hit off that album, “Blue Christmas”, is the one that Elvis didn’t want to record.
As Gordon Stoker, a member of the Jordanaires, the vocal group that backed Presley on that song and many others, recalls, Elvis at first refused to do Blue Christmas out of respect for Ernest Tubb, who had had a No. 1 hit with it earlier.
When the producers said he had to cut it, he told folks at the session to come up with something so bad that it would never see the light of day as a single, Stoker told The Associated Press recently from his Nashville home.
“We thought that ‘oo-ooo-oooo’ was bad enough that they wouldn’t release it,” Stoker said of the signature backing vocals.
To this day, he said, “It still sounds bad to me when I hear it.”
- Big & Rich plan to take some time off from touring in 2008 due to recurring effects of an accident Big Kenny was involved in a couple of years ago. Both artists will continue to be busy in other ways. John Rich is producing new albums, writing new songs, and getting ready for his CMT series while Kenny Alphin is working on a Broadway play and feature film and songwriting, too.
- Country Universe bucks the top ten trend and lists fifteen albums in The Best Country Albums of 2007 feature.
- If you’re looking for songs, Craig Shelburne listed twenty-one that he can’t get enough of and the reasons why.
- “The story of dancehalls is really the story of Texas,” says Steve Dean, who helped co-found Texas Dance Hall Preservation Inc., a non-profit organization. Each dancehall has a rich cultural history and the organization hopes to document all the Texas dancehalls, organize driving tours, and reopen others to their past glory.
- Faith Hill says she hasn’t ruled out the idea of being the First Lady of Tennessee in the future.
- The January 10th episode of CSI will feature two Shooter Jennings songs. Jennings will also make an appearance on The Late Show with David Letterman on January 2nd.
- The list of ten albums at Twang Nation reflects Baron Lane’s tastes and biases from the Americana landscape.
- Roanoke Rapids’ residents aren’t too happy with the situation involving Randy Parton and the theater bearing his name.
“He’s known as Dolly Parton’s brother,” Jane Joyner said recently, bathed in the red glow of the neon pigs outside Ralph’s Barbecue up the road from the theater. “And that was about all he was known for.”
- Stop by Big Rock Candy Mountain to download their last Christmas songs this year. They’ve got 33 songs available from the likes of Wanda Jackson, Dale Watson, Hank Thompson, Faron Young, and Merle Haggard. Happy downloading. And while you’re at it, Living in Stereo has a “few lesser-known, country-flavored holiday tunes” from Bob Wills, Ferlin Husky, George Jones, and more.
If you enjoyed this article, be sure to subscribe to our feed or receive updates via email.
Popular Stuff
Sponsor
Josh Turner - "Everything Is Fine" Turner is the rare example of an artist who records material that’s both quality and trademark.
Darryl Worley - "Tequila On Ice" A groovy mid-tempo that sways, a refreshing reprieve from the exhausting pace of a format that clamors for loud music and swelling choruses.
Blake Shelton - "She Wouldn't Be Gone" It’s all about nailing the melody rather than providing a legitimate interpretation that accentuates the lyrical content, although Shelton does do a pretty good job of injecting what limited emotion he can.
Tim McGraw - “Let It Go” McGraw mostly seems interested in trying to create a sing along with an interesting melody and while the sound is aurally pleasing, the uninspired vocal fails to make up for the lack of substance in the lyric.
Dolly Parton - “Shinola” Songwriters, take note: building your hook around a pop culture reference that’s sixty years old does not a good single make.
Kid Rock - “All Summer Long” Here’s an artist who is willing to show some personality. And that chorus, insanely hooky as it is, hits us right in the gut.
Forgotten Artist: Charley Pride For the ’70s, Billboard has Charley listed as its third ranking singles artist behind only Conway Twitty and Merle Haggard. 
Forgotten Artist: Johnny Darrell Arguably country music’s first “outlaw,” Johnny Darrell recorded for United Artists from 1965 to about 1973, but Darrell’s records didn’t get the major promotional effort they deserved.
How to look like Tiffany Falon? If you ever find an answer, please, call me. -- Matt
One of an emerging wave of artists empowered by decreasing production costs and a rapidly changing distribution landscape, Kelleigh Bannen has taken a do-it-yourself approach to her debut album, Radio Skies.
The two-time Dancing With The Stars champion, Julianne Hough, recently took some time to answer questions for The 9513 in this exclusive interview.
After cutting ties with Warner Bros. Records, Ray Scott decided to take the proverbial bull by the horns and form Jethropolitan Records, a place where he can get back to the blood and guts of what he terms “real country music,” the kind of stuff you don’t hear on radio anymore.Tagged In This Article
Big Kenny // Bob Wills // Christmas // Dale Watson // Dolly Parton // Elvis // Ernest Tubb // Faith Hill // Ferlin Husky // George Jones // Hank Thompson // John Rich // Merle Haggard // Randy Parton // Shooter Jennings
Current Discussion
- Matt B.: Yes, I think I still own one or two of them Leeann (That makes it even worse...
- leeann: Matt B, did you ever own a BSB CD?:)...
- Kelly: Joe and Leeann: I'll take your word for it, cuz I just dont see it....I think t...
- Dan M.: It always saddens me to see country acts get caught up in legal disputes. Seems ...
- leeann: Joe, I think you're right that there is quite a difference between early Martina...
- Dan M.: *again...
- Matt B.: Brady, I agree with you and think that the trademark filings are what this ca...
- Dan M.: Once agai, I fully agree with this review....
- Thomas: brady, sugarland (nettles/bush) do not have to prove that there wasn't an agree...
- Brady Vercher: An oral contract is legally binding and considering the role she played and the ...
1 Comment
RSS for comments on this post | Trackback URI for this post
December 26, 2007 at 4:41 pm Permalink
I agree with Elvis that his version of “Blue Christmas” is unlistenable. It is one of the most annoying songs ever recorded, fighting for the top spot with such notables as the Knack’s “My Sharona” or Billy Ray Cyrus’ “Achy, Breaky Heart” among others. The “ooo-eee-ooo-oh-wa” backing vocals could replace waterboarding as a mans of torture at the CIA…..
My favorite version of that song is from Amber Dotson, a fine real country talent that Capitol Nashville stuck on the shelf after Top 40 country stations ignored her two fine singles. Amber has the kind of earthy voice that Angela Hacker wishes she could aspire to and never will. Fortunately Amber’s two singles and “Blue Christmas” are available for download, but it seems no advance CD copies of her Capitol album were ever released as I’ve been searching for a couple of years. Oh well…….
Leave a Comment