Imagine A World Where Alan Jackson Is A Nashville Clone
- The New York Times profiles Alan Jackson and considers his place in country music.
There’s no question that Mr. Jackson is a country kingpin, respected even by the impatient young singers who complain that the country industry relies too heavily on proven hit makers like him. But outside the world of country music, Mr. Jackson is often viewed less respectfully, not as an American original but as a Nashville clone.
Check out the picture of his home office. He’s got what looks like an air hockey table, a hand held GPS unit, a case full of model cars, and no trace of a computer on his desk. Aside from the washer and dryer it looks like the ultimate get-away-from-everything spot.
- Country Universe’s Leeann counts down her Top 25 favorite Alan Jackson songs. Excellent list.
- My favorite TV show, Friday Night Lights, might be getting the axe, but it won’t go down without a ruckus. Other fans have started several different movements in an effort to save the show. It’s worth saving on its musical choices alone; how many other TV programs have featured music from Willie & Waylon, James McMurtry, Jimmie Dale Gilmore, Dale Watson, Loretta Lynn, Ernest Tubb, Randy Travis, Glen Campbell, Butch Hancock, Johnny Paycheck and Patsy Cline in their first two seasons?
- Chuck Yarborough has an article that touches on the beginning stages of George Strait’s career and the mercilessness of the media during the death of his daughter, Jennifer.
“She was 13 and came to him and said, ‘Daddy, can I go to Sonic?’ And he said, ‘Yes, but be careful,’ ” Finlay recalled. The boy driving was going a little too fast, and, when he came to a T-intersection in a place in San Marcos that had been the site of several previous accidents, he couldn’t make the turn.”
- Elizabeth Cook says she’s working on a “hip hoppy” song about an El Camino.
- After touring behind her Grammy nominated album, Tambourine, and being dropped by her label, Tift Merritt was left tired and disillusioned to the point she considered giving up music. In his review of her next album, Michael Franco says Another Country is a testament to what Merritt can do when she pushes all her pressures aside.
- Miranda Lambert reveals the “craziest” thing she’s ever done to a boyfriend. One night while she was talking to him on the phone he told her that he planned to stay in, but she grew suspicious when he mentioned he was ironing a shirt.
“There was this nasty bar that I knew he was going to,” Lambert recalled. “So I drove with my friends to see his car, and I put a picture of myself on his windshield so when he came out he knew I was there. And the next day I dressed up really cute and broke up with him.”
- Two Tennessean writers, Beverly Keel and Peter Cooper, weigh in on opposite sides in the “should country performers be paid for CMA Music Fest” debate. Keel argues that many other workers volunteer (it’s the Volunteer State, after all) to put on the festival and that either everyone should volunteer, or no one at all. Cooper thinks paying performers will only make the festival stronger by possibly drawing in other big name performers and keeping those it already has.
- Deborah Evans Price wrote an interesting article discussing the obstacles and accomplishments of the Country Music Association during its first ten years.
- Here’s a low quality version of Willie Nelson’s MTV premiere of “You Don’t Think I’m Funny Anymore.”
- Storme Warren misses the western element in country music and wonders whether or not it’s dead.
“I keep waiting for that song, that moment, that magical merging of the audio and the visual it creates in my mind to bring me back to a place I’ve never been- a lifestyle I’ve never lived.”
- Video evidence of Obama participating in the performance of “Boogie Back to Texas.”
- After watching three episodes of Gone Country, Twang Nation’s Baron Lane comes to the conclusion that it’s not as bad as he suspected it might be.
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February 25, 2008 at 6:25 pm
I’m a huge Alan fan, he’s great. He deserves that big house and those fancy cars.
Thanks for that Obama video, too funny. So tone deaf, haha.
The funny thing is so many celebrities want to be associated with ol’ Willie!
February 25, 2008 at 9:00 pm
Elizabeth Cook’s MySpace blogs are by far the most entertaining I’ve ever encountered. That gal is just a natural comedienne. Because she has a show on Sirius I do hope the two satellite networks merge just so more people will get to hear her in action. Elizabeth’s self titled indie debut album is the stuff of pure genius and her major label debut “Hey Y’all” pales in comparison. Many of the indie album songs were re-recorded by the major label for “Hey Y’all” and all of them suffered musically as the Nashville Process was applied….
Tift Merritt has wisely returned to the musical roots she explored so effectively on her “Bramble Rose” debut album, which strangely was not even mentioned once in Michael Franco’s review. I wonder if Micheal even realizes Tift put out anything prior to critically acclaimed “Tambourine”….
Storme Warren need not fear the death of honest to goodness cowboy and western music. It still thrives in its own little niche at cowboy music and poetry festivals held all over the US. Many people know only of Michael Martin Murphy’s “West Fests” in New Mexico, but festivals of all sizes are held in many states each year. Here in LA each April a cowboy music festival is held in Santa Clarita at Gene Autry’s old Melody Ranch movie studio. Until it was cancelled HBO’s crude “Deadwood” was filmed there, and Gene’s favorite horse “Champion” is buried there. Two days of great cowboy and western swing music for around $ 40 is a tough deal to beat music wise………
February 25, 2008 at 10:32 pm
Rick, have you heard any of Trent Willmon’s songs? I’m thinking of “Good Horses To Ride” (might not be the exact song title, but its on his last album.) I was driving around today and heard XM previewing his new record. Sounds like some good cowboy tunes there, too.
I downloaded Bobby Pinson’s first record, there are some songs that sound very descriptive of that landscape.
I’m from no where near West Texas-barely below the Mason Dixon line.
I got a chance to hear Trent at a fair in Pennsylvania 2 years ago and he was really good. When he did a medley that put together everything from AC/DC and Ozzy to Charlie Daniels, I think he lost a few people. But we thought it really rocked.
He’s a bit of a renaissance man. I hope his new record does well.
February 26, 2008 at 11:22 am
I’m always throwing out Rodney Hayden’s name, but I think he’s doing as much western influenced music as anyone these days. Here’s an email interview we did with him last year. (MySpace)
Last year’s Bucking Horse Moon from Wylie and The Wild West was a highly enjoyable western album, too. Corb Lund’s Horse Solider! Horse Soldier! had some nice odes about horses and the latest Owen Temple disc has a rodeo themed tune in “Swear It Off Again.” Joe Ely’s Silver City came out last year with some pretty deep songs.
So I agree, Rick, there’s still a lot of good western music, just not so much at the mainstream level.
February 26, 2008 at 4:15 pm
I’m a day late here, but man, I just want to say what an information-rich day on the 9513. I wanted to read every one of these posts. It’s the reason I want to check in every day to see what I’m missing. Y’all are doing a great job.
February 27, 2008 at 11:20 am
Thanks M.C. Some days are definitely more interesting than others when it comes to news, but I guess we gotta have the bad days in order to enjoy the good days :P