Songwriting Is What Dolly Loves The Most
- Edd Hurt talked with Dolly Parton about Porter Wagoner, her new album, and her legacy for a piece in American Songwriter. She says throughout her career songwriting is what she has enjoyed the most.
Have you ever thought about making a record similar to Porter’s Wagonmaster or Charlie Louvin’s last record, using an outside producer to update your sound?
I might…in 25 years. I get hit up a lot. Rick Rubin has asked me to do a record with him, and Jack White–is that his name? –who did Loretta Lynn [Van Lear Rose]. Different people want to work with me on that. But to me, I feel like I’m an active singer and songwriter. I feel like I’m very progressive in the way I think… - Us Weekly recently crowned Taylor Swift one of the “10 Most Powerful Girls in Hollywood” and she joined Carrie Underwood, Rascal Flatts and the Dixie Chicks as the only country artists to achieve Digital Platinum certification. Swift reached the milestone with “Teardrops On My Guitar”, which was also the #1 selling country single of 2007 on iTunes.
- The critically acclaimed TV show Friday Night Lights will feature “If It’s the Beaches”, written and performed by The Avett Brothers, on the February 1st program. I’ve heard other songs performed on the show in the past that I liked a lot, but couldn’t find any information about, so it’d be nice if someone was able to compile a list of songs featured in each episode. In fact, someone could build a website, if one doesn’t already exist, dedicated to listing music used in different episodes of TV shows and commercials. (The Avett Brothers MySpace)
- John Walker has a fantastic interview with Eric Taylor, one of our last remaining links to one of the most creative musical periods ever…the early 1970s Houston. Taylor talks about what it was like back in those times, hanging out with Townes Van Zandt and Guy Clark, and his latest album, Hollywood Pocketknife.
- At 70 years of age Jack D. Johnson–known for managing the careers of Charley Pride, Ronnie Milsap, T.G. Sheppard and other country music singers–passed away.
- Big news for Dwight Yoakam, he’ll be the only artist performing at both the Coachella indie rock festival and the Stagecoach country festival in Indio, California. However, before both those events take place he’ll be inducted, along with Crystal Gayle, into the Kentucky Music Hall of Fame.
- Faith Hill leads country music stars in Forbes’ first-ever Cash Queens of Music list of the top-earning female musicians. Close behind was the Dixie Chicks, followed by Martina McBride and Carrie Underwood.
- Nobody better try to steal Sarah Johns’ spot because she’s ready to fight for it. She places a lot of importance on work ethic in her interview with Craig Shelburne and says that her uncle gets mad when people say she’s too country.
What happens if someone says, “She’s too country for me”?
I looked up country music in the dictionary about a month ago. It was during Christmas. It was talking about twin fiddles and steel, and it said “backwoods” and it had “holler” in the dictionary, so maybe you should go listen to pop music if you think I’m too country.
- Lady luck hasn’t been too kind to Jason Isbell and his band as of late. First, Jason got the flu which forced them to cancel a date and then after a show in San Francisco their van was vandalized and four guitars, a drum kit, an accordion, and a laptop computer were stolen. Then his drummer quit.
- In his interview with C. Eric Banister, Darrin Vincent says singing lead with Jamie Dailey and interacting with the audience during live shows is like starting over, he’s learning new things after years of backing other people.
- The Tennessean staff writer Bill Friskics-Warren eloquently captures the tone and mood of Shelby Lynne’s Just A Little Lovin’ in his review.
The mood is subdued, even brooding, throughout. Mingling sensibilities steeped more in jazz and blues than pop, Lynne often seems to borrow from Ralph Ellison, to be fingering the jagged grain of a painful experience to affirm that she has indeed come out on the other side. Her languid take on the title track is so naked emotionally that even the listener feels exposed.
- By the way, James Otto’s “Just Started Lovin’ You” is one of the free downloads on iTunes this week.
- Describing The Streeldrivers, Larry Karnowski writes, “I want my Bluegrass to smell like whiskey, echo like thunder in the mountains, and to ache like a breaking heart. Give me turmoil, despair, and grit. Let me drown my sorrows in drink and women, then repent and thump that Bible on Sunday morning. That’s Bluegrass… songs of rounders and lost men and women seeking redemption and love in this cold, old world. That’s the Steeldrivers on their debut album.”
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What country artist, young or old, would you recommend as a must-listen artist to a newcomer on his/her journey through country music, and what would your essential song picks be?Tagged In This Article
Carrie Underwood // Charley Pride // Charlie Louvin // Crystal Gayle // Darrin Vincent // Dixie Chicks // Dolly Parton // Dwight Yoakam // Faith Hill // Guy Clark // James Otto // Jason Isbell // Loretta Lynn // Martina McBride // Porter Wagoner // Rascal Flatts // Rick Rubin // Ronnie Milsap // Sarah Johns // Shelby Lynne // Stagecoach // Taylor Swift // The Avett Brothers // The Steeldrivers // Townes Van Zandt
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January 30, 2008 at 2:04 pm Permalink
Thanks for the link to the Sarah Johns interview at CMT. Sarah and Ashton Shepherd are my two favorite new female country artists to appear on major labels in 2007 and I enjoy reading anything I can about them. Its unfortunate Sarah and her label have picked two novelty songs for her first singles as she deserves better. Why they haven’t released “Big Love In a Small Town” as a single is beyond me….
Its nice Dwight Yoakam will be at both festivals in Indio, but after attending one day last year I’ll take a pass regardless of who performs. The volume from the main stage is so extreme it completely interferes with the Americana stage performances nearby and intrudes into the bluegrass and cowboy music tents as well. Paying 80 bucks a day for sonic chaos is not my idea of a good time.
Finally, the fact that Taylor Swift, Carrie Underwood, and Rascal Flatts dominate digital download sales is not surprising as these artists appeal to a young demographic that’s into all things digital (ie the iPod generation). The fact these are also the top selling county artists for physical CD sales also may have something to do with it…(wink)
January 30, 2008 at 2:46 pm Permalink
Hey there guys – here’s someone who has done the work for you re: “Friday Night Lights” music.
http://www.tvshowmusic.com/shows/fridaynightlights/season02.html
January 30, 2008 at 3:29 pm Permalink
Rick – There were some of the same problems you describe at Big State last year, however I thoroughly enjoyed my experience. The secret is getting as close to the stage as possible :P
Peter That’s awesome. Turns out the song I remember from a while back is “I Made A Resolution” by Sea Wolf. Good stuff. Generally speaking, Friday Night Lights tends to have a pretty good music.
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