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Friday Five: Kitty Wells Answer Songs
Kitty Wells is the queen of country music. She’s also the queen of answer songs. Here are my five favorites.
5. “My Cold, Cold Heart Is Melted Now” – Kitty Wells
Though it borrows its title from another Hank Williams classic, this one’s set to the tune of “Your Cheatin’ Heart.” If you’ve ever been done wrong, [...] -
Sarah Buxton’s Debut Gets Release Date; ‘Country Weekly’ Creates Archive of Covers
Sarah Buxton’s self-titled debut album will be released Feb. 23.
My Kind of Country’s Occasional Hope listed her top 50 singles of the decade complete with blurbs.
USA Today’s music critics chose their favorite albums of 2009 and included picks from Radney Foster, Miranda Lambert, Brad Paisley and more.WWE diva Mickie James plans to issue a country [...]
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Christie’s Country Sale; Taylor Swift Inks Deal to Write Greeting Cards; New Music Magazine Launches in January
On December 3, Christie’s will hold The Country Music Sale, its first sale dedicated to the creation, history, and evolution of Country Music. The foundation of the sale consists of property from the estate of Hank Thompson, but also includes memorabilia from Roy Rogers, Hank Snow, Hank Williams, and many more classic country artists. There [...]
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Friday Five: School Songs
School’s back in session! Maybe you’re a student, maybe you’re a teacher, maybe you’re a parent who’s thrilled to shove your spawn out the door every morning. Maybe you’re none of these things; listen to these songs anyway.
5. “Heartbreak School” – James Bonamy
Remember this smooth-voiced ’90s singer? “Heartbreak School,” written by Skip Ewing and Donny [...] -
Staff Picks for July/August 2009
Juli Thanki
The Quintessential Hank Thompson 1948-1979 by Hank Thompson
New releases from George Strait and Reba McEntire received the lion’s share of attention this cycle, which means a couple excellent albums slipped under the radar. Gene Watson returned with A Taste of the Truth, which, in my opinion, is one of the best albums of the [...] -
Brooks & Dunn Split; New Releases; Oklahoma Hall Inducts Carrie Underwood;
So, did you hear Brooks & Dunn are splitting up? The duo will release #1’s…and then some next month and take a farewell tour, The Last Rodeo Tour, in 2010.
Your take: As a duo, is Brooks & Dunn’s Hall of Fame inclusion a forgone conclusion?Country Universe listed 10 essential tracks and two hidden treasures [...]
Continue reading "Brooks & Dunn Split; New Releases; Oklahoma Hall Inducts Carrie Underwood;"
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Tejas Brothers Inject New Life Into Classics At Gruene Hall
If the ghosts of Hank Thompson, Buddy Holly, and Doug Sahm could have been anywhere Saturday night, it would have been in the rafters of Gruene Hall watching the splendor of the Tejas Brothers. Whether it was the thrill of playing in the vaunted dance hall, the reunion with Eleven Hundred Springs–a band that’s cheered [...]
Continue reading "Tejas Brothers Inject New Life Into Classics At Gruene Hall"
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Great Country Songs from the 1970s, Pt. 8
Here are some more songs that I like; one song per artist, not necessarily his or her biggest hit. As always, I consider myself free to comment on other songs by the artist.
“Another Somebody Done Somebody Wrong Song” – Billy Joe “B.J.” Thomas (1975)
His biggest country hit reached #1 and also topped the [...]Continue reading "Great Country Songs from the 1970s, Pt. 8"
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Forgotten Artists: Ernest Tubb (1914-1984)
Disclaimer: Expect no objectivity at all from me with this article. Along with Webb Pierce and Merle Haggard, Ernest Tubb is one of my all-time favorite country artists. Yes, I know he started out most songs a quarter tone flat and worked his way flatter from there, and yes, I know that 80% of The [...]
Continue reading "Forgotten Artists: Ernest Tubb (1914-1984)"
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Forgotten Artists: Jean Shepard
You gaze at that guitar on your knee
In a way that you never look at me
This love affair of yours has gone too far
And I’m tired of playing second fiddle to an old guitar
From “Second Fiddle (To an Old Guitar),” Capitol Records, 1964Kitty Wells may have been the reigning Queen of Country Music during the [...]
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Josh Turner's fourth album, Haywire, furthers his reputation as one of the leading men in contemporary country, a true, traditional voice in an ever-changing Nashville scene.
Having played on more than 500 albums and toured with artists that range from Hank III to Dolly Parton, Randy Kohrs has become one of the go-to musicians when there’s a need for a resophonic guitar
Sammy Kershaw – “Better Than I Used To Be”
As the title track off his upcoming album, “Better Than I Used to Be” is a straight-up look back on the career of a country music staple.
Emily West Featuring Keith Urban – “Blue Sky” Emily West turns in a gorgeous performance on “Blue Sky,” hitting notes few of her contemporaries can reach.
What does Alan Jackson like on his eggs?
Cheese and corn; he still likes bologna; a load of salsa; hens? Answers to the questions you'd never dream of asking. (
In each and every instance, the best country albums of the past ten years were built on the backs of songs -- stories about you and me from birth to death and stories that paint landscapes rooted in every region of America and beyond. These are the top country albums of the decade.Current Discussion
- Dan E: Stormy: You're going to great lengths trying to make something good seem bad. You know, it does work both ways.
- Stormy: Jon: Fanwanking is a term that originated in television. It refers to fans going to great lengths to ...
- Nicolas: Waynoe: "I wonder. Did you make similar remarks about the Dixie Chicks? I won’t make this a political post but ...
- Jon: No, that #1 is exactly right; that song was way old when the Carters cut it, and it's still got ...
- Ken Morton, Jr.: Juli, very nice list. I'd throw out there the sad "Whiskey Lullaby" by Brad Paisley & Alison Krauss. "We found ...
- Steve M.: Well in my world Jon wanking is a personal matter. Perhaps you consider differently.
- Dan E: Honestly, it doesn't matter what a reviewer or bloggers on here say that's negative. As long as Carrie is enjoying ...
- Mike K: Thanks for the great list, Juli. My addition would be John Prine singing "Please Don't Bury Me."
- Dave D.: Nice list. You could add one more for the Carter Family (and Robbie Fulks) with "Away out on the Old ...
- Paul W Dennis: Actually I think #1 should be "Bury Me In An Indian Burial Ground" by Marvin Rainwater, a native American country ...
