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Harper Simon: From New York to Nashville
It’s not often you can take lyrics direct from a song and get a snapshot of the man. But for Harper Simon, the lyrics from “Tennessee” come close to doing just that. Simon’s father–some guy named Paul–wrote the lyrics, which Harper refers to as a “mock-autobiographical” country tune:
And then I rambled around/Drove my [...] -
Josh Thompson Goes To Work: The 9513’s Exclusive Interview
Blue collar country music comes natural to Josh Thompson. He makes no apologies for songwriting that reflects a hard day’s work and the celebration of a week’s end that follows. He writes about it because he’s lived it.
Following in his father’s footsteps, Thompson began pouring concrete at the tender age of 12 in his home [...]Continue reading "Josh Thompson Goes To Work: The 9513’s Exclusive Interview"
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Brandi Carlile – “Dying Day”
Equally influenced by Patsy Cline and Radiohead, Brandi Carlile blends country, pop, folk, and rock and counts Elton John as one of her fans. At only 28 years old, she’s already worked with the likes of T Bone Burnett and Rick Rubin, who produced her third full length album, 2009’s Give Up the Ghost. Written [...]
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Willie Nelson Way Passes Unanimously; Sexy Country Songs; Luke McBain Back For Round Three
The town of Helotes, Texas voted to amend the name of one of its oldest drags. The street in question, Old Bandera Way, is remaining Old Bandera Way, but also taking on the name Willie Nelson Way. And in other street news, Patsy Cline won’t be having her own way, or boulevard, anytime soon. A [...]
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Willie Nelson Signs to Rounder; Country Music’s 50th Anniversary Celebration Coming To DVD; Sarah Buxton Engaged
Rounder Records announced that they have signed Willie Nelson and will release his T Bone Burnett-produced album, Country Music, on April 13.
Chet Flippo suspects genres will go the way of the album.
Thanks to the work of the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, four new DVDs (presented on two volumes) of Opry footage from [...] -
Trace Adkins Wants Him Some Real Joy; Nashville Paves Way For Patsy Cline Boulevard; ‘Ain’t No Grave’ for Johnny Cash
Yesterday afternoon Toby Keith announced Trace Adkins as the first artist signed to Show Dog-Universal Music. All it took to lure the big man from Capitol Records, his home for 15 years, was a smile:
Adkins said he watched Keith on stage when the two toured together last year and saw something he “longed for.”
“I saw [...] -
What is Country Music? An Anthology of Artists’ Responses
In 2009, we asked a number of country artists for their answer to the question “What is country music?” Here is an anthology of their answers.
What is country music?
“Well, I’m a traditional country artist. I always have been and I always will be. I love it so much—I always have—that when you speak of [...]Continue reading "What is Country Music? An Anthology of Artists’ Responses"
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Acuff, Rogers & Evans, and Monroe Head to Grammy Hall of Fame; Unfinished Hank Williams Song Finally Released
The Recording Academy inducted 25 songs into the Grammy Hall of Fame yesterday. Songs in the country category are:
Roy Acuff & The Crazy Tennesseans – “Great Speckled Bird” (Amazon)
Roy Rogers & Dale Evans – “Happy Trails” (Amazon)
Bill Monroe And His Blue Grass Boys – “Mule Skinner Blues” (Amazon)On the surface, Rosanne Cash and Ricky Skaggs [...]
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Waylon Jennings Re-Released; Hank Williams ‘Revealed’; Taylor Swift’s Video for “Fifteen”
Collector’s Choice plans to reissue six of Waylon Jennings‘ late ’60s albums in November with liner notes by Colin Escott.
Chet Flippo interviewed Rosanne Cash for this week’s Nashville Skyline:
What about volume two of The List?
Yeah, what about volume two? I’ve already started talking about it to John. In fact, there’s one outtake that we [...] -
Album Review: Rosanne Cash – The List
Despite the endlessly repeated backstory, Rosanne Cash’s new album has little to do with her father and his influence on her tastes and career, at least not beyond suggesting the tracklist. Rather, The List plays like a tribute to the durability of country songwriting and its impact over the decades. Despite the genre’s lowly reputation [...]
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While the voice of country’s future took home this year’s big honor, a legendary voice from country music’s past scored a win for Album Of The Year. Check out the winners in The 9513's 2nd Annual Country Music Awards now!
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
- Jim Malec: I'll try, but I've never been that good at running around in circles for no apparent reason. I'm pretty sure ...
- Recording Studio: It looks very good. Miley is such a nice singer. Her album is really very good.
- luckyoldsun: Chris N, Toby didn't go after anyone personally in that song--just an unnamed critic. That song is part of what makes Toby ...
- luckyoldsun: Wade Hayes' debut album "Old Enough To Know Better" had a great cut near the end called "Family Reunion" about ...
- nashvegas: Tyler is very much his own person and doesn't try to be like anybody else. I know him personally ...
- travis s: my son dusty commited suicide 1 month ago, he was 12 years. for any of you that has lost a ...
- Tony: I don't understand some of you folks. Trust me I understand the disdain that many have for the country ...
- Jon: I would suspect that while the tune would change the perception of the song... Dude, that's the whole freaking point! ...
- merlefan49: No offense taken
- sam (sam): Although it would be the copyright holder who would have to give permission, even if Dylan did give permission, it ...
