The Bobby Bares Are Collaborating on Tribute To Shel Silverstein
- Bobby Bare Jr. says Shel Silverstein critiqued every song he wrote until he died and says he was his father’s best friend. In that respect, it’s only fitting that Bare Sr. and Jr. are collaborating on a tribute album to the late children’s author, artist, poet and songwriter. Scheduled for release sometime next year, the album is rumored to include guest appearances from “some of Dad’s peers (George Jones, Ray Price, Emmylou Harris) and, of course, some of Son’s cronies (My Morning Jacket, Dr. Dog, Andrew Bird, Band of Horses).”
- Chet Flippo says “Stars In Her Eyes” is one of the most sought-after songs in Hank Williams‘ catalog, but it may never be released. The song ran on an early morning radio show in 1951 as a 15-minute PSA warning about the dangers of venereal disease.
- Be sure to leave a comment over at Music Tomes by tomorrow for a chance to win a copy of Robert K. Oermann’s new book, Behind the Grand Ole Opry Curtain.
- For The Record’s Mike Severson ponders the idea of a split country format targeting separate age demographics:
…if we can somehow make two country formats work, imagine the opportunity for new artists. It would theoretically open up the playing field to so many deserving and talented artists that aren’t getting the break they deserve. Some in radio will wonder if there are enough quality acts to wrap around Taylor Swift on a younger 18-34 Country format and I say absolutely yes! I’ve heard so many fresh new artists in Nashville that challenge anything currently on the radio including Taylor. Most have no idea the powder keg of singers and songwriters in Nashville.
- Hushabye Baby takes the music industry’s approach of targeting a younger demographic a step further by re-imagining country’s biggest hits as blanket-soft instrumental lullabies for babies. Talk about getting beat at your own game. Artists already featured in the series include Johnny Cash, Carrie Underwood and George Strait with Vince Gill, Willie Nelson and Patsy Cline set to join them in the near future.
- Rosanne Cash is among the artists gathering for a tribute to John Lennon in New York this Sunday.
- The 9th Annual KILT Ten Man Jam is scheduled to take place tomorrow in Houston, TX and features Roger Creager, Billy Currington, Pat Green, Jamey Johnson, Randy Owen, Randy Rogers, Darius Rucker, Jessica Simpson, Gretchen Wilson and Lee Ann Womack. (via reader email)
- Jack White and his band the Raconteurs enlisted the help of Ricky Skaggs to record a bluegrass-inspired version of their previously-released song “Old Enough.” The song, also featuring Ashley Monroe, is being released as a single today exclusively through Amazon.
- Although Taylor Swift’s new album missed the eligibility window for the 2009 Grammys, Todd Martens believes it’s a forgone conclusion that it’ll be nominated in 2010. That leaves Sugarland and Carrie Underwood as his two safe bets for best country album nods at the upcoming awards show, but Swift
still has a prominent role in the broadcast with a coveted performance slot and co-host dutieswill co-host and perform at the prime- time nominee special. - The Gobblers Knob reintroduces its “Down by The Ol’ Mainstream” feature for Joey+Rory’s debut album, The Life of a Song, and says a couple of the honky tonk numbers have the same energy and spunk of some of Mary Chapin-Carpenter’s hits from the ’90s while the slower, softer tracks bring to mind the drama and strong, emotional resonance of Trisha Yearwood’s more memorable ballads.
- Sugarland, Taylor Swift, Dierks Bentley, Glen Campbell, Lady Antebellum and The Zac Brown Band will join Keith Urban as supporting acts for his next tour, which will kick off in May.
- Popular marketing guru Seth Godin has been announced as the keynote speaker for next year’s Country Radio Seminar. (via press release)
- In 2009, the world’s largest honky tonk, Billy Bob’s Texas, and Smith Music Group will celebrate their 10th anniversary of releasing “Live at Billy Bob’s” recordings together. PopMatters‘ Preston Jones dives into the history of their partnership and success.
- Big Rock Candy Mountain kicked off its annual Christmas posts with holidays tunes from Hank Thomson, Asleep at the Wheel and Wanda Jackson.
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Ashley Monroe // Asleep at the Wheel // Billy Currington // Bobby Bare // Carrie Underwood // Darius Rucker // Dierks Bentley // Emmylou Harris // George Jones // George Strait // Glen Campbell // Gretchen Wilson // Hank Williams // Jamey Johnson // Jessica Simpson // Joey+Rory // Johnny Cash // Keith Urban // Lady Antebellum // Lee Ann Womack // Pat Green // Patsy Cline // Randy Owen // Randy Rogers // Ray Price // Ricky Skaggs // Roger Creager // Rosanne Cash // Shel Silverstein // Sugarland // Taylor Swift // Trisha Yearwood // Vince Gill // Wanda Jackson // Willie Nelson // Zac Brown Band
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December 2, 2008 at 10:57 am Permalink
Hasn’t Bobby Bare already recorded a tribute to Shel Silverstein (Lullabys, Legends and Lies)? Bare Jr. was on that album too.
December 2, 2008 at 10:58 am Permalink
Wow. Pretty stacked tour. It’ll be interesting to see the ticket prices on a show like that.
December 2, 2008 at 11:17 am Permalink
Matt C–
You’re right about the previous album being mostly Silverstein songs, but it wasn’t really a “tribute album,” just an album of Bare Sr. doing songs by his friend and favorite songwriter. And that was long time ago, and it’s a fairly obscure album by contemporary standards.
This new one will arrive as a posthumous tribute. It was Bare Jr.’s idea, as he’s always talked about how much Shel’s writing influenced him, and how the family friend offered him advice and song critiques before his death. Bobby Jr. was a tyke on the previous album, and it’s somewhat natural for him to join with his dad for a tribute, since Bobby Sr. recorded more Silverstein songs than anyone.
I think the Silverstein catalog can hold up to another Bare family effort. We can even hope it’s as good as “Lullabies, Legends and Lies.”
December 2, 2008 at 11:57 am Permalink
Lullabys, Legends and Lies actually consisted entirely of Shel Silverstein songs, though I guess I understand the distinction between that and a “tribute” album.
However, I don’t consider Lullabys, Legends and Lies to be any more obscure to today’s audiences than Bare himself, and thus I suspect that most everyone who will buy the new collection will be familiar with that set. LLL is a fantastic album that represents Bare’s best work, and I doubt that the new album will reach those heights; thus, there’s bound to be some disappointment.
That’s not an argument against this new collection, which I’ll probably buy (I saw Bare live in 2007 and he’s still a great performer), but it’s my health dose of skepticism.
December 2, 2008 at 12:01 pm Permalink
I’m all for a split in mainstream country radio into two separate formats targeted for young listeners and us older folks. The “Young Country” format could absorb artists like Colbie Caillat and other Taylor Swift contemporaries. The older age format could feature more classic and non-current songs and current songs with a more country and less pop-rock orientation. Many current songs would flourish on both formats and actually increase the listening audience for Nashville’s latest product. I really don’t expect this to ever happen in LA though since we only have one FM country station.
Its nice to see that Jack White is a fan of Ashley Monroe and considers her voice angelic. Maybe he can produce an album for Ashley and title it “Knoxville Rose”!
Rory & Joey fans will like this quip from AllAboutCountry.com regarding the “sleighbell version” of “Cheater,Cheater”:
“Joey & Rory’s Cheater Cheater seems to be getting some traction at Radio—could be the new “sleigh-bell version” of the song which very nicely handles the “Ho” problem many PD’s have had with the song.” “Cheater, Cheater” in both of its versions gets 7 Adds at Top 40 radio this week.
PS - Jamey Johnson’s “That Lonesome Song” was the 5th most added album at “Americana” format radio stations this week! Its rare that artists are active on both Top 40 country and Americana stations simultaneiusly these days.
December 2, 2008 at 12:18 pm Permalink
My issue with splitting country radio according to ages is that it doesnt really solve the “quality” issue. All that it would mean is that you will have two “formats” that adhere to the same narrow mindedness that is currently employed. Chesney, Urban, Keith, RF and the like are near the same ages, so no change there. I should hope that people have learned enough and have seen enough to not think that a split would then creat a spot for Emily West or Ashley Monroe? It would only create a spot for the youngsters who wanted to be exactly like swift or caillat…
I really love Jack White and think it’s awesome that he respects so much great country talent like Loretta, Skaggs and Monroe.
December 2, 2008 at 12:37 pm Permalink
Matt — I agree about the 35-year-old Bare album being a good one. I’m just not sure why you’d be skeptical about new recordings of Silverstein songs by the Bares. They’re not re-doing the old album, they’re just offering the world an album of songs by a songwriter they (and many of us) love. I’m excited that they’re doing it. Evem if the new album isn’t in the same league as “Lullabys…”, it still will serve up some interesting new takes on Silverstein’s songs. Maybe it’ll turn a few more people onto him as well.
Also, I like Bobby Bare Jr.’s work quite a bit. So it’s not just the involvement of his father, and George Jones and Ray Price, that has me excited. I’m just as intrigued to see that members of My Morning Jacket will be on it, too.
December 2, 2008 at 1:54 pm Permalink
Can somebody tell me why Carrie Underwood’s album keeps on getting nominations and awards? It wasn’t even a particularly strong album… what gives?
December 2, 2008 at 2:11 pm Permalink
When I hear that PDs are afraid of programing a song because of the word “Ho,” I realize how ridiculous mainstream country radio is.
December 2, 2008 at 4:54 pm Permalink
I wouldn’t mind “splitting” the radio into two formats. I like both old country and pop country, so I want to hear both types of it. On all the country radio stations here, it’s about 90% new pop country.
December 2, 2008 at 6:00 pm Permalink
“Although Taylor Swift’s new album missed the eligibility window for the 2009 Grammys, Todd Martens believes it’s a forgone conclusion that it’ll be nominated in 2010. That leaves Sugarland and Carrie Underwood as his two safe bets for best country album nods at the upcoming awards show, but Swift still has a prominent role in the broadcast with a coveted performance slot and co-host duties.”
Taylor is performing at the nomination special, not the Grammy telecast. Well, at least not yet.
Hey Drew, maybe some people really liked Carrie’s album.
December 2, 2008 at 6:47 pm Permalink
M.C.: I don’t think that the record will be bad, I just don’t think that it will be as good as LLL, and comparison is inevitable.
However, I would be more enthusiastic if it was just Bare, without the guest stars. Frankly, a lot of these projects where a bunch of legends get together to cover songs aren’t nearly as good as they should be, probably because they feel too much like an exercise in nostalgia rather than a real artistic creation. As for all the folks that Bare Jr. plans to bring into the fold…well, we’d sure complain if they performed at the CMA Awards, right?
December 2, 2008 at 6:58 pm Permalink
If they don’t release Stars in Her Eyes how will I ever know about the dangers of veneral disease? I wasn’t even born in 1951. Do you want me to pick these things up in the streets people?
December 2, 2008 at 7:11 pm Permalink
I love Stormy comments.
December 2, 2008 at 8:11 pm Permalink
Shel Silverstein was an amazingly creative person; and an absolute knockout songwriter. Any project to remind us of that is alright by me.
I mean, “The Cover of the Rolling Stone”, “The Winner” AND “A Boy Named Sue” — just to name a few. (Are you KIDDING me?!?!!?!?)
December 2, 2008 at 9:52 pm Permalink
@Mimi - Thanks for the correction, I updated the news to reflect it.
@Stormy - I wouldn’t want anyone catching preventable venerable diseases, so I found a copy of “Stars In Her Eyes” on Google Video.
December 2, 2008 at 9:54 pm Permalink
The Raconteurs track is working on Amazon now, for those who checked earlier when it wasn’t working.
December 2, 2008 at 10:19 pm Permalink
Brody–Its nice to know you are always looking out for my best interests. But can I download it onto my MP3 player in case I get drunk at the Christmas party and forget? These are the things we must worry about, along with the dangers of veneral disease, of course.
December 2, 2008 at 10:52 pm Permalink
Brody, great find. I’m sorry, but that song is hilarious.
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