The Statler Brothers and Tom T. Hall Enshrined In Hall of Fame
- The first song ever recorded by The Statler Brothers was a tune by the name of “The Ballad of Billy Christian,” written by Tom T. Hall. In that regard, it was only fitting that both were inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame at the Ford Theater on Sunday night.
- Last week Rick drew our attention to the recently released album from The Wrights titled In the Summertime, an acoustic covers collection of their favorite folk, blues, country and rock songs that they recorded in their basement. Judging from the soundbites on their website, it’s going to be a doozie. (MySpace)
- Country Weekly’s Chris Neal says Jeremy McCombs debut album, My Side of Town, is one of the year’s most encouraging. (MySpace)
- Randy Lewis has an introduction to the family-band Jypsi. (MySpace)
…a brash young family bluegrass band with a punk-ish edge that’s shaking up the country music status quo. Sisters Lillie Mae, Amber-Dawn and Scarlett Rische and their brother, Frank, create a first impression as Dixie Chicks after a rampage through Hollywood’s thrift stores, their latter-day-hippie brother along for the ride. They both embrace and flaunt country convention with a sound strongly rooted in old-time bluegrass, country, gospel and folk music, something they learned from their staunchly religious parents while nomadically traveling through the South, stopping only long enough to play gigs in RV parks and wherever else they could earn a few dollars.
- Meanwhile, Miranda Lambert introduces her new dog, Hank.
- Joe Diffie plans to record his show at Billy Bob’s on August 8th and release it as a “Live at Billy Bob’s” album in early 2009.
- Country Universe is one spot away from naming the greatest woman in country music, but until that happens, read about CU’s No. 2 woman, Loretta Lynn.
She came from the humblest of beginnings, the daughter of a Kentucky coal miner who married when she was only thirteen years old. Before she turned eighteen, she was a mother of four. But she would emerge from her simple background to become one of the most successful and significant female artists in the history of recorded music, pushing the conventional lyrical boundaries of country music with her sharply written songs.
- In the doom and gloom world of the music industry Taylor Swift is a beacon of hope, illustrating the new benchmark of success, according to Tennessean staff writer Ryan Underwood.
- Here’s a few new tunes that were uploaded to MySpace over the weekend: Ashley Monroe - “Dear Time” (MySpace), Danielle Peck - “Sucks To Be You” (MySpace), and Kacey Musgraves - “His Long Gone (MySpace).
- Former members of Waylon Jennings‘ band have come together again to form a tribute band, Waymore’s Outlaws, with singer-songwriter Tommy Townsend singing lead.
- Taking a cue from Entertainment Weekly’s “22 Rock Heroes You Just Don’t Get” feature, Country Universe opens up the discussion for country legends that you just don’t get, naming Charley Pride as their pick.
- Vanguard Records was concerned that Chely Wright was writing too many “depressing” songs for her upcoming album, Notes to the Coroner, so label executives asked her to record “something positive and hopeful.” Here’s Chely’s reply, “Something Positive and Hopeful:”
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Forgotten Artists: Goldie Hill Had Carl Smith and Goldie Hill been born 30 or 40 years later, they might have been like Faith Hill and Tim McGraw–the dominant married couple in country music.
Forgotten Artist: Wynn Stewart Both Buck Owens and Merle Haggard have cited Wynn Stewart as a major influence on their careers, yet somehow, he was never able to translate his enormous talent into extended and consistent success for himself.
Miranda Lambert - “More Like Her” This kind of material, as opposed to her tough-chick-done-wrong romps like “Crazy Ex-Girlfriend” and “Gunpowder and Lead,” is where her real promise lies
Joey Rory - “Cheater, Cheater” It’s actually downright frivolous, but that just makes it all the more fun. And really, are you allowed to say “ho” on country radio?
Josh Gracin - “Unbelievable (Ann Marie)” Despite initial marketing that touted the album as deep and personal, “Unbelievable (Ann Marie)” is anything but deep or personal.
Josh Turner - "Everything Is Fine" Turner is the rare example of an artist who records material that’s both quality and trademark.
Darryl Worley - "Tequila On Ice" A groovy mid-tempo that sways, a refreshing reprieve from the exhausting pace of a format that clamors for loud music and swelling choruses.
Blake Shelton - "She Wouldn't Be Gone" It’s all about nailing the melody rather than providing a legitimate interpretation that accentuates the lyrical content, although Shelton does do a pretty good job of injecting what limited emotion he can.
Don’t look now, but Darius Rucker, lead singer of 90s rock group Hootie & The Blowfish, has a country hit on his hands. What you probably haven’t heard is that Rucker is the first black artist to chart a single in the country top 20 since Charley Pride last did it in 1988.
News that former Sugarland member and co-founder Kristen Hall is suing her ex-mates, to the tune of $1.5 million, goes a long way towards providing a bit of context regarding the Atlanta singer/songwriter’s sudden departure from the group.
In Memory of Don Helms (1927 - 2008) Helms dated back to a time when an excellent four or five piece band and a good singer were all that were needed to make great country music. No drums, no light shows, no production tricks in the recording studio–just good music.Tagged In This Article
Ashley Monroe // Charley Pride // Country Music Hall of Fame // Danielle Peck // Dixie Chicks // Jeremy McComb // Joe Diffie // Jypsi // Kacey Musgraves // Loretta Lynn // Miranda Lambert // Taylor Swift // The Statler Brothers // The Wrights // Tom T. Hall // Waylon Jennings // Waymore's Outlaws
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23 Comments
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June 30, 2008 at 9:32 am Permalink
So Brody, does this mean we might see a Jypsi review on The 9513? They have a great deal of talent and its just a matter of them getting focused enough in the right direction to realize their potential. I don’t expect Airhead Country Radio to pay them much mind, but they’d fit in great at all the eclectic line-up bluegrass and folk festivals across the country.
I’ve ordered my copy of “In The Summertime” through The Wright’s website and I’m really looking forward to getting it. I also just ordered Kimberly Murray’s new CD from the Ernest Tubb Record Shop. I don’t mind paying full retail for CDs when the music is worth it. If Taylor Swift is the new benchmark of country success, then Miley Cyrus can’t be far behind. Its almost time to contact Jack Kevorkian to put the whole Mainstream/Airhead Country Radio establishment out of our misery…….
Long before Kacey Musgraves appeared on Nashville Star she was highly regarded in Cowboy/Western Swing Music circles and had won yodeling awards as a teen. I have one of Kacey’s albums “Wanted: One Good Cowboy” from 2003 that features a duet co-written with her pal at the time Miranda Lambert. The vocals sound thin and have unnecessary reverb, just like on Miranda Lambert’s indie debut CD, so the albums may have unfortunately been produced by the same person.
Ashley Monroe’s new song is excellent. Ashley needs to stay away from Trent Dabbs musically speaking as I don’t care for his music(?) one bit and he drags Ashley’s co-writes down to his level. I bought a CD maade for the Nashville Film Festival that has Trent doing solo songs and some duets with Ashley and its all pretty weak. Hopefully that collaboration will be temporary….
June 30, 2008 at 9:41 am Permalink
Disagree, Rick. The music Ashley has been releasing through her myspace is fantastic.
In fact, some of it might just be brilliant.
June 30, 2008 at 9:58 am Permalink
The Statler Brothers and Tom T Hall. Congratulations! An honor well deserved.
June 30, 2008 at 10:12 am Permalink
Will the Wright’s CD be in stereo form (it (the samples aren’t)? I’ll definitely purchase it; it’s very good.
June 30, 2008 at 10:17 am Permalink
Re: “In the Summertime”
I was expecting The Wrights’ version of it to be up-tempo like the original. Leave it to Roger Miller to craft a fast song with lyrics that don’t sound dumb slowed down to a crawl.
June 30, 2008 at 10:18 am Permalink
I also liked all of the songs Ashley’s been putting on her myspace page, but “Dear Time” may be the best one up there. Also thank you Rick for mentioning The Wrights’ new album, I’m loving it so far. I don’t know about the rest of you, but I’m getting excited for Chely’s new album, the more I hear about it the more I want it. Hopefully it doesn’t turn out bad.
June 30, 2008 at 10:25 am Permalink
That song by Chely was hillarious. I also love the tavern sound to it.
June 30, 2008 at 10:26 am Permalink
Chely’s album was completely off my radar- but anyone that thumbs their nose at the shiny and the happy is usually worth my time. Looking forward to it…
June 30, 2008 at 10:45 am Permalink
Rick: I agree. The Trent Dabbs stuff is awful and reminds me of why I dislike a lot of alt-country and why I’m fundamentally a mainstream music fan.
Mike: I expect Chely’s album to be excellent. Her last effort, The Metropolitan Hotel was, and Notes to the Coroner is a killer title.
June 30, 2008 at 10:50 am Permalink
I mentioned Jeremy McComb on my blog a while back, and I agree that its encouraging. In his song, “this town needs a bar”, he talks about sadness, drinking and the pain of a memory, so it’ll probably never be a mainstream hit, cuz it doesnt mention anything about front porches, watermelon on sunday football on friday, or babies with cancer…
June 30, 2008 at 11:06 am Permalink
I actually like this one by Ashley. I don’t think I liked the new ones by her that were posted earlier though.
June 30, 2008 at 11:07 am Permalink
MR. Malec: Your take on these songs and their sincerety provides us with a great deal of retrospect.Emotion is very strong in all of us,positive or negative.
June 30, 2008 at 11:17 am Permalink
Leeann wrote: “I actually like this one by Ashley. I don’t think I liked the new ones by her that were posted earlier though.”
I have been hearing that from a few people, and I have a theory about the reason why. Ashley Monroe was supposed to be a savior for country music. But her latest music isn’t fundamentally country.
Mike Scott wrote: “MR. Malec: Your take on these songs and their sincerety provides us with a great deal of retrospect.”
Yep, that’s my job.
Kelly wrote: “I mentioned Jeremy McComb on my blog a while back,”
Coincidentally, Jeremy McComb was one of my Artists to Watch in 2008.
June 30, 2008 at 11:28 am Permalink
wow, so two nashville guys and a texas guy actually agree on an artist…not bad :-)…
It actually would be a good time to go back and revisit that series of posts from the new year, just to see how people are stacking up compared to what you were expecting/hoping/suggesting and/or predicting.
June 30, 2008 at 11:31 am Permalink
Ashley and Miranda, huh, Jim? I don’t think I expected Ashley (nor Miranda for that matter) to be a savior for country music. I just didn’t like those other songs. There are plenty of non country sounding songs that I like, but those weren’t among them. I can’t speak for others, but that’s how it is for me.
June 30, 2008 at 11:56 am Permalink
I’m famous!
June 30, 2008 at 12:03 pm Permalink
Oh man, I knew someone was going to imply that I meant the people in question couldn’t possibly like non-country sounding songs.
My statement was a generalization around the idea that when what we get doesn’t meet what we expect, we often don’t like the results. I just thought Ashley’s new music was more rock than country, and I think that probably turned some people off.
June 30, 2008 at 12:33 pm Permalink
Naw…I just thought it was more boring than not boring.:)
June 30, 2008 at 2:58 pm Permalink
Jeez Rick turn that record over; it’s getting stale…..not every country radio station is an airhead one.
June 30, 2008 at 9:23 pm Permalink
Pete. I apologize. Its just that here in Los Angeles our one country station is about as airheaded as they come, with the exception of the occasional classic song and the “Sunday Night Classics” program. My indictments are directed purely at those programmers who hate traditional sounding country music and would like to see it go extinct. My references to “Airhead Country Radio” do not apply to cool stations that have a varied playlist and don’t concentrate strictly on the big name Top 40 pop/rock country artists. I listen to WSM online and the Grand Ole Opry as a cure to an airhead country overdose.
PS - I know that I sound like a broken record, but the voices in my head tell me to express my disgust with the current state of Top 40 mainstream country radio each day or I’ll explode! (just kidding - lol)
July 1, 2008 at 8:02 am Permalink
I too am looking forward to new music from Chely and I have always found her music to not be the upbeat happy music — and that is one of the reasons I like her.
As to Ashley — I love the new stuff - but as many know I am a great fan of hers.
July 2, 2008 at 2:08 pm Permalink
thx Rick…it’s not that I don’t disagree with ya neccesarily. Just don’t like the gegeraliztions, is all… I program a Canadian country station that plays a wide variety of stuff and we figure if a fan of Bob That Head can hear some Rosanne Cash once in a while, they might be able to dig that too :)
July 2, 2008 at 2:14 pm Permalink
That is, IF Bob That Head HAS any fans….
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