Todd Snider and John Carter Cash Play Part In New Loretta Album
- Singer-songwriter Larry Joe Taylor–who doesn’t listen to mainstream music–participated in Galleywinter’s 20 Questions feature.
Your music and festivals really promote songwriting above show. What made you want to really focus on the songwriting aspect? And, who are some of your favorite songwriters?
Songwriting is a craft. I’ve spent all of my musical life trying to hone my craft. It’s what moves me, it’s what I like to talk about and songwriters are who I like to be around. The more I know about songwriting the harder it is to write one. I need to be around good songwriters to write good songs. I’m a big fan of a well written song. Favorite Songwriters? Guy Clark, Jerry Jeff Walker, Kris Kristofferson, John Prine, Richard Leigh, Joe Ely, Keith Sykes, Bob Dylan and Bruce Springsteen.
Plus he mentions a campfire jam from one his festivals that’d make any Texas music fan salivate.
- Kenny Chesney’s show at Gillette Stadium in Foxboro, Mass. next summer sold out fifteen minutes after tickets went on sale. Joining Chesney at the show will be: Keith Urban, Sammy Hagar, LeAnn Rimes and Gary Allan. Garth Brooks didn’t do too shabby either, selling out five concerts in less than an hour.
- Dolly Parton is the cause of controversy in Rotherham–a town in South Yorkshire, England. The city council leader setup a lunch and postponed a meeting to accommodate Parton as she introduces her children’s literacy scheme. The delayed meeting has caused uproar among a couple of council members from minority parties. Independent councillor Tony Mannion says:
“I’ve spoken to the Labour leader. Apparently, he’s a Dolly Parton fan. I suppose my complaints will fall on deaf ears and that some might say it’s a storm in a D-cup, or double D-cup. But it’s the principle.
And Conservative councillor Brian Cutts says:
“What’s she called. Dolly Parkin? I know that she’s American and that she’s a thirsty-looking blonde – by that I mean attractive. And that she’s got a couple of wonderful attributes,” he said. “I wouldn’t claim to be an expert on her. I’m 75 and too old and out of date. I hear Councillor Stone is a fan and he likes to mix with celebrities.”
- Hickory Wind posted a long list of CDs on sale for $5 from Yep Rock Records. I’ve heard of exactly three artists on the list, but skimming over the albums might be a good way to pick up some new music.
- Jamie Foxx made an unexpected appearance with Rascal Flatts on Oprah last Friday, stunning the famous host. And apparently the connection between Rascal Flatts and Jamie Foxx is that Foxx once shared a house with Gary LeVox.
- Gary Allan calls Keith Urban’s tour the best one he’s ever been on.
It’s the best tour I’ve been on, just as far as how I’ve been treated. There are no insecurities — ‘Hey, don’t use this stuff of mine.’ He is letting us do whatever we want.”
I wonder if he was indirectly dissing a past act he’s been on tour with.
- Kellie Pickler is headed for the Persian Gulf to perform for the troops.
- Rumor has it that Loretta Lynn has been writing songs with Elvis Costello and Todd Snider and has been in the studio recording a new album produced by John Carter Cash.
- Teddy Thompson - “Change of Heart” (via Take Country Back)
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December 3, 2007 at 9:49 pm Permalink
That Loretta Lynn albums sounds interesting. John Carter did a great job with Billy Joe Shaver’s latest album and with songwriting talent like Lynn and Todd Snider, it ought to be good. I don’t know enough about Costello to comment on his talents.
I gave the Teddy Thompson album a quick listen when it came out and remember it being pretty good, but I think I’m going to have to go check it out again.
December 12, 2007 at 9:57 pm Permalink
The Loretta album should be incredible. I’m a huge Todd Snider fan and Costello has real country cred (Almost Blue album, King of America album, kinda the Delivery Man album). Loretta still sounded awesome on Van Lear Rose, so if this lives up to its promise, it should be a classic.
December 12, 2007 at 10:19 pm Permalink
As an avowed Elvis costello fan I can tell you he’s complex, wordy, but talented as hell. That he is able to use words as well as he does, and use as many of them as he does, and still makes them all work musically in his songs, is amazing to me.
I am so looking forward to hearing what he and Loretta are cooking up.
December 12, 2007 at 10:23 pm Permalink
PS - Thanks for giving Teddy Thompson his props - I have a lot of good buddies working at Verve and this is a very cool record that deserves to be listened to.
December 12, 2007 at 10:37 pm Permalink
Loretta did still sound great on Van Lear Rose and pertaining to the death row discussion on the “Lighting” article, Lynn’s album has it’s own with “Women’s Prison.”
Y’all got an recommended tracks from Costello?
December 12, 2007 at 11:04 pm Permalink
EC Tracks - “Almost Blue,” “Brilliant Mistake,” “Indoor Fireworks,” “Watxhing the Detectives,” “Veronica,” “Toledo,” “Every Day I Write the Book,” “Beyond Belief,” “Alison,” “Pump it Up,” “Radio Radio,” “Oliver’s Army” - too many to name
It’s ironic that my fave track of his is one he didn’t write: “(Wat’s So Funny ‘Bout) Peace, love and Understanding?,” which was written by Nick Lowe.
December 13, 2007 at 12:02 am Permalink
for the country ish side
“Indoor Fireworks”, “The Big Light”, “Stranger in the house”, “he’s got you”, “why don’t you love me”, “that day is done”, “Either side of the same town”, “the judgement”, “brown to blue”, “good year for the roses”
don’t get me wrong, there are a million more, but that’s a start
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