Your Take: Reinventions
One of my earliest memories of CMT is watching Shenandoah’s “Next to You, Next to Me” video at my grandparents’ house after faking (cough, cough) sick to get out of what I’m sure was a particularly grueling day of elementary school.
The band remains one of my favorites, due in no small part to lead singer Marty Raybon’s catchy twang. After he left in 1996, the band faded from radio prominence, and I was left wondering what happened to Raybon after “Butterfly Kisses” came and went in 1997. Lucky for me, Craig Shelburne brought him back to my attention over on the CMT blog this week:
If you like bluegrass music, I have a couple of recommendations for you. The first is Marty Raybon & Full Circle’s This That and the Other. You may recognize Raybon as the engaging lead singer of Shenandoah, who had a batch of popular country singles in the late 1980s and early 1990s. These days he’s pursuing bluegrass music full time yet the new material doesn’t stray far from Shenandoah hits like “Next to You, Next to Me” or “If Bubba Can Dance (I Can Too).” If you like those tunes, try “Everybody’s Reaching (Out for Someone)” and “Luzianna Man.” You’ll be pleased to discover that his voice still sparkles.
Raybon isn’t the first or last singer to change his tune, so to speak, after an initial brush with success. John Rich was part of Lonestar from 1992 to 1998 as a bass guitarist and vocalist, but went on to arguably even more success as one half of Big & Rich. And while music is always looking for the new and the next, listeners don’t always buy in: Other reinventions–such as LeAnn Rimes’ sexy pop crossover and Garth Brooks’ alter-ego Chris Gaines–have failed to entice fans to embrace the changes.
Give us your take: Who is your most or least favorite country music “reinvention”?
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July 2, 2009 at 2:59 pm Permalink
I wouldn’t exactly call it a reinvention and I’m definitely not complaining about the original material but I really enjoyed what Rick Rubin did with Johnny Cash. I wish that Waylon would of lived long enough to put out an album or two produced by Rubin as well.
July 2, 2009 at 3:41 pm Permalink
I’m sure you meant John Rich and not John Rick…
July 2, 2009 at 3:53 pm Permalink
Actually, Marty’s 21st century bluegrass work – which, BTW, he’s been doing for more than 7 years; This That & The Other is his fourth bluegrass album of the decade – isn’t reinvention, it’s return. He started out in bluegrass, and along with his father and brothers, had a rather popular group called American Bluegrass Express, which recorded several albums in the 80s. FYI, a bluegrass version of “Next To You, Next To Me” is on the first of those albums, Full Circle, on the now defunct Doobie Shea label, and it’s excellent.
My least favorite “reinvention” is the album Loretta Lynn did with Jack White.
July 2, 2009 at 4:02 pm Permalink
Wade Hayes, a very talented singer who came along just as the new traditionalists movement was dying out, tried to reinvent himself as part of the duo McHayes
Come back Wade – we need to you rescue us from the Taylor Swifts and Rascal Flatt of the world !
July 2, 2009 at 4:08 pm Permalink
I enjoyed Dolly’s millennium bluegrass stint. Emmylou Harris, Alison Krauss, the Dixie Chicks, Patty Loveless, Pam Tillis, Suzy Bogguss, Randy Travis and Alan Jackson have also impressed with interesting music when they’ve decided to explore rock, bluegrass, swing, gospel, etc. because they stopped worrying about radio playlists.
July 2, 2009 at 4:09 pm Permalink
Also, I really enjoyed the Loretta Lynn/Jack White collaboration.
July 2, 2009 at 4:20 pm Permalink
I’d say my least favourite is Miley Cyrus reinventing herself as ‘country’ with the release of ‘The Climb’ and Hannah Montana soundtrack on country charts and performing on the ACM’s. I dont mind her doing her pop thing for the kids at Disney, but stay as far away from country as possible. Country’s more mature then Disney.
July 2, 2009 at 5:23 pm Permalink
It’s not out quite yet, but I’m looking forward to the new Joe Diffie bluegrass album that is forthcoming off of the Rounder label.
Does the Alison Krauss/Robert Plant collaboration count as something new for both of them? “Raising Sand” is still one of the highlights of 2007 for me.
July 2, 2009 at 6:19 pm Permalink
Emmylou Harris’ “Wrecking Ball” still tops my list. I couldn’t believe it when I heard it the first time and I still love it today.
The Johnny Cash/Rick Rubin work was interesting as well even though I didn’t think it worked all the time. The first one though is great.
Worst? I don’t know probably something I’ve long forgot.
July 2, 2009 at 6:32 pm Permalink
One of my favorite “minor” reinventions was Patty Loveless going bluegrass/old timey om “Mountain Soul” sfter years as a successful pop country artist. Now I’m just waiting for Rebecca Lynn Howard to follow the same “back to my Kentucky roots” path. Honorable mention goes to Donna Ulisse who transitioned from being a fine traditional counry singer circa 1992 to an excellent bluegrass artist 20 some odd years later.
Least favorite transitions: “Van Lear Rose” and Rick Rubin’s work with Johnny Cash. I can see how fans of Americana would like these albums, but those two icons of country music didn’t need any type of “reinvention”. Hey, I’m not called a crusty old traditional country curmudgeon for nothing…
July 2, 2009 at 7:41 pm Permalink
The Dixie Chicks turning from a cowgirl band singing “Thank Heavens For Dale Evans” into the current trio is a pretty impressive transformation.
Nickel Creek came a long way in a relatively short time, as well. Their first album was pretty much the Watkins Family band with Chris Thile (the Watkins’ bass-playing dad was the quickly forgotten fourth member), and there wasn’t much of a clue that they’d all turn into such progressive artists, both in the band and as solo artists.
July 2, 2009 at 9:52 pm Permalink
I really wish “The Lamb” would have come to fruition. I feel like Garth got a bad rap on that one because it never played out the way it was planned.
I cant really think of any reinvention’s that I really loved right now. Maybe I’ll check back later.
July 2, 2009 at 10:14 pm Permalink
“Nickel Creek came a long way in a relatively short time, as well. Their first album was pretty much the Watkins Family band with Chris Thile…”
I agree with the point about the group’s relatively quick transformation into a unique kind of acoustic-pop outfit, but I don’t agree with this at all. IMO, Chris put a strong mark on the band pretty much from the outset.
July 2, 2009 at 11:27 pm Permalink
Reba – style reinvention.
Toby Keith – How Do You Like Me Now!? Reinvention.
July 6, 2009 at 11:38 am Permalink
Ricky Skaggs reinvention “to” country Top 40 and back to his roots in bluegrass.
Tracy Lawrence currently reinventing himself with a Christian/Country release. Randy Travis has also went the Christian/Country route in the past and delivered 3 Christian albums, one that included #1 hit “Three Wooden Crosses.”
July 6, 2009 at 11:39 am Permalink
Raybon also released a Christian/Country album shortly after departing Shenendoah and Raybon Brothers.
July 24, 2009 at 9:45 pm Permalink
I thought Shania Twain’s reinvention made sense but I still love her country music and image more than her “pop” side.
July 30, 2009 at 9:06 pm Permalink
This in response to one of the comments about Wade Hayes. He’s back! He’s got a new CD out! You can order it at wadehayes.com. Loved his McHayes single, don’t know how that didn’t go anywhere on the charts. Sigh. Hopefully his latest effort will indeed help to reinvent country music and save it from where it’s currently headed.
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