DISClaimer Single Reviews (4/6/11)

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Our top tune this week might be from an unknown act to some of you kiddies.
Yes, there was country music before Carrie Underwood, Kenny Chesney and Taylor Swift. Once upon a time, there was a very popular male duo. No, I’m not talking about Brooks & Dunn. This duo scored nine charted titles between 1987 and 1991. Some of them—“Crazy Over You,” “Sure Thing,” “What Do You Want From Me This Time” and “Fair Shake”—became top-10 smashes. They were billed by RCA as Foster & Lloyd. They quit recording together in 1992. Both have had solid solo careers (the former in country and the latter in pop) and have remained friends.
Well, Radney Foster and Bill Lloyd have now reunited in the recording studio. The result is a win as our Disc of the Day.
I have a splendid new artist to tell you about. The disc is billed as by Iodine, and it leads off with a song with that same title. The act’s main singer and songwriter is a woman named Susanne Mumpower. She totally won my heart. Under any billing, this is a DisCovery Award winner.
JULIE INGRAM/You the Man Babe
Writer: Ingram/Wainwright; Producer: Jay Vern & Julie Ingram; Publisher: Summit Partners/INXS, BMI/ASCAP; LongShot (track) (www.julieingram.com)
—The track rumbles along nicely. Her lead vocal is terminally white.
JASON ALDEAN/Dirt Road Anthem
Writer: Brantley Gilbert/Colt Ford; Producer: Michael Knox; Publisher: Warner-Tamerlane/Indiana Angel/Average Joes/Average ZJS, BMI; Broken Bow (track)
—The truck. The bonfire. The beer. The girls. The proud-to-be-country. The dirt road. You’ve heard it all before, a thousand times. I have to say, however, that his ultra Southern delivery makes even the cliches sound good. And this disc is the first time I have actually liked country rapping.
SHANE LAMB/Better Here
Writer: Shane Lamb; Producer: Casey Wood; Publisher: Sleepysheep, no performance rights listed; Rouge River (track) (www.shanelambmusic.com)
—The title tune to this fellow’s CD is a jaunty country-rocker that’s sung in a boyish tenor. Catchy and promising. He wrote all 10 of the album’s songs, solo.
REBA/When Love Gets A Hold Of You
Writer: Jessi Alexander/Gary Nicholson/Jon Randall; Producer: Dann Huff; Publisher: Vistaville/Hopeless Rose/Sony-ATV Cross Keys/Gary Nicholson/Reynsong/Whayasay, ASCAP/BMI; Valory/Starstruck
—Moody, cool, uptempo and minor key, this song is instantly memorable. The thumping, relentless rhythm track has a terrific sonic undertow. An instant “add.”
IODINE/Mountain People
Writer: Allen/Chamberlain; Producer: Shawn Byrne; Publisher: none listed; Iodine (track) ([email protected])
—Lead singer Susanne Mumpower co-wrote most of the songs on the CD. But let the record show that she also has the exquisite taste to record this gem from the late and much lamented Harley Allen. Darkly atmospheric and utterly gripping, this is essential listening. I have a feeling I’m going to be returning to this record. Just because she’s married to Jamie Johnson of The Grascals, don’t expect the sound of bluegrass here. This woman’s voice whispers, aches, moans and flutters in all the right places. Check out her finesse in “A Woman Will” for instance.
BYRON HILL/Fool Hearted Memory
Writer: Byron Hill/Blake Mevis; Producer: Mike Poston & Byron Hill; Publisher: Sony-ATV Tunes/Make Believus, ASCAP; BHP (track) (www.byronhillmusic.com)
—Perennial Music Row hit writer Hill has a new CD called Radio Songs that is packed with smashes. The renditions are acoustic, simple and honest. This 1982 George Strait hit is just one example of this songwriter’s craftsmanship. It is also a reminder how many decades Byron’s career spans. These songs were originally popularized by everyone from stars past such as Ed Bruce (”Nights”) and Alabama (”Born Country”) up to today’s Joe Nichols (”Size Matters”) and Gary Allan (”Nothing on But the Radio”). Impressive, as well as highly listenable.
FOSTER & LLOYD/It’s Already Tomorrow
Writer: Radney Foster/Bill Lloyd; Producer: Foster & Lloyd; Publisher: none listed, ASCAP/BMI; Effin Ell (track) (www.fosterandlloyd,com)
—The title song of the reunited duo’s comeback CD is saturated with melody and tempo. Chiming guitars, driving energy and hearty vocals are served at this sonic banquet. Buy this.
SIERRA HULL/Easy Come, Easy Go
Writer: Kevin McClung; Producer: Barry Bales & Sierra Hull; Publisher: Mountain William, BMI; Rounder (track) (www.rounder.com)
—Daybreak is young Sierra’s second CD. The 19-year-old mandolinist has that progressive bluegrass instrumental backing and sweet soprano vocal sound that made Alison Krauss a star. The set’s kickoff single accepts heartbreak with resignation and memories. Mighty fine listening.
BUDDY MILLER/Why Baby Why
Writer: Darrell Edwards/George Jones; Producer: Buddy Miller; Publisher: Fort Knox/Bug/Trio, BMI; New West (track) (www.themajesticstrings.com)
—This prodigiously gifted singer, guitarist and songwriter has a new project called The Majestic Silver Strings. It’s a rootsy, guitar loaded, Americana outing of covers including “Cattle Call” “Dang Me” and “Freight Train” plus some obscurities, folk songs and originals. Buddy takes this George Jones classic at a shuffling, relaxed tempo with a casual, good-humored, living-room vibe. The sterling voices of Lee Ann Womack (”Return to Me,” “Meds”), Ann McCrary (”No Good Lover”), Shawn Colvin (”That’s the Way Love Goes”), Emmylou Harris (”Why I’m Walkin’”) and Patty Griffin (”I Want to Be with You Always”) make guest appearances.
GEORGE JONES/I Ain’t Ever Slowing Down
Writer: Al Anderson/Steve Bruton; Producer: Keith Stegall; Publisher: Stairway to Bittner’s/Bug/Songs of Windswept Pacific/Brutunes, BMI; Bandit (CDX) (615-242-1234)
—It’s the Possum with some Cajun spice. Sawing fiddle, slapped snare, barrelhouse piano, twang-fest guitar and a rollicking “party” atmosphere make this little bopper swing.

Signings: Ray Stevens and Songwriter Mike Ulvila

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Mike Ulvila (L) and Gator Michaels (R)


Songwriter Mike Ulvila has signed a publshing deal with Davis Music Group. Ulvila, also known for his work as a musician and producer, has had songs recorded by Kenny Rogers and Ronnie Milsap.
“We’re thrilled to have Mike as part of our family here at Davis Music Group,” said GM Gator Michaels. “He’s an excellent writer, a phenomenal musician and an even better human being.”
“I’m super excited to join the great group of writers at Davis Music Group,” added Ulvila. “I feel like I’m on the ground floor of something important – a company that’s destined for big things. DMG is offering great opportunities to the artists and writers of this town. I’m so proud to be part of it.”

Davis Music Group is a full-service artist development, management, publishing and production company with artists including Point of Grace and Jacob Lyda, and songwriters David Chamberlain, Trey Matthews and Tony Ramey.

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Ray Stevens has signed with the Bobby Roberts Co. for booking and Absolute Publicity for public relations representation.
Mult-platinum selling Stevens is currently in the studio working on several all new albums including Ray Stevens: Spirit of ’76 and the tentatively titled, Encyclopedia of Recorded Comedy Music, a 100+ song collection of some of the greatest comedic tunes of all time.

(L-R): Bobby Roberts, Ray Stevens, Absolute Publicity's Don Murry Grubbs

Hats Across The Row Parade Raises Spirits

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Photos: Christie King


The inaugural Hats Across The Row parade graced the streets of Music Row this afternoon (4/5). Numerous antique cars and cool rides drove down 17th Ave. carrying supporters of the fundraising campaign for the Minnie Pearl Cancer Foundation.
Among those riding or driving were execs Pat Finch, Curtis Green, Karen Conrad, Christina Mitchell, Whitney Daane, and Judy Harris. Football star Kerry Collins was also along for the ride. The Hillwood High School Marching Band kept the beat as the parade made its way to a party at Craig Wiseman’s Big Loud Shirt offices, where another kind of spirits are also being raised thanks to Margarita Rita and the Mas Tacos Truck.
Onlookers came out of their offices to cheer the procession which was spearheaded by Tinti Moffatt and Ree Guyer Buchanan. More info here.




Photo Collage

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Alison Krauss and Dan Tyminski visited the CMT Top 20 Countdown yesterday (4/4) to talk about the first Alison Krauss & Union Station album in seven years, set for release April 12. During the taping Krauss and company had to retreat to a designated tornado shelter, but eventually got to discuss the new album Paper Airplane with CMT host Evan Farmer. See this episode Friday and Saturday (4/8 and 4/9) at 10AM/CT.

(L-R): Evan Farmer, Alison Krauss and Dan Tyminski. Photo: Amber McSwain

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Revered hitmakers Steve Cropper and Jeffrey Steele headlined BMI’s 2011 Tin Pan South show on Thurday night (3/31) at Nashville’s Hard Rock Cafe. Steele, who has written more than 80 top ten hits, kicked the night off, and Stax-bred icon Cropper followed, backed by Steele and his ace band.

Pictured (L-R): BMI’s Bradley Collins and Jody Williams, Jeffrey Steele, BMI’s David Preston, Steve Cropper, and BMI’s Mary Loving.

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Kobalt Nashville helped songwriter Shane McAnally celebrate his first No. 1 recently. Co-written with JT Harding, “Somewhere With You” was recorded by Kenny Chesney, marking the artist’s 21st chart-topper.

Pictured at the party co-hosted by ASCAP and BMI at Cabana are (L-R): Kobalt client Shane McAnally; Kobalt Nashville’s Sr. VP Creative Whitney Daane; JT Harding; and Little Blue Egg’s Robin Palmer. Photo credit: Ed Rode

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Photographer Alan Mayor submitted this shot from his old files: Gov. Ned Ray McWherter wearing Willie Nelson pigtails. McWherter died yesterday (4/4) at age 80, and Mayor remembers the late politician as “always fun to be around.”

Ned McWherter, photo by Alan Mayor

Randy Travis Records Star Duets For "Anniversary Celebration"

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From Randy Travis' first photo shoot with Warner Bros. in 1986


Country stalwart Randy Travis is planning a duets album to celebrate the 25th anniversary of his career. The Warner Bros. Records release, Anniversary Celebration, will include guests Zac Brown Band, Kenny Chesney, Don Henley, Alan Jackson, Jamey Johnson, George Jones, Kris Kristofferson, Tim McGraw, Willie Nelson, Brad Paisley, Carrie Underwood and Kristin Chenoweth. Coming June 7, the album offers new songs in addition to re-makes of many of Travis’ hits (complete track listing below).
Travis has career sales totaling in excess of 20 million records.
“Randy Travis changed the landscape of country music when he arrived on the scene 25 years ago,” said John Esposito, Warner Music Nashville President & CEO. “It is a testament to Randy’s impact in country music that his friends have joined him to celebrate his legacy and his future on Anniversary Celebration.”
His website chronicles his rise to stardom through video, photos and other multimedia elements.
Track listing
1. Everything and All featuring Brad Paisley
2. A Few Ole Country Boys featuring Jamey Johnson
3. Forever and Ever, Amen featuring Zac Brown Band
4. He Walked On Water featuring Kenny Chesney
5. T.I.M.E. featuring Josh Turner
6. Love Looks Good On You featuring Kristin Chenoweth
7. Better Class of Losers/She’s Got The Rhythm (And I Got The Blues) medley feat. Alan Jackson
8. More Life featuring Don Henley
9. Can’t Hurt A Man featuring Tim McGraw
10. Promises featuring Shelby Lynne
11. Is it Still Over? featuring Carrie Underwood
12. Road To Surrender featuring Kris Kristofferson & Willie Nelson
13. Diggin’ Up Bones featuring John Anderson
14. Someone You Never Knew featuring Eamonn McCrystal
15. Too Much featuring James Otto
16. Didn’t We Shine featuring George Jones, Lorrie Morgan, Ray Price, Connie Smith, Joe Stampley & Gene Watson

Industry Ink Tuesday (4/5)

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>>>SESAC has signed singer/songwriter Nathan Bell for representation. Bell, who recently released his latest album, Black Crow Blue, stopped by the SESAC offices to visit and celebrate with the staff.

Pictured (L-R): SESAC’s Tim Fink; Nathan Bell; SESAC’s Amy Beth Hale. Photo: Ed Rode


Mark Montgomery


>>>Tech guru and entrepreneur Mark Montgomery has joined the writing team at Forbes.com, covering all his favorite topics: music, media, technology and entrepreneurship.

Dawn Delvo


>>>Dawn Delvo has joined Black River Entertainment to oversee content management, social networking and e-commerce for the label and its artists. Since moving to Nashville in 2006, the North Dakota native has been building her resume and most recently worked at Lotos Nile: Media Marketing Music. Black River Entertainment artists include Jeff Bates, Sarah Darling, Craig Morgan and Due
West.

Eric Durrance


>>>JKMusicwerks and owner Jeffrey Kadlubowski have signed songwriter Eric Durrance to a one-year contract. Durrance has had hits including Jake Owen’s “Eight Second Ride.” His other songwriting credits include two songs on the soundtrack for the movie The Passion of The Christ, as well as three hit Christian singles with his former band Big Dismal.

Steven Dale Jones Signs With Word Publishing

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Pictured (L-R): Word Music Publishing's Chad Segura, Steven Dale Jones, and Word Music Publishing's Chad Green


Word Music Publishing has signed hit songwriter Steven Dale Jones. The Grammy nominated/award winning writer is known for penning such hits as “One More Day” (Diamond Rio), “Ten Thousand Angels” (Mindy McCready), “He Gets That From Me” (Reba), and many more. Showing his diverse talent, Jones has had cuts from artists as wide-ranging as the Gaither Vocal Band, John Legend, Cassandra Wilson, Josh Turner, and John Waite.
Word Music Publishing is also home to hit songwriters Paul Alan, Matt Boswell, Ian Eskelin, Michael Farren, Becca Mizell, Shaun Shankel, and Jason Walker.

Shelton Hosts ACM Shoot

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Blake Shelton and Luke Bryan. Photo: Ethan Miller, Getty.



 
Blake Shelton hosted the first ever NRA Country/ACM Celebrity Shoot on April 2 at Nellis Air Force Base as part of the Las Vegas Academy of Country Music Awards week celebration. The event consisted of a 13-station, 50-target competition for 19 teams of five shooters—each with a celebrity captain. Prizes were awarded to the top three teams.
Rascal Flatt’s frontman Gary LeVox helmed the winning team—CPrime—to a first place finish. Shelton’s Starstruck team took second place and the Washington Redskins team with captain Dave Butz placed third.

Sarah Darling Photo: Ethan Miller, Getty.


Other country artists that participated included Lee Brice, Luke Bryan, Craig Campbell, Sarah Darling, Due West, Edens Edge, Brett Eldredge, Andy Griggs, Julie Ingram, Justin Moore, Montgomery Gentry, Craig Morgan, Jake Owen, Sunny Sweeney, Josh Thompson, Storme Warren and Chuck Wicks.
 

BMI Presents Annual Christian Awards

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The evening's top winners. Pictured are (l-r): BMI's Phil Graham and Jody Williams; Universal Music Publishing's Dale Mathews; Songwriters of the Year Rodney Griffin, TobyMac and Bo Rinehart; Song of the Year writer Scott Krippayne; and BMI's Beth Laird and Mike O'Neill. Photo by John Russell


BMI saluted the writers and publishers of the past year’s most-performed songs on Christian radio and television during the annual Christian Music Awards, held last night (4/4) at the company’s Music Row offices in Nashville. Among the evening’s top honorees were Rodney Griffin, tobyMac, Needtobreathe’s Bo Rinehart, Scott Krippayne and Universal Music Publishing Group.
Genre-jumping star tobyMac shared his second consecutive Christian Songwriter of the Year crown with southern gospel favorite Rodney Griffin and pop-savvy rockers Needtobreathe’s Bo Rinehart.

Scott Krippayne performs BMI Christian Song of the Year “What Faith Can Do." Photo by John Russell


“What Faith Can Do” earned Christian Song of the Year honors for its creative team. Written by Scott Krippayne and published by Pirk Music, the song was recorded by alt-rock outfit Kutless.
With five songs in the most-performed list, Universal Music Publishing Group was named Christian Publisher of the Year for the fourth consecutive year.
The awards ceremony also saluted the late Christian music industry legend Don Butler with a special tribute.
The evening was hosted by BMI Vice President, Writer/Publisher Relations, Nashville, Jody Williams, along with Senior Director Thomas Cain and Director Beth Laird, of BMI’s Nashville Writer/Publisher Relations Department.
Guests and honorees also enjoyed performances by Triumphant Quartet and Sidewalk Prophets.
A complete list of the 2011 BMI Christian Award winners is available at www.bmi.com.

Universal Music Publishing celebrates its fourth consecutive BMI Christian Publisher of the Year title. Pictured are (l-r): Universal Music Group’s Stacey Wilbur, Eric Hurt, Dale Mathews, Leslie Linebaugh, and John Andrade. Photo by John Russell


The 2011 BMI Christian Songwriters of the Year. Pictured are (l-r): BMI’s Jody Williams; Songwriters of the Year Rodney Griffin, Bo Rinehart and TobyMac; and BMI’s Beth Laird. Photo by John Russell


 

Jayne Rogovin Benefit, Hats Across The Row Today

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>>>Kick the Crap Outta Cancer, a benefit for publicist Janye Rogovin, will be held tonight, Tuesday, April 5, from 6-10 PM at Cabana. Among the performers will be Raul Malo, Jim Lauderdale, Steve Cropper, Foster & Lloyd, Sam & Ruby, Mandy Barnett, Peter Cooper & Eric Brace, Seth Walker, James Intveld, and Matt Urmy. Tickets ($50) include an open bar and giant auction. 100% of the proceeds go to Rogovin’s medical fund at SunTrust Bank. Details on tickets and donations here. Tickets also available tonight at the door. Read more about Rogovin’s story in the Nashville Scene.
>>>Hats Across The Row, a series of fundraisers for the Minnie Pearl Cancer Foundation, will launch today (4/5) with a kick-off parade featuring the Hillwood High School Band. The parade starts at 4 PM and lands at a block party at Big Loud Shirt from 4:30-6:30 PM. Spearheading the campaign are Tinti Moffatt and Ree Guyer Buchanan. More info here.
>>>Kacey Jones and Jesse Goldberg will perform at a benefit for the Zoe Marie Brain Tumor Research Fund, to fight brain cancer in children on Thursday, April 7, 6 PM at Modern Nash Furniture Supply.
>>>Jo Dee Messina will lead the Sat., April 9 St. Jude Music Row Road Race. This year’s race will start and finish at the Walk of Fame Park, across the street from the Country Music Hall of Fame® and Museum. Details here.

Pictured (L-R): Lynn Bogle, chief development officer for the Rescue Mission; Mark Sullivan, GM of Cumulus Nashville; and Cliff Tredway, director of communications and marketing at the Mission


>>>Cumulus Nashville’s 5th Annual Radiothon raised about $100,000 for the Nashville Rescue Mission. The cluster’s five stations (SuperTalk 99.7-WTN; 92Q Nashville’s Big Station-WQQK; 95.5- FM WSM; Classic Hits 97.1 WRQQ; and i106-All the Hits-WNFN) went commercial-free from 5 a.m. to 7 p.m. recently and listeners called in pledges ranging from one meal ($2.26) to thousands of dollars.