DISClaimer Single Reviews (6/06/12)

We went wandering off the beaten path this week to see what we could see. Or rather “hear.”

First of all, despite a plethora of unknowns, Miss Willie Brown muscled everyone aside to grab an utterly uncontested DisCovery Award. These gals are playing both Bonaroo and the CMA Music Festival, so look out, world.

The duo’s “You’re All That Matters to Me” was also in contention for Disc of the Day, as were “Crying on a Suitcase” by Casey James and Steele’s “Do You Really Have to Go.” But I went with the most stone-country performance of the week, “She Did” by veteran Clinton Gregory.

MAGGIE ROSE/I Ain’t Your Mama
Writer: Judson Spence/Candy Cameron; Producer: James Stroud; Publisher: Music of RPM/Dumb Dog/Dixie Stars/Sounds of RPM, ASCAP; RPM (www.maggierosemusic.com)
—Bluesy and groovy. She oozes sultry sex appeal in this performance of a come-on lyric. Sounds good. Send more.

CASEY JAMES/Crying on a Suitcase
Writer: Lee Thomas Miller/Tom Shapiro/Neil Thrasher; Producer: Chris Lindsey & Casey James; Publisher: Writers of Sea Gayle/Itchy Baby/EMI Blackwood/Little Dooey/Songs of Peer/Team Thrash, BMI/ASCAP; BNA/19 ()
—The song is quite unusual, in that it doesn’t ever really rhyme anywhere. The track is a pulse pounding delight, and Casey James one of those rare American Idol kids who sounds like he could have a real future. Recommended.

PHIL HAMILTON/Bad
Writer: Phil Hamilton/Beau Bedford; Producer: Beau Patrick Bedford; Publisher: Phil Hamilton/Beau Patrick Bedford/North Patrick, BMI; Winding Road (www.philhamiltonmusic.com)
—This has a lazy, loping quality that is quite appealing. He has a dusty, dry delivery, and the band keeps it slow, steady and simple. It will probably sound “underproduced” to some, but I think that’s part of its charm.

TONY KERR/Dig Deep
Writer: Tony Kerr/Steven Sheehan; Producer: Steven Sheehan; Publisher: Doreen/Scared Stiff, ASCAP/BMI; Barking Turtle (track) (www.tonykerrmusic.com)
—Kerr is a native of Ireland who has called Nashville home for more than a decade. He’s had a good bit of songwriting success in his homeland. This is the title tune of his second American CD. It is typical of the whole record in that it is a straightforward, acoustic-guitar-and-vocal presentation. His tenor voice is strong and supple, and Sheehan’s guitar work is exemplary. Song-wise, you could dress this up in a full Music Row production with a star warbling and easily have a hit. Also check out “Whiskey and Wood” and “The Prayer.”

MISS WILLIE BROWN/You’ve All That Matters to Me
Writer: Robert John “Mutt” Lange; Producer: Nathan Chapman; Publisher: Out of Pocket/Universal, no performance rights listed; A&M/Octone ()
—Don’t let the name throw you: Miss Willie Brown is a duo comprised of Amanda Watkins and Kasey Buckley. They’re the first artists on the new A&M/Octone imprint. Based on this throbbing bopper, I’d say they have quite a future. They harmonize perfectly, the guitars and steel chime right where they should and the song is as catchy as all get out. Play it again.

LONNIE SPIKER/You Can Go to Hell, I’m Going to Texas
Writer: Lonnie Spicher; Producer: Justin Trevino; Publisher: none listed, ASCAP; LS (888-455-5504)
—This regular visitor to the “DisClaimer” column is back, singing a hard-country ode with “Lone Star State” stamped all over it. Despite the twin fiddles and shuffle beat, there’s no escaping the utter dullness of the melody. Not to mention his rather limited vocal ability.

CLINTON GREGORY/She Did
Writer: Craig Martin; Producer: Jamie Creasy & Clinton Gregory; Publisher: Melody Roundup, BMI; Melody Roundup (CDX) (www.melodyroundupmusic.com)
—We still remember him fondly for 1991’s “(If it Weren’t for Country Music) I’d Go Crazy.” This comeback single is a heartbreak ballad demonstrating how much grace, style and finesse he has retained vocally. Caution: This is real country music: “They say you can’t take it with you/But she did,” when she died, taking his love with her. Prepare to blubber.

STEELE/Do You Really Have to Go
Writer: Karen R. Staley/Timothy P. Henneberry; Producer: Kent Wells; Publisher: Tim Henneberry/Jake and Vegas, SOCAN/BMI; Steele (CDX) (902-221-2340)
—He’s a strong singer, with plenty of lung power, range and feeling. The “open” production of this mid-tempo outing gives him plenty of room to strut his stuff. Promising.

COREY WAGAR/Take Ya Back
Writer: Corey Wagar/Cece Dubois/Beau Fuller; Producer: Kent Wells; Publisher: none listed, BMI/ASCAP; GTR (CDX) (www.coreywagar.com)
—It’s a sprightly “party” ditty that name-checks Tim McGraw, Shania Twain and such while telling its tale about songs prompting fond memories. Hang on for the delightful vocal counterpoint at the finale.

BOBBY LEWIS/Love Me and Make it All Better
Writer: E. Rabbitt; Producer: Jim Loessberg; Publisher: none listed, BMI; Heart of Texas (track) (325-597-1895)
—Bobby’s new Then & Now CD contains recreations of his old United Artists Records hits such as 1966’s “How Long Has It Been,” 1968’s “From Heaven to Heartache” and 1970’s “Hello Mary Lou,” as well as some new material. As this revival of his melodic 1967 hit reminds us, he was also among the first to recognize the songwriting ability of future star Eddie Rabbitt. At age 70, Bobby still sings well, and the slight echo chamber, Floyd Cramer style piano and sighing vocal background singers do an excellent job of conjuring up the classic Nashville Sound recording style. Nice job.

ABC Block Party Returns To CMA Music Fest

ABC television will return to CMA Music Festival, hosting its Block Party and taping the annual primetime television special about the event.

CMA Music Festival: Country’s Night to Rock will air Mon., Sept. 17 (8:00-11:00 PM/ET) on ABC. The special is a primetime postcard of all the best festival concert performances and behind-the-scenes stories with Country stars. This is the eighth time ABC will broadcast this special.

The ABC Summer Block Party at CMA Music Festival will be filled with appearances by stars from the network’s shows. Hosted by Bradford Anderson (General Hospital) the event will be held Friday and Saturday, 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. on Broadway, featuring activities, games and exclusive screenings of some of ABC’s new fall pilots.

In addition, Q&A sessions and autograph signings will feature the stars of the upcoming series Nashville, including Hayden Panettiere, Clare Bowen, and Sam Palladio. Also appearing will be General Hospital stars Steve Burton (“Jason Morgan”), Scott Reeves (“Dr. Steven Webber”), Brandon Barash (“Johnny Zacchara”), and Anderson (“Damian ‘The Jackal’ Spinelli”), who makeup the band Port Chuck.

Nashville’s own Grilled Cheeserie Truck will be on site with sandwiches inspired by ABC’s The Chew, and you never know who might turn up from the show.

Belmont To Offer Motion Picture Degree

Belmont University is adding an undergraduate degree program focusing on motion pictures, cinematography, screenwriting, and film production. Classes will begin in fall 2013. Will Akers, Belmont’s new assistant professor and chair of the program, is developing the curriculum.

Akers has 25 years experience as a screenwriter, and had three feature films produced from his screenplays. He has written for the network television series Strange Luck, Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman and Eerie, Indiana.

Akers’ also background includes 19 years of teaching at Vanderbilt University in film studies, theater and communication studies. He is the author of an industry-standard text, Your Screenplay Sucks!, 100 Ways To Make It Great. The Nashville native graduated from Vanderbilt and earned a master’s degree in cinema production from the University of Southern California.

“Today motion pictures can be found in all kinds of media including television, cell phones and computers; it’s not simply film-in-a-theater anymore,” Akers said. “Belmont’s new program will capitalize on the growing diversity of motion pictures, teaching students all aspects of the craft from script development, through production, to marketing and distribution.”

Belmont Provost Thomas Burns added, “This new undergraduate major is a natural extension of Belmont’s strong liberal arts curriculum and our commitment to high-quality professional programs related to the management and development of the entertainment industry.”

U.S. News & World Report ranked Belmont No. 7 in the Regional Universities South category, and listed it for the fourth consecutive year as one of the top “Up-and-Comer” universities. Belmont University consists of approximately 6,400 students.

Two-For-One Party Celebrates Shelton and Lambert No. 1s

(L-R) back: Sony Music Nashville’s Gary Overton, ASCAP’s LeAnn Phelan, producer Scott Hendricks, Warner Music’s John Esposito, Ashley Monroe, Wrensong Publishing’s Ree Guyer, BMI’s Jody Williams, Disney Music Publishing Nashville’s Kos Weaver, ASCAP’s Mike Sistad, Big Loud Shirt Publishing’s Craig Wiseman, Starstruck Entertainment’s Brandon Blackstock, BMI’s Clay Bradley, Avenue Bank’s Ron Cox. FRONT: Blake Shelton; Miranda Lambert, Jon Randall, Jessi Alexander, and Rodney Clawson. Photo: Rick Diamond

Blake Shelton and Miranda Lambert recently celebrated their respective No. 1 hits “Drink On It” and “Over You” at A Cowboy Town in Whites Creek, TN.

Hosted by ASCAP and BMI, the event honored “Drink On It” writers Jon Randall, Rodney Clawson and Jessi Alexander and singer Shelton for earning his sixth consecutive No. 1 and 11th career No. 1.

Shelton was also honored along with Lambert for “Over You,” which is the couple’s first No. 1 co-write. The song is Lambert’s fourth career No. 1.

Azar to Host Celebrity Golf Event This Weekend

Singer/songwriter Steve Azar will host the inaugural Delta Soul Celebrity Golf & Charity Event June 7-9 in his Greenville, MS hometown.

Joining Azar for the event will be Academy Award-winning actor Morgan Freeman, country singer Johnny Lee, Grammy winner Dan Tyminski, and many other actors, musicians, and athletes. Azar is a talented golfer who was ranked No. 4 on Golf Digest’s “Top 100 Musician Golfers” list.

The golf tournament will take place at the Greenville Country Club, to be followed by a performance by Azar at Harlow’s Casino & Resort on June 9. Proceeds from the event will benefit Azar’s St. Cecilia Foundation, a non-profit organization that raises funds for children’s charities.

More info here.

Publishing News

Kip Raines

Southern Crossroads Music, in association with Pat Finch Music Publishing, has signed songwriter Kip Raines to a co-publishing deal. Raines’ catalog includes Tim McGraw’s No. 1 “One of These Days (I’m Gonna Love Me),” Van Zant’s hit “Help Somebody,” and cuts by Clay Walker and Bucky Covington.

Finch serves as head of Nashville operations for Southern Crossroads, and also owns his namesake publishing company. “Kip brings a freshness and individuality to everything he does,” said Finch. “And I’m looking forward to great success and a long working relationship with him.”

Souther Crossroads CEO Steve McMellon added, “This is a major coup for us. Kip is a stellar writer and a really great addition to the Nashville roster.” Raines joins Greg Becker and Bobby Terry on the Southern Crossroads roster.

“Pat represents the best of both worlds for a songwriter; he’s a lifelong musician with a great instinct for matching songs and artists,” said Raines. “And Steve’s passion and vision for SCM is contagious.”

James House

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Evelyn Shriver and Susan Nadler have renamed their publishing venture Notorious Women Music. The company is home to songwriter James House (“Ain’t That Lonely Yet,” “Broken Wing”) who co-wrote The Mavericks’ new single “Born To Be Blue” with the band’s singer Raul Malo. Also, “Get Lucky” penned by House and John Brannen will be used on the June 27 episode of HBO’s True Blood.

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New Haven Records President Ken Harding and RSI Music Group President Bob Rodgers have announced the signing of award-winning singer and keyboardist Gordon Mote to Nashville-based New Haven Records. The label will release Mote’s next project, Songs I Grew Up Singing, on July 17. Mote is a past winner of MusicRow’sTop 10 Album All-Star Musician award. New Haven is the home of Gold City, Chicago Mass Choir and The Country Music Hall of Fame Gospel Series.

Pictured (L-R): Vince Wilcox, director of marketing for New Haven; Bob Rodgers, president of RSI Music Group; Michael Puryear, publisher, Harding Music Group/Final Four Music; and Ken Harding, president of New Haven Records and Harding Music Group. (New Haven Records photo)

Bobby Karl Works The Room

Chapter 398

Tim McGraw and CAA's Rod Essig (R) celebrate the new CAA Nashville offices at the 20th Annual CAA BBQ on June 4, 2012 in Nashville, Tennessee. Photo: Rick Diamond/Getty Images for CAA

For a moment, I thought I’d walked onto the set of Mad Men.

But it wasn’t Sterling Cooper Draper Pryce; it was the spotless new office headquarters of CAA. Which is, in fact, even more pristinely corporate than the television stage set.

The occasion was the grand-opening gala for the CAA HQ on Monday evening (6/4). The elevator at 401 Commerce takes you up to the Penthouse (high above both UMG and SunTrust). The cream-and-white lobby/reception area looks directly into a massive, glass-walled conference room. The eight-feet-wide, white granite table seats at least 30. The exterior wall commands a vista of SoBro, including the stunning, evolving Music City Center.

A U-shaped corridor wraps around the opposite side of the Penthouse level. At each corner is an executive office with a jaw-dropping view. But even the offices along the hallways have glass walls overlooking something. Woodwork throughout is light walnut. Chairs are black moderne.

There is a break room the size of a small cafeteria. A sitting room, presumably for visiting artists, has a deep-cushioned white sectional, cream colored lounge seats and, of course, a glass wall overlooking Tune Town.

Did I mention that flutes of champagne were arrayed along the receptionist’s counter? So as not to soil the flawless décor, the actual food, drink and mob were on the ground floor on the building’s patio.

And I do mean mob. “EVERYONE is here,” Lori Badgett correctly observed. “If you can’t find someone, they’re here.” “And we’ll see them all again next year,” added Gillie Crowder, referring to the fact that the opening did double duty as CAA’s 20th annual Fan Fair industry “barbecue.”

CAA's Marc Dennis (second to left) and Edens Edge attend the 20th Annual CAA BBQ at the new CAA Nashville offices on June 4, 2012 in Nashville, Tennessee. Photo: Rick Diamond/Getty Images for CAA

“Everyone” included Scott Siman, Susan Stewart, Royce Risser, Hunter Hayes, John Grady, John Dorris, John Esposito, John Huie (I assume; I never actually saw him), Rod Essig (ditto), Randy Scruggs, Ron Cox, Rob Dennis, Scott Clayton, Martin Clayton, Steve & Ree Guyer Buchanan, Steve Moore and Kip Moore, who is riding high at No. 1 with “Something ‘Bout a Truck.” “I wish you could see these clubs we’re filling,” said Kip with a grin. “They sing along with the words to every song on the album.” “That’s the same thing that happened with Eric Church,” I told him. “I am so, so happy for you.”

But I digress. “Everyone” also included Drew Alexander, Daniel Hill, Dwight Wiles, Alan & Beth Raebeck Hall, Melinda Scruggs Gales, Hank Adam Locklin, Chuck Mead, Elizabeth Cook, Mayor Karl Dean, Barry Coburn, Tracy Gershon, Teri Brown (who has moved here), Mike Vaden, Justin Levenson, Nancy Shapiro, Heath Owen (who is working with/for his Hall of Fame dad Randy), Larry Fitzgerald, Christina Winslow, Kathleen O’Brien, Sally Williams and — from A to Z — everyone from Alison Jones to Nicole Zeller.

Nearby, the Country Music Hall of Fame was offering a special media preview of its new exhibit, “Taylor Swift Speak Now: Treasures from the World Tour.”

The party was staged in the Hall of Fame Rotunda. Exotic, lavender-hued roses in glass bowls were centered on each maroon-clad cocktail table. Trays of h’ors d’oeuvre circulated.

Snacking and sipping were Lucas Hendrickson, Rob Simbeck, Kay West, Sherod Robertson, crutch toting Lorianne Crook nursing a knee injury, Charlie Chase, Brian Mansfield, Phyllis Stark, Jimmy Harnen, Ed Morris, Vernell Hackett and Scott Borchetta, taking a rare pause from making music-industry news every day.

“We expect this exhibit to have wide appeal to the fans in town this week,” said the Museum’s Kyle Young. He described Ms. Swift as “an old friend.” I guess so. Her recent $4 million donation, “made international headlines,” said Kyle. “It is the largest donation from an artist in our 45-year history.”

Swift’s Speak Now tour was 111 shows in 82 cities, 19 countries and four continents. It sold more than 1,579,885 tickets and was the top-grossing country tour of 2011. Some 130 people traveled in 21 trucks and 13 buses from date to date. The stage took more than five hours to construct at each venue. There were 350 lights, 116 speakers and 158 motors. A total of 62 tons of equipment hung from the rigging above the stages in the arenas.

The first tour artifact on display is the “Juliet” balcony on which Swift flew around the arena at the finale of each show. Arranged along the glass walls encasing the museum’s archival area on both the third and second museum levels are various set pieces from the show.

There’s the dress with the gold bugle beads worn during “The Story of Us,” the snug gleaming black number form “Long Live,” the red-on-red creation worn for “Better Than Revenge” and the vintage “hillbilly” frock from “Mean” and “Our Song.” Each is displayed with a faux tree, a glamorous chair, a frame, a railing or another prop that originally accompanied it. There’s a video station, too.

Also on view are the “Speak Now” wedding ensemble, the violet “Fearless” cocktail dress, that wafting pale-blue piano gown from “Back to December,” the wild crimson “gypsy” dress from “Haunted” and the climactic “Juliet” gold-and-ivory gown. Were you counting? Yes, Taylor had nine costume changes during each show. Including dancers and instrumentalists, 150 costumes were involved. Wait. Double that. Each one of them had a “spare” that could be worn while the other was being cleaned and/or repaired.

The verdict: Your daughters are going to LOVE this exhibit. Oh, and so will you.

B-Roll: Country TV News

ABC will be preview new shows Nashville and Malibu Country at CMA Music Festival Friday (6/8) and Saturday (6/9) in Rooms 209-210 in the Nashville Convention Center. Nashville is a drama starring Connie Britton and Hayden Panettiere set to premiere Wednesdays in September. Malibu Country is a sitcom starring Reba, Lily Tomlin and Sara Rue which will premiere in November. Details on the screenings here.

• • •

Duets, ABC’s new singing competition show featuring Jennifer Nettles, Kelly Clarkson, John Legend and Robin Thicke, slipped in the ratings for its second episode. The program aired Thurs., May 31 and came in second among the major networks in the 8 and 9 PM/ET time slots, with 5.6 million and 6.2 million viewers, respectively. Ratings according to Zap2It.com.

• • •

Vevo’s new original series Sound + City explores Nashville in one episode. The 5-minute segment features Josh Turner, Katy K Designs, The Basement and Santa’s Pub (huh?). The show hosted by Desi Sanchez (E! News Now, MTV) visited six music cities. See it here.

All About Music Retreat Returns To Nashville

The 12th Annual All About Music TV and Film Retreat will return to Nashville June 11-13, bringing together artists with film/TV music supervisors.

Artists participating in this year’s retreat include Show Dog-Universal’s JT Hodges, indie rock band Moon Taxi, and The So Manys (whose song “Not the End” was featured in the Glee season 3 finale). Attending music supervisors represent CBS, E! Entertainment, Sony Pictures, and Chop Shop among others.

Ocean Way Studio will host attendees for “SongCamps” where music supervisors will collaborate with artists to write and record compositions and engage in discussion about the process of placing songs. Nightly showcases will take place at The Rutledge beginning at 7 pm, and are open to the public.

More info here.

Hot Dog! SunTrust Annual Event Thursday

SunTrust’s Music Row branch is hosting its annual Hot Dog Day on Thurs., June 7. Members of the music business are invited to the bank parking lot from 11:30 a.m. until 2 p.m. for free grub and good music.

The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum is co-hosting the 14th annual celebration. Big Yellow Dog Music songwriters will be performing.

The fun event is typically held the week of CMA Music Festival and serves hot dogs to over 1000 members of the music industry each year.