DISClaimer Single Reviews (10/19/11)

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Look beyond our famous stars like Kings of Leon, Paramore, Sheryl Crow, Ke$ha, Ben Folds, Kim Carnes, Michael McDonald, Steve Cropper, Leon Russell, Donna Summer, Keb’ Mo’ and The Black Keys, and you’ll find that they are just the tip of a very, very large pop/rock iceberg in Music City.

The community is incredibly diverse, so that made choosing award winners especially tough this week. There are two DisCovery Award artists. One, Shane Dwight, comes from the R&B column. The other, Nashville newcomer Parachute, is a straight-ahead rock band.

Similarly, the two Disc of the Day winners come from different genres. Legendary singer-songwriter John Hiatt is a rocker at heart. The McCrary Sisters have a disc that showcases their gospel roots.

TONY BENNETT & FAITH HILL/The Way You Look Tonight
Writer: Jerome Kern/Dorothy Fields; Producer: Phil Ramone & Dae Bennett; Publisher: Universal PolyGram/Shapiro Bernstein/Aldi, ASCAP; Columbia (track)
—I am told that Faith is finally finishing a new album (her last was a Christmas album three years ago). Meanwhile, fans needing a Faith fix will have to make do with her Sunday football tunes and this track from Tony’s Duets II collection. Performed with a light jazz combo and sighing strings, this has a lushly romantic vibe. Tony sounds terrific at 85, and Faith proves to be a solid saloon stylist and harmony vocalist. Other Nashville-oriented folks on this justly celebrated set include Carrie Underwood, Sheryl Crow and Willie Nelson.

J.D. SOUTHER/I’ll Be Here At Closing Time
Writer: John David Souther; Producer: Fred Mollin; Publisher: none listed; Entertainment One (track)
—The last outing by this former country-rocker was a surprisingly jazzy affair. On his new Natural History CD, he revisits his distinguished catalog, reworking “Faithless Love,” “New Kid in Town,” “You’re Only Lonely,” “Prisoner of Love,” “Best of My Love” and the like. And, let’s face it, song writing doesn’t come much better than those classics. This finale ballad is a sweet, wistful pledge of devotion sung in an intimate whisper with a gentle, simple piano/guitar accompanying track. It’s as lovely a ballad as he’s ever done, and he reportedly killed with it at a recent showcase at The Basement.

THE FEATURES /Rambo
Writer: Matthew Pelham/The Features; Producer: Brian Carter & The Features; Publisher: Bug/Bughouse/Silent But Violent/This Is Daiglenetics/Ghost Riding, BMI/ASCAP; Bug Music (track) (www.thefeatures.com)
—This durable Nashville rock institution is back with a collection titled Wilderness. Its calling-card single is a rattling, jangling stomper with a passionate, sky-high, lead vocal that rides above super guitar work and a ferocious rhythm track. These four guys can still deliver a mighty big sound.

JACK WHITE/You Know That I Know
Writer: Hank Williams/Jack White; Producer: Jack White III; Publisher: Sony-ATV Acuff-Rose/Third String, BMI; Columbia (track)
—The Lost Notebooks CD has today’s stars writing melodies and/or finishing lyrics left behind nearly 60 years ago by the late Hank Williams. The restlessly creative Jack White seems to always have a Raconteurs, Third Man or other project in the works. Here, he channels Hank both vocally and instrumentally. I’m serious: He sounds surprisingly like the country icon, and Donnie Heron’s steel guitar tingles just like a Drifting Cowboy should. Other participants on this extraordinary record include Sheryl Crow, Merle Haggard, Lucinda Williams,  Vince Gill & Rodney Crowell, Alan Jackson, Patty Loveless and granddaughter Holly Williams, not to mention Bob Dylan.

PARACHUTE /Something To Believe In
Writer: Will Anderson; Producer: John Fields; Publisher: How It Should Be/Warner Chappell, BMI; Mercury (track)
—This five-piece band has recently moved to Music City from Charlottsville, VA. You say you’re sick of dance-pop, hip-hop, emo and “alternative” anything? Step right up, because these guys are old-school pop-rock with real melodies, throbbing electric guitars and pumping rhythm. This track from its The Way It Was CD has a big, U2-ish sound, multi-voiced choral singing on the choruses and a honking sax to top it off. Catchy and uplifting, to say the least.

DAVID MEAD /Twenty Girls Ago
Writer: Bill DeMain/David Mead; Producer: Brad Jones; Publisher: Tin Panda/Bug/Da Wei Phonetic, ASCAP/BMI; Cheap Lullaby (track)
—Mike Grimes at Grimey’s says this is his very favorite pop song today. That’s a good enough endorsement for me, so I spun it. As a long-time David Mead fan, I expected to be delighted and was. It’s a sweetly melodic ballad sung in his trademark tenor with rippling acoustic guitar, fluttering mandolin, sighing clarinet and tinkling piano backing. Romantic regret is set to a deliciously quirky and complex tune. The description that comes to mind is “chamber pop.” It is on last year’s Almost and Always CD, but it’s never too late to buy any Mead music. I remain a completely smitten fan.

THE McCRARY SISTERS/Give Him My All
Writer: Bob Dylan/Regina McCrary; Producer: Tommy Sims; Publisher: none listed; McC (track)
—Regina McCrary has sung on three Dylan CDs and toured with him as well, hence the unusual songwriting credit. The four sisters front a funk track with stately horn blasts and a bass line that pulses righteously. Alfreda, Ann, Deborah and Regina are arguably Nashville’s greatest soul sisters. Just ask Stevie Wonder, Bobby Jones, Wynonna, Ray Stevens (that’s them on “Everything Is Beautiful”), Buddy Miller, Patty Griffin, Mike Farris or the late Johnny Cash and Elvis Presley, all of whom have recorded with them. The new McCrary CD is titled Our Journey. Buy it the moment it drops next Tuesday.

JOHN HIATT/Damn This Town
Writer: John Hiatt; Producer: Kevin Shirley; Publisher: Warner-Tamerlane/Oral Track Tunes, BMI; New West (track) (www.johnhiatt.com)
—This enduring Music City treasure kicks off his Dirty Jeans and Mudslide Hymns CD with this doom-soaked, bluesy rocker. The track rumbles and cries in deep mystery while he wails to the heavens of trials and tribulations. Absolutely addictive and undeniably great.

TOM HAMBRIDGE/I Keep Things
Writer: Tom Hambridge; Producer: Tom Hambridge; Publisher: Tom Hambridge, ASCAP; Superstar (track) (www.tomhambridge.com)
—Tom produced Buddy Guy’s 2010 Grammy winning blues CD and co-wrote Gretchen Wilson’s “I Got Your Country Right Here” his version of which is included on his new Boom! album. The disc begins with this rollicking rocker, sung with a gutsy, drawling rasp and featuring stinging guitar. Tom is a drummer, so you know the “bottom” of the sound is solid.

SHANE DWIGHT/A Hundred White Lies
Writer: Shane Dwight; Producer: Kevin McKendree & Shane Dwight; Publisher: Robert Vincent Zolezzi, ASCAP; R-Tist (track) (www.shanedwight.com)
—This R&B guitar slinger and songwriter has been a Nashvillian since 2008. The title track of his new CD is a bluesy meditation with a serious stomp attack. The McCrarys moan mournfully in the background while Dwight’s guitar underscores every line of broken-home misery. Cool in the extreme.

More CMA Awards Performers Announced

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The performance lineup for the 45th Annual CMA Awards is growing with the addition of nominees Luke Bryan, Eric Church, Thompson Square and Chris Young. Including previously announced nominees The Band Perry, this is the first time since 2008 that all five nominees for CMA New Artist of the Year will perform on the show.

Hosted by Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood, the 45th Annual CMA Awards will be aired live from the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville 7-10 pm CT Wed., Nov. 9 on ABC. Previously announced performers include Jason Aldean, The Band Perry, Faith Hill, Lady Antebellum, Miranda Lambert, Blake Shetlon, Taylor Swift, and Keith Urban as well as all-star duets featuring Kenny Chesney and Grace Potter, Rascal Flatts and Natasha Bedingfield, and Paisley and Underwood.

Tuesday Photos (10/18/11)

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Little Big Town Takes The Field

CMA Award nominees Little Big Town surprised the John Overton High School marching band during a recent halftime show. After entering the field in a brand new Chevy Equinox, the group took to the podium to direct the marching band in a rendition of “Louie Louie.” The John Overton High School music program has received more than 100 instruments from CMA’s Keep the Music Playing program. (L-R): Little Big Town’s Kimberly Schlapman, Jimi Westbrook, Karen Fairchild and Phillip Sweet.

Photo: Donn Jones/CMA

 

 

Photo: James Minchin

Casey James Named Next Big Thing

BNA Records artist Casey James’ debut video, “Let’s Don’t Call It A Night” premiered last Friday (10/14) on CMT’s Big New Music Weekend. The three day event showcases new videos from some of the biggest artists in country music. James was named as the Next Big Thing. James co-wrote “Let’s Don’t Call It A Night” with songwriters Terry McBride and Brice Long.

 

Janie West Music Showcase

Independent song plugging service Janie West Music held a writer’s night at The Listening Room last Thursday (10/13). (L-R): Jim Femino, Janie West, Rachel Williams, Sam Mullins, Greg Johnson, Bobby E. Boyd and Rob Harris.


Church’s “Chief” Certified Gold

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Eric Church‘s latest album Chief has been certified Gold by the RIAA for shipments exceeding 500,000 units.

Capitol labelmate Keith Urban surprised Church with a plaque marking the occasion during a recent stop in Milwaukee on Urban’s 2011 Get Closer World Tour. They also performed one of Chief’s stand-out tracks, “Springsteen,” for the sold-out crowd.

Chief debuted in August with strong sales of 145,000 units.

Photo Credit: Brad Belanger

Bentley’s “Miles & Music” Raises $205K

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Dierks Bentley hosted his sixth annual “Miles & Music for Kids” in Nashville on Sunday (10/16) and raised $205,000 for the Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt. The motorcycle caravan started in Columbia and rode to Nashville for a concert featuring Bentley and friends Eli Young Band, Charles Kelley, Colt Ford, Kevin Fowler, Josh Thompson, Craig Campbell, and Sarah Silva.

Over the series’ six-year history, Bentley has raised over $2 million for Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals. In 2009, Bentley joined forces with Nationwide Insurance, CMT One Country and the Children’s Miracle Network to expand the successful “Miles & Music for Kids.” The event was first held in Nashville and has expanded across the country visiting Phoenix, Dallas-Fort Worth, Seattle, Atlanta, Columbus and Chicago.

Bentley’s current single, “Home,” is quickly climbing MusicRow’s CountryBreakout Chart, and is at No. 26 in only its third week.

www.dierks.com

 

CMA National Broadcast Personality Winner Revealed

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Kix Brooks

Kix Brooks scored his second CMA National Broadcast Personality of the Year award. Good friend Tim McGraw surprised Brooks by calling him during last night’s (10/18) taping of syndicated radio show “American Country Countdown with Kix Brooks.”

McGraw’s call wrapped up a day of surprises for several radio stations and broadcast professionals across the United States after Taylor Swift and Kid Rock also helped share the good news by calling radio stations. Yesterday morning Swift called Station and Broadcast Personality of the Year winners in Major, Large, Medium, and Small Markets.

Later in the afternoon, Detroit, Mich. native Kid Rock surprised Chuck Edwards and Linda Lee of WYCD’s “Edwards and Lee” by calling in with news of their Major Market Broadcast Personality Year win. WYCD was announced as Major Market Station of the Year winner by Swift earlier in the morning.

This year’s list of winners is filled with new faces. With the exception of the National Broadcast Personality of the Year, all of the 2011 CMA Broadcast Award recipients are first time winners in their categories.

The recipients will be recognized during “The 45th Annual CMA Awards,” hosted by Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood and airing live Wednesday, Nov. 9 (8:00-11:00 PM/ET) on the ABC Television Network from the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tenn.

 

Southern Ground Festival Combines Hospitality and Music

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Zac Brown Band’s Southern Ground Music & Food Festival is set for Oct. 21-23 (that’s this weekend, folks) in Charleston, SC. With an eclectic musical lineup and an array of food options, the festival aims to delight the senses of its attendees.

Presented by Landshark Lager and Jack Daniel’s, the three day party will be held at Charleston’s Blackbaud Stadium on Daniel Island. In addition to nightly performances by ZBB, the musical lineup includes My Morning Jacket, Train, Eric Church, Fitz and the Tantrums, Warren Haynes Band, Steel Pulse, Trigger Hippy, The Del McCoury Band and The Preservation Hall Jazz Band, Brett Dennen and Southern Ground artists Sonia Leigh, The Wood Brothers, Nic Cowan, Levi Lowrey, Blackberry Smoke and Clay Cook. A second stage will feature additional performers between main stage sets.

VIP ticket buyers will get special seating, the option to have a four course gourmet meal prepared by award-winning chefs, and complimentary beverages. For more information, visit http://www.southerngroundfestival.com.

Lady A’s Own The Night 2012 Tour

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The second leg of Lady Antebellum’s Own The Night 2012 World Tour will kick off Jan. 27 in Tulsa, OK with Darius Rucker and special guest Thompson Square. The tour runs through June and includes a stop in Nashville on Feb. 22. Tickets for the first dates go on sale Oct. 28.

“This is the tour we’ve always dreamed of putting together,” says Charles Kelley. “We got to help design the stage and really collaborate on new production ideas, and now we’re just really trying to hone in on the perfect set list to give the fans a cool mix of hits and some of their favorite songs from the new record. Plus, we’ve been working on some really intimate moments for our show, where we can really break things down and be close to the crowd. I can’t wait for the next nine months!”

For more details visit www.ladyantebellum.com.

Own The Night 2012 World Tour Dates
1/27         Tulsa, OK
1/28         Des Moines, IA
1/29         Bloomington, IL
2/3           Huntington, WV
2/4           State College, PA
2/14         Salt Lake City, UT
2/15         Denver, CO
2/18         Dallas, TX
2/22         Nashville, TN
2/25         Detroit, MI
2/26         Evansville, IN
3/2           Bossier City, LA
3/3           Lafayette, LA
3/9           Chicago, IL
3/10         Omaha, NE
3/11         Minneapolis, MN
3/14         Saskatoon, SK
3/16         Calgary, AB
3/17         Edmonton, AB
3/19         Vancouver, BC
3/20         Seattle, WA
3/21         Eugene, OR
3/23         San Jose, CA
3/24         San Diego, CA
3/27         Los Angeles, CA
3/28         Fresno, CA
3/29         Sacramento, CA
4/5           Moline, IL
4/6           Kansas City, MO
4/7           Norman, OK
5/3           New York, NY
5/5           Worcester, MA
5/6           Hershey, PA
5/9           Birmingham, AL
5/10         Jacksonville, FL
5/11         Tampa, FL
5/12         West Palm Beach, FL
5/18         Hartford, CT
5/19         Philadelphia, PA
5/20         Columbia, MD
5/22         Augusta, GA
5/31         Cleveland, OH
6/1           Pittsburgh, PA
6/2           Bethel, NY
6/3           Rochester, NY
6/8           Raleigh, NC
6/9           Charlotte, NC
6/10         Virginia Beach, VA
6/14         Montreal, QC
6/15         Ottawa, ON
6/16         Toronto, ON
6/21         St. Louis, MO
6/22         Atlanta, GA
6/24         Cincinnati, OH
6/27         Little Rock, AR
6/28         Memphis, TN
6/29         Indianapolis, IN

 

EMI Bids Fall Short of Expectations

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Bids for EMI Music Group came in lower than expected this month, according to the New York Times.

Cititgroup first put EMI on the auction block in June, after taking it over when Terra Firma didn’t meet its loan requirements.

EMI Music Group includes the publishing and recorded music divisions, which could be sold separately. In June the company as a whole was expected to draw as much as $4 billion.

The most recent round of bids brought higher offerings for the separate divisions than for the company as a whole.

For the recorded music division, bids have ranged from $1-1.3 billion reports NYT. Suitors include Warner Music Group (recently purchased by Russian investor Len Blavatnik), Universal Music Group, and Ronald Perelman’s holding company MacAndrews & Forbes.

EMI’s publishing unit has drawn offers of $1.75 – 2 billion from Sony and BMG Rights Management.

Warner/Chappell Turns 200

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Earlier this year Warner/Chappell and Combustion Music signed hitmaker Brett James. (L-R): BJ Hill (Sr. Director A&R WCM Nashville), Steve Markland (VP A&R WCM Nashville), Nate Lowery (Creative Director for Cornman Music), Brett James, Chris Farren (President Combustion Music), Phil May (VP & GM WCM Nashville), Alicia Pruitt (Sr. Director A&R WCM Nashville), Chris Van Belkom (Sr. Creative Director Combustion Music), Kenley Flynn (Catalog/Office Manager, Combustion Music). Photo: LeeAnn Carlen.

Warner/Chappell Music is celebrating its 200th anniversary this year. Since its beginning in 1811 as Chappell & Co. the publisher has grown to a catalogue of more than one million copyrights and a diverse roster of 65,000 composers. A video tells the Warner/Chappell story, which began at a family music shop on London’s Bond Street, and continued through the rise of sheet music, a devastating fire, the merger with Warner Bros. and beyond. Included in the video are Nashville hitmakers Tim James, and Lady Antebellum’s Dave Haywood and Charles Kelley.

The local office has had recent hits with “Honey Bee,” and “Dirt Road Anthem.” Among the Nashville writers are Ben Hayslip, Little Big Town, Marv Green, Marcus Hummon, Randy Rogers, Tim Nichols, Wendell Mobley, Brantley Gilbert, Joel Shewmake, Deana Carter and many more. The Nashville branch is headed by VP/GM Phil May, and VP Steve Markland.

Design by Nick Bell, words and music by Jimmy Page and Robert Plant

Throughout its history, Warner/Chappell has been home to legendary songwriters Cole Porter, George & Ira Gershwin, Irving Berlin, and Rodgers and Hammerstein.

Some of the contemporary hitmakers include Dave Grohl, Daryl Hall, John Oates, Eric Clapton, Katy Perry, Michael Buble, R.E.M., Green Day, Muse, Timbaland, Red Hot Chili Peppers, and Bruno Mars.

Warner/Chappell Chairman & CEO, Cameron Strang, said, “This major milestone is testament to the enduring talent of our songwriters, our culture of innovation, and the dedication of the people at Warner/Chappell. We’re thrilled to be celebrating this unique anniversary and we are looking forward to finding new ways of expanding our leaadership position and building our reputation as the industry’s most passionate and creative music publishing company.”

As part of the celebration, Warner/Chappell has commissioned leading graphic designers to transform well-known lyrics from its catalogue into works of art. The artwork is being featured at London’s StolenSpace gallery and can be purchased, with the proceeds being donated to the Save the Children charity. Also in the works is a limited-edition commemorative songbook.