Rascal Flatts Debut At No. 1

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Rascal Flatts continued its run as the best selling country group of the decade when its first album for Big Machine Records, Nothing Like This, debuted at No. 1 today (11/24) with nearly 165,000 units sold. The project has moved nearly 280,000 digital tracks to date. Nothing Like This entered at No. 6 on the all-genre Top 200 chart.

The lead single from the Dann Huff produced project, “Why Wait,” is at No. 2 on MusicRow’s Country Breakout chart, having already peaked at No. 1.

The band launched the album with numerous television, radio and online appearances including The Late Show With David Letterman, Ellen DeGeneres Show, Today Show, Sean Hannity Show, Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, GAC’s Backstory and CMT’s Invitation Only.

Complete track listing

1. Why Wait   (Tom Shapiro, Neil Thrasher, Jimmy Yeary)
2. Easy   (Katrina Elam, Mike Mobley)******Duet with Natasha Bedingfield
3. Sunday Afternoon   (Joe Don Rooney, busbee)
4. Play   (Bonnie Baker, Katrina Elam, Hunter Hayes)
5. Nothing Like This   (Michael Dulaney, Tom Shapiro, Neil Thrasher)
6. All Night To Get There   (Jay DeMarcus, Paul Jenkins, Jason Sellers)
7. Red Camaro   (Joe Collins, Chris Tompkins)
8. They Try   (Neil Thrasher, Tom Shapiro, Jimmy Yeary)
9. Summer Young   (Gary LeVox, Wendell Mobley, Neil Thrasher)
10. Tonight Tonight   (Gary LeVox, Chris Lindsey, Aimee Mayo, Ryan Tedder)
11. I Won’t Let Go   (Steve Robson, Jason Sellers)

Radio Visits: Carter’s Chord, Gary Allan, JaneDear girls

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Show Dog-Universal Music trio Carter’s Chord made a recent stop in Kansas City to visit with recently elected 2011 Radio Hall of Famer, Dale Carter. (L-R) Becky, KFKF PD Dale Carter, Joanna and Emily.

UMG Nashville artist Gary Allan played at the Fox Theatre in Atlanta last week. (L-R): WKHX’s Mark Richards and Mike Macho; UMG’s Royce Risser; Allan; and Citadel’s Jeff Davidson.

The JaneDear girls spent the first day of deer season with WMIL/Greenfield, WI at their Annual Deer Hunter’s Broadcast. The girls played for fans at a local gas station with Karen, Scott, and Radar from 106.1 FM’s morning show. (L-R) front: Scott, fan, Danelle Leverette of the JaneDear girls, Karen, Susie Brown of the JaneDear girls, and Radar.

Country Artists Soundtrack The Holidays

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Country artists are getting in the spirit and releasing music to soundtrack the holiday season. Here’s a roundup of current holiday releases.

Kenny Rogers has announced dates for his traditional Christmas & Hits Tour, as well as his first-ever live Christmas album, Christmas Live. The 20-date tour kicks off Friday (11/26) in Bossier City, LA and wraps 12/22 in Westbury, NY. Christmas Live, which features holiday favorites like “Silent Night,” “Mary, Did You Know,” and “The Chosen One/Joy To The World,” is available for pre-order on Rogers’ website and at Christmas & Hits tour stops.

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American Idol alum Danny Gokey has apparently taken to his adopted home of Nashville. The RCA Records artist, originally from Wisconsin, has now released his first-ever holiday single—his version of Amy Grant’s “Tennessee Christmas.” Gokey’s version is available for download at online retailers as well as his website.

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Songwriter Deborah Allen (“Baby I Lied”) has partnered up with comedian Cledus T. Judd for a humorous holiday track called “Redneck Christmas.” The song was penned by Allen in 2009, with Judd adding his comedic flair in 2010, and is being released digitally through GMV Nashville.

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Jason Michael Carroll has released his first Christmas album, titled Christmas On The Farm. The disc offers a mix of holiday standards as well as the original title title track co-written with Patrick Davis, which has been shipped to radio for holiday airplay. Carroll also has tour dates scheduled through December, and plans to release a full-length album in 2011.

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Newcomer Rachel Holder has released a holiday single called “Christmas Eve” and partnered with Nashville independent label All Entertainment. The song is available through online retailers, and the Amanda Van Sandt-directed video can be seen here. Holder is currently recording in the studio with industry veteran Chuck Howard.

James Otto Headed To “Jimmy Fallon”

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James Otto will spend Thanksgiving in New York City for a performance tomorrow night (11/25) on NBC’s Late Night With Jimmy Fallon. Joining Otto on his song “Good Thing’s Gone Bad” will be country legend Ronnie Milsap, and critically acclaimed hip-hop group The Roots.

The track, which Otto wrote with Jon Nicholson, James LeBlanc and Gary Nicholson, is from his current album, Shake What God Gave Ya, produced by Paul Worley.

Naval officer Glenn Selby and James Otto

The album also offers a salute to the military on the song “Soldiers & Jesus.” Otto, who grew up in a military family, offered free downloads of the track for Veteran’s Day. He also recently stopped in Washington DC for a performance on the Pentagon Channel. It can be viewed online here.

Benefits: Todd Cerney’s Cancer Fund; Bluegrass for the Homeless

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Todd Cerney

•••Singer/songwriter Todd Cerney, the writer of hits including “Good Morning Beautiful,” and “I’ll Still Be Loving You” has been diagnosed with Stage 4 cancer. The Grammy nominee and ASCAP Country Song of the Year winner has had cuts by Lynyrd Skynyrd, Etta James, Cheap Trick, The Four Tops / Aretha Franklin, Levon Helm, Jason And The Scorchers, John Anderson, The Whites and many more. A bank account to help with medical costs has been set up at Regions Bank’s Music Row branch. Donations can be made at any Regions branch or can be mailed to: Friends of Todd Cerney Account
, Regions Bank, 
1600 Division St., Nashville, TN 37203 or call 615-748-2792. Messages for Todd can be posted at www.caringbridge.org/visit/toddcerney or email Todd at [email protected]. For more details contact [email protected].

•••The 11th annual Christmas Bluegrass Benefit Concert for the Homeless will be held Sun., Dec. 12 at the Station Inn. Hosting will be Eddie & Martha Adcock, Donna Sonner, and Gene & June Johnson. Artists expected to perform include Darrin Vincent, Pam Gadd, Leroy Troy, Randy Waller, Roland White Band, and surprise guests. Suggested minimum donation at the door is $15. Donation ideas also include soap, shampoo, toothbrushes and paste, deodorant, razors, shave cream, combs, travel-size tissues, new socks and underwear, washcloths, sewing kits, pens, pencils and small notebooks. All proceeds and gifts will be distributed through Room In The Inn.

•••Hit tunesmiths Andrew Dorff, Josh Kear, Barry Dean and Luke Laird will play at 9 PM on Dec. 1 at the Bluebird Cafe to benefit UCLA Brain Cancer Research.

DISClaimer Single Reviews (11/24/10)

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Before you dismiss this list as a pack of nobodies, check the fine print.

Between them, these minor leaguers have ties to such major leaguers as The Bellamy Brothers, George Jones, Jason & The Scorchers, former Georgia Satellite Dan Baird, Kid Rock, Uncle Kracker and Charlie Daniels. Plus, there’s a surprising amount of class on display.

The Atlanta-based foursome Ponderosa wins a DisCovery Award with its rootsy, rocking “Old Gin Road,” a preview of its CD dropping in January. Recorded in Nashville, this disc appears on New West Records, a label that last made news by releasing the soundtrack to Crazy Heart with its Oscar winning “The Weary Kind” track.

Rehab tours with the afore-mentioned Kid Rock and Uncle Kracker and has also collaborated with Hank Williams Jr. I’m not sure what to call the band’s sound, but whatever it is, it wins Disc of the Day. And, yes, the group’s roots were planted in a rehab facility.

JESSE BREWSTER/I’m Not Broken
Writer: Jesse Brewster; Producer: Jesse Brewster; Publisher: none listed; Crokked Prairie (track) (www.jessebrewster.com)
—His voice is somewhat lightweight for the heavy, rocking chorus instrumentation. He does get points for whistling the bridge.

COLDWATER CANYON BAND/Nobody Knows
Writer: Gary H. Fisher; Producer: Sean “CT” Thomas; Publisher: none listed, BMI; KountreeBoyZ Entertainment (track) (www.dehtyme.com)
—It has a mellow, west-coasty, breezy thing going on. The Eagles-derived harmonies, heartache lyric, whispered organ and meaty melody are all mighty easy on the ears. Absolutely lend these guys your time.

ERIC LEE BEDDINGFIELD & GEORGE JONES/The Gospel According To Jones
Writer: Barber/Beddingfield/Fears; Producer: Kent Wells; Publisher: Rebel Dawg/Bar Frog/Faverett Tracks, BMI; Rebel Dawg (track)
—The packaging is sensational, a multi-fold-out concept I’ve never seen before. The album is titled This Life Ain’t For Everybody. On this stand-out ballad, Eric is an existential honky-tonker addressing his barroom congregation by moaning and quoting the Possum’s song titles. The boy can definitely sing it country. George’s cameo vocal occurs at the finale.

REHAB/Welcome Home
Writer: D. Alexander/M. Hartnett/W. Scheiner; Producer: Ed Rowland; Publisher: Warner Robbins/M. Hartnett/Wayne Scheiner, BMI/ASCAP; Universal Republic (track)
—The singing and beats are so rapid-fire that it is almost like rap. But the lyric is loaded with hillbilly heart, the harmonies are straight from church and the sentiments are as country as all get out. A very creative sonic adventure.

BRUCE BROWN/Off The Edge
Writer: Bruce Brown; Producer: Bruce Brown & Casey Wood; Publisher: Brass Crab, BMI; BB (track) (www.brucebrownmusic.com)
—Bruce has been in the Charlie Daniels Band for more than 20 years. He’s a guitarist with a deft touch who’s also handy with a hooky melody. On this instrumental title tune to his new CD, he makes his axe “talk” almost like a human voice. It’s a really cool listening experience. Elsewhere on the album, he sings in a jazzy, groove-soaked kinda tone. Recommended.

PONDEROSA/Old Gin Road
Writer: Kalen Nash/Jonathan Thomas Hall; Producer: Joe Chiccarelli; Publisher: FSMGI/Chrysalis One/West Bay, IMRO/BMI; New West (track) (www.popnderosamusic.com)
—The debut single from the band’s Moonlight Revival CD is a grinding, soulful, melodic  country rocker, very much in the footsteps of Creedence Clearwater Revival. Which is to say it is very, very excellent, indeed.

STACIE COLLINS/Hey Mister
Writer: Collins/Collins/Hodges; Producer: Dan Baird; Publisher: Collinsville/Nashville Flash/Bug, SESAC/BMI; Rev (track) (www.staciecollins.com)
—I hear she burned the house down at her album-release party last week. She’s a harp-blowing rocker with attitude to spare. On this lead track to her Sometimes Ya Gotta CD, she wails with a funky backbeat and snarling electric guitars (thank you Warner Hodges and Dan Baird) behind her. Excitement on plastic.

JESSE AND NOAH /First Call After Last Call
Writer: Jesse Bellamy/Danny E. Simpson; Producer: Jesse Bellamy & Noah Bellamy; Publisher: Skunk Ape/Dancin’ Dawg/Paramount, ASCAP/BMI; Luna Chica (track) (www.jesseandnoah.com)
—With a title like this, you expect a little humor or maybe some honky-tonk guilt. Instead, it’s a romantic swoon about a musician who can’t wait to go home to his sweetie. Jesse’s lead vocal is strikingly reminiscent of their famous father David Bellamy’s croon.

THE LAWS/Try Love
Writer: John Lee/Michelle Lee/A.J. Master; Producer: J.P. Cormier; Publisher: SWITR/Can of Words/Moo Ka Moo, SOCAN/BMI; JML (track) (www.thelaws.com)
—The title tune to this Canadian husband-wife duo’s CD is rather underproduced. John’s lead vocal is expressive and soulful, but all that backs him are an acoustic guitar and mandolin. Folk hootenanny, anyone?

CASEY DILWORTH/Keepn’ It Simple
Writer: Darrell Hincks/Richard Fagan; Producer: none listed; Publisher: Broadminded, BMI; CD (track)
—The title tune to Casey’s CD is a gently strummed romantic ballad. He sings well, but I nodded off.

Gloriana, Crystal Shawanda Perform On Macy’s Parade

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Gloriana

Gloriana and Crystal Shawanda are among the country artists performing on tomorrow’s Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. Gloriana will sing its Gold single “Wild At Heart” during the 84th annual event in New York City, airing live on NBC from 9am to 12pm.

Shawanda, whose radio hits include “You Can Let Go,” will perform “Let’s Come Together” on tomorrow’s event. She is a First Nations member of the Ojibwe band in her native Canada, and will represent the Onieda Indian Nation on its “True Spirit of Thanksgiving” float. More than 3.5 million people are expected to attend the Thanksgiving Day parade and more than 50 million viewers tune in nationwide.

Also performing are Kanye West, India.Arie, Jessica Simpson, and Gladys Knight.

Chuck Wicks will help kick off the holiday season in Atlanta at the 63rd annual lighting of the Macy’s Great Tree on Thanksgiving evening. More than 100,000 fans are expected to attend the event at Atlanta’s Lenox Square Mall, and another half-million are expected to watch the live broadcast on WSB-TV. Wicks’ new single, “Old School,” is about to hit radio. It is from his second album, due in 2011.

Eldredge Opry Debut; Edens Edge Performs at ASCAP

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After recently being named CMT’s “Next Big Thing,” Atlantic Recording artist Brett Eldredge is making career highlights with his Opry debut and performing at Maria Shriver’s “March on Alzheimer’s” in Los Angeles and the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America’s “For the Love of George” charity event in Nashville. His emotionally powerful single “Raymond” continues to climb the Country charts. (L-R): Brett’s Grandmother Shirley Eldredge, Brett Eldredge, Country legend Bill Anderson and Brett’s Grandfather Spizz Eldredge.

Big Machine Records’ Edens Edge performed at a private event on Nov. 10 at ASCAP’s Nashville office, for approximately 20 top level executives, including Dick Schultz, founder of Best Buy; Jeff Peterson, Director of Innovation and Strategy at General Mills; and Tani Austin of Starkey Hearing Foundation. Pictured with Edens Edge (Hannah Blaylock, Cherrill Green and Dean Berner) are Schultz and his wife, Maureen; and Shirley and Michael Benson.

Amazon Launches MP3 Gifting

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Before now, giving the gift of digital music would have meant fighting crowds at Best Buy and Target for iTunes gift cards. But with the arrival of Amazon’s MP3 Gifting service, it can be done without ever leaving home.

Launched shortly after the company’s new Kindle Book Gifting service, Amazon’s MP3 gifting allows consumers to buy albums or individual tracks, personalize the purchase with a custom message, and enter the gift recipient’s email address. Recipients will be alerted with an email message letting them know they have a gift waiting. There’s no risk either–if the recipient doesn’t want the chosen album, it can be exchanged for store credit. The service works with all Amazon MP3 downloads.

American Country Awards To Salute Alan Jackson

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Alan Jackson will be honored with the Greatest Hits Award at the American Country Awards on Dec. 6. He will also perform during the show, airing live on FOX from Las Vegas’s MGM Grand Garden Arena.

Jackson has sold more than 50 million albums during his 20-year career, making him a fitting recipient for the Greatest Hits Award.

Hosted by Trace Adkins, the fan-voted American Country Awards will also feature previously announced performers Adkins, Easton Corbin, Toby Keith, Rascal Flatts, Reba, Blake Shelton, Steel Magnolia, Josh Turner and Uncle Kracker. There will be appearances by Laura Bell Bundy, Rodney Carrington, Jewel, Lady Antebellum, Bret Michaels, Ty Murray, Jeff Dunham and Michael Waltrip.

American Country Awards is executive-produced by Bob Bain (TEEN CHOICE 2010, Kids’ Choice Awards). Paul Flattery and Tisha Fein serve as producers; Fletcher Foster is co-producer; and Greg Sills is supervising producer. Michael Dempsey will direct the special.

Visit www.theacas.com for a complete list of categories and nominees.