DISClaimer (3/27/09)

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ewest-happy150Pretty is as pretty does.

Pert Emily West is a living doll. And now she has the single that has the potential to make her the star she deserves to be. Give the little lady a Disc of the Day prize.

There’s a band in Texas called Spur 503. I have reviewed them once before, but this time I’m hearing something really special. To them, I give a belated DisCovery Award.

spur503-raisinbar150But some of our most newsworthy releases this week come from veteran stars. Dolly Parton is still firing on all cylinders as a writer and singer, more than 40 years since she first made the country charts. She is an absolute wonder. Up in Canada, 68-year-old Ray Griff is still writing good new tunes, too.

Willie Nelson’s RCA sides of the late 1960s and early 1970s were drowned in Nashville Sound productions of the era. Now they have been “un-produced,” and the result is nothing less than sensational listening.

SPUR 503/I’ll Be Gone
Writer: Chance Cody/Greg White; Producer: none listed; Publisher: none listed, BMI; Overdrive (www.spur503.com)
—Splendidly rocking. The electric guitar is down and dirty. The rhythm section is a thundering machine. The fiddle swivels and sways. And the lead vocalist has grit to spare. Crank it up! Make these boys stars.

EMILY WEST/That Kind Of Happy
Writer: Sherrie Austin/Mallary Hope/Will Rambeaux; Producer: Mark Bright; Publisher: Melrose Nashville/Lil’ Aussie Batter/Sony ATV Cross Keys/my Good Girl/Oven, BMI/ASCAP; Capitol Nashville
—This kid is charisma on the hoof. This fizzy rocker will get you out of your chair and bopping around the room like a giddy teenager. What a beam of joy this is. Play it again. And again.

LANCE MILLER/George Jones And Jesus
Writer: Lance Miller/Austin Cunningham; Producer: none listed; Publisher: Famous/Song Matters/EMI April, ASCAP; Lofton Creek/Big 7 (www.lancemiller.com)
—Hard-core country, as you might guess from the title. Lance is a superb honky-tonk stylist, and this gives him plenty of room to twang. Toss yer cowboy hat in the air and give a rebel yell.

DOLLY PARTON/Backwoods Barbie
Writer: Dolly Parton; Producer: Kent Wells & Dolly Parton; Publisher: Velvet Apple, BMI; Dolly (track) (www.dollypartonmusic.net)
—The title tune of Dolly’s latest CD bops along, dropping fiddle and steel notes every which way. The lyric asks that you judge her by what’s inside, rather than her glam exterior. I always have. And I think she’s as cool as the breeze, inside and out.

LEO J. EIFFERT JR./Hannity
Writer: Al Bruno/Troy Hale/Dean Lane/C.J. Einwechter/Leo J. Eiffert Jr.; Producer: none listed; Publisher: Young Country/Three Labs, BMI; Young Country
—Here it is, our first contestant for the worst single of 2009. Everything is so-o-o wrong here—incompetent playing, pathetic production, an off-key vocal, lame lyrics.

WILLIE NELSON/The Ghost
Writer: Willie Nelson; Producer: Mickey Raphael; Publisher: none listed; RCA (track)
—Actually, the production credit reads, “Un-produced by Mickey Raphael.” The Naked Willie CD consists of old 1960s and 1970s RCA sides that originally had Nashville Sound strings and background voices on them. Mickey stripped things down to the rhythm tracks and a few key lead players on guitar or piano. The results are extraordinary, for Willie was at the peak of his vocal powers, and now you can hear some of his finest songs in beautifully unadorned arrangements. “The Ghost,” “I Just Dropped By,” “The Party’s Over,” “Following Me Around” and the like are now officially masterpieces. This is the finest Willie Nelson album in years.

BILLY McKNIGHT & MINDY McCREADY/Sweeter
Writer: Billy McKnight/Mincy McCready/Johnny Garcia; Producer: none listed; Publisher: Billy McKnight/Mindy/Busy at Play, no performance rights listed; Kismet/Lofton Creek (www.loftoncreekrecords.com)
—They sing well. The song wanders around aimlessly in its sleep.

RICHIE McDONALD/Hey God
Writer: Richie McDonald/Tommy Lee James; Producer: Richie McDonald & Tommy Lee James; Publisher: Ballad Boy/Still Working for the Man/Loremoma/ICG, BMI; Stroudavarious (CDX) (615-321-8909)
—Processed cheese.

DONNA ULISSE/The Trouble With You
Writer: Donna Ulisse; Producer: Keith Sewell; Publisher: Uncle Hadley, ASCAP; Hadley Music Group (CDX) (www.donnaulisse.com)
—An saucy acoustic gem with vocalist Donna trading licks with a resonator guitarist while a mandolin chops rhythm.

RAY GRIFF/Bring It On
Writer: Ray Griff; Producer: Ray Griff; Publisher: Calnash, SOCAN; Focus (Canada) (track) (www.raygriff.com)
—Ray Griff was inducted into the Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame in 1998 and was given SOCAN’s Lifetime Achievement Award last year. But this veteran is still writing and singing new tunes. The title song to his latest self-penned collection is a dandy shuffle that proves he’s as solid as ever at age 68.

Rascal Flatts’ Unstoppable Drops Next Week

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flattsLyric Street kingpins Rascal Flatts will release their sixth studio album, Unstoppable on Tuesday (4/7), two days after their ACM Awards appearance, and they’re not stopping there. The hitmaking trio will appear on NBC’s Today Show on April 7, followed by guest spots on The Ellen DeGeneres Show on April 13 and The Late Show with David Letterman on April 16. Prior to all these performances the band will attend the Hannah Montana: The Movie world premiere this Thursday (4/2), at the El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood. Rascal Flatts makes a cameo appearance in the movie performing their songs “Bless The Broken Road” and “Backwards. Unstoppable is the band’s first studio album since 2007’s multi-platinum Still Feels Good.

Zac Brown Band Wants You at Bonnaroo

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zac-brown300ACM Top New Artist nominees Zac Brown Band, along with Bonnaroo Music Festival and CMT have announced The Bonnaroo Music Festival Flyaway with Zac Brown Band Sweepstakes. The winner, along with a guest, will receive a prize package that includes a five-day/four-night Bonnaroo getaway, including flights, hotel, two tickets to the Festival and the opportunity to meet and record a song with Zac Brown Band at a mobile studio backstage. The contest is open for entries until 11:59:59 PM CT on May 22. Full details and eligibility are available here. Zac Brown Band’s debut, The Foundation, has sold over 350,000 copies and their chart-topping debut single, “Chicken Fried,” has been certified Platinum.

Urban’s Defying Gravity Rises to the Top

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keithWith first week sales being projected to total somewhere in the lofty neighborhood of 150,000, Keith Urban’s Defying Gravity does indeed seem to have wings. The album appears likely to top the country charts its first week out and if predictions based upon first day sales from chart watchers at Billboard and Hits magazines pan out, Urban has a good shot at topping Billboard’s Top 200 chart in the coming week as well. Challenging Urban will be Prince who is also projected to have a strong chance at the No. 1 spot.

While Urban hit No. 3 with both 2004’s Be Here and with Love, Pain and the Whole Crazy Thing in 2006, this would be his first time atop the Top 200. Artists whose new releases are being projected to join Urban and Prince in the upper reaches of the charts include UGK, Flo Rida and Diana Krall. Hovering just below these likely Top 10s is Curb’s Rodney Atkins, whose new album, It’s America, is projected to total a respectable 35-40,000 in first week sales.

The momentum promises to continue with next week’s (4/7) offerings from Emerson Drive, Jason Aldean and Rascal Flatts.

Duane Jarvis Passes

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duane1Singer/songwriter/guitarist Duane Jarvis, known to music fans as a sideman for artists like Lucinda Williams and John Prine, as well as for his own critically acclaimed album releases, died of colon cancer this morning in his Los Angeles apartment. He was 51. Jarvis, who was a well-known and much-loved figure on the Nashville music scene for many years, recorded five solo albums, and lived in Nashville until recently. During the ‘80s, he was a key player in the vibrant LA country scene that also included artists like Dwight Yoakam, Williams, Buddy Miller, Rosie Flores, The Blasters and Jim Lauderdale. He released his first solo album, Front Porch, in 1994, the same year he moved to Nashville. Jarvis played guitar on recordings by Flores, Williams, Prine, Yoakam, Frank Black, Amy Rigby, Giant Sand, Peter Case and many others. He toured with artists including Prine, Black and The Divinyls, and his songs were featured in movies including The Horse Whisperer and The Rookie. In 2007, Jarvis, a native Oregonian,  was inducted into the Oregon Music Hall of Fame.

Aaron Tippin Keeps On Truckin’ With CB Contest

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trucker_logos_316_252Blue collar country singer Aaron Tippin has announced an innovative contest that promotes and expands on the trucking theme of his latest release, In Overdrive. In conjunction with mobile communications equipment merchandiser Barjan, CB Radio manufacturer Cobra, and Petro Truck Stops, Tippin has created a contest that recalls the days when CB radio was king. On Friday, April 17 at 7:30 PM/CT at the Petro truck stop in Kingston Springs, Tenn., Tippin will launch the Cobra Coast to Coast Contest with Aaron Tippin. He’ll send out a secret code to truckers to see how long it takes to send the message from coast to coast via CB radio. The first trucker to arrive and announce the secret pass code will receive the prize package which will include a Cobra CB Radio, a Cobra bluetooth wireless headset, and a special Aaron Tippin gift bag that includes CD, concert backstage passes, tee shirts, ball caps and more.

Music City Tennis Invitational Set to Serve

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mainThe Music City Tennis Invitational committee announced today (4/1), that the annual charity tennis tournament will be held on Saturday, April 25 and Sunday, April 26 at Vanderbilt University’s Brownlee O. Currey Jr. Tennis Center. Arista artist Brad Paisley will serve as this year’s celebrity spokesperson for the tournament, with Fox 17 Tennessee Mornings co-host Kelly Sutton serving as celebrity host. The Music City Tennis Invitational is the only fundraiser that directly benefits the Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt. Over the past 35 years, the fundraiser has raised over $1 million in charitable contributions. The Music City Tennis Invitational is the longest-running music-related charity tennis tournament in the country and was named the 2008 USTA Tennessee Charity Event of the Year.

Shawna Russell

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“Fire In The Desert”

Way Out West Records

srussell-playlist40609“A scorcher”
—Chris Neal, Country Weekly

Shawna Russell has released her new Way Out West Records single “Fire In The Desert” to country radio. The follow-up release to her hit single and video, “Should’ve Been Born With Wheels,” “Fire In The Desert” is a hot summertime rocker delivered with power and passion by Russell, who wrote the song with her father/guitarist, Keith, and uncle/producer, Tim.

The track features an all-star line up of musicians including famed L.A. session drummer Russ Kunkel (Lyle Lovett/James Taylor/Stevie Nicks) and bassist David Santos (John Fogerty/Elton John). Russell’s vocals were engineered by Grammy award-winning Julian King (Tim McGraw/Faith Hill), and the track was mixed by Emmy and Grammy recipient Nathaniel Kunkel (The Police/Diana Ross).

“Fire In The Desert” is from Russell’s critically-acclaimed debut CD Goddess which has received rave reviews from the CMA Close Up, Country Weekly, The Oklahoman, and was singled out for a DISCovery Award by esteemed Music Row critic, Robert K. Oermann.

Russell currently maintains a busy live performance schedule, and she and her band are gearing up for a full slate of summer concerts – including appearances at the Country Fever festival in Pryor, Oklahoma and the Expert Mobile Extreme Country Fever in Grande Prairie, Alberta, Canada.

www.ShawnaRussell.com
www.MySpace.com/shawnarussell878

Steve Martin to Make Opry Debut

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stevemartinEmmy-winning actor/comedian/writer Steve Martin will make his Grand Ole Opry debut May 30 with a performance from his first music album, The Crow: New Songs for the Five-String Banjo. Martin’s longtime friend John McEuen, who produced the album, will appear on the show along with Vince Gill, Amy Grant, Stuart Duncan, Tim OBrien, and more. The artists will be performing select songs from The Crow, and Martin will sing his song “Late for School.” The Crow is currently available exclusively through Amazon.com and will be available at all music retailers later this year. “When Steve picks, fans will see how much it means to him to bring his music to the heart of country music,” McEuen said. “The audience will find out he’s a musician disguised as an actor.”

NY Times Profiles John Rich

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jrTuesday’s New York Times (3/31), includes a feature on Warner Bros. artist John Rich. In an article titled “Protest From the Right Side of Country,” Times writer Jon Caramanica interviews the singer about his latest single, “Shuttin’ Detroit Down,” describing the song as “shockingly topical” and indicative of Rich’s “acumen in gauging and channeling the mood of the country, aggressively striking a note of conservative populism rarely seen in any genre of pop since country music’s response to Sept. 11.” “It’s a particularly good time to be a conservative agitator,” Caramanica wrote, “and Mr. Rich is seizing the moment.” You can read the entire article here.