It has been five years since singer-songwriter Cam released her sterling debut major label album, Untamed, which contained the 2x multi-Platinum-selling hit “Burning House,” the signature ballad which earned Cam nominations from the Grammys, CMAs, and ACMs. On Oct. 30, the wait will be over, as Cam will release her long-awaited sophomore album, The Otherside (Triple Tigers Records/RCA Records).
The Otherside took shape over the past three years in writing rooms and studios in Nashville, Los Angeles and New York. She reunited with Jeff Bhasker and Tyler Johnson, her co-writers on “Burning House,” but also spent time at Electric Lady Studios, working with Jack Antonoff (Taylor Swift, Lorde, Lana Del Rey) on the newly-released track “Classic.”
“I have always been an admirer of his,” Cam tells MusicRow. “I saw him do so much great work with female artists that I really admire. It resonated with me to see women pull through with really amazing work. We just sat down and had this great connection writing this song. Songwriting can be hard because you are trying so hard to make it perfect, but sometimes it just falls out and feels good and you are so happy with the experience. I think this was the last song I wrote for the album.”
“Classic” draws upon lyrical portraits of ageless, nostalgic imagery, from prom dates to mixtapes, Johnny and June to Bette Davis and Yellow Pages.
“My husband Adam, when we were traveling in Argentina, he found some Lucky Strike cigarettes and he was like, ‘They don’t make them like that anymore,’” she says of the setting that sparked the idea for the first line of “Classic.”
“Jack started strumming a Simon & Garfunkel, up-tempo, ‘Cecelia’-type vibe and it felt so happy. I feel like a lot of times you can get introspective and are trying really hard to answer things for yourself, which is what I do a lot and this one—I tend to feel things in my body when I’m writing and this felt like home. The words that matched that feeling described a person in your life, like a soulmate or a sibling—or for me, my husband—it’s a relationship that outlasts the trends and transcends time. I think especially right now we are really being reminded of how important those kinds of relationships are.”
The album will mark her first effort under a newly-inked deal with Nashville-based Triple Tigers Records, alongside her longtime home at RCA Records. The new partnership further cements her intention as a country artist, following her split from Sony Music Nashville in 2018, after which she continued to be represented solely through Sony’s New York office, via RCA Records.
“People think, ‘Well did your sound change because your partners changed?’ The sound never changed. I’m making the same music I want to make and the way I want to do it. But it means a lot when you are a part of this community, to just feel like you have a home in Nashville when you’re making country music,” she says. “RCA is incredible and have been with me since the beginning and they have Tyler Childers, too, so they know how to support country music. But I needed that Nashville home base. I’ve been really looking for the right partner.”
Triple Tigers Records has had a good run of success with Scotty McCreery (who earned a Gold certification for his album Seasons Change and recently notched his third consecutive career No. 1) and Russell Dickerson (who has also earned three No. 1 hits, certified Platinum and multi-Platinum).
“It is really fun because [Triple Tigers Records GM//Partner] Norbert Nix, he thinks of things and how to do things the best way possible. Their track record proves that he is doing things smart and that is innovative and I want to be a part of that. That’s what I want with my art, too,” Cam says. “Honestly, from the first time we connected more than a year and a half ago, it just felt right. When you find people that are on the same page as you and believe in you and you believe in them, that’s irreplaceable. You have to have a partner in the trenches with you. We’ve been trying to figure out how to make the partnership work for a while.”
Her new album has plenty of life experience to draw from. In the past few years, Cam’s keen, introspective writing style has found support and an audience far beyond Nashville. In 2018, she joined pop superstar Sam Smith on tour, after co-writing the song “Palace” for his album The Thrill of It All. She also offered her own headlining show at Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium, after opening for Harry Styles in the same venue in 2017. Last year, she collaborated with Diplo on the song “So Long,” from his Diplo Presents Thomas Wesley, Chapter 1 effort. She married husband Adam Weaver in 2016, and welcomed daughter Lucy Marvel in December 2019.
The Otherside takes its name from another track on the project, one that celebrates the struggles, joys, transitions, maturity, and insights gleaned during the time that has passed since her debut album.
“This has been a five-year journey between albums and I have gone through so much and obviously the world has gone through so much. I’ve become a mom, so many lessons learned and figuring things out. I feel like a different person on the other side of it. It’s a sort of awareness you get when you are on the other side of it. This is who I am. It’s a never-ending process but at this five-year point, I feel like this specific five years getting to this point, I really am on the other side of something and it’s amazing.”
Teddy Swims Dedicates Cover Of Shania Twain’s “You’re Still The One” To His Mom
/by Lorie HollabaughPhoto credit: David Sharpe
Teddy Swims is releasing a cover of Shania Twain’s classic “You’re Still The One.” He teamed up with producer Dave Cobb for his rendition of the song, which is out today. Swims initially posted a cover of the song on his YouTube channel in October 2019 and it has become his most-viewed cover video to date, surpassing 31 million streams.
“Shania Twain’s ‘You’re Still The One’ brings back so many beautiful memories for me,” said Swims. “It’s been one of my Mom’s favorite songs for as long as I can remember. It has always taken me back to such a blissful place in my life. My cover of this song will always and forever be dedicated to my mother, Glenna.”
Swims has built a devoted fan base with his unique covers. In June, he released a cover of Marvin Gaye’s “What’s Going On” and donated the royalties of the song to the NAACP Legal Defense and Education Fund. In May, he released an intimate cover of The Weeknd’s No. 1 global smash “Blinding Lights.” Over a year ago Swims posted his first YouTube cover, Michael Jackson’s “Rock With You,” and he now has 1.3 million subscribers on his YouTube channel. His videos covering artists like Lewis Capaldi, Justin Bieber, Billie Eilish and Khalid have racked up an astonishing 143 million views.
In January, Swims signed to Warner Records, released his first original song “Picky” and embarked on his first nationwide, sold-out headline tour.
Dale Ann Bradley Signs Multi-Year Deal With Pinecastle Records
/by Lorie HollabaughDale Ann Bradley
Dale Ann Bradley has signed a new, multi-album deal with Pinecastle Records.
The five-time IBMA Female Vocalist of the Year winner will return to the studio in July to work on a brand new album set for release at a later date. The project is the follow-up to The Hard Way, which charted multiple radio hits.
Over the years, Bradley has established herself as one of the top artists in the bluegrass genre. In addition to being nominated for multiple Grammys and performing on the Grand Ole Opry, the songstress has charted several No. 1 hits.
“We’re so excited to continue working with Dale Ann for years to come. She has a proven track record for creating and writing great music, and her voice is one of the most distinctive in the entire Bluegrass genre” says Pinecastle Records owner Lonnie Lassiter. “As she enters the next phase of her career, we’re happy to be a part of the journey, as she continues doing what she does best, which is entertain fans!”
Bradley is a finalist in multiple categories for the upcoming IBMA Bluegrass Music Awards, set to take place in late September virtually. In addition to being up for Female Vocalist of the Year, she’s also nominated for Gospel Recording of the Year with her song “Because He Loved Me,” along with other categories alongside Sister Sadie for Vocal Group of the Year, which they took home last year, along with being the first ever all-female group nominated for Entertainer of the Year.
“I’m so thrilled about my home with Pinecastle Records! When an artist has the support, care, and creative freedom that Lonnie Lassiter and Ethan Burkhardt provide for their artists, that’s a dream come true,” says Bradley. “An artist may search a long time in a career for such a place. This new collection of songs that we will record soon, is a project that the band, label and myself is ‘Charged Up’ about! I hope all audiences find something in the mix that strikes the heart strings. I pray I’m blessed, for many years to come, to make music with these folks.”
Tucker Beathard To Release ‘KING’ In August
/by Jessica NicholsonWarner Music Nashville artist Tucker Beathard will release the second installment of his debut double album, KING, on Aug. 21. Beathard serves as co-producer, co-writer, lead guitarist and drummer on the project.
Over the course of 13 songs, Beathard welcomes co-writers including Jonathan Singleton, Donovan Woods, Marla Cannon-Goodman, Phil O’Donnell and Luke Dick.
The album title is a tribute to the middle name of Beathard’s late brother, Clay, who was tragically killed during an altercation in Nashville in December 2019. The album’s closer, “I Ain’t Without You,” was co-written with his father and fellow songwriter Casey Beathard, and serves as a message to his late brother, but also an encouragement to others struggling through tragedy.
“For me music has always been a way to escape,” explains Beathard. “There’s a lot of things people are dealing with internally that they don’t have voices for right now, and I’ve learned that if I write from the heart, if I sing from experience, I can be that voice. Some people can’t pinpoint what they’re feeling, but they can hear a song and be like ‘Damn, that’s it,’ and I hope I can help them get there with this record. These songs mean a lot to me and I feel really ready to share them with the world.”
KING – Official Track List:
1. Better Than Me
Tucker Beathard, Dan Isbell, Jonathan Singleton
2. You Would Think
Tucker Beathard, Casey Beathard, Donovan Woods
3. One Upper
Tucker Beathard, Jeff Hyde, Ben Stennis
4. 20/10 TN
Tucker Beathard, Casey Beathard, Phil O’Donnell
5. Paper Town
Tucker Beathard, Phil O’Donnell, Monty Criswell
6. You On
Tucker Beathard, Casey Beathard, Luke Dick
7. Miss You Now
Tucker Beathard, Donovan Woods, Todd Clark
8. Only
Tucker Beathard, Marla Cannon-Goodman
9. Find Me Here
Tucker Beathard, Phil O’Donnell, Monty Criswell
10. Too Drunk
Tucker Beathard, Joe Whelan, Shane MInor
11. Faithful
Tucker Beathard, Marla Cannon-Goodman
12. Can’t Stay Here
Tucker Beathard, Ryan Tyndell, Joe Whelan, Will Lamb
13. I Ain’t Without You
Tucker Beathard, Casey Beathard
LAST CALL: Voting For The 2020 MusicRow Awards Ends Today
/by LB CantrellVoting for the 32nd annual MusicRow Awards closes TODAY, Friday, July 17 at 5 p.m. CT.
To receive a ballot to vote in the MusicRow Awards, become a MusicRow member here.
This year’s honors will be announced virtually among multiple MusicRow platforms on Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2020. Presenting Sponsor of the 2020 MusicRow Awards is City National Bank.
Nominees for the MusicRow Awards are determined by a committee comprised of critics and tastemakers, with outside nominations being considered for Breakthrough Songwriter and Breakthrough Artist-Writer. Male and Female Songwriter nominees are based on data from MusicRow’s Top Songwriter Chart. Eligible projects were active between April 1, 2019 to May 31, 2020.
Click here to see the complete list of nominees.
The Top 10 Album All-Star Musicians Awards will also be announced on Aug. 18, recognizing the studio players who played on the most albums reaching the Top 10 of Billboard‘s Country Album Chart during the eligibility period.
T. Graham Brown’s Livestream Concert Earns Telly Award
/by Jessica NicholsonPictured (L-R, top row): Wade Hayes, Ronnie McDowell, T. Graham Brown, Tim Atwood; (L-R, bottom row): David Frizzell, Tim Rushlow, Lulu Roman
In March, shortly after quarantines began in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, T. Graham Brown began searching for a way to continue reaching fans with his music. He called upon several of his fellow artists, including Wade Hayes, Bryan White, Tim Rushlow, Ronnie McDowell, David Frizzell, Tim Atwood and Lulu Roman, to launch Hats Off To the 80s & 90s-The Music Continues.
The artists began offering acoustic performances from the 615 Hideaway Studio in Mt. Juliet, Tennessee, and their efforts have now earned the group a Telly Award, with a Bronze win for Social Media Live Event.
“Man, you know we pulled this together in like 4 days and it was a labor of love,” says T. Graham Brown, who served as the Executive Producer for the show. “I called on a few friends who didn’t feel comfortable getting out and I completely understood. I then called some others and they were like ‘Sure, as long as we are all gonna be safe about it’. I never expected anyone to really pay much attention to what we were doing, to be completely honest about it. To win an award for doing something from the heart is really a pretty cool thing.”
Founded in 1979, The Telly Awards honor excellence in local, regional and cable television commercials as well as non-broadcast video and television programming. With the recent evolution and rise of digital video (web series, VR, 360 and beyond), the Telly Awards today also reflects and celebrates this exciting new era of the moving image on and offline. The Telly Awards annually receive over 12,000 entries from all 50 states and 5 continents, showcasing the best work created within television and across video, for all screens.
Weekly Radio Report (7/17/20)
/by Alex ParryClick here or above to access MusicRow’s weekly CountryBreakout Radio Report.
Following Triple Tigers/RCA Records Deal, Cam Announces Upcoming Sophomore Album
/by Jessica NicholsonIt has been five years since singer-songwriter Cam released her sterling debut major label album, Untamed, which contained the 2x multi-Platinum-selling hit “Burning House,” the signature ballad which earned Cam nominations from the Grammys, CMAs, and ACMs. On Oct. 30, the wait will be over, as Cam will release her long-awaited sophomore album, The Otherside (Triple Tigers Records/RCA Records).
The Otherside took shape over the past three years in writing rooms and studios in Nashville, Los Angeles and New York. She reunited with Jeff Bhasker and Tyler Johnson, her co-writers on “Burning House,” but also spent time at Electric Lady Studios, working with Jack Antonoff (Taylor Swift, Lorde, Lana Del Rey) on the newly-released track “Classic.”
“I have always been an admirer of his,” Cam tells MusicRow. “I saw him do so much great work with female artists that I really admire. It resonated with me to see women pull through with really amazing work. We just sat down and had this great connection writing this song. Songwriting can be hard because you are trying so hard to make it perfect, but sometimes it just falls out and feels good and you are so happy with the experience. I think this was the last song I wrote for the album.”
“Classic” draws upon lyrical portraits of ageless, nostalgic imagery, from prom dates to mixtapes, Johnny and June to Bette Davis and Yellow Pages.
“My husband Adam, when we were traveling in Argentina, he found some Lucky Strike cigarettes and he was like, ‘They don’t make them like that anymore,’” she says of the setting that sparked the idea for the first line of “Classic.”
“Jack started strumming a Simon & Garfunkel, up-tempo, ‘Cecelia’-type vibe and it felt so happy. I feel like a lot of times you can get introspective and are trying really hard to answer things for yourself, which is what I do a lot and this one—I tend to feel things in my body when I’m writing and this felt like home. The words that matched that feeling described a person in your life, like a soulmate or a sibling—or for me, my husband—it’s a relationship that outlasts the trends and transcends time. I think especially right now we are really being reminded of how important those kinds of relationships are.”
The album will mark her first effort under a newly-inked deal with Nashville-based Triple Tigers Records, alongside her longtime home at RCA Records. The new partnership further cements her intention as a country artist, following her split from Sony Music Nashville in 2018, after which she continued to be represented solely through Sony’s New York office, via RCA Records.
“People think, ‘Well did your sound change because your partners changed?’ The sound never changed. I’m making the same music I want to make and the way I want to do it. But it means a lot when you are a part of this community, to just feel like you have a home in Nashville when you’re making country music,” she says. “RCA is incredible and have been with me since the beginning and they have Tyler Childers, too, so they know how to support country music. But I needed that Nashville home base. I’ve been really looking for the right partner.”
Triple Tigers Records has had a good run of success with Scotty McCreery (who earned a Gold certification for his album Seasons Change and recently notched his third consecutive career No. 1) and Russell Dickerson (who has also earned three No. 1 hits, certified Platinum and multi-Platinum).
“It is really fun because [Triple Tigers Records GM//Partner] Norbert Nix, he thinks of things and how to do things the best way possible. Their track record proves that he is doing things smart and that is innovative and I want to be a part of that. That’s what I want with my art, too,” Cam says. “Honestly, from the first time we connected more than a year and a half ago, it just felt right. When you find people that are on the same page as you and believe in you and you believe in them, that’s irreplaceable. You have to have a partner in the trenches with you. We’ve been trying to figure out how to make the partnership work for a while.”
Her new album has plenty of life experience to draw from. In the past few years, Cam’s keen, introspective writing style has found support and an audience far beyond Nashville. In 2018, she joined pop superstar Sam Smith on tour, after co-writing the song “Palace” for his album The Thrill of It All. She also offered her own headlining show at Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium, after opening for Harry Styles in the same venue in 2017. Last year, she collaborated with Diplo on the song “So Long,” from his Diplo Presents Thomas Wesley, Chapter 1 effort. She married husband Adam Weaver in 2016, and welcomed daughter Lucy Marvel in December 2019.
The Otherside takes its name from another track on the project, one that celebrates the struggles, joys, transitions, maturity, and insights gleaned during the time that has passed since her debut album.
“This has been a five-year journey between albums and I have gone through so much and obviously the world has gone through so much. I’ve become a mom, so many lessons learned and figuring things out. I feel like a different person on the other side of it. It’s a sort of awareness you get when you are on the other side of it. This is who I am. It’s a never-ending process but at this five-year point, I feel like this specific five years getting to this point, I really am on the other side of something and it’s amazing.”
2020 MusicRow Awards Category Profile: Artist of the Year
/by Sarah SkatesFollowing the announcement of this year’s nominees for the 32nd annual MusicRow Awards, we take a look at the MusicRow Artist of the Year category. This category is voted on by MusicRow’s subscribed members to honor outstanding achievements by a Nashville artist during the eligibility period of April 1, 2019 to May 31, 2020.
The MusicRow Awards will be announced virtually among multiple MusicRow platforms on Tuesday, August 18, 2020. Presenting Sponsor of the 2020 MusicRow Awards is City National Bank.
Click here to see the full list of MusicRow Awards nominees.
Winners are determined solely by MusicRow Magazine subscribed members. Voting is now open and closes on July 17 at 5 p.m..
To receive a ballot to vote in the MusicRow Awards, become a MusicRow member here.
Carrie Underwood dazzled audiences with one of the year’s most impressive tours, The Cry Pretty Tour 360, tallying numerous sold-out dates and earning critical praise. The massive arena production utilized 36 projectors, 19 video projection screens, 15 stage elevators and over 400 moving lights. On the radio, Underwood continued her hitmaking streak with the sultry single “Drinking Alone” and the sunny “Southbound.” She also continued to successfully expand her lifestyle brand with the release of her best-selling book, Find Your Path.
Dan + Shay continued a meteoric rise with the release of “10,000 Hours” featuring Justin Bieber, which topped the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart for 21 consecutive weeks. The RIAA Platinum-certified hit was the fastest country single of 2019 to reach one million track equivalents. The duo also scored another No. 1 during the eligibility period with “All To Myself,” and took home their second consecutive Grammy award for Best Country Duo/Group Performance for their multi-Platinum No. 1, “Speechless.” Dan + Shay are produced by Producer of the Year nominee Scott Hendricks.
Luke Combs’ current album What You See Is What You Get barrelled to No. 1 on the all-genre Billboard 200 chart and enjoyed the largest-ever streaming week for a country album with 74 million on-demand streams. During the eligibility period, Combs scored his seventh and eighth consecutive chart-toppers with “Even Though I’m Leaving” and current single, “Does To Me” featuring Eric Church, which is in the running for Song of the Year. Combs is the reigning MusicRow Awards Artist of the Year and the 2018 Breakthrough Artist of the Year. His producer Scott Moffatt is nominated for Producer of the Year.
Maren Morris has seen major success with current album GIRL, which shattered the record for the largest ever debut streaming week for a country album by a woman, with 23.96 million streams. Her Platinum-certified single “The Bones” became the longest leading No. 1 on Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart by a solo female artist after its 11th week. Additionally, “The Bones” has very significant crossover success, including a version with Hozier. That follows her chart-topper “GIRL” last summer. Now Morris is on to her latest single, “To Hell & Back,” and her next adventure, motherhood, having had her first baby in March. Morris is the 2016 Breakthrough Songwriter and 2017 Breakthrough Artist of the Year.
Miranda Lambert released her seventh studio album, Wildcard, earning another debut at No. 1 on the Billboard Top Country Album Charts and another round of critical praise. The album is home to the Grammy-nominated single “It All Comes Out in The Wash” and her current single, “Bluebird,” which is in the running for MusicRow Awards Song of the Year. Wildcard was helmed by Jay Joyce, who is nominated for Producer of the Year. Lambert is the 2005 MusicRow Critics Pick winner, which predicts the future success of new artists.
Thomas Rhett continues his hitmaking streak with his fourth studio album Center Point Road, offering autobiographical snapshots and cool sounds that have endeared fans to him since the beginning. The current album has spawned three No. 1 hits all of which he co-wrote (“Sixteen,” “Look What God Gave Her” and “Remember You Young”) and his most recent “Beer Can’t Fix” ft. Jon Pardi, which earned Thomas Rhett his 15th career and record-breaking ninth consecutive No. 1. His current single, “Be A Light,” features Reba McEntire, Hillary Scott, Chris Tomlin and Keith Urban, and is climbing at country radio. Thomas Rhett frequently works with Producer of the Year nominee Dann Huff.
Nashville Songwriter Awards Set Virtual Celebration
/by Jessica NicholsonPast Nashville Songwriter Award recipients and honorees have included Loretta Lynn, George Strait, Ashley Gorley, Luke Combs, Bill Anderson, Josh Osborne, and more.
“While we will certainly miss the grand stage of the Ryman Auditorium for this year’s Nashville Songwriter Awards, we are excited to be able to honor this year’s Song of the Year, Songwriter of the Year, Songwriter Artist of the Year, and the ‘10 Songs I Wish I’d Written’ Awards in a unique way and to be able to tell an even deeper story for each in a virtual format,” said NSAI Senior Director of Operations Jennifer Turnbow. “We relish the opportunity to provide a sense of celebration and community amid the uncertainty of this year.”
“City National has a long tradition of supporting songwriters and the creative community,” said Lori Badgett and Diane Pearson, heads of Entertainment Banking for City National Bank in Nashville, in a joint statement. “While we wish we could celebrate in person, we are pleased that so many of our friends are being honored at this memorable virtual event. Nashville has always been a special place for creators, and we are incredibly proud to continue to support them.”
Full details about honorees, performers, and tickets for the event will be announced in the coming months.
DISClaimer Singles Reviews: Tim McGraw, Miranda Lambert, Tyler Childers, And More
/by Robert K OermannThis was a week of left-field surprises.
In our “comeback” department, we have a strong return to form by Mary Chapin Carpenter as well as a stunning reappearance by Skip Ewing. Tim McGraw is back, too.
Kane Brown continues his pursuit of pop music, while the formerly country-as-grits Elizabeth Cook takes a wild detour into that realm.
While Miranda Lambert‘s “Bluebird” continues its march up into the top-10, she offers a further reminder of her greatness with “Dark Bars.”
Previously noted for writing songs for others, Ross Ellis claims this week’s DisCovery Award.
Most surprising of all is the Disc of the Day prize going to outsider country-music savior Tyler Childers. Long may he sing.
TYLER RICH/Feels Like Home
Writers: Tyler Rich/Andrew DeRoberts/Jon Nite; Producer: Lindsay Rimes; Publisher: none listed; Valory
– Quite stirring and attractive. It’s like “Cheers” set to music with warmth, camaraderie and raise-a-glass good vibes. I’m in.
SAM HUNT/Hard To Forget
Writers: Josh Osborne/Shane McAnally/Ashley Gorley/Audrey Grisham/Luke Laird/Mary Jean Shurtz/Russ Hull/Sam Hunt; Producers: Luke Laird/Zach Crowell; Publisher: none listed; MCA Nashville
– Surprise! He sings it.
MARY CHAPIN CARPENTER/Secret Keepers
Writer: Mary Chapin Carpenter; Producer: Ethan Johns; Publisher: none listed; Lambent Light Records/Thirty Tigers
– Resonant and glowing, with her dark alto leading a lyric about the hidden emotional undertows that can haunt our interpersonal relationships. The rolling, country-rock tempo gives it a radio-ready sound. I have always loved this artist.
KANE BROWN ft. SWAE LEE & KHALID/Be Like That
Writers: Alexander “Eskeerdo” Izquierdo/Kane Brown/Khalid Robinson/Khalif Brown/Mike Will/Ryan Vojtesak; Producer: Charlie Handsome; Publisher: none listed; RCA Nashville
– It’s totally pop, but you have to admire its earworm catchiness. Seldom has a negative-girlfriend sentiment sounded so jaunty.
MIRANDA LAMBERT/Dark Bars
Writers: Liz Rose/Miranda Lambert; Producer: Jay Joyce; Publisher: Sony-ATV Tree/Pink Dog/Songs of Crazy Girl/Warner Tamerlane, BMI; Vanner Records/RCA Nashville
– If there was ever a doubt in your mind that she’s a country-music genius, this will erase it. A swirling meditation about embracing loneliness and facing honky-tonk truth. In a word, awesome.
ELIZABETH COOK/Perfect Girls of Pop
Writer: Elizabeth Cook; Producer: Butch Walker; Publisher: none listed; Agent Love Records/Thirty Tigers
– Disappointing. It’s a good song, but the double-tracked, overly-echoed vocal is distracting. I think the idea here is to take a shot at pop airplay, since it does have a retro ’80s, new-wave vibe. There is also a video for a track called “Bones” that is an even more overt bid for pop/rock acceptance
TIM McGRAW/Here On Earth
Writers: Chase McGill/Jessie Jo Dillon/Jon Nite; Producers: Tim McGraw/Byron Gallimore; Publisher: none listed; Big Machine Records
– Uplifting and inspirational. Music like this can bring people together. Love is the answer.
MANDY BARNETT/It’s Now or Never
Writers: Aaron Schroeder/Eduardo di Capua/Wally Gold; Producer: Fred Mollin; Publisher: Gladys/Kobalt/Aberbach/Raleigh/Universal, ASCAP/SIAE; Melody Place/BMG
– Mandy replaces Elvis’s florid, quasi-operatic reading of the 1960 song with something more sweet and intimate, while sacrificing none of her vocal power. A winner.
ROSS ELLIS/Love Blind
Writers: Allison Veltz Cruz/Ross Ellis/Zach Kale; Producer: Aaron Eshuis; Publisher: none listed; RCA Nashville
– It’s a heartfelt ballad wherein he prays that she will overlook his shortcomings and keep loving him. Quietly endearing.
TYLER CHILDERS/Country Squire
Writer: Tyler Childers; Producers: Sturgill Simpson/David Ferguson; Publisher: none listed; Hickman Holler Records/RCA Records
– The subject of the title is a 24-foot camper. He’s fixing it up to make a home for himself and his honey while a hillbilly band prances friskly behind him. As always, he’s a beacon of Real Country Music. The uptempo ditty has inspired Tyler’s first music video. It’s a cute-as-can-be, highly humorous animation.
SKIP EWING/Wyoming
Writer: Skip Ewing; Producers: Kyle Lehning/Skip Ewing; Publisher: Write On!, BMI; Write!
– This prodigiously gifted fellow had a flurry of big hits on MCA in the late 1980s. In the following decade he wrote huge songs for Collin Ray (“Love, Me”), Randy Travis (“If I Didn’t Have You”), Kenny Chesney (“You Had Me From Hello”), Diamond Rio (“I Believe”), Bryan White (“Someone Else’s Star”), Clint Black (“Something That We Do”) and more. In 2013, he turned his back on it all, sold his belongings and vanished from music. This is the title tune of his comeback CD, a lovely, tuneful, wistful recollection of wanderlust and lost love. The man can still cast a musical spell. Welcome home, son.