We are way overdue for an Americana overview.
Today’s listening stack includes a number of favorites in this genre — John Prine, Lori McKenna, Dana Cooper, Will Hoge. The Disc of the Day belongs to a pair of other longtime faves, Robbie Fulks & Linda Gail Lewis.
From our handful of newcomers (Granville Automatic, Love Canon, Tyler Childers, Reverend Peyton’s Big Damn Band) emerges our DisCovery Award winner, singer-songwriter Adam Hood.
ROBBIE FULKS AND LINDA GAIL LEWIS/Wild Wild Wild
Writers: R. Fulks; Producer: Fulks; Publisher: Lorne Rail, ASCAP; Bloodshot (track)
– As she has proved so often, Linda Gail is a first-class piano-pounding rocker in league with big brother Jerry Lee. For a demonstration, check out the album opener, “Round Too Long,” the romping “Boogie Woogie Country Gal” or this this blazing title tune. And if you miss George and Tammy as much as I do, let this pair remind you of what a barroom lament is supposed to sound like (”That’s Why They Call It Temptation,” “I Just Lived a Country Song”). Robbie cares about Real Country Music, and it shows in every groove of this delightful disc.
TYLER CHILDERS/Feathered Indians
Writers: Tyler Childers; Producers: Sturgill Simpson/David Ferguson; Publishers: none listed; Hickman Holler/Thirty Tigers
– When he was named Americana’s Emerging Artist award winner, Childers insisted that he’s a country artist. He’s right. Not only that, he’s the freshest sounding young male singer-songwriter working in country music today. The album is called Purgatory. It is essential.
LORI McKENNA/People Get Old
Writer: Lori McKenna; Producer: Dave Cobb; Publishers: Creative Nation; CN/Thirty Tigers
– I am so in love with this woman’s music. Her current The Tree LP contains her own version of “Happy People” (popularized by LBT). And there are plenty of other tunes just as captivating, including this striking meditation on aging. Her conversational, just-folks vocal delivery draws you in, and her extraordinary lyrics take your breath away.
GRANVILLE AUTOMATIC/Radio Hymns
Writers: Elizabeth Elkins/Vanessa Olivarez/Matraca Berg; Producers: Elizabeth Elkins & Vanessa Olivarez; Publishers: BMG Platinum/Songs of Adams and Strahl and Granbury/Songs of the Ribbon/Jeff’s Wife/Songs of Sally Sue’s Medicine Show, BMI; GA (track)
– This female duo has an ear-opening concept album. Its various songs tell tales of Nashville’s history, ranging from a Music Row hanging (”Black Avenue Gallows”) to a millionairess taking a body home (”Adelicia”), from Jimi Hendrix (”Marbles”) to Timothy Demonbreun (”Summer Street”). The echoey, atmospheric title tune relates the near-demise of The Ryman Auditorium. Throughout, their production skills are as impressive as their performances. Guests include Jim Lauderdale, Kevin Griffin (Better Than Ezra) and Ben Fields.
DANA COOPER/Making A Killing
Writer: Dana Cooper; Producers: Thomm Jutz and Dana Cooper; Publishers: Dog Eared/Bluewater, SESAC; travianna (track)
– Dana has a new video from his Incendiary Kid CD. It’s this bluesy lament about how tough it can be to simply make a living. The protagonist is jobless, loveless and hopeless. He’s also in a terrifically relentless groove. Active since the 1970s, this singer-songwriter is a perennially impressive folk talent. If you don’t know his music, you should. “Dance Toward the Light,” “Flat Made Round,” “My America,” “Maybe Tomorrow” and the rest collected here will make a believer out of you.
WILL HOGE/Gilded Walls
Writer: Will Hoge; Producer: Will Hoge; Publisher: Julia’s Husband, BMI; Edio/Thirty Tigers
– I love it that Will can be both commercially successful (”Strong,” “Even If It Breaks Your Heart”) and politically outspoken. This wailing blues rocker is a thinly veiled attack on Donald Trump. To wit: “I work two jobs to raise a family/While you’re living on everything your daddy left behind” and, “Another group of kids in high school dead/But you’re still at your golf course teeing off at nine” and, “You sit around spouting more bullshit online.” His blue-collar singing voice and ace rock band accompanists add urgency to every lyric. The album is pointedly titled My American Dream.
ADAM HOOD/Downturn
Writers: Adam Hood/Jason Eady; Producer: Oran Thornton; Publishers: none listed; Southern Songs
-He’s an Alabama troubadour who sings of good people facing hard times. His warm drawl on this mid-tempo lament is supported by an exquisite production of gently twanged guitars. The album is titled Somewhere In Between, and it is a stunner. Hood’s songs have been recorded by Miranda Lambert, Anderson East, Little Big Town, Brent Cobb and Lee Ann Womack. Based on what I hear here, the whole town should be lining up to grab his works.
LOVE CANON/Kyrie Eielson
Writers: Steven Park/John R. Lang/Richard J. Page; Producer: Love Canon; Publishers: Ali-Aja/Indolent Sloth/Panola Park/WB, ASCAP; Organic (track)
– The concept behind this quintet’s Cover Story CD is doing acoustic/bluegrassy treatments of rock staples such as “Graceland,” “Islands in the Stream,” “Tempted” and the like. This Electric Prunes cover is a good example of how accomplished the band is at this. The writer credits, however, are incorrect. This song was written by David Axelrod.
JOHN PRINE/Summer’s End
Writers: John Prine/Pat McLaughlin; Producer: Dave Cobb; Publishers: Tommy Jack/Corn Country, BMI; Oh Boy
– Prine’s The Tree of Forgiveness CD has been featured in every music mag in existence since its release last spring. He has issued a string of singles/videos from it (”Knockin’ on Your Screen Door,” “Crazy Bone,” etc.), of which this is the most recent. It’s a laconic, loping sideways look at Southern quirks and goofy apocalyptic notions. Underlying it all is a poignant invitation to the comfort of home. The album is Prine’s first collection of new original tunes since 2005. And that, alone, calls for a celebration.
REVEREND PEYTON’S BIG DAMN BAND/Poor Until Payday
Writers: Reverend Peyton; Producer: Reverend Peyton; Publishers: 26F/Family Owned, SESAC; Family Owned/Thirty Tigers
– He’s a hoarse screamer and a slide-guitar demon. The rest of the band consists of drummer Maxwell Senteney and Washboard Breezy Peyton. As his wife’s name indicates, she plays the washboard. She also reportedly sets it on fire a la Hendrix. His YouTube videos feature him playing guitars made out of a shotgun and an axe. I am not making this stuff up. The title tune of the CD is monotonously repetitive blues-rock. I think that’s wholly intentional. It goes along with the whole minimalist aesthetic that’s going on here.
Warner/Chappell Nashville Signs Aussie Duo Seaforth
/by Jessica NicholsonPictured: Ben Vaughn (Warner/Chappell), Laura Worley (LH7 Management), T.D. Ruth (Serling Rooks), Jessi Vaughn (Warner/Chappell), Poppy (Shenanigoats), Mitchell Thompson (Seaforth), Pimento (Shenanigoats), Olive (Shenanigoats), Tom Jordan, Pippy (Shenanigoats), Alison Junker (Warner/Chappell), Patrick W. Ogilvy (Serling), Katie Jelen (Warner/Chappell), Brian Teefey (LH7 Management). Goats provided by Shenanigoats & featured as a nod to Seaforth’s matching goat tattoos
Aussie duo Seaforth has signed a worldwide publishing deal with Warner/Chappell Nashville. Earlier this month, Seaforth opened for Kane Brown at the Hulu Theater at Madison Square Garden. The duo recently released two songs, “Talk to Me” and “Love That,” via RCA Records Nashville.
Seaforth includes childhood friends Mitchell Thompson and Tom Jordan, whose moniker comes from the Australian suburb where they grew up.
YouTube Rolls Out Student Discount Plans For YouTube Music, YouTube Premium
/by Jessica NicholsonAdditionally, YouTube is offering students YouTube Premium for $6.99, discounted from $11.99. Students who sign up by Jan. 31, 2019 can lock in YouTube Premium at a special rate of just $5.99.
Clarence “Casey” Anderson Dies At 92
/by Robert K OermannCasey Anderson
Services will be held this morning for Clarence Selmer “Casey” Anderson. The widely loved music industry figure died on Monday, Nov. 26 at age 92.
Casey Anderson was one of the founders of the Nashville Songwriters Association International (NSAI). He was the father of country star Lynn Anderson (1947-2015) and the husband of the late singer-songwriter Liz Anderson (1930-2011).
Casey is credited as the cowriter on several of his wife’s compositions, including 1967’s “The Fugitive,” which became Merle Haggard’s first No. 1 hit. He and Liz co-hosted the TNN cable-TV travel series Side By Side in the 1980s.
Casey Anderson was born in North Dakota in 1926. He was a Navy mechanic in 1945-47. Just days prior to his death, he rode in the Nashville Veteran’s Day Parade.
He married Liz in 1946, and they had daughter Lynn in 1947. The family moved to California in 1951 in order for Liz to pursue her songwriting career. Casey sold cars and became a member of the world-champion equestrian drill team The Sacramento County Sheriff’s Mounted Posse in 1957-66.
He and Liz co-wrote “The Ballad of the Pony Express” to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Pony Express U.S. mail service. Casey also rode in its 1960 reenactment.
Liz Anderson’s songwriting began to pay off in the 1960s. Her early successes included “Be Quiet Mind” (Del Reeves, 1961), “Guess My Eyes Were Bigger Than My Heart” (Conway Twitty, 1966), “Strangers” (Merle Haggard, 1965), “Just Between the Two of Us” (Bonnie Owens & Merle Haggard, 1964), “I Cried All the Way to the Bank” (Norma Jean, 1965) and “Pick of the Week” (Roy Drusky, 1964).
Chet Atkins signed her to RCA, and the Andersons moved to Nashville in 1966. Daughter Lynn subsequently earned a contract with Chart Records. Liz wrote several of her daughter’s early hits, including “Ride Ride Ride,” “If I Kiss You,” “Keeping Up Appearances,” “Mother May I,” “Big Girls Don’t Cry” and “Flattery Will Get You Everywhere” in 1966-69.
In 1967, Casey and Liz Anderson were among the co-founders of the NSAI.
During this same era, Liz’s recording career at RCA included such self-penned singles as “Go Now Pay Later,” “So Much for Me So Much for You,” “The Wife of the Party” and “Mama Spank” in 1966-67. She and Casey co-wrote her 1970 single “All Day Sucker.”
In later years, Casey and Liz Anderson co-hosted the 1988 TNN series, which was geared toward retirees. They also collaborated on a number of songs celebrating their shared western heritage. Some of these were collected on the 2012 CD The Cowgirl Way.
Casey Anderson is survived by granddaughters Lisa Sutton and Melissa “Bunny” Hempel and grandson Gray Stream, as well as a grandson and six great-grandchildren.
The celebration of his life was on Friday, Nov. 30 in Woodland’s Dignity Hall off Thompson Lane.
Pictured: NSAI board member Brett James, Lynn Anderson, Exec. Director Bart Herbison, Casey Anderson, then-NSAI President Lee Miller at the Stephen Foster Award presentation in 2015.
Apple Music Coming To Echo Devices In December
/by Lorie HollabaughCustomers will be able to ask Alexa to play their favorite songs, artists, and album or any of the playlists made by Apple Music editors from around the world. They will also be able to ask Alexa to stream expert-made radio stations centered on popular genres like Hip-Hop, decades like the 80s, and even global music like K-Pop.
“Music is one of the most popular features on Alexa—since we launched Alexa four years ago, customers are listening to more music in their homes than ever before,” said Dave Limp, senior vice president, Amazon Devices. “We are committed to offering great music providers to our customers and since launching the Music Skill API to developers just last month, we’ve expanded the music selection on Alexa to include even more top tier services. We’re thrilled to bring Apple Music – one of the most popular music services in the US – to Echo customers this holiday.”
Weekly Chart Report (11/30/18)
/by Alex ParryClick here or above to access MusicRow’s weekly CountryBreakout Report.
Writer’s Den Music Group, Torque Entertainment Suspend Operations
/by Jessica NicholsonWriter’s Den Music Group and Torque Entertainment have suspended business operations, effective immediately. The companies represented writers including Sarah Clanton, Drew Kennedy, Gordon Kennedy, Brennen Leigh, Noel McKay, Don Schlitz, and Thom Schuyler.
Employees affected by this include President Jimmy Metts, Partner/GM Bobby Rymer, and Creative Director Sarah Feldman.
They can be reached at the following:
Rymer: Bobby.Rymer@comcast.net
Feldman: scfeld1@gmail.com
Metts: jimmymetts@bellsouth.net
United Talent Agency Adds Vanja Primorac For New Music Innovations Role
/by Jessica NicholsonVanja Primorac
Talent and entertainment company United Talent Agency (UTA) has hired Vanja Primorac as an executive focused on Music Innovations. In this newly created role, she will identify and execute innovative marketing, distribution and platform partnerships to ensure the company’s global roster of artists are on the cutting edge of a constantly evolving music landscape. Primorac comes to UTA from Spotify, where she was an artist marketing representative. She will be based in UTA’s Los Angeles office, but will work with all of UTA’s offices including Nashville, New York, Miami, London and Sweden.
“The music industry continues to be a hotbed for innovation and disruption, with new platforms and business models continually redefining the landscape,” said UTA Chief Innovation Officer, Brent Weinstein. “We are excited to utilize Vanja’s experience and entrepreneurial spirit to help our clients navigate this ever-changing world, and to unlock new creative and business opportunities.”
Primorac added, “UTA is taking a holistic approach to their artist partnerships and I’m excited to start the next chapter of my career with the incredible team they have in place. It’s tricky to break through the noise in today’s competitive music landscape and together, we can develop innovative partnerships and campaigns that can move the needle.”
In her previous role with Spotify, Primorac worked with managers, independent and major labels, advising on streaming strategies and executing marketing campaigns. Her work was instrumental in helping develop and established artists such as LANY, J. Cole, Mumford & Sons, AlunaGeorge, Mike Posner and Calvin Harris. She also spearheaded Spotify’s “Louder Together” campaign which featured Sasha Sloan, Nina Nesbitt, Charlotte Lawrence and King Henry. Prior to that, she worked with Sean “Diddy” Combs and team to launch Revolt TV, helping to conceptualize and develop content initiatives, produce artist-driven interstitials, and lead production on all of their co-branded content.
Industry Pics: Tucker Beathard, Colt Ford, Jimmie Allen
/by Jessica NicholsonTucker Beathard Previews First Half Of Debut, Double Album
Tucker Beathard
Singer/songwriter Tucker Beathard gave friends, family and the Nashville music community a preview of his impending debut album Nobody’s Everything, available everywhere tomorrow (Nov. 30), last night. Playing all nine songs solo, acoustic, Beathard shared candid insight into the process of creating the record at the event hosted by SiriusXM’s Storme Warren, who likened the release to “Foo Fighters, Kings Of Leon with Merle Haggard’s soul.” Beathard noted the collection is completely recorded as these nine tracks are released tomorrow.
Average Joes Entertainment, Colt Ford Celebrate 10-Year Anniversary
Pictured (L-R): Sirius XM “The Highway’s” Storme Warren, Shannon Houchins, Colt Ford. Photo: Moments by Moser Photography
Sirius XM “The Highway’s” Storme Warren presented Average Joes Entertainment CEO/President, Shannon Houchins, and Co-Founder, artist Colt Ford, with a plaque commemorating the company’s 10-year milestone.
Jimmie Allen Returns To NBC’s Today
Jimmie Allen performs on Today. Photo: NBC
Breakout country star Jimmie Allen made his return this week to the ten o’clock hour of NBC’s TODAY with Kathie Lee and Hoda for the fourth time in less than two months to participate in his second “Guys Tell All” panel alongside former “Bachelor,” Ben Higgins, comedian Chuck Nice and celebrity trainer Don Saladino.
He performed “Like You Do” off his full-length studio album Mercury Lane. His next single is to be announced.
DISClaimer: Robbie Fulks, Linda Gail Lewis, Adam Hood Top Americana Tracks
/by Robert K OermannWe are way overdue for an Americana overview.
Today’s listening stack includes a number of favorites in this genre — John Prine, Lori McKenna, Dana Cooper, Will Hoge. The Disc of the Day belongs to a pair of other longtime faves, Robbie Fulks & Linda Gail Lewis.
From our handful of newcomers (Granville Automatic, Love Canon, Tyler Childers, Reverend Peyton’s Big Damn Band) emerges our DisCovery Award winner, singer-songwriter Adam Hood.
ROBBIE FULKS AND LINDA GAIL LEWIS/Wild Wild Wild
Writers: R. Fulks; Producer: Fulks; Publisher: Lorne Rail, ASCAP; Bloodshot (track)
– As she has proved so often, Linda Gail is a first-class piano-pounding rocker in league with big brother Jerry Lee. For a demonstration, check out the album opener, “Round Too Long,” the romping “Boogie Woogie Country Gal” or this this blazing title tune. And if you miss George and Tammy as much as I do, let this pair remind you of what a barroom lament is supposed to sound like (”That’s Why They Call It Temptation,” “I Just Lived a Country Song”). Robbie cares about Real Country Music, and it shows in every groove of this delightful disc.
TYLER CHILDERS/Feathered Indians
Writers: Tyler Childers; Producers: Sturgill Simpson/David Ferguson; Publishers: none listed; Hickman Holler/Thirty Tigers
– When he was named Americana’s Emerging Artist award winner, Childers insisted that he’s a country artist. He’s right. Not only that, he’s the freshest sounding young male singer-songwriter working in country music today. The album is called Purgatory. It is essential.
LORI McKENNA/People Get Old
Writer: Lori McKenna; Producer: Dave Cobb; Publishers: Creative Nation; CN/Thirty Tigers
– I am so in love with this woman’s music. Her current The Tree LP contains her own version of “Happy People” (popularized by LBT). And there are plenty of other tunes just as captivating, including this striking meditation on aging. Her conversational, just-folks vocal delivery draws you in, and her extraordinary lyrics take your breath away.
GRANVILLE AUTOMATIC/Radio Hymns
Writers: Elizabeth Elkins/Vanessa Olivarez/Matraca Berg; Producers: Elizabeth Elkins & Vanessa Olivarez; Publishers: BMG Platinum/Songs of Adams and Strahl and Granbury/Songs of the Ribbon/Jeff’s Wife/Songs of Sally Sue’s Medicine Show, BMI; GA (track)
– This female duo has an ear-opening concept album. Its various songs tell tales of Nashville’s history, ranging from a Music Row hanging (”Black Avenue Gallows”) to a millionairess taking a body home (”Adelicia”), from Jimi Hendrix (”Marbles”) to Timothy Demonbreun (”Summer Street”). The echoey, atmospheric title tune relates the near-demise of The Ryman Auditorium. Throughout, their production skills are as impressive as their performances. Guests include Jim Lauderdale, Kevin Griffin (Better Than Ezra) and Ben Fields.
DANA COOPER/Making A Killing
Writer: Dana Cooper; Producers: Thomm Jutz and Dana Cooper; Publishers: Dog Eared/Bluewater, SESAC; travianna (track)
– Dana has a new video from his Incendiary Kid CD. It’s this bluesy lament about how tough it can be to simply make a living. The protagonist is jobless, loveless and hopeless. He’s also in a terrifically relentless groove. Active since the 1970s, this singer-songwriter is a perennially impressive folk talent. If you don’t know his music, you should. “Dance Toward the Light,” “Flat Made Round,” “My America,” “Maybe Tomorrow” and the rest collected here will make a believer out of you.
WILL HOGE/Gilded Walls
Writer: Will Hoge; Producer: Will Hoge; Publisher: Julia’s Husband, BMI; Edio/Thirty Tigers
– I love it that Will can be both commercially successful (”Strong,” “Even If It Breaks Your Heart”) and politically outspoken. This wailing blues rocker is a thinly veiled attack on Donald Trump. To wit: “I work two jobs to raise a family/While you’re living on everything your daddy left behind” and, “Another group of kids in high school dead/But you’re still at your golf course teeing off at nine” and, “You sit around spouting more bullshit online.” His blue-collar singing voice and ace rock band accompanists add urgency to every lyric. The album is pointedly titled My American Dream.
ADAM HOOD/Downturn
Writers: Adam Hood/Jason Eady; Producer: Oran Thornton; Publishers: none listed; Southern Songs
-He’s an Alabama troubadour who sings of good people facing hard times. His warm drawl on this mid-tempo lament is supported by an exquisite production of gently twanged guitars. The album is titled Somewhere In Between, and it is a stunner. Hood’s songs have been recorded by Miranda Lambert, Anderson East, Little Big Town, Brent Cobb and Lee Ann Womack. Based on what I hear here, the whole town should be lining up to grab his works.
LOVE CANON/Kyrie Eielson
Writers: Steven Park/John R. Lang/Richard J. Page; Producer: Love Canon; Publishers: Ali-Aja/Indolent Sloth/Panola Park/WB, ASCAP; Organic (track)
– The concept behind this quintet’s Cover Story CD is doing acoustic/bluegrassy treatments of rock staples such as “Graceland,” “Islands in the Stream,” “Tempted” and the like. This Electric Prunes cover is a good example of how accomplished the band is at this. The writer credits, however, are incorrect. This song was written by David Axelrod.
JOHN PRINE/Summer’s End
Writers: John Prine/Pat McLaughlin; Producer: Dave Cobb; Publishers: Tommy Jack/Corn Country, BMI; Oh Boy
– Prine’s The Tree of Forgiveness CD has been featured in every music mag in existence since its release last spring. He has issued a string of singles/videos from it (”Knockin’ on Your Screen Door,” “Crazy Bone,” etc.), of which this is the most recent. It’s a laconic, loping sideways look at Southern quirks and goofy apocalyptic notions. Underlying it all is a poignant invitation to the comfort of home. The album is Prine’s first collection of new original tunes since 2005. And that, alone, calls for a celebration.
REVEREND PEYTON’S BIG DAMN BAND/Poor Until Payday
Writers: Reverend Peyton; Producer: Reverend Peyton; Publishers: 26F/Family Owned, SESAC; Family Owned/Thirty Tigers
– He’s a hoarse screamer and a slide-guitar demon. The rest of the band consists of drummer Maxwell Senteney and Washboard Breezy Peyton. As his wife’s name indicates, she plays the washboard. She also reportedly sets it on fire a la Hendrix. His YouTube videos feature him playing guitars made out of a shotgun and an axe. I am not making this stuff up. The title tune of the CD is monotonously repetitive blues-rock. I think that’s wholly intentional. It goes along with the whole minimalist aesthetic that’s going on here.
Grand Ole Opry To Honor Dolly Parton With Week-Long Celebration
/by Jessica NicholsonDolly Parton. Photo courtesy of Grand Ole Opry
On Jan. 4, 1969, Dolly Parton was inducted as a member of the Grand Ole Opry. Nearly 50 years later, Parton has earned practically every music honor imaginable.
In conjunction with the release of her new album Dumplin’ Original Motion Picture Soundtrack (Dolly Records/RCA Nashville), Parton is set to return to the Grand Ole Opry stage. The global superstar will celebrate the 50th anniversary of her Opry membership, performing on Saturday, Oct. 12, 2019, and capping a week-long celebration of Parton’s impact on music and the Opry, dubbed Dolly Week 2019.
“It was always my dream to be on the Opry,” recalls Parton. “I actually got to sing on the Grand Ole Opry when I was about 10 years old. I officially became a member back in 1969 and I cannot believe next year I will celebrate 50 proud years of being a member of the Grand Ole Opry! They call it the ‘Mother Church’ because the old Ryman was a church, but it’s sacred to me, wherever it goes – the church of my heart. For me, the Opry is like the song ‘New York, New York’ – if you can make it there, you can make it anywhere. I am excited to be coming back home to celebrate 50 years of membership!”
The Grand Ole Opry has created several days of music programming for Dolly Week 2019 that acknowledges her broad influence.
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 10, 2019:
Opry Country Classics – Featuring performances of No. 1 Dolly hits
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2019:
Friday Night Opry – Dolly’s Mountain Soul: Bluegrass, Americana & Roots Music honor Dolly
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 12, 2019 (Two Shows):
Dolly Parton’s 50th Grand Ole Opry Anniversary Celebration featuring Dolly Parton and many more