Is there such a thing as a perfect country record?
Thriving bluegrass darlings Darin & Brooke Aldridge might have created just such a thing. With the assistance of former Statler Brother Jimmy Fortune, they have breathed new life into The Louvin Brothers classic “Everytime You Leave.” It thrilled me so much that I played it five times in succession.
Needless to say, it is the Disc of the Day.
The rest of our DisClaimer bluegrass survey today reveals excellent works by The John Jorgenson Bluegrass Band, by David Davis & The Warrior River Boys, by Balsam Range and by banjo maestro Ned Luberecki.
The DisCovery Award goes to Sideline, who have it all going on in every department.
DAVID DAVIS & THE WARRIOR RIVER BOYS/He Rambled
Writers: Will Handy; Producers: Robert Montgomery & David Davis; Publisher: PD; Rounder (track)
– The band’s latest is a tribute to the music of the legendary Charlie Poole (1892-1931). They take his old-time tunes and ably reinterpret them as bluegrass numbers. In addition to this lively romp, the set includes versions of such timeless faves as “If the River Was Whiskey,” “Sweet Sunny South,” “White House Blues” and “May I Sleep In Your Barn Tonight Mister,” but oddly not Poole’s most famous song, “Don’t Let Your Deal Go Down.” Recommended.
O’CONNOR BAND/Emily’s Reel
Writers: Mark O’Connor; Producers: Mark O’Connor/Forrest O’Connor; Publishers: M.O.M.I., BMI; OMAC (track)
– Grammy winner O’Connor continues his journey with his family band with a live album. It kicks off with this triple-fiddled toe tapper. A smile and a delight.
HIGHER GROUND/Ned Luberecki & Dale Ann Bradley
Writers: Kelley Luberecki/Dale Ann Bradley; Producer: none listed; Publishers: Clement Luberecki/Dale Ann Bradley, BMI; CLM (track)
– Take Five is Luberecki’s deluxe banjo album. He’s bolstered on it by such guests as Missy Raines, Chris Jones & The Night Drivers, Amanda Smith, Becky Buller and, here, the splendid Kentucky bluegrass diva Dale Ann Bradley. Steve Martin and Tony Trischka provide liner notes, which should give you some idea of how classy this project is.
JOHN JORGENSON BLUEGRASS BAND/Beautiful Sound
Writers: John Jorgenson/Chris Hillman; Producer: John Jorgenson; Publishers: Jorgensongs/Bar None, BMI; Cleopatra (track)
– Jorgenson is best known to country fans via his work in The Desert Rose Band. But his talent has also led to stints with everyone from Elton John to Bob Dylan. Willie, Emmylou, Cash, Hank Jr., Seger and Bonnie Raitt have also tapped his multi-instrumental abilities. His latest project, titled From the Crows Nest sets him in a stellar bluegrass band with Herb Pedersen, Jon Randall and Mark Fain. It drops on July 13. Randall takes the lead on this tune, which sounds like a an instant anthem for the entire bluegrass industry. Indeed, the whole CD seems to be filled with songs that could become classics of the genre — “I Will Shelter You,” “Travelin’ Angels” and “Die Tryin,’” for instance.
LARRY CORDLE/I’ll Meet You In The Morning
Writers: Albert E. Brumley; Producer: Larry Cordle; Publishers: ClearBox Rights, no performance rights listed; MightyCord (track)
– A cappella gospel quartet singing done with panache. Larry’s lead vocal is backed by The Joyful Noise Quartet — Carl Jackson, Val Storey and Bradley Walker. The album is titled Give Me Jesus.
BECK BULLER/Calamity Jane
Writers: Becky Buller/Tim Stafford; Producer: Stephen Mougin; Publishers: Goodnight Sparky/Daniel House, BMI; Dark Shadow
– Fiddler-singer Buller sits at No. 1 on the Bluegrass Unlimited chart this month with this rapid-fire dazzler. That’s Rhonda Vincent singing high harmony. The female-outlaw song is on Buller’s current Crepe Paper Heart collection. In addition to Vincent, it is packed with celebs including Rob Ickes, The Fairfield Four, Claire Lynch and Sam Bush.
RALPH STANLEY II & THE CLINCH MOUNTAIN BOYS/Raining In My Heart
Writers: Ralph Edmond Stanley II/Alex Leach/Joe Rose; Producer: John Rigsby; Publishers: Two Pop S, BMI; Stanley Family
-Pleasant, easy-listening ‘grass. As a singer, he lacks his famous father’s Appalachian “edge.”
SIDELINE/Thunder Dan
Writer: Josh Manning; Producer: Tim Surrett; Publishers: Daynezanezinn, BMI; Mountain Home
– This has just entered the top-10 on the Bluegrass Unlimited chart. It has a very cool backbeat and a groovy, minor-key mode. Not to mention a murder lyric, a keening tenor lead vocal and sizzling mandolin, fiddle and banjo chops. Sign me up for the fan club.
BALSAM RANGE & THE ATLANTA POPS ORCHESTRA ENSEMBLE/Trains I Missed
Writers: none listed; Producer: Balsam Range; Publishers: none listed; Mountain Home
– “Trains I Missed” was the IBMA Song of the Year in 2011, and Balsam Range is a longtime favorite in the genre. Its current Mountain Overture project places the band’s biggest songs in an orchestral context. Needless to say, I approached this with skepticism. In general, the Atlanta Pops ensemble stays in the background, out of the way, adding washes of strings behind the band and providing evocative sighs of sound. Of course, the songs are still wonderful. So the experiment works.
DARIN & BROOKE ALDREDGE & JIMMY FORTUNE/Everytime You Leave
Writers: Charlie & Ira Louvin; Producer: none listed; Publishers: none listed; Mountain Home
– Exquisite in every way. Brooke is the reigning IBMA Female Vocalist of the Year. But Darin has always touched my heart with his Deep-Dixie vocal harmony and dexterous guitar work. They begin this in classic Louvin duet mode, which is heavenly. Then Fortune stepped in with a third harmony part and the top of my head lifted off. Absolutely essential listening. There’s a video, too.
Chris Janson Plays Surprise Show At Ole Red Nashville
/by Jessica NicholsonChris Janson performs at Ole Red Nashville on July 4. Photo: Courtesy Ole Red
Grand Ole Opry member Chris Janson rocked a packed house at Ole Red Nashville’s inaugural Ole Red, White + Blue Bash with a surprise late-night pop-up show, following his performance at Nashville’s official July 4th celebration.
Janson most recently played Ole Red last month with labelmate Blake Shelton whose hit song “Ol’ Red,” inspired the Ole Red restaurant, live music and retail space located at 300 Broadway in downtown Nashville.
Chris Janson performs at Ole Red Nashville on July 4. Photo: Courtesy Ole Red
Survey Finds U.S. Musicians Experience Lower Incomes, Higher Rates Of Sexual Harassment
/by Jessica NicholsonA recently-released survey of more than 1,200 musicians in the United States, found that musicians in the U.S. often struggle with low incomes, discrimination, harassment and mental health issues. The study was conducted by the Music Industry Research Association (MIRA) and Princeton University Survey Research Center, in partnership with MusiCares.
According to the study, the median musician in the U.S. earns between $20,000 and $25,000 per year, and 61 percent of musicians in the study said their music-related income is not sufficient to meet their living expenses. The most common source of music-related income is live performance, followed by giving music lessons and performing in a church choir or other religious service.
Females made up nearly one-third of the musicians polled; 72 percent of the female musicians reported they have been discriminated against because of their gender, while 67 percent of the females polled reported they have been the victims of sexual harassment. These figures stand much higher than the corresponding figures for U.S. women in general, where 28 percent report they have been discriminated against on the basis of gender, while 42 percent of U.S. women in general report they have experienced sexual harassment.
Meanwhile, 63 percent of musicians of color say they faced racial discrimination, as compared to 36 percent of non-white, self-employed workers nationwide.
The study also found many musicians struggle with mental health issues, with half of musicians reporting they had been “feeling down, depressed or hopeless at least several days in the last two weeks,” as compared with less than a quarter of the adult population as a whole.
When compared to the general U.S. adult population, musicians are five times more likely to have used cocaine in the past month, 6.5 times more likely to have used ecstasy, 13.5 times more likely to have used LSD, 2.8 times more likely to have used heroin or opium, and 3.5 times more likely to have used meth. Musicians are about twice as likely to drink alcohol frequently (four or more times per
week) than the population as a whole: 31 percent versus 16 percent.
Project Admission Launches In Nashville
/by Lorie HollabaughStephen Glicken and Jordan Stone have launched a new Nashville-based company, Project Admission. Project Admission creates an improved, more connected experience for the management, distribution, and exchange of digital tickets.
“The ticketing and live event space is one of the most exciting places for innovation right now,” said Glicken of his new endeavor. “Nashville is home, and we value being part of the growth of the city. For us, that means bringing our experience to the growing tech community.”
Glicken was previously head of Business Development at Songkick, where he worked with artists such as Adele, Paul McCartney, and Kenny Chesney. Before Songkick, he was the co-founder of Green Owl, a sustainably minded record label under Warner Music Group. He started his career as an audio engineer working with artists like P. Diddy, Toni Braxton, and Ghostface Killah from the Wu Tang Clan.
Stone’s former experience includes a stint leading digital marketing for Taylor Swift’s management company, 13 Management, where he launched and managed Swift’s website and fan club, and led direct-to-fan ticket sales for Swift’s Fearless, Speak Now, and Red tours. Most recently, Stone founded Huckle, a live group chat app for Twitter, which was used by celebrities and national media publications to drive engagement and growth for their accounts.
In Pictures: Spotify Celebrates Hot Country Live Inaugural Concert
/by Jessica NicholsonSpotify celebrated its inaugural Hot Country Live concert on July 4 in New York City, with performances by Carrie Underwood, Dan+Shay, and Filmore.
Pictured (L-R): Artist and Label Marketing Laura Ohls, Spotify Head of Artist and Label Marketing Brittany Schaeffer, Dan Smyers; Spotify Global Head of Country John Marks, Shay Mooney and Spotify Creative Manager Paul Logan attend the Spotify’s Hot Country Live Series with Carrie Underwood, Dan + Shay and Filmore at Pier 17 on July 4, 2018 in New York City. Photo: Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Spotify
Dan Smyers and Shay Mooney of Dan + Shay perform on stage at the Spotify’s Hot Country Live Series with Carrie Underwood, Dan + Shay and Filmore at Pier 17 on July 4, 2018 in New York City. Photo: Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Spotify
Filmore performs on stage at the Spotify’s Hot Country Live Series with Carrie Underwood, Dan + Shay and Filmore at Pier 17 on July 4, 2018 in New York City. Photo: Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Spotify
Pictured (L-R): Spotify Global Head of Country John Marks, Spotify Head of Artist and Label Marketing Brittany Schaeffer, Carrie Underwood, Spotify Creative Manager Paul Logan and Artist and Label Marketing Laura Ohls. Photo: Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Spotify
Carrie Underwood performs on stage at the Spotify’s Hot Country Live Series. Photo: Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Spotify
In Pictures: ACM, Grand Ole Opry, CJ Solar
/by Jessica NicholsonACM Welcomes Haley & Michaels
Pictured (L-R): Rick Stone, President of Stoney Pro Music Group; Tom Torii, ACM SVP, Finance & Operations; Shannon Haley; Ryan Michaels. Photo: Michel Bourquard/Courtesy of the Academy of Country Music
The Academy of Country Music welcomed country duo Haley & Michaels to the office while they were in Los Angeles recently. While at the Academy, Haley & Michaels performed their current single, “High Note,” and previewed other songs from their upcoming album.
Levon Makes Opry Debut
After Levon made their Opry performance debut, the group posed for photos backstage with management, booking and Opry VIPs. Pictured (L-R): CAA’s Blake McDaniel; Levon’s Ryan Holladay and Michael David Hall; Gina Keltner, Director of Opry Talent Scheduling & Logistics; Levon’s Jake Singleton; and Red Light Management’s Chip Dorsch. Photo: Chris Hollo/Grand Ole Opry
New country group Levon, dually signed to Sony Music’s Columbia Nashville and Epic Records, made their Grand Ole Opry debut Saturday evening. Levon is made up of friends Michael David Hall, Jake Singleton and Ryan Holladay who released their five-song self-titled debut EP last year.
CJ Solar Joins Lynyrd Skynyrd’s Last of the Street Survivors Farewell Tour
Pictured: CJ Solar (center w/ball cap) joins members of Lynyrd Skynyrd prior to their set at the PNC Music Pavillion. Photo: Tom Chi
DISClaimer: The Perfect Country Record?
/by Robert K OermannThriving bluegrass darlings Darin & Brooke Aldridge might have created just such a thing. With the assistance of former Statler Brother Jimmy Fortune, they have breathed new life into The Louvin Brothers classic “Everytime You Leave.” It thrilled me so much that I played it five times in succession.
Needless to say, it is the Disc of the Day.
The rest of our DisClaimer bluegrass survey today reveals excellent works by The John Jorgenson Bluegrass Band, by David Davis & The Warrior River Boys, by Balsam Range and by banjo maestro Ned Luberecki.
The DisCovery Award goes to Sideline, who have it all going on in every department.
DAVID DAVIS & THE WARRIOR RIVER BOYS/He Rambled
Writers: Will Handy; Producers: Robert Montgomery & David Davis; Publisher: PD; Rounder (track)
– The band’s latest is a tribute to the music of the legendary Charlie Poole (1892-1931). They take his old-time tunes and ably reinterpret them as bluegrass numbers. In addition to this lively romp, the set includes versions of such timeless faves as “If the River Was Whiskey,” “Sweet Sunny South,” “White House Blues” and “May I Sleep In Your Barn Tonight Mister,” but oddly not Poole’s most famous song, “Don’t Let Your Deal Go Down.” Recommended.
O’CONNOR BAND/Emily’s Reel
Writers: Mark O’Connor; Producers: Mark O’Connor/Forrest O’Connor; Publishers: M.O.M.I., BMI; OMAC (track)
– Grammy winner O’Connor continues his journey with his family band with a live album. It kicks off with this triple-fiddled toe tapper. A smile and a delight.
HIGHER GROUND/Ned Luberecki & Dale Ann Bradley
Writers: Kelley Luberecki/Dale Ann Bradley; Producer: none listed; Publishers: Clement Luberecki/Dale Ann Bradley, BMI; CLM (track)
– Take Five is Luberecki’s deluxe banjo album. He’s bolstered on it by such guests as Missy Raines, Chris Jones & The Night Drivers, Amanda Smith, Becky Buller and, here, the splendid Kentucky bluegrass diva Dale Ann Bradley. Steve Martin and Tony Trischka provide liner notes, which should give you some idea of how classy this project is.
JOHN JORGENSON BLUEGRASS BAND/Beautiful Sound
Writers: John Jorgenson/Chris Hillman; Producer: John Jorgenson; Publishers: Jorgensongs/Bar None, BMI; Cleopatra (track)
– Jorgenson is best known to country fans via his work in The Desert Rose Band. But his talent has also led to stints with everyone from Elton John to Bob Dylan. Willie, Emmylou, Cash, Hank Jr., Seger and Bonnie Raitt have also tapped his multi-instrumental abilities. His latest project, titled From the Crows Nest sets him in a stellar bluegrass band with Herb Pedersen, Jon Randall and Mark Fain. It drops on July 13. Randall takes the lead on this tune, which sounds like a an instant anthem for the entire bluegrass industry. Indeed, the whole CD seems to be filled with songs that could become classics of the genre — “I Will Shelter You,” “Travelin’ Angels” and “Die Tryin,’” for instance.
LARRY CORDLE/I’ll Meet You In The Morning
Writers: Albert E. Brumley; Producer: Larry Cordle; Publishers: ClearBox Rights, no performance rights listed; MightyCord (track)
– A cappella gospel quartet singing done with panache. Larry’s lead vocal is backed by The Joyful Noise Quartet — Carl Jackson, Val Storey and Bradley Walker. The album is titled Give Me Jesus.
BECK BULLER/Calamity Jane
Writers: Becky Buller/Tim Stafford; Producer: Stephen Mougin; Publishers: Goodnight Sparky/Daniel House, BMI; Dark Shadow
– Fiddler-singer Buller sits at No. 1 on the Bluegrass Unlimited chart this month with this rapid-fire dazzler. That’s Rhonda Vincent singing high harmony. The female-outlaw song is on Buller’s current Crepe Paper Heart collection. In addition to Vincent, it is packed with celebs including Rob Ickes, The Fairfield Four, Claire Lynch and Sam Bush.
RALPH STANLEY II & THE CLINCH MOUNTAIN BOYS/Raining In My Heart
Writers: Ralph Edmond Stanley II/Alex Leach/Joe Rose; Producer: John Rigsby; Publishers: Two Pop S, BMI; Stanley Family
-Pleasant, easy-listening ‘grass. As a singer, he lacks his famous father’s Appalachian “edge.”
SIDELINE/Thunder Dan
Writer: Josh Manning; Producer: Tim Surrett; Publishers: Daynezanezinn, BMI; Mountain Home
– This has just entered the top-10 on the Bluegrass Unlimited chart. It has a very cool backbeat and a groovy, minor-key mode. Not to mention a murder lyric, a keening tenor lead vocal and sizzling mandolin, fiddle and banjo chops. Sign me up for the fan club.
BALSAM RANGE & THE ATLANTA POPS ORCHESTRA ENSEMBLE/Trains I Missed
Writers: none listed; Producer: Balsam Range; Publishers: none listed; Mountain Home
– “Trains I Missed” was the IBMA Song of the Year in 2011, and Balsam Range is a longtime favorite in the genre. Its current Mountain Overture project places the band’s biggest songs in an orchestral context. Needless to say, I approached this with skepticism. In general, the Atlanta Pops ensemble stays in the background, out of the way, adding washes of strings behind the band and providing evocative sighs of sound. Of course, the songs are still wonderful. So the experiment works.
DARIN & BROOKE ALDREDGE & JIMMY FORTUNE/Everytime You Leave
Writers: Charlie & Ira Louvin; Producer: none listed; Publishers: none listed; Mountain Home
– Exquisite in every way. Brooke is the reigning IBMA Female Vocalist of the Year. But Darin has always touched my heart with his Deep-Dixie vocal harmony and dexterous guitar work. They begin this in classic Louvin duet mode, which is heavenly. Then Fortune stepped in with a third harmony part and the top of my head lifted off. Absolutely essential listening. There’s a video, too.
RIAA Highlights Mid-2018’s Top-Certified Songs, Albums
/by Jessica NicholsonThe RIAA has released its 2018 mid-year highlights, which include three gold-certified country tracks. This includes the gold-certified tunes “Tequila” (Dan+Shay), “Mercy” (Brett Young), and “You Make It Easy” (Jason Aldean).
The RIAA’s top-awarded album so far this year has been Post Malone‘s Beer Bongs and Bentleys, which was certified 2x platinum. The top-awarded song was Drake‘s “God’s Plan,” which has been certified 8x platinum.
Platinum-certified albums in the first half of 2018 include Drake‘s Scorpion, Camila Cabello‘s Camila, the Black Panther soundtrack, and Migo‘s Culture II.
Justin Timberlake Drops New Single ‘Soulmate’
/by Lorie HollabaughJustin Timberlake
Justin Timberlake released a surprise single, “SoulMate,” on Tuesday (July 3). The song is his first new music since releasing his last album, Man of the Woods, back in February.
Timberlake also tweeted album art for the track, which was produced by dvsn’s Nineteen85, who produced Drake’s “Hotline Bling,” “One Dance, and “Too Good” and also features contributions from James Fauntleroy, Paul Jefferies, Brandon Casey, Brian Casey, Gary Smith, and Lechas Young, according to Complex.
Timberlake is currently on the road on his Man Of The Woods tour, and will play in the UK tonight in Glasgow at the SSE Hydro. The Shadowboxers are currently on the road with Timberlake for several dates of the tour.
Musicians Corner Announces “Music With A Mission” Concert Series
/by Jessica NicholsonAlliance Partners HSP LLC and Musicians Corner have partnered to bring free, mid-day music to downtown Nashville with the ‘Music with a Mission’ Concert Series at the Nashville City Center. Held every Thursday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. beginning July 12 through Nov. 15, Music with a Mission will be an opportunity for downtown tenants, employees and visitors to enjoy performances while giving back to local charities.
Carey Ott and Emily Earle will kick off the inaugural concert series on the plaza of Nashville City Center on Thursday, July 12. Ott has played at Nashville’s Live On The Green and receives regular spins on Lightning 100, and Earle – the niece of country legend Steve Earle and cousin of Justin Townes Earle –was a top 25 finalist on NBC’s The Voice. These performances on July 12 will benefit Room In The Inn, a local nonprofit addressing homelessness in Nashville.
On July 19, Scott Mulvahill and Baylor Wilson will perform at the downtown concert series. Mulvahill recently left his gig in Ricky Skaggs’ band, Kentucky Thunder, to focus on his solo career, and Wilson is pursuing music through his publishing deal with Station West/Sea Gayle
Music Publishing.
The July 26 installment will include music from Tony Lucca and Parker McKay.
Since its inception in 2010, Musicians Corner has showcased more than 1,000 artists in Centennial Park.
In Pictures: Queeva, Smithfield
/by Jessica NicholsonQueeva performs for MusicRow Magazine staffers. Photo: Haley Crow/MusicRow
Fourteen-year-old Queeva, an Irish singer-songwriter from Chicago, recently performed for MusicRow Magazine staffers. She has worked with Jamie O’Neal to develop her songwriting. Queeva performed several tracks, including “Live Like A Song.”
Texas duo Smithfield, which includes Jennifer Fiedler and Trey Smith, performed several tracks during a recent visit with MusicRow Magazine staffers, including the single “Hey Whiskey.” Interestingly, although the song “Hey, Whiskey” is about a woman who blames alcohol for her ex’s bad behavior, the duo earned an endorsement deal with Rebecca Creek Distillery.
Smithfield with MusicRow Magazine owner/publisher Sherod Robertson. Photo: Haley Crow/MusicRow Magazine