We have a variety-pack of country styles today.
Keith Urban rocks. The Rifters are folky. Chris Janson has a country love ballad. Michael Martin Murphey has a cowboy song. Bonnie Bishop brings blue-eyed soul. Ray Scott portrays a smoldering outlaw. Tom Huddleston tries to channel The Hillbilly Shakespeare with an old-school sound.
Our contenders for Disc of the Day are Urban, Janson, Scott and our winners, Love and Theft.
The DisCovery Award goes to The Rifters. This New Mexico acoustic trio describes its sound as “blue-gramma-grass,” but it sounds like gently strummed contemporary country-folk to me.
THE RIFTERS/The Architecture of a Fire
Writers: D. Richmond/C. Pyle; Producer: The Rifters, Don Richmond; Publisher: none listed; Howlin’ Dog (track)
– The title tune of this trio’s current CD is a languid, hushed folk ode characterized by soft acoustic guitar/fiddle/steel/mandolin accompaniment and gentle vocal harmonies. It’s quite entrancing. Stay tuned for the even more hooky following track, “A Hundred Miles.”
EASTON CORBIN/Are You With Me
Writers: Tommy Lee James/Terry McBride/Shane McAnally; Producer: Carson Chamberlain; Publishers: Pretty Woman/Super Phonic/BMG Chyrsalis/Orbison/Turn Me On/Crazy Water/Little Blue Egg/Kobalt, BMI/ASCAP; Mercury (CDX)
-He dreams of freedom and days of joy. And he wants to know if she’s game to come along. This mid tempo outing has a juicy melody and a beefy production. Corbin’s vocal pleads, but lacks fire and desire.
KEITH URBAN/Wasted Time
Writers: Greg Wells/J. Hart/Keith Urban; Producers: Greg Wells/Keith Urban; Publishers: Firehouse Cat/BMG Gold/360/Ray Daniels/Jayded Ink/Songs of Universal/Mary Rose, ASCAP/SESAC/BMI; Capitol (CDX)
– Electronic throbbing and rocking percussion underscore Keith’s soaring tenor vocal performance. The best days of his life, he says, are summer wasted time. I get it. Sing on.
LOVE AND THEFT/Whiskey On My Breath
Writers: Stephen Barker-Liles/Adam Craig/Russell Dickerson/Mark McGuinn/Tyler Reeve/Trent Tomlinson; Producers: Josh Leo/Love and Theft; Publishers: Hate and Purchase/EMI April/Rockapop/Sony-ATV Tree/Internal Combustion/Atlas/Warner-Tamerlane/Kirbfinder’s Mucho Love/Brown Hound/Big Spaces/BootHeel/Big Mosquito/Amplified, ASCAP/BMI; Curb (CDX)
-Fabulous, stacked vocal harmonies. The stately ballad faces all the sins he’s committed. He knows he’s going to heaven anyway, but he needs to pull himself together because he doesn’t want to meet Jesus with whiskey on his breath. A terrific song, and an equally terrific performance. By all means, play this.
RAY SCOTT/High Road
Writer: Ray Scott; Producer: Dave Brainard; Publishers: Cherry Heart/Songs of Universal, BMI; DeciBel (CDX)
– As always, his ultra-masculine singing is infused with conviction and emotion. The “outlaw” lyric admits that he burns beer joints down and he’s headed straight to perdition. As a songwriter, he sure knows how to get the job done. As a recorded presence, he’s charisma on the hoof.
TOM HUDDLESTON & THE SADDLE SPRING BOYS/Hey Good Lookin’
Writer: Hank Williams; Producers: Rodney Crowell, G. Marq Roswell, Carter Little & Ray Kennedy; Publishers: none listed; Legacy (track)
– The new I Saw the Light bio flick is getting lukewarm reviews. But everyone seems to agree that Huddleston’s acting nails Hank Williams’ personality. As a singer, he lacks the pinched-nerve hillbilly soul of Hank. But The Saddle Spring Boys have The Drifting Cowboys’ sound down to a T.
BONNIE BISHOP/Not Cause I Wanted To
Writers: Al Anderson/Bonnie Bishop; Producer: Dave Cobb; Publishers: none listed; BB/Thirty Tigers
-This longtime Music Row favorite has teamed up with red-hot producer Dave Cobb for her latest CD, Ain’t Who I Was. It includes a version of her song that won a Grammy for Bonnie Raitt in 2012. I love her slightly sandpapery style and aching phrasing. Jimmy Wallace’s organ sighs mournfully in the background.
CHRIS JANSON/Holdin’ Her
Writers: Chris Janson/James Otto; Producer: Byron Gallimore; Publishers: Red Vinyl/Buckkilla/Words & Music/Songs of Universal, BMI; Warner Bros.
-A rounder is on the wrong path. But he’s saved by a good woman’s love. This country ballad has a slow-burn vibe that heats up into a bonfire of passion. What a performance.
LILI BELLE/Angel
Writer: Lili Belle; Producer: none listed; Publisher: lili Belle, BMI; LB (track)
– The title song of this artist’s debut EP is a sweet, lilting gospel tune. She sings with an excellent clarity, and at just age 22, she is clearly already on the right path as a writer. The steel-laced production is nicely soft and subtle. For a taste of how she fares on a country tempo tune, check out “A Guy Like That.”
MICHAEL MARTIN MURPHEY/Campfire on the Road
Writers: John Robert Williamson; Producer: Bobby Blazier; Publisher: none listed, APRA/Emusic PTY LLD; Murphey Kinship
-Murphey’s seventh Western-song collection is titled High Stakes. It includes this lovely Australian cowboy ballad that echoes the style of the late John Denver. The beauty of the great outdoors is something I never tire of hearing poets and songwriters convey. This one’s a keeper.
Michael Martin Murphey
LifeNotes: East Nashville Studio Co-Owner Candice Burnside Ferguson Passes
/by Robert K OermannPhoto: bondmemorial.com
The Nashville alternative-music community has lost one of its most enthusiastic champions, Candice Burnside Ferguson.
She died at age 37 on Sunday, April 17. Ferguson was the co-owner, studio manager and engineer at Battle Tapes Recording in East Nashville. She was also a friendly fixture at Grimey’s Records.
Battle Tapes Recording’s clients have included such Music City alt-rockers as Turbo Fruits, Lambchop, Hard Working Americans, PUJOL, Forget Cassettes, Thelma & The Sleaze, Tristen, Be Your Own Pet, De Novo Dahl and Umbrella Tree.
She is survived by her husband, studio co-owner Jeremy Ferguson and by their 2-year-old daughter, Exie Elizabeth. Also mourning her loss are her brother Dennis Burnside Jr., sister Amanda Lea Burnside Proctor and her parents-in-law, Tom and Marybeth Ferguson.
Visitation will be 6-9 p.m. on Friday at Bond Memorial Chapel in Mt. Juliet, Tennessee, and on Saturday from noon to 2 p.m. Funeral services will be conducted at 2 p.m. Saturday, April 23, at Bond Memorial Chapel and internment will follow at Mt. Juliet Memorial Gardens.
Memorial contributions can be made to Exie Elizabeth’s college fund, 1424 Greenland Ave., Nashville, TN 37216.
Warner/Chappell Production Music Hosts Las Vegas Concert
/by Craig_ShelburnePictured (L-R): Randy Wachtler, President & CEO, Warner/Chappell Production Music; Greg Sowders, Sr. VP of A&R, Warner/Chappell; Jonathan Russell and Matthew Gervais of The Head and the Heart
Randy Wachtler, President and CEO of Warner/Chappell Production Music, hosted a private concert during the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) event in Las Vegas on Monday night (April 18).
Held at The Rockhouse, the show featured Warner Bros. Records artists The Head and the Heart as well as Nashville singer-songwriter Meghan Linsey. NAB is one of the top five conventions by attendance in Las Vegas every year, with 100,000 participants expected in 2016, according to the Las Vegas Review-Journal.
Pictured (L-R): Randy Wachtler, President & CEO, Warner/Chappell Production Music; David Epstein, Director of Licensing, Trailers, Warner/Chappell Production Music; Meghan Linsey; Tyler Cain
Industry Ink: BMI, Webster PR, CMT
/by Jessica NicholsonBMI Launches #MusicMonday
BMI has launched BMI #MusicMonday, a playlist of songs curated by BMI’s Writer/Publisher Relations department, of what they are listening to at BMI each week. The playlist, which includes music from the worlds of pop, hip-hop, country, rock, Latin, R&B and more, will be updated each Monday with a fresh batch of tunes.
To listen each week, visit the #MusicMonday page at bmi.com.
Charley Pride Joins Webster PR
Kirt Webster, President of Webster Public Relations, has announced Charley Pride as the latest artist to join the company for publicity representation. Pride celebrates his 50th anniversary as a recording artist this year.
A native of Sledge, Mississippi, Pride pursued a baseball career first, with stints on minor-league teams before injuring his arm. His musical talent was brought to the attention of Chet Atkins at RCA Victor in Nashville, and Pride’s debut single “The Snakes Crawl At Night” was released in 1966. Between 1966 and 1987, Pride amassed 52 Top 10 country hits, with 29 climbing to the No. 1 spot on Billboard‘s country chart.
CMT Names Courtney Cole As CMT Empowering Education Spokesperson
Courtney Cole
CMT has named Courtney Cole as its newest spokesperson for CMT Empowering Education campaign, which is now in its fourth year. Cole launched the first CMT Empowering Education event at Hazard Community and Technical College in Hazard, Kentucky. Cole, a recent Belmont University graduate, will headline 10 events this year at community colleges around the country, including a first stop at Northeast State Community College in Blountville, Tennessee, on Friday (April 22).
“I’m excited to partner with CMT on their Empowering Education initiative,” said Cole. “Music and education are a powerful combination. Having the opportunity to meet students and hear their stories is something I’m looking forward to!”
DISClaimer: Love and Theft, The Rifters Lead Country Variety Pack
/by Robert K OermannKeith Urban rocks. The Rifters are folky. Chris Janson has a country love ballad. Michael Martin Murphey has a cowboy song. Bonnie Bishop brings blue-eyed soul. Ray Scott portrays a smoldering outlaw. Tom Huddleston tries to channel The Hillbilly Shakespeare with an old-school sound.
Our contenders for Disc of the Day are Urban, Janson, Scott and our winners, Love and Theft.
The DisCovery Award goes to The Rifters. This New Mexico acoustic trio describes its sound as “blue-gramma-grass,” but it sounds like gently strummed contemporary country-folk to me.
THE RIFTERS/The Architecture of a Fire
Writers: D. Richmond/C. Pyle; Producer: The Rifters, Don Richmond; Publisher: none listed; Howlin’ Dog (track)
– The title tune of this trio’s current CD is a languid, hushed folk ode characterized by soft acoustic guitar/fiddle/steel/mandolin accompaniment and gentle vocal harmonies. It’s quite entrancing. Stay tuned for the even more hooky following track, “A Hundred Miles.”
Writers: Tommy Lee James/Terry McBride/Shane McAnally; Producer: Carson Chamberlain; Publishers: Pretty Woman/Super Phonic/BMG Chyrsalis/Orbison/Turn Me On/Crazy Water/Little Blue Egg/Kobalt, BMI/ASCAP; Mercury (CDX)
-He dreams of freedom and days of joy. And he wants to know if she’s game to come along. This mid tempo outing has a juicy melody and a beefy production. Corbin’s vocal pleads, but lacks fire and desire.
KEITH URBAN/Wasted Time
Writers: Greg Wells/J. Hart/Keith Urban; Producers: Greg Wells/Keith Urban; Publishers: Firehouse Cat/BMG Gold/360/Ray Daniels/Jayded Ink/Songs of Universal/Mary Rose, ASCAP/SESAC/BMI; Capitol (CDX)
– Electronic throbbing and rocking percussion underscore Keith’s soaring tenor vocal performance. The best days of his life, he says, are summer wasted time. I get it. Sing on.
LOVE AND THEFT/Whiskey On My Breath
Writers: Stephen Barker-Liles/Adam Craig/Russell Dickerson/Mark McGuinn/Tyler Reeve/Trent Tomlinson; Producers: Josh Leo/Love and Theft; Publishers: Hate and Purchase/EMI April/Rockapop/Sony-ATV Tree/Internal Combustion/Atlas/Warner-Tamerlane/Kirbfinder’s Mucho Love/Brown Hound/Big Spaces/BootHeel/Big Mosquito/Amplified, ASCAP/BMI; Curb (CDX)
-Fabulous, stacked vocal harmonies. The stately ballad faces all the sins he’s committed. He knows he’s going to heaven anyway, but he needs to pull himself together because he doesn’t want to meet Jesus with whiskey on his breath. A terrific song, and an equally terrific performance. By all means, play this.
RAY SCOTT/High Road
Writer: Ray Scott; Producer: Dave Brainard; Publishers: Cherry Heart/Songs of Universal, BMI; DeciBel (CDX)
– As always, his ultra-masculine singing is infused with conviction and emotion. The “outlaw” lyric admits that he burns beer joints down and he’s headed straight to perdition. As a songwriter, he sure knows how to get the job done. As a recorded presence, he’s charisma on the hoof.
TOM HUDDLESTON & THE SADDLE SPRING BOYS/Hey Good Lookin’
Writer: Hank Williams; Producers: Rodney Crowell, G. Marq Roswell, Carter Little & Ray Kennedy; Publishers: none listed; Legacy (track)
– The new I Saw the Light bio flick is getting lukewarm reviews. But everyone seems to agree that Huddleston’s acting nails Hank Williams’ personality. As a singer, he lacks the pinched-nerve hillbilly soul of Hank. But The Saddle Spring Boys have The Drifting Cowboys’ sound down to a T.
Writers: Al Anderson/Bonnie Bishop; Producer: Dave Cobb; Publishers: none listed; BB/Thirty Tigers
-This longtime Music Row favorite has teamed up with red-hot producer Dave Cobb for her latest CD, Ain’t Who I Was. It includes a version of her song that won a Grammy for Bonnie Raitt in 2012. I love her slightly sandpapery style and aching phrasing. Jimmy Wallace’s organ sighs mournfully in the background.
CHRIS JANSON/Holdin’ Her
Writers: Chris Janson/James Otto; Producer: Byron Gallimore; Publishers: Red Vinyl/Buckkilla/Words & Music/Songs of Universal, BMI; Warner Bros.
-A rounder is on the wrong path. But he’s saved by a good woman’s love. This country ballad has a slow-burn vibe that heats up into a bonfire of passion. What a performance.
LILI BELLE/Angel
Writer: Lili Belle; Producer: none listed; Publisher: lili Belle, BMI; LB (track)
– The title song of this artist’s debut EP is a sweet, lilting gospel tune. She sings with an excellent clarity, and at just age 22, she is clearly already on the right path as a writer. The steel-laced production is nicely soft and subtle. For a taste of how she fares on a country tempo tune, check out “A Guy Like That.”
MICHAEL MARTIN MURPHEY/Campfire on the Road
Writers: John Robert Williamson; Producer: Bobby Blazier; Publisher: none listed, APRA/Emusic PTY LLD; Murphey Kinship
-Murphey’s seventh Western-song collection is titled High Stakes. It includes this lovely Australian cowboy ballad that echoes the style of the late John Denver. The beauty of the great outdoors is something I never tire of hearing poets and songwriters convey. This one’s a keeper.
Michael Martin Murphey
Merle Haggard Gets ACCA Salute From Toby Keith, Matthew McConaughey
/by Craig_ShelburneToby Keith will perform a tribute to Merle Haggard following an introduction by Matthew McConaughey on the 2016 American Country Countdown Awards.
The ceremony will air live from The Forum in Inglewood, California, on May 1 on FOX.
Haggard’s longtime back-up band, The Strangers, will join Keith as part of this performance. In addition, Haggard’s widow, Theresa, will be in attendance along with other members of the Haggard family, including son Ben, who also will perform with The Strangers.
Keith joins previously-announced performers Kelsea Ballerini, Brooks & Dunn, Luke Bryan, Cam, Dan + Shay, Florida Georgia Line, Sam Hunt, Martina McBride, Thomas Rhett, Cole Swindell and Carrie Underwood.
Rounder Announces Albums By The Earls Of Leicester, The Lonely Heartstring Band
/by Craig_ShelburneRounder Records will release new albums by Grammy-winning bluegrass band The Earls of Leicester and Boston bluegrass ensemble The Lonely Heartstring Band this summer.
Scheduled for July 15, Rattle & Roar is the follow-up to the Earls’ self-titled debut, which inspired critical accolades and earned a Grammy award for Best Bluegrass Album. The band also went on to win six International Bluegrass Music Association awards, including the coveted Album of the Year and Entertainer of the Year honors.
With Rattle & Roar, the Earls — Barry Bales, Shawn Camp, Charlie Cushman, Jerry Douglas, Johnny Warren, and Jeff White — have conjured up a fresh batch of Lester Flatt and Earl Scruggs songs, including “The Train That Carried My Girl From Town” and “All I Want Is You.” The project was produced by Douglas. The band will perform at MerleFest, Stagecoach, DelFest and many other festivals this year.
The Lonely Heartstring Band is set to release their debut album, Deep Waters, on June 3. It was co-produced by The Lonely Heartstring Band and David Travers-Smith, with co-production by Gary Paczosa on the tracks “Graceland” and “The Road’s Salvation.”
Four of the five band members of The Lonely Heartstring Band met while students at Boston’s Berklee College of Music. They are the winners of the 2015 International Bluegrass Music Association’s Momentum Award, and feature Charles Clements (bass & vocals), George Clements (guitar & lead vocals), Gabe Hirshfeld (banjo), Patrick M’Gonigle (fiddle, vocals), and Matt Witler (mandolin).
The band unites traditional bluegrass with contemporary songwriting, and has already earned praise from respected members of the bluegrass community. Banjo legend Tony Trischka says, “These Heartstring Boys have carved out a fresh niche in modern bluegrass. They adhere to the traditional format but take everything two steps forward. Their roots are clear and so is their path to the future. They’re in a class by themselves.”
National Music Council To Honor Opry, Vince Gill, Emmylou Harris
/by Jessica NicholsonThe Eagle Awards are presented each year in national celebration of an individual’s or an organization’s long-term contribution to America’s musical culture and heritage. This year’s event will mark the 33rd year of formal presentations of the awards.
Past American Eagle Award recipients include Kris Kristofferson, Roy Clark, The Oak Ridge Boys, Quincy Jones, Herbie Hancock, Clive Davis, Van Cliburn, Benny Goodman, Lionel Hampton, Dizzy Gillespie, Morton Gould, Dave Brubeck, Marian Anderson, Jim Halsey, Lena Horne, Elliott Carter, Roberta Peters, Odetta, Sherman Halsey, Stephen Sondheim, Sesame Street, Hard Rock Cafe, Music Makes Us, and VH-1 Save the Music Foundation.
The National Music Council was founded in 1940. Its initial membership of 13 has grown to almost 50 national music organizations, encompassing every important form of professional and commercial musical activity.
The Eagle Awards will be presented on June 25 at 1 p.m. at the Nashville Music City Center’s Davidson Ballroom, as part of the Summer NAMM show.
Brothers Osborne Make Grand Ole Opry Debut
/by Craig_ShelburnePictured (L-R): Steve Buchanan, Opry Entertainment Group President; TJ Osborne; John Osborne; Pete Fisher, Grand Ole Opry VP/GM. Photo: Rachael Black for the Grand Ole Opry
EMI Nashville’s Brothers Osborne made their debut performance at the Grand Ole Opry on Tuesday night (April 19).
They performed their brand new single, “21 Summer,” and the gold-certified, Grammy-nominated No.1 hit, “Stay A Little Longer,” both from their debut album, Pawn Shop.
“We fulfilled a lifelong dream last night,” TJ Osborne said. “Standing in that circle as many have done before was one of the highest honors we’ve ever been given.” John Osborne noted, “You could almost feel the ghosts resonating out of the oak. We will never take that night for granted.”
The Maryland natives will next perform at Jazzfest in New Orleans before hitting the road as part of Miranda Lambert’s Keeper Of The Flame Tour.
Upcoming appearances include Florida Country Superfest in Daytona and Dylan Fest at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville.
SESAC Pop Awards Draw Nashville Interest
/by Craig_ShelburneEllen Truley and Marcie Allen
Nashville music executives were front and center at SESAC’s Pop Awards on Monday evening, April 18, at New York’s historic Cipriani.
Marcie Allen, President of music sponsorship and activation agency, MAC Presents, joined SESAC Senior Vice President Ellen Truley on the red carpet prior to the awards dinner. SESAC Executive Vice President Dennis Lord also attended the gala function.
The awards honored the top songwriters and publishers in the pop, urban and rock music genres and drew over 450 writers, publishers and other music industry tastemakers.
Jimmy Napes accepted awards for Songwriter of the Year and Song of the Year (“I’m Not the Only One”). Universal Tunes was named Publisher of the Year.
The awards featured performances from American Idol winner Nick Fradiani, who sang his hit, “Beautiful Life,” and Academy Award-nominated actress and singer Hailee Steinfeld who performed “Love Myself.”
SESAC’s Linda Lorence Critelli and Jamie Dominguez, SESAC Songwriter of the Year Jimmy Napes, SESAC’s Dennis Lord and Trevor Gale.
James Robert Webb Releases ‘Pictures’ On Bison Creek Records
/by Jessica NicholsonCountry singer/songwriter James Robert Webb has released the Bison Creek Records project Pictures, featuring the single, “How That Feels.” The 11-track album was co-produced by Webb and songwriter/musician Daniel Kleindienst.
“When I started making this album two years ago, I had a couple of goals. I wanted to make this a full-length album with enough songs about real life so that fans can really hear who I am as an artist and writer. Above all else, I wanted the soul of this album to be and to sound country,” Webb explains.
He adds, “It has been an inspiring journey and I have to thank God, my fans and my family for it. I’m thunderstruck to think that as an indie artist, I have already debuted on Billboard and had a top 40 hit at MusicRow [CountryBreakout Chart]. To me that’s pretty astonishing. If it wasn’t for the radio stations playing and fans requesting the songs, I wouldn’t have the amazing success we’ve already been blessed with.”
The Tulsa-based singer is also a physician. He established MusicCan, a 501(c)(3) non-profit foundation designed to support music education among children and strengthen his longtime commitment of giving back.
Track Listing for Pictures:
1. “Party In The Barn”
2. “Makin’ Love Tonight”
3. “Absotively Posilutely”
4. “1865”
5. “Pictures”
6. “Put It In Drive”
7. “Book Of Me”
8. “All I See”
9. “Daddy Made A Million”
10. ” Know You”
11. “How That Feels”