Whitey Morgan
Spring has sprung, and country sounds fill the air. My favorite thing about this listening session is that there was no shortage of worthy DisCovery Award contenders. New to the column this week are 2 Steel Girls, Rainey Qualley, Bryan Hayes and Monty Byrom, any one of whom could have captured the crown.
But I’ve gotta go with the outlaw sound of Whitey Morgan & The 78s. This is the “honky-tonk alter ego of Eric David Allen,” who grew up in hard-luck Flint, Mich., and cut his extraordinary CD in Texas. Welcome to the party, son: You’ve got the goods.
The Disc of the Day belongs to Thomas Rhett, who manages to marry a loser’s lyric to a winner’s audio sunshine.
MONTY BYROM/Meet Me at Midnight
Writers: Monty Byrom/Paul Kalman; Producer: Monty Byrom; Publishers: Byrom, SESAC; WTF (track)
-Remember the Bakersfield band Big House and its groovy 1997 hit “Cold Outside?” The group’s Monty Byrom now leads The Buckaroos at The Crystal Palace once a month and has his own blues-rocking combo The Road Pilots. With the latter, he has recorded his debut solo CD, 100 Miles South of Eden. That’s where you’ll find this swampy, soulful ballad beckoning a belle to sex and sadness. Very cool. The album’s last track, by the way, features the late Buck Owens singing with Byrom on a 1998 version of “Big In Vegas.”
COLE SWINDELL/Let Me See Ya Girl
Writers: Cole Swindell/Michael Carter/Jody Stevens; Producer: Michael Carter; Publishers: Sony-ATV Tree/243/Sony-ATV Cross Keys; BMI/ASCAP; Warner Bros.
-He wants to see her “dance” in the bed of his truck, “movin’ your hips like the wind moves cotton.” It may not be the most romantic invitation in the world, but it is lively and tuneful.
BRYAN HAYES/Farther Down the Line
Writers: Bryan Hayes; Producer: Andy Hunt; Publishers: none listed; BMI; BH (track)
– The title tune to his new CD finds this tenor Tennessee troubadour questioning the future of a relationship with plenty of catchy hooks. It has been seven years since his last collection because he wrote these 11 new songs while serving in Iraq. Welcome home, bro.
Thomas Rhett
THOMAS RHETT/Crash and Burn
Writers: Jesse Frasure/Chris Stapleton; Producers: Dann Huff/Jesse Frasure; Publishers: Rio Bravo/WB/Ken Tucky; BMI/ASCAP; Valory
– Jaunty and bopping, featuring hand claps, whistling and a dandy rhythm track. The lyric is about a love crashing and burning, but heartache has never sounded quite this bouncy. Delightful.
RAINEY QUALLEY/Turn Me On Like The Radio
Writers: Rainey Qualley/John Ramey/Jeffrey Easy; Producers: Russ Zavitson/John Ramey; Publishers: Russ Zavitson/Rainey Qualley/Tazmaraz, ASCAP/BMI; Cingle (track)
– Instantly familiar, with a melody that grabs your ears and won’t let go. An automatic add and a sure-fire hit for a newcomer with a winning, throaty, alto range.
LIVEWIRE/Quit You
Writers: Andy Eutsler/Danny Bell/Jeffrey Joseph East; Producers: Paul Carabello/Clif Doyal; Publishers: Real Man/Parrot Island/Tazmaraz; BMI; Way Out West
-I remain a fan. This time, LiveWire takes on a dark ballad with the theme of love being like an addiction. Slowly insinuating.
WHITEY MORGAN & THE 78s/Waitin’ ‘Round to Die
Writers: Townes Van Zandt; Producer: Ryan Hewitt; Publisher: Silver Dollar, ASCAP; WM (track)
-Morgan previews next month’s Sonic Ranch CD with a video of this dark, doom-drenched and completely gripping ballad. You’ll hang on every line, probably because it’s written by a master song craftsman. In addition to Van Zandt, the singer-songwriter covers tunes by Tom T. Hall, Frankie Miller and Waylon Jennings, with whom he shares a dramatic “outlaw” vocal personna. Highly recommended.
2 STEEL GIRLS/Mad Black Magic
Writers: none listed; Producers: none listed; Publishers: none listed; 2SG
-This is a mother-daughter duo — Allison and Krystal Steel — who competed on Team Blake during the 2012-13 season of The Voice. Their new single combines deep-thump rhythm and feisty-female “attitude” vocals. It drops on Tuesday, April 21. I’m intrigued.
TY BATES/Tongue Tied
Writers: Ty Bates/Thomas Archer; Producer: Rogers Masson; Publishers: none listed; TB (track)
– I dig his Georgia drawl. The song’s idea is a clever play on stuttering and kissing. I like it, even though it is somewhat wordy and could use a more memorable chorus.
ADRIAN DUFFY & THE MAYO BROTHERS/United We Fall
Writers: Adrian Duffy/Melvin Duffy; Producers: Adrian Duffy/Melvin Duffy/Matt Kemp; Publishers: none listed; SR (track)
– The three Duffy brothers from Ireland have been tantalizing me with their excellent singles for a couple of years. Now they have a crowd-funded full album at last. Its title tune is chock full of harmony vocals, ringing guitars and echoey atmosphere. These guys have vocal, songwriting and production chops in abundance.
DISClaimer: Outlaws and Loser’s Lyrics Sound Good
/by Robert K OermannWhitey Morgan
Spring has sprung, and country sounds fill the air. My favorite thing about this listening session is that there was no shortage of worthy DisCovery Award contenders. New to the column this week are 2 Steel Girls, Rainey Qualley, Bryan Hayes and Monty Byrom, any one of whom could have captured the crown.
But I’ve gotta go with the outlaw sound of Whitey Morgan & The 78s. This is the “honky-tonk alter ego of Eric David Allen,” who grew up in hard-luck Flint, Mich., and cut his extraordinary CD in Texas. Welcome to the party, son: You’ve got the goods.
The Disc of the Day belongs to Thomas Rhett, who manages to marry a loser’s lyric to a winner’s audio sunshine.
MONTY BYROM/Meet Me at Midnight
Writers: Monty Byrom/Paul Kalman; Producer: Monty Byrom; Publishers: Byrom, SESAC; WTF (track)
-Remember the Bakersfield band Big House and its groovy 1997 hit “Cold Outside?” The group’s Monty Byrom now leads The Buckaroos at The Crystal Palace once a month and has his own blues-rocking combo The Road Pilots. With the latter, he has recorded his debut solo CD, 100 Miles South of Eden. That’s where you’ll find this swampy, soulful ballad beckoning a belle to sex and sadness. Very cool. The album’s last track, by the way, features the late Buck Owens singing with Byrom on a 1998 version of “Big In Vegas.”
COLE SWINDELL/Let Me See Ya Girl
Writers: Cole Swindell/Michael Carter/Jody Stevens; Producer: Michael Carter; Publishers: Sony-ATV Tree/243/Sony-ATV Cross Keys; BMI/ASCAP; Warner Bros.
-He wants to see her “dance” in the bed of his truck, “movin’ your hips like the wind moves cotton.” It may not be the most romantic invitation in the world, but it is lively and tuneful.
BRYAN HAYES/Farther Down the Line
Writers: Bryan Hayes; Producer: Andy Hunt; Publishers: none listed; BMI; BH (track)
– The title tune to his new CD finds this tenor Tennessee troubadour questioning the future of a relationship with plenty of catchy hooks. It has been seven years since his last collection because he wrote these 11 new songs while serving in Iraq. Welcome home, bro.
Thomas Rhett
THOMAS RHETT/Crash and Burn
Writers: Jesse Frasure/Chris Stapleton; Producers: Dann Huff/Jesse Frasure; Publishers: Rio Bravo/WB/Ken Tucky; BMI/ASCAP; Valory
– Jaunty and bopping, featuring hand claps, whistling and a dandy rhythm track. The lyric is about a love crashing and burning, but heartache has never sounded quite this bouncy. Delightful.
RAINEY QUALLEY/Turn Me On Like The Radio
Writers: Rainey Qualley/John Ramey/Jeffrey Easy; Producers: Russ Zavitson/John Ramey; Publishers: Russ Zavitson/Rainey Qualley/Tazmaraz, ASCAP/BMI; Cingle (track)
– Instantly familiar, with a melody that grabs your ears and won’t let go. An automatic add and a sure-fire hit for a newcomer with a winning, throaty, alto range.
LIVEWIRE/Quit You
Writers: Andy Eutsler/Danny Bell/Jeffrey Joseph East; Producers: Paul Carabello/Clif Doyal; Publishers: Real Man/Parrot Island/Tazmaraz; BMI; Way Out West
-I remain a fan. This time, LiveWire takes on a dark ballad with the theme of love being like an addiction. Slowly insinuating.
WHITEY MORGAN & THE 78s/Waitin’ ‘Round to Die
Writers: Townes Van Zandt; Producer: Ryan Hewitt; Publisher: Silver Dollar, ASCAP; WM (track)
-Morgan previews next month’s Sonic Ranch CD with a video of this dark, doom-drenched and completely gripping ballad. You’ll hang on every line, probably because it’s written by a master song craftsman. In addition to Van Zandt, the singer-songwriter covers tunes by Tom T. Hall, Frankie Miller and Waylon Jennings, with whom he shares a dramatic “outlaw” vocal personna. Highly recommended.
2 STEEL GIRLS/Mad Black Magic
Writers: none listed; Producers: none listed; Publishers: none listed; 2SG
-This is a mother-daughter duo — Allison and Krystal Steel — who competed on Team Blake during the 2012-13 season of The Voice. Their new single combines deep-thump rhythm and feisty-female “attitude” vocals. It drops on Tuesday, April 21. I’m intrigued.
TY BATES/Tongue Tied
Writers: Ty Bates/Thomas Archer; Producer: Rogers Masson; Publishers: none listed; TB (track)
– I dig his Georgia drawl. The song’s idea is a clever play on stuttering and kissing. I like it, even though it is somewhat wordy and could use a more memorable chorus.
ADRIAN DUFFY & THE MAYO BROTHERS/United We Fall
Writers: Adrian Duffy/Melvin Duffy; Producers: Adrian Duffy/Melvin Duffy/Matt Kemp; Publishers: none listed; SR (track)
– The three Duffy brothers from Ireland have been tantalizing me with their excellent singles for a couple of years. Now they have a crowd-funded full album at last. Its title tune is chock full of harmony vocals, ringing guitars and echoey atmosphere. These guys have vocal, songwriting and production chops in abundance.
Producer Dave Cobb Launches Label Imprint
/by Jessica NicholsonDave Cobb
Producer Dave Cobb, known for his work with artists including Chris Stapleton, Sturgill Simpson, Jason Isbell, Jamey Johnson, Shooter Jennings, and others, has now launched his own label imprint, Low Country Sound, with Elektra Records (subsidiary of Atlantic Records and Warner Music Group).
The label, which is based in Nashville, is supported by Brightman Music’s Andrew Brightman, as well as executives from Elektra and Atlantic in New York and Los Angeles.
R&B/pop musician Anderson East is the first artist signed to the imprint.
“As Dave’s manager for the past 10 years I am extremely excited about the partnership with Elektra and Low Country Sound,” Brightman said. “Dave has always been a champion of great music and real artists that dare to defy conformity. This partnership validates music fan’s interest in southern grown artists like Sturgill Simpson, Jason Isbell, Anderson East and others Dave has had the honor to work with.”
Nashville Celebrates Ballard’s “Sunshine and Whiskey”
/by Jessica NicholsonMusic industry guests assembled at Nashville hotspot City Winery yesterday (April 14) to celebrate Frankie Ballard’s second consecutive No. 1 hit “Sunshine and Whiskey.” ASCAP’s Evyn Mustoe, who happens to be the wife of “Sunshine and Whiskey” co-writer Jaren Johnston, and BMI’s Clay Bradley hosted the gathering to honor Ballard and writers Luke Laird (BMI) and Johnston (ASCAP). In addition to being a hit songwriter, Johnston is member of band The Cadillac Three.
“Sunshine and Whiskey” marks Laird’s 19th No. 1 song, and is the fourth for Johnston.
Among those honoring the song were Sony/ATV’s Troy Tomlinson, Warner Music Nashville’s John Esposito, CMA, CRB, and Universal Music Publishing’s Cyndi Forman.
Laird’s wife and Creative Nation business partner, Beth Laird, pointed out that eight of the 15 songs Luke and Johnston have co-written have been recorded. She also offered celebratory whiskey racks to Ballard and the songwriters.
The evening included a donation presented by Avenue Bank’s Ron Cox on behalf of the songwriters to Preston Taylor Ministries.
“I still get this overwhelming feeling I don’t deserve to be up here,” Ballard said modestly, before recalling how much he wanted to record “Sunshine and Whiskey” when he first heard it. Ballard doesn’t have long to bask in the celebration; he will soon be on the road opening shows for Florida Georgia Line.
Pictured (Back row): BMI’s Clay Bradley, Sony/ATV’s Troy Tomlinson, Warner Music Nashville’s John Esposito, ASCAP’s Evyn Mustoe, Universal Music Publishing’s Cyndi Forman and Creative Nation’s Beth Laird. (Front row): BMI songwriter Luke Laird, BMI singer/songwriter Frankie Ballard, ASCAP songwriter Jaren Johnston, producer Marshall Altman.
MusicRowPics: Rainey Qualley Trades Hollywood For Music City
/by Jessica NicholsonRainey Qualley with MusicRow staff.
Singer-songwriter Rainey Qualley may have entertaining in her blood, but don’t expect her to follow in the footsteps of her mother, actress Andie MacDowell. Instead, Qualley is forging her own creative path in country music.
Qualley grew up in Asheville, N.C., raised on the music of classic country entertainers including Dolly Parton and Johnny Cash. Over the years, the 25-year-old has called Montana, Los Angeles, and Nashville home.
During her MusicRow visit, Qualley offered a three-song acoustic performance of songs from her Turn Down The Lights EP. Qualley co-wrote every track on the EP, with co-writers including Ramey, Jeffrey Easy, Adam Smith, and Roxie Dean. THe project was produced by Russ Zavitson and John Ramey.
Qualley ran through tracks including the power ballad “Never Mine,” “Dead and Gone,” and “Me and Johnny Cash.” She says the song, a quirky tune about turning to booze and The Man in Black to get over a breakup, was inspired by personal experience. “I was venting to [co-writer Ramey] in the car about an ex-boyfriend, and we came into the office and wrote the song.”
“I was in L.A. and I was coming back and forth from Nashville regularly for songwriting trips,” said Qualley of her introduction to Music City. “I’ve always loved songwriting, and Russ knew I had a lot of room to grow. He started setting me up with co-writers, and I began going back and forth to Nashville and Los Angeles. After my first trip to Nashville, I was begging Russ, ‘Hey, when can I move here?'” She has now been living in Nashville for nearly a year.
The multi-talented entertainer has dabbled in acting, scoring roles in the movies Falcon Song (2014), Mighty Fine (2012), and Pink & Baby Blue. Just before making the move to Nashville, Hollywood came calling again, in the form of a role on popular series Mad Men. “I auditioned for the role and ended up getting it. It only took like four hours to shoot, so I thought, ‘Why not?'”
Still, Qualley says her goals for the future center around her upcoming full-length album and burgeoning music career. “Music is really my focus and where my heart is.”
Rainey Qualley performs for MusicRow staff.
Hit Songwriter Lance Miller Signs With Warner/Chappell
/by Troy_StephensonL-R (Front): Brad Warren (Co-Writer), Lance Miller, Brett Warren (Co-Writer) L-R (Back): BJ Hill (W/C), Travis Carter (W/C), Phil May (W/C), Blain Rhodes (W/C), Scott Safford (Attorney), Matt Michiels (W/C)
Warner/Chappell Music has signed hit songwriter and SESAC Song of the Year winner Lance Miller to a worldwide co-publishing agreement.
Miller’s accolades include 2014 SESAC Song Of The Year presented at last year’s SESAC Nashville Music Awards for his co-write on Jerrod Niemann’s “Drink To That All Night.”
He also has writing credits on Lee Brice’s “Beautiful Every Time” and Thomas Rhett’s “Beer With Jesus.”
Weekly Register: Rucker’s ‘Southern Style’ Reigns For Second Week
/by Jessica NicholsonOn a brighter note, Neilsen’s country albums tally saw Darius Rucker’s Southern Style reign supreme for a second consecutive week, moving 17k units. Rucker sold 52k during the project’s debut week.
Also in the Top 5 this week are Sam Hunt’s Montevallo (15k), Now That’s What I Call ACM Awards: 50 Years (11k), Luke Bryan’s Spring Break…Checkin’ Out (10k), and Florida Georgia Line’s Anything Goes (7.4k)
Top country debuts this week went to Will Hoge at No. 15 (3.7k), Kristian Bush at No. 16 (3.7k), and Pokey LaFarge at No. 28 (1.4k).
Also worth noting is Lee Brice who jumped from No. 21 to No. 7 this week, selling 7.1k (an upward swing of 179 percent), on the strength of a Google Album of the Week promo, on sale for $2.99.
The Original Soundtrack from the movie Furious 7 topped the overall album chart, selling 111k this week. The top debut on the overall album chart was All Time Low at No. 2, selling 80k. All Time Low was the only debut in the top 10 this week.
Compared to last week, overall album sales were down 1.7 percent, while overall digital sales were up 2.6 percent. Country album sales were down 13.2 percent, while country digital sales were down 7.5 percent.
This time last year, the top overall album was Frozen, which sold 133k that week. On the country charts one year ago, Martina McBride’s Everlasting topped the country album chart, selling 21k.
Tracks
Sam Hunt’s “Take Your Time” tops the country tracks tally this week, with 55k units moved. Little Big Town’s “Girl Crush” moved 43k this week, followed by Zac Brown Band’s “Homegrown” (40.5k), Thomas Rhett’s “Crash and Burn” (40k), and Cole Swindell’s “Ain’t Worth The Whiskey” (35k).
Wiz Khalifa earns a second week at No. 1 on the overall tracks chart with “See You Again,” which sold 464k. The top overall and country debut this week is Thomas Rhett’s “Crash and Burn” (40k). The track debuted at No. 4 on the country tracks chart and at No. 31 overall.
Year-to-date, overall track sales have fallen 9.7 percent, while country tracks have fallen 16.5 percent.
This time last year, Pharrell Williams’ “Happy” topped the overall track chart, selling 257k, while Luke Bryan’s “Play It Again” topped the country tracks chart, selling 108k.
Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium To Open Cafe Lula
/by Troy_StephensonThe menu will feature rotisserie cooking and locally sourced ingredients available for both dine-in and to-go service. The restaurant will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily with extended hours during nighttime Ryman events.
“Cafe Lula will be a delicious and convenient addition to downtown’s dining options,” said Sally Williams, Ryman Auditorium general manager. “We look forward to serving a wide range of guests, from Nashville visitors looking for a cup of coffee and pastry before taking a Ryman tour– to our downtown neighbors looking for a quick and healthy lunch– to music fans looking for dinner and a cocktail before a concert.”
The cafe is named in honor of Lula C. Naff, longtime manager of the Ryman. “For decades Lula C. Naff brought the world to Nashville through the stage door of the Ryman,” said Williams. “We’re excited to honor her legacy with the naming of our new cafe.”
Cafe Lula
Mandy Barnett To Headline Nashville Symphony Show
/by Troy_StephensonMandy Barnett
Singer, songwriter and actress Mandy Barnett has been named the featured entertainer for the 2015 Nashville Symphony Fashion Show.
Barnett earned rave reviews as a teenager when she portrayed Patsy Cline in the stage show, “Always…Patsy Cline” at The Ryman Auditorium. She has released six albums and continues to tour around the world. She is also a regular on the Grand Ole Opry.
The fashion show will take place at Schermerhorn Symphony Center in Nashville on Tuesday May 5 and will feature designs of Brunello Cucinelli.
Anastasia Brown, independent film and television producer and music supervisor of Format Entertainment will serve as emcee.
Proceeds from the event will support the Nashville Symphony’s music education and community engagement programs, which serve more than 100,000 children and adults in Middle Tennessee annually.
Tickets can be purchased here start at $150. The evening will include a cocktail reception, silent auction and Italian cuisine.
Opry Launches Artist-Curated Collection With Kellie Pickler
/by Sherod RobertsonThe Grand Ole Opry launched its first artist-curated merchandise collection– Selma Drye by Kellie Pickler home goods collection– at a special launch party backstage at the Grand Ole Opry House yesterday evening (April 14). The collection of home goods, inspired by Kellie Pickler’s great-grandmother Selma Drye, includes Pickler’s touch on unique frames, candles, pillows, dishes, aprons, canisters and select furniture pieces. The country artist was on hand between performances on two Opry shows last night to talk about her great-grandmother Selma Drye and how she inspired the various items in the collection.
(L-R): Kim O’Dell, Director of Retail, Opry; Kellie Pickler; Pete Fisher, Vice President/General Manager, Opry, celebrating the launch of “Selma Drye by Kellie Pickler” home goods collection backstage at the Grand Ole Opry.
“When you get a house, it takes a while to make it feel like a home,” said Pickler. “My great-grandmother had a simple, loving touch that made her house a home like no other. It’s really nice being able to take things I know she would have loved and create a line inspired by her.”
“When we began thinking about working with artists on curated Opry collections and spoke with Kellie about the opportunity, we immediately fell in love with the stories she told of her great-grandmother, Selma Drye,” said Kim O’Dell, the Opry’s Director of Retail. “We knew the way Kellie described Selma’s unique style and authentic way of living was perfectly in line with the types of product experiences true to the Opry. We’re excited to work with Kellie, and more artists in the future, all of whom will have their own influences and unique connections to the Opry.”
Selma Drye by Kellie Pickler is available online and in both Grand Ole Opry retail stores.
Robertson Family Adds ‘Musical’ To Dynasty
/by Sherod RobertsonThe Robertson Family‘s unlikely rise to fame as reality television stars featured on A&E’s Duck Dynasty now includes a musical.
Duck Commander Musical opens tonight, Wednesday, April 15 in the Crown Theater at the Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas.
The musical is a tale of faith, food, family and the pursuit of the American dream based on the best-selling book The Duck Commander Family, written by Korie and her husband, Willie, CEO of the family’s Duck Commander empire. The 90-minute musical features an original score that fuses country, rock, gospel and pop, performed by a seven-piece band.
“Our theater agent had read the book and came to us with the idea,” Korie reflects. “We loved the concept because it’s an inspiring story of faith, love, and family– through the good times and the bad– and it’s something the entire family can see in Las Vegas.”
Tony Award-nominated director Jeff Calhoun directed and choreographed “Duck Commander Musical.” Asa Somers wrote the book and Steven Morris, Robert Morris and Joe Shane wrote the score. The cast includes Broadway veterans Mimi Bessette as Miss Kay, Ben Thompson as Willie, Tad Wilson as Phil and Russell Arden Koplin as Missy.
The Robertsons spent time working with the cast to make sure the experience is as authentic as possible for fans and newcomers alike.
Click here for ticket information, behind-the-scenes footage and photos.