Country legend George Jones has released a lot of music over the course of his six-decade career. But hardcore Possum fans will heartily welcome the February 23 release of George Jones: The Great Lost Hits. The 2-CD collection, released by Time Life, compiles rare and largely out-of-print recordings that were originally released on the Musicor label between 1965 and 1972. On the same date, a special 12-track, single-CD version of the record will be available exclusively at Wal-Mart, with a digital version available from Walmart.com.
Longtime Jones fans point to this era of his career as his best, and the 34 songs culled from the over 250 recordings Jones made for Musicor were carefully selected to reflect this. The tracks included on The Great Lost Hits are a mix of songs that have become classics and rarities that few have heard in many years.
The Great Lost Hits includes Jones classics “A Good Year for the Roses,” “Walk through This World With Me,” “I’ll Share My World With You,” “Love Bug,” and “When the Grass Grows Over Me.” The original version of “Beneath Still Waters,” which later became a No. 1 country hit for Emmylou Harris, and “Your Angel Steps Out of Heaven,” later recorded by Elvis Costello and The Flying Burrito Brothers, are other standouts. Also included is the original version of “Where Grass Won’t Grow” a song Jones later recorded with Trisha Yearwood, Dolly Parton and Emmylou Harris.
Fans can also hear Tammy Wynette anonymously singing harmony on “Never Grow Cold” soon after they began their relationship. It was actually Jones’ marriage to Wynette that prompted his departure from Musicor for her label, Epic.
Jones is the #2 best-charting country artist of all time, with 143 Top 40 hits to his name, and two Grammy Awards. He is inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame and holds a National Medal of Arts. At 78, he continues as an active country superstar, headlining dozens of concerts each year.
Chicks With Hits Plugging For The Cause
/by contributorConfirmed participants include artist Heidi Newfield, Big Machine’s Allison Jones; Capitol Nashville’s Autumn House, who will be bringing new EMI artist Troy Olsen; Carole Ann Mobley from Warner Bros.; and producers Frank Liddell, Michael Knox, Blake Chancey and Doug Johnson. All will be coming to hear songs and participate in the fundraiser. If they pass on a song, they will donate ten dollars. When they put a song on hold, the Chicks with Hits will donate $10.
The unique event will raise money for Breast Cancer, MS and Miller Harris Asthma Camp. Sign up for your slot today by calling Ree Guyer at 830-7297 or by emailing ReeGB@aol.com
CMT One Country Supports First Lady’s “Let’s Move”
/by contributorCMT One Country’s commitment to “Let’s Move” will continue throughout 2010 by highlighting the work of non-profit partner Feeding America for their work in the Backpack Program and Kids Cafe Program. The initiative will receive on-air support from CMT Tom 20 Countdown and CMT Insider.
You can learn more about the campaign here.
Genovese and Brooks To Schools Hall of Fame
/by contributorTo date, the CMA donations, generated through the CMA Music Festival, have provided over $2,245,000 for new musical instruments replacing instruments for the first time in 20 years, supporting more than 41 Metro public schools.
Also being honored, with 2010 Distinguished Alumni Awards are Keith B. Churchwell, M.D., nationally renowned cardiologist, McGavock High School, 1979; Richard H. Fulton, former Congressman and Nashville Mayor, East High School, 1945; R. Milton Johnson, Executive Vice President/CFO of HCA, Stratford High School, 1974; and Walter G. Knestrick, founder of Knestrick Construction, Hillsboro High School, 1955.
The event will take place Tuesday, March 2 at 6 PM at Belmont University’s Curb Event Center. To included in the printed program, attendees must RSVP by February 11. For ticket information click here or call the Alliance at 615-783-2810.
Tanya Tucker Joins RuPaul’s “Drag Race”
/by contributorThe show will air at 8 PM CT on the Logo network and the following Tuesday at 8 PM CT on VH1. Tucker will sit alongside RuPaul, fashion journalist Merle Ginsberg, designer Santino Rice and actress Kathy Najimy for a special show that finds the contestants discovering their “country” characters.
Hosted by drag icon RuPaul, the competition series is in its second season where drag queens run through fashion and talent challenges in front of a panel of judges in the hopes of becoming “America’s Next Drag Superstar.”
Listening Room To Host MusiCares Benefit
/by contributorThe event will present a lineup of four one-hour songwriter rounds, with currently confirmed songwriters including Wynn Varble, Ashley Gorley, Billy Dean, Benita Hill, Chas Sandford, Lisa Carver and the Nashville Songbirds (Kirsti Manna, Bridgette Tatum, Julie Forester and Lorna Flowers). Additional artists are still to be confirmed.
The evening will also include a silent auction and raffle prizes. Anyone wishing to donate auction items (signed T-shirts, jackets, ball caps, CDs, lyrics, guitars, etc) should email Lorna Flowers at lornaflowers@comcast.net or Kirsti Manna at kirstimannasongs@comcast.net.
Musicians Hall of Fame For Free
/by contributor(L toR) Harold Bradley; Grady Martin’s son, Joshua; Reggie Young; Gene Chrisman; Al Delory; Bobby Wood; Ray Edenton; Pete Drake’s wife, Rose; Jerry Kennedy,;Buddy Harmon’s daughter and son , Summer and Mark; Luther Perkins’ wife, Marjie Beaver; Hargus (Pig) Robbins; D. J. Fontana; Floyd Cramer’s wife, Mary and grandson, Jason Coleman; Boots Randolph’s assistant of 40 years, Linda Tunks; and Bob Moore. (Photo: Alan Mayor)
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The Musicians Hall of Fame and Museum is invited the public and the media to attend a “press conference/trophy ceremony” (2/11) to present the 2007 Inductee class with long-awaited trophies that were not available the year of their induction. Legendary inductee groups confirmed to join the festivities are The Nashville “A” Team, The Memphis Boys, The Blue Moon Boys and The Tennessee Two, with more expected.
Underwood Crawls To Sesame Street
/by contributorIf you missed her debut, subsequent appearances are planned for March 17, April 8 and April 26. Check out Underworm/wood singing the “Worm Anthem” to to NASCAR’s Jeff Gordon.
AT&T Olympics CD Goes Country
/by contributorThe previously unreleased songs will be available exclusively via the iTunes Store, and via AT&T wireless devices, tones will available starting tomorrow (2/12).
To commemorate the 2010 Olympic Winter Games in Vancouver, AT&T is joining with recording artists to create the special project, which will debut on the Olympics’ opening day and will offer inspirational songs for Team USA, sports and music fans across the country. In addition, Gloriana, Rascal Flatts, Mariah Carey, and 3 Doors Down have created exclusive music videos that will appear during broadcasts of the Olympic Games on NBC and will be available via TV, PC and wireless device through AT&T U-verse, AT&T Fan Zone and wirelessly through AT&T Mobile Video. All proceeds from the purchase of songs, participating ringtones and answer tones from February 12, 2010 through March 1, 2010 will be donated to Team USA.
Additional information about AT&T’s sponsorship of the U.S. Olympic Team is available here.
Jones Collection Revives “Musicor” Years
/by contributorLongtime Jones fans point to this era of his career as his best, and the 34 songs culled from the over 250 recordings Jones made for Musicor were carefully selected to reflect this. The tracks included on The Great Lost Hits are a mix of songs that have become classics and rarities that few have heard in many years.
The Great Lost Hits includes Jones classics “A Good Year for the Roses,” “Walk through This World With Me,” “I’ll Share My World With You,” “Love Bug,” and “When the Grass Grows Over Me.” The original version of “Beneath Still Waters,” which later became a No. 1 country hit for Emmylou Harris, and “Your Angel Steps Out of Heaven,” later recorded by Elvis Costello and The Flying Burrito Brothers, are other standouts. Also included is the original version of “Where Grass Won’t Grow” a song Jones later recorded with Trisha Yearwood, Dolly Parton and Emmylou Harris. Fans can also hear Tammy Wynette anonymously singing harmony on “Never Grow Cold” soon after they began their relationship. It was actually Jones’ marriage to Wynette that prompted his departure from Musicor for her label, Epic.
Jones is the #2 best-charting country artist of all time, with 143 Top 40 hits to his name, and two Grammy Awards. He is inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame and holds a National Medal of Arts. At 78, he continues as an active country superstar, headlining dozens of concerts each year.
Chicks Re-Emerge as Court Yard Hounds
/by contributorRealizing that The Dixie Chicks hiatus would last longer than originally anticipated, Robison and Maguire dove head first into recording their debut as The Court Yard Hounds. To launch the new project, the sisters will appear at SXSW for their first live concert as part of the Americana Music Association showcase at Antone’s on Thursday March 18. The Court Yard Hounds will tour North America throughout the summer and head to Europe and Australia this fall.
“It was time,” said Robison. “We had been on hiatus from The Dixie Chicks for about a year, I was getting very restless and needed to be creative for my own sanity. And at the same time I was going through my divorce so it was very fertile ground for writing.”
“Emily was just writing and writing all of these deeply personal and truly beautiful songs,” added Maguire. “She was initially going to pitch them to other artists and I kept telling her no, no, you have to save that for you. It’s too good and too personal.”