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ONLINECOUNTRYUK
Hello -
and welcome to the latest “onlinecountryuk” newsletter, an irregular,
irreverent, sometimes irresponsible, even irritating, collection of country
music news views and reviews, a sort of Internet version of the old BCMA
Bulletin, the magazine, published by the now-disbanded British Country Music
Association, which I edited for the best part of 40 years, but still
concentrating on “real” country music.
New names are constantly being added to the mailing list, but if you’re
unhappy about it cluttering up your In-Box, just email me back at onlinecountryuk@yahoo.co.uk
and I’ll delete your name right away.
If there’s something about the world of country music that you’re itching to
get off your chest, please contact me and, if it’s not slanderous, I’ll
endeavour to include it in a future newsletter, along with any items of country
music news you’d like me to pass on, or records you‘d like top have
mentioned or reviewed.
Thanks for looking and for the many encouraging emails. Very much appreciated!
Don't forget, by the way, that you can access the links to the various websites
(listed in blue) by just clicking on them.
Jim Marshall - July 2010
STEVE
EARLE DATES
Steve Earle has a
short acoustic solo tour of the UK and Ireland in September, details as follows
Sept 4 - Electric Picnic Festival, Stradbally, Ireland
Sept 5 - Corn Exchange, Cambridge
Sept 7 - St. David's Hall, Cardiff
Sept 8 - Alhambra Theatre, Dunfermline
Sept 9 - Clickimin Leisure Centre, Lerwick, Shetland Islands
 JIMMY
DEAN
Jimmy Dean died suddenly at his home on the James River in Varina, Virginia, on
June 13. He was 81.
The Texas-born singer founded the most successful sausage-making business in the
USA, but, even before the launch of that enterprise, he was already a national
celebrity after hosting daily shows for national TV networks during the late
'50s and early '60s.
He had recording success with hits like “Bumming Around”, “P.T. 109”,
“Dear Ivan”, “Little Black Book” and “IOU”, but he‘ll be best
remember for the self-penned “Big Bad John” which climbed to the top of the
US pop and country charts in 1961.
A member of both the Virginia Country Music Hall of Fame and the Texas Music
Hall of Fame, Jimmy Dean will be posthumously inducted into the Country Music
Hall of Fame during ceremonies in Nashville in October.
NEW
FROM BEAR FAMILY
Among the latest batch of releases from Bear Family Records is the somewhat
politically-incorrect 30-track compilation, “Smoke That Cigarette” which
includes “Cigarettes And Coffee Blues” by Marty Robbins, “Another Puff”
by Jerry Reed, “Sad Cigarette” by Slim Dusty, “Three Cigarettes In An
Ashtray” by Patsy Cline, “Down To My Last Cigarette” by Billy Walker,
“What Cigarette Is Best” by Wilf Carter and the inevitable “Cigareetes,
Whusky And Wild Women” by The Sons Of The Pioneers.
Also released is “Helloo Baby” by the Big Bopper, a collection of 23 of this
best-known recordings, plus several tribute tracks from other artists including
Donna Dameron, Eddie Cochran, Ray Campi and Jayne Mansfield plus two demos from
songwriter collaborator and Tex Ritter nephew, Gordon Ritter.
One of the first albums ever released by Bear Family founder, Richard, Weize,
was “Getting Folk Out Of The Country” by Bill Clifton and Hedy West
(originally an LP on the Folk Variety label), and it now makes its CD debut.
This historic, and highly collectable, release dates back to the time when
Richard Weize was booking American artists to play German folk clubs, but the
meeting of Hedy West and Bill Clifton had originally occurred in London and the
resulting album, which mainly comprised traditional songs like “Free Little
Bird”, “Blow Ye Gentle Winds” “and Pictures From Life’s Other Side”
also featured British musician, the late Andrew Townend.
Sadly, Hedy West died in 2005, but Bill Clifton continues to entertain and was
inducted into the Bluegrass Hall of Fame in 2008.
And, finally, “See You Later Alligator” is a fitting tribute to this classic
song’s writer, Louisiana-born Bobby Charles, who died earlier this year. He
was brought up on a radio diet of cajun, country and rhythm & blues, citing
his major idols as Hank Williams and Fats Domino – and the influence of both
these artists can be heard frequently throughout the 28 tracks in this
collection.
CMA
AWARD FOR BRIAN CLOUGH
British country music radio presenter, Brian Clough, was recently surprised to
receive the CMA International Broadcaster Award which was presented to him by
Bobbi Boyce, CMA International Consultant, during a lunch in Durham.
Afterwards, Brian said “I’m still trying to come to terms with the honour
given to me by the Country Music Association and ponder as to why I should be
rewarded with such an accolade for something that has been a great enjoyment to
do for the best part of my life.”
For 30 years, he has presented and produced country music radio programmes at
the Independent Metro and Great North Radio Group, Harmony Radio, Century Radio,
DLR, NLR, and Smooth Radio. He has written a country music column for The
Northern Echo, The CMA International Broadcaster Award recognizes outstanding
achievement by radio broadcasters outside the United States who have made
important contributions toward the development of Country Music in their
country.
As I may have mentioned previously, Brian has championed Country Music in the
North East on Metro Radio, Great North Radio and Smooth Radio and now online.
His show, The American Connection, goes online around 6.00am every Saturday
morning, runs approx. 90 minutes and can be played at any time. There are also
archive editions on the site. He plays a wide cross-section of Country,
dedications, requests, competitions for CDs and show tickets etc. You can access
it at http://showbiz.euvue.co.uk/take-a-look-at-the-countryside
QUEBE SISTERS FOR UK
The Texas-born Quebe Sisters bring their own brand of Western Swing to the UK
this month, with dates as follows:
Tuesday 27th: Norwich, Arts Centre
Wednesday 28th: Leicester, The Musician
Thursday 29th: Bedford, Corn Exchange
Friday 30th-Saturday 31st: Cambridge Folk Festival
Monday August 2nd: Widnes, United Services Club
Tuesday 3rd: London, The Luminaire
Thursday 5th: Bristol, St George's Hall
Friday 6th: Narbeth, Queens Hall
Sunday 8th: Exeter, Phoenix
Check out the Quebe Sisters in action on www.youtube.com/watch?v=sxfeC--O1Lc&feature=related
BRITISH
COUNTRY MUSIC AWARDS
The British Country Music Awards, to be held at the Lakeside Country Club in
Frimley Green, Surrey, on Sunday October 10th, and hosted by Alvin Stardust,
will feature, amongst others, The Country Legends Theatre Show, Diablos, Kay D,
Cross Country, Sam Millar, Four Card Trick, the Tim McKay Band and the Haley
Oliver Band.
Tickets at £15.00, with discounts for groups of more than ten, are available by
sending a cheque payable to BCMHoF Ltd., to Awards Tickets, PO Box 4257,
Sheffield S25 9DA. (Tel: 07564 939090)
YET
ANOTHER STATE SONG FOR TENNESSEE
Ronnie Milsap’s hit song “Smoky Mountain Rain”, by Nashville songwriters,
Kye Fleming and Dennis Morgan has been adopted as a state song for Tennessee.
Tennessee already has seven official state songs, more than any other state,
"Tennessee Waltz" and "Rocky Top" being the most famous. The
lyrics to all seven - plus the "official Tennessee Bicentennial Rap
Song" are available at www.tennesseeanytime.org/homework/songs.html
SWEET
SUNNY SOUTH FESTIVAL
This year’s Sweet Sunny South Festival held at Fairlight Lodge Hotel,
Hastings, East Sussex on 10th to 12th September, will feature music from the New
Deal String Band, Cut The Shuffle, Hunter Robertson and Casey Joe Abair.
There’ll also be workshops, concerts, picking sessions, real ales, pub grub
and camping facilities
A weekend ticket costs £32 (individual day/workshop/concert tickets are
available) and camping £3 per pitch per night.
Further information write to 7 Badgers Way, Hastings TN34 2QD
www.sweetsunnysouth.co.uk
JACK
LAWRENCE & RICHARD PLANK
Flat pick guitarist and musical partner of the legendary Doc Watson,
"acoustic powerhouse" Jack Lawrence, from Charlotte NC is touring here
in September. Joining him will be English fingerpicking guitarist Richard Plank.
Friends for a number of years, this will be the first time they've performed
together.
Their tour schedule is as follows:
September 3rd to 5th: Didmarton Bluegrass Festival, Kemble, Gloucestershire
6th: Bacup Folk Club, Bacup, Lancashire
7th: Brown Cow Folk Club, Mansfield, Nottinghamshire
8th: Hinckley Act, Hinckley, Leicestershire
10th: The Watermark, Ivybridge, Devon (with Phil Rosenthal ex-Seldom Scene)
11th: The George Hotel, South Molton, Devon
14th: The Abbey Hotel, Romsey, Hampshire
15th: The Lamb Folk Club, Eastbourne, Sussex
17th to 19th: Cornish Bluegrass Festival, Newquay, Cornwall
BEVERLY
SMITH & CARL JONES TOUR
American old-timey duo, Beverly Smith and Carl Jones, return to the UK in
September for another tour. Dates as follows:
September 2nd: The Wolf Folk Club, Wolferton, near Kings Lynn
3rd: The Milkmaid, Bury St Edmunds
4th: The Cellar, London
6th: Galeri, Caernarfon - 2:30pm for one hour only
6th: TBC Bangor, evening
8th: The Ironworks, Oswestry, Shropshire
9th: The Trades Club, Hebden Bridge
10th: The Floor, St Michaels, Tenbury Wells
11th: Presteigne, Powys
14th: Maypole, Aylesbury
15th: What's Cookin', London
16th: The Prom, Bristol
17th to 20th: Cornish Bluegrass Festival
October 5th: Dartford Folk Club, Dartford
www.smithnjones.net
PHEW,
WHAT A SCORCHER!
More than 400
people were treated for heat exhaustion at the recent CMA Music Festival in
Nashville.
THE
WILDERS IN THE UK
The
American four-piece hillbilly band, The Wilders, return to the UK for dates in
July and August:
July 29: Accoustic Music Club, Kirkcaldy
30: Speyfest, Fochabers
31: Howden Park Centre, Livingston
August 1: The Bongo Club, Edinburgh
4: The Buccleuch Centre, Langholm
5 Birnam Arts Centre, Perthshire
6: The Tolbooth, Stirling
7: The Classic Grand, Glasgow
8: Crofthead Hall, Neilston
www.wilderscountry.com
Further info: Loudon Temple
– info@brookfield-knights.com
RURAL
TV
Following
its recent sudden disappearance from UK TV screens, Rural TV is apparently now
back on Sky channel 280, Freesat 403, with a revised schedule. Check their
website for details: www.ruraltv.tv
PROPERTY NEWS!
It’s reported that Alan Jackson sold his house, pictured
above, for some $10 million less than the asking price. He still got $28
million, which is a record-setting sale for his neck of the woods, beating the
$11.4 million sale of Tanya Tucker's place in 2007 by a nice wide margin.
In the property section of the London Evening Standard, recently, it was
reported that “Mervyn Conn, last of the great Sixties
impresarios, has sold his seven-bedroom, 7,000sq ft Wimbledon mansion, next door
to ex-champion Boris Becker, for £6?million. “The house has been bought by
some developers who plan to knock it down and build two new ones,” says the
septuagenarian Canonbury cabbie’s son. “I’m buying a smaller place in
Wimbledon.” During his heyday Mervyn toured such stars as Marlene Dietrich,
Johnny Cash and Gene Pitney and was, of course, responsible for the hugely
successful Wembley Country Music Festivals.
On the debit side, Grand Ole Opry star, Jeannie Seely, is sadly
reported to have lost her home in the recent Nashville floods.
JIMMIE
RODGERS MISSISSIPPI MARKER
Marty Stuart recently unveiled the first marker on the Mississippi
Country Music Trail, to honour the late Jimmie Rodgers. Stuart, a native of
Philadelphia, Mississippi, is slated to receive the next marker on the trail and
future markers will honour Conway Twitty and Charley Pride
 IMPORTANT
NEWS!
As you may have
noticed if you attended the Glastonbury Festival, or saw it on BBC TV, Willie
Nelson has had a haircut!
Questioned by shocked fans, Willie said his hair had grown too long, and, quote,
"I felt like I was pulling a trailer." He adds that it became
problematic after a recent injury, explaining, quote, "It was heavy, it got
dirty and I couldn't wash it because I hurt my arm playing golf. I was using a
five wood and hit a rock, and when I hurt my arm that was the last straw. I
couldn't take care of my hair by myself and I had to have Annie, my wife, help
me wash it."
Willie's
Glastonbury appearance attracted negative comments from some quarters, with
phrases like "lacklustre", "past it" and "boring"
being bandied about. You can judge for yourself by logging on to www.bbc.co.uk/glastonbury/2010/artists/willienelson This
link may not work outside the UK. In any case, the link may not be available for
long, so check it out NOW!
ANOTHER
FIRST FOR GEORGE STRAIT
George Strait sits
atop Billboard's list of the top 25 country music artists of the past 25 years.
The Texas-based singer even beat Garth Brooks on the list compiled by the
magazine to coincide with its recent Country Music Summit in Nashville.
Strait and Brooks are followed by Reba McEntire, Alan Jackson and Tim McGraw in
the top five. Billboard used success on its country album and song charts to
compile the list.
Strait has been the country music standard in the years the list covers. He's
sold more than 68.5 million albums and had 82 top 10 songs on Billboard charts,
as well as 44 No. 1 singles. He's had a top 10 hit in 30 consecutive years, a
Billboard record.
MORE
BLUEGRASS ON UKCOUNTRYRADIO.COM
The online country music radio station, ukcountryradio.com has been broadcasting
bi-monthly Bluegrass shows for some time, presented by Lynne Butler.
“Butler’s Boudoir Bluegrass” features the best in UK and European
bluegrass artists, whilst “Bluegrass Around The World” features bluegrass
music from all corners of the globe. The two programmes will now alternate
weekly and will be broadcast on Thursday evenings at 8pm and Friday afternoons
at 4pm.
For more information, email allan.watkiss@ukcountryradio.com
 SARA
WATKINS
Sara
Watkins, perhaps better-known as one third of Nickel Creek, has a solo UK tour
lined up for early November:
Wednesday November 3rd: Sheffield, Memorial Hall
Thursday 4th: Basingstoke, The Anvil
Friday 5th: Pontypridd, Municipal Arts Centre
Saturday 6th: Bedford, Civic Theatre
Sunday 7th: Chorley, St Bede’s
Tuesday 9th: Bristol, St Bonaventure’s
Thursday 11th: London, Borderline
Friday 12th: York, NCEM
Saturday 13th: Glasgow, CAA
Sunday 14th: Gateshead, Sage
Tuesday 16th: Norwich, Arts Centre
Thursday 18th: Dublin, Whelan’s
Friday 19th: Belfast, Erringle Inn
Saturday 20th: Rathfriland, Bronte Centre
THE
BRAD PAISLEY GIBSON GUITAR
In addition to being one of Music City's most affable stars, country hit-maker
Brad Paisley is one heck of a guitar picker. The folks over at Gibson
Guitar certainly know this, and they're giving Paisley his very own Gibson
acoustic guitar model. The Brad Paisley Gibson Acoustic J-45 is based on the
1942 J-45 Legend Model flat-top acoustic, set to Paisley's preferences and
adorned with his signature. They're only making 300 of them, and it'll set you
back a little over $5,000 to own one.
DOLLY’S
DONATION
Among the many country performers making donations to the Tennessee Flood Relief
Fund is Dolly Parton. Her donation of $250,000 came from admission proceeds from
her Dollywood and Dixie Stampede properties and from fan contributions to www.dollyparton.com.
She chose the United Way’s Restore the Dream Fund as the donation recipient
because she is impressed by the on-the-ground work that the United Way has been
doing.
MORE
OF HANK’S "MOTHER’S BEST" RECORDINGS
The two recent box sets of Hank Williams’ “Mother’s Best” recordings are
to be combined into one massive collector's box, with 15 audio discs featuring
pristinely recorded songs and conversation, a DVD which features interviews with
band member Don Helms and opening act Big Bill Lister and over 100 pages of
liner notes from historian Colin Escott.
Set for a September 28th release, “Hank Williams Complete Mother’s Best
Recordings… Plus!” will be packaged in an antique working radio that will
play Williams’ songs when the dial is pressed.
Something of a rip-off for all those who were encouraged to buy the previously
released boxed Mother’s Pride sets. The same situation arose some years back
when Mercury released what they described as the “complete Hank Williams”.
It turned out to be somewhat less than that!
For more on the set, visit www.hankwilliamsmothersbest.com
PETER
ROWAN BAND
The Peter Rowan
Bluegrass Band has a short UK tour in early September, dates as follows:
Thursday September 2nd: Liverpool, Philarmonic Hall
Friday 3rd to Sunday 5th: Kemble, Didmarton Bluegrass Festival
Wednesday 8th: Glastonbury, Bluegrass in Avalon
Thursday 9th: Westbourne, Bournemouth Folk Club
Friday 10th: London, The Green Note
CHRIS
LeDOUX STATUE
A larger than life size bronze statue celebrating the life and legacy of the
late American music and rodeo legend Chris LeDoux, titled "Good Ride
Cowboy," by sculptor D. Michael Thomas, was unveiled on June 19th during
the dedication of Chris LeDoux Park in Kaycee, Wyoming. The statue, which sits
atop a guitar shaped base, is of LeDoux riding the horse Stormy Weather, which
earned the former rodeo cowboy a world championship.
www.chrisledoux.com
REBA
RETURNS TO BROADWAY?
Reba McEntire
reportedly attended a reading of "The Unsinkable Molly Brown" in New
York recently with the possibility of her starring in the lead role next season.
Nine years ago Reba made her Broadway debut in the revival of "Annie Get
Your Gun."
JUDY LYNN
Judy Lynn Kelly,
the country recording artist who performed as Judy Lynn, died in Indiana, from
congestive heart failure on May 28th. She was 74.
She was born in Boise, Idaho, and got her big break in her teens when some stars
from the Grand Ole Opry were doing a tour up in the northwest. The cast included
Ernest Tubb, Ferlin Husky, Red Foley, Jean Shepard and T. Texas Tyler. When Jean
Shepard fell ill during the trip, the show’s manager, John Kelly, had to find
a replacement. He’d heard Judy sing with a Webb Pierce and Slim Whitman on a
show in Boise and called her and asked if she could take Ms. Shepard's place.
She said yes and her parents signed their consent to a contract for that part of
the tour. As a result of that fill-in, she also did appearances with Roy Acuff,
Minnie Pearl, Lonzo and Oscar and other stars of the Opry.
In 1952, Judy was named "Queen of the Big Snake River Jamboree" where
she was part of a show with Gene Autry. In April 1954, she won the title of
"America's Champion Girl Yodeller".
She recorded for United Artists and Musicor, but, in 1980, she retired from show
business and became a minister.
Click here for a YouTube video of Judy singing “I Want To Be A Cowboy’s
Sweetheart” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ZZWtDkEsss
THOSE
NASHVILLE FLOODS
The recent disastrous floods in Nashville and the surrounding area received
hardly any coverage in the British media, but those with access to the Internet
have been able to witness the incredible scenes of destruction and hardship.
Millions of dollars damage was caused to the Opry House, the Opryland Hotel, the
Country Music Hall Of Fame and countless other Nashville landmarks in addition
to the homes and businesses of ordinary Nashville residents. This video on
YouTube encapsulates the situation rather well.
http://www.youtube.com/watch_popup?v=pFjaQoOdJvI
THE
DESTRUCTION OF AMERICAN MUSIC & HOW IT CAN BE SAVED
Although the American magazine, No Depression, is, sadly, no longer available on
the news-stands, it still exists in an on-line version and I was particularly
impressed with a recent piece there by US singer-songwriter Kieran Ridge who has
some pertinent thoughts on the way the music scene has deteriorated over recent
years. My thanks to Kieran for allowing me to include this link to what he has
to say.
http://www.nodepression.com/profiles/blogs/the-destruction-of-american
More on Kieran and his band
at http://www.thekieranridgeband.com
HALL
OF FAME INDUCTEES
Ferlin Husky and
Billy Sherrill, two men who brought change and innovation to Nashville-based
music, entered the Country Music Hall of Fame during a recent Medallion Ceremony
at the Country Music Hall of Fame.
Husky, 84, is a groundbreaking artist whose smash hit “Gone” was at the
forefront of the elegant “Nashville Sound.” Sherrill, 73, was a songwriter,
executive and producer who built on that sound, producing landmark recordings
like the 1980 George Jones hit “He Stopped Loving Her Today” and had a hand
in penning dozens of high-charting country songs.
Husky and Sherrill are two of four Hall inductees for 2010. On Sept. 24th, Don
Williams and the late Jimmy Dean will be formally inducted into the Hall Of
Famein a ceremony which will probably take place at the Hall’s water-damaged
Ford Theatre.
BOURNEMOUTH
WEEKEND
Strollin' Steve in
association with Allways Music presents 'The 2010 Bournemouth Country and
Western Weekend' which is to be held at the Heathlands Hotel, Grove Road, East
Cliff, Bournemouth BH1 3AY over the weekend of Friday November 19th to Monday
November 22nd 2010.
Country music returns to East Cliff with six great acts performing live in the
air-conditioned New Forest suite covering the whole spectrum of Country and
Western Music from the 1940s to the present day.
Performing live are The Henry Smith Band, Ridgeway Country, West Country, Cardy
& Coke, Dave Whitmore and Rosie Horn. The event will be hosted by DJ
Strollin' Steve.
The Heathlands offers free guest parking for up to 100 cars and all floors are
served by lifts and all rooms are en-suite and have a tea and coffee courtesy
tray, direct dial telephone, satellite TV, hairdryer and complimentary
toiletries. The price is £169 per person half-board. For a booking form
telephone Steve Ashdown on 01638 712187 / 07808 340776 or email: steve_ashdown@hotmail.com
www.strollinsteve.co.uk
MARK
CHESNUTT’S “OUTLAW”
Saguaro Road
Records have just released, in the USA, Mark Chesnutt’s new collection of
all-American, all-time favourite, whiskey-soaked standards - “Outlaw” which
features re-recordings of classics made famous by some of Chesnutt’s personal
heroes and life-long friends such as Billy Joe Shaver, Willie Nelson, Kris
Kristofferson and Waylon Jennings and also includes a duet with Amber Digby. The
producer is Pete Anderson, praised for this work with Dwight Yoakam, Michelle
Shocked and Tanya Tucker.
For more information on Mark Chesnutt visit www.markchesnutt.com
 DALE
WATSON’S NASHVILLE RASH
Texas-based singer-songwriter Dale Watson has renounced Nashville in his song
“Nashville Rash.” Three years ago he also asked that people stop calling his
deeply rooted honky-tonk music “country,” because contemporary acts had
“stolen ‘country.’ ”
So eyebrows were raised this spring when the Austin Music Hall of Famer set up
temporary camp at Nashville’s Hilltop Recording Studios and made a
(yet-unnamed) full-length album with engineer Ron “Snake” Reynolds and a
handful of Music City players. “People say, ‘What are you doing? You hate
Nashville,’ ” said Watson, who is shopping the album to labels in hopes of a
late-year or 2011 release. “But I don’t hate Nashville. I hate what has been
done to the music that I love, the music that came from Nashville and that was
invented in Nashville. I’m 100 percent inspired by what Nashville was.”
Part of what Nashville was had to do with the way music was captured here in
recording studios. In the 1940s, ’50s and ’60s, musicians and singers
gathered in a room and played songs at once, in real time.
“It only takes three minutes to cut a hit song,” said legendary producer
Cowboy Jack Clement, and that used to be true. Now, it tends to take weeks, even
months, as session musicians record basic tracks, then use multi-track recording
technology to go back and tweak mistakes.
Often, the singer is not present for the recording of those tracks: He or she
will come in later and record multiple vocal passes, which are then chopped and
blended together to create the illusion of a single performance.
When all that work is done, an engineer will often use outboard hardware or
computer software to “tune” the vocals into pitch-perfect, if overly
mechanized, perfection. It’s a good way to record a technically infallible
record, but Watson is of the mind that such a process usually squeezes soul and
emotion from the finished product.
And so for his new recording, Watson brought in a crew of master musicians that
played on hundreds of the singles Watson adores. He sought out Pete Wade
(guitar), Pig Robbins (piano) and Lloyd Green (steel), all of whom have retained
the skills they brought to classic records that are now decades old. The men
played at once, and with considerable feeling.
“I was constantly being surprised,” Watson said. “This experience reminded
me of why I fell in love with country music. I want it to remind people that you
can still make country music in Nashville. This really couldn’t have been made
anywhere but in Nashville.”
Watson isn’t alone in his methodology, though it’s nothing that’s catching
on in the contemporary country world. John Cowan, former lead singer of New
Grass Revival, has an album coming out called The Massenburg Sessions that was
recorded in a similar manner, with famed producer George Massenburg. Producer T
Bone Burnett worked this spring with Elvis Costello on a live-in-the-studio
album. And Mandy Barnett recently recorded a like-minded album, using
reel-to-reel tape instead of digital technology.
“When we were doing this, the guys were interpreting the songs and playing to
the lyrics, and as a singer that helps you to give your best performance,”
Watson said. “This is the best I’ve ever done.”
Watson has done plenty, releasing 13 studio albums in the past 15 years. He’s
been through the record label wringers, and emerged with a total distaste for
creative decisions being made by business executives. And while he wants good
distribution and a shot at retail success with the new album, he was determined
to complete it without any corporate interference.
“I knew the only way to make a record like this was to keep the labels out of
it,” he said. “I financed it myself. It cost me a lot of money, but I
don’t do this for the money. This was the dream record for me. It’s been my
dream to get a record done in this town, in Nashville, in the way I knew it
could be done.”
TEXAS
SONGWRITERS HONOURED
A quartet of Texas-born, Nashville-based, songwriters whose work has been
recorded and performed by countless major award-winning entertainers, have been
selected as 2011 inductees in the Texas Heritage Songwriters Association (TxHSA)
Hall of Fame.
Bruce Channel (“Hey! Baby”), Delbert McClinton (“Two More Bottles of
Wine,”
“Givin’ It Up for Your Love”), Gary Nicholson (“That’s The Thing About
Love,” “One More Last Chance”) and Lee Roy Parnell (“What Kind of Fool
Do You Think I Am,” “Love Without Mercy”) will be inducted into the Hall
of Fame during an awards show and concert next March.
 COAL
MINER’S DAUGHTER TO BE REISSUED
Loretta Lynn's autobiography, “Coal Miner's Daughter”, will be reissued in
the USA in paperback on September 21st by Vintage Books. The publication
coincides with the 50th anniversary of Loretta's first single, "I'm a Honky
Tonk Girl," and the 30th anniversary of the Academy Award-winning film,
“Coal Miner's Daughter”. The author will contribute a new foreword to the
book, which has been out of print for nearly a decade. The memoir will be
released simultaneously as an e-book and as an audio book narrated by Sissy
Spacek, the actress who won an Oscar for portraying Lynn in the 1980 film.
Loretta co-wrote the memoir with author George Vecsey.
NEW
JIM WEBB ALBUM
Jim Webb, or Jimmy Webb as he now likes to be called, has a new album, “Just
Across The River”, just out in the USA. The writer of such classics as
"Wichita Lineman", "By The Time I Get To Phoenix" and
“Galveston” is joined by an army of friends, including Willie Nelson, Vince
Gill, Linda Ronstadt, Lucinda Williams, Jerry Douglas, Stuart Duncan, Mark
Knopfler, Billy Joel, Jackson Browne, Glen Campbell, J.D. Souther and Michael
McDonald. The whole thing was largely recorded live over two days at Nashville's
Sound Emporium.
WESTFEST
RETURNS
After a five year break, Western Music Hall of Fame member Michael Martin
Murphey’s Westfest 2010, is officially set to be held at the Garfield County
Fairgrounds in Rifle, Colorado, August 12-15
Confirmed to perform are James Otto, Guitarists James Burton and Doyle Dykes,
Bill Miller, Peter Rowan, Don Edwards, Waddie Mitchell, Trailer Choir, Ryan
Murphey, Carin Mari and Pony Express, poet Sarah Murphey, The Prairie Rose
Wranglers and a host of local cowboy singers.
LARRY
JON WILSON
Songwriter Larry Jon Wilson died on June 21st, aged 69. The Georgia native was
recognized for his songs about rural life and for his association with
contemporaries such as Townes Van Zandt, Mickey Newbury, Guy Clark, John Prine,
and Kris Kristofferson.
He didn’t start writing songs until age 30, but within a few years he had
signed with a Nashville label and publisher. Monument released four of his
records in the ‘70s (New Beginnings, Let Me Sing My Song To You, Loose Change,
and Sojourner), but by the ‘80s he was disillusioned with the music business
and returned to Augusta, GA.
Wilson’s career was mostly quiet for the next twenty-five years, but he still
performed at listening rooms like Eddie’s Attic in Decatur, Georgia , the
Bluebird Cafe in Nashville, and the Flora-Bama Lounge, in Perdido Key, Florida.
In recent years his music career saw a revival, spawning a new self-titled
album, an overseas tour, and new fans.
JUDDS
FINAL TOUR?
It
won’t be the first time that Wynonna and Naomi Judd have announced and
embarked upon a “final tour”, but they reckon that “The Judds: The Last
Encore Tour” will definitely be their very last.
The tour will kick off on November 26, the day after Thanksgiving, in Green Bay,
Wisconsin and will continue until December 19th in Phoenix, Arizona.
TOOTSIE’S
ANNIVERSARY
There's a wealth of country music history within the walls of Tootsies Orchid
Lounge, in downtown Nashville, helped in no small way by the fact that its back
door opened up to the Ryman Auditorium‘s back door, allowing Opry stars to pop
into Tootsie’s between shows.
Tootsies celebrates its 50th anniversary this autumn with a big show on November
7th at the Ryman, headed up by a one-time frequenter of the famous bar, Kris
Kristofferson plus Terri Clark and other names yet to be announced.
VIP tickets are available via Tootsies' website www.tootsies.net
for $150, and those include admission to a pre-show and after party, a
commemorative shirt, meet-and-greet opportunity and other items. Regular tickets
will be made available via the Ryman box office. Check out what Tootsie’s is
all about by logging on to http://www.tootsies.net/splash2.cfm
GLASGOW
AMERICANA FESTIVAL
The 4th Glasgow Americana Festival takes place at various venues within the city
on October 6th to 10th.
Among those set to appear are Tift Merritt, Eilen Jewel, Gurf Morlix, Girlyman,
Kevin Welch and Frazey Ford from The Be Good Tanyas.
For full details of who’s on where, check out the website:
http://www.glasgowwestend.co.uk/music/glasgowfestivalofamericana2010.php
THE
FESTIVAL THAT NEVER WAS
A month or two back I received details of what looked like a rather exciting
event. It was described as a Foot Stomping Bluegrass Festival and had a line-up
which included The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Stella Parton, Hayseed Dixie, Carlene
Carter and a host of other names. The venue was the West Midlands Showground in
Shrewsbury, the date September 10th to 12th.
It all looked a bit too good to be true and when I did a spot check on one or
two of the performers’ websites, there was no mention of the event. I
subsequently received a further flyer giving a completely revised programme, and
now featuring Charlie Landsborough
The promoters’ website www.show-time-events.co.uk
listed the festival dates, but had no other details and, when I contacted the
management of the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band in Nashville, they advised me that the
festival was cancelled. I got a similar story from the people who handle the UK
dates for Hayseed Dixie.
All very mysterious! Does anyone out there, particularly anyone in Shrewsbury,
have any ideas what’s happening - or not happening?
 CHERRYHOLMES
FOR WALES
Award-winning
American family bluegrass band, The Cherryholmes, return to the UK in October,
dates, all in Wales, are as follows:
Monday October 11th: Abergavenny, The Borough Theatre
Tuesday 12th: Pontypridd Muni, Arts Centre
Thursday 14th: Caernarfon, Galeri
Friday 15th: Cardigan, Theatre Mwldan
Saturday 16th: Harlech, Theatre Harlech
Sunday 17th: Swansea, Taliesin Arts Centre
CROOKED
STILL BACK IN OCTOBER
Bluegrass and old-timey band, Crooked Still, return to Britain in October with
dates as follows:
Wed Oct 20: Petersfield, St Peter's Church
Thu 21: London, Bush Hall
Fri 22: Sligo, Sligo Live
Sat 23: Bedford, Civic Theatre
Sun 24: Shrewsbury, The Hive
Tue 26: Norwich, Norwich Arts Centre
Wed 27: Leicester, The Musician
Thu 28: Gateshead, Town Hall
Fri 29: Leeds, The Brudenell Social Club
Sun 31: Perth, The Perthshire Amber Festival
BUDDY
HOLLY v DECCA RECORDS
Check out yet another fascinating item from the No Depression website where you
can eavesdrop an actual telephone call the late Buddy Holly made to his then
ex-record company trying to get ownership of his unissued recordings.
http://www.nodepression.com/profiles/blogs/buddy-holly-v-decca
GIG DATES
All appearances dates are listed here in good faith, but, of course, may be
subject to change. Always confirm with the venue!
*************************************************************
DON WILLIAMS COMEBACK?
It seems that Don Williams is set to make a comeback, despite having
announced his retirement a few years back. At the moment he‘s only playing
dates in the USA, but there‘s apparently a strong possibility of him returning
to the UK in 2011.
*************************************************************
And now a
look at some of the recently received new CDs
 DIERKS
BENTLEY "Up On The Ridge" (HumpHead HHEAD 009)
In the
fifties Bill Monroe, Flatt & Scruggs, Reno & Smiley and The Stanley
Brothers Bluegrass were classed purely as country performers and battled their
way up the country charts alongside the likes of Ernest Tubb, Kitty Wells and
Lefty Frizzell. Then, for some strange, and rather sad, reason, Bluegrass became
segregated from country and went off in a totally different direction. There
used to be a Bluegrass show at Fan Fair in "the old days", but I’m
fairly certain that doesn’t happen anymore, and there‘s precious little
Bluegrass on the Opry these days.
It’s good, therefore, to see one of today’s top country chart-topping names,
Dierks Bentley, coming up with an acoustic album which, although not 100%
Bluegrass, is, I’m sure, going to appeal to country and Bluegrass fans alike.
It’s not the first time he’s dabbled with Bluegrass - he’s used the Del
McCoury band on previous albums and Del’s on this one, too, along with sons,
Ronnie and Rob, plus Alison Krauss, Sam Bush, Stuart Duncan, Tim O’Brien,
Chris Thile and a roll-call of some of the most talented Bluegrass musicians
around. Then there’s Jon Randall Stewart, who also produced the album and
co-wrote some of the songs, and Kris Kristofferson who wrote, and sings duet on,
"Bottle To The Bottom".
The standout track for me is the Dierks Bentley/Jon Randall Stewart chilling
original, "Down In The Mine", a modern-day equivalent to the Merle
Travis classic, "Dark As A Dungeon", but the whole album is full of
outstanding performances.
It is released by Capitol in the USA, but we have to thank HumpHead for issuing
it in the UK.
 GOLDIE
HILL "Goldie Hill Vol. 2 - It’s Only A Matter Of Time" (BACM CD D
301)
A second volume of
50s tracks by the lady who I think we can safely say was intended to be Decca
Records’ answer to Capitol’s Jean Shepard. Their material was similar,
although not the same, and they each had a recognisable steel guitar up-front in
their backing, but the fact that Goldie Hill retired from the music business
rather prematurely to help husband Carl Smith on his farm raising
quarter-horses, probably explains why she’s less-remembered than Ms. Shepard.
Her biggest hit, the chart-topping "I Let The Stars Get In My Eyes",
can be found on an earlier BACM release and, although she had success with a
series of duets with Justin Tubb, her only other solo hit for Decca was
"Yankee Go Home" which is included in this pleasing, if not
particularly exciting, new CD.
WILLIE
NELSON & ASLEEP AT THE WHEEL "Willie And The Wheel" (Proper)
I reviewed the
American version of this album, on the Bismeaux label, about fifteen months ago,
but now it’s earned an official UK release on the Proper label, so here‘s a
reminder of what it‘s all about.
Pairing Willie with those wizards of western swing, Asleep At The Wheel, was so
obviously a good idea, it should have been done years ago. What’s particularly
great about this album is the fact that they’ve avoided most of the old
warhorses associated with the genre, so instead of "San Antonio Rose",
"Take Me Back To Tulsa" or "Maiden’s Prayer" we get
"Sweet Jennie Lee", "Hesitation Blues", "Bring It On
Down To My House", "I Ain’t Gonna Give Nobody None O’ This
Jellyroll" and a few slightly less obscure titles. To be honest, it’s
rather more ‘swing’ than ‘western’, but it makes delightful listening.
Ray Benson contributes the occasional vocal, as does Elizabeth McQueen whose
bluesy voice is so right on "I’m Sittin’ On Top Of The World".
HANK
HARRAL "Hank Harral" (BACM CD D 302)
Hank Harral was
born in 1913 and began his singing career as "The Happy Yodeler" at
various radio stations in Amarillo, Texas, in the early 30s. By the late 40s he
was at station KSEL in Lubbock, where he formed his group, the Palomino
Cowhands. Between 1949-1950, the group recorded a handful of songs at the
station, which were later released by the small Dallas-based Star Talent label.
Now, along with ten previously unissued tracks, these recordings have been
carefully remastered by Brian Golbey at BACM, making them available to a new,
and much wider audience.
 THE
GRASCALS "The Famous Lefty Flynn’s"(Rounder11661-06412)
The only
Lefty Flynn I’ve been able to trace is a one-time American football player
turned film star in the early 20s. Can’t believe he’s the one in the title
track of this of this brilliantly crafted album by the Nashville-based Grascals.
Not that that matters, because this is a thoroughly entertaining collection of
new and not-so-new songs, played by one of the hottest Bluegrass bands currently
around.
The three
superb lead vocalists, Terry Eldredge, Jamie Johnson, and Terry Smith, are
complemented instrumentally by the equally superb Kristin Scott Benson, Danny
Roberts and Jeremy Abshire, and the CD's eclectic repertoire ranges from a
driving attack on the 1966 Monkees hit "Last Train To Clarksville" to
a brilliant version of "I’m Blue, I’m Lonesome", written by Bill
Monroe and Hank Williams and featuring a blazing guest appearance of Hank Jnr.
Bluegrass really doesn’t get any better than this.
There were rumours of a series of European appearances by the Grascals this
summer, but the only one I can find is at the three-day festival on July 23-25
in the unfortunately named Craponne Sur Arzon in France, so, for the time being,
to make sure you get to hear this terrific group, snap up this album without
delay!
THOMAS
MAGUIRE & FHIONA ENNIS "Solid As A Rock" (Nell NELL CD 011)
A collection of
well-performed covers by this popular Northern Ireland duo, including
"Heaven’s Just A Sin Away", "Don’t Let Me Cross Over",
"Your Good Girl’s Gonna Go Bad", "I’ve Got A Tiger By The
Tail" and "I’m A Heartbreaker", the latter being originally
recorded by Elvis Presley during his early days with Sun Records.
HUGH
& SHUG’S RADIO PALS "Hugh & Shug’s Radio Pals" (BACM CD D
304)
The Hugh in the
title is Hugh Cross, one-time partner of Riley Puckett - the pair recorded the
first commercially-available recording of the cowboy classic "Red River
Valley" - and Shug is Shug Fisher, actor, singer, songwriter, musician and
comedian who, during a 50-year career, appeared in many Western films, often as
a member of The Sons of the Pioneers.
This CD kicks of with all 16 tracks by Hugh & Shug recorded, incredibly, in
one single session in July 1937. These are followed by a couple of tracks by the
Smokey Mountain Ramblers featuring Cross on vocals from 1930 and the remaining
nine titles date from 1945-46 when Shug Fisher & The Ranchmen made a series
of fine transcription recordings for Capitol.
A welcome addition to BACM’s ever-growing catalogue of country rarities.
 JEWEL
"Sweet And Wild"/"Sweet And Mild" (HumpHead HUMP 082)I
have to admit that, despite the fact that she’s sold 27 million albums
worldwide, I’d never heard Jewel until this album arrived. Actually, it’s
two albums, each containing the same eleven titles. Fearing that I probably
wouldn’t like Disc 1, I first played the alternative version which is purely
acoustic. It’s a pleasant folksy offering, although, for an adult, she has one
of those irritating "little girl" voices of which I’m not too keen,
but it’s OK.
I then turned to the non-acoustic version with a fair amount of trepidation,
but, although the accompanying press-release describes track one, "No Good
In Goodbye" (also released as a single), as a "pop sensation"
it’s nowhere near as pop as much of today’s country output. The songs,
mostly written or co-written by Jewel herself, are intelligent and well
thought-out and her voice is rather more raunchy than on the acoustic version.
VARIOUS
"Classic Old Time Music On Edison" (BACM CD D 308)
Releases on the
BACM label have been getting dangerously modern of late (only joking!), but this
new CD sees them going back to the early 1920s with an archaic selection from
Thomas Edison’s groundbreaking record label. Indeed, some of the tracks
included here may well have originally seen the light of day as cylinders. That
particularly applies to "College Hornpipe" by Jasper Bisbee which
dates back to November 1923.
There are many unfamiliar names here, too, but Edison regulars like Vernon
Dalhart, Carson Robison, Frank Luther, Frankie Marvin, Posey Rorer and Ernest V.
Stoneman are also represented. Twenty historic tracks - and the sound quality on
most is far superior to that I’ve heard on other Edison reissues.
THE
JAYHAWKS "The Jayhawks" (HumpHead HUMP 081)
 I’d
almost forgotten about the Jayhawks and this, their debut album. After all, it
was first released, as an LP, almost a quarter of a century ago and I’ve heard
very little of them since, despite the fact that they do apparently occasionally
get together for the odd live appearance. Their leader, and main songwriter,
Mark Olson, has a solo album, "Many Colored Kite", due out in the USA
in July, and he makes regular visits to festivals and the like in Europe.
Back to this album, though. It was often referred to as The Bunkhouse Album, on
account of the fact that it was originally released on the Bunkhouse label, and,
if you like the work of Gram Parsons, The Byrds or the Burrito Brothers, I’m
pretty sure you’ll warm to this. It contains thirteen great original songs,
including one of my favourites, "Six Pack On The Dashboard", and
should come as a great treat for all those who missed out on its 1986 release.
 REDD
HARPER "Remember The Alimony" (BACM CD D 306)
One of the
countless singing cowboys round in the good old days of Hollywood westerns, Redd
Harper was never a major name, despite turning out many quite workmanlike
recordings. Over half the tracks on this new compilation come from radio
transcriptions produced by C. P. MacGregor, the prolific distributor of
syndicated transcription discs who produced US radio programmes like The Shadow,
Al Jolson, Lux Radio Theatre, The Hollywood Theatre and sessions with Leadbelly,
Charlie Parker, Stan Kenton, Mel Torme, Peggy Lee and hundreds of others,
including many country singers.
In fact, the transcription recordings are the best things on this CD, with
lovely titles like "My In-laws Made An Outlaw Out Of Me" and the
album’s glorious title track.
In his later years, Redd found religion and regularly toured with Billy Graham.
DALE
JETT & HELLO STRANGER "Going Down The Valley" (Wampiland Music)
Whereas the
children and grandchildren of Maybelle Carter tended, in the main, to follow the
more commercial side of country music, Sara & A.P.’s daughter, Janette,
made it her life’s work to promote the traditional sound of the original
Carter Family. Now, Janette’s son, Dale Jett, continues to preserve the unique
Carter Family sound and repertoire. On this new CD he’s joined by his wife,
Teresa, and long-time friend, Oscar Harris, for a lovingly performed collection
of Carter favourites along with a few less-familiar titles, starting with
"Hello Stranger" and ending with "Going Down The Valley",
the latter featuring vocals by Bill Clifton, a long-time friend of the Carters
and writer of the album’s sleeve notes.
Dale and Teresa, themselves, now have children and grandchildren, so, fingers
crossed, the Carter Family tradition will be with us for many years to come.
HARDROCK
GUNTER "That Bouncin’ Man from Alabam" (BACM CD D 305)
Sid "Hardrock"
Gunter was never a chart-topping country singer and his biggest success was as a
writer with "Birmingham Bounce" which topped the country charts in
1950, albeit by Red Foley. Tommy Dorsey had a pop hit with it, too, and it was
recorded by dozens more, including Ted Heath in the UK. Hardrock had recorded
the song himself for the small Birmingham-based Bama label, but distribution was
rather limited.
Almost half the songs on this new CD were cut for Decca in the early 50s and
there are four rather interesting tracks made for MGM in 1953, along with others
made for a variety of labels.
In recent years he’s been in demand for rockabilly festivals in Europe and the
United States.
KATHRYN
SCHELDT "Southern Girl" (ShellKat -no number)
"From Memphis
blues to southern rock, from Nashville country to the lilting ballads of
American folk - and just a little rockabilly for spice". That description
from the sleeve notes of this new album sums up perfectly what you get from this
Alabama native and, although all twelve songs, written or co-written by Kathryn,
are fine, I’m not sure if this "something for everyone" approach is
a good idea. It sounded too much like a sampler of her various musical talents
to me.
There were certainly some tracks I enjoyed a lot and others I wasn’t quite so
keen on. Perhaps it was the relentless over-use of drums which put me off and
that’s a shame, ’cause Kathryn Scheldt is an expert writer and an
interesting singer. Hopefully, on her next album she’ll concentrate on just
one or perhaps two musical styles.
MAC
ODELL "The Old Country Boy" (BACM CD D 309)
 I’ve
long since cherished an old 45rpm single on the UK Parlophone label - "The
Stone Was Rolled Away" by Mac Odell and now it turns up on a collection of
his Mercury and King recordings from the late 40s and early 50s.
As Rodney McElrea states in this CD's sleeve notes, Odell is yet another of the
many names who are all but forgotten today. A check on Google doesn’t bring up
much information either, so almost all I can tell you is that he was born Odell
McLeod on May 31st 1916 and died on January 11th 2003
The vast majority of his recorded work was self-written and of a religious
nature which probably explains his absence from any of the country music charts,
but his songs were recorded by many of the more successful country stars of the
day, including Roy Acuff, Wilma Lee & Stoney Cooper, Cowboy Copas, Little
Jimmy Dickens and even Hank Williams. One of the best in the recent batch of
releases from BACM.
AND
FINALLY…
Here are some links which you might find interesting and useful:
www.ebma.org/94.0.html (The European Bluegrass Music Association)
www.britishbluegrass.co.uk
(The British Bluegrass Music Association)
www.bluegrassireland.blogspot.com
(The Bluegrass Ireland Blog)
www.scottishbluegrass.com
(The Scottish Bluegrass scene)
http://ukbluegrass.com (UK Bluegrass online newsletter)
www.thebluegrassblog.com (International Bluegrass news)
All the above kindly supplied by Richard Thompson, Features Editor of British
Bluegrass News
www.crosscountrymagazine.co.uk
(Cross Country magazine)
www.upcountrymagazine.co.uk
(Up Country magazine)
www.cmdscotland.org.uk (Country Music & Dance in Scotland &
Ireland magazine)
www.countrymusicpeople.co.uk
(Country Music People magazine)
www.maverick-country.com (Maverick magazine)
www.southerncountry.co.uk
(Southern Country magazine)
www.countryroutes.org.uk (Country Routes magazine)
www.ukcountryradio.com (UK Country Radio)
www.cmrnashville.net (CMR Nashville - Internet radio)
www.hotdisc.net (Hot Disc - Country radio promotion)
www.foaotmad.org.uk Friends Of American Old-Time Music and Dance)
BLUEGRASS
AND MORE is a regular Internet newsletter packed full of news on the worldwide
Bluegrass scene. To receive it, just email them at secretary@scottishbluegrass.com
with the words "ADD Bluegrass & More" in the subject space.
Rick
Townend operates a regular information site with news of Bluegrass events mainly
in the south of England. Email him if you’d like to be added to his mailing
list: rick@ricktownend.co.uk
or check out his website which is www.ricktownend.co.uk
Check out
www.cmib.co.uk the site for all things country in the UK, with loads of
links to the rest of the world
The
British Archive of Country Music is devoted to promoting and preserving the
country music heritage for future generations. Write for full details and a list
of all BACM CD releases plus special discount offers to: BACM, Greenacres, 451
Folkestone Road, Dover CT17 9JX, United Kingdom. Email: dave@bacountrymusic.fsnet.co.uk
or check out the website http://bacm.users.btopenworld.com
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SOUTHERN
