Brandi Carlile

If you're like me and enjoy good music that reminds you of the way it used to be back in the day - where music was made for the love of it and not for how much money & fame it could bring - then you need to check out Brandi Carlile.

My introduction to Brandi's music was via a video on CMT's 'wide open country' almost two years ago. That in itself is a bit eyebrow-raising because I have rarely watched videos on tv for a number of years - ever since CMT started to forget what their initials actually stood for. Anyway, when her video for 'Turpentine' began, I was mesmerized - not by the video itself, but by the song and the power of her voice. After the video finished playing, I quickly got online and found more songs with this wonderful voice. From that search came my 'discovery' of her incredible album, "The Story". It's become one of my all-time top 5 favorites.

Last year, Brandi opened up a few shows for another of my favorites, Sheryl Crow. It brought a smile to my face when I saw Sheryl post a message on her website of how she was blown away by Brandi, her music and stage presence as well.

Check out a few of these songs by Brandi:
Turpentine
Throw it all away
The Story

Farewell to Michael

I will admit - I wasn't much of a fan of Michael Jackson. I never really understood the phenomenon of the self-proclaimed "king of pop". I considered most of his behavior throughout the years very strange. His music just didn't grab me the way music usually does. There are only a few songs that I would actually recognize as his - like 'Billie Jean', 'man in the mirror' and 'beat it'.

However, I did recognize the musical genius that he seemed to be. I think that 'genius' first caught my attention with the celebrity collaboration single, USA for Africa's "We are the world" - a song co-written by Michael and Lionel Richie. Another reason for me to send my gratitude to the "king of pop" is that he gave Sheryl Crow the springboard for her musical career - having her as one of his back-up singers on the "bad" tour.

The Opry offers captions for the hearing impaired

I found this piece of news interesting today.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The Grand Ole Opry remains steeped in a tradition of sound, but the 83-year-old country music program will offer captions for the hearing impaired for the first time Saturday.

About 450 people participating at the Hearing Loss Association of America convention in Nashville this week will attend one of the Opry's evening shows and will be able to follow along with captions on large projection screens.

Vince Gill, Alison Krauss, Hal Ketchum, Little Jimmy Dickens and others are set to perform.

Full story can be read here:
Opry in Tenn. offers captions for hearing impaired

(oh, and a very nice lineup listed there for the show this weekend!)

new this week

Here are a few new album releases this week that you might want to check out:

If you love great bluegrass music, be sure to check out Rhonda Vincent's new album, Destination Life.


As usual, Rhonda & the Rage bring forth a great collection of instruments and vocals. There are a couple of covers that raised my eyebrows, just from the adaptation to the bluegrass style. One of them is "Stop the world (and let me off) - a tune that I most identify with the voice of Patsy Cline. Another cover, "Crazy Love", threw me for a loop with the up-tempo bluegrass style. It's such a startling change from the slow, acoustic version that I'm used to listening to from John & Audrey Wiggins. "Eighth of January" is an instrumental that starts with the familiar sounds of the "battle of new orleans", then veers off a bit. The album finishes with a wonderful a capella song, "When I travel my last mile". Great way to finish off the album.

Be sure to pick this one up.

Another new release on tuesday, is Holly Williams, Here With Me.


I've only had a chance to listen to a few short audio clips from each of the songs on this album, but from what I hear, it sounds like a nice compilation of songs, along with a nice, strong voice.

Also being released on Tuesday is the new album from Bocephus (Hank Jr), 127 Rose Avenue


I've only heard short audio clips of the songs from this album, but it seems to be more of the same great Bocephus, including another version of "long gone lonesome blues".

Michael Martin Murphey is releasing Cowboy Classics: Old West Cowboy Collection.


If you like good Western music, this is the one to take a listen to. After trying his hand in the mainstream of country music a couple decades ago, Michael has certainly found his niche with the cowboy songs. He's got a lot of other 'cowboy' albums out through the years, so go check them out as well.

"Can you hear me? Can you hear me?..."

"...I just need to know if you're listening. Can you see me? Can you see me? Tell me is there something that I'm missing. We're calling all the Angels up above. We could all use some love."

"Calling All Angels" is a great song by the duo known as 'Bomshel' - comprised of Kristy Osmonson & Kelley Shepard (who replaced founding member, Buffy Lawson). The duo has a contemporary/mainstream country sound that usually doesn't catch my attention, but it's their harmonies that really caught my ear when I first heard their music. The voices sound quite similar to Chely Wright, whose music I also enjoy.

Check out Calling all Angels

And you know there's nothing better than taking a day to just sit back and do nothing or anything... that's what it's all about. And that's the attitude that's featured in the duo's "ain't my day to care".

"But today ain't my day to care. I'll have me a pitcher of Bloody Marys before noon if I want to . I ain't gonna worry an' I don't have to be anywhere. It ain't my day to care"

Take a listen to Ain't My Day To Care

If you like what you hear, check out Bomshel's MySpace page for more.

The Singing Fisherman

You may know a few of his songs - "battle of New Orleans", "North to Alaska", "sink the Bismarck", or "honky tonk man".

Johnny Horton was known as the 'Singing Fisherman'. He's one of a number of country music artists who died shortly before I was born, but whose music became the soundtrack to my youth - thanks to my dad's vinyl record collection. Johnny had such a unique sound. It was a bit country, a bit pop, bringing a variety of listeners to tune into his music.

Interestingly enough, Johnny was married to Billie Jean Jones, who was the widow of country music star Hank Williams. Johnny died in November of 1960 in a head-on collision with a drunk driver.

If you know some of his bigger hits, why not check out some you may have not heard, but are still wonderful - like "Comanche (the brave horse)", or "all for the love of a girl". You'll get to hear his great voice shine on these slower songs.

One more sad story's one more than I can stand...

...just once how I'd like to see the headline say "not much to print today. Can't find nothing bad to say".

'We sure could use a little good news today.'

Never was a song more introspective than Anne Murray's classic, "A little good news". I was pleased last year when the song was 'updated' with lyrics more pertinent to the current times, and even more pleased when the Indigo Girls (Amy & Emily) provided harmonies on the song.

The new version changed lyrics from 'Bryant Gumbel' to Diane Sawyer, and 'in the streets of Ireland' to 'the hills of Gaza'.

Check out the updated version:
A little good news ft Indigo Girls

Ryan Bingham - Roadhouse Sun

I can't believe I missed this new release last week -

Ryan Bingham released his latest album, Roadhouse Sun, last week. It's his follow up to the great debut album, Mescalito. This one isn't quite as rough/raw as Mescalito. There's a bit more instrumentation on this new album. His raw, gravel voice still gives the music its charm.



Be sure to give it a listen.

But you know me, the only thing I do is go to work and watch tv...

"...and tonight I'll cheat again, and tomorrow I'll be sorry."

Right now, I'm listening to "midnight oil" by one of the first artists whose music I totally fell in love with - Barbara Mandrell.

"Midnight Oil" is a classic country "Cheatin' song". As I listen to this song for the first time in a while, I'm kind of intrigued at how straight-forward and direct the song is, considering it was released in the early 1970's.

"I watch him in the mirror as I lie and tell him I don't know how late I'll be. While I'm putting on my makeup, I'm putting on the one that really loves me."

"And tonight I'll cheat again. And tomorrow I'll be sorry. And I'll feel kind of dirty 'cause I'll have the midnight oil all over me. God knows his dream would shatter if he knew the devil had me and won't set me free. While I'm putting on my makeup, I'm putting on the one that really loves me."

Take a listen to the song - Midnight Oil

On the subject of Barbara Mandrell - I was a huge fan back in the day. A card-carrying member of the Barbara Mandrell International Fan Club, and even saw her in concert back in 1983 - the year before her devastating car crash with her two kids, Matt & Jaime. I was also a faithful watcher of Barbara Mandrell & the Mandrell Sisters.

Speaking of the sisters, I actually saw her sister Louise in concert as well at one of our local county fairs.

Put a quarter in the jukebox

Hey, it's been a while since I've updated here, so let's put a quarter in this jukebox and talk music. I'll have some album reviews coming up. But first of all, here are some tunes to check out:
Joey + Rory - Sweet Emmylou
Alan Jackson & Patty Loveless - Monday morning church
Alison Kraus & Robert Plant -Please Read The Letter
Allison Moorer & Shelby Lynne - bring me all your lovin
Anita Cochran - God Created Woman
Alison Pipitone - Bring It On
Brandi Carlile - Turpentine
Jorja Fox - satellite
Murmurs - country song
Pauley - Fear (NCIS Soundtrack)
Sheryl Crow - all kinds of people