Monday, October 25, 2010

Don Williams

Country music legend, Don Williams, was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame on Sunday evening.
Photobucket

"What's the score" is a song that was recorded for Don's last major label release on Capitol Records, Prime Cuts, in 1989. A greatest hits package was re-mastered in 2004 which contained two new not-previously-released recordings. They were "Old Coyote Town", and "What's The Score", which was co-written by Buddy Cannon. This song was intended to be a single release, but it never made it out as a radio single due to Don's departure from the record label and a changing of the guard at Capitol.

Take a listen to the Gentle Giant’s song, “what's the score”.

Tuesday, October 19, 2010

Warner Bros. Records releases songwriter demos

Warner Brothers Records is releasing the original songwriter demos to some of country music’s biggest hits. Some of Nashville’s best songwriters are represented in the two-volume series. And the CD/digital booklet for the Demos contains the stories behind each hit as told by the writers.

It is available online at www.originalsongwriterdemos.com as well as at all digital retailers.

Track listing for the Original Songwriter Demos:
Photobucket
Volume 1
1. The Dance – Garth Brooks (Tony Arata)
2. Strawberry Wine – Deana Carter (Matraca Berg, Gary Harrison)
3. Something Like That – Tim McGraw (Rick Ferrell, Keith Follese)
4. Independence Day – Martina McBride (Gretchen Peters)
5. Bless the Broken Road – Rascal Flatts (Jeff Hanna, Marcus Hummon, Bobby Boyd)
6. It’s Five O’ Clock Somewhere – Alan Jackson (Jim Brown, Donald Rollins)
7. She Thinks My Tractor’s Sexy – Kenny Chesney (Jim Collins, Paul Overstreet)
8. I Hope You Dance – Lee Ann Womack (Mark Sanders, Tia Sillers)
9. Amazed – Lonestar (Marv Green, Chris Lindsey, Aimee Mayo)
10. The House That Built Me – Miranda Lambert (Tom Douglas, Allen Shamblin)

Volume 2
Photobucket
1. Check Yes Or No – George Strait (Dana Hunt, Danny Wells)
2. If Tomorrow Never Comes – Garth Brooks (Kent Blazy, Garth Brooks)
3. It’s Your Love – Tim McGraw and Faith Hill (Stephony Smith)
4. If You’re Going Through Hell – Rodney Adkins (Dave Berg, Annie Tate, Sam Tate)
5. I Swear – John Michael Montgomery (Gary Baker, Frank Myers)
6. How Do I Live – LeAnn Rimes (Diane Warren)
7. Ain’t Nothing ‘Bout You – Brooks & Dunn (Rivers Rutherford, Tom Shapiro)
8. Every Day – Rascal Flatts (Alissa Moreno, Jeffrey Steele)
9. How Forever Feels – Kenny Chesney (Wendell Mobley, Tony Mullins)
10. Jesus Take the Wheel – Carrie Underwood (Hillary Lindsey, Gordie Sampson, Brett James)

Beth Hart - My California

The new Beth Hart album, My California, has been released.

Photobucket

On first listen, I found this album to be much better than her previous release. On second listen, I realized this was a very good compilation of songs. It's a bit different than her previous releases as the music is not as raw, gritty or loud, but yet her voice is still very powerful. It's a wonderful change.

"Sister Heroine" was written for Beth's sister, Sharon, who died at the age of 32. "Heroine" (with the 'e' on the end) refers to being a female hero and not the drug, heroin. It's a wonderful song with great melody and interesting lyrics. The song has become my favorite so far this year.

Check out a few of the songs from this album:

My California:


Bad love is good enough:


Sister Heroine:

Tuesday, October 12, 2010

Coal Miner's Daughter - the tribute version

What began as a ho-hum day turned bright very quickly when I arrived at the radio station and saw that a bunch of new singles had arrived. One of them caught my eye very quickly. It's a new version of Loretta Lynn's classic, Coal Miner's Daughter, which features Loretta along with Miranda Lambert and Sheryl Crow.

Now I know, some of you are saying "how does Sheryl fit into that group?" Well, Sheryl is a bit of a Southern girl herself, growing up in the bootheel of Missouri. It's interesting to hear how much her southern "twang" emerges when singing with the likes of Loretta & Miranda on this one.

Take a listen:


"Coal Miner's Daughter: A Tribute To Loretta Lynn" will be released on November 9th. It includes Loretta songs done by Gretchen Wilson, LeeAnn Womack, The White Stripes, Carrie Underwood, Alan Jackson & Martina McBride (I really want to hear THAT one!), Faith Hill, Steve Earle & Allison Moorer, Reba McEntire, Kid Rock and more. See it here at Amazon


By the way: If you haven't heard Sheryl do some 'twang' previously, take a listen to her remake of the Carter Family classic, No Depression in Heaven: