 | WALKIN’ A COUNTRY MILE
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COUNTRY MUSIC COLUMN
by Scott Stem
Are you planning your trip to Nashville for the CMA Music Festival, taking place June 9- 12, 2005?
“Country Music’s Biggest Party” is a four-day music extravaganza not to be missed. Artists already confirmed to participate in this year’s event include: Trace Adkins, Steve Azar, Dierks Bentley, Big & Rich, Brad Cotter, Cowboy Troy, Billy Currington, Josh Gracin, The Jenkins, Jo Dee Messina, Montgomery Gentry, Jon Randall, Rascal Flatts, LeAnn Rimes, Julie Roberts, Trick Pony, Keith Urban, Jimmy Wayne, Gretchen Wilson, Mark Wills, Darryl Worley and Michelle Wright, with many more names to be announced soon.
This is the 34th year for Nashville’s signature music event, which attracts thousands of fans from around the world. Music flows through the streets all day long, into the night and on into the wee hours. Autograph signings, family activities, sports competitions and much more are found around every corner. The NBC Daytime Stars from “Days of our Lives” and “Passions” will return for their fifth year of activities as well. Check out www.CMAfest.com for more information.
SEXY COUNTRY PICTORIALS...
Country Music has been in some interesting magazines lately. Country Music singer Billy Currington follows in the footsteps of David Kersh, Aaron Tippin and Keith Urban by posing as the cover subject of the March issue of Playgirl Magazine.
Currington is best known as Shania Twain’s duet partner on the hit “Party For Two,” but he’s also had a couple of solo hits including “I’ve Got A Feelin’” and “Walk A Little Straighter, Daddy.”
A former fitness trainer, Currington is in great shape for his shirtless pictorials in the magazine. The interview also gives some great insight into his views on songwriting and performing.
As for Country music’s ladies, several of them posed for the cover of the March issue of FHM Magazine in very revealing outfits. Among those featured on the gatefold cover were: Jessi Alexander, Catherine Britt, Shelly Fairchild, Jennifer Hanson, Kerry Harvick, Lauren Lucas, Tift Merritt and Jamie O’Neal. All eight ladies are extremely talented and have new releases coming out in the coming months that are well worth your time in checking out.
COUNTRY “ROASTER” ON STAGE...
I saw an interesting musical the other night at the Belcourt Theater in Nashville called “Toe Roaster,” which was written by songwriter Bryan Kennedy, who has written songs such as “Beaches of Cheyenne” and “American Honky Tonk Bar Association” for Garth Brooks.
“Toe Roaster” stars Kennedy, songwriter Wynn Varble (co-writer of the Darryl Worley hit “Have You Forgotten?”) and Troy Jones as three friends who get to know each other better after spending time swapping stories and songs around a campfire.
The play is both humorous and poignant, with some truly inspiring moments along the way. Jones’ song “The Deal” is one of the most gut-wrenching honest and inspiring songs I’ve heard in a long time. The play is touring select dates around the country. Check out their website at www.toeroaster.com for more information, tour dates, merchandise and booking contact information.
And, if you’re in Nashville, stop by the historic Belcourt Theater. This is THE place in Nashville to see art films, independent films, great musical performances, and more. The Belcourt even served as home for the Grand Ole Opry from 1934 to 1936. Learn more at: www.belcourt.org.
NEWSWORTHY COUNTRY HAPPENINGS...
• I caught an acoustic performance from hot trio, Sugarland, last month. What a great band they are, with wonderful songs, great vocals and amazing musicianship. I’m predicting great things for this band this year – keep your ears open for them and their debut single, “Baby Girl.”
• Recently, I attended a luncheon for Trace Adkins which celebrated the platinum-selling success of his current album, Comin’ On Strong. Hard to believe, this is only the second platinum album for Adkins, who has had a string of top Country hits including: “Hot Mama,” “Rough & Ready,” “Chrome,” “I Left Something Turned On At Home,” “Every Light In The House,” “(This Ain’t) No Thinkin’ Thing,” “Lonely Won’t Leave Me Alone,” “I’m Tryin’,” “Then They Do” and so many more over the last decade. During the presentation, Adkins sang a few songs including his current single, “Songs About Me”, from his upcoming album of the same name. “Songs About Me” perfectly conveys what Country Music is all about. Adkins gets better with each album – check out Comin’ On Strong now and be looking for Songs About Me in the coming months.
• “Nashville Star” returns to the USA Network this month with LeAnn Rimes hosting. The show will air new episodes on Tuesday nights. This is the series that awarded Buddy Jewell and Brad Cotter with record deals – now it’s time to crown a new star. Check it out. Phil Vassar and Poison’s Bret Michaels will serve as judges along with music executive Anastasia Brown.
While playing an intimate acoustic show at the Maverick Saloon in Santa Ynez, CA last month, Mark opened up the floor to take requests. Out of the dark came a familiar voice asking him to play his 1993 number one single, “I Just Wanted You To Know.” Mark Obliged.
A few songs later, the angelic and familiar voice sang out a second request for Mark to perform her all time favorite country song, Hank William’s “I Can’t Believe She’s Still In Love With Me.” Curious, Chestnutt wanted to put a face to the familiar voice and had the house lights turned up. There he saw an angel –– a “Charlie’s Angel” –– Cheryl Ladd.
After the show, the two fans of each other’s work swapped autographs, chatted and posed for photos.
NEW COUNTRY SOUNDS A COMIN’...
Some new albums that you need to know about are out now or on the way soon are...
• Jessi Alexander is about to release her debut album, Honeysuckle Sweet. This is an artist you want to discover. Alexander co-wrote every song on the album, and co-produced the album with Gary Nicholson. She’s a great writer and vocalist and the music just wraps around you with each listen.
• Tracy Byrd recently released his Greatest Hits album. Byrd possesses one of the best voices in modern Country music today. He has had some amazing songs such as – “Keeper of the Stars” and “Put Your Hand In Mine.” Byrd’s had some fun songs as well, like his duet with Mark Chesnutt on “A Good Way To Get On My Bad Side”, along with “Ten Rounds With Jose Cuervo” and “Watermelon Crawl.” And there is his all-star jam on “The Truth About Men” featuring Andy Griggs, Montgomery Gentry and Blake Shelton. All these songs and more are on this album along with two new cuts, “Revenge of a Middle-Aged Woman” and “Johnny Cash.”
• I’ve been listening to the self-titled album from The Duhks. The album is just wonderful blend of Country, Bluegrass and Folk and more. The great Bela Fleck co-produced the project with Gary Paczosa. A great discovery.
• The Grascals have released their self-titled debut project. Dolly Parton refers to it as “one of the greatest albums I’ve ever listened to.” She should know – she performs with the group on their outstanding rendition of the Elvis Presley classic “Viva Las Vegas.” The album features several familiar songs alongside some great new ones. The musicianship is amazing and the harmonies are wonderful. The album is a wonderful blend of Bluegrass and Country and a welcome treat for any listener.
• Shooter Jennings is about to release his cleverly titled debut project, Put The “O” Back In Country. Jennings is the son of the late Country Music Hall of Fame member Waylon Jennings and Jessi Colter. One of the songs, “4th of July,” features the legendary George Jones singing his classic, “He Stopped Loving Her Today.” Jennings is following his own tune, just as his parents did, and is making Country Music his way. We can all be thankful he is.
• Buddy Jewell will soon be back with his second album, Times Like These. Jewell scored big last year with “Help Pour Out The Rain (Lacey’s Song).” The new album features the single, “If She Were Any Other Woman.”
• Jamie O’Neal is back! You’ll know her from her past hits, “There Is No Arizona” and “When I Think About Angels.” Her new album, Brave, is out now with eleven songs including the single, “Trying To Find Atlantis”. Rumors are that the second single will be “Somebody’s Hero,” a wonderful tribute to the relationship between mothers and daughters. O’Neal took some time off when she gave birth to her own daughter a couple of years ago. Get this album and welcome her back.
• LeAnn Rimes is back with This Woman, a new album featuring the hit single, “Nothin’ Bout Love Makes Sense.” Rimes has grown into a beautiful, confident young woman with an amazing talent.
• Totally Country Volume 4 is out now, the latest in the successful compilation album series. This one features Gretchen Wilson on “Redneck Woman,” Big and Rich on “Save A Horse (Ride A Cowboy),” Montgomery Gentry on “Hell Yeah,” Los Lonely Boys on “Heaven,” Blake Shelton on “Some Beach,” Kenny Chesney on “No Shoes, No Shirt, No Problems,” Alan Jackson on “That’d Be Alright,” Brad Paisley on “Little Moments,” Gary Allan on “Tough Little Boys,” Sara Evans on “Perfect” and much more. This is just a great sampler album for your friends who are just learning about Country Music. It’s also a perfect album for driving or hanging out on the lake.
• And finally... While not truly a Country project, Tina Turner returns with All The Best, a two-CD set featuring her greatest hits and three new songs. Best known as the Queen of Rock, Turner is a Tennessee-native with an incomparable voice and entertaining skills.
While she made her mark in the R&B, Rock and Pop worlds, Turner has ties to Country. Think about it – her self-penned “Nutbush City Limits” is really a Country song with R&B sonic embellishments.
Turner herself recorded a Country album back in the ‘70s that continually gets put out under a variety of titles from Tina Sings Country to Soul Kiss to Country My Way and more.
All The Best, ranges from her work with ex-husband Ike Turner on “River Deep, Mountain High” to her solo successes of more recent years. Of course, it also features her signature song, “Proud Mary.” This is a great collection of music from a true music legend regardless of genre.
2005 continues to be a great year for Country Music. See you next month!
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Mark Chestnutt, currently on the charts with his Top 40 Country hit “I’m A Saint”, recently had an encounter with a real life “angel.”