CMA Awards welcomes Bon Jovi?

Sunday, October 30, 2005

Alright, I had to read the press release twice. I thought I was seeing things.

Yes, Bon Jovi, Billy Joel, Paul Simon, James Gandolfini, and Donald Trump are all going to be at the awards. I am giving the CMA the benefit of the doubt on Reese Witherspoon and
Joaquin Phoenix due to they are in the upcoming Johnny Cash film.

Huh? Yep! Give me a break. This is about the craziest thing I have ever heard. Please let me know if I'm wrong, but the CMA awards are given out by the Country Music Association, and that I am proud to be a member.

Last night, a good friend and I discussed this topic in some detail and then an excellent article in The Tennessean by Brad Schmitt appeared this morning. I am so glad their some people out there that agrees with my reaction.

Lee Ann Womack is quoted in the article, and she deserves many kudos for what she had to say. It should feel like a slap in the face to her. Here is an extremely talented artist that has put out one of her best works ever with a traditional country music album, and she could be presented the award by someone that may have never even heard of her before that night.

The mostdisturbingg thing in what I read in the article is this:

"But I'm a record executive. If it'll make more people watch the show, I'm all for that." Luke Lewis of Universal Music Group in Nashville and a member of the CMA's TV committee said.

Ok, that shows a major issue here. Its all about the ratings to the people that make these crazy decisions. Not the dignity,heritagee, tradition, and honor of country music and the CMA. The show should be targeted to one audience. The country music fans. The chance of someone that isn't a country music fan sitting down and watching the CMA's are slim, I don't care who you pick to be on the show. Plus, even if they did, the chances of a non-country music listener to jump up and go pick up a country album because Bon Jovi was on the show is just as slim.

The CMA's is my favorite night of the year. It should be about country music's night to recognize the incredible work of the previous year, honor theachievementss, and display some of the year's best music. I'm afraid this year that is exactly what we aren't going to get.

More about this later... I have second thoughts on this whole New York thing too.

Tracy Lawrence's Greatest Hits: overdue or no?

Friday, October 28, 2005

Today it seems like greatest hits packages come out way too often, and some shouldn't even be thinking about one and have released one. A "greatest hits" is a collection of the artists "greatest" of their "hits" and not an album of hits. Other words, if you don't have over say 15 songs that can be considered "hits" these artists shouldn't even consider one. Also, what appears to be considered a "hit" these days has become very broad. Just because it's a radio single, doesn't make it a hit.

To put out a greatest hits album should be an accomplishment, indication of status, and establishment in the country music community. It should not be a routine occurrence. Other styles of music don't follow this trend, and country needs to stop. A lot of these greatest hits albums are done for one-reason...money.

Now, there is occasionally an exception to this. Tracy Lawrence has released a greatest hits collection, finally. Sure, we have had his "Live!" album, and it is an excellent album. However, for the first time, we have a greatest hits collection from him than spans his entire career. Also, included are a few new songs, including his current single "Used to the Pain." This song is doing very well and is getting very close to being considered a true hit, and already is considered a hit by the "normal" standards.

I have been playing the new Lawrence album now for about a week and it is doing exactly what a greatest hits album should do. Bring back the memory of all the great work the artist has done over the years. Take for example, "My Second Home" or "Sticks and Stones"... what a great talent he is.

The timing of the album is perfect. It's been long enough to allow a lot of these singles become true memorable singles and a strong part of the country music community. To a lot of people, "Alibis" is one of the top country songs of the last decade, and to me, it is as well. This is how a greatest hits package should be approached and released. It is mighty nice to be able to re-visit an artist of this caliber, all on one album.

Happy 80th Grand Ole Opry--take a listen

Sunday, October 16, 2005

There is nothing in country music as important as the Grand Ole Opry, in my opinion. It is more than a performance, more than just music, more than a radio show, more than just a concert... it is like the pulse of the entire country music community. It is the showcase of that community; their pride a joy that is shared with everyone that wants to come every weekend.

Last night, the Grand Ole Opry celebrated 80 years.

When this insitution began in 1925, Calvin Coolidge was president, B.B. King and Sammie Davis, Jr. were born, and the wheel-type can opner was patented. Just think for that long, the Opry has been around.

Today's Opry isn't all that different either. Yes, technology has changed alot with the modernation. However, the core beliefs inside the Opry and still intact. It is still to this day broadcasted on WSM-650 AM every Friday and Saturday night. In the winter months, the Opry even returns to the Ryman Audiotorium, the home of the Opry from 1943-1974.

What though we must remember right now is the importance of the Grand Ole Opry. In today's world, I feel that it is forgotten. The Opry should never be. Country music fans have something very special. 80 years of heritage that is still ongoing. Some of the greatest artists in the country music community perform every weekend there and it is one of the highest honors that can be given to a performer, and the fans should treat it at as such.

I ask you today, right now, take the time and visit the Opry's website and make a promise to yourself to take the time (Friday from 7:30-10:00pm CST and Saturday night 6:30-12:00am) CST to take a listen. The Opry is streamed online, totally free of charge. If you can't listen to it all, I ask that you listen to at least 1 hour of the non-televised portion. I think you will be amazed at what you are missing.

Check out the Grand Ole Opry:
http://www.opry.com

The Grand Ole Opry Hisotry:
http://www.opry.com/MeetTheOpry/Intro.aspx

To Listen to WSM-AM Online:
http://www.wsmonline.com

Music Overload

Tuesday, October 11, 2005

Is it possible to have too much new music come out? Right now, I sure am feeling like it.

Gretchen Wilson, followed by Gary Allan, Dolly Parton, a Hank Williams Sr. set, a new single from Garth, Chris Cagle, the list goes on and on... just in the last 3 weeks or so. Goodness!

That doesn't even count all the awesome independent artists around.

I am slowly getting caught up on letting my readers know about all the music, but part-time work ain't cutting it. I need to be doing it full time, just stay on track like I would like. ha, but I got to pay the bills to be able to do it.

Anyway, e-mail me and let me know what are some of your favorites out right now. I need to get back to writing.

Welcome Back Garth

Thursday, October 06, 2005

Garth Brooks' new single "Good Ride Cowboy" has hit radio this morning according to press releases. I haven't heard it yet, but some of us haveto go to a workplace without the luxury of listening to radio all day.

I have heard the clip of the song on a website I visit for radio and media. Awesome is all I can say. The voice is still there and everything that people are drawn to Garth for is alive and well.

It is even nicer to hear a song that is in tribute to the great Chris LeDoux. I know, no doubt, this is one special song to Garth.

It certainly is nice to hear the new song out, and I sure hope more are to come soon from Garth.