Emmylou Harris : Last Date, May 09 CDnow sale
Highway 101 : Big Sky, May 09 CDnow sale
Waylon Jennings : Millennium Collection-20th Col, May 09 CDnow sale
George Jones : Millennium Collection-20th Col, May 09 CDnow sale
Judds : Live-Judds Reunion, May 09 CDnow sale
Scooter Lee : Would You Consider..., May 02 CDnow sale
Willie Nelson : 20 Golden Greats, May 09 CDnow sale
Mark Newton : Follow Me Back To The Fold, May 02 CDnow sale
Collin Raye : Tracks, May 02 CDnow sale
Jerry Reed : Alabama Wild Man/Explores Guit, May 09 CDnow sale
Jerry Reed : Better Things In Life/Cookin', May 09 CDnow sale
Jerry Reed : Georgia Sunshine/Oh What A Wom, May 09 CDnow sale
Twitty/Lynn : Millennium Collection-20th Col, May 09 CDnow sale
VA-Best Of Country : Best Of Country, May 04 CDnow sale
Steve Wariner : Faith In You, May 09 CDnow sale
Don Williams : Millennium Collection-20th Col, May 09 CDnow sale
"Honky Tonk Heroes"
Billy Joe Shaver, Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings, and Kris
Kristofferson
ON Sale!
Although Billy Joe Shaver is the least famous of these four
Outlaws, his songs rank among the genre's finest. Along with
his son Eddy, Shaver had merely planned to rerecord 10 of
his most compelling compositions at Nelson's home
studio. However, when all was said and done, Shaver's famous
friends all came by to lend a hand, and the result is a
spirited album that once again shows the staying power of
Shaver's songs.
"Furnace Room Lullaby"
Neko Case & Her Boyfriends
ON Sale!
Bloodshot Records may be the bastion of alt-country
attitude, but fans of more straight-ahead, roots-oriented
country will find much to like on Neko Case's sophomore
effort. Her powerful voice is the main attraction
here--she's versatile enough to convey poignancy,
vulnerability, and authority--but she also displays a deft
songwriting touch across these 12 cowritten originals.
Tempering her primal instincts with a bit more polish than
before, Case has truly taken her blend of honky-tonk,
rockabilly, and soulful balladry to the next level.
"Ridin' the Hi-Line"
Wylie & the Wild West
ON Sale!
Whereas some 21st-century cowboy singers keep the genre
alive in more didactic fashion, Wylie Gustafson and crew
keep things fresh and fun. Witness the funky shuffle they
make out of the traditional favorite "Buffalo Gals." Wylie
has his own real-live ranch in eastern Washington, so his
music is no dude-ranch fantasy. Instead, it's vibrant and
unassuming fare played and sung with flair.
"Blood and Mood"
Bad Livers
ON Sale!
Words simply can't do justice to the mission of
deconstruction undertaken by the Bad Livers. Think their
first two Sugar Hill releases showed a spirit of innovation
and postmodern genre contortion? Wait until you digest (if
possible) this monster, a clash of punk aggression, trip-hop
beats, odd samples, and, oh yeah, mountain music. You know
there's a method to this madness, even if you don't know
what it is.
LEGENDS OF THE BIG "D" JAMBOREE
*******************************
The Legends of the Big "D" Jamboree series comes courtesy of
David Dennard and Dragon Street Records. Dennard has focused
much-deserved attention on the Dallas roots-music scene of
the 1950s by unearthing a slew of rare and unreleased
material. The crown jewel of this series so far is the newly
issued "Big 'D' Jamboree Live: Volumes 1 & 2," a double-disc
collection of hillbilly and rockabilly music from Dallas's
answer to the more conservative Grand Ole Opry. Within
you'll find local heroes mixed with some national stars (or
soon-to-be stars) like Johnny Cash, Gene Vincent, Wanda
Jackson, Ferlin Husky, and Carl Perkins.
You can find "The Big 'D' Jamboree Live: Volumes 1 & 2" at
ON Sale!
"The Lost Dallas Sessions 1957-'58"
Gene Vincent
ON Sale!
Discover revelatory rare demos and live cuts featuring
guitarist Johnny Meeks.
"Mr. Action Packed"
Johnny Dollar
ON Sale!
Dollar provided a template for folks such as Ronnie Dawson.
"Greatest Grooves"
Joe Poovey
ON Sale!
"Groovey" Joe was a mere teenager when he waxed most of these
powerhouse cuts.
MAINES ATTRACTION
*****************
For 30 years, Texas has been a wellspring of a peculiar kind
of intelligent, progressive country-folk hybrid. Lubbock
native Lloyd Maines has helped architect some of the best
examples of this Lone Star form as both a producer and a
sideman. His reputation as an astute roots musician only
improves with age, even if his Dixie Chick daughter Natalie
has become the most famous Maines. As Amazon.com contributor
Geoffrey Himes finds out, a Lubbock upbringing often leads
to a career in music, if only because there's nothing else
to do.
Read the article at
ON Sale!
ESSENTIALS BY ARTIST: THE BEST OF PATSY CLINE
*********************************************
It was 37 years ago this week that an air crash took Patsy
Cline's life at the tender age of 30. Though she's been gone
nearly four decades, Cline's voice still has the power to
transfix both country fans and pop fans alike. Check out the
essential recordings of one of country music's most beloved
performers.
Browse Amazon.com's selections at
George Strait
Release date: March 7, 2000
ON Sale!
Strait's new best-of package offers two new songs, including
a duet with Alan Jackson on "Murder on Music Row."
"'Til You've Seen Mine"
Tom House
Release date: March 7, 2000
ON Sale!
House fuses an archaic, old-timey sound with literate,
modern lyrics to often mesmerizing effect.
"Coast to Coast"
BR5-49
Release date: April 4, 2000
ON Sale!
The boys try to capture the intensity and rollicking good
times of the stage with a live set.
"Back Home Again"
Rhonda Vincent
ON Sale!
Leaving her pursuit of mainstream-country stardom behind
her, Vincent returns to bluegrass, her first and one true
love. Indeed, it is an auspicious homecoming for a
remarkable vocalist who grew up singing and playing
bluegrass with the Sally Mountain Show, the Vincent family
band. With a supporting cast that includes her father
Johnny, her brother Darrin, and the omnipotent and
omnipresent Jerry Douglas on Dobro, Vincent rolls through
songs from the Louvin Brothers, Jimmy Martin, and good buddy
Dolly Parton, among others.
"The Very Best of Robbie Fulks"
Robbie Fulks
Check it out here!
Another major-label refugee, Fulks is a snide and salty
alt-twanger who has returned to the Bloodshot Records fold
that spawned him. This "hits" package is actually an
odds-and-ends set that covers a variety of styles. Yet the
album does not feel like a collection of forgotten oddities
from the past 10 years, packed as it is with clever songs
and Fulks's piercing vocals. Kelly Willis and the Skeletons
are among the friends helping him out.
"Permanently"
Mark Wills
Check it out here!
Wills's third record for Mercury Nashville finds the
Tennessee-born, Georgia- raised heartthrob working familiar
country-pop territory. Here he reflects on marriage and
fatherhood with sincerity, and he also takes a stab at "Back
at One," a Quiet Storm hit for R&B artist Brian McKnight and
a nice fit for Wills, who has shown an affinity for this
type of balladry.
"The Mighty King of Love"
Phil Lee
Check it out here!
For those who like their country music littered with Keith
Richards-style guitar crunches and nifty wordplay,
49-year-old Phil Lee is one to watch. Lee gave up his career
as a truck driver to move to Nashville and pursue his
musical muse, and, judging by the strength of this gritty
debut, he's made a wise decision.
"Murder on Music Row"
Larry Cordle & Lonesome Standard Time
Check it out here!
The title track of this topnotch bluegrass session has
raised some eyebrows in Nashville for its frank and cutting
condemnation of current Music City trends. Although that
track has received the lion's share of attention (and, rumor
has it, a remake by a couple of high-profile
neo-traditionalists), the rest of the album, which offers
bluegrass infused with a honky-tonk spirit and sound,
remains a worthwhile showcase for Cordle's vocal and
songwriting talents and the picking power of his longtime
cohorts.
BUDDHA BONANZA
**************
Buddha Records has done fans of traditional country music a
great favor by mining the RCA vaults for classic releases
from Willie, Waylon, Dolly, and others. Here are three
recently unearthed gems that are well worth a fresh listen:
"Country Willie: His Own Songs"
Willie Nelson
Check it out here!
As lovely and intimate a country record as you're likely to
hear--and an album cover that's as campy as the music is
beautiful.
"This Time"
Waylon Jennings
Check it out here!
Hoss is in a low-key late-night mood on this 1974 jewel
(coproduced by Nelson), which adds five bonus tracks with
former mates the Crickets.
"Jolene"
Dolly Parton
Check it out here!
Also from 1974, this down-home album spawned a pair of No. 1
country hits: the title track and "I Will Always Love You."
ESSENTIALS BY ARTIST: THE BEST OF MARY CHAPIN CARPENTER
*******************************************************
An artist who bridges the worlds of country, folk, and pop
with ease, Mary Chapin Carpenter has thrived in the cracks
between genres rather than fallen through them. If you are
looking to explore the music of the Princeton, New Jersey,
native, you might want to start with her recent
hits-and-rarities compilation, "Party Doll and Other
Favorites," or instead check out our list of Mary Chapin
Carpenter essential recordings.
"Party Doll and Other Favorites"
Mary Chapin Carpenter
Check it out here!
A unique approach to the best-of concept, this 17-song collection offers five original recordings and a slew of live takes and oddities.
"New Day Dawning"
Wynonna
Check it out here!
The upcoming Judds reunion tour is sure to feature a few
cuts from Wy's new solo effort, her first for Mercury.
"Sweet Inspiration"
The Hollisters
Check it out here!
These neo-tonkers have been wowing the locals in Houston for
years with their urgent, upbeat country stylings.
"Lessons Learned"
Tracy Lawrence
Check it out here!
Lawrence's first album in three years follows a series of
personal problems.
Mavericks "Super Colossal Smash Hits Of The 90s"
Check it out!
David Grisman "Dawg Duos"
Check it out!
George Jones "Live With The Possum"
Check it out!
Dolly Parton "Grass Is Blue"
Check it out!
Ty Herndon "Steam"
Check it out!
Trace Adkins "More..."
Check it out!
Tracy Byrd "It's About Time"
Check it out!
Various Artists
-Pickin' On Clapton "Pickin' On
Clapton"
Check it out!
Keith Urban "Keith Urban"
Check it out!
Anne Murray "What A Wonderful World"
Check it out!
Waylon Jennings "This Time"
Check it out!
Vince Gill "Way Back Home"
Check it out!
Redmon/Vale "Redmon & Vale"
Check it out!
John Berry "Wildest Dreams"
Check it out!
Lace "Lace"
Check it out!
Randy Travis "Man Ain't Made Of Stone"
Check it out!
Dirk Powell "Hand Me Down"
Check it out!
Hank Williams Jr. "Stormy"
Check it out!
Jack Ingram "Hey You"
Check it out!
Clint Black "D'lectrified"
Check it out!
John Berry "Wildest Dreams"
Check it out!
Garth Brooks "In The Life Of Chris Gaines"
Check it out!
Randy Travis "A Man Ain't Made Of Stone"
Check it out!
Michael Peterson "Being Human"
Check it out!
Kris Kristofferson "Austin Sessions"
Check it out!
Bryan White "How Lucky I Am"
Check it out!
Clay Walker "Live Laugh Love"
Check it out!
Asleep At The Wheel "Ride With Bob"
Go for it!
Sherrie Austin "Love In The Real World"
Go for it!
Matraca Berg "Lying To The Moon & Other Stor"
Go for it!
