IndexCountryReleases01

KARON KATE

"MISSISSIPPI STARDUST"

RT 580 MEDIA

PRODUCED & ARRANGED BY JIMMY "WIZ"
WISNER
EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS: MARTY ALLEN &
KARON KATE
CO-PRODUCER: JANE BERSON WISNER

SHERRY LYNN

"IT'S A WOMAN THING"

NO LABEL/CAT. #

PRODUCER: TED HEWITT

1. Hypnotized
2. I Ain't Made That Way
3. Bad, Bad Girl
4. Don't Shed A Tear
5. I'm Already Gone
6. Way Too Long
7. Back In My Day
8. Free To Fall
9. I Don't Have To Be Strong
10. Run To Me

1. Has A Cat
2. All Of The Above
3. Main Squeeze
4. I Pray Before
5. I Don't Mind (Get Outta My Life)
6. Have I Told You Lately
7. Hot, Hot Ticket
8. I'll Be There (Wedding Vows)
9. I Can't Laugh
10. Words
11. From Your Lips (To God's Ears)
12. Dream In The Making

1. Scarecrow Dance
2. Playing With The Big Boys
3. Is There Still Time
4. Way Past Over You
5. Wrong Train
6. Sound Of Goodbye
7. Suddenly
8. Love Or Something Like It
9. Simple Things
10. Forever My Man

When I saw the pretty cheesy and amateurish
cover photographs, my initial thoughts were
that this was carry on to the music but this
was not the case. The production with the
exception of the mixing of the drums and
bass on the Omni recordings is capable.
Suzanne is adept as a songwriter and her
vocals are as good as any on the charts. Her
range can be heard to full effect on the Phil
Vassar-Annie Roboff song, "I'm Already
Gone." All in all, a very good first CD and
provided she doesn't get spoiled by trying to
second guess Country radio and major
labels, a young lady with a career ahead of
her.

I'm always put off when someone claims that
an unknown is a superstar. Now where do I
start with this CD. Firstly, I can hardly believe
that this is the same Jimmy Wisner who is a
legend in the music industry. I say this
because the production and songs are so
poor. Now it could be because Ms. Kate is
not exactly another Carly Simon or Tony
Bennett but I don't think so. Secondly, I would
recommend to Ms. Kate that she stops
writing or else pairs with someone that
knows how to write. This album is one that is
best consigned to the "let's forget it and start
again" pile. This gets into my worst CDs of
2008 Top 10.

Ouch. Very few producers can manage to
record Eddie Bayers and Ted Hewitt certainly
can't. The trouble is between major pitching
problems and major producing problems
and major mixing problems and major song
problems, there really is nothing one can say
positive about this CD. Well perhaps one.
Keep the musicians, teach Sherry Lynn to
pitch and get a new producer.

RANDY THOMPSON

"FURTHER ON"

JACKPOT RECORDS NO CAT #

PRODUCED BY RANDY THOMPSON

OWEN TEMPLE

"TWO THOUSAND MILES"

EL PAISANO RECORDS NO CAT #

PRODUCED BY LLOYD MAINES
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER: ANTHONY "GINO"
GENARO

CLAY UNDERWOOD

"CLAY UNDERWOOD"

NO LABEL, NO CAT #

PRODUCER NOT LISTED

1. Don't You See
2. Songbird
3. Don't You Remember
4. Ol' 97
5. Riptide
6. Goin' Down To Lynchburg Town
7. Molly and Tenbrooks
8. Leave The Light On
9. Rocksalt and Nails
10. Further On

1. You Want To Wear That Ring
2. Red Wine And Tequila
3. Swear It Off Again
4. Two Thousand Miles
5. Can't Drink Enough To Sing
6. Like We Still Care
7. I Just Can't Quit Loving You
8. Demolition Derby
9. You Don't Have To Be Lonely
10. The Pluto Blues
11. Rivers Run From Many Waters
12. On The Lonesome Road

1. Alabama Gator Oil
2. I'm Getting Better
3. Kentucky Line
4. Factory Life
5. I'm Grateful
6. (Walk A Mile) In Her Shoes
7. She's Why
8. Talking To A Stone
9. True Lies
10. Anything But Love
11. Having Myself A Party
12. Money Tree

Randy has his musical feet very comfortably
planted in Country, Americana and
Bluegrass. On this outing, he shows himself
to be in the grand tradition of Gordon
Lightfoot, John Prine, Kristofferson, Butch
Hancock and Randy's hero, Steve Young to
whom the CD is dedicated. The CD features
mainly self-penned songs and features the
musicianship of Rickie Simpkins and the
legendary Don Helms. It also includes some
fine picking on slide guitar by Randy's son,
Colin. He could be another Duane Allman on
this showing. Definitely one that is going to
live in my car.

I listened to this CD and tried to work out
what was wrong with it and there is plenty. I
know that Lloyd Maines produced it but it is
sloppy. In addition, the songs are so-what
songs and finally either Own Temple can't
sing or he needs more EQ on his voice.

I saw Clay in showcase just the other week
(See my photographs under
www.mccloudscrowd.com) and I was very
impressed. Clay could be the next Jerry Reed
but I think he is the first of a dying breed...a
real Country singer. The only sad thing about
this CD is that the energy he creates in a live
situation is not there but I guess I got
spoiled. However, to everyone else listen to
the CD and then enjoy Clay even more live.

ALABAMA

"THE LAST STAND"

CRACKER BARREL NO CAT #

PRODUCED BY ALABAMA
ASSOCIATE PRODUCER: SHAWN
PENNINGTON

CHUCK WICKS

"STARTING NOW"

RCA 88697-15468-2

PRODUCED BY DANN HUFF AND MONTY
POWELL

JAMES OTTO

"SUNSET MAN"

WARNER BROS./RAYBAW NO CAT #

PRODUCED BY JOHN RICH AND JAMES
OTTO
* PRODUCED BY JAY DEMARCUS AND
JAMES OTTO

1. Here We Are
2. Old Flame
3. High Cotton
4. If You're Gonna Play In Texas (You Gotta
Have A Fiddle In The Band)
5. The Cheap Seats
6. Pass It On Down
7. The Closer You Get
8. Give Me One More Shot
9. Feels So Right
10. Jukebox In My Mind
11. Forty Hour Week (For A Livin')
12. The Fans

1. All I Ever Wanted
2. Good Time Comin' On
3. Stealing Cinderella
4. If We Loved
5. When You're Single
6. Starting Now
7. The Last Part
8. What If You Stay
9. She's Gonna Hurt Somebody
10. Mine All Mine
11. Man Of The House

1. Ain't Gonna Stop
2. Just Got Started Loving You
3. For You *
4. These Are The Good Ole Days
5. Where Angels Hang Around
6. Sunset Man
7. You Don't Act Like A Woman *
8. When A Woman's Not Watching
9. Drink & Dial
10. Damn Right
11. The Man That I Am *

Once again Cracker Barrel has delivered the
goods. This CD is a live collection of
Alabama hits recorded during the last tour in
2003-2004. Naturally it is excellent. However,
why was Mark Herndon not in any of the cover
photographs?

I really liked Chuck's lead-off single, "Stealing
Cinderella" and so I hoped for a lot from this
debut CD. However, I heard no cuts that
came up to the single. It isn't a bad CD, it's
just blah. The production reminded me of that
of Jimmy Bowen in that you could drop in any
artist into the mix. My other complaint is the
cover. The photo makes Chuck look like
Captain Scarlett in the puppet series. When
will major labels realize the importance of the
cover and that a good one sells copies. If
BMG keep the faith, let's hope the sophomore
release is better.

Since becoming part of the Muzik Mafia's
entourage, James Otto has seen his star in
the ascendant. This CD, which one can view
as his breakthrough one is co produced by
John Rich and Rascal Flatts' Jay DeMarcus
and their influences are very much in
evidence. Although this is not a CD for the
Country purists, it will appeal to those who go
for Country-Rock.

Click

JIM POLLARD

"CALL IT DESTINY"

NO LABEL NO CAT #

EXECUTIVE PRODUCER: STEVE TVEIT
CO-PRODUCERS: PAT McGRATH,
JOHN KUNZ

TOM T. HALL

"TOM T. HALL SINGS MISS DIXIE AND TOM
T."

BLUE CIRCLE BCR-012

PRODUCED BY DIXIE HALL

KORT McCUMBER

"LICKSKILLET ROAD"

JAMES KORTMAN McCUMBER JKM006

PRODUCED BY JIM GILMOUR AND
KORT McCUMBER

1. Sugar
2. Changes
3. Stranger To Love
4. Love The Old Fashioned Way
5. Destiny
6. One Woman Man
7. Beautiful Lady
8. Mister
9. Old Wooden Floor
10. Time
11. Enchanted Eyes

1. I'm A Coal Mining Man
2. A Hero In Harlan
3. One More Last Chance
4. Somewhere In Kentucky Tonight
5. A Headstone For Harry
6. Leaving Baker County
7. One Of Those Days (When I Miss Lester
Flatt)
8. I'm Gonna Make Up A Song About You
9. Pretty Green Hills
10. Once Upon A Road
11. Our Little World
12. Jimmy Martin's Life Story

1. Middle Child
2. Got Me A Woman
3. One Day
4. Li Amero Sempre
5. Take Me To Mexico
6. There'll Be Time
7. Lickskillet Road
8. I Drunk A Lot
9. Lucky Man
10. Broke, Homeless & Lonely
11. World Of Judgment
12. Couldn't Make It On My Own

Stick to songwriting, Jim.

Perhaps this CD belongs under our
Bluegrass section but frankly I wanted more
people to be aware of this masterpiece.
There was a second reason and that was to
make label execs realize that this is Country
and what they are producing is not. That is
the reason Tom T. has been inducted into the
Country Music Hall of Fame. For many years
Tom's "From Jesus To Jack Daniels" has
been among my favorite albums. Now it has
a brother! The revelation on this CD is Dixie's
writing and producing talent. Why have you
been keeping it hidden, girl? This is a must
for every collection. By the way, the Halls are
joined on this CD by Mike Bub, Robert
Bowlin, Wayne Benson, Kristin Scott Benson,
Glen Duncan, Sonya Isaacs, Rebecca Isaacs
Bowman, Terry Eldredge, Josh Williams, Don
Rigsby, Ben Isaacs, Tim White, Jimmy Martin,
Randy Kohrs and Earl Scruggs.

Kort reminds me a lot of John Prine in his
phrasing. Vince Gill, Sally Van Meter and Don
Conoscenti guest on this very creditable CD.
Kort could be a young man to keep an eye on.

NO ARTWORK YET

CHRIS CAGLE

"MY LIFE'S BEEN A COUNTRY SONG"

CAPITOL B0010039-02

PRODUCED BY SCOTT HENDRICKS FOR
SCOTT HENDRICKS PRODUCTIONS AND
CHRIS CAGLE

STEVE RICHARD

"STEVE RICHARD"

NO LABEL NO CAT #

NO PRODUCERS LISTED BUT WE KNOW
THAT JOHN RICH AND MICHAEL BRADFORD
DID DUTY IN THAT AREA

ASHTON SHEPHERD

"SOUNDS SO GOOD"

MCA B0010039-02

PRODUCED BY BUDDY CANNON

1. What Kinda Gone
2. No Love Songs
3. It's Good To Be Back
4. I Don't Wanna Live
5. Never Ever Gone
6. If It Isn't One Thing
7. Keep Me From Loving You
8. Little Sundress
9. My Heart Move On
10. My Life's Been A Country Song
11. Change Me

1. Faster, Faster
2. Stomp
3. Everything Beautiful To Me
4. Lost Time
5. Tried-and-True
6. We Ain't Saints
7. Make It Into Heaven
8. I'll Never Leave You
9. I Don't Need A Reason
10. Bridge Back Home
11. Last Lines
12. Write This Song

1. Takin' Off This Pain
2. Sounds So Good
3. Lost In You
4. I Ain't Dead Yet
5. Not Right Now
6. Old Memory
7. The Pickin' Shed
8. Regular Joe
9. How Big Are Angel Wings
10. The Bigger The Heart
11. Whiskey Won The Battle

The CD went straight to #1 which says how
much Chris is back in both radio and the
public's consciousness. What gives this CD
that extra lift is the fact that Scott Hendricks in
back producing him. At a time when every
songwriter believes he is a producer when in
reality there are only a handful of real
producers, Capitol have had the sense to
bring in Scott, one of Country music's best!! If
you like Big & Rich then you will like this.

Just imagine a melting pot that includes Buck
Owens, George Jones and Lynyrd Skynyrd
and .38 Special and you are approaching
Steve Richard. I am not going to complete
this review until I have heard it at least three
times because I know that John Rich would
not get involved unless Steve was quality.
Please revisit soon. Having now interviewed
Steve, I have gotten a handle on his work.
Check out my interview with him at
wwww.mccloudscrowd.com

When I see produced by Buddy Cannon, I
know that at the very least the production will
be fine. However, that is not the only plus
element. Ashton is a find!! She is Country
and so that is a plus. She is also a first rate
songwriter...up there with Loretta and Dolly.
She also sings well although I personally
could have dealt with a little less vibrato but
that is personal choice. Ashton reminds me
of Elizabeth Cook and I have a feeling that
she is going to be around a long time.