IndexCountryReleases02

RICHARD JAYMES

"DALLAS AND A DREAM"

SHOTGUN ENTERTAINMENT NO CAT #

PRODUCED BY RICHARD JAYMES & RICHARD
WALKOWIAC *
PRODUCED BY RICHARD JAYMES, DALE
ROCK/MICHAEL LASHINSKY **

1. I'm A Damned Good Time
2. My 'Ol Mule
3. The Right Place Now
4. Blue Monday
(With Mickey Gilley)
5. If I Can't Hold You
6. The Seventies
(With Mark Bernard)
7. Long Black Veil
(With Johnny Cash)
8. Hank Wrote That
9. Heart Of Stone
(With Jennifer Brantley)
10. She Left Love All Over Me
11. Whiskey California
12. Hit It!

1. Ashes Won't Burn
2. I Feel Fine
3. If I Could Just See You Now
4. Mist Of Desire
5. Knockin' On Heaven's Door
6. Brick House
7. Kissing A Fool
8. Monkey Around
9. All Right Now
10. A Million Times Today
11. Wonderful Waste Of Time
12. King Bee

1. Dallas and the Dream
2. Sweet Southern Girl
3. Southern Comfort
4. Four Leaf Clover
5. Soul Shine
6. Miss America's Got The Blues
7. My Farewell
8. Never Learn
9. Misunderstood
10. That Was Yesterday

Razzy has been a friend of mine for
many years. See my interview with
him...here. Razzy is one of the best
soul voices around and I have nagged
him for years to do a soul album.
Although this wasn't the one that I had
in mind, it will certainly suffice until the
definitive album is recorded. "My Ol
Mule" is pure R&B and sweat and one
of the Razzyman's best compositions.
However, he also manages to make
covers breathe fresh air. Just listen to
his duet with Mickey Gilley on Fat's
Domino's "Blue Monday." Now of
course, Razzy had great success on
the Country charts and "If I Can't Hold
You" shows him as a died in the wool
traditionalist and able to give the
Possum a run for his money. I had to
chuckle when I saw the co-writer on "Hit
It!" It is my good buddy and session
leader Mike Dunbar. Razzy and Mike
met on a session I was producing some
three years back. A good album but
Razzy, I'm coming over soon so let's do
that soul album.

Now, I like Jeff Cook and this CD has
some good moments but in the words
of one of his songs, it is largely a
"Wonderful Waste Of Time." Why did
he chose to do covers of songs which
he had no change of emulating? Why
also, did he let his other band
members sing? "Knockin' On Heaven's
Door" doesn't even sound like the
Dylan song, "Brick House" could never
be better than the Commodores
original and only Delbert McClinton
could do justice to his own song
"Monkey Around." "All Right Now" just
shows up the fact that Link Detten is
not Paul Rodgers and whoever is
playing lead guitar is no Paul Kossoff.
However, by far the worse cover is
Randall Key trying sing Slim Harpo's
"King Bee." The phrasing on this basic
12 bar blues is pitiful. Throughout the
CD, the drumming is way off the mark
and Jeff could do himself a favor ad
completely re-record the CD with
someone who knows how to play.
Probably the best cuts on this CD are
"Mist Of Desire" and the
aforementioned "Wonderful Waste Of
Time."

Richard is pretty much a one-man
band. He plays most of the instruments
on this CD and he is also the
co-producer and writer of most of the
songs and he has such a soulful voice.
His music is very much in the Alabama
area with a pronounced Southern Rock
edge which means that he has a better
than even chance of breaking out into
the mainstream charts. He is obviously
very talented but his challenge is going
to be heard above some of the rubbish
out there and persuading radio to play
him. I personally would like to see him
on the charts as his music is like a
breath of fresh air. He is someone I
plan to keep a eye on.

JASON ALDEAN

"WIDE OPEN"

BROKEN BOW BB-76372

PRODUCED BY MICHAEL KNOX

DEAN BRODY

"DEAN BRODY"

BROKEN BOW BB-71372

PRODUCED BY MATT ROVEY

JOEY + RORY

"THE LIFE OF A SONG"

SUGAR HILL SH-CD-4050

PRODUCED BY CARL JACKSON

1. Wide Open
2. This I Gotta See
3. Fast
4. Crazy Town
5. Don't Give Up On Me
6. She's Country
7. On My Highway
8. Keep The Girl
9. Big Green Tractor
10. The Truth
11. Love Was Easy

1. Undone
2. Dirt Roads Scholar
3. Gravity
4. This Ain't The Same Town (I Painted Red)
5. Lazy Days
6. Brothers
7. Old Joe Riley
8. This Old Raft
9. Back In Style
10. Cattleman's Gun
11. Up On The Moon

1. Play The Song
2. Sweet Emmylou
3. Tonight Cowboy You're Mine
(Featuring Mike Johnson)
4. Cheater Cheater
5. Rodeo
6. Heart Of The Wood
7. Tune Of A Twenty Dollar Bill
8. Loved The Bell
9. Free Bird
10. Boots
11. To Say Goodbye
12. The Life Of A Song

I have to admit that I approach a Jason
Aldean release with some trepidation.
The reason is that his stage act is
more akin to Metallica rather than
Country as I perceive it. My
apprehension is not helped when I see
writers like Neil Thrasher and Brett
James. I am sure they are nice chaps
but they are not Country writers (sorry
guys but you write rock and pop. Go
and listen to Bill Anderson!!). So I
gritted my teeth and entered the
corrida. The one thing that keeps it
palatable is the fact that Jason can
actually sing. The one thing that is
annoying is that the production is of
the kitchen sink variety. That is that
everything is in and Jason is swamped
unnecessarily. I would LOVE to hear
an ACOUSTIC album on Jason. I don't
want to hear hard rock!!! And while we
are onto hard rock, how the hell can
you have a song titled "She's Country"
that sounds more like AC/DC? Also,
did the photographer not know how to
light someone wearing a cowboy hat? I
come back to my phrase, "a cowboy
hat does not a country singer make!!"
The one song that saves this CD is
"Big Green Tractor" which is the next
single.

Oh man, this is magnificent!!! Dean
Brody is going to be the next big thing.
He reveals himself to be a country
writer of the first order and he is
COUNTRY!!! The production is first
rate and I notice that Kyle Lehning
engineered the sessions. This is going
to be a contender for CD of the year.
Dean reminds me of Brad Paisley when
he first started and that is no bad
thing. Just listen to "Brothers" and I
defy you to have a dry eye. Also listen
out for Rhonda Vincent doing backup
on "This Old Raft." And how abouts a
Western story song? Marty Robbins
would have been proud of "Cattleman's
Gun." Listen up Benny, Dean will be
the savior of Broken Bow. Can't wait to
interview Dean. We are already
"friends" on Facebook. Here is the
inheritor of Vern Gosdin's mantle.

It has been years since Country music
was blessed with a husband-wife duo,
let alone one that has a individuality
that Joey and Rory have. Obviously
with Carl Jackson producing, the
overall musical content of the CD is
first class but it is the songs that make
this a winning album. Joey and Rory
are excellent songwriters with more
than a little poke at the entertainment
industry as seen, for example, in "Play
The Song." However, they can also
take an established song like "Free
Bird" and breathe new life into it. When
an act comes out of a reality show like
the Feeks did with "Can You Duet,"
there is always the question of
longevity. There is no question here.
This duo is here to stay.

BILLY RAY CYRUS

"BACK TO TENNESSEE"

WALT DISNEY RECORDS/LYRIC STREET
D000234402

PRODUCED BY MARK BRIGHT
PRODUCED BY GLEN BALLARD *

RASCAL FLATTS

"UNSTOPPABLE"

LYRIC STREET D000260402

PRODUCED BY DANN HUFF AND RASCAL FLATTS

THE TRACTORS

"TRADE UNION"

KOCH KOC-CD-5071

PRODUCED BY STEVE RIPLEY

1. Back To Tennessee
2. Thrillbilly
3. He's Mine
4. Somebody Said A Prayer
5. A Good Day
6. I Could Be The One
7. Like Nothing Else
8. Country As Country Can Be
9. Love Is The Lesson
10. Give It To Somebody
11. Real Gone
Bonus TracK:
12. Butterfly Fly Away*
(Duet with Miley Cyrus)

1. Love Who You Love
2. Here Comes Goodbye
3. Close
4. Forever
5. She'd Be In California
6. Unstoppable
7. Things That Matter
8. Summer Nights
9. Holdin' On
10. Once
11. Why

1. Up Jumped The Boogie
2. Pick Me Up On Your Way Down
3. Rhythm Bone
4. Good Old Days
5. There's Gonna Be Some Changes Made
6. My Blue Heart
7. What Makes Love Go Bad
8. That's Where It Hurts
9. Midnight Train
10. It's Only Love

Although not as good as his last CD,
"Home At Last," this album has some
excellent moments. For me, one of the
highlights is "I Could Be The One."
Another is the bonus track, "Butterfly
Fly Away" which is a duet with Miley
and is produced by Glen Ballard. I also
like the fact that Billy Ray shows his
vocal range in "Somebody Said A
Prayer" which should open the door to
him doing a Broadway musical.

Indeed they are unstoppable. I have
always had a problem with Rascal
Flatts. I like them as people but have
never been blown away by their
material. I just wish they would cast
their net further for material. If you are
a fan, then you will love everything
they do. For me the one saving grace
on this CD is the closer, "Why" which
was written by Allen Shamblin and Rob
Mathes. To sum up, this is not a bad
album, it's just so much like what has
gone before.

So I am sitting here with a herniated
disc and I put on this latest Tractors'
CD and I want to get up and jump on
my treadmill because many years ago I
gave the Tractors the "Greatest Band
To Exercise To" Award. Steve Ripley
and the guys are not Country in the
Nashville sense (what ever that may
mean). They owe their roots to Bob
and Johnny Lee Wills. You don't see
Nashville's A team here instead it is the
talents of Leon Russell, J.J. Cale and
Fats Kaplin. As with every Tractors'
CD, I don't have a favorite cut because
when finishes it is replaced by a new
favorite and so all I can say is bring on
that Tulsa Shuffle.

As always, the packaging is original
and eye catching. Hey Steve,
Angelene is one talented gal!!!

So, people, get the CD and feel good
because I am sitting in my chair and
even my bad leg can't keep still.
Thanks Brother Steve.

EMILY WEST

"EMILY WEST EP"

CAPITOL NO CAT #

NO PRODUCER LISTED

THE OAK RIDGE BOYS

"THE BOYS ARE BACK"

SPRINGHILL/EMI 789042114523

PRODUCED BY DAVE COBB

KENNY CHESNEY

"GREATEST HITS II"

BNA 88697 49530-2

PRODUCED BY BUDDY CANNON AND KENNY
CHESNEY*
PRODUCED BY NORRO WILSON, BUDDY CANON
AND KENNY CHESNEY**

1. Rocks In Your Shoes
2. Blue Sky
3. Let's Do This Thing
4. Mississippi's Cryin'

1. The Boys Are Back
2. Hold Me Closely
3. Hold You In My Arms
4. Seven Nation Army
5. Mama's Table
6. Boom Boom
7. You Ain't Gonna Blow My House Down
8. Beautiful Bluebird
9. G'd's Gonna Ease My Troublin' Mind
10. Live With Jesus

1. Out Last Night *
(Previously Unreleased)
2. Living In Fast Forward *
3. Young **
4. Summertime *
5. Dow The Road *
(With Mac McAnally)
6. Beer In Mexico *
7. There Goes My Life *
8. When The Sun Goes Down *
(Duet With Uncle Cracker)
9. Anything But Mine *
10. Be As You Are *
11. I Go Back *
12. No Shoes, No Shirt, No Problems **
13. The Good Stuff **
14. Never Wanted Nothing More *
15. I'm Alive *
(With Dave Matthews)

I first saw Emily at Tin Pan South about
three years ago and she won over the
audience with her famous impression
of Renee Zellweger and of course her
songs. At a time when there are so
many colorless performers, she shines
like a beacon. "Blue Sky" is a winning
song and I hope that Capitol don't let
this gal go because she is a keeper.
Word of warning....don't try to change
her; she is unique!

From the insistent drums on Shooter
Jennings' "The Boys Are Back," you
know that you are in for a musical ride
on this the new Oaks CD. This is
possibly their most soulful album ever
and the guys are in superb voice. They
have cast their net wide for material
and the songs range from writers Jack
White, Jamey Johnson and George
Teren, John Lee Hooker, Neil Young
and Paul Kennerley. They return to
Dallas Frazier who provided them with
one of their biggest hits, "Elvira." Te
production has the same sort of
darkness that was a mark of the
American Recordings by Johnny Cash.
The "Wicked Ways" guitar used so well
by Chris Isaak is employed on Jack
White's "Seven Nation Army" with equal
effect. They handle John Lee Hooker's
"Boom Boom" with a Big Bopper
throwaway style That includes
elements of "Elvira." This is The Oak
Ridge Boys as you have never heard
them before. This will put them back in
not just the Country charts but is
bound to cross over. I love it.

There is a great similarity between
Garth Brooks and Kenny Chesney in
that each is two performers. What I
mean by that is that their recording
personna is different from their live
concert. On stage both are high
energy whilst their recordings have so
much more light and shade. On this his
second volume of Greatest Hits, Kenny
has a blend of old, recent and not yet
released. The new song being "Out
Last Night" which is now a #1 hit. I
wasn't always a Kenny fan but of late
his CDs have had more depth and so I
have revised his older material. This
CD is a perfect way to get to know his
music and perhaps you too will delve
back in time. This is a first rate
collection and a great addition to any
collection.

THE FLATLANDERS

"HILLS AND VALLEYS"

NEW WEST NW6767

PRODUCED BY LLOYD MAINES

JASON MICHAEL CARROLL

"GROWING UP IS GETTING OLD"

ARISTA 88697-26910-2

PRODUCED BY DON GEHMAN FOR RHAPSODY
PRODUCTIONS

DARYLE SINGLETARY

"ROCKIN' IN THE COUNTRY"

E! MUSIC KOC-CD-9878

PRODUCED BY GREG COLE AND CHUCK RHODES

1. Homeland Refuge
2. Borderless Love
3. After The Storm
4. Wishing For A Rainbow
5. No Way I'll Never Need You
6. Just About Time
7. Love's Own Chains
8. Cry For Freedom
9. The Way We Are
10. Thank God For The Road
11. Free The Wind
12. Sowing On The Mountain
13. There's Never Been

1. Happened On Saturday Night
2. Let Me Go
3. Where I'm From
4. Tears
5. Growing Up Is Getting Old
6. That's All I Know
7. We Threw It All Away
8. Sorry Don't Matter
9. Barn Burner
10. Hurry Home

1. Rockin' In The Country
(Featuring Charlie Daniels)
2. Love You With The Lights On
3. That's Why God Made Me
4. How Can I Believe In You (When You'll Be
Leaving Me)
5. Going Through Hell (With You Again)
6. Background Noise
7. If I Ever Get Her Back
8. Real Estate Hands
9. She's A Woman
10. She Sure Looks Good In Black
11. They Know How To Grow 'Em
Bonus Track:
12. Take Me Home, Country Roads

When the award times come it is very
unlikely that The Flatlanders will figure
in the nominations. This only shows
how irrelevant the awards are because
this group is probably the most
deserving of tangible acclamation.
Made up of Joe Ely, Jimmie Dale
Gilmore and Butch Hancock, the trio
has been around on and off since the
70s. They disbanded and each
member had a highly successful solo
career. Their music is not Nashville
mush but steeped in the gut feel that
only Texas singers and writers are
capable of producing. With Lloyd
Maines at the helm this is a superb
album. To select one or two stand out
cuts would be redundant as the entire
CD is full of brilliant songs, brilliantly
performed.

My comments on the drums on Jason's
debut CD have been listened to. I
really like his voice which is close to
Trace Adkins which means it's Country.
I truly believe that Jason is going to be
around for a while and I would love to
hear him record an acoustic CD. My
favorite tracks are without doubt
"Where I'm From," his co-write, "That's
All I Know and "the CD closer, "Hurry
Home." This is a solid CD except for
one thing; well actually two. The cover
photograph is awful and looks
amateurish and the graphics are
unreadable...white on mustard...give
me a break. Jason deserves better.
Hey Grand Ole Opry sign this boy!!!

It is totally beyond me why Daryle
Singletary is not a major star. He has
one of the best REAL Country voices
around and anyone who heard his
version of "The Note" must wonder why
it wasn't a #1 single. This new CD is
superb and should be a smash and I
can only hope that his label gets
behind it. Many of the songs were
co-written by the highly talented Billy
Lawson among these is a new take on
life and love, "Real Estate Hands."
Charlie Daniels makes a guest
appearance on the title track with some
excellent fiddle playing. Daryle's take
on John Denver's "Take Me Home,
Country Roads" is perhaps one of the
best versions. An excellent CD and
one deserving of support. This is a
contender for my album of the year.

BRAD PAISLEY

"AMERICAN SATURDAY NIGHT"

ARISTA 88697-47352-2

PRODUCED BY FRANK ROGERS
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER: CHRIS DUBOIS

HOLLY WILLIAMS

"HERE WITH ME"

MERCURY B0012547-02

PRODUCED BY JUSTIN NIEBANK AND HOLLY
WILLIAMS
PRODUCED BY JUSTIN NIEBANK, TONY BROWN
FOR TBE AND HOLLY WILLIAMS *

MONTGOMERY GENTRY

"FOR OUR HEROES"

CRACKER BARREL A749446

VARIOUS PRODUCERS

1. American Saturday Night
2. Everybody's Here
3. Welcome To The Future
4. Then
5. Water
6. She's Her Own Woman
7. Welcome To The Future (Reprise)
8. Anything Like Me
9. You Do The Math
10. No
11. Catch All The Fish
12. Oh Yeah, You're Gone
13. The Pants
14. I Hope That's Me

1. He's Making A Fool Out Of You
2. Mama
3. I Hold On
4. Keep The Change
5. Let Her Go
6. Three Days In Bed
7. Alone *
8. A Love I Think We Lost
(Duet With Chris Janson)
9. Gone With The Morning Sun *
10. Without Jesus Here With Me
11. Birds

1. Something To Be Proud Of
2. Daddy Won't Sell The Farm
3. Didn't I
4. Blue Collar Nights
5. Just Got Paid
6. Some People Change
7. She Loved Me
8. One Of Those Days
(Previously Unreleased)
9. The Man I Am
10. Tattoos & Scars
11. Wanted Dead Or Alive
12. My Town

I have been a big Brad Paisley fan
from the getgo and i am here to tell
you this is one of the best CDs he has
released. With his last couple of
releases, he had started to put a
rockier edge to his music but here, he
has returned to the gentler side very
much evident in the first two albums.
There is still the guitar slinger and
humorous side but there are also
outstanding ballads. Brad has always
been a keen observer of the
relationship between man and woman
but since becoming a daddy, he has
brought the experience into his writing.
On "Anything Like Me," older son, Huck
makes a guest appearance. This is
definitely my CD of the month.

First there was Hank Williams, then
there came Hank Williams, Jr. and now
Hank, Jr.'s daughter, Holly and she
proves that the acorn doesn't fall far
from the tree. Holly shows that she is a
very fine writer and an excellent singer.
Holly has surrounded herself with
quality musicians that include Jonathan
Yudkin, Marcus Hummon, Dan
Dugmore, Glenn Worf, and Chad
Cromwell but also shows on "Three
Days In Bed" that she can hold a song
together with just her guitar. I
particularly like Holly's version of Neil
Young's "Birds." The CD is a winner
and I do believe that soon Holly
Williams' name will be on everyone's
lips; not just as Hank, Jr.'s daughter
but for her own talent.

Cracker Barrel have done it again.
Here is a really tasty collection of Eddie
and Troy's excellent material. The guys
trawl widely for their songs and this
collection has six songs co-written by
Jeffrey Steele, one from Bon Jovi and
one from Z.Z. Top. The CD benefits
the Wounded Warrior Project and that
is just a part of what M & G have done
on behalf of the military. This is a great
way to get introduced to the guys.

RODNEY CARRINGTON

"EL NINO LOCO"

CAPITOL NASHVILLE 509992 06288 2 6

PRODUCED BY TOBY KEITH

HANK WILLIAMS, JR.

"127 ROSE AVENUE"

CURB D2-79149

PRODUCED BY DOUG JOHNSON FOR CURB
PRODUCTIONS AND HANK WILLIAMS, JR.

VINCE MELAMED

"WHAT MATTERS MOST"

ADROIT 002

PRODUCED BY JIM TRACT

1. El Nino Loco
2. Drink More Beer
3. If I'm The Only One
4. Should've Left Quicker
5. White Shirts And Rain
6. Best You'll Do Tonight
7. Bowling Trophy Wife
8. Do You All
9. Don't Tell My Wife
10. Funnyman

1. Farm Song
2. Red, White & Pink-Slip Blues
3. High Maintenance Woman
4. Mighty Oak Tree
5. Forged By Fire
6. Last Driftin' Cowboy
7. 127 Rose Avenue
8. All The Roads
(Featuring The Grasscals)
9. Sounds Like Justice
10. Long Gone Lonesome Blues
11. Gulf Shore Road

1. What Mattered Most
2. Perfect Love Forbidden
3. I'll Take That As A Yes
4. Four O'Clock Train
5. Walkaway Joe
6. Damn Your Love
7. She'd Give Anything
8. The Hard Way
9. One Little Stone
10. I'll Leave The Light On

Damn, Rodney Carrington can sing
and I mean sing well. Sure he is funny
but here he has managed to blend the
too to perfection. Produced by his
buddy, Toby Keith; you may remember
the two in the movie, "Beer For My
Horses." My favorite tracks...definitely
"Bowling Trophy Wife" and the
Pagliacci-esque, "Funnyman." This is
the album that is going to launch
Rodney into a major performer. You've
come a long way Rodders from when I
interviewed you and could only hear
one word in three on the cell phone
and we won't say what that one word
was. Excellent CD.

Hank Jr. earned his spurs with songs
about his family and ones that are full
of bombast and yet he is at his best
when sings about world matters such
as "Red, White & Pink-Slip Blues,"
"Forged By Fire" and "Sounds Like
Justice To Me." However, he does add
to his tributes to his daddy with "Last
Driftin' Cowboy" and a fabulous cover
of "Long Gone Lonesome Blues."
Hank, Jr. possesses one of the best
blues edged voices in Country music
and he uses it to great effect on the
title track as well the aforementioned
Hank Williams' classic "Long Gone
Lonesome Blues." However, the stand
out cut on this CD is without doubt "All
The Roads" which features great
harmonies and picking from The
Grascals.

Vince is best known as a songwriter
and keyboard player. On this CD, he
covers several of his successful songs
including "Walkaway Joe" which was a
big hit for Trisha Yearwood. For a while
Vince was a member of the long
missed band Run C&W and also
played with the Vinyl Kings. He has a
voice that is a bit like a gentler version
of Neil Young. This is a good CD.

MICHELLE TURLEY

"DANCE WITH ME TONIGHT"

VICTORIO NO CAT #

PRODUCED BY C.F. TURLEY

1. Caroline
2. I Can't Cry
3. Now I Know
4. Memory
5. I Can't Help Lovin' You
6. I Understand
7. Bus Stop
8. Dance With Me Tonight
9. Daddy
10. Best Love In The World
11. If I Could Be With You
12. Caroline (In Orange Blossom)
13. No Place Like Home

Time and time again I am confronted
with CDs like this one. An artist who not
only performs but also writes all the
songs etc. etc. This CD goes one step
further with the artist's brother
producing. Now this normally enough
for the CD to be a disaster but I am
happy to report that this isn't the case.
The reason that the album fails is the
terrible mixing. Michelle is obviously
talented but someone needs to take
this CD back into the studio and remix
it.