Traditional County, Updated
If you like your Country music hard-core, than soon to be household name, newcomer Maren Morris, is your gal. Her debut single, "My Church," captivates from its first few notes, and then it just keeps building with her vocals pulling every bit of emotion from each...
Remember Waylon Jennings “Are You Ready For the Country?”
In 1976 Waylon Jennings had a hit with “Are You Ready For the Country” and that very same song is out right now, sung by Hank Williams, Jr. and Eric Church. Eric Church is young, handsome, and a country star. Hank Williams, Jr. is 66 years old, has lived a hard life,...
A Hard-core Country Song
If you liked Travis Tritt’s "Here's A Quarter (Call Someone Who Cares),“ than Chris Stapleton’s exceptional “Nobody to Blame” is a “Must Listen To!” Personally, I love this hard-core style-- Merle, Waylon, George Jones, and if you do, too, than Chris Stapleton is...
The More Things Change, the More They Stay the Same: Jana Kramer Evokes Patsy Cline
If you are a Baby Boomer, you’ve probably heard of Patsy Cline. Even if you weren’t into Country music, her hits were played on multiple formats. She had a beautiful voice and chose very good songs, but her claim to fame is that of an interpreter—a stylist-- like...
Growing Up & Breaking Up in Small Town, USA
John Mellencamp dominated the airwaves 30 yeas ago with “Small Town,” a powerful song filled with classic images of Americana. He was extolling the beauty and simplicity of life in a small town. Drumming up those kinds of images, and maybe even memories, is Sam Hunt’s...
2015’s Version of “Kiss You All Over”
Every generation has to have its own version of ‘Kiss you All Over ‘”(Exile, 1978) and right now the Zac Brown Band’s “Beautiful Drug” is filling the niche reserved for “intense love and lust” in a song that builds from a spark to a flame to fireworks. Technically...
Don Henley Delivers: Finally, a Solo Album
Dave Sholin keeps his cool, even when he’s hanging with the stars, but here he’s not holding back: “Boomers rejoice! Don Henley's new album is brilliant from the first song to the last!” This week, at age 68, Henley scores his very first number one album as a solo...
Men Who Love Their Wives Madly, Deeply, Publicly
Back in 1970, Van Morrison presented the world with “Crazy Love,” a romantic, sweet ballad about how much he loved his wife, a sentiment that never goes out of style, because Thomas Rhett, who is red hot in Country—he’s only 25, and already has had four #1 hits in a...
We Miss You Johnny Cash
This week's "Weekly Whatever" honors Johnny Cash--tomorrow (9/12) marks 12 years since his passing-- one of our generations true musical icons. He was beloved, and truly loved, worldwide. Certainly by me. I remember my first JC concert, in the huge...