Country Music Alive Weekly Roundup and Post ACM Report

Date: 22 May 2003 03:04:50 GMT
Newsgroups: rec.music.country.western
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***The Post-Award Report will be available at the very end of this weekly
round-up***
Hello everyone! I hope you have had a great week. I sure have. I have been
very busy with the website and doing a lot of behind the scenes work for the
newsletter. Also, the contest was a huge success and can't wait to start
checking them for a winner!
Welcome to all the new members this week. Remember to tell a friend.
Here are the new things you can find on the website:
1) Chat Room-yes! Its back and much improved! I will be scheduling times
and things where I can be found hanging out there. Other special events will
be scheduled there too.
2) Discussion Board Upgrade-I have chosen a service through Bravenet.com
to help with this as well. I hope you will find it more user friendly
3) Tell a friend form-Its on the main page.. easy little thing to fill out
and tell a friend about Country Music Alive
4) Meet-up link-A very cool website that allows people to arrange meetings
for discussions. It is free and I hope you will visit.
I'm working on some other projects to be added to the website very soon so keep
a look out! http://www.countrymusicalive.com
The member guide was released this week as I have mentioned. If you didn't get
a copy or need a text copy, please e-mail me at email-address-deleted. It should
be going out to all members upon subscription.
I have lots more to share, but will save it until next week due to this going
to be a long newsletter due to the Academy of Country Music Awards.
This Week In Country Music:
5/21: Trisha Yearwood married Robert Reynolds (1994)
5/22: Dana Williams of Diamond Rio (1961)
5/22: Lefty Frizzell's first recording session (1954)
5/23: Shelly West (1958)
5/23: Jim Reeves made his first Opry appearance (1953)
5/23: Mac Wiseman (1925)
5/24: Rosanne Cash (1955)
5/24: Priscilla Presley (1945)
5//25: Tom T. Hall (1936)
5/25: "Blue" by LeAnn Rimes charted (1996)
5/25: Marty Robbins signed to Columbia Records (1951)
5/26: Hank Williams, Jr (1949)
5/26: Jimmie Rodgers died (1933)
5/27: John Conlee charted "Rose Colored Glasses" (1978)
5/27: Opryland USA opened (1972)
5/27: Don Williams (1939)
5/28: Gary Stewart (1945)
5/28: Barbara Mandrell and Ken Dudney married (1967)
Kirk's Top Picks of the Week
"Almost Home" - Craig Morgan
"The Love Song" - Jeff Bates
"Speed" - Montgomery Gentry
Billboard Charts: (source: Billboard.com)
Top 5 Singles:
1. Three Wooden Crosses - Randy Travis
2. She's My Kind of Rain-Tim McGraw
3. Have You Forgotten-Darryl Worley
4. I Believe - Diamond Rio
5. Raining on Sunday - Keith Urban
Top 5 Albums:
1. Darryl Worley - Have You Forgotten
2. Unleashed - Toby Keith
3. Dixie Chicks - Home
4. Shania Twain - Up!
5. Tim McGraw-Tim McGraw and the Dancehall Doctors
Album Reviews:
These and 2 more new reviews posted to www.countrymusicalive.com !!
Rhonda Vincent
"One Step Ahead"
Rounder Records
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00008V615/countrymusica-20
Ahh! An album that makes a rainy day feel like a cold glass of lemonade on a
porch watching the kids play on a warm sunny day. Tight harmony, sounds of the
finest sound in contemporary bluegrass, a musical experience of lyrics and
music that just are chilling; that is what can be found on Rhonda Vincent's
latest release.
Highlights, other than saying the whole album, look for the gospel tune
"Fishers of Men" with some of the most beautiful lyric delivery you can hear.
If you don't like this one, please call 911 and get someone to be sure you are
still conscious. "You Can't Take It With You When You Go" also has a gospel
overtone and is strong in songwriting and lyric. Yes, it is time for a pulse
check. "Frankie Belle," a 3minute 18 second instrumental paradise of the finest
picking, that will no doubt make you grin. There all wonderful tracks, but I
won't go on… I'll let you hear it for yourself
Now, not really a masterpiece, but really to be sure you know this is a
country/bluegrass album, "The Martha White" song ends the CD, just to remind
you that Rhonda Vincent is the Martha White Bluegrass Express Bus Tour
Spokeswoman, in fact, it is a very good tune and yes, a very good brand that
has historical ties to country music.
This album is one in which you just have to give your ears a treat and let them
appreciate good music. Once again, Vincent is truly one step ahead of the rest
and lifts the bar up yet another notch.
Grade: A+
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00008V615/countrymusica-20
Cledus T Judd
"A 6 Pack of Judd"
Monument/ Sony-Nashville Records
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000093FJE/countrymusica-20
Sometimes you have to get a bit of humor in your country. What better than
comedic parody entertainer Cledus T. Judd.
Only six tracks long, it is still a great album to put in and laugh a bit (a
lot at times). It includes parodies of 5 new hits and 1 classic with a guest
appearance by a country music living legend, George Jones ("I Was Country When
Country Wasn't Pop"). It alone is worth the special low price of the album
(can be found for about $10 or under.) Not only is it a parody, but it is also
a very true statement of country music in the present.
The other five all are actually well written and most of just plain fun. The
best on the album I believe is the parody of "My Town" by Montgomery Gentry.
"My Crowd" is basically talking about the fans that come to see a show and in
Judd's way a real appreciative track to the fans. Also included on the album
are parodies of "Who's Your Daddy" ("Where's Your Mommy?" a song about a dad
trying to take care of a baby), "19 Somethin' (270 Somethin' a song about
weight of a person), "Riding With Private Malone" ("Riding With Inmate Jerome",
a song about getting out of drug rehab and buying a car that belongs to an
inmate from a drug dealer), and "Big Star" ("New Car" song about buying a junk
car).
An album with great parody writing, Judd's very unique voice, and humor what
else you want for a smile today. This is a very funny break from all the
seriousness in life. At $10 or so, pick up a couple copies and share the fun
of Judd together.
Grade: B+
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000093FJE/countrymusica-20
New Releases This Week: (If available, a direct link to buy it below the
title!)
Jo Dee Messina - Greatest Hits
Billy Yates - Country
T. Graham Brown - The Next Right Thing
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00009L1SR/countrymusica-20
Jeff Bates - Rainbow Man
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B0000996IB/countrymusica-20
In The News:
***The Post-Award Report will be available at the very end of this weekly
round-up***
The Mavericks return in late September on their new record label, Sanctuary
Records. They have been in the studio in the past week.
Tracy Byrd will be a part of the "Rally For America" in Huntington, West
Virginia on May 24, 2003 hosted by radio talk show host Glenn Beck
Sadly, June Carter Cash passed away earlier this week after complications from
heart surgery. The funeral was last Sunday, open to the public. There are
some photos on The Tennessean website from this sad event.
http://www.tennessean.com/slideshows/2003/entertainment/junecartercash2/
Toby Keith is getting ready for a huge tour sponsored by Frod Trucks. The Next
Ford F150 "Shock'n Y'all" Tour steps of June 15 in Michigan. The tour dates
will be posted on the supplemental webpage on the website.
Look for Willie Nelson to have four expanded and remastered albums out in
mid-June.
I'm not usually into quotes, but I saw this one and just had to share it with
you all.
"Today's biggest country sellers spring from the so-called 'hat acts.' These
artists wrap themselves in pop elements. Check out Garth Brooks, Toby Keith,
Shania Twain, or Faith Hill concert; it's akin to Metallica, with Spandex
swapped for Stetsons. The result: A sort of lite country, which is to
traditional country what low-cal beer is to a shot of Wild Turkey. The stuff
may go down easily enough, but offers zilch in the way of substance." --
William Porter, Denver Post.
You can read the full commentary at:
http://www.denverpost.com/Stories/0,1413,36%257E24769%257E1393957,00.html
I would love you all to share your opinions on the discussion board, I will
post this quote and the link there as well.
As Always, Keeping Country Music Alive
Kirk Fitzgerald
The Academy of Country Music Post-Award Report
May 21, 2003, CBS 8pm EST
Hosted by Reba McEntire
First, Reba McEntire hosting is such a great asset to the show, among the good
performances and learning who wins the awards. Her humor tonight was the best
yet. With jabs at the Dixie Chicks and Toby Keith with Willie Nelson
(referring to being in Las Vegas, checking the odds on the Chicks playing at
Bush family reunion and introducing Willie Nelson and Toby Keith as "the angry
American and the herbal American").
Kenny Chesney opened the show with "Big Star" and closed with Vince Gill
presenting The Entertainer of the Year to Toby Keith that had left earlier in
the show for an unknown reason.
Performances this year were as they usually are, some stellar performances
mixed in with the mediocre and down right pathetic. Among the greats,
Montgomery Gentry's high paced and fun stage performance of "My Town", Martina
McBride doing "Concrete Angel", Willie Nelson and Toby Keith performing "Beer
for My Horses," Alan Jackson's performance of "The Sounds."
George Strait also performed a few of his 50 number one hits before he was
presented with a special achievement award for this record. The Dixie Chicks
also performed via satellite, and Shania Twain sat on stage moving to the music
during her performance, a big change for her.
Three of the P.O.W.s that have returned home were introduced to the audience
after Lonestar's performance of "I'm Already There."
Now, I present you the 38th Annual Academy of Country Music Award Winners
Alabama
Pioneer Award Recipients
Entertainer of the Year
Lonestar, Home Depot Humanitarian Award
Kenny Chesney, Top Male Vocalist
Martina McBride, Top Female Vocalist
Brooks & Dunn, Top Vocal Duo
Rascal Flatts, Top Vocal Group
Joe Nichols, Top New Male Vocalist
Kellie Coffey, Top New Female
Emerson Drive, Top New Group/ Duo
Album of the Year, "Drive", Alan Jackson, Keith Stegall, Arista-Nashville
Records
Single of the Year, "The Good Stuff", Kenny Chesney, Buddy Cannon, Norro
Wilson, Kenny Chesney, BNA Records
Song of the Year, "I'm Movin' On", Rascal Flatts, Phillip Brian White, David
Vincent Williams, Murrah Music Corp. BMI Las Wagas, Songs of Megalex, WB Music
Corp. ASCAP / Rascal Flatts
Vocal Event of the Year, "Mendocino County Line" Willie Nelson with Lee Ann
Womack, Matthew Serletic
Video of the Year, "Drive (For Daddy Gene)" Robin Rucker, Steven Goldmann, Alan
Jackson
Radio Awards:
Radio Station of the Year, WIVK , Knoxville, Tennessee
On-Air Personality of the Year On-Air Personality of the Year Tony and Kris,
KSON, San Diego, California
Promotion Award:
Don Romeo Talent Buyer / Promoter of the Year, Louis Messina, The Messina Group
Night Club/ Casino Awards:
The Wildhorse Saloon, Nashville, Tennessee, Nightclub of the Year
Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada, Casino of the Year
Musician Awards:
Bass Player of the Year, Glenn Worf
Guitar Player of the Year, John Willis
Fiddle Player of the Year, Larry Franklin
Keyboard Player of the Year, Matt Rollings
Drum Player of the Year, Lonnie Wilson
Steel Guitar Player of the Year, Jay DeeManess
Specialty Instrument Player of the year, Mark Casstevens
Kirk Fitzgerald
Author, Country Music Alive!
http://www.countrymusicalive.com
email-address-deleted