Country legend George Jones has released a lot of music over the course of his six-decade career. But hardcore Possum fans will heartily welcome the February 23 release of George Jones: The Great Lost Hits. The 2-CD collection, released by Time Life, compiles rare and largely out-of-print recordings that were originally released on the Musicor [...]
Given that most Alan Jackson songs are songs of love and heartache, this career-spanning compilation doesn’t shed too much new light on his body of work (granted, any songs about cars and food are conspicuous in their absence). Still, Songs of Love and Heartache is a pleasant reminder of Alan’s way with a love song—from his career-igniting “Here in the Real World” to a remake of 2006’s “A Woman’s Love.” Two previously unreleased cuts fit in fine, especially the sweet ballad “That’s What I’d Be Like Without You.” (Available at Cracker Barrel Old Country Store and crackerbarrel.com.)
Patty’s 2001 acoustic album, Mountain Soul, was a sweet revelation—a return to her Kentucky roots with all the joy and emotion of a long-awaited family reunion. Eight years later, this sonic and thematic follow-up can’t help but lack the first volume’s delightful sense of surprise, nor does it have any single track that can compete with Mountain Soul’s devastating “You’ll Never Leave Harlan Alive” (one of the young millennium’s finest pieces of music, which admittedly makes for an unfair comparison). Mountain Soul II is solid throughout, but only approaches its sibling album’s peak during a soaring mini-set of gospel numbers in the album’s middle stretch.
When she was but 18, Johnny Cash gave his daughter a list of 100 country songs he considered essential to understanding the genre and by extension her own family legacy. Johnny’s death six years ago was the prime inspiration for Rosanne’s 2006 masterpiece Black Cadillac, making The List—a set of covers culled from his song suggestions—feel at first blush a bit like that album’s once-removed study guide. Rosanne defeats that notion by bringing standards like “Motherless Children” and “I’m Movin’ On” gently into the sonic territory she and producer-husband John Leventhal have staked out for her own original songs over the last several years. The List is a study guide you’ll love learning from.
After three albums of uneven material elevated by one of country’s very finest voices, Joe Nichols truly hit his stride with 2007’s Real Things. His latest deftly demonstrates that the consistency of its predecessor was no accident—Old Things New is the sound of an artist brimming with confidence and eager to prove his mettle.
One suspects that the authority in Joe’s voice stems from his newfound sobriety. He addresses his battle with the bottle in stark terms on the album’s powerful closing track, “An Old Friend of Mine,” just a few songs after “Cheaper Than a Shrink” makes clear that he has no intention of passing up a fun, funny drinking song when he finds one. But Old Things New keeps its focus mostly on matters of the heart, and Joe proves equally adept at inhabiting characters both happy and heartbroken. The musical mood remains generally laid-back, just as it did on Real Things, suggesting that Joe has found a comfort zone in which he can continue to flourish.
HAYWIRE has been the quickest record we've ever made from start to finish," says Josh. "But I'm glad our haste didn't make waste. I love every single song. One thing I've noticed is that you are definitely hearing more of my range, high and low on this album. I'm really proud of this record." And that's saying something, given what he's accomplished so far. Since earning a standing ovation as an unknown singer on the Grand Ole Opry stage in 2001 with his impressive delivery of "Long Black Train," he has established himself as one of the most identifiable male vocalists in country music.
2009 album from the Country superstar. A Grammy-winning instrumentalist and the reigning, three-time ACM and two-time CMA Male Vocalist winner with 13 career #1 singles to his credit, Paisley has amassed album sales in excess of 10 million units, including his two times platinum 2005 ACM and CMA Album of the Year, Time Well Wasted. American Saturday Night features the hit single 'Then,' produced by Frank Rogers.
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Product Description
Twang is the follow-up to the platinum selling and CMA Album of the Year, Troubadour. The debut single, "Living For The Night" is the first single as a songwriter.
Strait was recently recognized by the Academy of Country Music as the Artist of the Decade and was honored in a primetime CBS TV special.