Country icon Tracy Lawrence has released a new original album, his first in six years, named “Made in America”, his 16th studio album in a career as a country music singer that spans 29 years, and six different record labels: Atlantic Nashville, Warner Brothers Nashville, DreamWorks Nashville, Mercury Nashville, Rocky Comfort, and his own discographic company: Lawrence Music Group. This opening track, the one that gives name to the album, talks about the stereotypes that made America great in its 224 years of democratic history: toughness. Just as tough as Tracy Lawrence himself, who here’s a not-so-fun-fact, received 4 shots when he was younger, who formed his first own band when he was only 16 years of age, and who never gave up his dream of earning a living in the ironwork sector while he was pursuing a career as a country musician and surviving the miseries of a young chap who was holding on to a dream. His is the project from a veterans that shows he is not losing any steam, and this is exactly what you’d expect from Tracy Lawrence in 2019, that is to say, 90s neotraditional country with more of a Texas influence updated for the modern age, especially instrumentally. Let’s listen to a couple more songs of this wonderful album: “Forgive Yourself”, and “First step to leavin’”, two wonderful two-step tunes co-written by the same artist.
What wonderful songs we’ve listened to right now. Though his voice may not be iconic like that of other great artists such as Dwight Yoakam or George Jones, it’s distinct enough to stand out. And in much the same way as in the career of other major and true country singers who’s career spans decades, the tone of their voice becomes even more compelling with age as the weight of their contributions to the genre result in warm recollections from the listener. I truly consider this album a solid and enjoyable country album that will satisfy Lawrence fans alike, regardless of age.
Like other artists such as Toby Keith did 20 years ago, Tracy Lawrence does have a message here, and that message is that America is worth standing up for, and so are the principles of hard work and personal responsibility. A moral message that sounds quite old school, a fist-pumping tribute to the Star-Spangled banner. We’ll say goodbye to Tracy Lawrence listening to two more songs. The first one, “It ain’t you”, a love song, and “When the Cowboy’s Gone”, song that, regardless of what you think about redneck America, makes a solid point about how it’s those brave souls who are tasked to run towards burning buildings and shooter situations, and volunteer to fly overseas and serve, and points out how we would be lost without them.
Tanya Tucker, the country legend, released last summer his first album of new material in 17 years. She’s co-produced this piece of work with Brandi Carlile and Shooter Jennings in the debut for Fantasy Records. Almost 50 years after the singer became a child phenom, Tucker’s latest never succumbs to old-age weariness. We’ve just listened to the song “The Wheels of Laredo”. She wouldn’t have been able to but all this together without the help of Carlile, or the twin brothers Phil and Tim Hanseroth, her longtime collaborators, who penned most of the songs. Named “While I’m living”, this album isn't intended as a memoir, but as a musical biography about Tanya’s real life and the places she’s seen. Tucker’s voice carries appealing scars accumulated over the years, yet she hasn't lost a whit of her pitch. A native of Seminole, Texas, and a longtime equestrian, Tucker illustrates that in the first song we’ve listened to, named “The Wheels of Laredo”, with equal parts “country” and “western” style, a song about a brokenhearted love story which, at deeper exploration, appears to acutely point at the contradictions inherent in the illegal immigration debate. Laredo is a city sitting on the north bank of the Rio Grande in South Texas, with a long tradition of immigrants crossing or trying to cross the river seeking pursuing the American Dream, and that in recent dates have been facing the “Remain in Mexico” policiy of the Trump Administration. Brandi Carlile, and the twins Hanseroth may be writing towards Tucker's myth in their lyrics, but she’s not treated with kid gloves, which allows her humor, soul, and sensuality to shine throughout the piece of work. We’ll listen to two more songs included in the album: “I don’t owe you anything”, and “Rich”, also written by Carlile and the twins.
A 10-time Grammy nominee with a substantial number of memorable hits, Tanya Tucker, now 61 years old, is not quite as old as Dolly Parton or Loretta Lynn, who are given legend status. This new album has granted her 4 Grammy nominations for this 2020 Grammy Awards, bringer her lifetime Grammy mods tally to 14. The night of the big show, she won her first two Grammys thropies ever, best country song for “Bring me my flowers Now”, which we will listen to from her Grammys performance with Brandi Carlile right now, and Best Country Album. We’ll say goodbye to Tanya Tucker as I just said, listening to the Grammys performance of Tanya and Carlile “Bring me my flowers now”, and Miranda Lambert’s grammy-winning “The House that Built me”, song that was included in 2010’s album by Miranda Lambert and that was co-written by Allen Shamblin and Tom Douglas, song about going back to the house that saw you grow up. Miranda was 27 when she recorded it, and Tanya was 60 when she covered it, so the message is substantially different depending on the singer. “Bring me my flowers Now”, and “The House that Built me”.
Great voice and first ever #1 song by Miranda Lambert, “The House that Built me”, recorded in 2010 for her album “Revolution”. At that time she was dating singer Blake Shelton and was looking for songs for her album when she bumped into this song, which was a life-changing one for her career. When she went into the studio to record it, she asked her mom to do her a special favor... to e-mail her pictures of their old house. She printed them and had them on the music stand in front of her when she cut the song. In an interview at the time, co-writer Allen Shamblin said he and Tom Douglas, the other co-writer, digged into their own hearts for where they came from, children, family, to come up with their own idea of the events that made them who they were. Miranda confesses that every time she sings this song she cries on stage.
Some months ago we reviewed 2019’s album by Miranda Lambert, who enrolled in her tour around the States in September with the name “Roadside Bars & Pink Guitars Tour”, bringing with her some heavy hitters including Maren Morris, Elle King, the Pistol Annies, Tenille Townes, Ashley McBryde and Caylee Hammack. The 26-date tour was celebrated teaming with her tourmates, the entire all-female lineup that is accompanying her on the road, for a cover of 1975’s “Fooled Around & Fell in Love” from blues guitarist Elvin Bishop, song that had many times been covered in its 44 years of existence. Let’s listen to them, “Fooled Around and fell in love”.
“Whose bed have your boots been under?”, the unforgettable song by Shania Twain from 1995, here covered by the Hot Country Knights in a live performance next to Miranda Lambert, who give a great rendition to the classic.
The history behind the band “Hot Country knights” comes from afar and it is necessary to understand the play on words. Hot Country Nights was an American television program which presented country music acts performing their biggest hits. It aired on NBC from November 1991 to March 1992. Each episode featured between four and six singing acts, including established stars such as Alabama, or Pam Tillis, up-and-comers and a veteran star like Kenny Rogers. A featured comedian would also perform between acts. One such comedian was Tim Allen.
The band “Hot Country Knights” is a cover band that basically sings country hits from the 90s. The singer, Douglas Douglason, nicknamed “Big Rhythm Doug”, is the famous country singer Dierks Bentley, who back in 2015 took advantage of his time off to get a new band together. What started as a funny and one-time solo event has gotten more real. They were invited to Jimmy Kimmel’s TV show some weeks ago, and they have officially engaged on a tour starting in April with a list of classics. They have released their first two original songs, “Asphalt” and “Pick Her Up”, this one featuring Travis Tritt, with a great 90s flavor that will satisfy those craving for more Neotraditional sound from that time.
How many western-swing artists do you come across these days? Some months ago we talked about Wayne Hancock and played some great music from his previous album. This time this is about his most recent piece of work, “Man of the Road”. The good thing is that you know what to expect when you hear a new Wayne Hancock album. This is a collection of his early songs on Bloodshot Records, and it is as good as you would expect, taking you through familiar favorites like “A-Town Blues” and “Tulsa.” Even if you’re a die-hard Hancock fan, hearing this collection of songs will make you want to boogie in your living room. We’ve just listened to the song “Driving My young life away”, an ode to touring life. While the young part may not apply to the 54-year-old Hancock these days, the notion of him being road-weary does, as he continues to hit the road “200 days a year”. This newly curated collection of his output from more than 20 years past is delicious. Let’s be witness to it listening to two more songs from this wonderful Long Play, “Man of the Road”, another song about musicians who tour most of the time, and “Throwin’ my money away”, about spending money in bars and alcohol.
Indeed, the record’s title reflects a lot of what we hear in this selection of songs: tales of a working musician who hasn’t lost his love for playing shows and going town-to-town. There are songs here that look at the more difficult side of life on the road, too. For those who might also like old country honky tonk, will have noticed that vocally, Hancock is a ringer for Hank Williams, his characteristic nasal tone – as traditional as it might be – cuts through in a crisp and refreshing way. The music calls back an earlier time too, with a mix of western swing, big band and honky-tonk. As classic as these elements are, the irresistible catchiness of every song would be enough to turn the heads of more modern country-genre fans. We’ll say goodbye to Wayne Hancock and this edition of Grand Country listening to three more cuts from this unforgettable album. The classic “Thunderstorm and Neon Signs’ (originally on Hancock’s 1995 debut album of the same name), yet another love letter to touring life, then the song “Your love and his blood”, and “Gonna be flying tonight”.
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