Podcasts · 05/23/2018
In this episode we're featuring the debut record of a fresh-faced 27-year-old Oklahoma boy singing good country music: "Garth Brooks" (Self Titled) (1989). From the look on his face on the front cover of this album, I'd say he didn't have any clue of the fame about to come his way on the strength of this release - and fame did come, sure enough. This record achieved diamond certification (sales of 10 million plus in the USA alone) and catapulted Garth's career into the stratosphere, turning him
Podcasts · 05/16/2018
In this episode, we're featuring a rodeo-themed album from ex-bull rider Red Steagall and his road band The Coleman County Cowboys: "For All Our Cowboy Friends" (1977). The inclusion of The Coleman County Cowboys over the A-class Nashville pickers that Red was using at this period in his career adds authenticity: world-champion fiddler Snuffy Elmore dragging the bow, James Wood on steel and Red's younger brother Danny Steagall on guitar add road miles to the album's sound. The artwork alone is a
Podcasts · 05/10/2018
In this episode, we're featuring a Columbia concept album from "The Master" - Ray Price: "Love Life" (1964). Released after another highly successful thematic album in 1963's "Night Life", our feature album continues the tradition - this time, it's all songs about love. Loving, losing, heartbreak, euphoria, disappointment - the highs and lows of one of humankind's most relatable subjects - Price has a song for everyone's "Love Life" on this release, and he's fine voice to boot. Backed by some of
Podcasts · 05/02/2018
In this episode, we're featuring a Columbia concept album from "The Master" - Ray Price: "Love Life" (1964). Released after another highly successful thematic album in 1963's "Night Life", our feature album continues the tradition - this time, it's all songs about love. Loving, losing, heartbreak, euphoria, disappointment - the highs and lows of one of humankind's most relatable subjects - Price has a song for everyone's "Love Life" on this release, and he's fine voice to boot. Backed by some of
Podcasts · 04/18/2018
In this week's episode, we're featuring a gritty example of 21st century honky tonk from The Reeves Brothers: "King Of Country Music" (2017). Sons of an Arkansas traditionalist who found success in Southern California, Matt & Cole Reeves have forged a sound reminiscent of something that may have been heard on an AM radio in about 1975: grimy, no frills barroom country music. Their rough-hewn product belies the fact that both brothers were in their twenties when they recorded this album, but Cole
Podcasts · 04/04/2018
In this episode, we're featuring an album that captures Faron Young at his very best: "Step Aside" (1970). Released at a particularly busy time for Young on Mercury Records, "Step Aside" was crammed in amongst seven full length studio albums in four years, but that fact hasn't affected the output one bit. The Singing Sheriff is in the best voice of his career: mellow yet animated, soaring yet wonderfully controlled, and all with a healthy dose of twang. As you'd expect, it's fiddles and steel, t
Music · 04/03/2018
Jim Ed Brown sings Looking Back To Se , on Grand Ole Opry.
This song is by Jim Ed Brown and appears on the album Jim Ed Sings The Browns (1969) and on the compilation album The Essential Jim Ed Brown and the Browns (1996).
Music · 03/27/2018
Johnnie & Jack were an American country music duo composed of Johnnie Wright (1914–2011) and Jack Anglin (1916–1963). The duo became members of the Grand Ole Opry in the 1940s.Between 1951 and 1962, the duo released several singles on the RCA Victor Records label, including their version of "Goodnite, Sweetheart, Goodnite" which peaked at No. 4 on the Best Seller charts,and the No. 1 "(Oh Baby Mine) I Get So Lonely".
Following Anglin's death in a car accident in 1963, Wright became a solo artist
Music · 03/27/2018
In this episode, we're featuring an oft-overlooked album from Cal Smith: "Country Bumpkin" (1974). The title track itself, of course, was Smith's biggest and most enduring hit, immortalising his impact to generations of fans. However, many listeners never got past big hit single to the rest of the album, which is a surprisingly modern yet traditional release, overseen by master Walter Haynes in the producer's booth. Cal Smith brings his relaxed-yet-sincere delivery to an extremely well chosen co
Music · 03/27/2018
In this week's episode, we're featuring the fourth album from the charming Teea Goans: "Swing, Shuffle & Sway" (2017). Although Goans grew up in a yellow singlewide on her grandmother's property in the itty bitty town of Lowry City, Missouri, she moved to Nashville with her high school sweetheart (now husband) and has been on the rise ever since. Her personal Facebook page is crammed with "SupportTraditionalCountry" hashtags and that's exactly what she does on this album. As the title suggests -