* Rachel Lee Rubin, Professor of American Studies at the University of Massachusetts Boston, USA, and Director of the Center for the Study of Humanities, Culture, and Society, has written a book about Merle Haggard's iconic song in her upcoming book, Merle Haggard's Okie from Muskogee. The book is released today. From the press release:
"Every now and then, a song inspires a cultural conversation that ends up looking like a brawl. Merle Haggard's Okie from Muskogee, released in 1969, is a prime example of that important role of popular music. Okie immediately helped to frame an ongoing discussion about region and class, pride and politics, culture and counterculture. But the conversation around the song, useful as it was, drowned out the song itself, not to mention the other songs on the live album-named for Okie and performed in Muskogee-that Haggard has carefully chosen to frame what has turned out to be his most famous song. What are the internal clues for gleaning the intended meaning of Okie? What is the pay-off of the anti-fandom that Okie sparked (and continues to spark) in some quarters? How has the song come to be a shorthand for expressing all manner of anti-working class attitudes? What was Haggard's artistic path to that stage in Oklahoma, and how did he come to shape the industry so profoundly at the moment when urban country singers were playing a major role on the American social and political landscape?"
* The Voice star Red Marlow will be releasing his album Country as Cornbread on April 6- here's the official announcement and album cover. * Maggie Rose has a new 2-song mini EP coming out tomorrow with tracks "It's You" and "Smooth." Here's the source if you're interested in adding it to your music collection.
* John Mellencamp released a new performance video filmed at the landmark Chicago Theatre of him performing his iconic hit, "Small Town."
* Kelly Clarkson released a powerful new music video considering all going on with the #metoo movement for her song "I Don't Think About You."
* British Nashville-transplants The Shires have a new album forthcoming on April 20 called Accidentally on Purpose on Decca Records.
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