New Music Video From Jake Owen - "Wouldn't Be Gone"

New Music Video From Jake Owen - "Them Old Love Songs"

New Music Video From Jake Owen - "Up There Down Here"

New Music Video from Jake Owen - "1x1"

New Music Video From Jake Owen - "East Bound and Down"

That Nashville Sound Sunday Newsbytes - Record Store Day & Steve Azar's New Radio Show

Everybody stay safe, hunker down at home if you can, say a little prayer for our front line of first responders and medical personnel and use this music we love as a diversion.

~ Roots & American Music Society (RAMS), a not-for-profit record label based in Memphis, Tennessee, has teamed with the Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS) to orchestrate and create a meaningful recording project titled Love Lives On. The combined creative endeavor aligned TAPS military families, who have endured the loss of a loved one, with some of the music industry’s most gifted and renowned songwriters to pen the family members’ intimate and personal stories in music and song. Featuring special guest vocal performances by award-winning recording artists Vince Gill, Billy Ray Cyrus, John Rich, Paul Overstreet, Andy Griggs, Pam Tillis, Lee Roy Parnell, Lonestar, Gatlin Brothers and more, complemented by A-list studio and touring musicians. The album will be out on May 22, 2020. You can listen to the title track by Lonestar, Vince Gill & friends HERE. 

~ Steve Azar's The I Don’t Have To Be Me (‘Til Monday) Radio Show is coming to country radio coast to coast this July. During this 4-hour weekend show, Azar will be sharing the stories and talents of his peers in country music, their greatest hits, past and current, as well as hosting some candid conversations with them and other pals from TV, film and sports. Azar says, "As you know my song, "I Don’t Have To Be Me (‘Til Monday)" has always been about escapism. Just getting away from the hustle and bustle of routines. I introduced and shared it with you through the power of radio 20 years ago and to this day it’s still rocking. I’m thankful for that!"  You watch/hear a preview of what to expect HERE.

~ We announced last week that Record Store Day was pushed back from April to June 20th this year. What we didn't announce was the list of country(ish) vinyl that will be available as special releases only for this unique day.  You can see the entire list HERE.

   An Evening With The Allman Brothers Band: First Set - The Allman Brothers Band
   A Rooster Says - Brandi Carlile
   Classic Cash: Hall Of Fame Series - Early Mixes (1987) - Johnny Cash
   Pearl Cadillac (Feat. Andra Day) - Gary Clark Jr
   "The Unraveling" b/w "Sarah's Flame" - Drive-By Truckers
   "Times Like These / It's About Blood" - Steve Earle
   Live at the Austin Outhouse - Blaze Foley
   The Man With No Shadow - John Wesley Harding
   Live at Nick’s Fat City, 1995. - Hootie And The Blowfish
   Shooter Live at Bonnaroo - Shooter Jennings
   Angel With A Lariat - K.D. Lang & The Reclines
   Drag - K.D. Lang
   Cover Your Tracks EP - Corb Lund
   Live From The Palomino - Midland
   The Atlantic Albums - John Prine
   The Kentucky Sessions - John Prine/Kelsey Waldon
   Live At The Orange Peel - Son Volt
   Hillbillies in Hell: Volume X - Various Artists
   March of Dimes - Hank Williams

~ And if you didn't see them, a couple of country artists did their favorite Kenny Rogers songs as tributes to the legend who passed away yesterday.

   Jake Owen - "She Believes In Me"
   Jason Eady - "Ruby (Don't Take Your Love To Town)"

That Nashville Sound Saturday Newsbytes: New Albums, New Videos & A Get-Well For a Legend

Lots of things to get to this fine Saturday morning, so with out further hesitation, let's get to it...

---

Actor Kiefer Sutherland has announced the April 26 release of his next album, Reckless & Me. Not too many details are out on the new project, but you can assume that business party and co-owner of the Ironworks Music Label Jude Cole (Clay Davidson/Lifehouse) is bound to be involved in some of the co-writes and producing duties.

“I asked myself ‘What is the thing that I love about acting and music? What is the common denominator?’ And for me, it’s storytelling. And music is a very different way of doing it, but it’s still storytelling nonetheless. Life is tricky. It’s not easy, and we’re all going through it. If you can have that dialogue at a show, then that can really matter. Understanding that was a real turning point for me. I’m not playing a character. As soon as I allowed myself to be me, a connection started to happen,” Kiefer shared.

---

New music videos:

- Hailey Whitters - "Ten Year Town"

- Lee Ann Womack - "Dusty Skies"

- Jimmie Allen - "Best Shot" (YouTube Sessions)

- Logan Brill - "Walk of Shame"

- Gone West - "This Time" (Live on WSM)

---

The Band Perry continue their wildly divergent ways from what set them on the country music map with a new single and music video for a song called "Marfa Prada."

---

The Eli Young Band announced yesterday that their album This Is Eli Young Band (Greatest Hits) will be released on March 29 via The Valory Music Co.. The band announced the new tunes and preorder details via Facebook Live yesterday (Feb. 28) while in New York City for a tour stop honoring their home state of Texas.

“This is the first time you’ve ever been able to get some of that older music, new music, and the hits all in one place,” shared EYB’s Mike Eli during the Facebook Live.

The Greatest Hits will feature Eli Young Band No. 1’s “Drunk Last Night,” “Even If It Breaks Your Heart,” and “Crazy Girl” as well as new songs “Where Were You” and their current charting single, “Love Ain’t.”

Track Listing:
1. “Love Ain’t” (Ross Copperman, Ashley Gorley, Shane Mcanally)
2. “Even If It Breaks Your Heart” (Will Hoge, Eric Paslay)
3. “Drunk Last Night” (Laura Veltz, Josh Osborne)
4. “Crazy Girl” (Lee Brice, Liz Rose)
5. “Always The Love Songs” (David Lee Murphy, George Ducas)
6. “Dust” (Jon Jones, James Young, Kyle Jacobs, Josh Osborne)
7. “Saltwater Gospel” (Ross Copperman, Nicolle Galyon, Ashley Gorley)
8. “Guinevere” (Mike Eli, James Young, Scooter Carusoe)
9. “Skin & Bones” (Mike Eli, Phil Barton, Lori Mckenna)
10. “When It Rains” (Eli Young Band)
11. “Small Town Kid” (Mike Eli, Chris Thompson)
12. “Highways And Broken Hearts” (Mike Eli, Chris Thompson)
13. “Where Were You” (Luke Dick, Matt Jenkins, Josh Osborne)

14. “Crazy Girl (Acoustic)” (Lee Brice, Liz Rose)

---

Thomas Rhett will be releasing his next album on May 31- it's titled Center Point Road.

---

Jake Owen announced his next project as well - it will come out on April 26 and be titled Greetings From Jake Owen.

Greetings marks Owen’s first full-length album in nearly three years and his debut with Big Loud, which signed him in late 2017. Joey Moi, who recorded Owen’s hits “Barefoot Blue Jean Night” and “Alone With You,” is back is in the producer role.

No track listing has come out yet, but it would be assumed his last few strong-performing  singles will be included. His John Mellencamp-referencing 2018 track “I Was Jack (You Were Diane)” returned the singer to the top of the charts for the first time since 2016, while its follow-up “Down to the Honky Tonk” is currently at Number 12 and rising. “Honky Tonk” was also recently nominated for an ACM Award for Single of the Year.

---

And good wishes go out to country legend and Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Jerry Lee Lewis who had a minor stroke at the age of 83.

"He is with his family, recuperating in Memphis and the doctors expect a full recovery," a family statement said. "The Killer looks forward to getting back into the studio soon to record a gospel record and on the road performing live for his fans. His family requests privacy at this time. Well wishes and prayers are greatly appreciated."

New Music Video From Jake Owen - "Down To The Honkytonk"

New Music Video From Jake Owen - "Made For You"

New Music Video From Jake Owen - "I Was Jack (You Were Diane)

That Nashville Sound Sunday Newsbytes - Bobby Bare, Kasey Chambers, Keith Urban, Steve Moakler & More

There's some news and a couple of new music albums forthcoming that are all yours in one big post this Sunday morning. Happy reading...

* Garth Brooks welcomed back 83-year-old Bobby Bare as an official Grand Ole Opry member on Saturday night. "Bare was first inducted as a Grand Ole Opry member in the early 1960s, but over the next decade his membership lapsed. In recent years, it became important to Bare to be formally welcomed back and Brooks was his biggest champion. "Standing shoulder-to-shoulder with Bobby Bare, it makes the Opry better,” Brooks said. “It makes me better as an Opry member to be standing next to him.”"
* He's written songs for the likes of Dierks Bentley, Jake Owen, Eric Church and Kellie Pickler, but now Steve Moakler has a project of his own coming out on June 15 called Born Ready.

* Australian country music sensation Kasey Chambers will be releasing her 12th studio album called Campfire on April 27th.

* Keith Urban revealed the cover and the track listing for his upcoming April 27 release, Graffiti U as well.

* Hear Ashley Monroe's new track "Wild Love" from her upcoming release, Sparrow.
 

Acclaimed Songwriter Kendell Marvell Follows Charts Debut Album

Artist: Kendell Marvell
Album: Lowdown and Lonesome
Label: Big Daddy Records
Release date: October 13, 2017

Already an award-winning songwriter- he co-wrote Stapleton's "Either Way" , “Yee Haw,” “Startin' With Me” and “Don't Think I Can't Love You" for Jake Owen, "That Lonesome Song" for Jamey Johnson & "Right Where I Need To Be" for Gary Allan- Kendell Marvel makes his solo debut with Lowdown & Lonesome, a concept album that blends his musical down home country and rock & roll roots.

Having written 9 out of 10 tracks on the album, Marvel flexes his writing chops and invites listeners on the familiar journey of heartbreak, vices and all points in between. “Gypsy Woman” paints the picture of a love that’s not chasing back while on the title track "Lowdown & Lonesome” Marvel sings about hitting rock bottom and drinking about it. “I wrote the song “Lowdown & Lonesome” with Keith Gattis and Randy Houser a few years back and we based the whole album around that track. The songs are real, they’re gritty- a combination of hurt-like-hell heartache and rowdy rebellion.”

Born and raised in Southern Illinois, Marvel began playing his first gigs at 10 years old. "My dad would take me out to bars, and I'd play old country covers," he remembers. "Dad would get free beer, and I'd get free pickled eggs or beef jerky. I was hooked."

The gigs continued as Marvel grew older. In 1998, he left his home in Illinois, moved to Nashville and began writing songs. During his first day in Music City, Marvel penned Gary Allan's first Top 5 hit, "Right Where I Need To Be.” Other hits followed, but Marvel never lost sight of the solo career he'd kicked off back in the Midwest. As his reputation as a songwriter grew, he continued hitting the highway on a yearly basis, crisscrossing the country —Alaska to Florida to the Virgin Islands — on his own solo tours.

Produced by Keith Gattis, Lowdown & Lonesome finds Marvel heading up an all-star band of sidemen and session players, including guitarist Audley Freed, drummer Fred Eltringham and harmonica icon Mickey Raphael. While the album is filled with musical heavyweights, the true stars are the songs themselves.  "I'm done chasing down what everybody else is doing," he says. "I did that for years, and this, this is something different.”

New Music Video From Jake Owen- "American Country Love Song"

New Music Video From Jake Owen- "Real Life"

New Music Video From Jake Owen- "What We Ain't Got"

Merle Haggard Tribute Album Planned for April 1 Release

Broken Bow Records announced the April 1st release of a star-studded tribute compilation honoring one of the greatest Country music icons of our time – Merle Haggard. The musical celebration, Working Man's Poet: A Tribute to Merle Haggard, features brand new covers of some of the living legend’s biggest hits, recorded by some of the hottest stars in Country music today. The album includes performances by: Jason Aldean, Dierks Bentley, Garth Brooks, Luke Bryan, Kristy Lee Cook, Ben Haggard, Randy Houser, Toby Keith, Dustin Lynch, Joe Nichols, Jake Owen, Parmalee, Thompson Square and James Wesley.

Working Man's Poet: A Tribute to Merle Haggard
Official Track Listing:

1. Misery And Gin (performed by Randy Houser)
 2. Footlights (performed by Joe Nichols)
 3. Going Where The Lonely Go (performed by Jason Aldean)
 4. Today I Started Loving You Again (performed by Kristy Lee Cook)
 5. Carolyn (performed by Toby Keith)
 6. Pancho And Lefty (performed by Luke Bryan & Dierks Bentley)
 7. Tonight The Bottle Let Me Down (* performed by Garth Brooks)
 8. You Take Me For Granted (performed by Thompson Square)
 9. Mama Tried (performed by Ben Haggard)
 10. That’s The Way Love Goes (performed by Dustin Lynch)
 11. Make Up and Faded Blue Jeans (performed by Jake Owen)
 12. I’m A Lonesome Fugitive (performed by James Wesley)
 13. Workin’ Man Blues (performed by Parmalee)
 14. Are The Good Times Really Over (performed by Jason Aldean)
 15. Let’s Chase Each Other Around The Room (performed by Thompson Square)
 16. I Think I’ll Just Stay Here And Drink (performed by Dustin Lynch)
 17. The Fightin’ Side Of Me (performed by James Wesley)
 18. My Favorite Memory (performed by Joe Nichols)
 19. Ramblin’ Fever (performed by Randy Houser)
 20. Sing Me Back Home (performed by Ben Haggard)

*Appears only on Walmart exclusive

New Music Video From Jake Owen- "Beachin'"

Check out the new official music video for the track "Beachin'" by Jake Owen. It is off of his Days of Gold album that will be released in December.

New Music Video From Jake Owen- "Days of Gold"

Hear It Here- New Single by Jake Owen- "Days of Gold"

Lots of New Country Albums to Look Forward to This Fall and Beyond

Over the last couple of weeks, many prominent artists have announced new projects that will be coming down the road. Here are just a few. Any favorites that you’re looking forward to the most?

Jake Owen – Endless Summer EP- (9/25)- “It’s been almost a year since our album, Barefoot Blue Jean Night, came out,” says Jake. “And, I started thinking that I really wanted to put out a few new tunes that had a summer vibe. So, we decided to cut four songs and put out an EP entitled Endless Summer. No one ever really wants the summer to end, right? Hopefully, these songs will be ones that keep the party going into the fall and people will crank them up loud when they are out on the water enjoying their own Endless Summer.”

Johnny Cash – Johnny Cash: the Complete Columbia Album Collection- (10/30)- 63 CD’s. That’s what this massive box set includes. Thirty-five of those 60 are getting their first CD release ever, while two of the discs—Johnny Cash with His Hot & Blue Guitar and The Singles—are exclusive to the collection. Several rare discs are included, such as Johnny Cash pa Osteraker, recorded at Osteraker Prison in Sweden in 1972, Strawberry Cake, recorded at the London Palladium in 1975, and Koncert V Praze, recorded at the Sport Hall in Prague in 1978.The focal point of the set is Cash's first 19 albums (1958 - 1967), released for the first time in mono sound on CD. Each album is packaged as a mini-LP CD with its original artwork.

Josh Turner – Cracker Barrel Presents Josh Turner: Live Across America- (Available now)- In addition to being able to enjoy real home-style food and enjoy some shopping, Cracker Barrel Old Country Store guests can also take home a copy of Josh Turner’s latest album release. The 12-track album features live performances of Turner’s biggest hits, as well as his never-before-released version of Waylon Jennings’ “America.” The album is available in all Cracker Barrel locations as well as online at crackerbarrel.com.

Terri Clark- Untitled Classic Covers Album- (November) While she’s done many covers in her live shows over the years, this will be the first time that Clark has tackled an entire album of covers. Check out this track listing: It Wasn't God Who Made Honky Tonk Angels- Kitty Wells, Leavin On Your Mind- Patsy Cline, Love Is A Rose- Linda Ronstadt, Gentle On My Mind- Glen Campbell, Swingin Doors- Merle Haggard, Two More Bottles Of Wine- Emmylou Harris, Delta Dawn- Tanya Tucker, Golden Ring- George And Tammy, Don't Come Home A Drinkin- Loretta Lynn, How Blue- Reba, Movin On - Hank Snow.

Jason Aldean – Night Train- (10/16)- "I feel really great about the songs we recorded for this album," says Aldean. "There are some surprises on there that might raise a few eyebrows, and there's also some more traditional stuff too. I don't like being put in a box, and I think with every record, we've had a lot of variety…'Night Train' is no different. I got to do a cool up-tempo song with Luke (Bryan) and Eric (Church), who've both been out with me over the last two years. I love collaborations like that, and I think the fans dig it when artists get together…it keeps it interesting."

Toby Keith – Hope On The Rocks- (11/13)- The first single from the Clinton native’s follow-up album is already making itself heard on the country charts in “I Like Girls That Drink Beer.” Co-written by Keith and his frequent collaborator Bobby Pinson, the single is one of the upcoming album’s 10 cuts, along with the title track. The deluxe edition of “Hope on the Rocks,” his 16th studio album, will have 14 cuts, according to a news release.

Lorrie Morgan and Pam Tillis – Grits and Glamour- (Undetermined)- Says, Morgan, “I am currently working on a new album with Pam Tills, set to be released (soon).  Together, we are co-writing songs for the project and selecting material from some of Nashville's hit songwriters.  The album is in support of our current tour, Grits & Glamour.”

CW McCall – Wolf Creek Pass (reissue)- (Available now)- Rightly famed for his 1976 global mega-hit Convoy, C.W. McCall is an enigma in wraparound shades. At the crossroads of trucker anthems, high-octane hillbilly-homage and (perhaps incongruously) haunting environmental odes towers the strange figure of McCall. Reissued for the very first time is his 1975 debut LP Wolf Creek Pass is a highway fueled songs. Also included is the bulk of his second LP Black Bear Road- in includes 26 remastered tracks in all.

Lynyrd Skynyrd – Last of a Dying Breed- (Available now)- Last Of A Dying Breed reunites the band with producer Bob Marlette who produced the last Skynyrd album, God & Guns. “It was great to get back in the studio with Bob for this new album,” said Gary Rossington “We kind of went back old school this time. All of us playing together in the studio as a band, tracking songs and creating licks. We had a lot of fun and the music really flowed for us, so that’s when you know you are on to something good. We can’t wait to let the fans hear these songs and play ‘em live.”

Mark Chesnutt – Your Room- (Available now)- A combo CD and DVD, this project was filmed at an intimate show in Los Angeles, during which Mark and his band performed 15 of his most beloved hits including "Too Cold at Home," "Going Through the Big D" and "It's a Little Too Late." AIX Records filmed the performance using 3D cameras and HD-audio recording techniques so that fans will get the feel of the country star performing right there in their living rooms.

Matraca Berg – Love’s Truck Stop (10/22)-  From the press release: Getting the introspective songstress to come forward is not always easy. When one bares their emotions, offers pain and falter without flinching, there is a natural gap that most be braved – and Berg would rather write the truth than throw herself out for the mass to consume. But when you love the people you write about, know the songs from the inside out the way the CMA Song of the Year winner does, there comes a point where being a good steward takes precedence.

The Steeldrivers – Hammer Down- (2/5)- This will be the band's first album to include new members Gary Nichols on lead vocals and guitar and Brent Truitt on mandolin. "I think it is important for us as a band to continue the journey creatively with new people, new information and a new batch of songs," says fiddle player Tammy Rogers. "The second album was bluesier with the addition of the National (slide) guitar and turning Chris loose to belt a little bit. But, I think this new album has a little bit more emphasis on the picking, for lack of a better word. It's really interesting. I'm really happy with the direction we're taking. Obviously Brent is a mandolin master so he is bringing a lot to the table. And Gary is playing some leads that are very cool. On the other records, it was more me and Richard doing all of the fills and the instrumental stuff. But now, this feels like there is a lot of depth to all four instruments, so we're excited about that."

Dwight Yoakam's 3 Pears Album

Dwight Yoakam - 3 Pears- (9/18)- The 12-track release, his 26th, is produced by Yoakam, along with two songs co-produced with Beck: "A Heart Like Mine" and "Missing Heart". From the press release: 3 Pears exemplifies Yoakam's ability to incorporate multiple, competing influences into a piece of cohesive art. It balances his country core with a fiercely independent embrace of rock, Americana, pop and soul and builds on his trademark edginess with a notable, growing positivity. 3 Pears contains heartfelt love songs, which showcase Yoakam s authentic country vocals while maintaining his unmistakable classic sound.

Taylor Swift - Red- (10/22)- The young lady intent on complete world domination... okay, not COMPLETE world domination... has a brand new album coming out towards the end of October. The lead single "We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together" is her fastest selling single to date and went Gold in 20 minutes after its release. 20 minutes.

Jamey Johnson - Living For A Song: Tribute To Hank Cochran- (10/16)- When word got out that acclaimed Nashville artist Jamey Johnson was recording a tribute album to beloved songwriter Hank Cochran, musical superstars clamored to participate. "When we were talking about who to call, people just kind of presented themselves," Johnson says. "I think the word got out after awhile, and we were getting phone calls from people wanting to do it. There weren't a whole lot of arms that needed twisting."  The resulting cast includes the ranks of the Country Music Hall of Fame came George Strait, Emmylou Harris, Merle Haggard, Kris Kristofferson, Ray Price and Vince Gill, not to mention Cochran's oldest and truest friend, Willie Nelson. Veteran stars Leon Russell, Elvis Costello, Bobby Bare and Asleep at the Wheel perform on the album alongside contemporary artists such as Alison Krauss, Lee Ann Womack and Ronnie Dunn.

Billy Ray Cyrus - Change My Mind- (10/23) From the press release: From start to finish, this album brings Cyrus full circle with a candid autobiographical snapshot of his life. Cyrus hails from Flatwoods, KY, located right off US23 better known as the Country Music Highway. With Change My Mind Cyrus returns to his country music roots and delivers a 10-song collection that showcases his bluegrass meets rock n' roll sensibility, songwriting prowess and captivating vocals. Produced by multi-award winning producer Brandon Friesen, the album features "Hillbilly Heart," a driving, unapologetic song about Cyrus' country roots, "That's What Daddy's Do," a tender ballad about the admiration of family and fatherhood, "Good As Gone" which sees Cyrus channeling his rock influences Pink Floyd, The Doors, Led Zeppelin and Willie Nelson. There is also a re-make of Cyrus' fan-favorite "I'm So Miserable," given a unique up-tempo twist that will leave fans far from miserable.

Wanda Jackson - Unfinished Business- (10/9)- The new album from legendary singer and “Rock and Roll Hall of Fame” inductee Wanda Jackson, will be a Sugar Hill Records release. This is Jackson’s 31st studio album and marks the producing debut of fellow renowned musician and songwriter Justin Townes Earle. Of working with Earle, Jackson comments, “From day one I really liked Justin’s idea to take me back to my roots and make a record of country, blues, and rockabilly songs. The band was extra tight and great to work with during the whole process. The record just sounds terrific."

Billy Dean - Man of Good Fortune- (9/25)- Says, Dean, “We are releasing a new album of ten new songs. This record sounds young, but the lyrics are for grown-ups.” It will mark the first independent release since his 2010 album, The One Behind The Wheel. 

Big & Rich - Hillbilly Jedi- (9/18) Big Kenny Alphin said that the album's title "came out in a writing session we were doing with Richie Sambora and Jon Bon Jovi. They are going to record the song on our new album and a line in the song was "hillbilly jedis with attitude." All of a sudden, Bon Jovi stops and says, "Hillbilly Jedis? That’s it. I’d buy that shirt." We were like, "Hey, that’s about a descriptive as you can get of what we are.""

Kix Brooks- New To This Town- (9/11)- The 12-song collection, with 9 co-written by Kix, was produced by Kix with Jay DeMarcus of Rascal Flatts co-producing the title track. "I made an album that really is close to my heart, and it's a whole lot of fun," shares Kix. "For the most part, the music's just...it's kind of fun and games and hangin' it out there and thinkin' about gettin' back in a lot of those clubs and festivals and gettin' to play again. It's like, you know, people come to enjoy themselves, and I think this album in a lot of ways is about that."

Bucky Covington- Good Guys- (9/11)- The American Idol alum has already released two singles off of the new album, "I Wanna Be That Feeling" and a hot shot duet with Shooter Jennings called "The Drinkin' Side of Country." Through his work with Help The Good Guys, Bucky will also donate proceeds from the first week sales of his new record to the International Association of Fire Fighters Charitable Fund, benefitting our brave neighborhood heroes who keep our communities safe each and every day.

Chely Wright- Woman In The Moon (Reissue- Available Now)- Chely's 1994 debut album Woman in the Moon has been re-released at available for the for time ever on digital. This is the first time the album has been available in almost 10 years. It was previously out of print.