New Music Video From Taylor Swift - "I Knew It, I Knew You"

New Music Video From Taylor Swift - "I Can See You (Taylor's Version)"

New Music Video From Taylor Swift - "Anti-Hero"

Write You A Song Podcast - An Interview With Songwriter Tommy Lee James

We share another new podcast from host Tom Mailey from Bonneville radio station New Country 105.1 KNCI in Sacramento. Tom is a country radio veteran with over 30 years of experience in Seattle and Sacramento and a key partner in our Golf & Guitars Children's Charity Music Festival, a little event in our twelfth year that has raised well north of a million bucks for kids and individuals with disabilities. It highlights the songwriters in our industry and is entitled Write You a Song. 

It's his hope that this podcast will shine a little overdue spotlight on the talented men and women who, mostly behind the scenes, write the songs that become part of our lives. You know their words and music, but maybe not their names: Write You a Song will feature some of country music’s biggest songwriters--like Jeffrey Steele, Brett Warren, Ashley McBryde, Tim Nichols and more.

Over 30 years in ANY business is impressive but in the world of songwriting, it's especially notable....even more so when that writer is still very much at the top of their game.

Tommy Lee James was the "bigshot songwriter" our last guest, Ross Copperman, talked about. Ross grew up in the same town as Tommy Lee, and drew inspiration from his success as Ross embarked on his own music career.

 

But where Ross's country songwriting career has been largely over the last 8 years or so, Tommy Lee's got started back in the late 1980s. And since then, he's written hits for the likes of Brooks and Dunn, Reba,  Tim McGraw, and (*checks notes*) One Direction? Yep. He's not only consistent, he's versatile- not at all just staying in a country music lane. And he's got one of 5 new cuts on the latest Taylor Swift album- a song that was lost for 16 years.

In this episode, Tommy Lee James gives a master class in not just achieving, but sustaining success... as well as the importance of proper song labeling when writing with future superstars.

New Music Video From Taylor Swift - "Willow"

Taylor Swift has revealed a surprise sister album to folklore titled evermore that was released at midnight early this morning (Dec. 10). She surprised fans with the news on her socials, and will also release this music video for the new song “Willow,” along with the new album.

evermore was co-written and produced with Jack Antonoff and The National’s Aaron Dessner, and features Swift teaming with Haim on a track called “No Body No Crime,” a collaboration with Bon Iver (who also appeared on the folklore album), as well as a song she’s backed by The National on, “Coney Island.” 

Taylor Swift To Release Surprise folklore Album Tonight At Midnight

Artist: Taylor Swift

Album: folklore

Label: Republic Records

Release date: July 25, 2020

Taylor Swift is set to release a ''surprise'' new album.

The award-winning star has announced via social media that her eighth studio album, titled folklore, will be released at midnight tonight.

Taylor, 30, wrote on Twitter: ''Tonight at midnight I'll be releasing my 8th studio album, folklore; an entire brand new album of songs I've poured all of my whims, dreams, fears, and musings into."

Taylor - who released her previous album, 'Lover', in August 2019 - subsequently teased further details of her new record, ''folklore will have 16 songs on the standard edition, but the physical deluxe editions will include a bonus track ''the lakes.'' Because this is my 8th studio album, I made 8 deluxe CDs & 8 deluxe vinyls available for 1 week.''

The 'Gorgeous' hitmaker also revealed she'll be releasing a video for the track 'Cardigan', and reassured her fans that everyone followed coronavirus safety guidelines during the shoot. In fact, Taylor even did her own hair and make-up for the soon-to-be-released video.

The chart-topping star wrote: ''The music video for ''cardigan'' will premiere tonight, which I wrote/directed. A million thank you's to my brilliant, bad ass video team - Cinematographer Rodrigo Prieto, producer Jil Hardin, executive producer Rebecca Skinner, AD Joe 'Oz' Osbourne

''Editor Chancler Haynes, special effects wizards David Lebensfeld & Grant Miller and set designer Ethan Tobman. The entire shoot was overseen by a medical inspector, everyone wore masks, stayed away from each other, and I even did my own hair, makeup, and styling.''

Taylor explained via Instagram that she hadn't actually planned to release her new album this year, but recent events have reminded her that ''nothing is guaranteed'' in life.

She wrote on the photo-sharing platform: ''Before this year I probably would've overthought when to release this music at the 'perfect' time, but the times we're living in keep reminding me that nothing is guaranteed. My gut is telling me that if you make something you love, you should just put it out into the world. That's the side of uncertainty I can get on board with. Love you guys so much.''

Hear it Here: Taylor Swift and The Dixie Chicks' New Collaboration, "Soon You'll Get Better"

Write You a Song Podcast Episode VII - An Interview With Songwriter Liz Rose

This morning we share another new podcast from host Tom Mailey from Bonneville radio station New Country 105.1 KNCI in Sacramento. Tom is a country radio veteran with over 30 years of experience in Seattle and Sacramento and a key partner in our Golf & Guitars Children's Charity Music Festival, a little event in our twelfth year that has raised well north of a million bucks for kids and individuals with disabilities. It highlights the songwriters in our industry and is entitled Write You a Song.

It's his hope that this podcast will shine a little overdue spotlight on the talented men and women who, mostly behind the scenes, write the songs that become part of our lives. You know their words and music, but maybe not their names: Write You a Song will feature some of country music’s biggest songwriters--like Jeffrey Steele, Brett Warren, Ashley McBryde, Tim Nichols and more.

From helping a young Taylor Swift find her voice as a songwriter, to soaring success writing songs for Little Big Town, Gary Allan, and others, Liz Rose has one of the most unique songwriter stories you'll ever hear, not the least of which is--she doesn't play music.

Hear one of the more unlikely Nashville success stories from one of country music's most sought-after collaborators, this month, on this unique Write You a Song podcast.

New Live Album Lands From Jack Ingram, With An Assist On One Song By Taylor Swift

Artist: Jack Ingram
Album: From the Vault: Live 2007 - 2009
Label: Big Machine Records
Release date: August 31, 2018

Big Machine Records released a surprise release earlier this week, unveiling a collection of ten previously unheard live tracks by Texan Jack Ingram. Recorded during his stint on the label, one of the tracks features a young Taylor Swift on background vocals before her meteoric rise to superstardom.

Says Ingram on the project, "In my experience, things that are “in the vault” are usually PUT there to REMAIN there... and there is usually a reason to do so... secrets, dangerous truths, provocative lies, stolen goods, somehow sub-par per-for-man-says... From my perspective, with a little time & distance from 2007-2009, I don’t have any idea why this music was IN the vault but sitting here giving these songs a listen, I’m just pleasantly pleased that they found their way OUT of the vault!"

"Extremely proud of the work we did & music we made during this era of a career! Thanks to Big Machine Records for shining a light on some of the good times from some real good times! & check out our young Princess, Taylor Swift nailing Sheryl Crow‘s part (she sang on the studio recording) some sweet harmony vocals on one of my favorite songs from those years!"

In an Instagram post, Ingram also teases that his next project will be called Riding High... Again and will be forthcoming soon.

Track listing:
1. Measure of a Man (live)
2. Wherever You Are (live)
3. Make a Wish (Coming Home Again) (live)
4. Ava Adele (live)
5. Hold On (featuring Taylor Swift) (live)
6. That's a Man (live)
7. Barefoot and Crazy (live)
8. Barbie Doll (live)
9. Seeing Stars (live)
10. Love You (live)
               

New Music Video From Sugarland - "Babe" (featuring Taylor Swift)

Cash, Kristofferson, Presley, Church, Swift, Isbell and Daniels Among Country Artists Releasing Special Record Store Day Projects On April 21

Record Store Day was conceived in 2007 at a gathering of independent record store owners and employees as a way to celebrate and spread the word about the unique culture surrounding nearly 1400 independently owned record stores in the US and thousands of similar stores internationally. Today there are Record Store Day participating stores on every continent except Antarctica. 

This is a day for the people who make up the world of the record store—the staff, the customers, and the artists—to come together and celebrate the unique culture of a record store and the special role these independently owned stores play in their communities. Special vinyl and CD releases and various promotional products are made exclusively for the day. Festivities include performances, cook-outs, body painting, meet & greets with artists, parades, DJs spinning records, and on and on. In 2008 a small list of titles was released on Record Store Day and that list has grown to include artists and labels both large and small, in every genre and price point. The list continues to include a wide range of artists, covering the diverse taste of record stores and their customers.

While there’s only one Record Store Day a year, the organization works with both independent and and major labels throughout the year to create contests, special releases and promotions in order to spotlight the benefits of supporting these independent, locally owned stores with music purchases throughout the year. This year, the event will be held on April 21, 2018 and there are a number of country music releases including the following:

Live At The Atlanta Pop Festival, July 3 & 5, 1970 - The Allman Brothers Band Legacy -  4 x LP 'RSD First' - 3000 qty

Things Change -  Bobby Bare - BFD LP RSD Exclusive - 1500

At Folsom Prison: 50th Anniversary Elegacy Edition - Johnny Cash - Legacy - 5 x LP - RSD Exclusive - 2500

I Love You Because / You're The Nearest Thing To Heaven -  Johnny Cash - Charly - 7" Vinyl '- RSD First' 

61 Days In Church - Covers - Eric Church - EMI Nashville - LP RSD Exclusive -  2500

Memories, Memoirs & Miles: Songs Of A Lifetime - Charlie Daniels - CDC Records -  2 x LP RSD Exclusive - 1500

Live at Twist & Shout - Jason Isbell & The 400 Unit - New West Records - Vinyl 'RSD First' - 3000

Heart Break - Lady Antebellum - Capitol Nashville - 7" Vinyl RSD Limited Run / Regional Focus  - 500

The King In the Ring - Elvis Presley -  Legacy -  2 x LP RSD Exclusive - 3000

The Bottom Line Archive Series: In Their Own Words: With Vin Scelsa - Lou Reed and Kris
Kristofferson - The Bottom Line Records  - 12" Picture Disc RSD Limited Run / Regional Focus  - 1000

Starfire  - Caitlyn Smith - Monument - LP 'RSD First' - 1000

Way Out West - Desert Suite (Trip One) - Marty Stuart & His Fabulous Superlatives-  Superlatone Recordings - 12" Vinyl RSD Exclusive - 1200

Fearless  Platinum Edition - Taylor Swift - Big Machine - 2 x LP 'RSD First' - 2500

1989 - Taylor Swift - Big Machine - LP 'RSD First' - 2500

Taylor Swift - Taylor Swift - Big Machine - LP 'RSD First' - 2500
 

That Nashville Sound Sunday Newsbytes - New Music Videos & Upcoming Releases

We're playing catch-up this weekend with lots and lots of new music videos and a handful of new album introductions. TNS would love to hear from you- what's your favorite off of the list below?

- Bill Withers, Tim O'Brien, Kathy Mattea, Charlie McCoy, Connie Smith and many others from the bluegrass genre have contributed to a new project celebrating one of the Grand Ole Opry's all time favorites: Rhinestone Hillbilly: A Tribute to Little Jimmy Dickens.

- Rockabilly singer Sonny Burgess, who recorded for Sun Records, passed away at the age of 88.

- Billy Ray Cyrus‘ upcoming album Set The Record Straight, which releases November 10, will be packed with collaborations with Joe Perry, George Jones, Loretta Lynn, Bryan Adams, Glenn Hughes, Jencarlos Canela, and Ronnie Milsap, as well as with Cyrus’ daughter Miley Cyrus.

- That Nashville Sound favorite Aubrie Sellers released a new music video for "Paper Doll."

- Bluegrass Hall of Fame member Pete Kuykendall has died in Virginia at age 79.

- Kip Moore has released a new music video for his song "Bittersweet Company."

- Bluegrass artist Rebekah Long has enlisted the production and writing help of Donna Ulisse on her new album Run Away that will be coming out on September 8.

- The Texas Gentelmen released a new music video for their song "Bondurant Women."

- Radney Foster's upcoming September 15 release, For You To See The Stars, is a project comprised of two parts - a book of short fiction and an album of the songs that inspired them.

- Doug Supernaw has re-recorded his biggest charted songs and will release a new Greatest Hits package on September 22.

- A new project will be forthcoming from the famed Jennings family with Shooter Jennings' Live at Billy Bob's TX- to be released on November 10.

- November 10 will also be the release date for Taylor Swift's next pop album, Reputation. Her first single off of the project is "Look What You Made Me Do."

- Carly Pearce will be releasing an album on Big Machine Records on October 13 under the same name of her big surprise chart hit, Every Little Thing.  

Taylor Swift Collaborator Liz Rose To Release Her Debut Solo Album This Week

Artist: Liz Rose
Album: Swimming Alone
Label: Liz Rose Records
Release date: May 12, 2017

Liz Rose, Grammy-award winner, co-writer of many Taylor Swift hits (twenty of Swift's officially-released songs and singles, including "White Horse," "Teardrops on My Guitar," and "You Belong with Me") and mother of Caitlin Rose has announced details of her highly-awaited debut solo record, Swimming Alone.  Taking in numerous decades and recounting memories of swimming with her friends in the heat of Irving, Texas, or going to work in her Father’s shop on a Saturday morning with her siblings, Rose has compiled a collection of stories with the help of Caitlyn Smith and longtime co-writers Lori McKenna and Hillary Lindsey.

In a conversation with The Tennessean: "The feel on the record is kind of vintage. There are songs about my life, there’s a song about the five and dime, there are songs about me growing up. You can tell on the record I’m kind of free-spirited, I don’t have a plan, I just go through life,” Rose said. “I’m proud of the songs, I’m proud of the message. I’m not a great singer, I’m not really a great performer, but I love doing the songs and telling stories so it’s really just about people getting to know me and realizing what songwriting is really about,” Rose said.

The title track comes from a childhood story of when Rose’s mom couldn’t find a two-year-old Rose — and later discovered her swimming in the pool alone.

“I just realized, that’s kind of the story of my life. Even though I’m married and have kids and have tons of friends, I really do feel like whatever I jump into I really jump in alone and hope somebody is going to jump in with me,” Rose said.

Track listing:
1. Grocery Money
2. Five & Dime
3. Tulsa
4. Letters from Prison
5. Swimming Alone
6. Ex-Husbands
7. Sacred Ground
8. Yellow Room
9. Woodstock
10. My Apology

Interview Flashback - Talking Bob Dylan Influence With Love and Theft

I have been blessed to write contributions/reviews/interviews/opinion pieces for several country music and roots-oriented websites and publications over the years including Saving Country Music, Nashville Scene, Country California, Country Weekly, American Noise, The 9513 and Engine 145. As a regular contributor to the last two in that list, I did close to a 100 interviews with different artists- and since both of those great sites have come down, I will reprint some of those interviews here to give them a home in perpetuity. This interview was originally published in January 2010 on The 9513.

1984. Ronald Reagan is re-elected President. The Summer Olympics were held in Los Angeles. Transformers are unleashed on the world. And from three different points across the United States, three baby boys are born that will eventually form the country group, Love and Theft. 

Stephen Barker Liles grew up in Palm Harbor, Florida on early gospel and contemporary Christian music. Eric Gunderson was raised in Charlotte, North Carolina developing a deep love for his family’s favorite artists such as Johnny Cash, Roy Orbison and the Eagles. Brian Bandas spent his youth in Austin, Texas. His was a very music-oriented family with his grandfather and uncle both were well-respected jazz players. 

All points converged on Nashville just a few short years ago when all three came to Music City looking to make their mark in country music. They first began working with one-another as songwriting partners, but as they began to work out demos, they realized that they had something unique in their ability to fluidly trade lead vocals and in their love of harmonies. From there, Love and Theft was born. 

They signed with Disney’s Carolwood Records- now Lyric Street after a consolidation- and opened up for Taylor Swift’s 2008 World Tour. (Swift’s song “Hey Stephen” is widely accepted to be written about Barker Liles.). In March of this year, they released their first single, "Runaway" which ran away to number ten on the Billboard Hot Country Songs charts. They followed up that with the debut of their first album, World Wide Open.  

The 9513 had a chance to catch the guys in person before going on to do a fundraising performance for the Sacramento Sheriff’s Toy Project to chat about their first full year on the national music scene. 

Ken Morton, Jr.- I recognize the name of the band from an old Bob Dylan album, what made you guys decide on that as a band name?

Brian Bandas- We are influenced heavily by all kinds of classic music. It could everything and anything by Dylan, Elvis, the Rolling Stones, Johnny Cash- anything in that classic musical style. When we started looking for a name, we started going through old discographies of artists we had idolized for years. We came across that name and loved the phrase. And as songwriters, who better to pay tribute to than Bob Dylan? We think he’s one of the best songwriters of all time. And there you go.

KMJ- How did you guys all meet up in Nashville?

Eric Gunderson- We all got there around the same time but we didn’t know each other then. We all dropped out of college and moved to Nashville with the hopes of getting a publishing deal or a record deal somehow. We all met through the songwriting community in Nashville. We met through some mutual friends of ours and different roommates we were living with. We actually wrote a track together- it’s the last track on our album called “Drowning” together. We recorded in the attic of my house and when we were putting the harmony part on there, we thought, “Wow, this is pretty cool.” And now we’re Love and Theft. 

KMJ- You guys mentioned some classic country artists that you were influenced by. Are there some more modern country artists who you’d say you influenced by as well?

Stephen Barker Liles- Tim McGraw is one. And the fact that we’re going to be on his tour next year is amazing.

BB- Yeah, that is pretty amazing.  George Strait. I think I have every single one of his albums. And he has a lot of albums. (Laughing)

KMJ- For someone who hasn’t had the opportunity to hear your new album, World Wide Open, describe it from the artist’s perspective.

BB- We wrote everything on there and our first goal was to not have any filler. We didn’t want to have three or four good singles on there and fill up the rest with eight more tracks. We wanted to put the same amount of energy and passion into every song. We wanted every song to stand on its own. We feel like we accomplished that. It’s definitely a work of passion, it’s all very personal to us. Everything comes from something in our lives, something that’s happened to us. Any of us could sit down and write a song about anything.

SBL- Like Bill Nye the Science Guy.

BB- It’s about one of us coming into the room and saying, “This just happened in my life,” and us writing a song about it. It’s writing about it from that point of personal place. That’s something we’re proud of, that sort of raw kind of authenticity. It’s a little scary kind of baring your soul like that. You’re kind of open to the world like that. 

KMJ- Is that where the title of the album, World Wide Open, comes from?

BB- Absolutely. Eric wrote that song about a specific situation he found himself in and after he wrote it, we all felt it applied to our own lives and to the band as a whole. This ride could go anywhere, we just don’t know where. 

KMJ- It’s not often that bands will share lead vocals like you guys do. Was that a conscious decision to do it differently or did it just evolve that way?

EG- A little bit of both. We all came into it as solo singers. So I don’t think any of us were anxious or willing to totally give up the lead vocals. We all love to sing and we all love that time when we get to sing solo. 

SBL- If you look at the Eagles, they tried it out that way. And it worked out pretty well.

BB- Yeah, we’re huge Eagles fans. 

EG- As for as lead vocals and group harmonies, that’s really what we’re striving towards. It really never ever came up though between us who would sing what. I never had to defend my position and say, “No no no, I want to sing too.” No one even ever asked that question. We all sing. We just all kept singing. 

KMJ- Were you guys ever encouraged to do it differently and find that one lead singer?

SBL- (Stephen pretends he’s a music executive) “How are you guys going to do that without one lead singer? That’s impossible to establish.” We just told them, “You know, we’re going to try it.” 

EG- Especially when we were going around looking for a record deal at different studios. I don’t remember who it was, but they were like, “You guys sound great, but I can’t see this ever working in this town. It’s hard enough with one lead singer, I don’t know how they’ll ever react positively to three.” Which is valid I guess.

BB- But that was definitely one of the biggest responses and reactions to our thing. “We love it… but the multiple lead singer thing isn’t going to work.” But through all of our songs, we’ve never had a problem of who was going to sing what. It’s never really mattered. I think the three of us have worked enough together so we know who sings what parts best. Now it’s only our first record… (laughter from all three)

KMJ- What’s been the highlight of the year for each of you so far?

SBL- The Jason Aldean Tour was the highlight for me. Oh, and playing the Grand Ole Opry. We’ve got a chance to play the Grand Ole Opry three times this year which is awesome. And this last time, we got to play the Ryman. Incredible. 

EG- For me, that’s probably our favorite thing this year. It was our second time playing at the Ryman. The first time we got to play a J.D. Souther tribute. That was an incredible honor for us. We got to get up there with Lee Ann Womack. But then we got the chance to go up and do the Grand Ole Opry right there at the Ryman. So that was pretty special. 

BB- For me, it was Jimmy Fallon. For years, that was one of my little pipe dreams. “Someday, I’m going to be on the Late Night Show.” That was the coolest thing for me.

KMJ- Great experiences for you guys. Stephen, you wrote a track on Martina McBride’s latest album Shine called “Wrong Baby Wrong Baby Wrong.” That has to be a pretty remarkable accomplishment for you this year in itself.

SBL- Yeah. I mean songwriting is my favorite thing in the whole world. I was very honored that she picked it to record. And I just found out it’s going to be her next single that’ll be coming out right around the end of the year. I’m so very excited about that. 

KMJ- You guys opened up for Taylor Swift in 2008. How important was that to your successful launch?

EG- At that point we didn’t have a single. We didn’t have a record.

SBL- Anything.

EG- We didn’t have anything. Halfway through that tour we recorded a live EP because we wanted people to have something that wanted it something to take home. But it was really important because it gave us the opportunity to go out in front of 6,000 to 10,000 fans almost every single night. And it helped to fine-tune our live show and our acoustic show. There wasn’t any pressure to out there and sound like our record because there wasn’t a record. We could go out there and work on performing in front of a huge audience. So it was really unique in that perspective. And it was very cool for them to take a chance on us. 

KMJ- You guys mentioned the upcoming tour, you’ll be going out with Lady Antebellum and Tim McGraw. How many dates- how long will you guys be out on tour?

EG- I think forty-something dates.

SBL- It goes from April to August. 

KMJ- So you won’t be seeing anyone you know- no family or friends- for five months, will you?

BB- But that’s how it’s been all year long, anyways. I think we’ve only been home 30 days the whole year. But we love it.

SBL- Yeah we do. We had like six days off at home. And I started to feel weird. We hadn’t had that many days off all year. So I actually had to go to Florida to take a vacation and go do something. 

BB- It does feel weird. I know for me, I get antsy if I’m not doing something with the band, if we’re just not doing anything.

KMJ- This last one’s meant pretty open-ended. What is country music to Love and Theft?

EG- For me, country music is really just all about the song. Songwriting is such a big part of country music. From Johnny Cash to Waylon to Hank to all these others great songwriters- all those great writers that came before us make it really inspiring to go back and listen to their songs and then go write a song. It’s cool to me to see that they were writing about some of the same things back then. It’s just the world evolving and moving on a bit. It’s about relationships and the things you love. It’s all about the songwriting. 

BB- That has been the other thing that has been eye-opening through this process. It’s the fans. It’s these people that are passionate about it. They put it on as they’re driving across the country or are listening to it as they’re working in the shops or whatever it may be. This is their soundtrack of their life. And they embrace it passionately. We’re constantly blown away by what it means to people, what a huge part of people’s lives it is. 

New Music Video From Taylor Swift - "New Romantics"

New Music Video From Taylor Swift- "Wildest Dreams"

New Music Video From Taylor Swift- "Bad Blood"

New Music Video From Taylor Swift- "Style"

New Music Video From Taylor Swift- "Blank Space"

New Music Video From Taylor Swift- "Shake It Off"

Music video by Taylor Swift performing Shake It Off. (C) 2014 Big Machine Records, LLC.