“Answer” songs rarely launch careers. These records — far more common in the ’60s than today — “answered” hit records of the day, responding to a current hit in theme and sound in hopes of riding the coattails of an established record. Most of these novelty songs vanished quickly, but there were rare exceptions. Kitty Wells’ “It Wasn’t God Who…
Tag: Country music
Chuck Mead goes “Back to the Quonset Hut”
One of the coolest sites in Nashville is rarely seen by the public. The legendary Quonset Hut was once the most prominent studio on Music Row, the home of such recordings as “King of the Road,” “Crazy” and “I Fall to Pieces.” In the ‘80s, it was converted into office space, a disturbing fate for what was once a magical…
Dobie Gray: An appreciation
Obituaries reporting the death of Dobie Gray this week focused on his big hit “Drift Away” and his ’60s breakthrough “The In Crowd.” The casual observer might be left with the impression that Gray was a one-hit wonder in two successive decades. The truth is that Dobie Gray was something of a pioneer, an African-American coming to Nashville and working…
2012 Grammy nominations: Americana, folk and blues
The 2012 Grammy nominations are out, with the winners to be named on Feb. 12. The Americana music-related categories and nominees: For Best Americana Album: Emotional Jukebox -Linda Chorney Pull Up Some Dust And Sit Down – Ry Cooder Hard Bargain -Emmylou Harris Ramble At The Ryman -Levon Helm Blessed -Lucinda Williams For Best Bluegrass Album Paper Airplane- Alison Krauss…
Concert review: Glen Campbell at the Ryman in Nashville
It was a sad and exhilarating evening at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville tonight. It’s wasn’t sad because Glen Campbell is suffering from Alzheimer’s or that his performance was part of his “Goodbye Tour.” He’s 75 and ailments strike us all. It was sad because this is the last tour of one of America’s great pop singers, interpreters and guitarists,…