Marshall Chapman’s upcoming album features this stirring performance of “He’s Got the Whole World In His Hands,” a #1 hit in America 42 years ago this week by 13-year-old Laurie London.
Category: New releases
Jim Lauderdale celebrates North Carolina
The incredibly prolific Jim Lauderdale has a new album celebrating his home state of North Carolina, with a little help from the North Carolina Arts Council.
Show 43 “Girl to City:” The Remarkable Amy Rigby
By Ken Paulson – We’ve been fans of Amy Rigby since meeting her at a party at Greg Trooper’s home in Nashville in 2002. Both Amy and Greg were working on new albums and played some new songs. Trooper played “Muhammed Ali (The Real Meaning of Christmas)” and Amy followed with “Are We Ever Going to Have Sex Again?” Both…
Just released: New Riders of the Purple Sage Circa ’72
We’re basking in nostalgia this week, thanks to the recent release of the Omnivore CD capturing the New Riders of the Purple Sage at the Academy of Music in New York City on Nov. 23, 1972. Jerry Garcia was gone, but the classic line-up of John Dawson, David Nelson, Dave Torbert, Buddy Cage and Spencer Dryden is on hand on…
Allison Moorer’s courageous and inspiring “Blood”
By Paul T. Mueller – Singer-songwriter Allison Moorer gets a lot done on her newest album, Blood. In its 10 songs, Moorer addresses her troubling past, deals with her present, and finds hope for the future. Recorded as a companion piece to her memoir of the same title, Blood is a courageous and inspiring musical document. By way of background,…
New: Joe Middleton’s “Highway Tremolo”
Joe Middleton just released his first solo album “Highway Tremolo,” which draws from influences like Bruce Springsteen, John Mellencamp and Steve Earle. That’s good company. Here’s a song about lifelong loves from the new album.
Review: Dee White’s “Southern Gentleman”
By Ken Paulson – It wasn’t until about the fourth track on Dee White’s new album Southern Gentleman that I realized that something special was going on. “Crazy Man” is a highly melodic song about redemption and a revived relationship, and is representative of the sound that works so well on this new release. Produced by Dan Auerbach and David…
New: Bonnie Bishop’s “The Walk”
If I ever find myself referring to Bonnie Bishop as Bonnie Bramlett, it’s not age or alliteration. Ms. Bishop’s soulful voice and approach very much brings to mind the vibrant sound and style of Ms. Bramlett. It’s welcome news that Bonnie Bishop has a new album produced by Steve Jordan and featuring co-writes with Gabe Dixon (Their “Love Revolution” is…
Show #39 Raul Malo on “The Mavericks Play the Hits”
In this edition of the Americana One Podcast, Raul Malo tells us why the Mavericks decided to cover songs like Bruce Springsteen’s “Hungry Heart,” Elvis Presley’s “Don’t Be Cruel” and Freddy Fender’s “Before the Next Teardrop Falls” – all with new arrangements and in delightfully tacky packaging.
Review: Chuck Hawthorne’s “Fire Out of Stone”
By Paul T. Mueller – Austin-based singer-songwriter Chuck Hawthorne’s sophomore effort is an eclectic collection of nine originals and a cover, exploring themes as diverse as Native American lore, the struggles of growing up in the shadow of a famous father, the loss of comrades, and the hardships of life on the road. Hawthorne’s writing is personal but accessible, combining…
New: The Mike Duke Project
It’s the rare album cover that makes you laugh out loud, but that was our immediate reaction to Mike Duke’s “new” album …took a while. On the front is a young bearded man singing his heart out. On the back is a photo of the current-day Duke, all 71 years of him. This engaging project from the Little Village Foundation…
Review: Amy Speace’s “Me and the Ghost of Charlemagne”
By Paul T. Mueller – Amy Speace is a keen observer of humanity, and of all the good and bad humans are capable of. She’s also a gifted songwriter and performer, able to translate her observations into beautiful and moving songs. Speace’s latest collection is titled Me and the Ghost of Charlemagne, and it’s full of the excellent writing and singing…
Americana’s “first couples:” Buddy and Julie Miller, Bruce Robison and Kelly Willis
By Paul T. Mueller “First Couple of Americana Music” may be a fictitious title, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t some real contenders out there. Two such duos, Buddy and Julie Miller and Kelly Willis and Bruce Robison, stake convincing claims on recently released albums – Breakdown on 20th Ave. South and Beautiful Lie, respectively. Of the two, the Millers’…
Review: Rich Hopkins and Luminarios’ “Back to the Garden”
By Paul T. Mueller – Guitar fans could be forgiven for neglecting the lyrics on Back to the Garden, the new CD by Rich Hopkins and Luminarios. Such is the quality of the playing, both electric and acoustic. But the words are worth listening to as well. The two singer-songwriters at the heart of this band, Hopkins and his wife, Lisa…
Show #38 Mandy Barnett and her “Strange Conversation”
We recently enjoyed a not-so-strange chat with the engaging Mandy Barnett about her new album Strange Conversation. The setting was WMOT’s 895 Fest on the fields of the Hop Spring Beer Park, a distinctly different venue than her upcoming “Nashville Songbook” concert at Feinstein’s/54 Below on Broadway on August 13. But that’s no surprise. Mandy Barnett’s career has always been…
Review: Matt Harlan’s “Best Beasts”
By Paul T. Mueller Best Beasts marks the return of Houston-based singer-songwriter Matt Harlan after a couple of years’ hiatus from writing. The subject matter of this fine collection seems drawn from recent events, on personal and public levels. Love gone wrong is explored in “K&W,” a dark country ballad narrated by two voices, Harlan’s and that of Kelley Mickwee…
New Steve Poltz video: “Ballin’ On a Wednesday”
Steve Poltz has a new video taken from his current album Shine On and it’s unsurprisingly goofy. Best of all, he recreates the incident that inspired the song, a tale he shared in his Americana One podcast interview.
New Release: Sugar Lime Blue’s “Narcoluptuous”
Out now is the intriguingly titled Narcoluptuous from Sugar Lime Blue. This rootsy band with a strong blues, jazz and folk/country foundation is based just outside of Nashville. You’ll find more about the band here.
New release: Mark Rogers ‘ “Laying It Down”
Mark Rogers’ affection for the Byrds and Jesse Winchester is prominent in “Laying it Down,” the new collection from the DC-based writer returning to music after a long layoff.
New: Tim Easton’s “Exposition”
By Paul T. Mueller — Nashville-based singer-songwriter Tim Easton takes his wandering troubadour persona pretty seriously. For his latest project, Exposition, he hit the road to record in several musically significant locations: the Okfuskee Historical Society in Okemah, Oklahoma,where Woody Guthrie was born; the Gunter Hotel in San Antonio, Texas, where Robert Johnson made his historic recordings back in 1936, and…