February 9, 2010
Josh Turner -
Haywire
(MCA Nashville)
Traditional country singer is back with a new album featuring the single Why Don't We Just Dance.
January 26, 2010
Lady Antebellum -
Need You Knoiw
(Capitol Nashville)
The trio of Lady Antebellum enjoyed great success with their first CD, scoring several hits. The title track and first single from this, their second CD, was a hit single also.
November 23, 2009
Jimmy Wayne -
Sara Smile
(Valory Music)
Soulful country singer Jimmy Wayne took a Hall & Oates hit as the title track of his new disc and first single. Dann Huff, Mark Bright and Nathan Chapman all helped produce the 10-song disc. Wayne had a hand in writing four songs.
November 17, 2009
David Rawlings Machine -
A Friend of a Friend
(Acony)
David Rawlings is best known as the other part of the Gillian Welch band. The guitarist steps out front on his debut album. Helping out are Ketch Secor, Willie Watson, Kevin Hayes, Morgan Jahnig (Old Crow Medicine Show), Benmont Tench (Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers), Nate Walcott (Bright Eyes) and Karl Himmel (Neil Young) and Welch.
Alejandro Escovedo -
A Man Under The Influence: Deluxe Bourbonitis Edition
(Bloodshot)
Austin roots rocker Alejandro Escovedo gets the reissue treatment with the music coming out on vinyl. The LP includes three compilation tracks, three from "Boubonitis" and all of "A Man Under the Influence."
Old 97's -
Wreck Your Life... and Then Some: The Complete Bloodshot Recordings
(Bloodshot)
Bloodshot Records will reissue a key Old 97s disc on LP. Every track the Old 97's recorded for Bloodshot was re-mastered for vinyl and put into this limited edition gatefold double LP, including all singles, compilation tracks and the "Wreck Your Life" CD. "Wreck Your Life" has never been on vinyl and the 7" singles have long been out of print.
November 16, 2009
Jerry Jeff Walker -
Moon Child
(Tried and True Music)
Jerry Jeff Walker releases his first album since a 2005 compilation. The new disc contains 11 songs, 6 penned by Walker. He covered Jimmie Dale Gilmore's Tonight I Think I'm Going To Go Downtown and John Denver's Back Home Again.
November 10, 2009
Steve Wariner -
c.g.p.
(Selectone)
Steve Wariner is an ace guitar picker, but he looks to another player, his late mentor Chet Atkins, on this tribute disc.
Dolly Parton -
Dolly: Dolly Live From London
(Dolly)
The two-CD/DVD set from Dolly Parton was culled from two shows she performed at the 02 arena in London in 2008. Both the CD and DVD contain 15 songs apiece.
Big Kenny -
The Quiet Times of a Rock and Roll Farm Boy
(Bigger Picture)
Big Kenny Alphin, one-half of Big & Rich, becomes the second member of the duo to release a solo disc this year. Big Kenny includes 11 songs on the disc, including the single Long After I'm Gone.
November 3, 2009
Carrie Underwood -
Play On
(Arista)
This is the third CD from former American Idol winner Carrie Underwood. The disc includes 13 songs, many penned by Underwood. The first single is Cowboy Casanova, which hit number one.
Hank Williams -
Revealed The Unreleased Recordings
(Time Life)
At the peak of his career in 1951, Hank Williams recorded 143 songs for the Mother's Best Flour Co. This is the second three-disc set from the Mother's Best recordings. This includes a little more conversation, and each disc also includes a complete show.
Dixie Bee-Liners -
Susanville
(Pinecastle)
The Dixie Bee-Liners present their second full-length work for the label, a concept album about cars and trucks in America's cities and towns. "It's a soundtrack to a movie that plays in your mind," said mandolin player and co-founder Buddy Woodward. "Each song is a vignette about a different person in a different car or truck in a different highway in America, and they're all headed either to or from Susanville." Lead singer Brandi Hart said the CD was "the first of several bluegrass concept records we've been planning. It's all about journeys and destinations. If you can imagine being able to look down into every car on the highway and tell the stories of the people inside, that's what Susanville is like." The disc includes appearances from John Jorgenson, plus '60s country songstress Kay Adams, and Wayne Wilson of Buck Owens' Buckaroos.
October 27, 2009
Del McCoury Band -
Family Circle
(McCoury Music)
Bluegrass star Del McCoury releases his second CD of the year. After a 50-year career retrospective earlier this year, this CD with his band contains 14 tracks.
Rosie Flores and the Pine Valley Cosmonauts -
Girl of the Century
(Bloodshot)
Country singer Rosie Flores combines with the Pine Valley Cosmonauts on her first CD for the label. Jon Langford of the Cosmonauts produced.
Heavy Trash -
Midnight Soul Serenade
(Fat Possum)
The duo of Jon Spencer and Matt Verta-Ray return to action with a new CD and tour. The New York City duo will be out with their third album on a new label for them. Spencer and Verta-Ray intend to tour in November.
Joe Nichols -
Old Things New
(Universal South)
Joe Nichols is one of the most traditional country singers out there today. Here he tackles a number of songs dealing with drinking, interesting considering he went to rehab himself since his last CD, 2007's "Real Life." The disc includes a dozen songs, including a live version of Let's Get Drunk and Fight from an Erie, Pa. show and Tequila Makes Her Clothes Fall Off-(Fat Shan remix).
October 26, 2009
Dolly Parton -
Dolly
(Sony Legacy)
The 4 CD box set contains 99 songs, including Dolly Parton's biggest hits, rarities and duets from Monument, RCA Victor and Columbia plus 8 previously unreleased songs. Singer Laura Cantrell wrote an introduction along with new liner notes from Dolly.
Taylor Swift -
Fearless Platinum Edition
(Big Machine)
Taylor Swift returns with a new version of "Fearless." The new CD, "Fearless Platinum Edition," contains six new songs: Jump Then Fall, Untouchable, Forever & Always (Piano Version), Come In With The Rain, SuperStar and The Other Side Of The Door. Five music videos are part of the package along with three "On the Set" behind the scenes at the music videos a photo gallery from the Fearless Tour 2009 along with a behind the scenes look and the CMT awards performance of Thug Story with T-Pain.
October 20, 2009
Sam Bush -
Circles Around Me
(Sugar Hill)
Mandolinist extraordinaire Sam Bush, who was co-founder and leader of the seminal progressive bluegrass band New Grass Revival through 18 years during the 1970s and '80s, returns with a 14-song disc. The band includes Byron House on bass, Scott Vestal on banjo, Chris Brown on drums and Stephen Mougin on guitar.
Bomshel -
Fight Like A Girl
(Curb)
Female group Bomshel releases their debut. They previously had released singles.
The Starline Rhythm Boys -
Masquerade for Heartache
(Cow Island Music)
Vermont traditional country band The Starline Rhythm Boys release another live album from Charlie-O's. Danny Coane and Big Al Lemery share the vocal duties and Billy Bratcher driving it home on stand-up bass.
Lyle Lovett -
Natural Forces
(Lost Highway)
Lyle Lovett's latest CD contains a dozen songs, including Farmer Brown/Chicken Reel and It's Rock And Roll. Lovett co-produced the disc with Billy Williams. Lovett wrote four of the 12 songs,
Dailey & Vincent -
Singing From the Heart
(Rounder)
Jamie Dailey and Darrin Vincent have enjoyed a great year in the bluegrass world, winning a bunch of IBMA awards including entertainers of the year. This collection of a cappella songs began in 2001, long before Dailey and Vincent began their career as a duo. The collection of spiritual songs honors the Church of Christ's practice of singing without instruments, and the album benefits the Tennessee Bible College in Cookeville, Tenn.
Tim McGraw -
Southern Voice
(Curb)
Tim McGraw returns with his first studio disc in 2 1/2 years. Byron Gallimore once again produced the 12-song disc, which includes the hit single It's a Business Doing Pleasure With You. Other songs include Ghost Town Train, Forever Seventeen and Love You Goodbye.
Grasstowne -
The Other Side Of Towne
(Pinecastle)
This is Grasstowne's follow-up to their debut, "The Road Headin' Home." The group includes Alan Bibey on mandolin/vocals, Steve Gulley on guitar/vocals,
Phil Leadbetter on resophonic guitar/vocals, Jason Davis on banjo and Dale Perry on upright bass. The disc contains 14 songs including the single, Dixie Flyer.
October 18, 2009
John Cowan Band -
Comfort & Joy
(E1)
Bluegrasser John Cowan releases his first holiday album, containing a dozen songs. Ten of the songs are holiday classics.
October 13, 2009
Charlie Daniels Band -
A Bluegrass Christmas
(E1)
Charlie Daniels Band gives their take on Christmas songs.
Sugarland -
Gold and Green
(Mercury)
Sugarland releases their first holiday album including a mixture of some classics and originals.
Jerry Douglas -
Jerry Christmas
(Koch)
Dobro master Jerry Douglas offers his take on holiday classics, including Santa Claus Is Coming To Town and The First Noel. Maura O'Connell provides guest vocals.
James McMurtry -
Live in Europe
(Lightning Road)
Texas country-styled singer songwriter James McMurtry did well with his 2004 release "Live in Aught-Three." Now, he's back with another live disc, a document of McMurtry's first European tour, on which he was joined by keyboardist Ian McLagan and fellow Texas songwriter Jon Dee Graham. The set is available as a CD with a bonus DVD or as a deluxe vinyl LP package with a CD and DVD insert.
October 6, 2009
Lucero -
1372 Overton Park
(Universal)
The sixth album from the Memphis band was produced by Ted Hutt (The Gaslight Anthem). The album rocks more than it goes for the country sound as they have on previous efforts.
Bill Engvall -
Aged and Confused
(Warner)
Comedian Bill Engvall looks, for the most part, about getting older on his latest.
Toby Keith -
American Ride
(ShowDog Nashville)
The title track of Toby Keith's latest has been rising fast up the song chart. It is the only song among the 12 that Keith did not write. The disc contains his usual combo of honky tonk and more rock-flavored leaings.
Steep Canyon Rangers -
Deep in the Shade
(Rebel)
Bluegrass band Steep Canyon Rangers are out with a new CD and are touring with and behind Steve Martin on his first bluegrass tour.
Luke Bryan -
Doin' My Thing
(Capitol Nashville)
This is the second album from Luke Bryan, who had a few hits on his debut with All My Friends Say, We Rode in Trucks and Country Man. Do I is the lead single from this effort.
Tom Gillam -
Had Enough?
(Smith Music)
Philadelphia roots rocker is now in Austin, and this is his debut for the Texas-based label. In addition to his regular tour band, Tractor Pull, Gillam is joined by former Alejandro Escovedo members Al Durham on guitar, Michael "Cornbread" Trailor on bass and drummer Vicente Rodriguez playing drums.
Elliott Brood -
Mountain Meadows
(Six Shooter)
Canadian band Elliott Brood releases a 13-song CD.
Exene Cervenka -
Somewhere Gone
(Bloodshot)
X co-founder Exene Cervenka releases a solo disc. Cervenka also has been busy in recent years with The Knitters.
Rosanne Cash -
The List
(Manhattan)
Rosanne Cash got a list of 100 essential country songs from her father, Johnny, who feared she did not know her roots. She committed a small portion of them to the silver platter here, including songs recorded by her father and the Carter Family. As usual, husband John Leventhal produced.
Terri Clark -
The Long Way Home
(Bare Track)
Terri Clark has left the major label scene on her own accord to release this 11-song set, which she also self-produced. The first single is the lead-off Gypsy Boots.
September 29, 2009
Kris Kristofferson -
Closer To The Bone
(New West)
Kris Kristofferson will be out with an 11-song disc produced by Don Was. He produced Kristofferson's last CD, "This Old Road." The new disc features Kristofferson on vocals, guitar and harmonica, Was on bass, Rami Jaffee on keyboards, Jim Keltner on drums and longtime friend, the late Stephen Bruton on guitar, mandolin and backing vocals. Krstofferson wrote every song except one.
Malcom Holcombe -
For the Mission Baby
(Echo Mountain)
Malcolm Holcolmb occupies a musical space somewhere the country blues of Bob Dylan and country.
Big & Rich -
Greatest Hits
(Warner)
This is the first greatest hits package from Big & Rich. The disc contains 16 songs, including a few previously unreleased tracks.
Avett Brothers -
I and Love and You
(SonyBMG)
This is the major label debut of North Carolina's The Avett Brothers after being on the indie Ramseur Records. Ric Rubin, the head of SonyBMG, produced the disc, which is less raucous than previous Avetts releases.
Corb Lund -
Losin' Lately Gambler
(New West)
Canadian Corb Lund has enjoyed success north of the border and now will try to do the same on this side. Harry Stinson (Steve Earle, Lyle Lovett) produced the new dozen song disc.
Patty Loveless -
Mountain Soul II
(Saguaro)
Patty Loveless enjoyed much critical acclaim with "Mountain Soul," so now she's going to follow it up with a similarly themed Appalachian music disc. Loveless offers country vocals amid bluegrass-tinged instrumentation. "It's Appalachian, bluegrass and country combined," said Loveless. "You should never try to duplicate something like Mountain Soul. What you should do is enhance. So this is like a continuation."
Miranda Lambert -
Revolution
(Columbia Nashville)
The former Nashville Star contestant is coming out with her third album.
Robert Earl Keen -
The Rose Hotel
(Lost Highway)
Texan Robert Earl Keen offers 11 songs on the latest release from the Texas country-based singer songwriter.
September 22, 2009
Mark Stuart and the Bastard Sons -
Bend in the Road
(Texacali)
The band formerly known as the Bastard Sons of Johnny Cash changed their name for this dozen-song CD veering towards traditional songs. Billy Joe Shaver's I'm Just an Old Chunk of Coal is the lone cover.
Monsters of Folk -
Monsters of Folk
(Shangri-La)
Five years ago, M. Ward, Conor Oberst(Bright Eyes), Mike Mogis (Bright Eyes) and Jim James (My Morning Jacket) got together for a tour under the name Monsters of Folk. Now, they're back with their debut CD, which mixes musical styles.
Arty Hill and the Long Gone Daddys -
Montgomery on My Mind
(Cow Island Music)
Baltimore-based Arty Hill and the Long Gone Daddys give Hank Williams the tribute treatment on this eight-song EP. Hill covers five Williams songs and wrote three others - Church on Saturday Bight, Don's Bop, an instrumental tribute to pedal steel player Don Helms, and the title track.
Adam Steffey -
One More for the Road
(Sugar Hill)
Adam Steffey has enjoyed along career as a bluegrass player and he is out with a solo album. He was a member of Alison Krauss' Union Station and currently plays with the Dan Tyminski Band. Steffey
mandolin. His first full time gig was with The Lonesome River Band in1987 and later helped form Dusty Miller. He left Alison Krauss and Union Station 1998 and a few months later began playing with the bluegrass/gospel group The Isaacs, where he would make his musical home for the next three years. In mid-2001, bluegrass group Mountain Heart called upon Steffey to fill the vacant mandolin position. He held down that post for 6 1/12 years. He has received the mandolin player of the year award five times from the International Bluegrass Music Association, and is a Grammy award winner.
Guy Clark -
Some Days the Song Writes You
(Dualtone)
Texas songwriter Guy Clark is back with 11 songs with Clark producing himself. His last disc was "Workbench Songs" in 2006.
The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band -
Speed of Life
(NGDB)
The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band return with their first disc in five years. George Massenburg and Jon Randall Stewart (formerly known as Jon Randall, a singer who has released several discs) co-produced the 13-song disc. The band consists of Jeff Hanna, Jimmie Fadden, Bob Carpenter and Jon McEuen. Among the songs is one about late bluegrass great Jimmy Martin.
September 15, 2009
Tom Russell -
Blood and Candle Smoke
(Shout! Factory)
Singer songwriter Tom Russell did something a little different. He recorded in Tucson with members of the indie-rock band Calexico.
Band of Heathens -
One Foot in the Ether
(BOH)
The Band of Heathens' self-titled studio debut album brought the Austin-based band from relative obscurity to playing 250-plus shows a year and a taping on this year's 35th anniversary season of Austin City Limits. The quintet helped produce the 12-song new disc with Mark Addison.
Ricky Skaggs -
Ricky Skaggs Solo (Songs My Dad Loved)
(Skaggs Family)
Ricky Skaggs returns with his first solo disc, playing all the instruments and doing all the vocals. He said these are songs his father would have sung should he have stepped into the recording studio.
Claire Lynch -
Whatcha Gonna Do
(Rounder)
Bluegrasser Claire Lynch steps out with her new disc.
WPA -
Works Progress Administration
(WPA Records)
WPA is a group comprised of such folks as Glen Phillips of Toad the Wet Sprocket fame, Sara and Sean Watkins of Nickel Creek, Benmont Tench of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, Greg Leisz, Pete Thomas and Davey Faragher of Elvis Costello's The Imposters and Luke Bulla of Lyle Lovett's band. This is their debut.
September 8, 2009
Brooks & Dunn -
#1s ... and then some
(Arista Nashville)
This is the swan song disc for the long-running duo. The set will contain many chart topping songs along with several new songs.
James Hand -
Shadows in the Ground
(Rounder)
Texas honky tonker James Hand release his third disc for Rounder. An enhanced CD includes a 15-minute documentary.
Zac Brown Band -
The Foundation (special release)
(Cracker Barrel)
This special CD contains the band's two number one songs, Chicken Fried and Whatever It Is,along with live versions of The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down, I Lost Itand I Shall Be Released.
September 1, 2009
Cross Canadian Ragweed -
Happiness And All Other Things
(Universal South)
Oklahoma band Cross Canadian Ragweed returns with a new 12-song set. The group consists of frontman/lead guitarist Cody Canada, drummer Randy Ragsdale, rhythm guitarist Grady Cross and bassist Jeremy Plato. A limited edition first run of the album will also include three live bonus tracks and a video download plus a commemorative poster.
John Fogerty -
The Blue Ridge Rangers Rides Again
(Fortunate Son/Verve)
The Blue Ridge Rangers first appeared in 1973. Only it was not really a band. it was the side project of John Fogerty. But now he is back with a band covering 12 American classics. Songs include The Everly Brothers' When Will I Be Loved, a duet with Bruce Springsteen, Rick Nelson's Garden Party and John Denver's Back Home Again. This time, Fogerty also has a band - Buddy Miller (guitar), Greg Leisz (pedal and lap steel, mandolin and Dobro), Jason Mowery (fiddle, mandolin and dobro) and Kenny Aronoff (drums).
Drive-By Truckers -
The Fine Print (A Collection of Oddities and Rarities 2003-2008)
(New West)
The Drive-By Truckers release a 12-song swan song for the label. Among the songs are George Jones Taken (Cell Phgone Blues) andLike a Rolling Stone. Producer David Barbe produced these songs.
Chris Young -
The Man I Want to Be
(RCA)
Chris Young has not had a lot of success since winning Nashville Star a few years ago, but he is back with his second release. The single, Gettin' You Home (The Black Dress Song), is a hit for Young, who helped write 3 of the 10 songs on the disc. He also covers Brooke Benton's Rainy Night in Georgia.
Yonder Mountain String Band -
The Show
(Frog Pad)
Colorado jam band Yonder Mountain String Band returns with a 13-song disc produced by Tom Rothrock, who has worked with the likes of the Foo Fighters and Beck. But don't worry - these guys don't stray too far from their bluegrass-based jam band qualities. The band consists of Adam Aijala on guitars, Ben Kaufmann on bass, Dave Johnston on banjo and Jeff Austin on mandolin. All four sing.
August 31, 2009
Radney Foster -
Revival
(Emergent)
Radney Foster returns with a 13-song CD that is more on the spiritual side.
August 25, 2009
Gene Watson -
A Taste of the Truth
(Shanachie)
Traditional country singer Gene Watson dishes out some more of his hard core country. Trace Adkins helps out on one song.
Willie Nelson -
American Classic
(Blue Note)
The ever prolific Willie Nelson goes jazzy. This is Nelson's first album of jazz standards since his 1978 "Stardust," and his solo debut for Blue Note Records. The album features duets with Norah Jones and Diana Krall, and a backing band including Nelson's longtime sidekick Mickey Raphael on harmonica, and jazz players pianist Joe Sample, bassist Christian McBride and drummer Lewis Nash.
Jack Ingram -
Big Dreams & High Hopes
(Big Machine)
Texan Jack Ingram's career seems be on a roll since signing with Big Machine.
Gold Heart -
My Sisters and Me
(Rural Rhythm)
Gold Heart is a trio releasing its first album for the bluegrass label. They previously released music on their own.
Love And Theft -
World Wide Open
(Carolwood)
This is the debut release for the band which opened for Taylor Swift in 2008. The first single is Runaway.
