Country Mike Blog

Old song new

Mike Sudhalter  |  November 3, 2007

It's never surprising to hear a big hit recorded over and over again by different artists, but what about those hidden treasures that you never think you'll hear again.

In 1999, I purchased an album by Paul Brandt, That's The Truth - his third album. Brandt has had a lot of success in his native Canada, but never achieved the fame I thought he deserved in the Unite States.

Anyways, he had a wedding song called "It's A Beautiful Thing" on the album, and I don't think it was ever released as a single. Most wedding songs are ballads, and this one is uptempo. Maybe that's why it didn't catch on like other songs in that subgenre have in the past.

Last Monday, I went on itunes and realized that Phil Vassar recorded the same song. I thought it was funny that this random song I first listened to eight years ago was reprised by a different artist as a single. Though the same song, Vassar recorded it as "Love Is A Beautiful Thing". It does seem like the type of song Vassar would record, and the sound clip I heard of it was pretty good. In the Brandt version, he sings about two family members who hadn't spoken to each other since '88, finally say hello at the wedding. Vassar's version says since '98.

Speaking of international artists, I'd like to see Aussie Catherine Britt's career take off in the United States. I ordered two of her albums from Australia - they're not available stateside, and both are excellent. "40 Miles From Alice" is a great song, and she duets with producer/Australian country music legend Bill Chambers on the Merle Haggard song "It's Not Love (But It's Not Bad)." I was kind of disappointed that "Nashville Blues" wasn't the same song cut by Texas artist Cory Morrow.

I also got a chance to listen to the new album by Josh Turner, Everything Is Fine. The title track is especially impressive, but I thought the whole disc was great. I think Turner improved his ability on the ballads from the previous two albums. Hopefully, this newly-minted Grand Ole Opry member will carry the torch for traditional country music for years to come.