Lee Ann Womack news

Lee Ann Womack will make her debut for ATO Records on Oct. 27 with the release of 'The Lonely, The Lonesome & The Gone,' an album that mixes the country, soul, gospel and blues of her native East Texas.

Produced by Womack's husband and fellow Texan Frank Liddell (fresh off a 2017 ACM Album of the Year win for Miranda Lambert's 'The Weight of These Wings'), it features songs mostly co-written by Womack.

Listen to new song "All The Trouble," co-written by Womack and her band mates Adam Wright and Waylon Payne here: http://n.pr/2uKTgdy

'The Lonely, The Lonesome & The Gone' features fourteen new songs, recorded with Womack's core band including bassist Glenn Worf, songwriters and guitarists Wright, Payne and Ethan Ballinger, and drummer Jerry Roe. The album was mostly recorded at the legendary SugarHill Studios in Houston, TX.

Formerly known as Gold Star and open since 1941, SugarHill is one of the oldest continuously run studios in the country and home to seminal early recordings by many artists who had a formative influence on Womack, including George Jones, Willie Nelson and Lightnin' Hopkins. Among the album's three cover songs, Womack recorded a haunting version of George Jones' "Take the Devil Out of Me" standing on the same gold star linoleum floor where he cut the 1959 original.

"I wanted to get out of Nashville, and tap the deep music and vibe of East Texas," says Womack. "I wanted to make sure this record had a lot of soul in it, because real country music has soul. I wanted to remind people of that."

'The Lonely, The Lonesome & The Gone' follows Womack's acclaimed 2014 album 'The Way I'm Livin'.' 

Track Listing:

1. All The Trouble
2. The Lonely, The Lonesome & The Gone
3. He Called Me Baby
4. Hollywood
5. End of the End of the World
6. Bottom of the Barrel
7. Shine On Rainy Day
8. Mama Lost Her Smile
9. Wicked
10. Long Black Veil
11. Someone Else's Heartache
12. Sunday
13. Talking Behind Your Back
14. Take The Devil Out Of Me

Tour Dates:

Aug. 25 - Ford Center - Evansville, IN*
Aug. 26 - State Farm Center - Champaign, IL*
Aug. 27 - Plaza Theatre - Glasgow, KY
Sept. 8 - The Family Arena - St. Charles, MO*
Sept. 9 - U.S. Cellular Center - Cedar Rapids, IA
Sept. 10 - St. Croix Casino - Turtle Lake, WI
Sept. 14 - AmericanaFest - Nashville, TN
Sept. 22 - Charleston Civic Center - Charleston, WV*
Sept. 23 - Erie Insurance Center - Erie, PA*
Sept. 28 - Trans-Pecos Festival - Marfa, TX
Oct. 7 - Museum of Appalachia - Clinton, TN
Oct. 20 - Music In The Mill - Hickory, NC
Oct. 27 - Resch Center - Green Bay, WI
Oct. 28 - Target Center - Minneapolis, MN*
Oct. 29 - Bridge View Center - Ottumwa, IA
Nov. 3 - Lafayette Cajundome - Lafayette, LA*
Nov. 4 - Bell County Expo - Belton, TX*
Jan. 5 - The MusicFest at Steamboat - Steamboat, CO
Jan. 23 - Kent State Universtiy at Tuscarawas - New Philadelphia, PA
Feb. 4 - Cayamo Cruise - New Orleans, LA
Feb. 16 - Arizona Musicfest - Scottsdale, AZ
* denotes show w/Alan Jackson

Upcoming Steve Miller compilations include rarities

Steve Miller has produced and overseen two new, career-spanning Steve Miller Band Ultimate Hits collections, to be released Sept. 15 by Capitol/UMe.

Ultimate Hits is available now for preorder in a 1CD and digital edition featuring 22 essential Steve Miller Band tracks, including three previously unreleased rarities, and in an expanded 2CD and digital deluxe edition with 40 tracks, including the acclaimed band’s top hits, live tracks, and eight previously unreleased recordings from the studio and the stage. On Oct. 27, both editions will be released on 180-gram vinyl in 2LP and 4LP deluxe packages, which are also available now for preorder.

Both Ultimate Hits editions feature Steve Miller Band’s biggest worldwide chart-toppers. The 1CD and digital edition adds two previously unreleased live recordings, “Living In The USA” and “Space Cowboy,” as well as a never-before-released Steve Miller solo recording of “Seasons.”

The 2CD and digital deluxe edition also features those rarities, plus five more previously unreleased studio and live recordings, including a demo for “Take The Money And Run.” Ultimate Hits’ stunning cover art was designed and photographed by StormStudios in collaboration with Miller.

Preorder Steve Miller Band Ultimate Hits:
1CD; Digital; 2LP Vinyl - https://ume.lnk.to/SMBUltimateHits
2CD; Digital; 4LP Vinyl (Deluxe Edition) - https://ume.lnk.to/SMBUltimateHitsDeluxe

It was recently announced that Steve Miller has brought his entire catalogue of recorded music to Capitol, where he originally began his recording career in 1967. Miller has opened his vault/warehouse of music, footage, photos, memorabilia, artwork, handwritten notes, journals, and more to Capitol/UMe to include in his upcoming releases. Steve Miller Band’s newUltimate Hits collections, produced by Miller, launch the initiative.

"Selecting material to include in these two collections and revisiting the creation of these recordings I’m reminded of how I learned to make multi-track recordings from Les Paul and play lead guitar from T Bone Walker. I’ve been blessed to work with so many wonderful musicians and engineers and friends over the years. Mostly I want to thank you our fans who come out to our shows and listen to our records. I hope you enjoy this as much I did putting this together for you." -- Steve Miller

Track listing:

STEVE MILLER BAND: ULTIMATE HITS [1CD; Digital; 2LP]

1. Harmony Of The Spheres 2
2. Steve Miller at age five talking to his Godfather Les Paul
3. Take The Money And Run
4. Rock’n Me
5. The Stake
6. Threshold
7. Jet Airliner
8. The Joker
9. Abracadabra
10. Jungle Love
11. Swingtown
12. Dance, Dance, Dance
13. Serenade From The Stars
14. Space Intro
15. Fly Like An Eagle
16. Wild Mountain Honey
17. Living In The USA (Live – Previously Unreleased)
18. Space Cowboy (Live – Previously Unreleased)
19. Seasons (Previously Unreleased)
20. I Want To Make The World Turn Around
21. Winter Time
22. The Window

STEVE MILLER BAND: ULTIMATE HITS (DELUXE EDITION) [2CD, Digital; 4LP]

CD 1

1. Steve Miller at age five talking to his Godfather Les Paul
2. Gangster Of Love (Live – Previously Unreleased)
3. The Joker
4. Baby’s Callin’ Me Home (Previously Unreleased)
5. My Dark Hour
6. Little Girl
7. Living In The USA (Live – Previously Unreleased)
8. Space Cowboy (Live – Previously Unreleased)
9. Seasons (Previously Unreleased)
10. Journey From Eden
11. Shu Ba Da Du Ma Ma Ma Ma
12. Going To Mexico
13. Kow Kow Calculator (Live – Previously Unreleased)
14. Come On In My Kitchen (Live)
15. Sugar Babe (Live)
16. The Lovin’ Cup (Live)
17. Dance, Dance, Dance
18. Take The Money And Run
19. Rock’n Me
20. Space Intro
21. Fly Like An Eagle

CD 2

1. Wild Mountain Honey
2. The Window
3. Take The Money And Run (Demo) (Previously Unreleased)
4. In The Midnight Hour (Previously Unreleased)
5. Jungle Love
6. Threshold
7. Jet Airliner
8. The Stake
9. Swingtown
10. Serenade From The Stars
11. True Fine Love
12. Heart Like A Wheel
13. Abracadabra
14. I Want To Make The World Turn Around
15. Italian X Rays
16. Don’t Cha Know
17. Cry Cry Cry
18. Stranger Blues
19. Behind The Barn

Whitney Rose's 'Rule 62' arrives in October

There are many useful rules to live by, but for Whitney Rose, there’s one that stands alone as a guiding principle for life as she knows it: Rule 62.

The origin of the rule is best summed up by the poignant, pronoun-adjusted excerpt from Alcoholics Anonymous’ Tradition Four cited above, a treatise on how to find harmony between ambition and self-awareness, and how to learn one’s lessons with humor and humility.

This truism, officially worded as “Don’t Take Yourself Too Damn Seriously,” is the origin of both the title and ethos of Whitney Rose’s forthcoming album, Rule 62.
 
The album is due out on Oct. 6 via Six Shooter/Thirty Tigers.

Rewind to January 2017. Six months ago, Rose was primed to release South Texas Suite, a countrypolitan valentine to Austin, Texas. Days before the EP hit the streets and Rose kicked off a four-month worldwide tour, the burgeoning songwriting force (and “country hair” disciple) packed her boots for Nashville, where she entered BlackBird Studio A to reconvene with the Mavericks’ Raul Malo.

In one short week, Rose, Malo and co-producer Niko Bolas channeled the tumult, turbulence and tension outside of the studio into Rose’s sophomore worldwide release, which includes nine self-penned songs. 

“Can’t Stop Shakin’” was recorded January 20, 2017. With Malo on harmonies and rhythm guitars, Kenny Vaughn on lead guitar, and saxophones and organ in the mix, “Can’t Stop Shakin’” was originally written as an anti-anxiety treatment in Memphis soul dance party form.

Against an ominous political backdrop, the song now reverberates with an undercurrent of uncertainty and anger that reframes the self-calming shimmy as an act of protest. “’Can't Stop Shakin’ started out as something I would sing to calm myself down.” Rose says. “We recorded that song on Inauguration day and you could physically feel the divide between the public and the unrest in the air. I was in the studio that week every day for twelve hours on average, so realized my contribution was going to have to take place within the walls of Blackbird. So the song that started as a personal anthem got a rewrite that day.”
 
Rule 62’s “breakup” theme can be felt in songs like “Arizona” and “Time to Cry.” 

“For reasons unbeknownst to me at the time, I started writing all these “breakup” songs that were mostly angry. I wasn’t sure where all these feelings were coming from until one day it hit me like a ton of bricks that I was penning these songs to society,” she observes. 

This is Rose’s second release of 2017, and sees the songwriter’s increased output matched by increased distinction. With so much touring now under the tires, it’s no surprise that Rose’s best work yet often explores her journeywoman’s experience.

“Meet Me in Wyoming” and “Trucker’s Funeral” are emblematic of Rose’s clever study of the musician-as-trucker analogy. “Trucker’s Funeral” is in fact a true story: “I had a meeting at Bank of America here in Austin last year and when the meeting was over the teller told me about going to his grandfather’s funeral here in Texas,” Rose recounts. “He found out he had a full second family on the West Coast. His grandfather was a trucker and always on the road, so neither family had any idea. As he was telling me this story, I was jotting down lyrics on my banking papers because it was just too intriguing an experience not be made into a song.” 

Rule 62 boasts the first-class musicianship and studio instincts of collaborator and producer Raul Malo. The comfort and familiarity between the two made for a seamless return to the studio, this time with the added ear of Niko Bolas as co-producer.

“Niko brought a lot to the table in the studio (when he wasn't sitting at his table at Waffle House). It allowed Raul to step down from the producer role from time to time and be a part of the band. That man can play and sing. One of my favorite parts of the album is the guitar solo on ‘You Never Cross My Mind’ — that's all Raul,” Rose observes appreciatively.

Other musicians in the studio included Paul Deakin (The Mavericks) on drums, Jay Weaver (Dolly Parton) on bass; Jen Gunderman (Sheryl Crow) on piano; Chris Scruggs (Marty Stuart) on steel; Aaron Till (Asleep at the Wheel) on the fiddle; and Kenny Vaughn (Marty Stuart, Lucinda Williams) on lead guitar. 

Track listing:

1. I Don’t Want Half (I Just Want Out) (3:06)
2. Arizona (3:58)
3. Better to My Baby (3:13)
4. You Never Cross My Mind (4:02)
5. You Don’t Scare Me (4:14)
6. Can’t Stop Shakin’ (4:22)
7. Tied to the Wheel (4:41)
8. Trucker’s Funeral (5:04)
9. Wake Me in Wyoming (3:29)
10. You’re a Mess (3:48)
11. Time to Cry (3:56)

Hear the track "Can't Stop Shakin'": http://rol.st/2v3O3QM 

Jake Bugg's 'Hearts That Strain' due out soon

Jake Bugg releases his new album Hearts That Strain on Sept. 1 via Island Records. It is available for pre-order. The first single is “How Soon The Dawn,” a collaboration with Dan Auerbach. Watch the video HERE.

The album was produced by David Ferguson, who shared this year’s Best Country Album Grammy for Sturgill Simpson’s A Sailor’s Guide To Earth. Also in the studio was guitarist Matt Sweeney, who collaborated on Jake’s 2013 album, Shangri La. Guest vocalist on “Waiting” is Noah Cyrus, daughter of Billy Ray and sister of Miley.

Auerbach (who Jake supported on tour) also played on “I Can Burn Alone” and “In The Event Of My Demise.” Elsewhere, veteran keyboardist Bobby Wood and drummer Gene Chrisman contribute. They've played on thousands of sessions (Elvis Presley, Dusty Springfield).

“They’re old guys but they’re amazing,” Jake says. “It was ten to five and then that’s it. They'd pack up and we’d done two or three tunes. It was a mad vibe being from England and meeting these absolute legends and then cutting some tracks with them.”

Jake (now 23) was 18 years old when he became the youngest male artist in UK chart history to debut at #1 with his first album, Jake Bugg, released on Island U.S. in April 2013.
“Lightning Bolt,” Jake’s first U.S. single received major exposure via Gator­ade TV spots.

Shangri La followed in November 2013, produced by Rick Rubin at Shangri La Studios in Malibu, California. Jake toured non-stop in support of the album, including a 13-city headlining North American tour, every date sold-out in advance. June 2016 brought Jake’s third album, On My One, self-produced with Jacknife Lee joining for a handful of tracks. In addition, Jake’s “Lighting Bolt” was used this year on TV spots for the Mini Cooper Countryman.

Track listing:

1. How Soon The Dawn
2. Southern Rain
3. In The Event Of My Demise
4. This Time
5. Waiting
6. Man On The Stage
7. Hearts That Strain
8. I Can Burn Alone
9. Indigo Blue
10. Bigger Lover
11. Every Colour In The World

Trash Can Sinatras to head out on rare acoustic tour

This is very exciting news. I reviewed the band last year in Orange County, Calif. (see review elsewhere on this blog) and have covered them many times in the past. Read more from the press release below...

Frank Reader, Paul Livingston and John Douglas from the Trashcan Sinatras will be touring the U.S. as a three-piece acoustic lineup. The bandmates celebrate their 30th anniversary, having formed in Irvine, Scotland in 1987.

"I've been in the band for 30 years now," says Livingston. "That's a long time to be in any relationship. It's a good time to take stock, see how far we've come, and think about where we're headed." The All Night with The Trashcan Sinatras acoustic tour begins in September. Initial tour dates below.

The shows will consist of two unique sets (excluding the NYC date) and fans can expect to hear some covers, too. Although the band often delves into its back catalog for obscurities, particularly during acoustic tours, many songs have never been played live.

Others may never be played again. "We will be playing some songs live that we have never attempted before, so in some ways, it's a tightrope walk for us. But, these songs are what we have done with our lives, so I accept the challenge and will try to not look down," says Douglas.

Performing acoustically will transport many of those 100 songs back to their origins. "Most of our songs are written with acoustic guitars and voices in quiet, solitary rooms, so it will be nervy but exciting to bring that sound out of the backroom and into the light," says Douglas. According to Livingston, "touring with no rhythm section means you have to take your cues more from the vocal. You can bend time and create space for the emotion of the song to come through."

With six full-length albums to their credit, starting with debut Cake in 1990, through last year's Wild Pendulum, the band has written and released just north of 100 songs. Over the course of the tour, they plan to play each one of those songs. "Now that we've reached a century of songs," says Reader, "it feels like a good time to meet up with them all again, like a high school reunion." He adds, "Those songs whose love and friendship we've nourished over the years will no doubt turn up most nights and show us why we've remained so close over the years, but it'll be most interesting to see how those with whom we've lost touch have aged." He expects that some songs will "turn up drunk and disheveled," while others "may now be dashing and distinguished, more so than we all would have guessed. I can't wait to meet them all again and find out."

Watch the music video for "All Night"
Listen to "Ain't That Something" and "Best Days On Earth

Tour Dates:

Sept 27 Vienna, VA @ Jammin Java
Sept 28 Asbury Park, NJ @ The Saint
Sept 30 Highland Lakes, NJ @ Seckler Stage
Oct 1 New York, NY @ Joe's Pub
Oct 3 Somerville, MA @ Once Ballroom
Oct 4 New Haven, CT @ Cafe Nine
Oct 6 Cleveland, OH @ Winchester Music Tavern
Oct 8 Ferndale, MI @ Magic Bag
Oct 9 Chicago, IL @ Lincoln Hall
Oct 11 Milwaukee, WI @ Shank Hall
Oct 12 St Paul, MN @ Amsterdam Bar & Hall
Oct 14 Kansas City, MO @ Gospel Lounge
Oct 16 Denver, CO @ Globe Hall
Oct 17 Salt Lake City, UT @ Metro
Oct 19 Seattle, WA @ Fremont Abbey
Oct 20 Portland, OR @ Dante's
Oct 23 San Francisco, CA @ The Chapel
Oct 24 Los Angeles, CA @ Largo
Oct 29 Austin, TX @ 3Ten
Oct 31 Nashville, TN @ Blue Bar
Nov 1 Atlanta, GA @ Smith's Olde Bar
Nov 2 Charlotte, NC @ Evening Muse

1977 Box set to spotlight early Jam

To celebrate the 40th anniversary of The Jam's first two LPs, In The City and This Is The Modern World, UMe/Polydor will release 1977, a five-disc box set featuring both albums re-mastered as well as unreleased demos and live recordings on Oct. 20.

The collection includes a 144-page book, new liner notes, period photos and a wealth of cuttings, reviews and memorabilia from 1977. Five LP-style CD wallets with printed inner bags – In The City will feature the U.S. version of the LP inner sleeve, also using a Martyn Goddard out-take photo. This Is The Modern World will feature an alternative Gered Mankowitz cover image. It also includes five postcards. All are housed in a ‘rigid, lift-off lid’ box.

Track listing:

Disc 1 - In The City (original album remastered)

1. Art School
2. I’ve Changed My Address
3. Slow Down
4. I Got By In Time
5. Away From The Numbers
6. Batman Theme
7. In The City
8. Sounds From The Street
9. Non-Stop Dancing
10. Time For Truth
11. Takin’ My Love
12. Bricks & Mortar
+ single & B-side extras
13. All Around The World
14. Carnaby Street

Disc 2 - The Polydor Demos: February 1977

1. Art School (demo) #
2. In The City (demo)
3. I Got By In Time (demo) #
4. I've Changed My Address (demo) #
5. Time For Truth (demo)
6. Sounds From The Street (demo)
7. Non Stop Dancing (demo) #
8. Bricks And Mortar (demo) #
9. Takin' My Love (demo)
10. So Sad About Us (demo)
11. Slowdown (demo) #
# previously unreleased

Disc 3 - This Is The Modern World (original album remastered)

1. The Modern World
2. London Traffic
3. Standards
4. Life From A Window
5. The Combine
6. Don’t Tell Them You’re Sane
7. In The Street Today
8. London Girl
9. I Need You (For Someone)
10. Here Comes The Weekend
11. Tonight At Noon
12. In The Midnight Hour

Disc 4 - Live 1977 + John Peel Sessions

1. In The City
2. Art School
3. I’ve Changed My Address
4. The Modern World

Recorded 26.4.1977 - Transmitted 2.5.1977

5. All Around The World
6. London Girl
7. Bricks & Mortar
8. Carnaby Street

Recorded 19.7.1977 - Transmitted 25.7.1977

Live at the ‘Nashville’ – September 10th 1977 (previously unreleased)

9. Carnaby Street
10. The Modern World
11. Time For Truth
12. So Sad About Us
13. London Girl
14. In the Street Today
15. All Around The World
16. London Traffic
17. Sweet Soul Music
18. Bricks & Mortar
19. In The City
20. Art School
21. In The Midnight Hour
22. Sounds From The Street
23. Slowdown

Disc 5 - DVD

1. In The City (Polydor promo - May 1977)
2. Art School (Polydor promo - May 1977)
3. In The City (Top Of The Pops - Date: 19/05/1977)
4. All Around The World (Top Of The Pops - Date: 18/08/1977)
5. All Around The World (‘Marc’ - Granada TV)
6. The Modern World (Top Of The Pops Top Of The Pops - Date: 03/11/1977)
7. Bricks and Mortar (‘So It Goes’ - Granada TV Nov. 20th 1977)
8. Carnaby Street (‘So It Goes’ - Granada TV Nov. 20th 1977)
9. In The City (‘So It Goes’ - Granada TV Nov. 20th 1977)
10. Slowdown (‘So It Goes’ - Granada TV Nov. 20th 1977)
11. All Around The World (‘So It Goes’ - Granada TV Nov. 20th 1977)

Concert review: Jake Owen, Honey County, Dan Krikorian in Costa Mesa, Calif.

photo: Miguel Vasconcellos/OC Fair

Jake Owen is a master at creating a party atmosphere in concert.

Country music’s Prince of Surf ‘n’ Sand Vibes learned from the best: his first big tour was spent as an opener for Kenny Chesney in 2006. Owen proved to be the perfect choice to close out the 2017 Summer Concert Series Sunday at the OC Fair (this season’s slate also offered up top-notch country talent like The Band Perry, Kenny Rogers and Justin Moore).

Before the show began, a bunch of excited female fans were overheard raving about Owen’s headlining spot last spring at Coastal Country Jam in Huntington Beach. Several males in attendance here wore American flag attire - some with profane slogans. A pink flamingo curtain covered all the onstage gear and the crew laid carpeting for the headliner, who performs barefoot.

The 80-minute, 17-song set in Costa Mesa kicked off with – appropriately enough – “Beachin’”, the first of half a dozen country chart toppers. Owen, casually clad in pink shorts and t-shirt, happily traversed the two-tiered, faux palm tree-lined stage as the three-man horn section added a bright sheen.

A breezy “Good Company,” the latest single off 2016’s “American Love” that was partially recorded in Pomona, describes living it up on the weekends with friends. It got a rousing response. Owen looked out into the packed Pacific Amphitheatre crowd and marveled at a crutch being hoisted in time to the tunes, then said, “I appreciated playing fairs. It’s not every day you get to see a big (stuffed) Papa Smurf.”

“If He Ain’t Gonna Love You,” a R&B-fueled Chris Stapleton co-write, sizzled, especially with some tasty slide guitar, a swelling organ buildup and excellent brass accompaniment.

Having too much fun can be detrimental though. A truncated cover of Johnny Cash hit “Ring of Fire” started with Owen sounding like he was imitating the Man in Black and one musician played a keytar as if it was new wave. Later, the singer delivered sensual ballad “Alone with You” a bit too nonchalantly. The same attitude gave short shrift to “Don’t Think I Can’t Love You” which would’ve benefitted from more dramatic heft (the swelling organ and sax work were great though).

   

Owen’s take on Brooks & Dunn’s “Neon Moon” was just average (unfortunately OC didn’t get Glen Campbell’s “Wichita Lineman,” done live last week and to fine effect for Owen’s Facebook followers). Turning serious, the singer explained the low-key ballad “LAX,” one of his favorites from “American Love” and co-written by a friend who passed away (Andrew Dorff) has lyrics “no one seems to get unless you’re from here.”

Late set highlights “Anywhere with You” and “The One That Got Away” and first encore “Barefoot Blue Jean Night” - with an odd nod to "The Fresh Prince of Bel Air" TV theme - all rocked with abandon to massive singalongs. Owen capped the evening with more recent No. 1 hit, “American Country Love Song.” 

Honey County opened the proceedings with a pleasant, if unremarkable half hour performance. The ladies’ glossy pop take on country music boasted plenty of group harmonies, especially during “High on the Radio.” Guitarist Katie Stump, an OC native, took over lead vocals on a feisty cover of Taylor Swift’s “Shake it Off.”

Earlier on Sunday, I caught Dan Krikorian’s last performance of the afternoon inside the fair’s Baja Blues Restaurant. Playing with a full band, the Costa Mesa singer/songwriter’s 45-minute pop/rock set definitely made a strong impression. Highlights included the appealingly upbeat “New York City Day” and well-crafted “Maggie” (both from “Windsor Blue,” one of my favorite local releases of ’11), an exquisite “Words,” the Ben Harper-ish "Something Good" - where his family and friends danced around - and the beautifully soulful “Need You Bad.” 

A version of my review originally appeared at ocregister.com