tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23859531155775350072011-11-27T18:54:21.782-06:00Brian Mansfieldnoreply@blogger.comBlogger681100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2385953115577535007.post-45175220055084543022008-10-31T07:45:00.004-05:002008-10-31T08:36:04.022-05:00

Yes without Jon Anderson? It's a little like thinking about Led Zeppelin without Robert Plant. (Of course, that's exactly what Jimmy Page and John Paul Jones are thinking about these days.)Of course, Yes has a history of fluid membership - even briefly replacing its singer once before, when Trevor Horn subbed for Anderson on 1980's Drama. And the band new singer Benoit David fronts on the tour

Brian Mansfieldnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2385953115577535007.post-29004905232604685962008-08-20T21:32:00.002-05:002008-08-20T21:47:05.628-05:00

For a song that's not a single, that's not commercially available, that's not even out for another three months, a lot of people sure do know Taylor Swift's "Fearless." As I note in a story for USA Today, if you search for the words "taylor," "swift" and "fearless" at YouTube, you'll get results showing nearly 100 aspiring singers who've already learned the song, covered it and made their own

Brian Mansfieldnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2385953115577535007.post-87826655582984175072008-04-13T07:42:00.002-05:002008-04-13T07:57:29.624-05:00

Roundabout way to this performance: I first learned this Charles Tindley song on a Washington Phillips collection that T-Bone Burnett recommended to me. I've since heard Vince Gill perform it, and it's now being used, via a Lilly Brothers recording, in a commercial for Blue Bell Ice Cream.The Swanee Quintet started in Augusta, Georgia, in 1940. Fellow Augusta native James Brown helped popularize

Brian Mansfieldnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2385953115577535007.post-74806774522285859032008-04-12T19:10:00.001-05:002008-04-12T19:10:38.740-05:00

Brian Mansfieldnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2385953115577535007.post-60167301595318371442008-04-06T13:23:00.002-05:002008-04-06T13:29:01.258-05:00

One of my favorite gospel tunes, "Milky White Way" (I first learned it from Elvis Presley's version). The Trumpeteers came out of Maryland and were reputed to have sold a million copies of their recording for Score Records in 1948.

Brian Mansfieldnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2385953115577535007.post-25536581905387336282008-04-05T07:54:00.001-05:002008-04-05T07:55:18.373-05:00

"The Robot Monster," from 1966 - Space Ghost's original run.

Brian Mansfieldnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2385953115577535007.post-82645949751389027152008-03-30T07:10:00.002-05:002008-03-30T07:13:39.805-05:00

From 1964 - "Testify."

Brian Mansfieldnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2385953115577535007.post-65343904795004768292008-03-30T07:05:00.003-05:002008-03-30T07:15:32.952-05:00

No commentary this week, because I cut my two fingers pretty severely, and I'm typing one-handed for a while. So watch and enjoy.

Brian Mansfieldnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2385953115577535007.post-13268029670918071952008-03-24T18:26:00.002-05:002008-03-24T18:28:37.290-05:00

Fellow reporter Edna Gundersen just sent me this YouTube video of Japanese celebrity lookalikes singing "We Are the World." I can't even imagine the context for this performance. Wait for Cyndi Lauper.

Brian Mansfieldnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2385953115577535007.post-23966766376870488662008-03-23T07:18:00.004-05:002008-03-30T07:13:57.612-05:00

I've had the distinct pleasure of seeing Rance Allen perform twice in the past year - first, at the 50th anniversary celebration for Stax Records in Memphis, then in Nashville at a luncheon honoring the Mighty Clouds of Joy. He's always a showstopper. In fact, when I asked Steve Cropper about his favorite moment of the Stax show - which also included Isaac Hayes, Eddie Floyd and a Booker T & the

Brian Mansfieldnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2385953115577535007.post-59690888672493094352008-03-22T09:19:00.002-05:002008-03-30T07:15:32.952-05:00

Cool McCool, a secret-agent spoof (think animated Get Smart) from Batman creator Bob Kane, aired on NBC Saturday mornings during the 1966-67 and 1967-68 seasons. But I remember it airing on the local Bozo show. Danger is his business.

Brian Mansfieldnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2385953115577535007.post-48367434603409294552008-03-16T07:18:00.001-05:002008-03-16T07:19:26.339-05:00

Ex-Caravan Inez Andrews sings a slowed-down version of "Mary Don't You Weep." Hold on for the end, when Inez goes for the big notes. Definitely worth the wait.

Brian Mansfieldnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2385953115577535007.post-68932805827099970442008-03-15T13:23:00.002-05:002008-03-30T07:15:32.953-05:00

The Mighty Heroes, which first aired on CBS during the 1966-67 season, was the first cartoon series I ever remember watching. The hero team featured Strong Man, Rope Man, Tornado Man, Cuckoo Man and - my favorite at the time, since I was about 3 years old - Diaper Man.The series originally aired as part of the Mighty Mouse Playhouse and was created by Ralph Bakshi, who would later helm Mighty

Brian Mansfieldnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2385953115577535007.post-22492732939833818952008-03-09T14:03:00.001-05:002008-03-30T07:14:30.146-05:00

That's the great Claude Jeter singing lead, y'all. "Only Believe."

Brian Mansfieldnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2385953115577535007.post-37029341722094175682008-03-03T09:43:00.002-06:002008-03-03T09:56:11.256-06:00

Didn't post a new Sunday Morning Gospel video yesterday, maybe because I spent too much of the weekend listening to an advance of Beat Union's Disconnected. I'm a sucker for a band with an obvious Jam influence, which this U.K. four-piece acknowledges in the first line of the album's first song. The band starts a tour of the USA in a few days - of course, they're not coming to Nashville and I'm

Brian Mansfieldnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2385953115577535007.post-69660711000423723902008-02-28T16:11:00.002-06:002008-02-28T16:16:46.628-06:00

Here's the official press release:Mike Smith, the lead singer and keyboard player of The Dave Clark Five, one of the premier bands to emerge during the 1960’s “British Invasion”, died today from pneumonia at Stoke Mandeville Hospital outside of London. His devoted wife, Arlene, who is known as Charlie, was by his side. Smith was 64 years old.Smith, who was due to be inducted into the Rock ‘n’

Brian Mansfieldnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2385953115577535007.post-77314847951640846572008-02-17T13:04:00.002-06:002008-03-30T07:14:30.147-05:00

Brian Mansfieldnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2385953115577535007.post-79640743793585359902008-02-10T06:59:00.000-06:002008-03-30T07:14:30.147-05:00

The Dixie Hummingbirds, singing "Bedside of a Neighbor." These are the guys that sang behind Paul Simon on "Loves Me Like a Rock."

Brian Mansfieldnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2385953115577535007.post-35958691946235763492008-02-07T08:31:00.000-06:002008-02-07T09:47:00.712-06:00

I've heard of people feeling like a performer was singing right to them, but I've never had the experience of feeling like someone was playing an entire show just for me. But that's exactly what happened last Friday night when I saw Marty Stuart and His Fabulous Superlatives play the Plaza Theater in Glasgow, Kentucky.My father's from Glasgow, about 80 miles north of Nashville, and my 86-year-old

Brian Mansfieldnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2385953115577535007.post-34317237488683450252008-02-03T12:34:00.000-06:002008-02-03T13:09:22.577-06:00

I recently found some treasure troves of old gospel video clips on YouTube. I'm a huge fan of Golden Era gospel - especially the quartets of the late ’30s through the mid-’60s - but had almost never seen footage of them performing. So these clips came as something of a revelation to me. I hope you'll enjoy them, too. If I can get in the habit, I'm going to post one each Sunday.This first clip

Brian Mansfieldnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2385953115577535007.post-79845086791297288062008-02-01T12:30:00.000-06:002008-02-01T12:58:03.620-06:00

Kathy Mattea, Coal (Captain Potato)Dengue Fever, Venus on Earth (M80)Bob Mould, District Line (Anti-)Van Morrison, Keep It Simple (Lost Highway)The Cat Empire, So Many Nights (Velour)James McMurtry, Just Us Kids (Lightning Rod)U2, How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb (Island)Vampire Weekend, Vampire Weekend (XL)Ryan Adams, Rock N Roll (Lost Highway)Ryan Adams, Heartbreaker (Lost Highway)

Brian Mansfieldnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2385953115577535007.post-41644199356850335892008-01-30T15:53:00.000-06:002008-01-30T16:01:11.860-06:00

Willie Nelson might have recorded Kris Kristofferson’s “Moment of Forever” years ago, if he could have taken it seriously. The song, which is the title track of Nelson’s new album and one that Kristofferson sang at Johnny Cash’s funeral, begins like this:Was it wonderful for you?Was it holy as it was for me?Did you feel the hand of destinyThat was guiding us together?“It’s not the sort of song

Brian Mansfieldnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2385953115577535007.post-63175665459507107362008-01-29T12:49:00.000-06:002008-01-29T12:57:18.091-06:00

Two months ago, without much fanfare, the Blind Boys of Alabama made their first appearance on the Grand Ole Opry. I’d hoped to take the opportunity of that appearance to meet the group’s longtime lead singer, Clarence Fountain, who I’d once interviewed by phone. Unfortunately, I learned that he’d recently retired from the group because of health problems related to his diabetes.Instead, I got to

Brian Mansfieldnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2385953115577535007.post-52062856205766203642008-01-24T07:53:00.000-06:002008-01-24T08:12:58.825-06:00

The Blind Boys of Alabama, Down in New Orleans (Time Life)Drive-By Truckers, Brighter Than Creation's Dark (New West)Paul Thorn, A Long Way From Tupelo (Perpetual Obscurity)Otis Taylor, Recapturing the Banjo (Telarc Blues)Willie Nelson, "Gravedigger" [from Moment of Forever (Lost Highway)]Love in October, Pontus, The Devil, and Me (The Musik Group)Admiral Twin, Center of the Universe (The Pop

Brian Mansfieldnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2385953115577535007.post-63908207555247141332008-01-21T11:47:00.000-06:002008-01-21T12:06:09.064-06:00

So Plain White T’s' Tom Higgenson finally got his date with Delilah. They’re going to the Grammys, where the persistent singer and his band are up for two awards, including Song of the Year for “Hey There Delilah.”Contrary to the story the song tells, there’s no romance between Higgenson and Delilah DiCrescenzo, even now that the song Higgenson wrote for the Olympic track hopeful has become a

Brian Mansfieldnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2385953115577535007.post-49808646122726934052008-01-18T14:41:00.000-06:002008-01-18T14:48:39.683-06:00

Tim McGraw joins Def Leppard on “Nine Lives,” the first single from the band’s Songs From the Sparkle Lounge album, out March 18.McGraw met the members of Def Leppard during a 2006 show at the Hollywood Bowl, when he sang “Pour Some Sugar on Me” with them.“You know what these situations are like," Def Leppard singer Joe Elliott told me in an interview for USA Today. “They normally lead to a lot

Brian Mansfieldnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2385953115577535007.post-4154383966738352092008-01-15T10:33:00.000-06:002008-01-15T11:16:09.056-06:00

Marah, Angels of Destruction! (Yep Roc)Rob Jungklas, Gully (Madjack)Matt King, Rube (Montage)Jewly Hight, Darlin' Understand (Jewly Hight)Willie Nelson, Moment of Forever (Lost Highway)Shelby Lynne, Just a Little Lovin' (Lost Highway)Alan Jackson, Good Time (Arista Nashville)The Hooters, Time Stand Still (Hooters Music)Mando Saenz, Bucket (Carnival)We the Kings, We the Kings (S-Curve)

Brian Mansfieldnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2385953115577535007.post-80562778859842480562008-01-09T10:01:00.000-06:002008-01-09T10:17:24.992-06:00

For the two or three of you who continue to check this blog despite my not posting anything for weeks at a time, I promise I'll start doing better. I've been helping someone with a book - more on that another time, as publication dates gets closer - and that took all my available time until Christmas. With a little luck, I'll balance my time better now.Here's a list of recent favorite tracks that

Brian Mansfieldnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2385953115577535007.post-45898862023651154782007-12-13T10:27:00.001-06:002007-12-13T10:28:14.352-06:00

Haven't posted in forever - I've been working on a project that literally has taken every available spare minute for two months now - but this five-minute monster mini-movie was just too good not to share.

Brian Mansfieldnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2385953115577535007.post-15740022504441655232007-11-02T14:52:00.000-05:002007-11-02T14:57:13.011-05:00

I was going to go see August Rush tonight on the side of Ronnie Dunn's barn, but I'm thinking this might be an even better choice.Thanks to my friend Tim Napalm for turning me on to this.

Brian Mansfieldnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2385953115577535007.post-38090597119856981102007-10-31T16:45:00.000-05:002007-10-31T16:51:04.418-05:00

A friend of mine just told me about his experience buying the new Eagles album. I’ve omitted his name and the location of the store, but his story was too good not to share.“On Tuesday, I went to the Sam’s across from our office. As much as I detest these exclusives with these big boxes, 27 years was as long as I could wait for a new Eagles album.“The store opens at 8 in the morning. I went in

Brian Mansfieldnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2385953115577535007.post-50871288168928378862007-10-29T08:24:00.000-05:002007-10-29T09:02:25.862-05:00

Going to see Stephen Kellogg and the Sixers Tuesday at 3rd & Lindsley (and tonight, at their in-store at the Borders in Brentwood. The SK6ERS' Glassjaw Boxer is one of my favorite albums this year. In no small part, that's because my 4-year-old daughter latched onto "Sweet Sophia" (Sophia is her middle name) as her favorite song. She can now recognize Kellogg's voice when she hears him sing

Brian Mansfieldnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2385953115577535007.post-22998146257322224092007-10-26T08:31:00.000-05:002007-10-26T08:45:48.457-05:00

"Yesterday's Lie," The Questionnaires. A band that you almost surely haven't heard of if you're not familiar with the Nashville rock scene of the late '80s/early '90s, but their best stuff still holds up for me (maybe it's the memories, but I don't think it's only that). This one has a chorus that reminds me of the old MTV bumper music.This isn't the song that's been stuck in my head this morning

Brian Mansfieldnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2385953115577535007.post-2674417405164322872007-10-17T11:42:00.001-05:002007-10-17T11:42:27.171-05:00

Steve Vai, expertly edited into full-on Nigel Tufnel mode.

Brian Mansfieldnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2385953115577535007.post-4274223745200717402007-09-28T18:42:00.000-05:002007-09-28T18:59:26.670-05:00

Just go this official word regarding the Sara Evans/Craig Schelske divorce, via a publicist at SonyBMG:"The parties have agreed that it is in their best interests and those of their children to amicably resolve all issues in their pending divorce. Each wishes the other well in all future endeavors. Both parties are fully committed to raising their children in a cooperative and positive way. Both

Brian Mansfieldnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2385953115577535007.post-37819661501553608212007-09-26T15:34:00.000-05:002007-09-26T15:35:45.434-05:00

The Cheetah Girls, TCGDestiny's Kid Since their first Disney Channel movie came out four years ago, these three Cheetahs have prospered to the point where they can fill arenas with 8- to 14-year-old girls. TCG begins the effort to distinguish Adrienne Bailon, Sabrina Bryan and Kiely Williams from their characters. Irrepressibly poppy R&B tracks borrow from Lionel Richie’s All Night Long and

Brian Mansfieldnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2385953115577535007.post-63386730330751501642007-09-26T15:31:00.000-05:002007-09-26T15:33:45.160-05:00

Steve Earle, Washington Square SerenadeNew urban folk boom There was a time when Steve Earle would have been expected to set every bridge ablaze behind him as he took the Hillbilly Highway out of Nashville. But on his first album since relocating to New York City, he doesn’t look back so much as look ahead — to life in his multiethnic city of dreams where the ghosts of Woody Guthrie and Joey

Brian Mansfieldnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2385953115577535007.post-91578325452786858092007-09-24T10:55:00.000-05:002007-09-24T11:01:28.894-05:00

1. Bruce Springsteen, Magic (Columbia)2. Steve Earle, Washington Square Serenade (New West)3. Patti Scialfa, Play It As It Lays (Columbia)4. Meshell Ndegeocello, The world has made me the man of my dreams (Decca)5. Kenny “Babyface” Edmonds, Playlist (Mercury)6. Richard Hawley, Lady’s Bridge (Mute)7. Stephen Kellogg & the Sixers, Glassjaw Boxer (Everfine)8. Josh Turner,

Brian Mansfieldnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2385953115577535007.post-74957103581617829242007-09-21T06:11:00.001-05:002007-09-21T13:37:49.999-05:00

Reba McEntire's up for the Country Music Association's Female Vocalist of the Year. She holds the record (tied with Martina McBride) for the most wins in that category, but she hasn't won the award in 20 years. Hasn't been nominated for it in three.But Reba's miffed about her competition. Not who's nominated, but who's not. Specifically, Faith Hill.“Why wasn’t Faith Hill nominated for Female?”

Brian Mansfieldnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2385953115577535007.post-76628486504707600702007-09-20T10:23:00.001-05:002007-09-20T10:27:56.362-05:00

Hard-Fi, Once Upon a Time in the West (* * * )Cinematic Britrock Following the massive success — at least in Britain — of their Stars of CCTV debut, Hard-Fi’s four ambitious suburbanites use the Clash’s reggae/dub tendencies as the foundation for building a more cinematically orchestrated pop music. But singer Richard Archer sounds as much like Mick Jagger as Joe Strummer, and the band works

Brian Mansfieldnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2385953115577535007.post-35648049443988486662007-09-20T10:22:00.000-05:002007-09-20T10:25:14.355-05:00

The Donnas, Bitchin’ (* *) Post-teenage runaways Female punk quartet The Donnas take control of their own destiny, releasing their seventh album on their own Purple Feather label after two major-label discs. Too bad the hair-metal-heavy Bitchin’ spends so much time serving the sadomasochistic fantasies of the band’s male fans. “You can come ... here for the party,” they shout suggestively on

Brian Mansfieldnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2385953115577535007.post-52248444979180910192007-09-20T10:13:00.000-05:002007-09-20T10:28:19.798-05:00

Mae, Singularity (* * * )Brains and brawn Having sold a quarter-million copies of their two indie-label releases, Virginia rock quintet Mae connects with Capitol Records to make a play for the big time. They may be too smart for their own good, but they make up for it with a fetching sense of melody and rhythmic shifts that recall Anberlin and Jimmy Eat World. >>Sample: Sometimes I Can’t

Brian Mansfieldnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2385953115577535007.post-76573013105670134882007-09-18T15:48:00.000-05:002007-09-18T15:49:43.550-05:00

Don’t know who leaked the new Bruce Springsteen album, but I’m sure glad they did. And, yes, I plan to buy it the day it comes out, too.1. Bruce Springsteen, Magic (Columbia)2. Hard Fi, Once Upon a Time in the West (Atlantic)3. Reba McEntire, Reba Duets (MCA)4. Stephen Kellogg & the Sixers, Glassjaw Boxer (Everfine)5. Motion City Soundtrack, Even If It Kills Me (Epitaph)6. Emery

Brian Mansfieldnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2385953115577535007.post-14040348330879488582007-09-12T06:03:00.000-05:002007-09-20T10:28:45.273-05:00

Few country singers have made more out of memories than Kenny Chesney. To hear his singles tell the story, his life has progressed from a string of high school girlfriends to a series of rum-fueled Caribbean vacations. But banking on memories can mean mortgaging the future, and while Chesney sometimes has seemed determined to enjoy himself whatever the cost, he has rarely counted those costs.

Brian Mansfieldnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2385953115577535007.post-64425325061395544842007-09-09T20:47:00.000-05:002007-09-09T20:49:56.202-05:00

I can’t believe it’s been a week since I put anything up here. I certainly did a few things – had a great phone interview with Betty LaVette for one thing. I’m sure I’ll write about that at some point, and there’ll certainly be a piece in USA Today about it. I guess I just didn’t make the time to post.But I’m determined to keep my playlist up to date. So here’s the new and recent stuff I’ve been

Brian Mansfieldnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2385953115577535007.post-50701131717606870542007-09-02T13:13:00.000-05:002007-09-02T13:38:11.745-05:00

I’m determined to start putting enough stuff on this blog to make it worth visiting occasionally. Today begins what I hope will be a weekly entry of the albums and tracks I’m listening to lately. Mostly, it’ll be new stuff, some of which may not yet be available. Every once in a while, though, I get obsessed by something that’s been around a while – like the Britpop phase I went through a couple

Brian Mansfieldnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2385953115577535007.post-5417926556813227082007-09-01T15:07:00.000-05:002007-09-01T15:15:51.913-05:00

Went to the Trisha Yearwood/Babyface taping for CMT Crossroads at Belmont University's Curb Event Center. They did five of his songs (including a cover of James Taylor's "Fire and Rain," a song that will appear on Babyface's Playlist covers album, out Sept. 18) and five of hers. What's the connection? Garth Brooks - Trisha's married to him and Babyface worked on the Chris Gaines project. The show

Brian Mansfieldnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2385953115577535007.post-1431177726456926012007-09-01T15:02:00.000-05:002007-09-01T15:05:11.792-05:00

Talking to Hayley Williams and Josh Farro from Paramore, it’s sometimes hard to remember that they’re only 18 and 19, respectively, and it’s even harder to imagine that they’ve been together in some form since they were 13 and 14 (and since drummer Zac Farro was just 11).Dig a little deeper, though, and you notice they possess an appealing combination of youthful enthusiasm and burgeoning

Brian Mansfieldnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2385953115577535007.post-39553955151678136022007-08-30T08:12:00.000-05:002007-09-20T10:27:34.723-05:00

I'm going to start running my USA Today reviews here each week, a day or so after they run in the paper. They won't always be my favorite albums from the week, or even things I necessarily like a lot; four other critics write reviews for the paper. If you want to see my reviews - along with the reviews from Edna Gundersen, Elysa Gardner, Steve Jones and Ken Barnes - the day they run, check out

Brian Mansfieldnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2385953115577535007.post-77938364502407629012007-08-29T05:51:00.000-05:002007-08-29T06:08:21.937-05:00

On his Listen Up blog, Ken Barnes recently linked to a Washington Post article about the demise of the Weekly World News. That tremendously entertaining story revealed that Bob Lind, the '60s pop artist who had the 1966 hit "Elusive Butterfly," had spent a decade writing for the tabloid. Ken wondered what other hit-making musicians had life stories that took them far afield from their most famous

Brian Mansfieldnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2385953115577535007.post-82396969519383414872007-08-24T12:46:00.000-05:002007-08-24T12:52:32.995-05:00

Finally, I get to profile singer-songwriter Lori McKenna in today’s USA Today. I say “finally” because I’d wanted to do a piece on the Stoughton, Mass., native back in 2005, after Faith Hill delayed her Fireflies album so she could put three of Lori’s songs – including “Fireflies” and “Stealing Kisses” – on it. Lori’s a mother of five (kids range in age from 3 to 18) married to a plumber, and

Brian Mansfieldnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2385953115577535007.post-42311539164838706892007-08-14T12:45:00.000-05:002007-08-14T15:17:13.811-05:00

I don't often get my byline on the front page of USA Today, but it's there today, with fellow reporter Marco R. della Cava, above a story about Elvis Presley in the 30 years since his death. (If Karl Rove hadn't quit, we'd have been above the fold.) Marco and I (well, mainly Marco, to be honest) look at how the Elvis legacy has changed over 30 years and what's in store (like a Cirque du Soleil

Brian Mansfieldnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2385953115577535007.post-45109022794210386042007-08-08T12:40:00.000-05:002007-08-08T12:43:21.412-05:00

The following email is making the rounds of Music City inboxes today. Any misspellings are the author's, not mine.Why do I laugh every time I see Scott Borchetta's license plate?? Huh, DOMIN8R??What in the hell is up with his hair? Halloween is the only day that the male perm should be pulled off.How long are we going to hear that "The Storm is Coming!" before Category 5 records actually sells

Brian Mansfieldnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2385953115577535007.post-13412225151594028932007-08-08T07:50:00.000-05:002007-08-08T07:58:08.121-05:00

Two weeks ago, I flew with Brad Paisley to a show at the Delaware State Fair. On the way there, we talked about the way he uses video in his current show. He does a lot of the video work himself, including the animation that goes along with his instrumental "Throttleneck." Brad's also been doing the video editing for an upcoming special on the making of his "Online" video for GAC. Now, I've spent

Brian Mansfieldnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2385953115577535007.post-58831401206610130652007-08-08T07:47:00.000-05:002007-08-08T07:50:03.497-05:00

Sugarland has been performing Beyoncé's "Irreplaceable" on tour this year. Let's go to the video:

Brian Mansfieldnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2385953115577535007.post-27660266705750190322007-07-27T08:49:00.000-05:002007-07-27T08:57:36.743-05:00

A few weeks ago, I got to spend a morning on Alan and Denise Jackson's estate, just south of Nashville. It's a gigantic white house on 140 acres, like something out of Gone With the Wind. "Ever since I was a kid, I loved that movie," Alan told me. "I always wanted a big plantation." Of course, Rhett Butler and Scarlett O'Hara never had a garage with 14 cars in it.The house, which has three floors

Brian Mansfieldnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2385953115577535007.post-39547540749014000992007-07-26T15:22:00.000-05:002007-07-26T15:32:00.902-05:00

We're guessing Lyle's referring to the name of his band with his new album, due Aug. 28. Here's the track listing, with writer credits in parentheses if it's not Lyle:1. Tickle Toe (Lester Young)2. I Will Rise Up3. All Downhill4. Don't Cry A Tear5. South Texas Girl 6. This Traveling Around 7. Up In Indiana8. The Alley Song9. No Big Deal10. Make It Happy11. Ain't No More Cane (

Brian Mansfieldnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2385953115577535007.post-29510411318447386042007-07-26T11:33:00.000-05:002007-07-26T11:35:32.108-05:00

Mindy McCready adds another page to her ever-lengthening rap sheet, this time for violating probation in Nashville's neighboring Williamson County. And to think I once almost let this woman talk me into get my navel pierced.

Brian Mansfieldnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2385953115577535007.post-37467592433409882192007-07-26T10:00:00.001-05:002007-07-26T10:07:31.975-05:00

Check out my piece on Boys Like Girls in USA Today. Among other things, lead singer Martin Johnson talks about the first time the group heard "The Great Escape" on the radio. The article has only part of his quote on that, so here's the long version:"The first time we heard ourselves on the radio was in the van at about 3 a.m. We were all in the van. i was driving. The van's usually pretty

Brian Mansfieldnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2385953115577535007.post-28582891406875023132007-07-24T11:10:00.000-05:002007-07-24T11:16:53.055-05:00

Word is that the Wrecker's Jessica Harp got engaged to the band's fiddle player, Jason Mowery, Sunday night. Apparently, fellow Wrecker Michelle Branch announced the news Monday during the duo's show at New York's Bowery Ballroom.

Brian Mansfieldnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2385953115577535007.post-66283371736594767402007-07-18T13:10:00.000-05:002007-07-18T13:13:46.351-05:00

Think you can make a better video for 'Online' than the one Brad Paisley made? Here's your chance. Brad's running an amateur-video contest through July 25, and the winner will get to fly to a show on Brad's Bonfires & Amplifiers tour and watch his or her creation live. Brad lays down the ground rules at YouTube, so check it out!

Brian Mansfieldnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2385953115577535007.post-5265517329705962962007-07-18T09:19:00.000-05:002007-07-18T09:36:09.244-05:00

Brad Paisley holds on to the top spot of the Nielsen SoundScan charts this week with 39,203 in sales, beating Taylor Swift's debut by barely 5,000 units. Paisley's album has sold more than 377,000 units total.Tracy Lawrence had the week's best country debut with The Very Best of Tracy Lawrence (#29, 4,600 units). Also debuting this week: Cole Deggs & the Lonesome (#42, 3,200) and Jason Meadow's

Brian Mansfieldnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2385953115577535007.post-6850235190799942202007-07-17T10:53:00.000-05:002007-07-17T11:08:01.168-05:00

Today, it was my turn to write the weekly Playlist. It's not very country - unless you count the Avett Brothers and Social Distortion as country - but there's a lot of my favorite recent rock stuff, including new tracks from Buffalo Tom and the Mission U.K., as well as the Plain White T's and Boys Like Girls. Caveat: I mis-identified Bremerton, Washington's MxPx as being from California. Sorry,

Brian Mansfieldnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2385953115577535007.post-79831182979816131832007-07-16T17:55:00.000-05:002007-07-17T10:29:40.240-05:00

Carrie Underwood's still-untitled sophomore album has been scheduled for an Oct. 23 release date. Underwood's follow-up to the six-times-platinum Some Hearts was produced by Mark Bright, who co-produced her debut. It will also feature additional songwriting from Underwood, who co-wrote "I Ain't in Checotah Anymore" for Some Hearts.Some Hearts, by the way, has sold nearly 1,095,000 copies this

Brian Mansfieldnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2385953115577535007.post-23218258378522456692007-07-14T15:21:00.000-05:002007-07-14T15:30:59.093-05:00

My feature on Eric Church ran Friday in USA Today. If you read it, feel free to leave a comment there (or here) and be sure to click "Recommend."Here's one bit that didn't make the article: Eric says he's been running into lots of people with Eric Church tattoos lately, including two girls who had the melody to "How 'Bout You" inked around their ankles."I don't know any other new country artist

Brian Mansfieldnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2385953115577535007.post-80663056945108476212007-07-11T12:04:00.000-05:002007-07-11T12:09:21.965-05:00

Tim McGraw's camp says he was country's top-selling act during the first half of 2007. According to Nielsen Soundscan, McGraw has sold a 1.4 million albums total. His new Let It Go accounts for two-thirds of that total, having sold 900,000 units all by itself. Additionally, McGraw's Greatest Hits album currently sits on top of Billboard magazine's Top Country Catalog Albums chart, and the

Brian Mansfieldnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2385953115577535007.post-60087715984038229702007-07-11T09:16:00.000-05:002007-07-11T09:41:05.277-05:00

Brad Paisley's 5th Gear remains the top country album in the nation for the third consecutive week. According to SoundScan, 5th Gear sold 59,451 copies, a 27% slide from the previous week. (It's the only country album in the overall Top 10, placing seventh, between Kelly Rowland and Amy Winehouse.)Paisley didn't have any serious competition from new albums this week. The only three country chart

Brian Mansfieldnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2385953115577535007.post-33848386245541704492007-07-10T21:41:00.000-05:002007-07-10T21:42:37.469-05:00

People always ask me what great new music I've found, and I never have good answers for them, since I'm already looking for the next great thing. In case you're one of those people - and so I can have an easy place to keep track of them - here are some of my personal recent favorites. Not necessarily the best so far this year, just stuff I really, really love.Miranda Lambert, "Crazy Ex-Girlfriend

Brian Mansfieldnoreply@blogger.com0