Playlist week of 4th July 2015

2015-07-04

4th July 2015 – BBC Playlist

Marie Crichton BBC Radio Shropshire Show playlist July 4, 2015

Brand new music from Kacey Musgraves, Ashley Monroe & Easton Corbin.

Classics from Jeannie Seeley and The Louvin Brothers. Tributes to Val Doonican and Red Lane who sadly died this week.
New on the Show features Bill Feehely , Don Gallardo, Stephanie Urbina Jones, Kelsea Ballerini,  Roo Arcus, The Mike + Ruthy Band 

Martina McBride - Independence Day | Album: The Way That I Am (1993) MP3

Bill Feehely - Thousand Stories | Album: Lucky Struck (22 Feb 2014 EMR Records) MP3 - UK iTunes - Amazon.com

Jeannie Seely - Catfish John / Delta Dawn | Album: Live At The Grand Ole Opry (Jack Greene & Jeannie Seely) (July 6, 1940) BIRTHDAY

Marcum Stewart - Every Sad Song Known To Man (Single; 16 June 2015) NEW MP3  

Logan Brill - World Still Round | Album: NEW MP3 - UK iTunes - Amazon.com

Don Gallardo - Angel On The Dance Floor | Album: Hickory NEW CD - MP3 - UK iTunes

Hannah Aldridge - Lie Like You Love Me | Album: Razor Wire (May 2014) MP3 – UK iTunes

Susan McCann - Old Msn On The Porch Hotdisc #198 June Single | Album: Through The Years 3-CD (H&H Music)

MP3 - UK iTunes 

Val Doonican - The Special Years | Album: The Special Years CD (3 February 1927 – 1 July 2015; Irish singer and TV entertainer Val Doonican has died aged 88) BBC News – BBC Obituary: Val Doonican

Ashley Monroe – Bombshell | Album: The Blade (out July 24) NEW CD - Amazon.com  

The Louvin Brothers - I’m Glad That I’m Not Him (Charlie Louvin July 7, 1927 died Jan 26, 2011 (aged 83)) BIRTHDAY
Stephanie Urbina Jones - He Reminds Me Of Texas | Album: Stephanie Urbina Jones CD (2002)

Kelsea Ballerini – Dibs NEW Single | Album: Self Titled EP (May 2015) CD - MP3 - UK iTunes - Smart Choice Music - Amazon.com

Roo Arcus - If That’s What Love Was | Album: Cowboys and Sunsets NEW (Jan 2015) UK iTunes  

Vogts Sisters - Ballad of A Love Miscast | Album: My Own Dixie (March 2015) NEW MP3 - UK iTunes - CD Baby - Amazon.com

Easton Corbin - Wild Women & Whiskey | Album: About to Get Real NEW CD - MP3 - Amazon.com

Tammy Wynette - Til I Get it Right | Album: (Tribute to Red Lane; 9 Feb 1939 – 1 July 2015; award-winning songwriter BLOG Feature)

Otis Gibbs - Nancy Barnett | Album: Souvenirs of a Misspent Youth (July 6, 2014) CD - MP3 - UK iTunes - Amazon.com

Mickey Guyton - Why Baby Why | Album: self-titled (EP; May 2015) NEW US iTunes - Amazon.com 

Toby Keith - 35 MPH Town NEW Single (July 8, 1961) BIRTHDAY

Kacey Musgraves - Late To The Party | Album: Pageant Material CD (23 June) NEW MP3 - UK iTunes - Amazon.com

Brad Paisley - Who Needs Pictures | Album: Who Needs Pictures (1999) CD 
The Mike + Ruthy Band - Simple & Sober | Album: Bright As You Can (2 June 2015) NEW CD - Amazon.com - Bandcamp

T Jae Christian - Highways Music & Songs | Album: Old Violin NEW MP3 - UK iTunes - Amazon.com 

Ruby Lovett & Ken Mellons - One of Them’s Yours | Album: Ruby Lovett (1998) CD (Ken Mellons; July 10, 1965) BIRTHDAY

New on The Show

Bill Feehely

“Thousand Stories” -  Interesting album something of a Kris Kristofferson to his voice - Marie Crichton BBC Radio Shropshire 

About:

Bill received MFA in Theatre from the Mason Gross School of the Arts at Rutgers University where he studied under Bill Esper. He enjoyed a career as an actor and musician before moving from New York City to Nashville in 1994. In Nashville, he founded the Actors Bridge Actor Training Program which later developed into a professional theatre company. 

In addition, Bill is an accomplished playwright and songwriter. He co-wrote, “American Duet” with Grammy Award winning songwriter Marcus Hummon, with the musical's original staginh starring Darius Rucker. Bill's play “Outside Paradise” about the life of F. Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald was named “Best Original Play” after it’s premier in Nashville in 2012. He has also written several other plays and musicals including “Working With Glass.” the “Payout” and an adaptation of “The Trojan Women.” Presently, Bill has worked on a new musical with Nashville songwriters Kirsti Manna and Julie Forrester. Bill recently retired from Belmont University where he was head of the Acting/ Directing BFA emphasis. 

in Feb 2014 he released a new album, Lucky Struck and touredng in support of that release. He continues to live in Nashville with his talented wife Celeste Krenz.

Singer-songwriter, actor and playwright, Bill Feehely after success in the latter categories he has now returned to the record studio to have another stab as a recording musician. His music combines rock, pop and country. With shades of John Hiatt in “Thousand Stories” and “Tell Me Something”; both dead-ringers for Hiatt, the former especially as he ticks all the boxes. On a few tracks he goes blue collar and rocks too, and with fine support from Steve Mackey (bass), Wayne Killius (drums), Pat McGrath (acoustic, electric guitar), Greg Bieck (piano, organ, accordion) and Dan Dugmore (acoustic, electric, steel guitar, mandolin) Feehely is set to gain attention from a wide audience...Read More Flyinshoes Album Review

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Don Gallardo 
“Angel On The Dance Floor” – “I think it's really catchy” -  Marie Crichton BBC Radio Shropshire 

Genre: Americana/Folk

Band Members: Don Gallardo (Acoustic Guitar, Vocals); Travis Stock (Bass, Vocals); Clint Maine (Electric Guitar, Vocals)

Stuart Bond (Mando)

Home Town - East Nashville, TN

Record Label - First Floor Story Recordings (Self-Indie) USA/ Clubhouse Records in UK

An American Songwriter playing Americana / Folk Music and swashbuckling his way across the US and the UK.

Don Gallardo is a supremely talented singer-songwriter with an unimaginable musical range, recognizable and universally appealing originals, and a far-reaching repertoire of covers, packing a folky flair that your average downtown passerby would instantly love, but not be able to find in such a genuine and fulfilling capacity at any other nearby performance space.  - No Country For New Nashville

"Absolutely lovely. Beautiful words." - BBC Radio Lancashire - Sally Naden

Nashville-based Americana/Folk singer-songwriter, Don Gallardo, hails from a small town in Northern California and spent years cultivating his career on the west coast before relocating to Nashville, Tennessee in 2007.

He has called Nashville home for 8 years and does not see himself leaving any time soon. Walking the line between classic 70's singer-songwriters and more contemporary flavors of folk and Americana, Gallardo is a diverse and multi-faceted performer with a lyrical depth and a warm, unique vocal style, which helps him weave between genres and become immediately relatable. With three full-lengths, a live acoustic session album, and an EP under his belt, as well as a fourth full-length released on UK label Clubhouse Records, Gallardo has already achieved critical praise and had his work prominently featured in films "Jolene" and Jackass Presents "Bad Grandpa" as well as highly popular television series, "The Vampire Diaries" and ABC's "Nashville."

Gallardo has received high praise from Americana review sites in Europe and the U.S. such as No Depression, AltCountryForum.nl, Common Folk Music, and The Nashville Scene, who call him "country-rock with brains, charm and experimental impulses that are perfectly integrated into a familiar context.”  

In October 2014, Gallardo signed to UK Indie Label Clubhouse Records. He released his 13 track new full-length album, HICKORY, in June 2015. “Hickory” was produced by David Pinkston. David has worked on many albums over the years and with legendary producer Johnny Sandlin on over 25 albums. He has also worked with a number of well known musicians such as Marshall Tucker Band, Kansas, Linda Ronstadt, Sea Level, and Gretchen Peters.

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Stephanie Urbina Jones

“He Reminds Me Of Texas” -  “My pick of the evening, the album cover is beautiful, stunning looking lady, the tracks are just so good I could of played any of them, it’s a special one ..WHAT a song WHAT a voice I’m a huge fan” – Marie Crichton BBC Radio Shropshire 

Genre: Latin Americana Country Rock

Home Town: San Antonio/Fredericksburg TX

Record Label: Indie  Affiliation: SESAC

"As an artist that freely combines the singer/songwriter vibe with the hot blooded traditional sounds of Mexico, Jones naturally embraces a wider swath of the Lone star state than her contemporaries." - Performing Songwriter Magazine Peter Cronin

Stephanie Urbina Jones was born in a bi-cultural home in San Antonio, Texas where she grew up hearing sounds from both sides of the border. Her Texicana tapestry of music combines her life experiences and the sounds that influenced her soul.As a child many evenings were spent two-stepping at the famous honky-tonk Luckenbach where the sheriff and bartender of the one horse town "Margie" was her babysitter.

From country rock to latin blues-pop, she has created a style all her own.

Stephanie is a fiery Latina poised to be the first female Hispanic American artist to break through Country Americana music with her county rock south of the border sound and style all her own.

Jones is not only a soulful singer and inspiring entertainer but a hit songwriter as well.

In late 2014 Craig Wayne Boyd, who rocketed to stardom as the winner of "The Voice" USA, sang a song written by Mark Marchetti and Stephanie entitled "My Baby's Got A Smile On Her Face". The song debuted at #1 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs Chart the day it was released. Coached and mentored by superstar Blake Shelton, Boyd first performed the song as his vocal showcase, then sang it again as his competition finale.  Shelton said he recommended the song to Boyd because he’s loved the dreamy, romantic ballad since he first heard it. Taking time out from his triumph, Boyd told Urbina Jones via Facebook, “Thanks for a great song.” Boyd also released a charming music video version of >> “My Baby’s Got A Smile On Her Face.”  All this activity rocketed the song to No.2 on iTunes.

Drawing from her passion, she became the first independent female to reach #1 on the Texas Music Chart as well as the first to sign to the latin division of Gibson Guitars. She has been the face and voice in English and Spanish for Fernandez Honda and is sponsored by the national product Arriba! Salsa.

She is a celebrated Kerrville New Folk Finalist and an international artist taking her style of Latin Country-Americana music across the US, Mexico, Europe, and Japan playing the prestigious Montreaux Jazz Festival, CMA Music Festival, Magic Town Music Fest in Mexico, Country Rendez-vous in France, and Country Gold in Kumamoto, Japan.

2015 continues to be a breakthrough year for Stephanie  with new music, movies and more on the horizon. At this point this singer, songwriter, artist, advocate, actor, entrepreneur,wife, mother and passionate woman is  on the move  and "Shakin Things Up" crossing every  border one border at a time. 

Career Highlights:

• (2002/CASA DEL RIO) her 12 track self titled debut by the Texas Lady was described as having "dreamy ballads and some uptempo tracks including nice Latino accents" - Amazon UK
• First independent female to go #1 on the Texas Music Chart ( 5 weeks on a row)
• Hit Songwriter : SUJ writes Craig Wayne Boyds #1 Billboard Country Chart Song entitled "My Babys Got A Smile On Her Face" 
• Filmed and recorded bilingual commercials for Honda (TV and radio) 
• Sang a duet with Texas legend Willie Nelson at his Fourth of July Picnic ( broadcast worldwide on XM Satellite radio)
• Featured in Billboard, Performing Songwriter Magazine, Texas Music Magazine, San Antonio Express News, Houston Chronicle, Austin American Statesman, La Prensa and others.

In June 2015 she was in Scotland for the Americana Cavalcade Festival (at the Perth Raceway) and performed at BBC Scotland and met and sang with international artist Donovan.

Press Release NEWS: SUJ  played Interlaken Switzerland  Country & Trucker Festival (June 27, 2015) with The Bellamy Brothers, John Michael Montgomery &  The Mavericks

Just in time for the 4th of July she is preparing to release her first single off the FIERY ANGEL project (slated for release in Autumn 2015) called  "Bring It Back To The Heartland". She shared – “I have never written and sung a song that moved people like this one does and I have never been more excited to take a song to the people ! We will be playing across the US  starting in Tennessee & Texas in August. From Honky Tonks to House Concerts to Festivals and more we will be singing and bringing our hearts  anyhwere and everywhere this fall! "

She is back on the road in Espana where she is rehearsing a band in Barcelona, Spain then playing a venue in Costa Brava and a festival in Northern Spain followed by a dream come true balcony seat to see the Running Of The Bulls in Pamplona, Spain. 

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Kelsea Ballerini

“Dibs” - This is the brand new song, making her debut - Marie Crichton BBC Radio Shropshire 

Genre: Country/Pop

Home Town: Knoxville, TN

Kelsea Ballerini (born September 12, 1993 (age 21) started writing songs as a pre-teen living on a farm in East Tennessee, but she had no idea where those songs might fit. The lyrics and melody didn't sound like the pop music she listened to with her friends.

The Tennessee native actually found her songwriting voice while mourning the end of her parents' marriage. She started writing lyrics at 12-years-old, as a means of escape.

Kelsea told ABC Radio, "What I was writing came out country just 'cause that's who I am, but I did not listen to country music."

That all changed when Kelsea heard Keith Urban's hit single "Stupid Boy."

"I was like, 'What is this?'" Kelsea said. "So, I went and got his record, Dixie Chicks and Sugarland and Taylor Swift. Those four records were my introduction to country music."

Songwriting propelled Kelsea forward. At 15, she moved to Nashville with her mother to pursue music. Her fresh sound builds on her East Tennessee upbringing and musical influences ranging from Britney Spears to Kelly Clarkson to Frank Sinatra.

Black River Publishing VP Celia Froehlig signed the burgeoning artist to a publishing deal in 2013. That December, at the company Christmas party, Black River Entertainment CEO Gordon Kerr offered Kelsea a record deal in the form of a wrapped present.

Kelsea made her Grand Ole Opry debut on Valentine's Day 2015. Following the performance of her top 30 single "Love Me Like You Mean It," the Knoxville native choked up before performing her solo write, The First Time, announcing it is also the title track of her debut album due May 19, 2015. "I wrote this song a long time ago about learning the lesson that sometimes the past should stay in the past,” said Kelsea.

On the Bilboard Country chart  dated March 28, 2015 Kelsea’s Self titled EP sold 1,100 copies to debut at #40 Country.

Kelsea Ballerini's breakout hit, "Love Me Like You Mean It," is just a taste of the country-pop sound in her imaginative catalog. The Knoxville, Tennessee native has dedicated the better part of the last decade to creating inspiring music, based on her life, to motivate others to live without fear of their emotions.

Her full-length debut, THE FIRST TIME, has Kelsea's credit behind every song. The album radiates positivity while exploring all facets of the human experience. She is a true poet, and The First Time reflects that.

On the Billboard charts dated June 6, 2015 THE FIRST TIME sold 13,465 copies to debut at #31 on the Billboard 200,  #22 Top Albums Sales and #4 Billboard Country albums. As of July 1^st it has sold 33,100 copies

Kelsea Ballerini landed a #1 on both the Billboard Country Airplay and Mediabase Charts.

"Love Me Like You Mean It" (writers Kelsea Ballerini, Josh Kerr, Forest Glen Whitehead, Lance Carpenter) was her debut single on the label (>> Video 5 million Views). She thus became the first Country female solo debut #1 since Carrie Underwood's "Jesus Take The Wheel" in January 2006!. Ballerini’s #1 marked the first time a solo female has landed at #1 on the Billboard Country Airplay chart in nearly three years since Carrie Underwood’s "Blown Away" on Nov. 3, 2012!

 “It's a very exciting time for all of us at Black River,” said Vice President of Promotion Mike Wilson. “It’s an honor to lead this promotion team in taking Kelsea to country radio. Her music is great and radio has really embraced her. I’m so proud of our team and all of their efforts. This is a huge accomplishment!”

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Roo Arcus

“If That’s What Love Was” – “What a great Australian name, this is the new single, more of a hint of Alan Jackson and George Strait, you can toe tap along it’s real traditional country, which is what we love” -  Marie Crichton BBC Radio Shropshire 

Genre: Country (Neo Traditional)

Home Town: Southern Tablelands, N.S.W. Australia

Record Label: WJO

Beyond the authenticity and the clear rudimentary study of country music that Roo displays in his music, Cowboys and Sunsets is remarkable in how it sounds just like some lost album from the sweet spot of the career of Alan Jackson or George Strait, or even a little bit of James Hand when they were still young and hungry and trying to prove themselves.

Where so much country music labeled “traditional” these days tries too hard to prove how country it is with over-inflected, super-twangy brow-beating posturing, or can’t resist the seduction to add screaming guitars or laundry list elements in a bid to stay relevant, Cowboys and Sunsets pins its line to the traditional country post and doesn’t waver. ('Cowboys & Sunsets' is listed amongst 'The Best Country Albums of 2015 So Far' ! - Saving Country Music.com)

After emerging onto the scene back in the late 90s from Australia's country music college and touring with (even writing a song "Ringers, Rigs and Drivers") the late Slim Dusty, Roo Arcus has sought to find his place in the pantheon of Aussie country singer songwriters.

His 2000 debut album "Station Boy" although setting him off on the right track and garnering him three top ten singles, two golden guitar nominations and winning the independent male rising star award, unfortunately turned into a false start when things started to go awry back home on the family farm. Roo a working cattleman, suffered the loss of his mother to leukemia, a tragedy only compounded by the severe drought affecting the family's southern tablelands cattle property. Having recently married with a young family and the farm to rescue he walked away from his singing career. That was 2004 and in the intervening eight years after getting his priorities in order, Roo started to yearn to return to his first love......writing and singing great country songs.

His 'comeback' album THIS HERE COWBOY scored radio singles, 'This Here Cowboy' and the self penned 'Out On The Farm' were back to back #1's on Australian country music radio.

The title track of the album 'This Here Cowboy' was awarded the song of the year in 2012, the very same year it was released considering it's launch in the latter part of the year it was an astounding result.

Roo's second radio single off that album "Out on the Farm" being named Song of the Year for 2014.

The launch of the new album "COWBOYS & SUNSETS" in January 2015 has already proved extremely successful.

The album officially released at Tamworth Country Music Festival on Tuesday 20th January 2015. The album has a diverse range of tracks, from heartfelt ballads to the toe tapping uptempo tracks and includes "Half Hearted Love Affair" recorded with Rhonda Vincent.

The first single taken from the album, a preview track that aired for the first time in December 2014 "Let's Get out of Here" (WJO - (CRS #177 - T9) peaked at #3 for 2 weeks on Country Tracks (Australia's leading Country chart) and is still on the chart after 34 weeks at #33. The new single 'If That's What Love Was' has made a debut at #13 (WJO - (CRS #182 - T9) on the chart published 4th July 2015 -

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The Mike + Ruthy Band

“Simple & Sober” -  One of those albums on the fringe, all sorts of styles I think your going to enjoy this one, very catchy little song like her voice a lot!” - Marie Crichton BBC Radio Shropshire 

Genres: Folk Roots, Americana

Home Town: Woodstock, NY

Record Label: Humble Abode Music

Duo: Real deal, stripped down folk roots with energy, joy, simplicity + depth.

Band.  Jubilation, as exciting and powerful as any quintet currently mixing up fiddle + banjo with drums, bass and pedal steel.  An exquisite new Mike + Ruthy Band record, "Bright As You Can," bursts with Americana ho-downs, sassy blues, Motown soul, old-timey harmonies, rock-n-roll energy and infectious, inspired songwriting. 

“Bright as You Can crackles with a live energy and warmth that draw you close. It’s a joyful document of a band rounding a corner and into a wide-open field of possibilities. And it’s one of the year’s standout Americana albums." - Boston Globe

The band is Konrad Meissner (drums), Jacob Silver (bass), and Charlie Rose (pedal steel), plus some amazing guests like Marco Benevento (pianos), Daniel Littleton (guitar), Joel Ricci, Chris Miller & Dean Jones (horns), and Amy Helm, Kristin Andreassen & Aoife O’Donovan (harmony vocals.) And Adam Armstrong recorded the whole thing.

Their album BRIGHT AS YOU CAN released on June 2, 2015 was successfully crowd funded via Pledgemusic

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