Country Bites News snippets December 2 - December 8, 2013

Country Bites News snippets December 2 – December 8, 2013

SOURCES / LINKS shown in RED

UK & IRISH News

Birthday boy Daniel O'Donnell has new UK and Irish dates in 2014 available on Ticketmaster

The Band Perry have been added to Sunday's line up for C2C 2014 at the O2 in London on March 16th 2014. They will join headliner Brad Paisley, Rascal Flatts and Chris Young .

UK CHART NEWS

Official UK Albums Top 100 (Week Ending December 14, 2013)

Daniel O’Donnell with A PICTURE OF YOU (DMGTV) dropped 12 places, 43-55, in his 4th week at retail for his latest and 30th UK Top 40 album. - CD - MP3

Taylor Swift’s RED fell 16 places from 76-92 on her 59th chart week.

Official UK Country Album Chart  (Week Ending December 14, 2013)

Billie Joe (Armstrong) + Norah (Jones) with their 12 track FOREVERLY (Warner Bros) remained at No.1 for a second week. Kacey Musgraves with SAME TRAILER DIFFERENT PARKHOODOO (Decca) held the No.2 slot in her 34th week.

Derek Ryan was a non mover at No.5 with COUNTRY SOUL (Sharp Music)

The massive selling American holiday album and 3 week Billboard Country Album No.1 Robertsons:Duck The Halls - A Robertson Family made a debut at No.9.

Jake Owen’s new set DAYS OF GOLD  (Sony Music CG) made a bow at No.19.

On the Hotdisc Chart (December 8, 2013 Chart)  

The latest tracks from Hotdisc December #180 release began to impact the chart.

Billy Yates with his 2-week No.1 “The House That Jack Built” was knocked off the top of the Hotdisc charts (1-2) by Ray Scott with his new self penned single  "My Kind Of Music" who crashed in atop the summit to land his third #1 Hotdisc Top 40 of 2013 following in the wake of  "Those Jeans" (4-weeks at #1) and "Still Screamin' My Name" (6-weeks at #1).

David Shelby made a sweet return to form as his new track “Stealing Honey” (written with F J Turner and Chris Virzi) from his album RUST BELT COWBOY which made a bow at No.3.

There are four more entries inside the top 10:

The Phoenix Stone Band “When The Whiskey Doesn’t Work” came in at #7, Australia’s Michelle Banting with “Stay A While” (written with Stephen Walls and Joseph Attallah) debuted at #8, Toby Keith’s “Shut Up And Hold On” (writers Toby Keith and Bobby Pinson) bowed at No.9 and Show Dog labelmate Joel Crouse with “Why God Made Love Songs”, co-written with Jamie Houston and Jimmy Yeary, rounded out the Top 10 at #10.

The Hayley Oliver Band with “The Hand That Rocked The Cradle” moved 2-4 to succesfully hold the No.1 on the Hotdisc British & Irish Chart for a fifth straight week holding off the challenge from Kickin’ Country with “Rock It Megamix” who fell back one slot 4-5.

Other new tracks to make the top tier were US acts M Callaghan “Baptized By Your Love” (#13), Laurie Shaw’s “Breathless” (writer Rita Weyls) came in at #15 and a noteworthy holiday single and title cut “Born This Day” (Bison Creek Records) from James Robert Webb. He will be donating as well as matching a portion of the proceeds from the sale of "Born This Day" to SADS Foundation (Sudden Arrhythmia Death Syndrome) 

UKCountryRadio.com’s 2013 Listeners Club finalist Thorne Hill new self penned single “All My Days” made an entry at No.34 and has once again fallen short of making the Top 10 British placings following last months EP title cut “Tomorrow” which peaked at No.28 after a 4 week run.

UK COUNTRY ALBUM RELEASES

(9 Dec 2013) The Civil Wars - Bare Bones EP (Sensibility Recordings/Columbia Records) 6 Tracks/ Time: 21:27 MP3

(2 Dec 2013) The Robertsons - Duck The Halls: A Robertson Family Christmas (Decca) CD - MP3 

(2 Dec 2013) Suzy Bogguss - Aces / Voices In The Wind / Something Up My Sleeve ( BGO Records) (2 Disc/ 3 Albums) CD

These are three wonderful early 1990s albums adorned the US Country and Pop charts for several months. From these recordings came the Country hits 'Drive South', 'Letting Go' and 'Hey Cinderella'. The albums are digitally remastered and slipcased with extensive new liner notes. This title is new to the BGO catalogue.

AUSSIE NEWS

The Wolfe Brothers have bumped O'Shea off the top of the national Country Tracks Top 30 singles chart this week with their hit song “The Girl, The Bottle, The Memory”. Chelsea Basham's “By The Light Of The Moon” is up one place to number two, as is the Troy Cassar-Daley/Adam Harvey cover of “Good Hearted Woman” at three and O'Shea's former number one, “Be With You Tonight”, is at four. Diana Corcoran's “Therapy” is steady at five, Amber Lawrence's “Pretty Little Liar” is up two to six and Kaylens Rains' “Waiting On A Bus” is steady at seven.

Red Ink: Taylor Swift has become the first female artist to ever sell out Sydney Australia's Allianz Stadium. She kicked off her Red Tour down under last night (12/5) and the Syndney Morning Herald called the two-hour show "the real deal," praising Taylor's "appealing personality, heap of irresistible anthems, slick visuals and genuine musical talent."

John Williamson has split the world of Australian country music. He's quit as president of the Country Music Association of Australia (which runs the annual Golden Guitar awards in Tamworth), in frustration at what he sees is the Americanisation of its annual awards. John Williamson has questioned the nomination for next month's industry awards in Tamworth of an album with a number of American covers by leading Australian country singers Troy Cassar-Daley and Adam Harvey. It's perhaps the most well-known song of John Williamson's long career, but the multi-award-winning artist worries the local industry is no longer so true blue. In a letter to the association he said: It's as though the Golden Guitar Awards are The American Country Music Awards of Australia. If we are not respected as a legitimate organisation to promote original Australian Country Music, I cannot be associated with it any longer.

NEWS

• Country Aircheck's Insider News December 6, 2013 - December 10, 2013  
• Hall Mark:  Dolly Parton's "Jolene" and Kris Kristofferson's self-titled debut album are among the recordings to be inducted into the 2014 Grammy Hall Of Fame. They'll join Sugarhill Gang's "Rapper's Delight," The Rolling Stones' "Honky Tonk Women," U2's The Joshua Tree and more from the 2014 class, which marks the Hall's 40th anniversary
• Ashton Shepherd, Beth Cayhall, Hannah Bethel, McKenzies Mill and Mitch Goudy will all be helping Christmas 4 Kids give the joy of Christmas to thousands of Middle Tennessee children through the Tour Bus Show on Monday, December 16th.
• Danielle Bradbery, the 17-year-old singing sensation and recent winner of Season 4 of NBC’s “The Voice,” has been named the new face of Skechers and will appear in the company’s global marketing and social media campaigns through 2015. Bradbery will make her first appearance in the Spring 2014 television and print ad campaign for the charitable footwear line, BOBS from Skechers, which recently surpassed the six-million-pair donation milestone.
• Garth Brooks has been coy about rumors his new album and post-Thanksgiving TV special could signal a return to the concert stage as well, until he sat down with “Good Morning America” anchor Robin Roberts. “You know what, since it’s you and since we’ve had a history forever, let’s announce it.  We’re going on a world tour in 2014,” Brooks told Roberts today on “GMA.”  “I can’t believe I just did that but you are a doll”. Referring to his wife, Trisha Yearwood, Garth added, "And Ms. Yearwood is fine with it and so now I get to do what I love to do, which is play music. I get to be with the person I want to be with, which is Ms. Yearwood. And my children are off on their own." No dates have been announced yet.
• Ray Price is in the final stages of pancreatic cancer and has been readmitted back to the hospital; doctors don’t believe he’ll leave the Tyler, Texas facility this time.
• Lionel Richie is no stranger to country music. Just last year he released TUSKEGEE, which featured 13 of his best-known songs re-recorded as duets with country artists.  Earlier this week, Richie shared the stage with Luke Bryan during the CMT Artists of the Year ceremony, performing his hits “Oh No” and “All Night Long.” In an interview with Country Weekly he confessed that Bryan may have convinced him to further deepen his roots in the country community and to consider a follow-up to his 2012 release.
• The Pretty Little Liars cast is taking the country world by storm. Following in Lucy Hale's (Aria) footsteps is Sasha Pieterse (Alison DiLaurentis) who prepares to release her fourth country music single. Check out the cover art for Sasha’s upcoming single! “No” will be Sasha’s fourth foray into country music singledom. The first, “This Country Is Bad Ass,” was released last April. “R.P.M.”

TOURS

Shania Twain just celebrated the first anniversary of her residency at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas, and it looks like she may be extending her contract into 2015. The current contract expires next year, but Shania tells The Las Vegas Sun she'd like to stick around Sin City a little longer.

TV

If NBC needed any convincing that their choice to cast True Blood’s Stephen Moyer and Country star Carrie Underwood as the leads for their take on the 1959 Rodgers and Hammerstein’s The Sound Of Music musical, they needn’t be convinced anymore. The show pulled in 18.5 million viewers in preliminary overnight ratings, giving the Network it’s best ratings on a Thursday since 2009 and their best 3 hour block since “Frasier” went off-air in May 13, 2004 (“Frasier” finale night, 22.597 million viewers).  The top local market in metered market households came in Carrie Underwood’s home state of Oklahoma.

Country Awards

The 56th Annual Grammy Awards will air live from Los Angeles on Jan. 26 on CBS.

Taylor Swift grabbed Grammy nominations in the Album of the Year and Best country album categories on Friday night (Dec. 6), marking the latest recognitions for her multi-platinum Red. The Album Of The Year category alone represents the rap, pop, country and dance/electronica genres, as determined by the voting members of The Academy.

Taylor's "Begin Again" is also up for best country song and she is nominated for best country duo/group performance category, thanks to "Highway Don't Care" recorded with Tim McGraw and Keith Urban.

Her theatrical performance of "I Knew You Were Trouble" from the Australian leg of her Red tour was spliced into an early segment of The Grammy Nominations Concert Live, a television special which aired live from Los Angeles on CBS. Swift prerecorded her segment at Allianz Stadium in Sydney on Wednesday.

For recordings released during Eligibility October 1, 2012 through September 30, 2013

Country/Americana/Bluegrass/Folk interest:

Category 2 (Album of The Year)

Award to the Artist(s) and to Album Producer(s), Record Engineer(s) and or/Mixer(s).

THE BLESSED UNREST (Sara Bareilles); RANDOM ACCESS MEMORIES (Daft Punk),GOOD KID, M.A.A.D CITY (Kendrick Lamar); THE HEIST (Macklemore & Ryan Lewis); RED (Taylor Swift)

Category 4 (Best New Artist)

James Blake, Kendrick Lamar, Macklemore & Ryan Lewis, Kacey Musgraves, Ed Sheeran

Category 26 (Best Country Solo Performance) for new vocal or instrumental solo country recordings

"I Drive Your Truck," Lee Brice; "I Want Crazy," Hunter Hayes; "Mama's Broken Heart," Miranda Lambert;

"Wagon Wheel," Darius Rucker; "Mine Would Be You," Blake Shelton

Category 26 (Best Country Duo/Group Performance) For new vocal or instrumental duo/group or collaborative recordings.

"From This Valley," the Civil Wars; "Don't Rush," Kelly Clarkson featuring Vince Gill; "Your Side of the Bed," Little Big Town

"Highway Don't Care," Tim McGraw, Taylor Swift and Keith Urban; "You Can't Make Old Friends," Kenny Rogers with Dolly Parton.

Category 27 (Best Country Song)

"Begin Again," Taylor Swift (Songwriter: Taylor Swift)

"I Drive Your Truck," Lee Brice (Songwriters: Jessi Alexander, Connie Harrington and Jimmy Yeary)

"Mama's Broken Heart," Miranda Lambert (Songwriters: Brandy Clark, Shane McAnally and Kacey Musgraves)

"Merry Go Round," Kacey Musgraves  (Songwriters: Shane McAnally, Kacey Musgraves and Josh Osborne)

"Mine Would Be You," Blake Shelton (Songwriters: Jessi Alexander, Connie Harrington and Deric Ruttan)

Category 29 (Best Country Album) For albums containing at least 51% playling time of new vocal or instrumental country recordings

Night Train (Jason Aldean); Two Lanes of Freedom (Tim McGraw); Same Trailer Different Park (Kacey Musgraves)

Based on a True Story (Blake Shelton); Red (Taylor Swift)

Category 45 (Best American Roots Song)

"Build Me Up From Bones," Sarah Jarosz (Songwriter: Sarah Jarosz)

"Invisible," Steve Earle & the Dukes (& Duchesses) (Songwriter: Steve Earle)

"Keep Your Dirty Lights On," Tim O'Brien and Darrell Scott (Songwriters: Tim O'Brien and Darrell Scott)

"Love Has Come for You," Steve Martin and Edie Brickell (Songwriters: Edie Brickell and Steve Martin)

"Shrimp Po-Boy, Dressed, Allen Toussaint (Songwriter: Allen Toussaint)

Category 46 (Best Americana Album) For albums containing at least 51% playling time of new vocal or instrumental Americana recordings

Old Yellow Moon (Emmylou Harris and Rodney Crowell); Love Has Come for You (Steve Martin and Edie Brickell);

Buddy and Jim (Buddy Miller and Jim Lauderdale); One True Vine (Mavis Staples); Songbook (Allen Toussaint)

Category 46 (Best Bluegrass Album) For albums containing at least 51% playling time of new vocal or instrumental Bluegrass recordings

It's Just a Road (the Boxcars); Brothers of the Highway (Dailey & Vincent); This World Oft Can Be (Della Mae);

Three Chords and the Truth (James King); The Streets of Baltimore (Del McCoury Band)

Category 49 (Best Folk Album) For albums containing at least 51% playling time of new vocal or instrumental Folk recordings

My Favorite Picture of You (Guy Clark); Sweetheart of the Sun (the Greencards); Build Me Up From Bones (Sarah Jarosz);

The Ash & Clay (the Milk Carton Kids); They All Played for Us: Arhoolie Records 50th Anniversary Celebration (Various Artists)

Download The 56th GRAMMY Awards Nominees List  [PDF file]

BABY NEWS

Crib Note:  Congratulations to Lee Brice and wife Sara on the birth of son Ryker Mobley Brice Wednesday (4 Dec). "A week ago I didn't think I could be any happier," Brice tweeted. "I was wrong. Our brand new baby boy was born healthy. My heart is full." Ryker weighed 8 pounds, 4 ounces and joins big brother Takoda. 

Brice says Mobley is also his middle name, as well as that of his father and grandfather.

SINGLE / ALBUM NEWS

Christmas will come early this year for Lauren Alaina fans, who will be able to stuff their stockings with her version of the holiday classic, “Grown Up Christmas List” on December 10th. The digital track, which was produced by Nathan Chapman, is being released on US iTunes in conjunction with the 26th anniversary of the Special Olympics’ ‘A Very Special Christmas’ holiday music serie

PRESS RELEASES

• Russell Moore (The International Bluegrass Music Association's 5-Time Male Vocalist of the Year), is proud to announce the addition of two new members to his illustrious band, IIIrd Tyme Out; Keith McKinnon on banjo and Blake Johnson on bass
• Mindy Smith was added to “Sarah Darling And Friends Acoustic Christmas” Concert Line-Up at Franklin Theatre Friday, Dec. 13, 2013
• Ulster man Pete Kennedy wins back-to-back UK “Album of the Year” award  with “The Nashville Sessions Vol. 2” at 2013 BRITISH Country Music Awards in front of a full house at the Concorde Club, London Heathrow.  Kennedy also sparked industry recognition this year with an unprecedented 5 nominations.
• Chris Young is planning several European shows with stops in London, England, Dublin, Ireland, Stavanger and Oslo, Norway and Gothenburg and Stockholm, Sweden in the new year. 
• Tickets for George Strait’s final tour stop at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas went officially on sale Dec. 6, 2013. Special guests have been invited to perform at each stop on Quicken Loans Presents George Strait’s The Cowboy Rides Away Tour 2014. For dates and performers read Press Release. Update: Tickets sold out within hours of tickets going on sale today, Dec. 6, 2013.
• After weeks of touring the U.S. in support of their latest single, a remake of Johnny Cash's Folsom Prison Blues, country up-and-comers Angel Mary and the Tennessee Werewolves (AMTW) will make their international debut - their music video being featured on The Phil Mack Country Show beginning Monday, December 9th.
• Dolly Parton will kick-off her ‘Blue Smoke World Tour’ starting in January 2014 now she announces US Shows and three additional International Shows.
• This month’s Lineup Promises a December to Remember at Larry's Country Diner (Larry Mahan, Rebecca Lynn Howard, Exile, Billy Dean)
• Sarah Jarosz was nominated for two Grammy Awards for Best Folk Album for her album Build Me Up From Bones as well as Best American Roots Song for “Build Me Up From Bones.” Awards will be given out at the 56th Annual GRAMMY Awards at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on January 26, 2014. 
• Dolly Parton is proud to announce her latest recording endeavor, a partnership between her own label Dolly Records and Sony Masterworks.  The label deal will launch her new album Blue Smoke in New Zealand/Australia on January 31, 2014, to coincide with her international Blue Smoke World Tour which will hit New Zealand, Australia in February.  In addition, Blue Smoke will be released in the United States and Europe in May 2014, in advance of the Blue Smoke World Tour hitting England, Ireland, Scotland, Denmark, Germany, Norway and Sweden.
• Kenny Rogers & Dolly Parton received their third joint Grammy nomination
  
  on Friday night, December 6th for “You Can't Make Old Friends” for Best Country Duo/Group Performance. The song is featured on Rogers’ latest Warner Bros. album of the same name.  The nomination is the third for Kenny & Dolly as a duo.  They were previously nominated for Best Pop Vocal Performance by a Duo or Group in 1984 for “Islands In The Stream,” and then again in 1986 for Best Country Vocal Performance by a Duo or Group for “Real Love.”
• Randy Travis, who portrays local store owner Mr. Greenhall, joins One Tree Hill alums Hilarie Burton and Tyler Hilton as they reunite in “Christmas On The Bayou,” a charming love story set to premiere on Saturday, December 14, on Lifetime (a premier female-focused entertainment destination)
• CDX Volume 585 Newsletter

ARTICLES

• American Songwriter included Brandy Clark's "12 Stories" in their year in Best of 2013 albums. It comes in at #27!
• NPR: All Songs Considered: The Year In Music, 2013. Vote for your top 10 albums.
• What defined your year in music? - npr.org/blogs

INTERVIEWS

Catherine Britt......At first, the idea of Catherine Britt releasing a "best of" sounds ridiculous. She's only 28 after all.

But then, when you look at her amazing and illustrious career, it makes total sense. CMC caught up with Britt to talk about her new record celebrating her career to date, The Hillbilly Ramblin' Pickin' Girl So Far..

MAGAZINES

December 2013 Feast Magazine (the Sweets Issue) : Delves into St. Louis' culinary scene for inspired ideas in cooking

WATCH

• Emma King & The Heartsets' brand new video for '(Let's Hope) Tomorrow Is A Better Day' . It's available on UK iTunes. In 2014 the band will be taking this brand new song to radio across Europe and the US. The single is self written and produced by the band in their humble studio in Franklin Tennessee.
• Catherine Britt "Who Cares" (Official Music Video)
• "Gasoline And Matches" - To bring LeAnn Rimes’ latest to life. The video for LeAnn’s duet with Rob Thomas that features Jeff Beck on guitar was made entirely on iPhones. Ian Padgham, mostly known for his work on Vine, directed the animated video. “When we saw Ian’s stop motion work on Vine, the first thing I noticed was this crazy sick sense of humor wrapped around a lot of heart and warmth,” Rimes said of the director.
• Kelly Clarkson “Underneath the Tree” - Grammy Award winner Kelly Clarkson’s first Christmas album, Wrapped In Red, is certified platinum by the RIAA. The album which debuted at #3 on the Billboard Top 200 marks the biggest holiday album debut for a female artist since 2010. The hit single, “Underneath The Tree” remains #1 on The Mediabase Holiday Songs Chart where it is also the #1 greatest gainer.
• Leah Daniels "We Got Snow" (Official Music Video)
• Becca Hess  " Christmas All The Time " (Official Music Video)
• Sherry Lynn “Christmas On My Mind”  

COUNTRY FASHION

• Hayden Panettiere was seen wearing a Bec & Bridge‘Kathy’ mesh body dress (Available from Shopbop.com (in mint) whilst attending Jony And Marc’s (RED) Auction in New York - Fashion Pic
• Cassadee Pope wore an Aidan Mattox Beaded Deco Dress with Michael Kors Aiden Laser-Cut Booties ($195.00) when seen at NBC’s “America’s Got Talent” in New York City on August 28, 2013 - Fashion Pic

TWEETS

Susie McEntire The last thing I heard Mr Seattle say: "Let's go dancing!" Alright!! - NFR Memorial Outfit

PHOTO

ThrowbackThursday some favourite artist CRS seminar taping sessions over the years - Image

BIRTHDAYS

December 10: Kevin Sharp (1970)

December 11: Kenny Johnson (1939), Brenda Lee (1944), Tony Brown (1946)

December 12: Daniel O'Donnell (1961), Hank Williams III (1972). Katrina Elam

December 13: Randy Owens (Alabama) (1949), Taylor Swift (1989)

December 14: Matt Rollings (1964)