Country Bites News snippets December 11, 2017 – December 17, 2017

Country Bites News snippets December 11, 2017 – December 17, 2017

UK & Irish News, UK Chart News, Album Releases, Country News (Awards, TV, Babies), Music News, Country Fashion, Gossip, Birthdays, Links to Articles, Reviews, & Videos.

SOURCES / LINKS shown

For the latest Billboard Country Charts Blog Post go HERE

UK & IRISH News

For a full listing of 2017/ 2018 UK Tour dates PLEASE check out our Tour Dates Page

On the BBC Radio 2 Playlist for the week commencing Saturday 16th December 2017

A Playlist:

Gwen Stefani - Like Christmas feat. Blake Shelton

Taylor Swift - Gorgeous

B Playlist:

Shania Twain - Who's Gonna Be Your Girl

C Playlist:

OUT:

Maren Morris - 80s Mercedes removed from the C Playlist

(11 Dec 2017) The Americans are delighted to return to the UK in January to play Celtic Connections and the UK Americana Music Awards, as well as club shows in Newcastle, Oxford and Leeds. INFO >> http://bit.ly/AmericansUK2018

See Related Blog Posts

Return for Jan/Feb 2018 Tour

SAT 27 JAN - Newcastle, The Cluny

SUN 28 JAN - Glasgow, Celtic Connections @ Oran Mor

TUE 30 JAN - Oxford, The Bullingdon

WED 31 JAN - London, Americana Fest UK

SAT 3 FEB - Leeds, Brudenell Social Club

UK CHART NEWS

Official UK Top 100 Singles Chart (Week Ending 21 December 2017)

15 December 2017 - 21 December 2017

With new X Factor champions Rak-Su's coronation single Dimelo (feat. Naughty Boy & Wyclef Jean) fell 2-6 (27,881 sales), Ed Sheeran had an easy victory atop the singles chart with Perfect selling a further 58,436 copies on its second week at the summit.

Perfect's parent album ÷ returns to No.1 on the album chart, earning Sheeran the seventh double of his career, all of them this year. Sheeran has now spent 19 weeks at No.1 on the singles chart (16 of them in 2017) and 34 weeks at No.1 on the albums chart (18 of them this year) and is second on the list of most weeks at No.1 in the 2010s on both lists, trailing Justin Bieber (30 weeks) on singles and Adele (36 weeks) on albums. Only Frankie Laine (27 weeks in 1953) and Elvis Presley (18 weeks in 1961) have spent more weeks at No.1 on the singles chart in a calendar year than Sheeran has this year.

There were also new peaks for five Christmas songs: Michael Buble's 2011 recording It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas (45-18, 17,361 sales) surpasses the No.27 peak it scaled last year; Elton John's Step Into Christmas (63-19, 16,622 sales) improves on the No.24 high it secured in the first week of 1974; Chris Rea, in the news for all the wrong reasons with his health scare this week, surges 68-23 (15,706 sales) with his 1988 single Driving Home For Christmas, beating its Christmas 2016 peak of No.26

The race for Christmas Number 1 has always been a tricky beast. Songs that have become festive staples that you might assume reached the top spot, in fact, didn’t. One such holiday classic is Wham’s Last Christmas.

Released in 1984, Last Christmas was a shoe-in for the top spot. That was, of course, until Band Aid’s Do They Know It’s Christmas was released and blew everything else out of the water. Still, Wham’s somewhat melancholic offering landed just behind it at Number 2, making it the biggest selling Number 2 single in Official Charts history.

Following George’s death, fans Tony Rudd & JJ took to Facebook on Boxing Day last year (@lastXmas2017) to start a campaign in a bid to finally get Wham’s Last Christmas to Number 1.

“The campaign seemed like the right thing to do and a nice touch to mark a year since George’s passing,” Tony said. “It never achieved the top spot, plus we'd have an actual Christmas song at Christmas Number 1.”

Official UK Top 100 Albums Chart (Week Ending 21 December 2017)

15 December 2017 - 21 December 2017

With only one new album selling enough copies to debut inside the Top 75 this week, and none impacting the Top 50, there was, nevertheless, a change at the top of the chart for the 16th week in a row, with 2017's biggest-selling album, ÷ by Ed Sheeran, returning to the summit.

Although the new version of Perfect featuring Beyonce is not on ÷, its release has helped to focus attention on Sheeran once again. Increasing consumption for the 11th week in a row since it recorded its lowest weekly sale of 11,224, ÷ secured 73,074 sales last week (including 6,739 from sales-equivalent streaming), its best tally for 35 weeks.

Christmas With Daniel O'Donnell moved 23-28 (8,158 sales) and You Make It Feel Like Christmas by Gwen Stefani fell 55-61 (3,354 sales)

Chris Stapleton with FROM A ROOM - VOL 2 (Mercury Nashville) fell off the top 100 from No.89.

Official UK Country Album Top 20 (Week Ending 21 December 2017)

15 December 2017 - 21 December 2017

Chris Stapleton with FROM A ROOM - VOL 2 held at No.1

Glen Campbell with ADIOS rose 3-2 (27 weeks; #1 peak)

Shane Richie with A COUNTRY SOUL fell 2-3 (5 weeks; #1 peak)

Luke Bryan with WHAT MAKES YOU COUNTRY made a debut at No.4

Tim McGraw & Faith Hill with THE REST OF OUR LIFE fell 4-5 (4 weeks; #2 peak)

Chris Stapleton with FROM A ROOM -Vol 1 climbed 7-6 (32 weeks; #1 peak)

Lady Antebellum with HEART BREAK fell 5-7 (27 weeks; #2 peak)

Margo Price with ALL AMERICAN MADE fell 6-8 (8 weeks; #1 peak)

Kelsea Ballerini with UNAPOLOGETICALLY held at No.9 (6 weeks; #2 peak)

Brothers Osborne with PAWN SHOP fell 8-10 (28 weeks; #5 peak)

Outside the Top 10

Cadillac Three with LEGACY held at No.11 (16 weeks; #2 peak)

Lucinda Williams with THIS SWEET OLD WORLD fell 12-13 (8 weeks; #2 peak)

Nathan Carter with LIVE AT 3ARENA made a debut at No.15

Official Americana Albums Chart Top 40 (Week Ending 21 December 2017)

15 December 2017 - 21 December 2017

This Week/ Last Week/ Title/ Artist

1 3 Carry Fire Robert Plant

2 4 A Deeper Understanding War On Drugs [Tagged Alt]

3 6 Lotta Sea Lice Courtney Barnett & Kurt Vile [Tagged Alternative]

4 1 The Visitor Neil Young/ Promise Of The Real [Tagged Rock]

5 5 Roll With The Punches Van Morrison [Tagged Blues]

6 9 Life Love Flesh Blood Imelda May [Tagged Singer/Songwriter]

7 7 Songbook Frank Turner [Tagged Alt]

8 8 Adios Glen Campbell [Tagged Country]

9 2 From A Room - Vol 2 Chris Stapleton

10 10 Pure Comedy Father John Misty

Outside The Top 10

11 11 Hitchhiker Neil Young [Tagged Rock]

12 12 Crack-up Fleet Foxes [Tagged Alt]

15 NEW Goin' Platinum Robert Finley [Tagged R&B/Soul]

UK Country iTunes Chart December 17, 2017 16:00

Albums

1. Johnny Cash -  The Legend Of (#78 overall UK Albums chart)

2. Lady Antebellum - Need You Now (#283 overall UK Albums chart) 

3. Various Artists - The Country Album (#295 overall UK Albums chart)

4. Chris Stapleton - From A Room, Vol. 2 (#340 overall UK Albums chart)

5. Dixie Chicks - The Classic Albums Collection (#350 overall UK Albums chart)

6. John Denver - The Ultimate Collection (#369 overall UK Albums chart)

7. Dixie Chicks - The Essential Dixie Chicks (#378 overall UK Albums chart)

8. Shania Twain - Greatest Hits (#444 overall UK Albums chart)

9. Taylor Swift - Red (#695 overall UK Albums chart)

10. Various Artists - Country - 101 All Time Greats (#764 overall UK Albums chart)

Outside the Top 10

12. Luke Bryan - What Makes You Country (#860 overall UK Albums chart)

13. Tim McGraw & Faith Hill - The Rest of Our Life (#880 overall UK Albums chart)

31. Delta Rae - The Blackbird Sessions EP (#1343 overall UK Albums chart)

UK Country iTunes Chart December 17, 2017 16:00

Songs

1. Lady Antebellum - Need You Now (#356 overall UK Singles chart)

2. Johnny Cash - Hurt (#426 overall UK Singles chart)

3. Dolly Parton & Kenny Rogers - Islands In The Stream (#576 overall UK Singles chart)

4. John Denver - Take Me Home, Country Roads (#583 overall UK Singles chart)

5. Chris Stapleton - Tennessee Whiskey (#591 overall UK Singles chart)

6. Dolly Parton - Jolene (#829 overall UK Singles chart)

7. Shania Twain - You're Still The One (#855 overall UK Singles chart)

8. Mark Wills - Like There's No Yesterday (#866 overall UK Singles chart)

9. Lady Antebellum - Need You Now (#942 overall UK Singles chart) From NOW That's What I Call Country

10. Dolly Parton - 9 To 5 (#984 overall UK Singles chart)

Outside The Top 10

11. Taylor Swift - New Year's Day (#1040 overall UK Singles chart)

UK COUNTRY ALBUM RELEASES

(12 Dec 2017) Carrie Cunningham - Let's Dance (EP; 2017 Sound Barn Records)

5 Tracks/ Time: 15:36 Country/ Pop / Blues Amazon UK - UK iTunes - Amazon.com

New single "One Less Regret"

Home Town: Chadron, Nebraska and Spokane Washington | Current Location: Huntington Beach, California

Blurb: Carrie Cunningham is an International Chart topping Performing Songwriter who loves to entertain! "Carrie has the amazing voice everyone around town knows and is a true country pro" (PMA special KUPL). Musically daring and more interesting than a traditional three-chord country singer, Carrie is not unlike a Modern-Day Bobby Gentry. She has the sass of Miranda Lambert and a powerhouse voice like Martina McBride; all the while, the sweetness that seethes from the rich tones of Pam Tillis; which engages and captivated the audience within minutes.

Website: https://www.carrielive.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/carriecunninghamband/

(12 Dec 2017) Helena Mace - Strangers (Single) UK

Amazon UK - UK iTunes

Debut #55 UK Country iTunes Chart, then #97 UK Country iTunes, then #139 | Weds Dec 13: off the top 200

(15 Dec 2017) Delta Rae - The Blackbird Sessions - EP (Big Machine Label Group) CHRIS

4 Tracks/ Time: 11:01 Amazon UK - UK iTunes 

They shared: A few weeks ago we rented out the legendary Blackbird Studios in Nashville with the plan to cut our first ever recording of a Christmas carol, "Silent Night." Blackbird Studios is a magical place — almost every artist you know and love has recorded there — and once "Silent Night" was finished we still had the studio for the rest of the evening. Rather than pack up and say good night, we discussed how we could offer our fans a new experience of our single, "No Peace in Quiet." Burning the midnight oil, we kept recording.

(15 Dec 2017) Kyle Fields - Hillbilly Poetry (2017 Kyle Fields)

11 Tracks/ Time:  43:46 Amazon UK - UK iTunes

Debut: #23 US Country iTunes

(15 Dec 2017) Eric Church To Release '61 Days In Church' 15-Vinyl Boxed Set

Featuring more than 100 songs from his "HOLDIN' MY OWN TOUR," on 15 vinyl records. The boxed set will also include a commemorative poster, hardcover book, a custom road case, and more. CHURCH shared the news with fans via FACEBOOK.

The first shipment was set for Friday, December 15th and will include the first three volumes of "61 Days In CHURCH" on vinyl. A new volume of vinyl will be delivered each month in 2018, starting in January, concluding 2018 with the full 15 LP set. For more information visit the "61 DAYS IN CHURCH" website here.

NEWS

(14 Dec 2017) Triple Tigers' Scotty McCreery has recorded a recitation of "Twas The Night Before Christmas" as a free holiday gift to his fans. McCreery shared the track on his Facebook page, writing, "I'm feeling jolly and full of the Christmas spirit today, so thought I'd share with you my reading of 'Twas The Night Before Christmas.'"

(15 Dec 2017) Big Machine Music, The Valory Music Co. Sign Tyler Rich

Country artist Tyler Rich has signed publishing and recording deals with Big Machine Music and THE VALORY MUSIC CO., respectively.

"Tyler Rich is a great performer, and his talents shine through in quick fashion," noted THE VALORY MUSIC CO. GM George Briner. "He’s already built a strong social following, and we’re excited for everyone to hear why all of us at THE VALORY MUSIC CO. are over the top about Tyler." added Rich, "When I moved to NASHVILLE, I could have never dreamed that working with this hard-working label would even be possible. I can’t imagine a better team and stronger force behind me than Scott Borchetta, George Briner, and my entire VALORY family. I’m just beyond words and so excited for what’s to come as an artist and also a songwriter on Big Machine Music. To my fans, I can’t wait to share what we’ve been working on with all of you, LETS GO!"

TV

(14 Dec 2017) The Common Linnets: Ilse DeLange takes over role in the US series "Nashville"

Now she conquers the US television! Ilse DeLange, singer and songwriter of The Common Linnets, announced (>> YouTube) this week that she is now cast in the internationally acclaimed US series Nashville! In the upcoming season six, DeLange will make her debut as an actress alongside the fictional country stars and shake up the scene in Music City!

Based on an idea by Oscar - winner Callie Khouri, The eponymous country soap has been highlighting the hustle and bustle in the music metropolis of Nashville since 2012: superstars from the country scene compete against up-and-coming newcomers, young songwriters try to gain a foothold and land their first hits ... and of course many roads lead to Music City: one want the money, the next the fame, yet others want to be creative, express themselves as a songwriter.

In the upcoming season Ilse DeLange (Ilse de Witt) will be seen as Judge and Coach in the talent show of Brad Maitland (Jeffrey Nordling) and take the young Daphne (Maisy Stella) under her wing. For the Dutchwoman, this big TV debut is a step towards completely new territory, as she commented: "Yes, it's my debut as an actress! I'm really excited. I've been going to Nashville regularly for 20 years - it's the city where my career started, where I signed my first contract. The city has become a kind of second home for me. Now in this grandiose series to get a role - that's the fulfillment of a dream! "

After her breakthrough at the Eurovision Song Contest 2014 with the single "Calm After The Storm" one success story after another followed for DeLange's band The Common Linnets : the song was number 1 in 14 countries. In addition, they were awarded the ECHO in the" Newcomer International "category. The debut "The Common Linnets" was awarded gold in Germany - the single "Calm After The Storm" reached sensational platinum status. Most recently, the band released another hit album, "II" (2015), which conquered the top 20 in Germany and went to # 1 in the Netherlands.

Ilse DeLange will travel to the United States next week (Instagram) to film her parts. Season 6 of Nashville is scheduled to debut on 4 January 2018 on CMT in the United States.

BABY NEWS

(15 Dec 2017) Rodney Atkins (48) and his wife Rose Falcon welcomed a baby boy on Thursday (Dec. 14). Ryder Falcon Atkins is the couple's first child together.

The baby was born in Nashville at 2:02PM, weighing 8 lbs, 13 oz. and measuring 20 inches at birth. People had the scoop on the baby news, with the “Watching You” singer explaining that by giving him Falcon as a middle name, he was honoring his wife’s 96-year-old grandfather and her father. “He is by far the most precious early Christmas present ever for me, Rose and big brother Eli,” he said.

MUSIC NEWS

(12 Dec 2017) Billboard.com Heads up, Liechtenstein, you and 27 other countries are part of Amazon's latest expansion of both its Echo smart speaker and its on-demand music streaming service Amazon Music Unlimited. Beginning Dec 8th, music fans across Europe, Central and South America and two islands in the Mediterranean can subscribe for access to AMU's catalog of 40 million ad-free songs and playlists. Amazon will also start shipping its popular Echo line of speakers to the new countries.

AMU launched in the U.S. in 2016, followed by the U.K., Germany, Japan and more. The 28 new territories are: Belgium, Bolivia, Bulgaria, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Estonia, Finland, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Panama, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Sweden and Uruguay.

ARTICLES

(18 Dec 2017) Guest Blog: Erin Enderlin On Writing Her New Album, Whiskeytown Crier - American Songwriter.com

REVIEWS

(11 Dec 2017) The Adelaides – Live at The Scala London – Building Our Own Nashville Review

The Adelaides gifted the audience memorable tunes which are the perfect blend of country and pop. Their songwriting ability and fabulous harmonies are sure to make them a household name in 2018...read more

INTERVIEWS

(11 Dec 2017) Lee Williams (CEO CMR Nashville) is in conversation with Ashley Campbell

WATCH

(14 Dec 2017) Lucy Angel - Last Christmas >> YouTube

We LOVE Christmas and had so much fun singing this classic by Wham! Hope it brings you a little Christmas Cheer! xo

(14 Dec 2017) TODAY shares a country Christmas with Vince Gill and Amy Grant

(14 Dec 2017) Delta Rae - Silent Night (Recorded at Blackbird Studios, Nashville) >> YouTube

COUNTRY FASHION

(13 Dec 2017) Retail Therapy:300/WAR's Bailey Bryan is partnering with jewelry company Alex And Ani through its Charity by Design program, which has created limited-edition Angel Charm and Unicorn Charm bangles. The company will donate 20% of sales to Children's Miracle Network Hospitals. Bryan underwent spinal surgery at age 16 to treat her scoliosis at Seattle Children's Hospital, a CMN hospital. More here.

COUNTRY GOSSIP

(13 Dec 2017) Taylor Swift: 'I couldn't have asked for a better year'

Taylor Swift has thanked her fans for making her 27th year special as she turned 28. The Shake It Off singer celebrated her 28th birthday on Wednesday (13 Dec 2017), and to mark the occasion, she reflected on the past year, which included her return to the limelight with the release of her album Reputation, which topped the charts and sold a million copies in its first week in the U.S. It was also the year she started dating her British beau Joe Alwyn.

She shared a picture from her recent performance at the Capital FM Jingle Bell Ball in London on Instagram and wrote in the caption: "I love you guys so much. This was a photo @paul_sidoti took at @capitalofficial Jingle Bell Ball in London a few days ago. I couldn’t have asked for a better year, all thanks to you. Thanks for all the birthday wishes. Can’t wait to see what 28 will be like. See you on tour."

Diamonds Are A Girl's Best Friend: The RIAA has issued diamond certification for Taylor Swift's 2008 Big Machine album FEARLESS, signifying more than 10 million sold. Swift and Nathan Chapman co-produced the album.

PHOTO

(14 Dec 2017) Country duo Sugarland stopped by Cumulus nationally syndicated "The Blair Garner Show" to chat with show host Blair Garner about their new music and what 2018 has in store for them.

BIRTHDAYS

Birthdays in the week ahead

December 18: Tracy Byrd (1966), Cledus T Judd (1964)

December 19: the late Bill Carlisle (Carlisles) (1908; died March 17, 2003 (aged 94)), the late Little Jimmy Dickens (1920; died Jan 2, 2015 (aged 94), Janie Fricke (1947)

December 21: Albert Lee (1953), Lee Roy Parnell (1956), Christy Forester (Forester Sisters) (1962)
December 22: Chuck Mead (BR5-49) (1960), Hawkshaw Hawkins - (1921; died March 5, 1963 (aged 41); in the 1963 plane crash that also killed country stars Patsy Cline and Cowboy Copas), Red Steagall (1937), Lori McKenna (1968)