Archive for August, 2010
American Icons: Walter Donaldson
Walter Donaldson is most famous for composing “My Blue Heaven,” “Makin’ Whoopee,” “My Mammy” (Al Jolson’s theme song), and “Yes Sir, That’s My Baby.” The son of a piano teacher, he was among the most prolific hit songwriters of the 1920s. Born in Brooklyn on February 15, 1893, Donaldson never studied music formally, but took [...]
On Record: Devo
For their first new album in 20 years, punk provocateurs Devo (helmed by Mark Mothersbaugh) hired an ad firm to launch the Devo Song Study, where they let their fans choose the material. The result, Something For Everybody, ranks among their best. Are they not songwriters? They are Devo! Tell us about the Devo Song [...]
Special Report: After The Flood
“You could see the waterline, like eight feet of water in the house – you just had to gut the whole house. Sheetrock, insulation – all the way up to the ceiling. It was the weirdest thing, seeing hardwood floors just buckled.” Country singer Jason Jones is sitting in a bar in Nashville, talking about [...]
Guitar 101: The Young And The Fretless
I just drove back to Nashville from Memphis and had a blow-out on I-40 in over 100 degrees of heat. This reminds me to remind you: NEVER leave a guitar in a car on a hot day. It can literally come unglued. Don’t take the chance. You can also strike up some interesting conversations by [...]
Honorable Mention | “God’s Big Backyard”
“GOD’S BIG BACKYARD” Written by Matthew Stemme and Chris Van Duyn CASTAIC, CALIFORNIA WWW.SONICBIDS.COM/MATTHEWSTEMME God has a house with many rooms and a place He prepared for me. There’s all kinds of toys for girls and boys and a swing set that you should see All of this and more In God’s Big Backyard (repeat) [...]
Lyric Contest Winners: September/October 2010
1st Place “Notches” Written by Lance Carpenter & Scott Tonkinson Ozark, Arkansas Chandler, Arizona www.americansongspace.com/lancecarpenter www.americansongspace.com/tonkinsongs Lyrics 2nd Place “Grandmother’s Waltz” Written by Morgen La Civita Monroe, New Jersey www.sonicbids.com/morgenlacivita Lyrics 3rd Place “By The Acre, Not By The Hour” Written by David Altschul & Donna Graham Berkeley, California Lyrics 4th Place “Daddy Went To [...]
Jamey Johnson: Honky Tonk Redemption Song
Jamey Johnson is playing his first song of the night, “High Cost of Living,” at a sold-out show in Glasgow, Kentucky. The words are about trading his good life for “cocaine and a whore.” The song wasn’t much of a country hit, for obvious reasons, but the crowd knows every word. He’s wearing a black [...]
Street Smarts: One-Stop Star-Making
A few months back, a great Nashville record executive announced he was leaving his job as head of the Nashville office of one of the world’s premier record companies. He was the essence of power in the industry. He had built many of the biggest star brands in country music. He could survive anything. And [...]
3rd Place | “By The Acre, Not By The Hour”
3rd Place “By The Acre, Not By The Hour” Written by David Altschul & Donna Graham Berkeley, California I’ve drunk my share of jokers, losers and boozers In silk shirts and new shoes who press to close the deal Now I’m thirsty for someone who is gonna put me first Who doesn’t wear a fancy [...]
4th Place | “Daddy Went To Heaven, Momma Went To Hell”
4th Place “Daddy Went To Heaven, Momma Went To Hell” Written by Ben Wilson Elk Grove, California Daddy sang in the choir Momma starred in a film noir When she first got weird at high school talent night Pa was a lamb, Ma was a gator She tied the knot tight nine months later Knowin’ [...]
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