Tag archive for ‘Johnny Cash’

Behind the Song: “The Gambler”

Behind the Song: “The Gambler”

Johnny Cash cut it. Bobby Bare cut it. Under the name “Charlie Tango,” Conway Twitty’s son, Michael Twitty, cut it. Even the songwriter himself, Don Schlitz, cut it, as well as other people whose names are a distant Music Row memory. But when Kenny Rogers and producer Larry Butler finally recorded “The Gambler,” Schlitz was [...]

Johnny Cash: <i>Bootleg Vol. 2: From Memphis to Hollywood</i>

Johnny Cash: Bootleg Vol. 2: From Memphis to Hollywood

Johnny Cash Bootleg Vol. 2: From Memphis to Hollywood Columbia/Legacy Rating: One of our favorite odd-ball musical pairings has to be the unlikely brotherhood between Bob Dylan and Johnny Cash. A bond built on mutual admiration, Dylan influenced Cash to expand his songwriting and Cash in turn can take some of the credit for Dylan’s explorations [...]

South By Southwest Documentary In The Works

South By Southwest Documentary In The Works

Last week, the Austin, Texas-based creative content company, Arts+Labor, revealed that they’re working on a documentary about the revered music industry mecca, South By Southwest, which will celebrate its 25th year in existence this March. The film is sure to cover the story of South By Southwest’s origins: how three members of Austin’s alt-weekly rag, [...]

Johnny Cash’s <em>Bootleg Vol. 2</em>: Full Details

Johnny Cash’s Bootleg Vol. 2: Full Details

Get ready for a whole lot of classic Cash. On February 22, Columbia/Legacy will release From Memphis To Hollywood: Bootleg Vol. 2, a double-disc collection of B-Sides and rarities. Check out the full press release below. * * * The musical treasures left behind by Johnny Cash at the House Of Cash estate in Hendersonville, [...]

Old 97’s On Their Best Album Since <em> Too Far to Care</em>

Old 97’s On Their Best Album Since Too Far to Care

American Songwriter caught up with Murry Hammond, bassist for the Old 97’s, right before Thanksgiving. He was at the post office, and doing some other last minute errands getting ready to host 14 of his in-laws. The band is currently on tour promoting their stellar new album, The Grand Theatre Volume 1, recently released on [...]

Ray Charles: <em>Rare Genius: The Undiscovered Masters</em>

Ray Charles: Rare Genius: The Undiscovered Masters

Ray Charles Rare Genius: The Undiscovered Masters Concord Records Rating: When he passed away in 2004 at the age of 73, Ray Charles left behind a musical legacy of daunting breadth and depth, reflecting an extraordinary life that traced the contours of late-21st century American history like those talented fingers once traced faces into familiarity [...]

Meet The Secret Sisters, Jack White And T Bone Burnett’s Favorite New Band

Meet The Secret Sisters, Jack White And T Bone Burnett’s Favorite New Band

The Secret Sisters have had a busy year following their discovery at an audition in October 2009 and subsequent signing to Universal. Hailing from Muscle Shoals, Alabama, real-life siblings Laura and Lydia Rogers quickly attracted the attention of Jack White, who released their debut 45 (a cover of Johnny Cash’s “Big River”) on his own [...]

Next BIG Nashville Spotlight: Limelight

Next BIG Nashville Spotlight: Limelight

Samantha Murphy, aka The Highway Girl, secured a license through Limelight to record Johnny Cash’s “Ring Of Fire” [Photo by Jeff Carillo] If you were an independent artist ten years ago, and you wanted to cover a famous song, say, something like The Temptations’ “Just My Imagination,” you would have needed to find the original [...]

John Carter Cash: <em>The Family Secret</em>

John Carter Cash: The Family Secret

John Carter Cash The Family Secret Cash House Records Rating: Life in the music business has to be tough when you have a name like John Carter Cash. How could you ever live up to those two family names? You couldn’t. So, wisely, on his new CD The Family Secret, Cash doesn’t try; he just [...]

Hamell’s Song A Day Blog #2: The Happiest Man In The World

Hamell’s Song A Day Blog #2: The Happiest Man In The World

THE HAPPIEST MAN IN THE WORLD –or- HOW MUCH TRUTH CAN YOU HANDLE? Just got back from a cross country tour with my eight-year-old son. 14 gigs in 15 days, from New York City to Hollywood and back, 7,500 miles. This was a profound voyage into the Rock and Roll backroads that resulted in performances [...]