This past weekend (July 17), my wife and I went to the Fontanel grounds just a few miles from Nashville. Formerly the home of Barbara Mandrell, the complex features the home where the Hall of Famer once lived, a restaurant, a gift shop, and an amphitheater. Now open to the public, the first major musical event was held there last weekend---"Songwriters Sing For Nashville," and what an event it was!
Comprised of many members of the Nashville Songwriters Association International Hall Of Fame, the afternoon was a reminder of why people do the crazy things they do to get into, or stay in, this business. While maybe from a sonic level,the voices aren't quite the same. There's an honesty about the performances that seem to come through.
One of the writers present there was Hugh Prestwood. Back in the 1990s, he wrote a classic for Trisha Yearwood called "The Song Remembers When." With that said.....I thought I would offer my thoughts about the times and places that some of the songs that were performed at the benefit took me back to...if you will indulge me....
"Ghost In This House,"----Having Marty Raybon in studio with me at one of the radio stations I have worked at, playing some of his past work, including this Prestwood classic. Talk about cool!
"Midnight Train To Georgia"----Believe it or not, until I was fourteen, I didn't listen to anything but Country. So, one night, I was coming back home from Nashville, and I heard Gladys Knight's classic version of this Jim Weatherly tune. The next time I was at the record store, I bought a Greatest Hits CD of hers, if that tells you anything!
"I Was Country When Country Wasn't Cool"----I have said it before, and I will say it again. Even in Dickson, TN....you were made fun of back in the 80s if you talked too loudly about being a Country fan. I was then, and am now, and am proud of it.Kye Fleming and Dennis Morgan nailed this song. I think about those feelings, and I also think of seeing Barbara Mandrell's One Hour Photo Shops all over town back in the 1980s.
"Smoky Mountain Rain"---Another song from the Fleming / Morgan tablet. I think about how many times I played this song over the airwaves of the Interstate Radio Network. I don't know if you can call it a trucking song or not, but it was one of the most-played oldies that we had in the system.
"Country Bumpkin"-----It's funny, and downright strange how you can remember when you heard a song for the first time. I couldn't have been ten years old when my mother bought a tape that had this on it at Woolco's in Terre Haute, Indiana. Don't ask me how I remember, but I do....
"I Can't Make You Love Me"----I remember when Mike Reid recorded his version of this, I thought 'That's as good, if not better than Bonnie Raitt." I still do. He's just that good.
"Elvira"------Back in the first and second grades, we got to take records (?) to school and the teacher would play them. I don't think there was any more played than this one. I remember the rainbow of the MCA logo going around and around on this one.
"There Goes My Everything"-----On a trip to Illinois to see family, I remember riding through one heck of a rainstorm in Bloomington, and this song playing on the radio....Again, it proves you don't select a memory...it selects you!
"If My Heart Had Windows"-----Watching Patty Loveless being inducted into the Opry on TV with my grandmother.
"Strawberry Wine"------Deana Carter jumping into Ricky Skaggs' arms when she won the CMA Award...and the look on his face.....Priceless!
Well, that's a few of my thoughts.....I will say that attending this was a really cool thing. It reminded me of why....in spite of the check sometimes never being in the mail, being let go from a record company job the first day back after Christmas, and all the crazy things we all go through.....at the end of the day, I wouldn't take anything for it......
Monday, July 19, 2010
Friday, July 9, 2010
I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE AN ANNOUNCEMENT!
"I want all of you to be listening to my "Crazy Chucky's Classic Country Corner" next week on 96.7 FM. At 2:50pm I will announce where I plan on eating lunch next Friday...."
I'm sure that if you heard that on the radio, you would stop all of your plans for next week, and rally around the radio to see if I was going to attempt to eat Mexican again. I mean, it's an important question, isn't it?
OK, You probably get where I am going with this. LeBron James announced on an hour-long ESPN special last night that he would be leaving Cleveland for Miami. Tune in to the channel that Chris Berman built, and you will see weeping, nail biting, people being taken off to jail in Cleveland because of their reaction. James is a hometown hero. They feel rejected. I get it...sort of. But, Emmitt Smith did not remain a Cowboy to the end....Joe Montana was a Chief when the clock struck zero....and Michael Jordan....Wasn't he in Washington?
Speaking of which, I don't remember such a tragic response when Jordan retired from the Bulls, where he won six NBA titles to James's......zero?
I chuckle a little bit about the theatrics of last night's announcement. One of the main subjects of disagreement between my wife and I is about Minnesota's Brett Favre, and his coy approach to whether he is coming back for a 20th season. You know what? If Brett wants to not answer the question until those hot and humid workouts are over....I'm not going to blame him. But, a one-hour special to announce where you are going to play....I hope this doesn't set a new precedent for how the free agent game is played, but I think it probably will.....
All of the experts are already engraving the 2011 NBA trophy to Miami. With Wade and Bosh joining the Heat as well, how can they lose? They have too much talent.....Well, yes and no. A little bit of history lesson comes from the 2000 Washington Redskins. They had won their division in 1999, but owner Daniel Snyder wanted more, and went on a free-agent buying spree like none before or since. The biggest of his acquisitions was Dallas CB Deion Sanders. With all that talent, Norv Turner couldn't get it to work on paper. How will this trio of stars handle not getting 25-30 ppg? That is the question. Miami has the talent, but there's a certain thing called ego that gets in the way. That's not a knock on athletes per se, as you could make that argument about semi-pro sports and music writers.
So...looks like it's going to be an interesting season in the world of the NBA.....By the way, if you are still interested in my lunch plans....If I have the money, I just might be found at Papa Kayjoes in Centerville. The tea....and the humble pie are both awesome!
I'm sure that if you heard that on the radio, you would stop all of your plans for next week, and rally around the radio to see if I was going to attempt to eat Mexican again. I mean, it's an important question, isn't it?
OK, You probably get where I am going with this. LeBron James announced on an hour-long ESPN special last night that he would be leaving Cleveland for Miami. Tune in to the channel that Chris Berman built, and you will see weeping, nail biting, people being taken off to jail in Cleveland because of their reaction. James is a hometown hero. They feel rejected. I get it...sort of. But, Emmitt Smith did not remain a Cowboy to the end....Joe Montana was a Chief when the clock struck zero....and Michael Jordan....Wasn't he in Washington?
Speaking of which, I don't remember such a tragic response when Jordan retired from the Bulls, where he won six NBA titles to James's......zero?
I chuckle a little bit about the theatrics of last night's announcement. One of the main subjects of disagreement between my wife and I is about Minnesota's Brett Favre, and his coy approach to whether he is coming back for a 20th season. You know what? If Brett wants to not answer the question until those hot and humid workouts are over....I'm not going to blame him. But, a one-hour special to announce where you are going to play....I hope this doesn't set a new precedent for how the free agent game is played, but I think it probably will.....
All of the experts are already engraving the 2011 NBA trophy to Miami. With Wade and Bosh joining the Heat as well, how can they lose? They have too much talent.....Well, yes and no. A little bit of history lesson comes from the 2000 Washington Redskins. They had won their division in 1999, but owner Daniel Snyder wanted more, and went on a free-agent buying spree like none before or since. The biggest of his acquisitions was Dallas CB Deion Sanders. With all that talent, Norv Turner couldn't get it to work on paper. How will this trio of stars handle not getting 25-30 ppg? That is the question. Miami has the talent, but there's a certain thing called ego that gets in the way. That's not a knock on athletes per se, as you could make that argument about semi-pro sports and music writers.
So...looks like it's going to be an interesting season in the world of the NBA.....By the way, if you are still interested in my lunch plans....If I have the money, I just might be found at Papa Kayjoes in Centerville. The tea....and the humble pie are both awesome!
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