The House That Built Me, Volume Ten - Somebody New

Recently, someone was quoted that there are hundreds of people moving to Nashville every day. That is a pretty staggering number. Of those coming to Davidson County, it would be interesting to know how many of those came here to roll the dice at a career in the music business. I don’t know what percentage of them make their dreams come true, but I would bet it would be a low number. And, I bet there are some that have the kind of talent that would make your jaw drop. Sad to say, but not everyone who moves here who has the talent becomes a household name.

That opening statement can be used to describe the album that will be featured on “Crazy Chucky’s Country Classic Corner” on August 5. It’s by an artist that you probably aren’t familiar with, and to be honest with you, the album was never actually released to the masses. But, it’s a story worth hearing.

Back in the winter months of 2003, I was still in radio working full time as the PD / MD / Morning Drive / Trash taker outer (When Ken Loggains didn’t) at WDKN in Dickson, TN. Regina Raleigh, one of the leading record promoters, had advised me to keep a close eye out for a song called “One Mississippi” by a new artist named Jill King. I was told that she was the “real deal.” Typically, Regina hasn’t been wrong about much – business or otherwise, so I definitely took note!

A few weeks later, the single arrived. To say that Jill King could sing would be like saying that Cajun food is spicy, Faith Hill is attractive, or Mavis Staples has soul. To this day, I have never been affected as much by a newcomer. Truth be told, I would put Jill King in my top five percent of voices I have heard – ever.  Her range, her power as a vocalist, and her acumen for picking great songs were second to none – indie label or not.

She enjoyed success at secondary radio with the afore-mentioned single, as well as the retro-ish “Three Months, Two Weeks, One Day” as well as the Bakersfield-sounding romp “98.6.” Anybody with a set of ears would tell you that her debut album Jillbilly was a sound to behold. And, it was impossible not to be enchanted by her talent – and the fact that she was a young woman from Arab, Alabama who grew up listening to Bob Kingsley on American Country Countdown each Sunday after Church as a kid. She was – and is – one of the most talented people I have ever heard!

But, that’s not the album I’m writing about. King went into the studio to cut the follow-up entitled Somebody New. The lead single and title track was the first single. You might remember it from a few years back by Billy Ray Cyrus. The single climbed the charts for awhile, and a few advance copies of the new music made the rounds to a few people at radio. However, for whatever reason, the album never saw the commercial light of day.

Sad to say, that was – and is – a crying shame. In the nine years since that advance first made its’ way across my desk, I might not have listened to a CD any more than that one.

As a vocalist, Jill King was able to convey a multitude of emotions which I identified (or would) with. Whether it was the stunning sadness exemplified by “Hurts Don’t It?” or the nostalgia of “Grandma Drove A Buick,” she sang it loud – and did it with conviction. She could also handle a tempo record with swagger. “Me and The Radio” would have been a perfect song for the airwaves, and “The Next Time I Need A Heartache” was pure old-school at its’ best.

Join me on next week’s edition of “Crazy Chucky’s Country Classic Corner” as we shine the spotlight on the best album you’ve never heard – unless your name is McCall or Quinton – Somebody New, by Jill King. If you want to discover something really good – that will re-instill your faith in Country Music (ironically, one of the titles of the songs on the album!), tune in….or better yet, go to iTunes. The album is available there. Go ahead. Download it. You’ll thank me later, I promise!

“Crazy Chucky’s Classic Country Corner” airs each Wednesday at 1pm on WNKX 96.7 FM in Centerville, TN, and is brought to you by Tennessee Properties.

The House That Built Me: Volume 9 - Deliver

For the past few weeks, I have been writing about albums that have been among my favorites during my life and career. This week is no different, but if you had asked me in 1985, I would have told you that I HATED the album Deliver by The Oak Ridge Boys.

There. I said it. Now, let me add (after apologizing to Duane, William Lee, Richard and Ban-Joey, who have been among my best friends in this business) that things have changed. But, every day – or so it seemed from 1984-1985, when I would ride in my Mom’s Caprice Classic, I would hear that tape….over…and over…and over….So much, in fact, that if I knew she wouldn’t kill me, I would have got a pair of scissors and snipped the tape……but I didn’t.

Basically, I could have quoted every lyric of every song. It was guaranteed to be playing at 2:45 pm when school was dismissed at Burns Elementary School or when we went to Kroger – or when we went to Nashville….We were going to hear “In The Pines”…..”Ozark Mountain Jubilee”….and “Alice Is In Wonderland”….At the age of ten, I held my breath hoping she would stay there with her fairy tale love. They both got on my nerves! The album also contained “I Guess It Never Hurts To Hurt Sometimes” – which for some reason I didn’t loathe as much. Maybe because I thought the video was cool – After all, the director caught Charlie Chase coming out of the rest room at WSM Radio – a priceless moment. But, again….I wanted so much to lose the tape….and find some Kenny Rogers or something.

But, as I got older, the album kind of endeared itself to me. “Ain’t No Cure For The Rock & Roll” was a kickin’ tune – and I loved the references to “Elvira” and “Bobbie Sue.” They also cut “When You Get To The Heart,” which Barbara Mandrell covered – with the Oaks on harmony – a couple of years later. Occasionally, I would pop the tape in and listen…..Not every day, mind you….but from time to time.

To this day, I am not sure why that particular album struck a chord with her. I know she thought Duane and Richard were handsome…..but we never talked about it. A few years later, she moved on to The Bellamy Brothers’ Country Rap CD…..and then on to Conway Twitty. (One of my fondest memories was sneaking a Buck Owens CD in to her player one night instead of Conway…….Got a good yelling at  for that one!)

Of course, I say all that in jest now. Mama passed away in October 2005, and that tape brings back nothing but good memories. The Oaks have become friends of mine (I still think that’s weird to look at and know it’s true……but they are the best!), and I paid a pretty penny for a good copy of Deliver on CD not too long ago….Ah, the irony. I guess I need to play it. So, coming up on the July 29 edition of “Crazy Chucky’s Country Classic Corner,” I’ll play Deliver….in all of its’ entirety….one more time. Join me on WNKX FM 96.7 at 1pm for the flashback in time to 1984…..brought to you by Tennessee Properties!

The House That Built Me, Volume 8: Storms Of Life

I hope you have been enjoying this series of blogs and radio shows about some of the music that shaped my interest in this crazy business. It’s been fun going down memory lane and reliving some past memories.

After being in this business since 1991, people will ask me ‘What is your favorite album?’ It’s like thinking about your favorite song – or the most beautiful woman you’ve ever seen. It can be subject to change. In my first blog on this topic back in June, I guess I answered it with The Gambler by Kenny Rogers. But, the album I was the most excited about adding to my collection – Storms of Life by Randy Travis, hands down.

Granted, I was four years old when Kenny came out with his disc, so I actually didn’t go out and buy it. But, with Randy, it was a little different. In 1986, Randy Travis was taking over the format in a way that you don’t see today. On January 1, he was virtually unknown outside of The Nashville Palace, where he was a dishwasher who also entertained the crowds – as Randy Ray. By years’ end, he had two number one records and was a member of The Grand Ole Opry.

The song that broke his career wide open was “1982,” followed up by a song that he had originally released first, titled “On The Other Hand.” It only hit # 67 on the charts, but the second time around it made it all the way to the top. Randy Travis was a definite breath of fresh air for fans who liked a more traditional style. The format also had Skaggs, Strait, and Reba doing more earthier type music – but each of those artists were very much established with at least five years of success. Randy Travis was the first newcomer in a while who spoke – and sang like Lefty and George. He was definitely a throwback artist, and the album represented that. I was twelve at the time, and getting a $10 allowance each week…..and wanted to add Storms Of Life to my collection something fierce.

First of all, I tried to win it. He was a favorite of The Music Country Radio Network – the nighttime programming on WSM-AM, and they gave away several copies of the album….but I never could be the right caller. Then, one day, I was in Wal-Mart, and there it was - with a $5.97 retail sticker on it, and I snapped it up – and even had three dollars left!

Almost three decades later (!), that album still holds up today. (Well, I did upgrade to CD, but you get the idea.) The singles – “1982,” “On The Other Hand,” “Diggin’ Up Bones,” and “There’s No Place Like Home” – are all still classics. But, the album cuts were just as dynamic – “Reasons I Cheat,” “Send My Body,” “Messin’ With My Mind,” and “There’ll Always Be A Honky Tonk Somewhere,” – those songs deserve a listen as well. Heck, even the album cover – with Randy standing in front of an old country store – was kind of retro looking, fitting quite nicely with the sounds inside of it. (One time in an interview, Randy said he tried to find that store many times since the album cover shoot, but to no avail. He joked that it was somewhere between “Difficult” and “Defeated.”)

Join me on the July 22 edition of Crazy Chucky’s Classic Country Corner as we shine the spotlight on an album that helped usher in the “New Traditonalist” era with a bang – Storms of Life by Randy Travis. The show airs at 1pm, and is brought to you by Tennessee Properties.