What Country Music Should Be (Part Two)

I wrote a blog last week about what I think country music should be. The entry talked about Patty Loveless, a singer I consider to be one of the TRUE voices in country music.

This second part will deal with another.

Her name is Kathy Mattea. I have been a fan of hers for many years, even before I found out she was from my home state of West Virginia.

The first song I heard from her was, Eighteen Wheels and a Dozen Roses. I was around the age of nine at the time, and from then on, I was hooked.

During that time in her career, she was all over the radio. She also had the respect of the industry winning many industry awards, including CMA Female Vocalist of the Year in 1989 and 1990. She is also the recipient of two Grammy Awards.

Unfortunately, by the end of the decade, her hits seemed to dry up. In 2000, after the release of her album, The Innocent Years, she parted ways with her record company.

She then decided it was time for her to do the music she wanted to do, with or without help from radio, and major record labels.

Since taking charge of her music, Mattea has released four albums, Roses, Joy For Christmas Day, and Right Out of Nowhere.

Her fourth album was released in April, and is titled, Coal.

She planned the album after the Sago Mine disaster in January of 2006.

The album is a tribute to her grandfathers, who both worked in the mines. Songs on the album include, Blue Diamond Mines, Coal Tattoo, and You'll Never Leave Harlan Alive.

Critics have hailed Coal as the best album of her career. I totally agree, this album is perfect in every way.

I have wondered during the writing of these two entries why these two talented performers are no longer receiving radio airplay.

Is it because they aren't twenty-something? Is it because they're "too country" for country music?

I think the actual answer is that they refused to change their music styles to become what the "suits" would accept.

What do you think?

What Country Music Should Be (Part One)

An old blog from 2008.

I went to a concert last weekend, and it was amazing.

It's what country music should be, instead of the pop-tinged junk they play day after day on the radio, and on television.

I've been a fan of country music for a long time, or at least certain artists. These artists aren't having their music played on the radio as much as I would like.

It seems that if you aren't twenty-something in the industry, you don't count.

To me, this is a load of crap.

The person I went to see the other night was Patty Loveless, who, to me has one of the best voices ever.

She was in town promoting her new album, Sleepless Nights. It's an album that features some of the best country songs ever written.

She started her set with the George Jones classic, Why Baby Why. The song is also the opening track on the album. She performed six songs during the show, and she didn't disappoint me one bit.

She closed the show, and her album with the Hank Williams song, Cold, Cold Heart.

Patty had a string of hits in the early to mid-1990's, and then all at once radio seemed to drop her. Her albums have always been critically praised, even if they didn't sell well.

After radio finished with her, she decided to follow her own path. In 2001, she released a bluegrass album titled, Mountain Soul. Many critics have said it was the best album of her career.

She has released four albums since then, and after the disappointing sales of her last album, Dreaming My Dreams, she parted ways with her record company and decided to take some time off. She wasn't sure she would ever record music again.

During her three year hiatus, she dealt with the deaths of two family members, and the illness of another. It was because of these events that she decided it was time to get back to making music. For me, her new album was worth the wait..

Quiet Time

It's late at night, and I'm not quite ready for bed. I am listening to silence.

There is nothing on tv. I have it turned on, but I pushed the mute button awhile ago.

I think it's good to sometimes sit in a quiet space with nothing going on. When it's quiet, it's kind of soothing, and alot better than channel surfing.

I keep wanting to write something, anything that I think people will read. My thoughts get jumbled, and I can't seem to work through them.

But, right now, there are no distractions, no desire to see what's on the tv. Let's face it, it's 1:30 AM, chances are pretty good that there's nothing on.

Besides, people have told me for years that I watch too much tv. I guess maybe they're right, but thankfully over the past couple of years I have discovered a love for reading and writing.

The love of reading isn't such a huge deal, because I read a little in school and stuff, but I didn't REALLY enjoy it, till now.

My love of writing is really huge for me, because until two years ago, I never thought I would write anything. But a friend of mine had an online blog, and I read some of her entries, and through that I thought I could do it too.

I enjoy doing my blog. I love that people like reading what I have to say, even if it deals with things they could care less about.

Writing has also helped me express emotions that I don't usually express, like anger and feeling depressed. Thankfully, these emotions don't show themselves very often, but when they do, I work through them by writing.

Several people have told me that I should write a book. I like hearing that, because it means they enjoy what they've read, but I'm not creative enough to write a book. I barely have enough brain power to write my blogs. Maybe if I write enough of them, I can get them published someday.

Wouldn't that be something?

Happy Birthday, Papaw

This is re-post of a blog I wrote a year ago today..



Happy Birthday

Today would have been my grandfather's 92nd birthday. I think of him everyday, and yesterday I mentioned to my sister that we should do something to celebrate his birthday.

I thought of getting Oreo blizzards from Dairy Queen, then I thought of getting some Cookies and Cream ice cream, which he always had in his freezer.

My sister also suggested that we get some root beer, which was also something he had plenty of when we were growing up.

So, this afternoon, my sister went shopping for these things, and she also bought a cake. She also called our parents and invited them to celebrate with us.

This evening, me, Leslee, her husband and kids, and our parents gathered around the table holding hands and sang Happy Birthday to Papaw while looking toward Heaven.

It was a wonderful day to celebrate the life of such a great man. Thinking of all his stories and jokes, how much he loved to garden and help people.

The only thing that makes me sad, is thinking of his illness. I remember taking care of him, making his breakfast, giving him his pills and all that stuff.

I miss being able to see him everyday. I miss hearing his laugh, his jokes, watching him work word searches and reading Consumer Reports.

I'm very thankful for all the memories I have of him. The root beer and popcorn we'd have on nights we'd stay at his house, swinging with him in the porch swing. He loved it when we'd swing really fast. I think of him everytime I eat at Bob Evans, and can still hear him laughing, because he knows I always order their french toast.

Although he wasn't with us today physically, I know he was watching us from Heaven with a big smile on his face.

Happy Birthday Papaw......I LOVE YOU!!