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Topic: CD review: Jamey Johnson: AMAZING CD!!! |
John McClung
From:
Olympia WA, USA
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Posted 5 Apr 2009 9:22 pm |
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A band I'm working with is doing "In Color", so I went to iTunes to download it. Sampled most of the songs on the CD "That Lonesome Song", kept hearing some great steel on almost every track; hmmm...
Stopped in at Target to pick it up, cause I wanted the name of the steeler. You been to the Target CD section lately? It's about 10% the size it used to be. Country section about 5 feet wide, almost nothing but top 40 pseudo-country. Nothing there by Johnson, rats.
So I downloaded the full CD on iTunes, and here's the thing that's so wonderful about it: for a lot of tracks, when one song ends, the steeler plays a little segue figure with some really interesting transition chords, which leads into the next song. Very creative approach, with pedal steel way up front for once.
The songs are very retro, akin to early Waylon, with great lyrics and deep baritone singing from Jamey.
Steel players are Robby Turner and Cowboy Eddie Long, according to online info; without the CD booklet I don't know who plays what, but both players turn in really compelling parts.
Go buy it! For all of us complaining about the current state of country music...this record is the antidote.
_________________
E9 INSTRUCTION
▪️ If you want to have an ongoing discussion, please email me, don't use the Forum messaging which I detest! steelguitarlessons@earthlink.net |
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Bo Borland
From:
South Jersey -
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Posted 5 Apr 2009 10:59 pm
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I picked up a copy at walmart for $10 a couple weeks ago. Cowboy plays on all tracks except for #8 "in color" which is Robbie T.
The project is produced by Jamey & The Kent Hardly Playboys.
I like it alot, and it gives me hope that the cycle of pop oriented music is on the way out, but I'm not counting on it given the awards and preferential treatment given to a couple of "artists" last night.
As the writer of "Give It Away" for George Strait and "Badonkadonk" for Trace Adkins, I can see Jamey has a wide range of influences and his acoustic songwriters version of Badonkadonk is very cool.
I would like to hear more of his versions of the hits he has written.
That said, while I don't care about his biker looks he is not doing himself any favors as an artist. |
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Bo Borland
From:
South Jersey -
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Posted 5 Apr 2009 10:59 pm
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| double post due to de bug error msg |
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Alvin Blaine
From:
Picture Rocks, Arizona, USA
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Posted 6 Apr 2009 12:23 am
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This album is my favorite major label release of the year. I am so glad he won song of the year for "In Color", I just wished he would have won everything he was up for.
The only warning I can give about this album is that if you don't like songs about bitter love, heartbreak, drinkin', drugs, and hard times, don't buy it. If you don't like music with steel guitar and phase shifter tele's mixed up front as the only lead instruments, then don't buy it. If you don't like music that sounds like a real five piece band playing live on a stage in some dark musky smelling honky tonk, then go listen to Rascal Flatts, and don't buy this CD.
As for Jamey Johnson's "appearance". About a year or so ago someone walked up to me at a gig and asked if I knew Jamey Johnson, I said no. Then they proceeded to tell me about some guy in Nashville with long hair like mine, long goatee beard like mine, cowboy hat like I wear, and dressed like me. I told him that I've looked like this for 20 years or more, and now my fashion style is finally catching on with the label artist.
So of course I'm going buy an album from some outlaw/biker/cowboy lookin' singer.
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http://www.oldbluesound.com/about.htm
http://www.facebook.com/cowboytwang |
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John McClung
From:
Olympia WA, USA
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Posted 6 Apr 2009 1:12 am
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Bo, thanks for the credits info. Cowboy Eddie's playing reminds me tonally of Russ Pahl, anyone else agree? Mooney comes to mind, too.
This is the kind of artist that deserves our support, i.e., put our money where our mouths are. Great steel on virtually every track is just a cool bonus.
_________________
E9 INSTRUCTION
▪️ If you want to have an ongoing discussion, please email me, don't use the Forum messaging which I detest! steelguitarlessons@earthlink.net |
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Bo Borland
From:
South Jersey -
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Posted 6 Apr 2009 3:28 am
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It is very good and how often does a nashville "newbie" get to produce his own cd!
Alvin, my comment about the biker look is about mass appeal. I don't think it's selling out, but about selling period. I like the cowboy/biker thing you got going on. |
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Brett Day
From:
Pickens, SC
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Posted 6 Apr 2009 9:40 pm
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Jamey is an artist who really respects the legends of country music like Merle Haggard, George Jones, and Waylon Jennings. He's a great singer/songwriter. I had an opportunity to meet "Cowboy" Eddie Long at the International Steel Guitar Convention a few years ago. Jamey also wrote George Strait's song "Give It Away" with Bill Anderson. Eddie's actually on every song, except for "In Color".
Brett |
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Clyde Mattocks
From:
Kinston, North Carolina, USA
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Posted 7 Apr 2009 5:51 pm
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My former Super Grit bandmate, Curtis Wright (not a shabby writer himself) is playing acoustic guitar and
singing harmony in Jamey's band. Curtis had alerted me to keep an eye out for this guy long before he kicked up any dust with his recordings.
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LeGrande II, Nash. 112, Fender Twin Tone Master, Session 400, Harlow Dobro, R.Q.Jones Dobro |
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Janice Brooks
From:
Pleasant Gap Pa
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Posted 18 Apr 2009 6:10 pm
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| I'm just now getting on the Johnson bandwagon. I approve this album even if he did write that trainwreck for Trace. |
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Cameron Tilbury
From:
Peterborough, England, UK
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Posted 21 Apr 2009 1:08 am
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When you guys started mentioning this CD I started looking for it here in the UK...with no luck. I found it online at hmv.com and ordered it. A few days later they emailed to say it was out of stock. I finally received it yesterday and loaded it into itunes today. It's amazing. This is country as it was intended. Great album...going to play the life out of it!
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Sho Bud Super Pro D10 |
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Jim Walker
From:
Headland, AL
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Posted 26 Apr 2009 9:49 pm
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I got the CD the day after it was released. There really is some great steel on it. I'm not totally 100% sure but it sounds like Eddie is playing a Universal. Anyone else pick up on that?
JW
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Show Pro D10, Session 400 |
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Kyle Everson
From:
Nashville, Tennessee
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Posted 26 Apr 2009 10:09 pm
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Jim,
Eddie plays a 12-string universal BMI. |
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Bo Borland
From:
South Jersey -
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Posted 27 Apr 2009 6:13 pm
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| The Cowboy says he plays and extended E9, after listening, a lot..I believe him. |
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