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NOW HEAR THIS – Tanya Tucker, My Turn

 

Tanya Tucker

 

My Turn (Saguaro Road Records)

 

  Produced by Pete Anderson

 

 

COUNTRY’S ORIGINAL REDNECK WOMAN RETURNS

 

In Tanya Tucker’s liner notes for her first album release in seven years, George Jones introduces the set by saying, “There will never be a more distinctive voice in country music than Tanya’s.”  No one could argue with the country legend regarding his affection for another.  My Turn is the latest in a string of classic country cover albums that have been released over the past several years, from artists such as Alan Jackson, Patty Loveless, Pam Tillis, and Martina McBride.  However, none could be more personal than Tucker’s.

 

Beau Tucker guided his daughter’s career from her first hit with “Delta Dawn” at age 13, up until his death in 2006.  He watched his little girl grow from a teenager with a mature voice, to a mature woman who became a country music icon.  In between, years of hard living, alcohol, drugs, and eventually, motherhood shaped the textures of Tucker’s unmistakable vocals.  Very few artists have the ability to squeeze pure emotion out of a song the way that Tucker can; hits such as “Soon,” “Would You Lay With Me (In A Field of Stone),” and “Two Sparrows In A Hurricane” cement that statement.  Her latest effort is a fitting tribute to her late father, through classic songs made famous by some of their favorite male artists. 

 

Tucker’s husky delivery, along with Anderson’s subtle production refresh country standards by Jones (“Walk Through This World With Me”), Hank Williams (“Lovesick Blues”), and Eddy Arnold (“You Don’t Know Me”).  Flaco Jimenez’s Tex-Mex accordion breathes new life into Charley Pride’s “Is Anybody Going To San Antone.”  Guest vocalist Jim Lauderdale uncannily channels Buck Owens on “Love’s Gonna Live Here,” The Grascals lend their talents to Conway Twitty and Loretta Lynn’s “After The Fire Is Gone,” creating a magical bluegrass weeper.  Tucker wisely chooses some more obscure gems for the set, including Lefty Frizzell’s “I Love You A Thousand Ways,” and Wynn Stewart’s bouncy “Big Big Love.”  This isn’t your usual batch of songs you’ve heard repeatedly, and the song choices serve her well.

 

Ironically, it is the choice of material that may disappoint some fans.  Those expecting more of  Tucker’s fiery performances (“It’s A Little Too Late,” “Down To My Last Teardrop” “Texas When I Die”) will find few reminders of her tough-girl past.  This is not that kind of Tanya Tucker album, and it’s not intended to be.  Tucker pays restrained homage to her musical heroes, and her reverence pays off; she lets the music speak for itself, rather than excessively reworking it.  The album’s best cut is its last:  Merle Haggard’s “Ramblin’ Fever.”  Tucker infuses her signature, spirited style into Anderson’s infectious production piece.  One wonders if all of the album’s tunes would have sounded better with a similar approach.  In short, the answer is no.  Tucker’s just-right interpretations revisit old friends that are as timeless as the artist herself.        

A Twang review and contest

Well one of my new reviewers, Jamie, was a busy boy yesterday.  He went out and bought himself the brand spanking new George Strait CD "Twang" which hit stores yesterday and was nice enough to send me the review.  Now that's lightening fast.  Thanks Jamie!

And to celebrate this awesome CD, I've got one to give away.  Yay!  All you have to do is send me an email to blogginmomma@hotmail.com and tell me you'd like to be entered to win George's Twang and I'll get you entered.  Contest will end Wednesday, August 19th.  Good luck guys.

And here's Jamie's review.....

NOW HEAR THIS - Jamie Nelms

George Strait

 

Twang  (MCA Nashville)

 

Produced by Tony Brown & George Strait 

 

THE KING STILL REIGNS 

After nearly three decades of recording, more number-one singles than any other artist in history, a Country Music Hall of Fame induction, and creating the template for the perfect country music career, one could almost expect George Strait to phone in his albums and take it easy.  After all, he probably could record a list of Texas cattle futures and earn another Album Of The Year nomination; he's just that good.  However, Strait’s 41st album, Twang, finds the most recent Artist of The Decade venturing into new territory.  He takes risks, and he clearly has no intention of taking his last curtain call anytime soon.

 

For starters, Strait takes on the role of songwriter – something that hasn’t happened since his second album, Strait From The Heart, in 1982 (the song was “I Can’t See Texas From Here”).  He collaborates with son Bubba and longtime Strait tunesmith Dean Dillon (“The Chair,” and “Marina Del Rey,” among dozens more).  The result?  Strait contributes to three songs that stand shoulder to shoulder with anything he’s recorded before - most notably, the smooth and heartbreaking “Living For The Night,” the album’s first single. “He’s Got That Something Special” is a country toe-tapper, defying the listener not to sing along.  Father and son craft a classic barroom tearjerker, “Out Of Sight Out Of Mind,” which is pure Strait, through and through. Bubba Strait also adds “Arkansas Dave,” a murderous story song, reminiscent of material Marty Robbins and Johnny Cash would have recorded in the ‘70’s.

 

Elsewhere, Dean Dillon, Jessie Jo Dillon and Casey Beathard’s “The Breath You Take” provides the album’s emotional cornerstone.  Strait works his magic, taking a clichéd line like “ Life’s not the breath you take/But the moments that take your breath away” and skillfully makes it resonate.  The song is one of the most beautiful to ever appear on a George Strait album, and it deserves to be a future single.  The sure-fire second single is the roof-raising title track.  Other fun moments include “Some Kind of Crazy” and “Hot Grease and Zydeco,” which is sure to become a staple in Strait’s live shows. 

 

The album’s biggest surprise is saved for last:  “El Rey” is a Mexican folk song that he sings – quite convincingly – completely in Spanish.  If the country music thing doesn’t work out for him, Strait could easily have a career on the Tejano circuit.  The title translates to “The King,” and the last lines read: “A cowboy told me/You don’t have to arrive first/but just know how to arrive.”  Appropriately, this sums up Strait’s career thus far.  His has been a journey of class, consistency and influence, with great humility. 

 

The King, indeed.