Merle Haggard - His Epic Hits: The First 11 (To Be Continued...) CD

His Epic Hits: The First 11 (To Be Continued...) album for sale The first 50,000 copies will feature a DVD video with tour footage, interviews, and images from Marty Stuart's photography collection. Marty Stuart's Country Music is not, as some have said, a radical departure from his already eclectic body of work. As to whether it's "the album of his life," is also up for debate, since he doesn't sound here like he's slowing down. Stuart has given us one of the most consistent catalogues in the country genre since 1980, and has few peers in terms of quality -- George Strait, Dwight Yoakam, and a few others are in his league. But Country Music is different and it is one of the finest he's ever issued. This is his first full-on country-rock record and, teamed with grand master engineer/producer Justin Niebank (Widespread Panic, the Subdudes, etc.), Stuart and His Fabulous Superlatives turn old nuggets such as "A Satisfied Mind" and Johnny Cash's "Walls of a Prison" (the tracks which open and close the album, respectively) into wooly country-rockers with killer three- and four-part harmonies and burning guitars, Hammond B3s, mandolins, pedal-steel guitars, and rocking drums. On the other hand, newer songs by the performer and a handful of others are already revved up and cut to fly. This is a rock & roll record cut from the man vein of honky tonk country, and the country that it comes from is pure. Listen to "Farmer's Blues," a sweet, slow, two-step drenched in pedal steel with a duet vocal by Merle Haggard, or the burning-down blues-rock with dobro and banjo of "Tip Your Hat" with Uncle Josh Graves and Earl Scruggs. But even straight-up rockers such as "Sundown in Nashville," "By George" (which has dumb lyrics but still kicks ass), "Wishful Thinkin'," and "Too Much Month" feel as if they could have been played by a rowdier version of Rockpile, while the mid-tempo tracks ("Fool for Love," "Here I Am," "If You Wanted Me Around") only serve to underscore the influences of Dave Edmunds and Nick Lowe. Ultimately, this album is relentless in both its attack and in the pleasure it provides to the listener. There are hot licks everywhere, with great songs, vocals, and a tapestry of moods, textures, and shades that serve to leave one impression: Stuart's radical experimentation of the last ten years has resulted in his finest moment thus far. He offers a prolonged look at how inseparable country and rock & roll are from one another. ~ Thom Jurek & His Fabulous Superlatives. Initial Run Incl. Bonus DVD. Recorded at Hound's Ear, Sound Kitchen and The Castle Studios, Franklin, Tennessee. Personnel: Marty Stuart (vocals, acoustic & electric guitars, mandolin); Kenny Vaughan (electric guitar); Robby Turner (steel guitar); Earl Scruggs, Russ Pahl (banjo); Josh Graves (dobro); Stuart Duncan (fiddle); Tony Harrell (piano, Wurliter piano, Hammond B-3 organ, keyboards); Alison Prestwood, Michael Rhodes (bass); Harry Stinson (drums, tambourine, percussion); Rich Redmond (percussion); Brian Glenn, Tom Douglas (background vocals). Personnel: Marty Stuart (acoustic guitar, electric guitar, mandolin, fiddle); Kenny Vaughan (acoustic guitar, electric guitar); Russ Pahl (steel guitar, banjo); Robby Turner (steel guitar); Josh Graves (dobro); Earl Scruggs (banjo); Stuart Duncan (fiddle); Tony Harrell (accordion, piano, clavichord); Harry Stinson (drums, tambourine, background vocals); Tommy Douglas, Brian Glenn (background vocals). Audio Mixer: Justin Niebank. Recording information: Hounds Ear, Franklin, TN; SOund Kitchen, Franklin, TN; The Castle, Franklin, TN. Author: Marty Stuart. Editor: Brian Willis. Photographers: Russ Harrington; Tracy Baskette-Fleaner. Unknown Contributor Roles: Deb Castle; David Conrad ; Rendy Lovelady; Mark Brown; Louise Scruggs; Faye Dunaway; Thomas B. Allen ; Kevin ...

His Epic Hits: The First 11 (To Be Continued...) CD music One of the most fertile grounds for country music continues to be the western plains and the lifestyle of a cowboy. While many might ascribe such musings to a romantic attraction to the past, a number of rugged individuals, like R.W. Hampton, continue to raise horses and cattle on western ranches. Always in My Heart finds Hampton plumbing the images of the plains on 14 songs, covering the ups and downs of love, western style. He's a fine writer, offering jewels like "When She Cries, 'Don't Go'" and "Back Home to Lisa," and has a good eye for covers like "Adobe Walls" and Marty Robbins' "Bend in the River." Hampton's baritone resonates deeply and fills out each lyric with a note of sincerity. The simple country & western accompaniment, highlighted by Gary Carpenter's steel guitar and Chris Booher's fiddle, flawlessly underline the material. All of this works together to create fresh versions of Merle Haggard's "Shelly's Winter Love" and "What Does She See," a duet with Ian Tyson. One also wouldn't want to miss a lovely take on "Whispering Pines" or the tasteful guitar fills on "Blue Spanish Eyes." After listening to Always in My Heart one might be tempted to make residing on a ranch in New Mexico a prerequisite to recording a country album. R.W. Hampton captures the dusty flavor of the West on his debut for Real West, offering a piece of the real thing to city slickers. ~ Ronnie D. Lankford, Jr. Personnel: R.W. Hampton (vocals); Ian Tyson (vocals); Rich O'Brien, Buck Reams (guitar); Gary Carpenter (dobro); Chris Booker (fiddle); Ronny Ellis (bass guitar); Wayne Bennett (drums).

His Epic Hits: The First 11 (To Be Continued...) buy CD music Performers includes: Hugh Frair, Roy Rector, Rufus Shoffner & Joyce Songer, Bill Hicks, Johnny Bucket, Jimmy Lee, Matt Huston, Big Chief Redbird, Ralph Davis, Don Rader, Chuck Hatfield, Ray Taylor, Cherokee Chief, Patti Lynn, Bobby Bernell, Jimmy Click, Candy Mountain Boys, Curley Dan & Wilma Ann, Lloyd Howell, Victor Norwin, Danny Richards, Herb & Joe.

His Epic Hits: The First 11 (To Be Continued...) songs This set includes some of the most beautiful ballads recorded, including "I Love How You Love Me" and "Blue Velvet." ~ Bil Carpenter

His Epic Hits: The First 11 (To Be Continued...) album for sale Track Listing of songs: Mann Von Welt; Es Brennt; Miststuck; Jordan; Marz;

His Epic Hits: The First 11 (To Be Continued...) CD music  

His Epic Hits: The First 11 (To Be Continued...) buy CD music Just a little info about me - I was born in the Caribbean. I could remember growing up on the island of Trinidad enjoying the beautiful tropical weather, together with the intense precarnival preparation especially in the steeldrum department. I was usually concerned with the most influential calypso of the current year and the steel band panorama which were both very competitive. Believe me after living within very close proximity of three major steeldrum bands on the southern side of the island I was destined to become an intense steelband musical arranger and calypsonian. Needless to say I was profoundly influenced in my early childhood by major calypsonians such as: The Mighty Sparrow . . . The Lord Kitchener . . . The Shadow . . . Lord Nelson . . . The Lord Shorty . . . Shortshirt . . . Beckett . . . Arrow . . . Harry Belefonte . . . and many more. After moving to America these influences remained with me, and was always reinforced with the annual labor day festivites in New York together with the abundance of new musical material that was always available in the Caribbean community. The "Mighty Sparrow " and " Bob Marley " were always foremost in my mind. At this period I performed with a steeldrum band known as " The Brooklynaires Steel Orchestra "; at various country clubs, on boat rides and in panaroma competitions one of which we won. We have also performed with "Billy Preston", Mick Jagger & The Rolling Stones" on one of their world tour concerts at Madison Square Garden.