I think he is a fine singer with a nice voice, but I just can't take the lyrics on most of his songs.

How many "I'm just a good ole' boy, nascar watching, pickup driving, bass boat owning, down south, just a dumb redneck" songs does he have to sing?
I do appreciate all the great picking on the songs he has done in the past. It's just that after hearing the words to those songs, and playing them in assorted cover bands, I always start thinking how great they would be as instrumentals.

Well I guess enough to sell over 60 million CD's...

I've been listening to the new CD on Rhapsody, and there are a few tunes that are growing on me so I may have to back off my initial position.

t

[This message was edited by Tony Prior on 05 October 2006 at 01:46 AM.]

Just to list of few favorites from the non-redneck side:

- Gone Country
- Livin' On Love
- Tropical Depression
- Wanted
- Drive
- Who I Am
- Where Were You (or whatever the September 11th song is titled)
- She Don't Get The Blues

Of course, I'll admit to digging the redneck ones the most.

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HagFan

[This message was edited by Ron Page on 05 October 2006 at 09:06 AM.]

Most of my post here have been directed toward artist that many preceive as being incredibily talented, according to record sales. I've seen it mentioned that so and so has sold a gazillion records and he or she must be doing something right and I'm wrong for doubting. But...to me the sales polls aren't very acurate because the people who buy these records are mindless idiots who buy what is made easily available through the music industry. They don't have a clue about music that isn't mainstream, so they buy what is marketed. These are the people who listen to their local FM station and think thats all there is to listen too. Just as an example, what percentage of people who buy alan or garth records know who Tom Morrell is? I'd venture to say, very few. How many record buyers know who Dann Penn is? Fricking NOBOBY! Only the Greatest songwriter ever! So, alan and garth sell 10 gazillion copies of their cds and Tom or Dann sell maybe 5000. Whats wrong with this picture?

I'm just not the type to heap on accolades according to record sales. This perception is skewed by listener ignorance. Is alan a songwriter in the same league as Dann Penn or is he just another pretty good singer that picks some good covers to do and has only one of the best guitar and steel guitar players living, playing on his cd's?

This whole line of thinking goes back to the heated Garcia threads, where people take offense to Jerry being praised for his steel playing. Yes he played a tasty little peice, but is he a Emmons or Franklin or Huey, etc. I think not!

There is a big misconception that record sales denotes talent. Take for instance, mettalica, the worst band I've ever heard! Period! They sold a billion records! How many copies did Danny Gatton sell? Not many i'm sure, bout the only people who bought Gatton's cd's were musicians. I wonder why? Maybe they heard something that the average radio listening Joe Blow couldn't ascertain.

I don't listen to the radio, because I've pretty much figured out, as far as my taste for music goes, if it's played on the radio, I just ain't gonna like it unless it's an oldie station. They just don't make men like they use to!

I'm not trying to dis alan, as black folk say I'm sure he's probably a super nice guy, but I know ah lot of cats that can sing and write much better that are laying bricks fer ah living.

[This message was edited by Charles French on 05 October 2006 at 07:17 PM.]

I think if you're up for it, I'm not.. you can do a NET search and learn which songs he wrote.

He wrote a bunch...

It's not like he's adding a marimba to the band!!!

Think of it as a steel "tracks" recording. Yeah that's it! He's just thinking of us and released an album minus the steel so we can play along!

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Mark

[This message was edited by Mark Eaton on 06 October 2006 at 09:15 AM.]

ubject: RE: Alan Jackson - og the right track
From: JerryD
Date: 04-Oct-06

I would like to give you a little perspective on this latest Alan Jackson project, which was ably produced by my friend Alison.

I knew all along this was not going to be a bluegrass record. I came to the studio with one dobro and 3 lapsteels and two amps. The mere presence of Bernard Purdy, (Steely Dan, Aretha Franklin, you name it), great choice, Kenny Vaughn, and Michael McDonald would have been my second hunch we weren't going to play "Pig In A Pen".

It was immediately obvious we were a little out of Alan's comfort range, but he never waivered. I was the only guy in the room who knew Alan, and I kept telling him what a great job he was doing. And he was.

Alan kept flooring us with his readings of these songs I had heard before with RL singing. He's mostly a one take guy. He did come back and clean up a few things. He had a cold the second round of sessions. Mostly my point is this: Alan Jackson has made the same records with the same cast and the same producer for years now. They were successful. He's lucky about that. I think this gives him license to do any kind of record he damn well pleases. It's a chance most successful artists won't take, but Alan's his own man.

The idea that a certain website would be upset over there not being a certain instrument on the recording is something they need to confront with the therapists within their own site.

I'm going to pick it up (in spite of the fact that I would buy most anything that Kenny Vaughan played on... )

[This message was edited by John Macy on 14 October 2006 at 03:54 PM.]

He's right that AJ has the right to do any kind of album he choses. From what I've read, I think I'll chose to sit this one out. I've got all of AJ's previous albums, including the 2 Christmas albums; I don't have the greatest hits albums either.

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HagFan

I don't know if it is still up-but one could listen to the whole thing on Alan's page on the CMT site.

Jerry D ain't gettin' above his raisin'-he gave the keynote address at the International Bluegrass Music Association convention recently, and he made it very clear that just about everything he does springs from the well of bluegrass, though it often isn't very obvious on the surface.

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Mark

[This message was edited by Mark Eaton on 16 October 2006 at 09:11 AM.]

The only people appearing to have less fun than line dancers in some bars or clubs are some overly serious looking pedal steel players!

Just kiddn'...

Really though, I just never got into line dancing-it reminds me of a honky tonk version of when figure skaters have to do the "cumpulsories" (sp?) in Olympic competition, where the moves have to be executed perfectly, but obviously without the elegance of the figure skater-the line dancers always looked so serious to me.

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Mark

[This message was edited by Mark Eaton on 17 October 2006 at 01:17 PM.]

It's supposed to occur about 45 minutes into the show.

Seriously, thanks for the minute marker. I think I'll jump over from MNF on occasion to see if I can catch The Man, AJ.

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HagFan