If you're a recording artist and you haven't laid down a track with the legendary Willie Nelson....what the fuck is wrong with you? Seriously, Willie has recorded or played alongside just about everyone that fucking matters. Listing all of Willie's duets and guest spots would be nearly impossible, he has like a bazzilion, so instead Muse-Zach brings you our 25 favorite Willie Nelson duets. (Note: List does not include any Highwaymen songs because the Highwaymen were essentially a group; which is good because they would have overwhelmingly dominated it.)
25) My Medicine w/Snoop Dogg & Luckenbach Texas w/Waylon Jennings
It was my last pick and I had a tie, mostly because I love both songs but they both contain only a little Willie on them.
Snoop explores the Nashville scene on this track, and though Willie is hard to place on this one; he's there. Snoop name checks him, he's in the music video, he plays some guitar on it, and he sings with Snoop on part of the chorus (though you'll have to listen closely to make it out). Snoop and Willie are friends have collaborated other places, Willie was added to a remix of one of Snoop's songs and Snoop joined Willie at a concert in Amsterdam last year to sing "Superman".
Another Waylon duet (there will be several more to come), I really like this song and he way Waylon sings it. Willie gets props from Waylon twice in the chorus, as he mentions Willie by name and also mentions one of Willie's most famous song (Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain). On the last run through the chorus, Willie finally surfaces taking over for Waylon. He swoops some of the lyrics, and finishes out the song strong.
24) They All Went to Mexico w/Santana
A laid back Mexican siesta kind of song. Santana, with guitar and backing vocals, helps Willie learn that everything has gone to Mexico.
23) A Showman's Life w/Gary Allan
In 2003, another young country gun cut a track with Willie. The song details the life of a showman, and how it isn't quite as glamorous as Superstars (like Willie) might let on.
22) Nowhere Road w/Waylon Jennings
Another great duet by the old outlaws. In 1996, marking the 20th anniversary of Wanted! The Outlaws, Willie and Waylon covered this Steve Earle with the same poise and grit that made the original album's duets so memorable.
Like A Soldier w/Johnny Cash
This track comes out of Unearthed a box set of unreleased tracks and alternate versions of songs Johnny Cash recorded between 1993 and 2003 for his America Recording albums with Rick Rubin. From the strenght of Johnny's voice I'm gonna guess this from the earlier end of that timeline, and though Willie only duets on the chorus, he certain adds an underlying power to Johnny's always exceptional voice.
20) Write One For Me w/Ringo Starr
Ringo Starr loves duets and guest spots almost as much as Willie. On this track, from Ringo's guest loaded 2003 album Ringorama, Willie and Ringo sing about getting other people to write them songs to match their feelings. Good stuff.
19) I'm a Worried Man w/Toots Hibbert
A cut off Willie's 2005 album Countryman, the old outlaw turns a classic song written by Johnny and June Carter Cash and turns it into a reggae hit with the help of Toots Hibbert. A sunny turn to a sad composition.
18). Maria (Shut Up and Kiss Me) w/Rob Thomas
A great song written by Matchbox 20's frontman Rob Thomas, who's vocals help Willie along here and there. A lot of people may find it disturbing or misplaced to have an elder state's like Willie singing about physical and seemingly modern love, but believe you me, Willie knows all about it.
18). Don't Give Up w/Sinead O'Connor
Off Willie's duet heavey 1993 album Across the Borderline, this duet is surprising but magical. O'Connor holds her vocals down to a mournful pledge "Don't give up" while Willie is the song's back bone, singing with grace and power.
17). Little Dealer Boy w/Stephen Colbert
From Stephen Colbert's 2008 A Colbert Christmas: The Greatest Gift of All!,
Willie plays the fourth wiseman bringing baby Jesus weed. Now the song is meant to be a joke, Willie obviously chosen because of his affilication with cannibus, but Willie sings it with such honesty and power that only Colbert's interjection "are you hight", keeps the song from completely escaping satire. Way to go Willie.
16). The Year That Clayton Delaney Died w/Waylon Jennings
A classic Tom T. Hall song mastered by the two outlaws. Off their 1982 album WWII.
15). One Too Many w/Aerosmith
The same song run through twice; once in country style and than in all out rock style. Willie schools Tyler in the Country department, and manages to stay with it when it turns rock and roll.
14). Slow Dancing w/U2
A slow beautifully haunting take on an old U2 b-side. The Irish lads had wonderful atmosphere and thin backing vocals.
13). Mendocino County Line w/Lee Ann Womack
A sweet young voice paired with an aged graveld one, "Mendocino Country Line" is about looking back on a passinate love that didnt last; somthing Willie certainly knows a lot about. Hitting the Country Charts at #22 in 2002, this bought Willie some exposure in the new milleniam and lead to some great duets with other female singers like Norah Jones and Shania Twain.
12). Last Stand in Open Country w/Kid Rock
A deep cut from Willie's excellant 2002 album The Great Divide, here Willie teams up with bad boy Kid Rock in a track penned by Elton John's lyricist Bernie Taupin. A Western odyssey about aging gunfighters and the young guns coming for their position, Willie certainly holds his, outsinging the Kid throughout. Why wasnt this released as a single?
11). Dead Flowers w/Keith Richards, Hank Williams III & Ryan Adams
Taped in a 2002 live concert honoring the living legend Willie Nelson certainly is, we get three generations of musicians running through a Rolling Stones Classic. All from different genres, all with widely different pasts, they shine together on this number.
10). I Hate Love w/Waylon Jennings & David Allen Coe
Legend has it that David Allen Coe asked to join the Highwaymen, but Waylon turned him down. On this track we get a little taste of what it might have been like if Coe would have been allowed in. Released in 1986 off Coe's Son of the South album, (one year after the first Highwaymen album came out) all three outlaws sing with great poise and power on this track, making it a not well know treasure.
9). Beer for my Horses w/Tobey Keith
Every new artist, if they got the balls, should write a duet with Willie Nelson. Tobey, established as a modern day outlaw, hit a home run with this duet in 2003 landing him and Willie a #1 on the Country Charts and #22 on the Billboard Hot 100. The songs about old school Texas justice, with a smart sing along chorus. Willie gets all the best lines in this one.
8). Heartland w/ Bob Dylan
In 1993, the two legends penned this song together for Willie's album Across the Borderline. Though I absolutely love Willie's opening performance, Bob steals the show on the second verse. His voice just sounds so downtradden and thirsty, perfectly emulating the lyrics. They should write more songs together.
7). Are There Any More Real Cowboys w/Neil Young
A great song written by Neil that runs through what it means to be a real cowboy, not just a superstar in a cowboy hat. Great lyrics, great voices, and the harmonica on this track ownes. Track was actually a minor hit on the Canadian Country Charts, topping out at #37 in 1985.
6). Rhythm of the Road w/Michael Martin Murphey
A deep cut from Murphey's 1976 album Swans Against the Sun, this is a fast paced banjo driven ditty about living on the road. Willie and Murphey continuously trade off verses back and forth in an infectious track that I could listen to over and over and over and over.
5). Man in the Big Hat w/Jerry Jeff Walker
One of the lesser known outlaws (unless you're from Texas), Jerry Jeff is best know for writing the amazing song "Mr. Bojangles", but he wrote dozens of numbers just as good. This is one of them. From is extrodinary 1988 album Live at Gruene Hall, Jerry tells the tale of an old Cowboy, just off the trail, relaxing in a bar while remembering his past and looking to the future. While Jerry narrates, Willie is the voice of the old cowboy and I love how rich and deep his voice is on this live track. I wish these two had done more songs together.
4). Mammas Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up to Be Cowboys w/Waylon Jennings
A warning to mothers everywhere and an insight into a cowboy's life, Willie and Waylon's second #1 duet together also won them a Grammy in 1978. Their voices, though distinct, just fucking rock and build off one another perfectly. I never grow tired of hearing these legends sing together.
3). Seven Spanish Angels w/Ray Charles
A western story about a woman and her husband being gunned by riders, this song is amazingly well written. A 1985 Country #1 hit single and the best of many duets Willie did with Ray, Seven Spanish Angels is amazing. Each singer nails their performance to a T, and than on the final run through the chorus, Ray Charles brillantly breaks from the song and jives like the true legend he was.
2). Pancho and Lefty w/ Merle Haggard
Written by a fellow outlaw, Texas' famous Townes van Zandt, this song details the life of an outlaw (possibly a mexican bandito) and the harshness and lonliness that comes with it. A #1 monster hit for both Willie and Merle (both the album and the song), though it was recorded by Townes and more famously by Emmylou Harris years before, Willie's weathered voice makes this track simply his and than when Merle finally comes in...oh man is fucking magic. Merle may had a larger role in this single if Willie hadn't woken him at 3 am to record it. Merle did his one verse in a single take and than when back to bed like a mother fucking bad ass.
1). Good Hearted Woman w/ Waylon Jennings
An honest send up to the hard working women behind every outlaw, it doesn't get any better than this famous track. Co-written by Willie and Waylon, (though Willie reportedly only added the line "throught tear drops and laughter we'll walk through this world hand in hand") it was a first recorded by Willie for his 1972 The Words Don't Fit the Picture album and than reached #3 on the Country Charts when released as a single by Waylon later that same year. Four years later, the live duet of Willie and Waylon would reach #1 on the Country Charts and #25 on the Billboard Hot 100 when RCA re-released the single from Wanted! The Outlaws, the first Country album to go platinum. Love this fucking song, especially when Waylon calls Willie into the duet after delivering the opening line.
*bonus*
We are the world w/The 80s
When Michael Jackson and Lionel Ritchie wanted to write a song to save Africa, they of course enlisted America's top 80's performers to deliver it. Willie was a no brainer, nailing his portion, and many people and artist have in the years since complained that the song sucked, I kind of liked it. It's fun to see all these different voices and genres of music coming together, and many of the artist give out standing performances (I'm looking at you Bruce Springsteen, Stevie Wonder, and Ray Charles). Funny, Willie's hanging in the back with Kenny Loggins.
10/31/10
10/30/10
Willie Nelson at Mystic Lake Casino
(A fucking badass, that's Billy English's head in the background)
Willie Nelson: Singer, songwriter, author, actor, philanthropist (Farm Aid), and a dam fine picker for being 77 years young, is an American treasure. He is the fucking man; period. I have been fan of Mr. Nelson since I was around 12 or 13, largely thanks to my father, and I gotta say Friday night at Mystic Lake Casino, the legend did no disappoint me for one second.
I go to quite a few shows each year, and being the young concert veteran I am, I try not to disappoint myself. So when I go to see an older artist like Willie Nelson, who's most famous work was made three or more decades ago, I cut the man some slack. I tell myself, "Self, Willie is an old man now. Don't expect his voice to be top notch. Don't expect a long set. Don't expect Willie to be the driving force behind the Family Band. Just enjoy the chance to see a weathered veteran, still out on the road." Often giving yourself a realistic look at a concert can prevent later disappointment, this can also apply to setlists(maybe they don't play your favorite song...or any of your favorite songs) or performing (maybe each song is turned into a jam doubling or tripling the songs lenght). With Willie, no pre-concert precaution was needed or validated, he rocked everyone's face off in that showroom.
(Wearing a random hat a chick threw onstage. This happened a couple of times, Willie also threw several bandannas he wore into the crowd.)
I still can not fathom how good his show was last night. I'm just on an incredible Willie high right now and don't know when I'll come down (never!). I mean, I fucking love Willie Nelson, the man can do no wrong in my book(going on the Alex Jones Show was just a strike), but after that concert...man...I must have doubled or tripled my love for this old Texan. Everything was so fucking good. His voice sounded great. He played an amazing setlist (including all four of my favorite Willie songs). The band sounded great....I just don't even know where to begin. Willie blew me away, and I was wanting it, and hoping for it, but still a little cautious to avoid disappointment, and he fucking delivered on all cilendars. Thank you Willie. What a great, great show. I'm just gonna ramble now, fuck structure and formulated forms of transcibing ones thoughts/feelings/aspirations/opinions into a concise and formulated manner so another can interpret and digest it with the highest clarity and understanding of what the author is trying to get across, I'm still drunk off the Whiskey River.
Willie walked out onstage and I was the first motherfucker on my feet giving him a standing ovation (the rest of the audience of course followed my lead). He he turned around right than and didn't play a single fucking note, it would have been earned, the fucking hundreds and hundreds of amazing musically moments this man has bestowed on my life.
He of course opened with "Whiskey River", rocking a black cowboy hat, and man, from that first note, though it wasn't nearly as punchy or intense as the amazing recorded version, I knew we were gonna be ok. Willie's voice sounded top notch and it didn't let up all evening. From there it was wham bam thank you ma'am, a slew of quick hits, barely a moment in between, "Still is still moving" "Beer for my Horses". Now here is were the only bone to pick from the evening comes from. The lazy-ass, senile crowd. When Willie raises his arm it means to fucking sing along. God fucking dammit, are you so stupid you can't say "Beer for my Horses". This happened several times, Willie tried to get the crowd singing, raising his arm, cupping his ear, turning the mike to the crowd, and saying "everybody sing this one" or "strong finish now" and he fell on deaf fucking ears. It's not like it was hard shit to sing. Even if you didn't know the lyrics he sang them multiple times, or you could fucking fake your way through it, goddammit man. This is fucking singing with Willie fucking Nelson, get your head out of your ass. I of course belted out the words whenever Willie asked, and though I got a few slanted looks from a handful of old farts, I could fucking care less. Willie says sing, I fucking sing. Oh, but what really amazed me was his guitar playing. Fuck. 
I thought Willie would have at least one other guitar player onstage, you know, handling the leads, so Willie could just pick along and focus on singing. Oh hell no. Willie was the only guitar, and Jesus-A-Christ-on-a-fucking-stick did he make old Trigger sing. I just marvelled at how good he could move his fingers around that six string. He played hard, fast, and did technical blues, folk, Spanish, and honky tonk riffs. The family band was also pretty fucking tight, right with Willie where ever he went. His younger sister Bobbie on the piano cranked out some wonderful western swing, at one point transporting the entire audience to the fun quick key dance of a gambling Old West saloon. Willie's awesome drummer Paul English is still recovering from a stroke he had earlier this year so he only drummed on "Crazy" and "Nightlife". His younger brother Billy handled percussion duties otherwise, and I fucked loved that after "Nightlife" was over Paul stood up to leave the stage obviously not feeling well, and his brother gave him a hug. Awesome, that's why it's called the Family Band. I should also give a shout out to Bee Spears on bass, and the extra extraordinary Mickey Raphael killing the crowd over and over again with is incredible harmonica playing. So fucking good.
As far as a setlist goes, Willie played a lot of hits (besides the songs I've already mentioned) "Good Hearted Woman" "Angel Flying to Close to the Ground" "Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain" "Always on my Mind" "City of New Orleans"(love this song) "Healing Hands of Time" "On the Road Again" "Funny How Time Slips Away". Even without Waylon or Tobey, Willie handled the duets wonderfully singing both parts (he even did a shout out to Waylon).
Willie also played a few covers; a pair of Kris Kristofferson tunes "Help me Make It Through the Night" "Me and Bobbie McGee", and three Hank William songs including "Move on Over" "Hey Good Lookin" and "I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry." He mixed a few sing-along old gospel tunes "Will the Circle Be Unbroken" "I'll Fly Away". Than to keep it fresh, Willie also played his own recent compositions "Shoeshine Man" "Superman" and "You Don't Find Me Funny Anymore." The crowd loved the new songs, especially the last two which had everyone laughing out loud. There were also a couple instrumental numbers mixed in for good measure, and Oh my fucking God the best song of the night was Willie's old fucking masterpiece (so often overlooked) "I Never Cared For You." He had this awesome 2 or 3 minute Spanish guitar solo leading in, and than fucking killed that song. The band jumped in after the first verse, and lordy it was so so so good. Better than any recorded version I've hear (there are several). Yes yes yes. Loved that shit.The magic of Willie Nelson in concert did not end when the wandering troubadour set down his guitar and goodbye to the crowd, Ooh no. As his band kept playing, Willie walked down the stage shaking hands with every fan that had come down to line the stage (prompting more fans to line the stage).
They have him flowers, hats, a jacket, and eagerly waited to shake the legend's hand. When he reached the curtain, having already gone down a long line, Willie easily could have slipped away like every other artist does. Instead, he turned around and went right back down the line, this time autographing whatever fans would hand up to him. What a class act, for at least 15-20 minutes, after playing a 85 minute show, Willie gave his fans the time of day. You better believe I went down to the fucking stage (I waited much to long, still in awe of his musicianship and great generosity) and though I did not get to shake Willie's hand before he retired backstage, just seeing him up close spending time with his fans was gift enough. Once Willie exited the band stopped, and than sweet ole Paul English came back onstage to help Willie's sister Bobbie pick up where Willie had left off; signing and shacking hands. 
While I had no interest in shacking Bobbie's hand, I fucking complemented and than shook hands with the Texas legend Paul English. Now whenever I listen to "Me and Paul" I'll think of that magical moment. An amazing end to an amazing concert.
So in summary, best concert of the year; Period.
*Update* The Star Tribune wrote a nice review of the concert, plus a fun article the day before, but the really nice thing is on Jon Bream's blog he did list a full setlist of the show. Nice. It's funny, my girlfriends was taking down the setlist (I was telling her the name of the songs) but it was her phone was just too bright and annoying, we didn't want to annoy the Willie fans amongst us, so after the third song I was all like, "Don't worry about it. The fucking guy from the Star Tribune will get it, it's his fucking job." And he did. Kudos Jon, and kudos to myself because I did a pretty good job remembering the setlist just on the fly.
Whiskey River/ Still Is Still Moving to Me/ Beer for Our Horses/ Shoeshine Man/ Funny How Time Slips Away >Crazy > Nightlife/ Down Yonder (piano instrumental featuring Bobbie Nelson)/ Help Me Make It Through the Night/ Me & Bobby McGee/Blue Eyes Cryin’ in the Rain/ Good Hearted Woman/ Angel Flying Too Close to the Ground/ On the Road Again/ Always on My Mind/ Will the Circle Be Unbroken> I’ll Fly Away/ Nuage (Django Reinhardt instrumental)/ Jambalaya/ Hey Good Lookin/ Move It on Over/ Georgia on My Mind/ Superman/ You Don’t Think I’m Funny Anymore/ These Healing Hands of Time/ City of New Orleans/ Nobody’ s Fault But Mine/Rainy Day Blues/ I Never Cared for You/ I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry/ I Saw the Light
10/20/10
Three Kings
Monarchies carry little weight in America. We don't like them, never have. In fact I often fall asleep wrapped in Old Glory humming the ole timey song I wrote "No, No King George, Fuck You". But occasionally an artist will come along so powerful, so dominating and larger than life that the public bestows a crown upon them. Few get these titles, and even fewer have the command to brand the title into public conscious. Here are three Kings, masters of their genres and undisputedly deserving of their crowns: Elvis, Michael Jackson, and George Strait. We'll run down the amazing stats the earned, and sustained each's crown.
Elvis Presley: The King of Rock & Roll
"Before Elvis, there was nothing."- John Lennon
-Born January 8, 1935 in Tupelo, Mississippi.
-Died August 16, 1977 in Memphis, Tennessee (42).
-Career: 1954-77
-Best Selling Solo Artist in the history of music with over 1 Billion records sold worldwide (400 from United States).
-3rd Best Selling Musical Artist in the United States based on RIAA Certification (beaten only by The Beatles, and Garth Brooks).
-Sold more than 123.5 million records in the United States.
-Most Gold Certified Albums (84).
-Most Platinum Certified Albums (46).
-2nd most Multi-Platinum Certified Albums (24, second only to The Beatles).
-Most Gold Certified Singles (54).
-Most Platinum Certified Singles (27).
-Most Multi-Platinum Certified Singles (8).
-Most UK #1 singles (22).
-Most top ten UK singles (77).
-Most Billboard Hot 100 entires (108).
-Most Billboad Top 40 Hits (104).
-2nd Most Billboard top 10 singles (36, second only to Madonna).
-2nd Most Billboard number-one hits (18, tied with Mariah Carey and behind The Beatles).
-Most cumulative weeks at Billboard's number one (79 weeks).
-2nd most Billboard number-two hits (5, behind only Madonna).
-In 1956 simultaneoulsy occupied the top two Billboard chart positions, a feat only accomplished by 10 other artist.
-Most charting singles for a solo artist in a single year (17 in 1956).
-Longest overall span of hits on the Billboard chart (First in 1956 with "Heartbreak Hotel" and last in 2003 with a remixed version of "Rubberneckin").
-Most "double sided" hit singles (in which each side reached the Top 40) with 26.
-Appeared in the Billboard Top 40 in 5 different decades (50s, 60s, 70s, 80s, 00s).
-10th longest amount of time on Billboard's Country chart (17 weeks for "Heartbreak Hotel").
-Most #1 U.S. singles for a male solo artist.
-Had 6 songs that simultaneously topped both the Country and Pop charts.
-11 Billboard Country number one singles.
-6 Billboad R&B number one singles.
-7 Billboard Adult Contemporary number one singles.
-1 Billboard Christmas number one single (1964 Christmas songs could not chart on regular chart).
-149 songs on Billboard's 100 pop chart, 114 were in top forty, 40 were in the top ten, and 18 went to number one.
-14 Grammy nominations and 3 wins.
-At 36 recieved Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award.
-1970 United States Junior Chamber of Commerce named Elvis One of the Ten Outstanding Young Men of the Nation.
-1986 inducted into The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (1st year of inductees).
-1998 inducted into The Country Music Hall of Fame.
-2002 inducted into The Gospel Music Hall of Fame.
-2007 inducted into The Rockabilly Hall of Fame
-Aloha from Hawaii was the first concert broadcasted globally via satellite and was viewed by over 1.5 billion people.
-Starred in 33 movies, several of which were among the highest grossing films of their respected year (ex. Viva Las Vegas was the 11th highest grossing film of 1964).
-Released 102 singles, 30 extened play singles, and 74 albums in his lifetime.
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Michael Jackson: The King of Pop
"I am so saddened by the loss of a great idol and icon, Michael Jackson. He was, to me, the greatest entertainer of all time. He was a huge inspiration for performers across all music genres. He taught us all how to light up the stage."- Randy Jackson
-Born August 29, 1958 in Gary, Indiana.
-Died June 25, 2009 in Los Angeles, California (50).
-Career: 1964-2009 (went solo in 1971).
-800 million records sold worldwide.
-11th Best Selling Musical Artist in the United States based on RIAA Certification.
-Sold more than 69.5 million records in the United States.
-10th most Certified Gold Singles (16).
-5th most Certified Platinum Singles (9).
-12th most UK number one (7).
-40 top ten UK singles.
-4th Most Billboard number-one hits (13, behind Elvis, Mariah Carey, and The Beatles).
-4th most Billboard Top Ten singles (28, behind The Beatles, Elvis, and Madonna).
-5th most cumulative weeks as Billboars's number one (37 weeks, behind Usher, Boyz 2 Men, The Beatles, Mariah Carey, and Elvis).
-Most Billboard number ones from one album (5 from Bad)
-Most Billboard top ten songs from one album (7 from Thriller, shares record with Bruce Springsteen and Janet Jackson).
-2nd Most #1 U.S. singles for a male solo artist (13, behind only Elvis).
-13 number one R&B hits.
-Thriller Certified 29x platinum (matched only by The Eagles: Their Greatest Hits).
-Thriller is the best selling album in the world.
-Hold record for most Grammy's won in a single year (8 in 1984, now tied with Santanna).
-Won 15 Grammys overall.
-Recieved Grammy Lifetime achievement award in 2010.
-Most World Music Awards (15).
-Most Billboard awars for a male artist (26).
-First artist to sell 2 million downloads in a week (following death).
-Supported more charities than any other artist (39).
-Inducted into The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a solo artist in 2001 and with the Jackson 5 in 1997.
-2002 inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame.
-2010 inducted into the National Museum of Dance Hall fo Fame (first Rock and Roll artist).
-10 studio albums, 1 Live album, 1 soundtrack.
George Strait: The King of Country
"Any of us who wear a hat, strap on a guitar and sing, we wanted to be him. We're talking about the ideal of the real country singer: someone who never compromised his music." - Brad Paisley
-Born May 18, 1952 in Poteet, Texas.
-12th Best Selling Musical Artist in the United States based on RIAA Certification.
-Sold more than 68.5 million albums in the United States.
-6th most Gold Albums (38, behind Elivs, Streisand, The Beatles, Rolling Stones, and Neil Diamond).
-3rd most Platinum Albums (33, behind Elvis and The Beatles).
-5th most Multi-Platinum Albums (13, behind The Beatles, Elvis, Garth Brooks, and Led Zeppelin).
-Holds world record for more #1 hit singles than any other artist in the history of music on any chart or in any genre.
-57 #1 hits thus far.
-Only artist in the history of music to have a top ten hit every year for thirty years.
-2nd all-time in top ten hits in the history of music with 83; Eddy Arnold has 92.
-Has won 22 County Music Association (CMA) awards, and holds the record for most wins and most nominations (81).
-Only country artist to win a CMA for Best Male Vocalist in two different decades.
-Holds the record for most Academy of Country Music (ACM) wins and nominations.
-ACA Artist of the Decade for the 2000s.
-Billboard's Top Country Artist of the past 25 years.
-Billboard's Top Country Artist in 86, 87, 96,
-Billboard's Most Played Artist (any genre) 1996.
-2003, ranked #9 on CMT's list of the 40 Greatest Men of Country Music.
-2006, inducted into Country Music Hall of Fame.
-2009, won a Grammy for Best Country Album.
-Has more Number One Albums, Gold Albums, and Platinum Albums than an other Country Artist.
-Starred in the 1992 film Pure Country.
-Has released 91 singles.
-25 studio albums, 2 live albums, and 1 soundtrack
Sadly both Michael and Elvis have left us (think if they had been alive at the same time), with no artist worthy to take their crowns yet (if you say Michael took Elvis' crown you are a fucking idiot). Each King commanded their particular kingdom in different times (George and Michael's do strongly overlap) and genres. Though it is hard to compare them, undoubtedly Elvis was the King of Kings, and despite Michael riding high on the "hey I just died a sad unexpected death train", don't buy into all the bullshit of him being artist of the Millenium or Century. Was Michael better than Bethoveen or Mozart, Fuck No, let alone Elvis. No doubt the guy was an amazing performer and musical artist, but I think we need to keep our modern place in history with some perspective...understand? Anyway, George Strait is still out there selling out stadiums, topping the charts, and rulling his Country Music Kingdom. Long live the king.
Elvis Presley: The King of Rock & Roll
"Before Elvis, there was nothing."- John Lennon
-Born January 8, 1935 in Tupelo, Mississippi.
-Died August 16, 1977 in Memphis, Tennessee (42).
-Career: 1954-77
-Best Selling Solo Artist in the history of music with over 1 Billion records sold worldwide (400 from United States).
-3rd Best Selling Musical Artist in the United States based on RIAA Certification (beaten only by The Beatles, and Garth Brooks).
-Sold more than 123.5 million records in the United States.
-Most Gold Certified Albums (84).
-Most Platinum Certified Albums (46).
-2nd most Multi-Platinum Certified Albums (24, second only to The Beatles).
-Most Gold Certified Singles (54).
-Most Platinum Certified Singles (27).
-Most Multi-Platinum Certified Singles (8).
-Most UK #1 singles (22).
-Most top ten UK singles (77).
-Most Billboard Hot 100 entires (108).
-Most Billboad Top 40 Hits (104).
-2nd Most Billboard top 10 singles (36, second only to Madonna).
-2nd Most Billboard number-one hits (18, tied with Mariah Carey and behind The Beatles).
-Most cumulative weeks at Billboard's number one (79 weeks).
-2nd most Billboard number-two hits (5, behind only Madonna).
-In 1956 simultaneoulsy occupied the top two Billboard chart positions, a feat only accomplished by 10 other artist.
-Most charting singles for a solo artist in a single year (17 in 1956).
-Longest overall span of hits on the Billboard chart (First in 1956 with "Heartbreak Hotel" and last in 2003 with a remixed version of "Rubberneckin").
-Most "double sided" hit singles (in which each side reached the Top 40) with 26.
-Appeared in the Billboard Top 40 in 5 different decades (50s, 60s, 70s, 80s, 00s).
-10th longest amount of time on Billboard's Country chart (17 weeks for "Heartbreak Hotel").
-Most #1 U.S. singles for a male solo artist.
-Had 6 songs that simultaneously topped both the Country and Pop charts.
-11 Billboard Country number one singles.
-6 Billboad R&B number one singles.
-7 Billboard Adult Contemporary number one singles.
-1 Billboard Christmas number one single (1964 Christmas songs could not chart on regular chart).
-149 songs on Billboard's 100 pop chart, 114 were in top forty, 40 were in the top ten, and 18 went to number one.
-14 Grammy nominations and 3 wins.
-At 36 recieved Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award.
-1970 United States Junior Chamber of Commerce named Elvis One of the Ten Outstanding Young Men of the Nation.
-1986 inducted into The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (1st year of inductees).
-1998 inducted into The Country Music Hall of Fame.
-2002 inducted into The Gospel Music Hall of Fame.
-2007 inducted into The Rockabilly Hall of Fame
-Aloha from Hawaii was the first concert broadcasted globally via satellite and was viewed by over 1.5 billion people.
-Starred in 33 movies, several of which were among the highest grossing films of their respected year (ex. Viva Las Vegas was the 11th highest grossing film of 1964).
-Released 102 singles, 30 extened play singles, and 74 albums in his lifetime.
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Michael Jackson: The King of Pop
"I am so saddened by the loss of a great idol and icon, Michael Jackson. He was, to me, the greatest entertainer of all time. He was a huge inspiration for performers across all music genres. He taught us all how to light up the stage."- Randy Jackson
-Born August 29, 1958 in Gary, Indiana.
-Died June 25, 2009 in Los Angeles, California (50).
-Career: 1964-2009 (went solo in 1971).
-800 million records sold worldwide.
-11th Best Selling Musical Artist in the United States based on RIAA Certification.
-Sold more than 69.5 million records in the United States.
-10th most Certified Gold Singles (16).
-5th most Certified Platinum Singles (9).
-12th most UK number one (7).
-40 top ten UK singles.
-4th Most Billboard number-one hits (13, behind Elvis, Mariah Carey, and The Beatles).
-4th most Billboard Top Ten singles (28, behind The Beatles, Elvis, and Madonna).
-5th most cumulative weeks as Billboars's number one (37 weeks, behind Usher, Boyz 2 Men, The Beatles, Mariah Carey, and Elvis).
-Most Billboard number ones from one album (5 from Bad)
-Most Billboard top ten songs from one album (7 from Thriller, shares record with Bruce Springsteen and Janet Jackson).
-2nd Most #1 U.S. singles for a male solo artist (13, behind only Elvis).
-13 number one R&B hits.
-Thriller Certified 29x platinum (matched only by The Eagles: Their Greatest Hits).
-Thriller is the best selling album in the world.
-Hold record for most Grammy's won in a single year (8 in 1984, now tied with Santanna).
-Won 15 Grammys overall.
-Recieved Grammy Lifetime achievement award in 2010.
-Most World Music Awards (15).
-Most Billboard awars for a male artist (26).
-First artist to sell 2 million downloads in a week (following death).
-Supported more charities than any other artist (39).
-Inducted into The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a solo artist in 2001 and with the Jackson 5 in 1997.
-2002 inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame.
-2010 inducted into the National Museum of Dance Hall fo Fame (first Rock and Roll artist).
-10 studio albums, 1 Live album, 1 soundtrack.
George Strait: The King of Country
"Any of us who wear a hat, strap on a guitar and sing, we wanted to be him. We're talking about the ideal of the real country singer: someone who never compromised his music." - Brad Paisley
-Born May 18, 1952 in Poteet, Texas.
-12th Best Selling Musical Artist in the United States based on RIAA Certification.
-Sold more than 68.5 million albums in the United States.
-6th most Gold Albums (38, behind Elivs, Streisand, The Beatles, Rolling Stones, and Neil Diamond).
-3rd most Platinum Albums (33, behind Elvis and The Beatles).
-5th most Multi-Platinum Albums (13, behind The Beatles, Elvis, Garth Brooks, and Led Zeppelin).
-Holds world record for more #1 hit singles than any other artist in the history of music on any chart or in any genre.
-57 #1 hits thus far.
-Only artist in the history of music to have a top ten hit every year for thirty years.
-2nd all-time in top ten hits in the history of music with 83; Eddy Arnold has 92.
-Has won 22 County Music Association (CMA) awards, and holds the record for most wins and most nominations (81).
-Only country artist to win a CMA for Best Male Vocalist in two different decades.
-Holds the record for most Academy of Country Music (ACM) wins and nominations.
-ACA Artist of the Decade for the 2000s.
-Billboard's Top Country Artist of the past 25 years.
-Billboard's Top Country Artist in 86, 87, 96,
-Billboard's Most Played Artist (any genre) 1996.
-2003, ranked #9 on CMT's list of the 40 Greatest Men of Country Music.
-2006, inducted into Country Music Hall of Fame.
-2009, won a Grammy for Best Country Album.
-Has more Number One Albums, Gold Albums, and Platinum Albums than an other Country Artist.
-Starred in the 1992 film Pure Country.
-Has released 91 singles.
-25 studio albums, 2 live albums, and 1 soundtrack
Sadly both Michael and Elvis have left us (think if they had been alive at the same time), with no artist worthy to take their crowns yet (if you say Michael took Elvis' crown you are a fucking idiot). Each King commanded their particular kingdom in different times (George and Michael's do strongly overlap) and genres. Though it is hard to compare them, undoubtedly Elvis was the King of Kings, and despite Michael riding high on the "hey I just died a sad unexpected death train", don't buy into all the bullshit of him being artist of the Millenium or Century. Was Michael better than Bethoveen or Mozart, Fuck No, let alone Elvis. No doubt the guy was an amazing performer and musical artist, but I think we need to keep our modern place in history with some perspective...understand? Anyway, George Strait is still out there selling out stadiums, topping the charts, and rulling his Country Music Kingdom. Long live the king.
10/19/10
Buying CDs
CD sales are in the toilet. Every year, in every genre (except Country and Jazz (really, Jazz?)) CD sales continue their downward spiral with hears now having a billion other options to listen to their fave hits; myspace, youtube, cell phones, itunes, rhapsody, aolmusic, vinyl, burned copies, illegal downloads, etc, etc. Record Companies, in my personal opinion, have been sloth slow to answer this problem (it's only been an issue for like 10 years now) refusing to make CDs a fair price, while thier record stores go under and they prosecute single mothers for downloading Nickelback; fucking stupid.
Even big box retailers are turning their nose up at CDs. Every time I go into a Wal-Mart these days it seems like their Music Section is getting smaller and smaller; barely carrying any new releases (outside of country and big name sellers) and instead increasingly pushing classic albums and best of compilations. I've seen less of a section downgrade at Target, instead their Music area is a ghost town of unstocked shelves. Unless the your looking for a band's (they better be a popular band) latest release or best of, buying CDs at Target is increasingly pointless. Even mighty Best Buy is slimming down the CDs for other electronic gadgets and low priced DVDs. It's a sad state.
For those music lovers still out their buying CDs it can be a hard landscape. Buying a new disc in many cases becomes a planned out operation, and for those not doing their homework, let me be the first to tell you, the Music Industry is fucking you over friend (even if you did said homework, just not as hard and nasty). How? I'm gonna get to that in a minute. Why? They want your money retard.
Alright so beside making it incredibly hard to locate new cds (if your looking for an album form a non popular band you may be forced to seek out one of the few still existing record stores, itunes, or the Internet), the first thing you need to figure out when buying CDs is the cost. Walmart, Best Buy, and Target usually lower the price of new CDS to around $10 (if it's not a double album) and a quick glance at their weekly flyer can tell you who has the best deal; though they should all be within a dollar or so of each other. Buying a new release at a book store like Barnes and Nobles or a mall chain like FYE, will in hurt your wallet. Their CDs are almost always way over prized (though FYE does occasionally have good CD deals) and while their overall selection my be superior, the damage to your wallet could prevent a multiple CD purchase.
(Note: Hot Topic is a good place to find metal, emo, and punk new releases other locations are less likely to carry for $10)
Think we're done? Nope, the real homework hasnt even been offered yet. While buying CDs at the best price is something to strive for (especially if your poor like me) but general rules of thumb will keep you from having to actually look shit up (Wal-Mart is cheaper). Unfortunately, in today's world buying music at different locations not only yields different prices but shockingly different products. WTF? Well let me explaining with an example. Saying your out shopping at Barnes and Nobles and you happen to spy the new Eric Clapton album for sale. You think to yourself, "My, my, it appears that my old friend Mr. Claption has a batch of new recordings for sale. It has been many moons since I heard a tasty tune from my old six-string master, I think I will purchase this enchanted disc and give it a hearty listen. But wait just one minute, a tiny message ajoined to the package informs me that by stacking my purchase here, instead of some competitor's shoppe, I will receive an exclusive bonus song. By Jove, bonus Clapton eh, well say no more and let me get out my coin purse, because I will certainly be making this purchase now. All doubt of buying has been expelled from my mind thanks to his wonderful free gift from the very fair and kind folks at Barnes and Nobles. Cheers."
Back in the day a CD was a CD in much the same way a Cassette was a Cassette, and a record was a record. Now every CD breaks down into a million versions, and if you dont know what your buying, or what others are offering, you may not end up with the version you want. This goes even beyond material CDs, different websites have different versions of the same CD as well. So let's look at the newest Clapton CD again, ingeniously named Clapton. If you buy it at Wal-Mart, Best Buy, or Target you get a 14 track CD, but if you purchase it at Barnes and Nobles, iTunes, Amazon, or on ericlapton.com you get a bonus song. If you dont care about the bonus song than the Wal-Mart version will work, but if your a big Clapton fan and need to hear his every release than you'll want to get the bonus track. Here's where you get fucked again, the bonus track at Barnes and Nobles is not the same bonus track that they are offering on iTunes, Amazing, or ericlaption.com. Each location has a different bonus song, and none of them will allow you to purchase the bonus song separately. Fuck. If you want all the bonus song you either have to purchase the CD four times, or illegally download the tracks you need.
This situation only gets further complicated. Sometimes a realtor or website, will try to entice your purchase their with a bonus DVD, or an exclusive poster, or any number of band related trinket a die hard fan may want for their collection, and will be super pissed if they buy it at a location that doesn't offer it. So you have to do research, what versions of this CD exist, where can I buy it, how much, and is there any place offering any additional free bees with a purchase (offten these giveaways are only advertised in the stores themselves).
Sounds aggravating doesn't it (I still dont have the fucking bonus song off the last White Stripes album because I didnt buy it on iTunes), but it can get worse. Often times really popular albums will be re-released only a few months after they come out. If you bough the album the first time around this can be extremely frustrating as now you are wondering is the bonus DVD and 2 new songs worth $12 for a CD I essentially aready own. It sucks man, but at least the dying CD business has made classic albums somewhat cheaper.....so there's that....
10/17/10
Holy Shit
Trampled by Turtles really is on the rise. Known for so long as the rocking blue grass band on stools, now they're on their feet every night. Wooot!!
Rock on the Range: Year 5 Rumors
I am a Rock on the Range veteran, my ever changing band of Midwest head crushers (an east coaster slipped in the group last year) have been to every single Rock on the Range Columbus, OH, has put on. I'm pretty proud of this festival, and the hard-rock and metal fans that make it possible each year (roughtly 30,000 attend each year). Way back in 2007, Rock on the Range wasnt much bigger than the numerous summer radio station rock concerts that dot the midwest, but with two stages (one inside, one outside Crew Stadium) promising non-stop music from a varied lineup of old and new rock acts (ZZ Top, Evanescence, Velvet Revolver, Papa Roach, Three Days Grace, and more) the one day show was a huge sold out success. Capitaling off the success, year two was bigger and better drafting Stone Temple Pilots to headline Day 1 (their first show in 7 years) and Kid Rock and 3 Doors Down co-headling Day 2. It was also the first year field and seating tickets were sold seperately (year one you had to wait in a giant line hoping to get a floor bracelet) and featured 27 of rock radio's biggest bands (year one had 14 bands). With the addition of a smaller third stage, 2009 featured 38 bands and featured giant artist Slipknot, Motley Cru, Alice In Chains, Aveneged Sevenfold, and Korn. Also in year three, Rock on the Range expanded to Canada throwing a sister festival in Winnipeg. Year 4 also hosted 38 bands and with new sponsors, Monster Engergy Drinks and Jagermeister, ROTR again brought the biggest names in hard-rock and metal to Columbus as Godsmack, Limp Bizkit (newly reunited), Three Days Grace, and Rob Zombie rocked late into the summer night.
Um.....really didnt mean to run down the whole festival history there..but I'm just excited because this year the festival is expanding once again. Instead of two days, ROTR's fifth year will be three days of moshing, body surfing, and head-banging delight. Europe completely has America pegged on hard rock and metal festivals, but if this little baby keeps going, and growing, there may be a day when hungry metal fans wont have to pine and dream of The Download Festival, Big Day Out, Hellfest, Wacken, and so on; they'll have their very own.
To pull off the transistion from great to fucking awesome, ROTR needs to really bring it this year (three days means you'll have to convince people to really invest in this festival). Time for my list of rumors and perdictions.
Here is my perdiction for this year's headliners (friends did give input on the first two), Linkin Park, Soundgarden, and Van Halen. Pretty fucking epic huh. Linkin Park gets the green light because they've been popular for over ten years now, they have a new CD out, and what better way for them to kick off a summer touring season. I pray Soundgarden will be there. I missed their reunion show at Lollapalooza, god dammit, and though the grunge rockers have played only a handful of shows, ROTR is the perfect venue to show fans what they've been missing all these years. Van Halen, well....this one is maybe a reach, but there has been strong indications of them putting out a new album and touring next summer. If ROTR could pull down these legends, it would mean big $$$ for the whole operation; plus a shit load of happy rock fans.
So thats three days, three headliners but who else will grace the three ROTR stages? When making these kind of perdictions I like to consider three things: who's on the road, who's on the radio, and who has a new album to promote. On that basis there are some names I expect to see on the ROTR 2010 poster: Black Label Society, Stone Sour, Five Finger Death Punch, Alter Bridge, The Sword, Down, Bush, Murderdolls, The Exies, 10 Years, Trapt, Filter, Halford. As we grow closer to the date I'll make more perdictions. I would really like it if we could get a Big 4 Day, or at least a couple of those thrash legends. Begin the countdown to February when the lineup will be revealed.
Updated info: here
2011 Begins with Motorhead
It has been said, "The Lord giveth, and the Lord taketh away," well starting very early in 2011 the Lord has decided to giveth. Yes, Lemmy Kilmeister, the one and only true god, will be very bountiful this coming January. The long awaited documentary, simply titled Lemmy, will get its US release on January 24. As if that wasnt enough, Lemmy and the boys will also be releaseing their 20th album The World Is Yours in January. If the album is anywhere near as good as 2008's Motorizer, metalheads will have another classic to head-bang to. Coinciding with the album and documentary releases, Motorhead will be rolling back on the road, celebrating 35 years of hard stomping rock and roll, and playing it louder than everthing else.
So real simple here readers. In January 2011, Lemmy will be kicking ass and taking names on your television, on your laptop, in your Ipod, on your car stero, and across this whole mother fucking world. Here's praying Minnesota is on the tour itinerary.
10/16/10
Bob Dylan Gets "Saved": Our Thoughts
As discussed in a pervious blog on Dylan's discography, 1980's Saved is considered by many to be Bob Dylan's worst album. A weeks back Muse-Zach acquired the infamous album and gave it a thoughtful and neutral minded spin (I actually listened to the album all the way through at least 4 times). The conclusion? Well, actually it was well liked. Now it is important now to give my Dylan album background. I am a Dylan fan but I would not say I'm a super serious disciple (yet), I love a number of Dylan's songs but have mostly enjoyed Bob through Greatest Hits packages. The only Dylan albums I've heared in their entirety are: Saved, Modern Times (many plays), and Together Through Life (once). So is it Dylans worst album, I cant actually say as I've only listend to three of them, but I will say it is a good album and here's why:
From start to finish, Saved takes you on the a gospel journey exporing the mindset, attitute, and vigor behind the "born again" philosophy. In the opening song, an often covered piece by Red Hayes and Jack Rhodes, Dylan lets his audience know that the world's riches, power, and fame (all things Dylan himself has acquired during his legendary career) do not bring a life of happiness, but a satisfied mind does. But how does one acquired a satisfied mind u ask, Dylan will spend the remainder of the album aquiatting it to accepting Jesus Christ as your Lord and savior; evident further by the following track being the evanguletically upbeat "Saved". From here it's a Dylan penned check list for New Worshipper 101. Reborn, saved, Bob makes a covenant with the lord on "Covenant Woman" (he compares it to a beatuiful and trusting woman), ask the Lord "What can I do for You", discusses what the Lord did for him in "Solid Rock", turns from temptation in "Pressing On", preaches the gospel of Jesus' crucific in "In the Garden", preaches Jeusus' love in "Saving Grace", and finally ends the album fittingly by proclaiming the second Jesus' soon return in "Are you Ready". Realizing this straight forward and very familiar Christian presentation, many critics and fans have panned the album as routine songwriting, lacking the poetic mastery, imaginative storytelling, and social commentary that made his previous albums (especially the early ones) amazing works of genious. While this comparison may hold some water, I trully feel it is unfair to compare and contrast Dylan's previous work when deciding the merits of a peticular album. You can't condem the album for what isn't there, you should only judge it on what is there. In that light, most of the lyrics are not particularly interesting or compelling (same ole Christain BS), but what makes the songs, and the album, enjoyable for multiple listens (to an atheist of all people) is the conviction in Bob's voice. The passion and the drive of these songs is fantastic, Bob is in a fever and you can really feel the fire of his vocal delivery. I may not believe this shit, but god-dammit at the time Dylan did, and he sings with true gospel conviction. I can enjoy that, especially when his band catches wind behind him and the those lovely back up singers make the entire experience feel like a rocking southern Sunday moring worship. Dylan's conviction, Dylan's passion, Dylan's delivery (his hard hum in the opeing track is fucking amazing), and Dylan's band make this album great, despite presenting a message and in your face Christian themes I obviously disagree with. If Bob Dylan, Elvis, Willie Nelson, or Johnny Cash want to sing gospel, we should all still be on ears.
So, now that we've heard my rambling review of the album, you may be asking yourself; why did critics and fans hate this album so much.The answer is actually really simple, it's a Bob Dylan Christan album, but more importanly it's Dylan's second Christian album. For Dylan's first Christian album, 1979's Slow Train Coming caught fans and critics off gurad in it's Christian philosophy, but many were curious and skeptical enough to accept and decently praise the album; "Gotta Serve Somebody" is now considered a Dylan classic. The following year when Saved was released, the public was outspokening against Dylan's new direction and new religon. Some of the criticism and backlash certainly wasnt Dylan's fault (though he certainly should have seen it coming), but in other ways he undoubtedly egged on his retractors.
So why were Dylan fans so against Bob's new found love of Christianity? To answer this question you need to know a little about Dylan's fans. Bob reached fame in the 60's penning wonderful folk songs protesting the war and commenting on the changing world around him. Folkies, songwriters, and college students became Dylan's demographic; many of whom would fill the newly arriving jobs as rock magazines like Rolling Stone got started, and newspapers began having album reviews in them. Music critics loved Bob's early records, and Bob also won over many eary rock fans when he picked up an electric guitar (the folkies eventually forgave him). While many of the these fans (and critics) are proably Christian, they certainly are not "born again" evangelical Christians, and seeing their hero, prophet, turn to a more conservative, right wing religon, was unappealing. Let's be honest, Dylan fans are more likely to be Democratic in mindset, and evangelist are more likely to be republican in mindset, easy to see why there would be some tension than. Instead of singing of social change, plight, or the horrors of war, now everything was just Jesus. In a way it's ironic that the 80s, considered by many to be the Reagan-Conservative decad backlash answer to the liberal demanding 60s, was when Dylan also had his most drastic change. The hippies and liberals had failed in their mission and worldview, in the empty years following flower power, drugs, and protest many found promise in big buisness and God.
As I stated earlier, it is in many ways unfair to lambast Dylan the way many critics did has his new found religion and direction (they certainly said cruel things far out of the scope of the album they were reviewing), but Dylan came on so strong with his Christianity it was sadly unavoidable. Just before Slow Train Coming was released and after the Jesus vision and recruitment by Vineyark Ministries, Dylan's faith began to leak out in small doses. In concert he began mentioning Jesus and the end of days, (he read that retarded Hal Lindsey book The Late Great Planet Earth ) and added Biblical themed lyrics to "Tangled Up in Blue". In interviews, he began giving quick hard answers more and more often referecing God and Satan. Fans were dishearted and skeptical about these actions, and the album, but it wasnt until new tour that fans became really angry. Bob didnt just mention his convictions, he preached them, and to alienate fans further, he stopped playing the secular hits that birthed and sustained his career. He now played only songs invoking the power and love of Jesus Christ; Jesus Christ. A fourteen-night stand at San Francisco’s Warfield Theater brought horrid reviews from both local papers, as well as numerous wide circulating reports of fans booing and heckling Dylan before retreating in droves during the concerts midway break each night. Dylan, years later, denied the instances saying they were heavily exaggerated.
A year of this evangelising on tour and in interviews came to a head with the release of Saved. Fans who were once so eager and asking for Bob to make opinions to stand on that soapbox, were now angerily pushing him off of it. Critics spared no nail crucificing the album and freely attacking their once enamored hero (most reviews of the album even today say little of the music and instead comment on Dylan's poor choice into Christian music). The album debuted on the Billboard Charts at a low #24 and quickly fell off completely; while Slow Train Coming reached platinum status and earned Dylan a Grammy, Saved, released only a year later, has yet to even reach Gold certification and is one of the hardest to find Dylan albums.
If your going to sell somthing, whether it's music or peanuts, you have to know your audience. Creativity may lead you astray from what your audience desires, and while challenging them can be worthwhile experience and greatly rewardin to both the artist and the audience, if you stray too far, and continue to stray away from those who built your fortunes and proclaimed you name as one of the greats, you may find that license, that artistic freedom, has been limitedl; or revoted.
So thats a hap hazard look at Saved, a much hated Dylan album that can be enjoyed if you step away from the message and the themes (unless you actually are a wing nut Born Again Christian); time has given us that vantage point. Following Saved, Dylan's released his third and final Christian album 1981's Shot of Love. Also despised by critics at the time, though somwhat forgiven in recent years, Shot of Love contains secular numbers along with the Christian. While touring in support of it, Dylan also returned to playing his most famous secular tunes; thank God.
P.S. I really hate the original cover to this album. Despite what Dylan purist might say, I personally feel the changed reissued cover (Dylan had abandoned the born again mantra by this point) is far superior.
10/14/10
Celebrating the Clyde Iron Works
Tonight is a big night for the Clyde Iron Works, the awesome new venue in West Duluth. Dululth's own Trampled by Turtles are returning home after a new album, and a hugely successful summer. The band has played and gotten press across the country, now has its CDs available in big name stores like Best Buy, rocked the Minnesota State Fair in front of hundreds (maybe thousands) of Minnesotans, has had their new music video played on CMT and MTVU, has played festivals with the likes of Bob Dylan, and has a coveted star on the outside wall of Minneapolis's legendary 1st Avenue. This once strictly Duluth treasure, is now highly respected the entire Midwest over and is a pivotal component in the growing, ever more rocking, new blue grass movement.
Now usually a TBT concert in Duluth would be held at Pizza Luce downtown, and believe me the band has played some awesome shows there (the last of which was broadcasted on PBS, and another from a while back is recorded on a now very hard to find live album), but the small size of the venue has lead to horribly long lines for blocks down Superior Street with many fans not able to get in. To solve this problem the band originally planned to play their homecoming at the newly re-opened NorShor Theatre, but shortly after the event was announced the city was forced to re-close the venue due to it failing to meet ADA laws. Now many Duluthians are sad at this news, longing to rock out once again at the old NorShor, but they shouldn't be. The city wasted a shit load of money, and will have to spent a shit load more, converting the venue from a strip club back to the musical venue it had been in years past. I went to the NorShor for it's first concert gig back last spring at the Homegrown Music Festival (the city hadn't bought the venue yet) and though it was an amazing show, Trampled by Turtles with the Retribution Gospel Choir, the venue sucked dick. I mean I initially like the old school theater vibe there, but the place is over sized and the acoustics sound fucking horrible. I heard dozens of complaints about the sound in the weeks that followed from anyone not in the first few rows of the floor. Another reason the NorShor sucks is why the fuck do we need it? Duluth has a ton of venues for local artist, so the NorShor will only steal shows that would have otherwise been at Pizza Luce or R.T. Quinlans or etc. Because of it's size, maybe the venue could operate with good band showcases or pull in mid level nationally touring artist, but it is poorly located downtown to deal with parking and again the venue sounds horrible. I need not go on bashing the NorShor, because luckily just as the venue was coming back to life and than dying again, a new venue opened in West Duluth that for all intents and purposes renders the NorShor obsolete.
The Clyde Irons is a gorgeous new venue with top of the line concert facilitates, restaurant, and bar. I've been to the venue three times, and I gotta say it is awesome. It's spacious, sleek, and has everything a great concert venue needs; including its own free parking lot right outside. So fuck the NorShor, Clyde Irons has already showed by hosting artist like Papa Roach, Keller Williams, Tech N9ne, and numerous others, that it is the venue to bring in mid-level artist not quite big enough to play in the DECC. Local artist can have the old theater when it eventually reopens, probably early next year, but it's futile; simply reliving an old dream and taking away from better smaller venues dotting the downtown.
So tonight Clyde Irons gets its first sold out show and it's by a local artist (they claim Papa Roach was sold out but I am skeptical, plus TBT sold out 24 hours before their show). Many Duluthians will experience the venue for the first time, and I hope they come to the same conclusions that I did.
10/2/10
Blood Into Wine: A Few Thoughts
I really enjoyed the new documentary Blood into Wine. It follows Maynard James Keenan as he does something other than creating amazing fucking music that will bend your mind. Even non-Maynard worshipers will get a lot out of this film as it discusses the process of making wine, what wine really is, where the most famous wines are made, how wines are graded, the cost and labor that go into running a vineyard, and why Arizona wine is so special. Like one should expect from a project involving Maynard, the film is smart, funny, and challenging; and if you get it on DVD there are some really great bonus materials to check out.
Now for all of you readers out there who haven't seen the doc, you might want to stick with the first paragraph and check yourself right out of this second half. Actually you can understand my point without seeing the film.....so....I gues you can stay..Anywho, one of the major vehicles of the film is to say that Maynard's passion in making wine is completely serious and not just a short spanned Rock Star hobby. Maynard shows a lot of passion on screen for this vineyard, and countless peeps give him endless props for being a serious wine maker, and also a fairly decent wine maker (he does have a super fucking smart wine mentor). This makes a problem for me (besides the unfair swipe the film takes at Paul Stanley and his paintings). I'll explain.
It's great that Maynard likes making wine, has the drive to do it full one, persumably does it fairly well, and might have helped make a little name for Arizona wine, but why is it a success? Why do people buy Maynard's wine, or buy this DVD? When you really boil it down, the reason all of Maynard's bottles of wine sell out instantly online is the same reason Bob Dylan has art galas and Mick Foley writes children's books; the fans. Tool fans (not to mention A Perfect Circle, and Puscifer fans) love Maynard's every endeavor, and undoubtedly make up the majority of Maynard's wine market. These aren't wine enthusiast, they don't that it's from Arizona or what process or ingredients make it (though it can be a fun footnote), all they care about is the fact that their hero Maynard helped create it. It's like buy weed personally tended and grown by Willie Nelson, a fan can't resist.
So there is the irony friends. Though Maynard is trying to develop a new ethos to himself, develop a new skill outside of what others would usually expect from him, his new life endeavor is completely dependent on his former, though still existent, musical endeavors. Without the enormous success of Tool, Maynard would not have the money to buy a winery, yet alone sustain it. Without Tool Maynard would not have become a celebrity, a position allowing him the ability to promote and sell his wine in numerous fields others seeking the same goal would have no opportunity to achieve. Though the documentary doesn't face this truth head on, it does present ample evidence. The most revealing evidence being a wine autographing session by Maynard and his shown in the film. There are no wine enthusiast present in the long line, there are no average folks curious to try a new wine, there are only Tool fans, metal heads, looking to meet a legend and willing to sell out the money for a bottle of wine to accomplish this goal. No fan interviewed mentions the wine in any way, they merely discuss their love of the Tool front man. Maynard (he's not stupid for Christ sake) answers my focus here, merely stating that it may introduce wine and a new perspective to individuals who otherwise would not have experienced fine wine. True enough, but than all the subtlety and hidden flavors go to waste.
Now you may be saying to yourself, big fucking deal. So what Maynard tells his wine predominately to Tool fans, all that matters is that it sells and that Maynard does what he likes. True, but a large underlying principle of the film is proving the personality and the unique taste of Arizona wine in challenge to big name wineries and tasters. Maynard wants to be a success here like he is a success in music. Sadly it doesn't seem like that is going to happen. Granted I've never taste a sip of Judith, and neither has most wine fans avid or casual. The wine might as well be a collectors item, and autographed poster, a smashed guitar. Besides the locals, and Maynard's rich friends (and friends of friends) how are just curious to see what the guy came up with, metal fans own this product. These bottles of wines are purchased to have a piece of Maynard, a piece of Tool, not as a fine beverage to have with crackers and cheese. Sadly Maynard has, and will likely fail in the wine world. The film, the wine, and the interviews are consumed overwhelming by the same folks who consume the music, and they have little say or presence in the world of wine.
In the film an interviewee ponders how Maynard will be remembers in 20 to 30 years. Perhaps, they offer, Maynard will be remembered as the man who made Arizona wine world famous, and also happened to record music. I suppose it's possible, but realistically Maynard will be remembered as a musician, and the winery will probably be a trivia fact.
What 90s-00s metal musician also ran a winery in his spare time?
A) Trent Reznor
B) Maynard Keenan
C) Eddie Vedder
D) Chris Cornell
10/1/10
Scientologist Who are Musicains
America's most famous cult, the cult that shines with celebrity crazies like Tom Cruise and John Travolta, sadly has famous musicains counted among its numbers. This should be no hudge shock as the Church of Scientology works endlessly to recruit America's rich and famous (wtf did you know Jason Lee was a Scientology).
Beck- Sad, his family is in pretty deep but he's very low ranked in the cult.
Isaac Hayes- The them song behind Shaft, master of funk, and voice of Chef who quit South Park after they were critical of his religion. Can you say 'hypocrite'? RIP
Lisa Marie Presley- Fall from her father's legendary tree.
Sonny Bono- He did some crazy shit after Cher left him; joined Scientology, became a Congressman. RIP
Doug E. Fresh- Known as the "Human Beat Box".....read wiki for more.
Nicky Hopkins- One of the greatest sessions musicans of all time. The man basically recorded with all the major artist of the 60s and 70s. I could literally write a blog about how many people and albums this mother fucker contributed to; The Rolling Stones, The Who, Steve Miller Band, The Kinks, Cat Stevens, all four Beatles, and many many more. Crazily he even recorded with Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard on his 1982 albumSpace Jazz. The album was a fucking soundtrack to his infamous book Battlefield Earth, Jesus fucking Christ. The session is sadly over, we'll play on for you Nicky.
Edgar Winter- Yep he's albino. He had a crazy jazz-rock-blues band in the 70's, wrote the very Classic rock track "Free Ride", tour with Ringo's All-Star Band, and worked on L. Ron Hubbard's 1986 album Mission Earth. Who knew Mr. Scientology fucking made records, anyway Edgar also wrote the #1 instrumental hit Frankenstein; enjoy.
Former
Not looking so good for Scientology music wise, 3 are dead, 1 is great but past his prime, 2 are washed up, and 1 was never worth really mentioning as a musician in the first place. Oh well, here are a couple fellas that had enough of the Kool-Aide and pulled out.
Leonard Cohen- Cohen dabbled in Scientology briefly, and his song "Famous Blue Raincoat" Cohen asks "Did you ever go Clear" referencing the cult.
Van Morrison- Van again eh. Nicky Hopskins recruited Morrison into the fold in the 80s, while Morrison was dealing with depression. When his mood lifted he went back to Jesus, but in 1995 listed L. Ron as one of his favorite philosophers.
Not Scientologist but have been accused of it
Rob Thomas - Rob's a sweet boy who would never get involved in this money grubbing bullshit. Despite this though, a few years back some horrid internet rumors were spread that Rob was caught having gay man sex with Scientology guru Tom Cruise. Figuring anyone Tom fucks automatically becomes a member of the church, Rob was labeled as a member. Thomas adamantly denied the rumors saying he was not gay, was not attracted to Tom Cruise, and hilariously, deeply offended people considered him a Scientologist.
Brandy- Researching online, numerous sites list Brandy as a current or former member of the church, but the horrible singer/horrible actress disputes this. She claims to never have been involved in the church, though she admits to getting a free e-reading once with a friend. Sadly and fucking stupidly and admitted by the current president of Scientology, John Carmichael, the church counts among its members anyone who has ever had an e-reading. Wow that's a fun way to inflate your membership numbers, even better than the Mormons fucking converting people after they're dead.
*Top Secret: Secret Scientologist
Jada Pinkett Smith- Married to Will Smith, shitty actress with a shitty band (ok I've never listened to them but I'm betting they suck dick even though they were the bullshit secret band on Ozzfest 2005; lame-sauce.), and freely donates a shit ton of money to Scientology affiliated schools. I'm on to you Jada, lol remember the Matrix, ya you sucked in that. Dam did you know she went to school with Tupac; small world I guess.
Fine......it's not horrible, actually it's not half bad. See I'm fair, even though I really don't wanna be sometimes.
Beck- Sad, his family is in pretty deep but he's very low ranked in the cult.
Isaac Hayes- The them song behind Shaft, master of funk, and voice of Chef who quit South Park after they were critical of his religion. Can you say 'hypocrite'? RIP
Lisa Marie Presley- Fall from her father's legendary tree.
Sonny Bono- He did some crazy shit after Cher left him; joined Scientology, became a Congressman. RIP
Doug E. Fresh- Known as the "Human Beat Box".....read wiki for more.
Nicky Hopkins- One of the greatest sessions musicans of all time. The man basically recorded with all the major artist of the 60s and 70s. I could literally write a blog about how many people and albums this mother fucker contributed to; The Rolling Stones, The Who, Steve Miller Band, The Kinks, Cat Stevens, all four Beatles, and many many more. Crazily he even recorded with Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard on his 1982 albumSpace Jazz. The album was a fucking soundtrack to his infamous book Battlefield Earth, Jesus fucking Christ. The session is sadly over, we'll play on for you Nicky.
Edgar Winter- Yep he's albino. He had a crazy jazz-rock-blues band in the 70's, wrote the very Classic rock track "Free Ride", tour with Ringo's All-Star Band, and worked on L. Ron Hubbard's 1986 album Mission Earth. Who knew Mr. Scientology fucking made records, anyway Edgar also wrote the #1 instrumental hit Frankenstein; enjoy.
Former
Not looking so good for Scientology music wise, 3 are dead, 1 is great but past his prime, 2 are washed up, and 1 was never worth really mentioning as a musician in the first place. Oh well, here are a couple fellas that had enough of the Kool-Aide and pulled out.
Leonard Cohen- Cohen dabbled in Scientology briefly, and his song "Famous Blue Raincoat" Cohen asks "Did you ever go Clear" referencing the cult.
Van Morrison- Van again eh. Nicky Hopskins recruited Morrison into the fold in the 80s, while Morrison was dealing with depression. When his mood lifted he went back to Jesus, but in 1995 listed L. Ron as one of his favorite philosophers.
Not Scientologist but have been accused of it
Rob Thomas - Rob's a sweet boy who would never get involved in this money grubbing bullshit. Despite this though, a few years back some horrid internet rumors were spread that Rob was caught having gay man sex with Scientology guru Tom Cruise. Figuring anyone Tom fucks automatically becomes a member of the church, Rob was labeled as a member. Thomas adamantly denied the rumors saying he was not gay, was not attracted to Tom Cruise, and hilariously, deeply offended people considered him a Scientologist.
Brandy- Researching online, numerous sites list Brandy as a current or former member of the church, but the horrible singer/horrible actress disputes this. She claims to never have been involved in the church, though she admits to getting a free e-reading once with a friend. Sadly and fucking stupidly and admitted by the current president of Scientology, John Carmichael, the church counts among its members anyone who has ever had an e-reading. Wow that's a fun way to inflate your membership numbers, even better than the Mormons fucking converting people after they're dead.
*Top Secret: Secret Scientologist
Jada Pinkett Smith- Married to Will Smith, shitty actress with a shitty band (ok I've never listened to them but I'm betting they suck dick even though they were the bullshit secret band on Ozzfest 2005; lame-sauce.), and freely donates a shit ton of money to Scientology affiliated schools. I'm on to you Jada, lol remember the Matrix, ya you sucked in that. Dam did you know she went to school with Tupac; small world I guess.
Fine......it's not horrible, actually it's not half bad. See I'm fair, even though I really don't wanna be sometimes.
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