THE BLUE CHIP RADIO REPORT
Country Music News, Charts, Show Prep, Sales Info
April 19, 1999
Bill Miller
Editor & Publisher
The Blue Chip Song of the Week: "Bang Bang Bang" by The Nitty Gritty Dirt
Band. Writers: Al Anderson and Craig Wiseman. Producers: Josh Leo. Label:
Dreamworks. CDX: volume 209. Our first two-time pick as The Blue Chip
Song Of The Week. Last year we chose this song and the record label
promptly folded, but Dreamworks wisely picked up the album and
re-released this single. Hey, "Bang Bang Bang" is a lot of fun- and radio
should be fun.
Tammy Wynette's body was exhumed Wednesday (4/14/99) and an autopsy was
performed.
Wynette's widower, George Richey, requested the autopsy after a $ 50
million wrongful death lawsuit was filed by 3 of her daughters (a 4th
daughter joined the lawsuit this past week).
Results of the autopsy are expected in four to six weeks, according to
Nashville Medical Examiner Dr. Bruce Levy.
Mindy McCready may not have had a big hit in awhile, but her ability to
grab headlines is second only to Garth Brooks.
The gal who was engaged to Superman, and then engaged the attention of at
least one pro hockey player, is now charming an an oil prince. According
to Brad Schmitt at The (Nashville) Tennessean, Mindy's stud muffin du
jour is Saudi Arabian prince Khaled Al Fahd. Khaled is the 23-year-old
eldest son of one of the world's richest families.
Trisha Yearwood's singing talent continues to grow. On TNT's "An All-Star
Tribute To Johnny Cash" Sunday, she sang Kris Kristofferson's "Sunday
Morning Coming Down" like she had just discovered the song. Although it's
hard to imagine her having a beer for breakfast and liking it so much
that she had another one for dessert, Trisha did a killer rendition of
the song.
By the way, Johnny Cash is feeling so good that he went back into the
studio last week. The Man In Black is getting excited about a doing a new
album.
Expect more rear-end collisions on Music Row in the near future.
Vince Gill's Volvo was involved in a 3-car accident on West End Avenue
just off the row a few days ago. Reports say that Vince was stopped for a
red light when he was rammed from behind and pushed into the car in ahead
of him.
After the usual swap of driver's license and insurance company numbers,
the guy who rammed Vince gave him the old by-the-way-I'm-a-songwriter and
slipped him a demo tape.
They say that Vince graciously accepted it.
Vince will skip the Academy of Country Music awards show on May 5th. He
has multiple nominations, but that's the day of daughter Jennifer's
birthdate. Daddy has promised daughter the evening, according to
Associated Press.
Fan Fair ticket sales are sluggish for the 2nd year in a row. In an
effort to move them faster, Ticketmaster has been added as an outlet for
the June 14-19 event. Your listeners may also call 615.255.9600 for
tickets.
Mark Wills was watching "Maury" on TV the other day. The theme was
"Beautiful Girls With Ugly Scars". One young girl, badly scarred from a
fire, told her story and then broke into the Wills' hit "Don't Laugh At
Me". Wills was so moved that he called the producer. He's now booked to
appear on a followup show next month with the girl.
Welcome to our new subscribers, including Mike Forrest from 101.9 The
Twister in Oklahoma City OK; Gary Murdock, PD/MD at Kix 96 in
Florence/Muscle Shoals AL; Greg Dorschel with Collins Music; Pontus
Lindroth with Radio Viking 101.4 in Svartsjo, Sweden; Ed Cohen with Clear
Channel Communications; and, Ted Stecker.
Johnny Paycheck is hoping to leave an Atlanta hospital after a nearly
six-month stay. Paycheck told WSM Radio in Nashville that he hopes to be
released within the next couple of weeks.
Shania Twain is scheduled to be the cover girl on the June issue of
Glamour magazine. She has already appeared on the covers of Cosmopolitan
and Rolling Stone.
Shedaisy is composed of 3 sisters: Kristyn Osborn, Kassidy Osburn and
Kelsi Osborn. They hail from Magna, Utah.
Who has the largest fan club in country music? Alan Jackson holds that
honor among no-fee clubs with 125,000 members. Among the fee-based clubs,
George Strait leads with 75,000 members.
Faith Hill says she started her Family Literacy Project because her
father never learned to read. To aid the project, she's collecting
donations of books at each of her concerts.
In a recent interview, Faith also disclosed that having children released
some of the stress of her career. She said that having her two daughters
made her realize that her career wasn't the most important thing in her
life.
Have you ever seen the Roy & Minnie statue at The Ryman Auditorium? The
single, white female who posed as Minnie Pearl was Chely Wright.
Billy Ray Cyrus has recorded the Scooby-Doo theme song for an episode of
the cartoon.
A new Townes Van Zandt album is set for release on June 29th. "A Far Cry
>From Dead" will be a 13-cut collection on the Arista Austin label. Van
Zandt left behind the simple guitar/vocal tracks that the album was built
around. Other instruments have been added to give the songs a
full-session feel.
Clint Black has recorded the Waylon Jennings classic "Bob WIlls Is Still
The King" for an upcoming Bob Wills tribute album. Dwight Yoakam is one
of several other artists who will also contribute. Tentative release date
is August.
The 1999 MerleFest is set for April 29th through May 2nd in Wilkesboro
NC. This year's tribute to Merle Watson will feature The Del McCoury Band
with Steve Earle, Lucinda Williams, Bela Fleck & The Flecktones, Doc
Watson and many others.
The 1999 Building A Songwriting Career (BSWC) Seminar takes place Friday,
July 23 through Sunday, July 25, at the Union Station Hotel in Nashville.
As in previous years, the event will feature professional songwriters and
Music Row professionals in panel discussions, small group Q&A sessions
and song critiques, as well as an incredible night of acoustic music. For
more info, call 615.329.1782.
According to The National Enquirer, Shania Twain is 33 years old and Mutt
Lange is 49.
Inquiring minds.
Exit/In .........Mark McKay has joined WGH/Norfolk from KMLE/Phoenix.
And whatever happened to Chris Ward?
CROOK & CHASE musical guests: (afternoon shows repeat the next morning)
4/19........Chris LeDoux, Tareva Henderson
4/20........Paul Brandt, Patti LaBelle
4/21........The Cathedrals, Tareva Henderson
4/22........Ray Price
TWANG T.V.:
4/19...........Kenny Rogers on Regis & Kathie Lee
4/20...........Ed Bruce, Toby Keith and Martina McBride on The George
Jones Show, TNN
4/21...........Kenny Rogers "Live By Request", A & E Network
4/22...........Terri Clark on Donny & Marie
4/23...........Naomi Judd on Politically Incorrect, ABC
4/23...........The Judds on Jay Leno, NBC
4/24...........Bill Anderson, Chet Atkins, Bobby Bare, Crystal Gayle,
Hank Locklin and Johnn Russell on "Country's Family Reunion:
Celebration", TNN
4/26...........Lorrie Morgan & Sammy Kershaw on "Prime Time Country", TNN
4/27...........John Anderson, Merle Haggard and Trisha Yearwood on The
George Jones Show, TNN
4/28...........Jo Dee Messina on "CBS This Morning"
4/28...........Dolly Parton on Howie Mandell
4/28...........Hank Williams Sr "Century Of Country"/"Honky Tonk Nights,"
TNN
4/29...........Sara Evans on Donny & Marie
4/30...........Jo Dee Messina on Nash Bridges, CBS
5/3.............Jo Dee Messina on Donny & Marie
* Check local listings for all shows, especially syndicated programs and
"Austin City Limits". Special thanks to Katie Pruett at SuperStar Country
KYNG/fm in Dallas/Ft. Worth TX and her work on the station's website,
http://www.superstarcountry.com , a source for many of the Twang TV
listings.
THE BLUE CHIP ADULT COUNTRY CHART (25-49 demographics)
4/19/99
LW TW Title Artist
----- ----- ------- --------
1 1 I'll Think Of A Reason Later . ..Lee Ann Womack
2 2 How Forever Feels . . . . . . . . Kenny Chesney
3 3 Ordinary Life . . . . . . . . . . . .. Chad Brock
4 4 Gone Crazy . . . . . . . . . . . . . Alan Jackson
5 5 Wish You Were Here . . . . . .. Mark Wills
7 6 You Won't Ever Be Lonely . . . Andy Griggs
6 7 Everytime I Cry . . . . . . . . . . Terri Clark
8 8 Love Ain't Like That . . . . . . . . Faith Hill
9 9 Two Teardrops . . . . . . . . . . .. Steve Wariner
16 10 Please Remember Me . . . . .. Tim McGraw
11 11 Anyone Else . . . . . . . . . . . . Collin Raye
13 12 Hands Of A Working Man . . .. Ty Herndon
14 13 Can't Get Enough . . . . . . . . . Patty Loveless
15 14 Maybe Not Tonight . . . . . . . . Sammy Kershaw & Lorrie Morgan
20 15 Write This Down . . . . . . . . . . George Strait
18 16 Drive Me Wild . . . . . . . . . . . . Sawyer Brown
17 17 I'm Leaving . . . . . . . . . . . . . Aaron Tippin
19 18 Stranger In My Mirror . . . . . .. Randy Travis
22 19 Hillbilly Shoes . . . . . . . . . . . .Montgomery Gentry
10 20 I Can't Get Over You . . . . . . ..Brooks & Dunn
23 21 She's Always Right . . . . . . .. Clay Walker
24 22 With You . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..Lila McCann
12 23 Don't Come Crying To Me . . . Vince Gill
21 24 Better Man . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Warren Bros.
32 25 One Honest Heart . . . . . . . .. Reba McEntire
29 26 Man! I Feel Like A Woman . ..Shania Twain
26 27 Your Own Little Corner . . . . . .Blackhawk
25 28 You Don't Need Me Now . ... . Clint Black
33 29 Whatever You Say . . . . . . . .. Martina McBride
35 30 A Night To Remember . . . . . Joe Diffie
28 31 I Was . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ...Neal McCoy
30 32 I Will Be There For You . . . . . Jessica Andrews
36 33 Hello L.O.V.E. . . . . . . . . . . . John M. Montgomery
38 34 Tonight The Heartache's ..... . Dixie Chicks
39 35 Little Goodbyes . . . . . . . . . . Shedaisy
*** 36 Single White Female . . . . . . .Chely Wright
37 37 Who Needs Pictures . . . . . . . Brad Paisley
40 38 Slave To The Habit . . . . . . . . Shane Minor
*** 39 I Know How The River Feels . . Diamond Rio
*** 40 Angels Working Overtime . . . .Deana Carter
DROPPED: Claudia Church, Billy Ray Cyrus, Dixie Chicks
NASH-ROCK (a.k.a "Young Country") (Teens, 18-24 demos)
LW TW Title Artist
----- ----- ------- --------
2 1 I'll Think Of A Reason Later . . .Lee Ann Womack
1 2 How Forever Feels . . . . . . . . ..Kenny Chesney
4 3 Ordinary Life . . . . . . . . . . . . ..Chad Brock
5 4 Gone Crazy . . . . . . . . . . . . .. Alan Jackson
3 5 Wish You Were Here . . . . . . ..Mark Wills
6 6 Drive Me Wild . . . . . . . . . . . ..Sawyer Brown
9 7 Hands Of A Working Man . . . Ty Herndon
11 8 Please Remember Me . . . . .. .Tim McGraw
7 9 Every Time I Cry . . . . . . . . . . Terri Clark
10 10 Anyone Else . . . . . . . . . . . ...Collin Raye
12 11 Two Teardrops . . . . . . . . . . . .Steve Wariner
14 12 You Won't Ever Be Lonely . ... Andy Griggs
13 13 Love Ain't Like That . . . . . . . ..Faith Hill
16 14 Hillbilly Shoes . . . . . . . . . . . Montgomery Gentry
15 15 Can't Get Enough . . . . . . . . . Patty Loveless
17 16 Man! I Feel Like A Woman . ..Shania Twain
18 17 I'm Leaving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Aaron Tippin
19 18 She's Always Right . . . . . . . ..Clay Walker
*** 19 Write This Down . . . . . . . . . . George Strait
20 20 Whatever You Say . . . . . . . . Martina McBride
DROPPED: Brooks & Dunn
Letters To The Editor
(Please indicate your permission to publish your letter online by writing
"Letter To The Editor" in the subject line of your e-mail. Letters
subject to editing. Keep 'em short and to the point. E-mail addresses
will be added to your signature unless otherwise requested).
I have a working band (100+ bar-gigs a year) based in San Antonio, and
when I heard the Dixie Chicks "Tonight The Heartaches On Me" over a year
ago, I added it to every gig. A local musician pal of mine is friends
with the producer in Nashtown, and got 2 advance copies, one of which he
gave me. I altered the lyrics to make sense from a male point of view,
and it's one of the BEST dance songs we do. People dig it I can tell!
"IT'S COUNTRY AS BEANS", as my ol Pal & ex-business partner Bill Mack
used to say! If the "County consultants" frown on this because it's "too
Country", that tells me why COUNTRY LISTENING IS SHRINKING IN RADIO!
Wayne Martin
The Lone Star Pickerz (and owner of Martin Marketing, a radio station
promotional marketing company)
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
You mentioned Rebecca Lynn Howard's new deal with MCA. Did you also know
this is her THIRD record deal in little over a year!! While Twang Town
'wannabe's' exhaust every avenue to land a record deal, she's had three
at the 'ripe ol' age' of 19!!
First, with Ken Levitan's 'Rising Tide,' which had it's plug pulled by
Universal. Then, came Shelia Shipley-Biddy and Decca, which just went
belly-up, do in no part to Shelia, who was on her way to building an
artist oriented label. Now, it's parent company MCA who have an
opportunity to bring home a future 'star.' Let's hope they don't lose her
between the cracks working Reba, Strait, Chesnutt, and company.
The more things change, the more things remain the same. In this case:
'the cream always rises to the top.' Not only is Rebecca Lynn Howard an
outstanding vocalist, but she is off to one hell of a songwriting career,
including recent cuts by John Michael Montgomery, and, I understand,
Reba. This gal is the Jo Dee Messina/Lee Ann Womack of 2000.
As to ex-Paul Revere and the Raiders and former Columbia Records solo act
Freddy Weller, who's been a friend for nearly thirty years, the last time
I checked he was putting out his own album product through Harold Shedd's
Tyneville Music, an Internet distribution company.
Weller, who had his initial success covering songs by Atlanta buddy Joe
South, including the 'classic' Games People Play, and other songs by rock
icon Chuck Berry, to name a few, came into his own as a writer, penning
"The Perfect Stranger," and the classic song, "Lonely Women Make Good
Lovers," which was a major hit for Bob Luman, and a major hit for the
'comeback kid' of '98/'99, Steve Wariner. Both had solid hits on this
great country song that will outlive us all! In the publishing world, it
is called an 'evergreen.' In the real world it's called a stone cold
classic!
Fred Vail
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
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