Happy Birthday Connie Smith!

Celebrating the birthday of country great Connie Smith with a documentary and a few vintage performance clips. Cheers Connie!

Marty Stuart releasing instrumental Space Junk LP for Record Store Day

Marty Stuart's new Space Junk double LP boasts 20 instrumentals inspired by The Ventures, Tijuana Brass and The Sputnik! 

Here's the scoop...

Space Junk, a 20-track double LP released by Snakefarm Records on April 12th as a Record Store Day exclusive, is the first instrumental album from country great Marty Stuart And His Fabulous Superlatives. Writes Marty: "We thought the world needed a fresh instrumental album by a pretty good band, so we composed 20 instrumentals and took them to the microphones."

This limited-edition RSD release features previously unissued recordings, focusing on instrumentals inspired by Marty's love for The Ventures and Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass. In fact, the sleeve art for Space Junk is based around a painting entitled “Dreamcatcher” provided by the Tijuana Brass mainmain Herb Alpert, the "A" in A&M Records. 

The origin of Space Junk's all-instrumental concept arose from Marty Stuart's recent work composing music for film and television, namely "All The Pretty Horses" which earned him a couple of Grammy awards. It makes sense then that Marty took his Fabulous Superlatives band of Kenny Vaughan, Harry Stinson and Chris Scruggs to Hollywood where they recorded most of Space Junk at the legendary Capitol Recording Studios. It was there that they cut "California, Pt. 1 (Bobbie Gentry, Please Call Home)" with Marty using Clarence White's Telecaster to get the appropriate West Coast feel. 

Marty and crew also recorded a few tracks including "Graveyard" at Nashville's House of Blues studio. Formerly known as East Iris Studio in Berry Hill, the studio's backyard – you guessed it – is a famous cemetery, Woodland Memorial Park,  the final resting place for George Jones, Tammy Wynette, Eddy Arnold, Porter Wagoner, Red Foley, Owen Bradley, Marty Robbins and many other country stars. 

Check the sleeve image followed by the full tracklisting below. 

Space Junk – Marty Stuart and his Fabulous Superlatives

Graveyard

All The Pretty Horses

Catalina

Over The Moon

Slipnote Serenade

Space Junk

El Zorro

Coastline

The Ballad of the Lonely Surfer

Bat Patrol

Till We Meet Again

Waiting on Sundown

La Tingo Tango

Rhapsidio Sangre de Cristo in E Major

Showcake

Jody the Fly (Romance in Laguna)

Malibu Dawn

The Surfin' Cowboy

California Pt. 1 (Bobbie Gentry, Please Call Home)

Waltz of the Waves1

Happy Birthday Chris Hillman!

Celebrating the birthday of country rock innovator Chris Hillman with a couple of interviews and performances worth checking.

Happy Birthday Connie Smith!

Here's Connie sporting Marty Robbins' royal purple Nudie suit from 1977. Check out her new great new album. Photo Marty Stuart

Connie Smith – Love, Prison, Wisdom and Heartaches

Legendary country singer Connie Smith releases her highly anticipated 55th album Love, Prison, Wisdom and Heartaches on Fat Possum Records. On the new release, Smith takes a different approach from Cry of the Heart, her critically acclaimed 2021 effort. On Love, Prison, Wisdom and Heartaches, Connie has chosen to interpret songs that were originally sung, played or written by fellow country legends; Dottie West, Skeeter Davis, Liz Anderson, The Glaser Brothers, Loretta Lynn, Jim & Jesse, George Jones, Roy Acuff, Merle Haggard and Dallas Frazier. And while the list of songs has been in the established country canon seemingly forever, Smith’s take is more of a tribute than a recreation. When asked if this is a covers record, Smith replied, “No.  Hardly. I’m singing on behalf of my friends. Hoping to share them while passing along their songs.” 

Smith’s radiant, textured voice reimagines the very best songwriting and vocalists from the country catalog. Her vibrant style shines bright on “Beneath Still Waters,” made famous by George Jones. It is also the 73rd song Smith has recorded written by Hall of Fame songwriter Dallas Frazier. Smith breathes new life into “One of These Days,” originally recorded by the Glaser Brothers, and deftly redefines Merle Haggard’s #1 hit “The Fugitive.” She pays homage to Dottie West and classic country themes on “Country Girl” before taking Loretta Lynn’s obscure “World of Forgotten People” to new heights with her soaring, ageless singing. Smith’s indelible imprint radiates through the sunny “Seattle” before taking the beloved country hymn “End of the World” into an entirely new stratosphere. 

And as far as Smith’s recording process goes, if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. On Love, Prison, Wisdom and Heartaches, Smith reunites with her longtime collaborators Gary Carter on steel guitar, along with Hargus “Pig” Robbins on piano, which was his last effort with Smith before he passed in 2022. Producer (and husband) Marty Stuart again helms the production, and his Fabulous Superlatives back up Connie throughout the enthralling collection. Stuart sums up the album this way: “Love, Prison Wisdom and Heartaches is a monument to the heart, soul, and timeless beauty of traditional country music. I have no doubt that this record will serve as a North Star for those who look for the divine spark in country music.” 

An eleven-time Grammy nominee, Smith has been consistently carrying the country music torch since her 1964 hit single, “Once a Day.” In March of 2021, the Library of Congress announced that “Once a Day” was one of the 2020 selections for its National Recording Registry. Connie has been a member of the Grand Ole Opry since 1965 and was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2012. 

Get a copy of Connie Smith's great new Marty Stuart-produced album Love, Prison, Wisdom and Heartaches right here. Check out an early performance of her classic "Once A Day" followed by "If You Won't Tell On Me (I Won't Tell On You) off her new album. 

Margo Price shares cover of "Ways To Be Wicked" from Tom Petty tribute LP

Margo Price is joined on "Ways To Be Wicked" by co-writer Mike Campbell. Margo hits Toronto's Budweiser Stage on August 15.

Here's the scoop on Petty Country...

The Tom Petty Estate is thrilled to officially announce Petty Country: A Country Music Celebration of Tom Petty, out June 21 via Big Machine Records. The album is a country music tribute to Tom lovingly curated by some of his closest friends and collaborators, including great friend and Grammy-winning producer George Drakoulias and Tom's esteemed colleague Randall Poster. 

Some of the most lauded voices in country music – including Margo Price with Heartbreakers' Mike Campbell, Dolly Parton, Willie Nelson, Marty Stuart, George Strait, Rhiannon Giddens, Chris Stapleton and Jamey Johnson – explore the extensive Petty catalog and put their own personal touches on some of his greatest hits. 

Petty Country: A Country Music Celebration of Tom Petty is out June 21st. Get it right here. Also, Mike Campbell & The Dirty Knobs play Toronto's Danforth Music Hall on July 16th. 

  

Petty Country: A Country Music Celebration of Tom Petty

1. “I Should Have Known It” by Chris Stapleton

2. “Wildflowers” by Thomas Rhett

3. “Runnin’ Down A Dream” by Luke Combs

4. “Southern Accents” by Dolly Parton

5. “Here Comes My Girl” by Justin Moore

6. “American Girl” by Dierks Bentley

7. “Stop Draggin’ My Heart Around” by Lady A

8. “I Forgive It All” by Jamey Johnson

9. “I Won’t Back Down” by Brothers Osborne

10. “Refugee” by Wynonna Judd & Lainey Wilson

11. “Angel Dream No. 2” by Willie Nelson & Lukas Nelson

12. “Learning To Fly” by Eli Young Band

13. “Breakdown” by Ryan Hurd feat. Carly Pearce

14. “Yer So Bad” by Steve Earle

15. “Ways To Be Wicked” by Margo Price feat. Mike Campbell

16. “Mary Jane’s Last Dance” by Midland

17. “Free Fallin’” by The Cadillac Three feat. Breland

18. “I Need To Know” by Marty Stuart And His Fabulous Superlatives

19. “Don’t Come Around Here No More” by

Rhiannon Giddens with Silkroad Ensemble and Benmont Tench

20. “You Wreck Me (Live)” by George Strait

 

Watch Marty Stuart live at the Grand Ole Opry

Check out Marty Stuart's performance of "Country Star" and "Rough Around The Edges" followed by "Altitude" off his new album.

Marty Stuart and his Fabulous Superlatives' new album Altitude is out May 19th. You can pre-order it right here.

Marty Stuart and His Fabulous Superlatives share "Country Star"

Marty Stuart and His Fabulous Superlatives will be inducted into the Musicians Hall Of Fame Tuesday. Listen to "Country Star"

Here's the scoop...

The Five-time GRAMMY-winning artist and Country Music Hall of Famer Marty Stuart has just released “Country Star,” his first single release since 2017’s critically-acclaimed album Way Out West. “Country Star” precedes a momentous week in an already extraordinary career now entering its fifth decade. On November 22, Marty Stuart and His Fabulous Superlatives will be inducted into the prestigious Musicians Hall of Fame in Nashville, TN alongside Vince Gill and Don McLean, and on November 26 he will celebrate his 50th year in Nashville and 30th anniversary as a Grand Ole Opry member with a special performance. 

 ​​”There’s a lot of crazy imagery in this song,” explains Stuart. “I’ve always loved songs like ‘Roll In My Sweet Baby’s Arms,’ ‘Long Journey Home,’ and ‘Salty Dog Blues.’ Those don’t really say much of anything but they feel good and they’re a perfect way to start any show. ‘Country Star’ qualifies as one of those songs. It’s lightly autobiographical and highly danceable and it has a twang factor that’s just exactly right.”

 “Country Star” is Marty Stuart and His Fabulous Superlatives’ – Kenny Vaughan, Harry Stinson and Chris Scruggs – first single release for Snakefarm, a label housed under the Spinefarm Music Group and owned by UMG. 

Stuart is set to tour the US throughout 2023 and will make an appearance at Stagecoach Festival on Saturday April 29, 2023. See Marty Stuart's tour schedule below. 

On December 8, Marty Stuart and Connie Smith will kick off the grand re-opening of the historic and recently renovated Ellis Theater in his hometown of Philadelphia, Mississippi, which Stuart has been working to re-open for seven years. The inaugural four night series will be followed by shows by Ricky Skaggs, Vince Gill and the Gaither Vocal band, with upcoming shows from Old Crow Medicine Show, Hardy, North Mississippi Allstars and more. The venue sits on the campus of the future Marty Stuart Congress of Country Music, which will celebrate the rich cultural heritage of country music through live musical performance and educational programming, and will be home to Stuart’s unique collection of artifacts, around 20,000 cherished items, includes images, instruments and outfits from the greatest names in American roots music. 

Watch a live performance of "Country Star" shot in Corsicana, TX followed by an audio clip and a list of upcoming tour dates below.

Marty Stuart on tour

11/26 – Nashville, TN – Grand Ole Opry House

12/1 – Wickenburg, AZ – Del E. Webb Center for the Performing Arts

12/2 – Rife, CO – The Ute Theater and Events Center

12/3 – Las Vegas, NV – The Showroom at the Golden Nugget

1/27 – Marietta, OH – People’s Bank Theatre

2/10 – Augusta, GA – Imperial Theatre

2/17 – Clearwater, FL – Bilheimer Capitol Theatre

2/18 – Ocala, FL – Reilly Arts Center

2/19 – Stuart, FL – Lyric Theatre

4/27 – Tucson, AZ – Fox Tucson Theatre

4/29 – Indio, CA – Stagecoach Festival

5/13 – Greeneville, TN – Niswonger Performing Arts Center

That time John Anderson sang "Wild & Blue" on the Marty Stuart Show

Here's John Anderson performing his 1982 outlaw classic "Wild & Blue" on the Marty Stuart Show. 

R.I.P. Curly Seckler of the Foggy Mountain Boys, 1919-2017

Mandolinist/guitarist Curly Seckler, a key player in Lester Flatt and Earl Scruggs' Foggy Mountain Boys, has died at 98.

You can mailorder a copy of Penny Parsons' excellent biography Foggy Mountain Troubadour right here.

Happy Birthday Chuck Mead!

Nashville honky tonk holdout Chuck Mead is outstanding in his field. 

New album from Marty Stuart due in April

Here's a behind-the-scenes clip of Marty Stuart and His Fabulous Superlatives backstage at The Ryman ripping through "Tear the Woodpile Down" which is the title track on his forthcoming album Nashville Vo1. 1: Tear the Wood Pile Down (Sugar Hill) set for release on April 24.
Seems like it'll be more of a bluegrass-inspired concept this time around – or at least old school country – as the acoustic guitar on the cover suggests. Says Stuart: “When I first came to Nashville, the most outlaw thing you could possibly do around here was to take country music and blow it up into rock & roll. Mission accomplished! Today, the most outlaw thing you can possibly do in Nashville, Tennessee is play country music." Fair enough. But why he's posing with a tiger cub on a leash only Marty and his hairdresser know for sure. Must be a Music City thing.





TOUR DATES
2012-02-17 - Duncan, OK - Ropin A Dream Gala and Concert
2012-02-18 - Miami, OK - Buffalo Run Casino
2012-03-09 - Newport, KY - Newport Syndicate
2012-03-10 - Cartersville, GA - The Grand Theatre
2012-03-16 - Alto , NM - Spencer Theatre
2012-03-28 - Durango, CO - Fort Lewis College Concert Hall
2012-03-29 - Macon , GA - Ocotillo Performing Arts Center
2012-03-30 - Prescott, AZ - Yavapai College Performance Hall
2012-03-31 - Chandler, AZ - Chandler Center For The Arts
2012-04-07 - Conroe, TX - Crighton Theater - Sounds of Texas Music
2012-04-21 - River Forest, IL - Dominican University - Performing Arts Center
2012-04-22 - Viroqua, WI - The Temple Theatre
2012-04-28 - Franklin, TN - Franklin Theatre
2012-04-29 - Wilkesboro, NC - Merlefest
2012-05-25 - Maryville, TN - The Shed
2012-05-26 - Big Stone Gap, VA - Gathering Of The Gap Festival