RASCAL FLATTS FULL-LENGTH LIVE ALBUM

FIRST EVER RASCAL FLATTS FULL-LENGTH LIVE ALBUM
AVAILABLE TODAY

 

Nashville, TN…(November 8, 2011)…Rascal Flatts has sold an astonishing 6 million-plus live concert tickets and for the first time ever, fans can bring the excitement home with an inaugural full-length live album available TODAY on Lyric Street Records/Hollywood Records.

The Best Of Rascal Flatts Live 10-song collection from 2011’s Top Touring Group features live versions of some of the band’s biggest hits including number one smashes “Bless The Broken Road,” “Stand,” “These Days,” and “What Hurts The Most.” In addition to these power ballads, the album showcases some of Gary, Jay and Joe Don’s best live tempo tracks like the fan favorite “Here’s To You” and their exhilarating version of “Life Is A Highway”.   The album can be purchased HERE and everywhere music is sold.

Full Track Listing/Sequence:

1. “Bob That Head”
2. “Bless The Broken Road”
3. “Still Feels Good”
4. “Here’s To You”
5. Medley: “I’m Movin’ On,” “Skin (Sarabeth),” “Feels Like Today”
6. “Stand”
7. “These Days”
8. “What Hurts The Most”
9. “Life Is A Highway”
10. Encore: “Foreplay/Long Time,” “Free Ride”

The current album from Rascal Flatts, NOTHING LIKE THIS (Big Machine Records), debuted last November at #1 on the country album sales chart and they became one of only four country acts to debut six consecutive studio albums at #1.  Since their musical debut in 2000, the band has sold over 20 million albums and 25 million digital downloads and delivered 13 singles to the top of the chart. Rascal Flatts is the most awarded country group of the past decade with over 40 trophies from the American Country Awards, Academy of Country Music, American Music Awards, Country Music Association, People’s Choice Awards and more.  For additional information on Rascal Flatts visit www.rascalflatts.com.

The Kentucky HeadHunters, "Dixie Lullabies" (Red Dirt)

Ramshackle rock from HeadHunters

 

By STEVEN WINE

 

The Kentucky HeadHunters, "Dixie Lullabies" (Red Dirt)

Influences are easy to identify on the latest album from the ZZ Rolling Stax Brothers.

 

The band's name is actually the Kentucky HeadHunters, and they borrow from the best on "Dixie Lullabies." The title cut creates a Stones-ish twin-guitar squall, while "Sugar Daddy" boogies like ZZ Top. "Tumblin' Roses" taps into Memphis soul, and "Little Miss Blues Breaker" recreates the rawest bits of the British Invasion.

 

All told, this is ramshackle rock for toe-tapping and keg-tapping. "Just Another Night" sounds like a street party, and elsewhere there are plenty of beery vocals and bourbon-soaked guitar riffs.

 

Twelve albums into their career, the HeadHunters clearly know what their audience wants. As one chugging chorus puts it: "She's in love with the swagger of my low-hung Les Paul Standard."

 

CHECK THIS TRACK OUT: The closing "Recollection Blues" is a departure from the rest of the set, and the smoky ballad peaks with Greg Martin's delicate guitar solo.

Connie Smith – Long Line Of Heartaches (CD Review)

Connie Smith – Long Line Of Heartaches (CD Review)

1. Long Line of Heartaches 2. I'm Not Blue 3. Pain of a Broken Heart 4. Ain't You Even Gonna Cry

5. I Don't Believe That's How You Feel 6. Heart Like You 7. Anymore 8. That Makes Two of Us

9. You and Me 10. My Part of Forever 11. Blue Heartaches 12. Take My Hand

Label – Sugar Hill

UPC - 015891407227

Release - 23 August 2011

Time - 37:08

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For old school country fans Connie Smith’s album LONG LINE OF HEARTACHES was an eagerly awaited event and a long time in the making with her first full album of new material since 1998 (self-titled album for Warner Bros. Records) and would you believe it only her second since her 1978 release called NEW HORIZONS. For someone like myself who was relatively late to the country scene when drawn to the genre during the 90’s “New Country” wave this album is therefore something of an “an introduction too” .

So what does the Connie Smith fact file reveal and why is she so valued by country fans and artists alike. Country super star Dolly Parton is quoted as saying “There are only three real female singers on this planet: Barbra Streisand, Linda Ronstadt, and Connie Smith. The rest of us are just pretending". Tanya Tucker who apparently does a great Connie take-off was someone who was inspired by her and went to seek advice at a very young age.

70 year old Connie was born Constance June Meador on August 14, 1941. Back in 1964 at the age of 23 she burst onto the scene when her debut single ‘Once A Day’ written by Bill Anderson. It topped the country chart for eight weeks which was the first debut single by a female to do so and holds the record as the most weeks to hold the top place. The song was also covered by Martina McBride for her TIMELESS record and has performed it with Smith on the Grand Ole Opry stage.

The 60’s were frantic, whirlwind heydays for Smith, within a year she joined The Grand Old Opry in Aug 1965. As a young contemporary hip singer the industry pushed her image as “Cute ‘N Country”. Over her career she has 53 albums to her name including 34 studio Albums, 1 Live and 12 compilations. Smith's singles have accounted for 20 Top 10 hits and three of her first four studio albums reached #1. Back then albums and singles rapidly came off the Nashville production line making 3 albums a year and a single every three months! She admits to being privy and very fortunate to have the pick of songs from some of the song writing stalwarts Don Gibson, Bill Anderson, Harlan Howard and Dallas Frazier. Previous to this new album Connie had cut 68 of Frazier’s songs and her nineteenth studio album IF IT AIN’T LOVE and OTHER GREAT DALLAS FRAZIER SONGS consisted entirely of his scores. In 1988, he left the music industry and became a minister.

By 1968 Smith with the stress of tours, recording and promoting whilst trying to maintain some sort of personal life started to feel the heavy pressures it endured even contemplating the thought of suicide. She turned to faith as a safe haven and became a Born Again Christian. By 1979 she decided to go into semi-retirement to raise her 5 children.

In 2003 she was joined by Barbara Fairchild and Sharon White to make a collaborative gospel album. She has kept herself busy working on the road now has 8 grandchildren and has been involved with her husband’s projects. She has been married to Marty Stuart for 14 years.

It was he who encouraged her to make another album but it was Dallas Frazier who broke a 30-year drought as a songwriter which provided the catalyst for this project which made the cut with a co-write ‘Heart Like You’.

"I may have put off making a new record for quite a while," Connie says, "but I still love to sing just as much as I ever did. I really feel that it's my destiny; I heard the saying, one time, 'Do what God tells you 'til he tells you something else,' and he hasn't told me anything else yet”

Marty Stuart produced the album and as an ace guitarist lends his skills. Stuart and Smith have 5 songwriting collaborations one of which the country-blues Patsy Cline-like ‘Blue Heartaches’ was started some 15-years back before they were married. Another is the lead-off track ‘Long Line of Heartaches’ which sets the style with a range of traditional country moods, themes, rhythms with a lush country sound laden with gorgeous pedal steel. This sounds like a timeless classic from the 70’s but brought to life with good separation and a crisp and clean modern production. Connie’s band she names The Sundowners play on the album they consist of Rod Hamm (vocals), Rick McClure (drums), Rick Wright (electric guitar, gut string guitar, vocals) and Gary Carter (pedal steel) joined by additional musicians Robby Turner (pedal steel), Paul Martin (bass, vibraphone) and Dirk Johnson (piano).

‘I’m Not Blue’ written with Kostas has a melody close to “Raining In My Heart”. Smith’s voice is elegant on a number where truth gets hard to say when pride blocks its path. Pedal steel cries and tears fall on the mid-tempo ‘Pain of a Broken Heart’ when love slips away. On the slow tempo heartbreaker ‘Ain't You Even Gonna Cry’ (written by Johnny Russell) Connie turns up the melancholy complemented by whining steel and glorious acoustic riffs. ‘I Don't Believe That’s How You Feel’ a Harlan Howard / Kostas composition first appeared on Tracy Byrd’s 1996 BIG LOVE. On this toe-tapper the slate is wiped clean so that love can be renewed for a couple.

The standout, steel drenched ‘Heart Like You’ (Youtube audio) from the pen of Glenn Ashworth and Frazier speaks of an estranged couple where mistakes cannot be overturned, pride engulfs wisdom, trust is lost and one of the protagonists counts the cost of broken dreams. Smith perfectly milks very emotion from each word delivering the killer line – “‘What’s a heart like you doing in a fool like”

Love dies and turns ice cold on ‘Anymore’ a Roy Drusky cut which was #3 on the country songs chart in 1960 (see Youtube video). On ‘That Makes Two of Us’ a Patty Loveless and husband Emory Gordy composition it begs the question if the clocks can be tuned back to heel a love that once blossomed but was sadly gone astray. This beautifully melodic song features some tasteful guitar picking with Connie humming along in its later stages. The heartache continues on the honky-tonk number ‘You And Me’.

Connie changes the gender reference on ‘Part Of Forever’ (written by Jerry Foster and Wilburn Rice) which was originally recorded by Johnny Paycheck and gained a #19 spot in 1974 (see Youtube video). On this tender ballad Connie’s vocal is silky smooth and offers a love for tomorrow but refuses to be the substitute person to relive a partners dreams and free the chains of love and memories that caused much heartache - “The life you had with her is not mine to live, My part of forever is all I can give “

The slow paced gospel infused closer ‘Takes My Hand’ sounds like a standard but was written a year or so back by Diane Berry .Smith’s 3 daughters Julie, Jeanne and Jodi join her to add some sweet harmonies.

There is a little too much “blue” on this album for my tender heart but it does what it says on the tin. There should be a long line of traditional country fans queuing up to buy this one to soak up Connie Smith’s golden voice once more on a record.

www.conniesmithmusic.com

[[ The Making Of the album – Youtube ]]

Livewire

Steve Holy - Love Don’t Run (CD Single Review)

Steve Holy - Love Don’t Run (CD Single Review)

Release Date - 21 December, 2011

Label - Curb Records

Writers - Rachel Thibodeau, Joe Leathers, Ben Glover

Time - 3:41

Rating (Out of 10): 7/10

‘Love Don’t Run’ is the current single for the 39 year old fresh-faced Texan Steve Holy who hails from Dallas. It is the title cut from his album which came out on September 13, 2011. Released by Curb Records they have a policy of not putting out an album until singles have made a significant impact at radio. This explains the reasons as to why it has been 5 years since a project of new songs has finally materialized from Holy who is best known for his smash ballad ‘Brand New Girlfriend’ which after 36 weeks hit the #1 spot.

This new power ballad was written by Rachel Thibodeau (‘I’ll Still Be Me’ and ‘Love Land’ cut by Martina McBride), Joe Leathers (co-wrote ‘Hemingway’s Whiskey’ - Kenny Chesney) and Ben Glover at a Florida song writing retreat in Rosemary Beach. The three drew on their own feelings from long-term marriages to craft a beautiful but honest straight-from-the heart song about enduring the difficult times of a relationship where love can’t hide in the shadows.

Steve with a new found energy teams up once more with producer/songwriter Lee Miller. Colt Cameron from Curb pitched the song to Holy who immediately realised this would be a terrific lead-off single. It almost didn’t happen when it was discovered that Ronnie Dunn had the song on hold but then luckily for Holy’s sake didn’t decide to cut it on his first solo project.

With delicate piano and a softly voice in its opening lines Steve in a somewhat monologue styling offers the words:

“This is gonna hurt, this is gonna hurt like hell, This is gonna damn near kill me, sometimes the truth ain't easy, I know that you're scared of telling me something, I don't wanna hear, but baby believe that, I'm not leaving, you couldn't give me one good reason”

Joined by the purr of a Hammond B3, Steve digging deep whilst allowing love to conquer everything despite the obstacles that obstruct its rocky path sings with raw emotion in the chorus:

“Love don’t run / Love don’t hide / It won’t turn away or back down from a fight / Baby I’m right here / And I ain’t goin’ anywhere / Love’s too tough / It won’t give up, no not on us / Baby, love don’t run”

As the passion intensifies a wispy pedal steel, punchy drums and edgy guitar add bite to the mix. With say-it-like-it-is but not cheesy lyrics Holy is prepared to do whatever it takes to make things work, avoid the easy option, and not let a precious love slip from his grasp as he delivers the lines of the second verse:

“Let's lay it on the line, I don't care if it takes all night, This is gonna makes us stronger, it's gonna make forever longer, I know it'd be easier walking away but what we got is real, And I wanna save us, baby we can do it, Baby we'll get through it cause”

The production and the vocals tend to a get a little forceful but this can be forgiven when there is so much at stake to loose but then with a tender heart offers a hand and the romantic caring words:

“So come over here and lay down in my arms, Baby tell me everything that's on your heart, cause”

This song has been a slow burner on the Hot Country Charts and after 37 weeks sits at its current peak position of #19 thus providing his third biggest hit song of his career. It has to date sold around 200,000 digital downloads and the album has debuted at #22 on the Country album charts with nearly 4000 fans taking it home to share.

The video directed by Eric Welch portrays in rather classy English setting a forbidden love where the daughter of a wealthy family is powerless when falling for the charms of a handsome young yard boy.

About Steve Holy

When Steve Holy’s breakout smash, “Good Morning Beautiful,” stood a top the country charts for five straight weeks in 2002, it sparked a fire that has continued to smoulder throughout his decade-long career. But it’s been a slow burn, and a testament to the dogged persistence and unyielding tenacity that Holy has displayed since his first big break in 1993, when he beat out 500 hopefuls in the Dallas-Fort Worth area Johnnie High Country Review, the same contest that launched the career of LeAnn Rimes. It was another four years, however, before he signed with Curb Records, and three years after that, his debut album, Blue Moon, was released in 2000.

Despite moderate success with a couple of top 20 singles, “Blue Moon” and “The Hunger,” it was not until more than a year after its release that the album first entered Billboard’s Heatseekers chart, and Holy was four singles deep when “Good Morning Beautiful” finally reached #1, a full 18 months after Blue Moon launched. The earnest, charming ballad struck a sweet spot with country fans, later being named Billboard’s #10 Top Country Song of the Decade 1999-2009. Lightening did strike twice, but not until 2006, when Holy again reached #1 with the playful “Brand New Girlfriend.” (Read more at Steve Holy.com )

[[ Listen in Full ]] - [[ Watch on Youtube ]] - [[ Steve Holy - Inside Music Row -Video ]]

Livewire (28 Sept 2011)

Chris Ride - Messages

 

Artist: CHRIS RIDE

Album Title: MESSAGES

Label: MEGA INTERNATIONAL

CD Reviewer: THE MUSIC MAN

 

Where do we begin with this release?, First off what is Chris Ride? Is he Country?, Is he Pop?, Or is he Rock?

While listening to this 12 song release, yea we hear a steel guitar, (That's country right?) Yup we also hear some country lyrics (That's country right?), But Surprise we also hear a Rock Guitar, A wailing Pop Sax, and hard hitting drums. I mean I have heard the term "I'M A LITTLE COUNTRY and I'M A LITTLE BIT ROCK AND ROLL" But this album and artist takes it to the extreme.

OK we figure out what he ain't, But it's easy to figure out what he is. He's one hell of a singer and a great songwriter to boot. Now all that is left is for Chris Ride to do is figure out what he is!! 

The production on this album is OUTSTANDING!!!, The musicians are OUTSTANDING!!! , The material (songs) are OUTSTANDING.

 There is no doubt in our minds that this young man will be a major star. Like I said as soon as he figures out what type of music he wants to do, and when he does, LOOK OUT, cause all hell will break loose!!!

I give this release 4 stars out of 5 stars

(Our pick on Spotlight cuts, "Messages" and "Better When It Ends")

Chris Ride web site: http://www.1chrisride.com/

Joey+Rory - Headache (CD Single Review)

Joey+Rory - Headache (CD Single Review)

Release Date - August 30, 2011

Label - (C) 2011 Vanguard / Sugar Hill Records, A Welk Music Group Company

Writers - Rory Lee Feek, Joey Martin Feek, Wynn Varble

Time - 2:54

Rating (Out of 10): 8/10

In their latest upbeat single which is yet to hook in radio Rory Feek hears from his lovely wife Joey that the one word he’d least like to – “Headache”.

Written with their friend and frequent writer Wynn Varble (‘Album Number Two’, ‘Cheater Cheater’ and ‘A Little More Country Than That’) after its a catchy, bright and breezy start, Rory after promising to do the household chores written on that “honey do list”, instead opts for a fishing trip but soon catches on that his beau may not be agreeable as Joey sings in the opening verse and then chorus:

‘Now you’re loading up your fishing gear sayin your buddies on his way, Before you pull out the drive, honey all I’m gonna say’

‘I feel a headache coming on, And I think this one’s a doozy, It might last all week long, So go on, have fun, have a good time, But remember while you’re gone, I feel a headache coming on’

That forthcoming birthday treat may be jeopardy too – “I had a big night all planed out just you and me alone” with a sly grin on her face she delivers in tongue-in-check fashion the ultimatum: ‘Hope you have more luck fishing then you will when you get home’

But if he’s dead set on going then that” headache” just might last some considerable time:

‘And I think this one’s a migraine. It might last all year long’

With its toe-tapping rhythm, crisp and tight production this fun dance-number with its lush steel hooks is proving to be a road hit favourite with the fans, especially the women folk! “Since the day we wrote it, this song has been nothing but fun for Rory and I. We’ve been playing it out on the road for several months and the crowds have just loved it.” chirps Joey.

But how does it end up for Mr. Feek after the “I’m warning you for your sake” line? Well good and bad really. After waving off his angling mates there are jobs to do but that sexy red negligee she tantalizingly dangles before his eyes was all the bait Joey needed to reel her man in:

‘Haha honey I thought you see it my way’

This single will appear on the likeable country duos third album which is due early in 2012.

Fish this one out; it’s well worth a spin and a grin!

www.joeyandrory.com

[[ Listen in Full ]] - [[ Watch on Youtube ]]

Livewire

Marlee Scott – Beautiful Maybe (CD Single Review)

Marlee Scott – Beautiful Maybe (CD Single Review)

Label - 2011 Big Ride Records

Release Date - 28 June 2011

Writers - Marcus Hummon, Tia Sillers, Tania Hancheroff

Time - 3:13

Rating (Out of 10): 9/10

Introduction to: Marlee Scott was born in Richmond Hill, Ontario. When aged six the Scott family moved to St. Albert, Alberta. Her mother enrolled her for music lessons to learn the flute. One of Marlee’s childhood music teachers recalls: “When it came time for her first lesson I asked her, 'So, you want to play the flute?' She smiled at me and pointed to a pink electric guitar that I had in the corner and said, 'No, I want to play that.'". Marlee would spend her childhood and early teenage years learning guitar and taking vocal lessons. As a teenager she listened and was influenced by the pop music of the day. At 16 she got switched onto country after hearing Alabama’s 'Mountain Music' on a radio station.

Scott moved to Nashville in the summer of 2007 and living in a condo has spent 4 years living the dream. Whilst writing material for an album project she drew the attention of veteran industry executive Gerry Leiske. His career in artist management began with the award-winning Canadian group Farmer's Daughter and then onto success with Emerson Drive, a band who Marlee went on a 20-date cross-Canada tour with.

“By the time I recorded my second album, I had grown up a lot,” Marlee reveals. “I had experienced love and heartbreak; I moved to Nashville, away from my family and friends and made a new life for myself in Music City. I was so much more comfortable in the studio at that point, and I think you could hear a new maturity in my music.” Scott’s’ self titled album earned her a coveted nomination in the Rising Star Award category at the 2010 Canadian Country Music Awards. Her song “Here To Heaven” has gained her some international success going Top 20 in Australia and Canada and topped the Hotdisc Charts in Europe during January 2011 (see chart) The now 25 year old Canadian pop-country singer has signed to Leiske’s BigRide Records and her new single ‘Beautiful Maybe’ was released to country radio as her first US single and she is being heavily promoted across Europe. In August the single just fell short of topping the Hotdisc chart once more when peaking at #2.

About the single ‘Beautiful Maybe’ - The song was co-written by top chart-topping Nashville songwriters Marcus Hummon (Rascal Flatts, Dixie Chicks, and Tim McGraw) with CMA winner Tia Sillers (Dixie Chicks, ‘I Hope You Dance’ Lee Ann Womack) along with much sort after Canadian demo and background singer Tania Hancheroff. Together this song writing trio wrote “Around The Bend” which was the lead off and title cut of Randy Travis’ 2008 album.

With its glossy pop-country quick tempo production the song champions hopes and dream in a world where anything its possible. I love the way with sweet phrasing Marlee accentuates the word “maybe”.

In the first verse we witness a young boy imagining he can take to the skies:

“I see a little boy standing on his front porch, Wearing a superman cape, Hands on his hips, eyes on the sky
You can see it all over his face”

That boy has grown to become a young man in search of love as Scott sings:

I see that boy growing up into the world, Reaching for somebody’s hand, Promising love through the dark and the light, Staying strong and true to the end

Happiness and fulfilment hinge on hope but thrive on dreams and love wins through. Years later we witness an old man laying white roses at a grave who when sending out a prayer beyond the beautiful blue horizon senses that “he’s not alone”

Yes idealistic and naïve but ‘Beautiful Maybe’ with its sing-along hooks, crisp production and feel-good vibes leads us believe that everything is possible if we dream big. Why? Because the songs premise is that “It’s a beautiful maybe you know you gotta try”

One gets the feeling that this joyful upbeat number reflects Miss Scott’s light-hearted personality. Fans who lean towards songs like “This Kiss” and “Sunshine and Summertime” by Faith Hill could easily gravitate towards this track. If it’s not tasty enough for you then maybe you’d like to sample one of Marlee’s famous “Marls Bars”. The rising star beauty often cooks her favourite chocolate delights for radio station promo visits to not only win them over with her music but also her cookery skills too. She shares the recipe with fans on her “In The Kitchen2 Video - here . The lovely songstress also has an obsession, she loves peanut butter!

Well my guilty pleasure this summer has been enjoying the delights on this joyful single.

marleescott.com

[[ Listen to song in Full]] - [[ Youtube Video ]] - [[ Youtube Audio ]]

Livewire (21 Sept 2011)

Martina McBride - I’m Gonna Love You Through It (CD Single Review)

Martina McBride - I’m Gonna Love You Through It (CD Single Review)

Release Date - 19 Aug 2011

Label - (C) 2011 Republic Nashville Records, a division of UMG Recordings, Inc.

Time - 3:45

Writers - Writer: Ben Hayslip/Sonya Isaacs/Jimmy Yeary

Rating (Out of 10): 7/10

“You're not supposed to say the word "cancer" in a song....But this is country music and we do” said Brad Paisley in this song “This Is Country Music”. Well 45 year-old Martina McBride uses the word twice in her current single ‘I’m Gonna Love You Through It’ which is her second from her forthcoming album ELEVEN.

The song was composed by Ben Hayslip (co-wrote ‘Barefoot and Crazy’ for Jack Ingram, ‘Honey Bee’ and ‘All About Tonight’ for Blake Shelton) along with husband and wife Jimmy Yeary and Sonya Isaacs who became first-time parents on July 26, 2011 with the birth on a son Ayden. As writers Isaacs scored success with Heidi Newfield’s “Stay Up Late” and Yeary co-wrote ‘Keeping It Rural’ for Ashton Shepherd, and with Neil Thrasher and Tom Shapiro penned ‘’Why Wait” the #1 hit for Rascal Flatts. Yeary also became a member of the reformed band Shenandoah.

The conceptions of this song came from a writing session, Isaacs mother had a hard battle with breast cancer and they called her up and put her on the speaker phone to hear what she had endured in order to stay alive and how Sonya’s father had dealt with the difficulties.

The song gently opens with soft piano, acoustic guitar strums and cello notes.

“She dropped the phone and burst into tears / The doctor just confirmed her fears / Her husband held it in and held her tight / Cancer don’t discriminate or care if you’re just 38 / With three kids who need her in their lives / He said, ‘I know that you’re afraid and I am, too / But you’ll never be alone, I promise you “” McBride sings in the emotional first verse.

“The song is basically a conversation piece between a couple - ‘We’re going to get through this together “ - As partners they are there to help each other and come to terms when faced with one of life’s cruelest hardships - ‘I’m gonna love you through it “. McBride winds up her power house chops and feeling the emotions belts out in "Céline Dion fashion the chorus lines:

“When you’re weak, I’ll be strong / When you let go, I’ll hold on / When you need to cry, I swear that I’ll be there to dry your eyes / When you feel lost and scared to death, like you can’t take one more breath step / Just take my hand, together we can do this / I’m gonna love you through it,”

The lyrics leaving nothing to the imagination when faced with the life-threatening ailment telling a survivors story as McBride inform us:

“She made it through the surgery fine, They said they caught her just in time, But they had to take more than they planned, And now it’s forced smiles and baggy shirts, To hide what the cancer took from her
And she just wants to feel like a woman again”

The husband is there to wipe her tears, hold her hand, comfort her and will be her rock in those harsh, painful and weakest times - “He took her in his arms and said “That’s what my love is for”.

The song has a contemporary sound but allows steel guitar to sweep forward in the mix and McBride’s vocal soars backed by the crescendo of a full-on string section. One of the songs drawbacks is that the arrangement is very similar and at times almost undistinguishable to her 2007 Top 5 single “Anyway”. It is as if the producers in order to re-create similar chart success revisited it giving it a fresh sheen to the recording.

After a slow start it holds a position of #35 on the Hot Country Charts. The test will be as to how country radio reacts to it. As far as the UK is concerned it has had few airings to date. Will radio programmers feel too uncomfortable playing it, is it too graphic? You're not supposed to say that unpleasant “word” in a song? Back in the 90’s deep meaningful country songs were often the order of the day tackling awkward real life subject matter. In recent years Music row seems to demand more pop-fluff and rock anthems with a diet of partying, drinking and truck songs. The aim of ‘I’m Gonna Love You Through’ is to strike a chord with people as Martina sings out from the rooftops as well as from heart in a style that made her a country superstar. We shall have to see where the chips may fall.

In the video celebrity cancer survivors speak of their families support mechanisms and carers and include Sheryl Crow, Robin Roberts and Hoda Kotb, as well as cancer activist Katie Couric adding a personal dimension to the empowering lyrics of the tune.

It was rumoured that this song was to become the title cut of the new album but it is to be named ELEVEN. It will be released on October 11, 2011 with 11 tracks on this McBride’s’ 11th album A deluxe edition is be made available with 4 extra songs and music videos for the albums 2 singles.

“I feel like I’ve been given the support and power to go into the studio and write and create an album that pushes the boundaries of what people expect of me, while still being true to myself “ said Martina at a press conference. To coincide with its release Martina will take a cross-country four-day train ride from Los Angeles to New York making 11 stops to showcase her songs in Albuquerque, N.M., Chicago and New York. The tour is named “'Eleven' Across America Powered by Amtrak."

Let’s hope for her sake that the album will be a success and not hit the buffers on route.

www.martinamcbride.com

[[ Listen to song in Full]] - [[ Youtube Official Music Video ]]

Livewire (21 Sept 2011)