August 2008 – Page 5 – Country Universe

Classic Country Singles: Martina McBride, “Independence Day”

August 22, 2008 Guest Contributor 23

“Independence Day” Martina McBride 1994 Written by Gretchen Peters In 1993, Martina McBride chose to include a powerful song penned by Gretchen Peters on her second collection The Way That I Am, despite resistance from

Chad Brock, “Put a Redneck in the White House”

August 22, 2008 Guest Contributor 6

In the politically-charged American society that is the year 2008, many country music artists seem to have their own personal political messages spelled out into song. Chad Brock is no different. Brock, who released three

Ricochet, “I Had to Be Me”

August 22, 2008 Guest Contributor 0

Ricochet returns to the radiowaves with “I Had to Be Me”, a song about stubborn resistance and man’s unwillingness to swallow his pride to salvage a relationship. Although the band has experienced changes in their

Chris “Abby” Abbondanza, “Promised Land”

August 22, 2008 Guest Contributor 6

Abbondanza is likely an unfamiliar name in the country ranks, but he first achieved success as a member of the Pennsylvania-based band Povertyneck Hillbillies. With the group taking an indefinite break, Abbondanza attempts to go

Thursday: Recommend a Track

August 21, 2008 Kevin John Coyne 28

Last week’s Recommend a Track got this series off to a great start. In fact, some readers already flagged songs I was planning on featuring in future weeks: Sugarland, “Stand Back Up” (Lanibug); Tim

Wednesday Open Thread: First Country Album Purchase

August 20, 2008 Leeann Ward 29

In a previous Open Discussion thread, Kevin asked us to share our Country Convert song. On that thread, a comment by Jim Malec made me think of my very first album purchase. While my parents

Glen Campbell, Meet Glen Campbell

August 20, 2008 Kevin John Coyne 6

Glen Campbell Meet Glen Campbell It’s interesting how Glen Campbell covering contemporary rock songs also brings him back to his musical roots. When Johnny Cash took a similar route on his collaborations with Rick Rubin, it

Classic Country Singles: Rosanne Cash, “Seven Year Ache”

August 19, 2008 Guest Contributor 9

Seven Year Ache Rosanne Cash 1981 Written by Rosanne Cash In the 1980s, Rosanne Cash earned 11 #1 singles, more than any female artist other than Reba McEntire. The one that still resounds most is

Classic Country Singles: Johnny Paycheck, “Take This Job and Shove It”

August 19, 2008 Guest Contributor 5

Take This Job and Shove It Johnny Paycheck 1977 Written by David Allan Coe David Allan Coe’s “Take this Job and Shove It” owns a comical hook and, since its release in the 1970s, has

Crystal Shawanda, Dawn of a New Day

August 19, 2008 Guest Contributor 8

Crystal Shawanda Dawn of a New Day Crystal Shawanda, a 27-year-old singer-songwriter from Ontario, Canada has established herself as a promising new voice with her first album Dawn of a New Day, a step in