Guest Contributor

Classic Country Singles: Tammy Wynette, “Stand By Your Man”

August 31, 2008 Guest Contributor 21

Stand By Your Man Tammy Wynette 1968 Written by Billy Sherrill and Tammy Wynette It was a seminal moment in a career filled with them, but the recording of “Stand by Your Man“ has contributed

Concert Review: Patty Griffin, Belly Up Tavern – August 28, 2008

August 31, 2008 Guest Contributor 0

Patty Griffin Belly Up Tavern Solana Beach, California August 28, 2008 At some point, every dedicated fan should have the opportunity to watch their favorite artist(s)—no matter how big or famous—perform from five feet away.

Johnny Cash, At Folsom Prison

August 31, 2008 Guest Contributor 14

Johnny Cash At Folsom Prison 1968 A large part of Johnny Cash’s musical identity was established, of all places, in prison. Although the singer himself stayed on the right side of the law (for the

Zona Jones, “You Should’ve Seen Her This Morning”

August 31, 2008 Guest Contributor 2

Raised on a ranch and the son of a rodeo cowboy, Zona Jones is hardcore country. And after his first album, Harleys & Horses, spawned the single “Two Hearts” which gained fame (of all places)

Kris Kristofferson

August 30, 2008 Guest Contributor 3

On his tombstone, Kris Kristofferson has requested the first three lines of Leonard Cohen’s “Bird on the Wire” to be engraved: Like a bird on a wire/Like a drunk in a midnight choir/I have tried in

Introducing Lynn Douglas

August 30, 2008 Guest Contributor 15

The introduction of our new writers concludes today with the first post of Lynn Douglas. She has been a regular commenter for a long time, and now she will be contributing her perspectives on country

Patty Loveless, The Trouble With the Truth

August 28, 2008 Guest Contributor 4

Patty Loveless The Trouble With the Truth 1996 She’s no trouble at all. Patty Loveless thoroughly deserves a place among the very best of country hitmakers, and The Trouble with the Truth, the follow-up to

Review: Steve Azar, “You’re My Life”

August 28, 2008 Guest Contributor 6

Life as a singer-songwriter has run the gamut from major-league success to disappointing failure for Steve Azar. Azar first signed a record deal in 1995, and his most notable single “I Don’t Have To Be

Patty Loveless, <em>When Fallen Angels Fly</em>

August 26, 2008 Guest Contributor 12

Patty Loveless When Fallen Angels Fly Patty Loveless returned from potentially career-ending throat surgery with the soulful Only What I Feel in 1993. Its follow-up album When Fallen Angels Fly, is a wonderfully-rendered collection that

Classic Country Singles: Kenny Rogers, “The Gambler”

August 26, 2008 Guest Contributor 3

The Gambler Kenny Rogers 1978 Written by Don Schlitz Although responsible for one of country music’s most famous lines (“You’ve got to know when to hold ‘em, know when to fold ‘em…”), Don Schlitz’s premier