Sunday 29 July 2012

Country Bites News snippets July 23 - July 27, 2012

Country Bites News snippets July 23 - July 27, 2012

Links/Sources shown in RED

UK & IRISH News
The 2012 Cambridge Folk Festival takes place this weekend July 26 - 29. Proper Records have a preview

Eamon McCann is the first major Irish country artist to produce an album of 16 original tracks he composed himself. On his new album MY OWN WORDS it displays the work of a singer and songwriter with a wealth of life's experiences under his belt. And Eamon has packed all those stories into a great collection of songs. Noted author, newspaper columnist and broadcaster Father Brian D'Arcy  says: "Most of the songs on this album are far more commercial and more country than anything released from Nashville in the recent past.There are sad songs and lost love songs and happy songs
 A native of Creggan near Omagh, Eamon has had a passion for singing since his early teenage years. He bought his first guitar with the money he won in a talent contest and, at the age of 16, formed a band with his two brothers and began performing around his home county of Tyrone. After recording his first album, I GIVE YOU MUSIC, in 1990, Eamon's authentic country tones set him on the road to a very successful career that has seen him build up a loyal fanbase around the UK and many parts of Europe. In Scotland, Eamon has won International Singer and Band Of The Year two years in a row at the Nashville Country Music Club.

Eleanor McEvoy has penned a brand new single for A WOMAN'S HEART, the 20th anniversary album due out in September.
It's called The Secret Of Living and features Eleanor with Sharon Shannon, Mary Coughlan, Gemma Hayes and Hermione Hennessy. Eleanor's song, Only A Woman's Heart, was a groundbreaking hit in 1992 and contributed to the phenomenal success of the album.

BLUEGRASS NEWS
Absolute Publicity is honored to welcome Grammy Award winning country and bluegrass recording artist Ricky Skaggs to its artist roster.  -  

NEWS
Kitty Wells’ family and friends remember country legend at funeral (The Tennessean)

Kitty Wells Funeral
Ricky Skaggs, The Whites perform a tribute

WSM personality Eddie Stubbs, family friend and who at one time played fiddle for Wells said: “Let’s all stand together and give Kitty Wells the biggest round of applause ever given to her,” Stubbs, who officiated the ceremony along with Brother Steve North, told the auditorium of mourners. The crowd — which included Wells’ large extended family as well as country singers Marty Stuart and Connie Smith, Bill Anderson, Ricky Skaggs and gospel singers The Whites — sat back down, Stubbs said: “It’s one thing to make a contribution in life; it’s another to make a difference. Kitty did both.”

Jay DeMarcus of Rascal Flatts and his wife Allison have a new addition to the family. The couple welcomed a baby boy, Dylan Jay DeMarcus, on Friday (July 20). Dylan was born at 4:02pm, weighing in at 7 pounds and 11 ounces at 20 ½ inches long.
Mom and baby are doing fine and will be home soon. Dylan joins sister Madeline Leigh who was born Dec. 17, 2010

On what was supposed to be one of the biggest musical events of the year in Shasta County ended abruptly Sunday afternoon July 22nd as Jukebox Music Festival promoters prematurely shut down the concert in Anderson, leaving crowds of outraged country music fans demanding answers.
The three-day concert touted such acts as Ricky Skaggs, Pam Tillis and Alan Jackson.
But the trouble started when Alan Jackson mysteriously canceled his Sunday night concert earlier that day, and several hours later, the entire event was called off.Festival officials shut down the concert,locked the gates and wouldn't let those with tickets into the event.  

The athletes and the Olympic torch have arrived in London — and so has the party. Yes, celebs are descending on London for Olympic bashes. For those keener on celebrity-spotting or dancing the night away than medal counting, the British host city has plenty of action to offer during games time. Away from the track and field, Hollywood royalty such as Brangelina and Nicole Kidman will be rubbing shoulders with diplomats and businessmen at the city's glitziest clubs and grandest historic buildings.
In London's Soho, luxury watchmaker Omega, the Olympics' official time-keeper, will be hosting its own A-list soirees in a specially-refurbished townhouse until the end of the games on Aug 12. Kidman is expected at a launch party on July 28. Will hubby Mr Keith Urban be in town ?

Taylor Swift won five Teen Choice Awards on Sunday July 22. The 22-year-old singer-and-actress took home authentic full-sized surfboard prizes for Choice Female Music Artist, Choice Country Artist and Choice Movie Voice for her performance as Audrey in the animated film adaptation of Dr. Seuss' book 'The Lorax' at the ceremony held at Los Angeles' Gibson Amphitheatre. Swift’s five awards also included: Single by a Female Artist for "Eyes Open," and Country Song for "Sparks Fly".
Taylor narrowly beat Justin Bieber to be the biggest winner of the night.
Addressing the audience, Taylor said: ''This award especially is an extreme honour. It's a true testament to all the support you've given us over the years. It's amazing you're still around and just as loyal and just as strong.''
Taylor Swift hugs singer Selena Gomez after winning choice female artist at the 2012 Teen Choice Awards. Photograph: Mario Anzuoni/Reuters

Kellie Pickler is the leading lady in the special newsstand issue, Maxim Salutes the Military, in stores Tuesday, July 31. Her show-stopping cover and centerfold images are reminiscent of the 1940s-50s era with a modern flare, and in her in-depth personal interview Pickler shares her experience performing for troops overseas on five USO tours and why she will always be an avid supporter of our troops. In the cover story, Pickler reflects on the sacrifices made for our freedom. "I come from a military family. My grandfather is a retired Marine, and I’ve always had a great deal of respect for anyone who serves our country. It really does take someone special to sacrifice everything. I don’t mean just their lives, either. There are men who are sacrificing the chance to hold their newborn baby!" she says.
To see Kellie’s Maxim Cover Girl pics go to the Thumbnails here, click on image and run a slide show!
To Download the Hi Resolution full Cover (Credit: Maxim Magazine, Type: JPG, Size: 544 KB courtesy of Essential Broadcast Media)
Click this LINK

It's way too early to be thinking about the 2012 CMA Awards, right? Wrong.
The Country Music Association is already planning its November 1 broadcast. The Boot wants to know your opinions in their 10 question poll.

It’s “jolly hot” right now so is it way to early to be thinking about Christmas? Country music fans will soon be able to share the wonder and warmth of a cozy Christmas as Grand Ole Opry member Lorrie Morgan brings her celebrated and festive show to one of America’s most treasured holiday destinations—Nashville’s iconic Gaylord Opryland Resort.
Lorrie Morgan
A lady in red
Lorrie Morgan’s Enchanted Christmas Dinner & Show begins November 16, 2012 and runs through Christmas Day, December 25, as part of Gaylord Opryland’s 29th Annual ‘A Country Christmas’ celebration. Lorrie and her family of talented musicians will take audiences on an enchanting journey through Christmases past and present, featuring songs from Lorrie’s popular MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM LONDON album along with an assortment of hits from her 16-album recording career.
To read more visit 

The Grand Ole Opry has announced that The Bee Gees pop icon Barry Gibb will be making his Opry debut on Fri., July 27.  Speaking on what will be his first performance at the Grand Ole Opry, Gibb commented, “I have dreamed of performing on the hallowed stage of the Opry since I was 12 years old, so this is a dream come true for me. There is no greater honor.”

Kenny Chesney and Tim McGraw had the daunting task of entertaining a Denver, Colorado crowd immediately following the horrific ‘Dark Knight Rises’ shooting just a day before. It was obvious that the stadium filled with people had their minds on something else.
Me and my road family are just like the rest of the nation, hurting with this city tonight. We love you, and we’re with you, and if you guys will let us, we want to let music start to heal this town just a little bit tonight.”

Corey Wagar’s recent sizzlin’ summer single Take Ya Back,  penned by Corey and successful songwriters Beau Fuller and Cece DuBois is enjoying success since its radio release in June.  “Take Ya Back showcases Corey’s true dedication to country music and her ability to relate to her fans”. Corey, known for her ‘sweet and sassy’ sound, has been all over promoting this honeysuckle hit. She’s been doing non-stop radio interviews, opened for Grammy-nominated Dierks Bentley and wrapped up shooting her music video for this song. The official music video is out Friday, July 27th - “I fell in love with country music at such a young age and just knew it was meant for me,” says Corey. “This song really takes me back to my childhood, which we captured perfectly with the video. I can’t wait for everyone to see it!

Jason Aldean has altered the lyrics of his new single "Take A Little Ride" to accommodate a new endorsement deal, according to a note sent Tuesday morning by the promotions team at Aldean's Broken Bow Records."Jason Aldean is in the process of signing an endorsement deal with the Coors Brewing Company," the BBR Promotion Team writes in the note, sent out to country radio one week after the song was initially serviced. "With that, he has changed the 'Shiner Bock' line in the song 'Take A Little Ride' to 'A couple Rocky Tops.' We respectfully request you exchange this version with the one you are currently playing." 
Beer brands aren't the only products Aldean name-drops in "Take a Little Ride." The song's chorus begins with the line "Well I'm just ready to ride this Chevy / Ride this Chevy down a little back road." (Billboard Cover Story)

Mariah Carey's status as American Idol's newest star judge will come with a pretty nice paycheck, as sources familiar with the negotiations confirmed she is set to make as much as $18 million for her services.
One country singer you won’t see on sitting next to Mariah Carey and Randy Jackson on the “American Idol” judges panel is Toby Keith. According to The Hollywood Reporter, “Idol” producers approached Keith about the position earlier this month, and he turned them down. The report cites Keith’s upcoming interview with Inland Empire Weekly. According to sources, the “Beers Ago” singer passed on the opportunity because he didn’t have enough time to devote to the show’s demanding schedule.

SINGLE / ALBUM NEWS
Toby Keith released the new single "I Like Girls That Drink Beer" to radio and digital retailers on Tuesday (July 24). It's the first single from his upcoming album, which has not yet been named or scheduled. "We were in the studio and everybody who heard it was like, 'You've got to release that,'" said Keith, who co-wrote the song with Bobby Pinson. Keith released his previous album, CLANCY'S TAVERN, in 2011. That project included the hit singles "Made in America," "Red Solo Cup" and "Beers Ago."

THE MAVERICKS, have revealed the official tracklist and cover art (image) for their album on The Valory Music Co., produced by lead singer Raul Malo and Niko Bolas and slated for September 25. Coincidentally, the project, entitled IN TIME, will be released in conjunction with the band’s 20th anniversary of their first major label album release.
The idea that we came together and made this record is a testament to faith, fate, and chance. All three were essential in the making of IN TIME. In turn, this is the record we are most proud of," said Malo.
Big Machine Records  Blurb: The Mavericks’ garage band ferocity and polyrhythmic beats are featured on the project, which includes the group's current single, "Born To Be Blue."Cuban-American frontman Raul Malo purposefully fuses together the record’s vibe with his unique vocal swagger and myriad of influences he drew upon while penning each track.
TRACKLIST:
1. Back In Your Arms Again (Raul Malo, Gary Nicholson, Seth Walker)
2. Lies (Raul Malo, Al Anderson, Bob DiPiero)
3. Born To Be Blue (Raul Malo, James House) 4. Come Unto Me (Raul Malo)
5. In Another’s Arms (Raul Malo)   6. Fall Apart (Raul Malo) 
7. That’s Not My Name (Raul Malo, Wally Wilson)  8. Amsterdam Moon (Raul Malo)
9. As Long As There’s Loving Tonight (Raul Malo, Alan Miller, Seth Walker) 
10. Call Me When You Get To Heaven (Raul Malo)

Dierks Bentley has a four-song EP, ‘COUNTRY & COLD CANS’ coming out August 21. It’ll be a iTunes only digital release.
Subject matter? – His 2 favourite things, music and beer (photo)
We thought we’d celebrate the end of summer and back to school with an EP of new material that’s about cutting loose,” Dierks said. “It was really inspired by how young and crazy the fans on the Country & Cold Cans Tour were earlier this year. I’ve written a lot with Jaren [Jaren Johnston from The Cadillac Jack], and we thought it would be fun to get the guys in my band and a couple of cases of beer and go see what happens in the studio. I’m really happy with the tracks, and I think our crowd will dig it.”
Track List: 1. Country & Cold Cans   2. Grab A Beer   3. Back Porch  4. Summer On Fire

Alan Jackson isn't giving up on an idea he tried out with his music before. The singer/songwriter tells TheBoot.com that he is still wanting to try out a Bluegrass album.  Alan mentions an album he tried to do as Bluegrass with Alison Krauss ("Like Red On a Rose"), but the project didn't turn out in the style he wanted. His new goal is to work on a "pure bluegrass album."

Former Eagles guitarist Don Felder will release his first solo album in nearly three decades, ROAD TO FOREVER, on Oct. 9.
The record’s lead track, ‘Fall From the Grace of Love,’ can be heard on soundcloud.com 
on wrote and sang all of the songs on ‘Road to Forever,’ with help from guest stars such as all three members of Crosby, Stills & Nash, Tommy Shaw of Styx, as well as Steve Lukather, David Paich and Steve Porcaro of Toto.

ARTICLES
Nashville's Love For Lionel Richie Runs Deep writes NPR's Ann Powers.
Extract:...the goal for so many these days is to wiggle out of pigeonholes and grab the widest listener base possible, and Richie has always exemplified the art of the crossover.
From his hits with the Commodores to his remarkable solo career, he's incorporated elements of semi-classical, Latin disco, L.A. studio rock, and of course, country music. So it's no surprise that Richie's late-career triumph has him traveling to Nashvillle, today's most hopping lab for pop crossover experiments

INTERVIEWS
Ourstage have an exclusive Q and A with Hunter Hayes:
Hunter Hayes Talks Carrie Underwood, Joe Walsh and the Young Woman who Inspired ‘Wanted’

It’s been almost two years since Darius Rucker released his full-length studio album CHARLESTON, SC 1966. For his fans they will be pleased to know there new music on the horizon. Darius Rucker is currently putting the finishing touches on his third Capitol Nashville albumwhich will be due out this Autumn. A new single called ”True Believers” is out in a few weeks.
"We just finished the vocal for the single, and I'm excited". "I think this is the best record I've ever made, and I can't stop listening to it. On 'Charleston, SC 1966' we just wanted to pick up where we left off, but with the new album, Frank Rogers (his producer) and I wanted it to sound a little different." .... Billboard exclusive interview: Darius Rucker Talks 'Best Record I've Ever Made' on Tour in Idaho - Read more at www.billboard.com

Southern Living talk new album,holes and life lessons with musician Zac Brown
Extract: I think it's the best record we've made. There's some light fun tracks, an R & B tune, a little island music, real heavy singer-songwriter stuff, some bluegrass. It's a good journey—a good snapshot of where we are and how we've matured as a band.
I started in the music business sitting on a barstool, ringing beer out of my tip money. I understand the journey of an artist. And I want to really mentor people who have mojo, can write their own songs, and give themselves to their music

LISTEN
Lauren Alaina the 2011 American Idol runner up and sweet country up-and-comer paid her respects to country legend Kitty Wells at the Grand Ole Opry on Weds July 25. The 17-year-old singer said goodbye in the best way she knew how: by singing a medley of the iconic torchy hits Wells left behind. Before launching into a blend of ‘Release Me (And Let Me Love Again)’ and ‘It Wasn’t God Who Made Honky Tonk Angels,’ Alaina addressed the crowd, saying, “Y’all give it up to Miss Kitty Wells. I’m going to do a medley.”    >>   Audio
 
WATCH
Belle Starr - This Must Be The Place (Naïve Melody) >>  YouTube

Queensland’s country sensation Shandell Shandell  “Baby You Broke It” (Official Video) from new 2012 EP "Satin and Steel" >>  YouTube
Acclaim led Shandell to Nashville where she has begun developing her craft as a songwriter in the country music heartland, working alongside the industry’s most acclaimed songwriters including Craig Wiseman and Brett James. She has been awarded Entertainer of the Year and Senior Female Vocalist of the Year at Tamworth Country Music Festival.

"Show Me" Amber Joy Poulton's 5th release off her album Taking Goodbye >> YouTube -Amber Joy's debut original album, Taking Goodbye, full of traditional Australian country music has launched her career & reputation as a serious singer & song-writer.  Since its release, the album has received two song-writing awards for Best Traditional Song, four songs have entered the Top 30 of the Australian Country Music Charts and Amber Joy has just landed herself a TIARA Award 2012 for Best Vocal Collaboration for duet, Close Enough with Doug Bruce. She has spent over 40 weeks in the charts with the album & her biggest hit yet, Break Even spent over 18 weeks in the charts & made it all the way to Number 5 nation-wide!

Tin Cup Gypsy presents their first official music video featuring the song "Bury Me" from their debut album "Calico" >> YouTube
About: At the core of Country, Gypsy Pop artists Tin Cup Gypsy you’ll find a fusion of Folk, Jazz, and Bluegrass with rich melodies that captures the essence of their Grassroots-Country genre. By featuring a variety of instruments such as Mandolin, Violin, Concertina, Acoustic Guitar, Percussion, and three-part harmonies, the group’s unique blend attracts a diverse group of listeners.
The band conists of Jordan Lawson(Vocals, Violin, Mandolin), Cassandra Lawson (Vocals, Concertina, Percussion), Jonathan Lawson (Vocals, Guitar, Mandolin) and Tyler Oban (Drums,Percussion) The group weaves a fresh sound with the classic groundbreaking styles of the Eagles, James Taylor, as well as earthy undertones of the Dixie Chicks, and Fleetwood Mac

COUNTRY GOSSIP
Sarah Buxton is going to be a Mum! The singer-songwriter and her husband, musician Tom Bukovac, are expecting their first child this December. Sarah says watching her own parents over the years prepared her for parenthood.
"I hope that I'm able to be half of the parent that my parents were to me," she told Taste of Country. “I always felt loved and wanted. I'm not a perfect person, and they weren't perfect parents, but they gave me some worth. That was the building blocks to everything, knowing that you're worth something and that you can go for something. That's going to be my main thing. They were always interested in what I was doing

Will Taylor Swift’s next release be “a divorce album” – Shock! Taylor Swift’s parents are reportedly separated. In an interview with the New Yorker last year, Taylor Swift admitted that some of the songs on her upcoming album are sad. Unfortunately, rumours this week indicate that Swift may not have been singing from her own painful relationship experience, but rather from the knowledge that her parents’ marriage was on the rocks. According to a recent report, Swift’s parents have separated.
Yes it’s hard to imagine from her press and TV appearances that this has been happening in the young 22-year-old country singers world, sweeping awards shows in recent years.
According to the unconfirmed report from Star magazine — via Radar Online — Swift’s parents, Andrea and Scott, were married for 25 years before they decided to part ways. The Swifts are rumored to have separated sometime within the past two years, but they have kept their marital issues from the press. “The Swifts stopped wearing their wedding rings,” the ‘Star’ source revealed. “They haven’t filed for divorce because they don’t want it to damage Taylor’s career.”
As for Taylor Swift, a source revealed - “She’s been going through a lot,”. “The new album will showcase the pain of her parents’ separation.”

Darius Rucker says he’ll be watching every minute of London 2012 games. Keith Urban and Nicole Kidman are there as she’s the spokeswoman for OMEGA Watches (Official timekeeper of the Olympics).

Kip Moore lives out of a backpack and doesn’t even have an address. The country #1 hit man spends time on his bus six days a week and on his day off he crashes on the couch at his producer’s office.

Taylor Swift and Patrick Schwarzenegger are not dating. She says, “that’s why I don’t read any gossip about me, because I don’t want to be weirded out by who people think I’m dating.”

Sara Evans Tomato Pie recipe

PHOTO
Lady Antebellum at Hard Rock Calling in Hyde Park, London on Saturday 14 July 2012 – Pic 1Pic2
Lady A’s Hillary Scott has defended Hard Rock Calling organisers' decision to cut off Bruce Springsteen's Hyde Park concert. Paul McCartney joined Springsteen for a medley of songs, but the 29-song set was cut short to comply with the local council's curfew
The 'Need You Now' band's lead singer Scott has said she was sad that Springsteen's set ended prematurely, but understands the reasoning. "I'm sure there was definitely a reason," Scott said, reports The AP. "I hear that they had a very strict curfew in Hyde Park."

Lady Antebellum at Hammersmith Apollo in London check out Hilary Scott's crazy sky high heels – Pic1 Pic2  ( Courtesy fashiondetective.co.uk )

Country Billboard Chart News July 25, 2012


Country Billboard Chart News July 25, 2012

Hip-hop veteran Nas achieves his sixth No. 1 album on the Billboard 200, as LIFE IS GOOD made its debut with 148,716 copies sold, according to Nielsen SoundScan. Entering at #1, it is little more than 16 years after he first topped the chart with It Was Written (1996).

Zac Brown UNCAGED
 artwork Amazon

Last week's No. 1 all genre album on the Billboard Top 200, Zac Brown Band's UNCAGED," falls to No. 2 with 78,260 (A drop of 67% on its 2nd chart week). The album remains at #1 on Top Country Albums for the second week running.
***  Find Zac Brown Band’s UNCAGED album on:

WELCOME TO THE FISHBOWL (5th week on the chart) from Kenny Chesney and Luke Bryan’s TAILGATES & TANLINES (50 chart weeks) remain #2 and #3 on the Billboard Country Album chart.
After the Amazon $3.99 week the previous week country sales were down significantly this week ranging between 10 to 40% sales losses.
Hank Williams Jr. in his second week with OLD SCHOOL NEW RULES dropped from #12 to 38 on the Top 200 and lands at number eight on the Country album chart with sales of 9,331 (63% weekly loss) .

With a sales figue of 17,020, Nashville based Americana string band Old Crow Medicine Show debut at #1 on the Billboard Bluegrass chart and at #4 on the Country Chart with the July 17th ATO Records release of their newest album, CARRY ME BACK. The album was recorded at the legendary Sound Emporium Studios in Nashville and was produced by Ted Hutt. On this their fourth studio album, Carry Me Back, the veteran string band doubles down on their traditional roots, drifting deeper into the stories and sounds of yesterday than ever before. 
Carry Me Back Album Artwork
Amazon


"I wish that I was born about 75 years ago. Then I could have made my debut on the Opry in 1935," says bandleader Ketch Secor. "But that is not the case, and there is a country music story being told in these times. It's worth telling, maybe even more so than ever before. People are being displaced, their jobs are being moved far away. The cultural epitome is disappearing. When grandpa dies, it's sort of like when Porter Wagoner died. That breed of American man, they don't make them anymore."...(Read more at cmt.com)


People are fickle, and people have short attention spans," says fiddler Ketch Secor, "Especially in 2012. So if you can get 'em to stop, if you can get 'em to think about something, if you can get 'em to listen with a song, then you've got yourself a keeper. And that's the street-corner test." He happens to also be co-founder and de facto leader of Old Crow. ( band photo)
And the performance philosophy he's espousing is a central part of the band's backstory...... The spirit of the new songs — all written by band members, with Jim Lauderdale and Jason White contributing a bit of co-writing — and, in a sense, of the Crows' entire repertoire, is tugged toward the pre-urban migration way-back-when, but also invested in the fragmented, living, breathing here and now.
Musically, too, the guys have returned to home base: hearty acoustic revelry, and a potent, polished dose of it at that. ( www.nashvillescene.com)

NZ Herald writes: “The knees-up fervour of Carry Me Back To Virginia, the opening track from Old Crow Medicine Show's fourth album, is typical of the sound the Nashville band conjure up. This is old-time American roots music at its best. However, in contrast to previous album, 2008's Tennessee Pusher, a thrilling, rabble-rousing record about drug users, hustlers and the disaffected, CARRY ME BACK has a more down-home feel to it. It moves from a gentle, toe-tapping porch song mood on tracks like the pleading and twangy Ain't It Enough and Genevieve, which has an emotional bite to it with lines like "your love like fire and your heart like a guillotine", to a thigh-slapping jaunt on the lovely fiddle-driven ditty Levi.
***  Find Old Crow Medicine Show’s album on:

Yes their CD’s are hot - Old Crow Medicine Show would like help getting stolen merchandise van recovered
Hey man, whoever swiped Old Crow Medicine Show's merch-mobile, they'd really like it back please.
The band posted on their Facebook and Twitter in the week: Our merch van was stolen out of the parking lot at The Pageant in St. Louis, MO last night (july 20). White 2009 Honda Odyssey with an Alabama license plate 61M4T.  

The Farm, who scored a Top 15 hit with “Home Sweet Home,” debuted at #183 on the Top 200 with a rather disappointing opening week of 2,749 copies sold of their self titled album. The Farm, made up of Nick Hoffman (vocals, fiddle), Damien Horne (vocals, keyboard, guitar) and Krista Marie (vocals, guitar), formed in Spring 2010 after an impromptu writing session – which must’ve sounded something like the wild combination of Big & Rich and Little Big Town in the midst of a massive hoe-down  and released their debut album on July 17. Co-produced by Nick with Danny Myrick, members of The Farm wrote or co-wrote nine of the record’s 11 songs

Next week Love and Theft’s brand new album should make a more healthy chart debut.

Billboard Top 200 (Country Album positions #1 - #25)

LW
TW
Artist
Album
TW
Sales
%
CHG
Total
Sales
Co
1
2
Zac Brown Band
Uncaged
78,260
-67
312,750
#1
10
16
Kenny Chesney
Welcome To The Fishbowl
23,423
-26
352,638
#2
11
18
Luke Bryan
Tailgates & Tanlines
21,848
-22
1,296,358
#3
NEW
21
Old Crow Medicine Show
Carry Me Back
17,020
999
17,264
#4
20
26
Carrie Underwood
Blown Away
13,303
-5
644,175
#5
15
28
Eric Church
Chief
13,065
-30
953,124
#6
39
37
Jason Aldean
My Kinda Party
9,654
-2
2,690,936
#7
12
38
Hank Williams, Jr.
Old School New Rules
9,331
-63
34,388
#8
16
43
Zac Band Brown
You Get What You Give
8,421
-49
1,563,635
#9
44
45
Lionel Richie
Tuskegee
8,393
-4
951,282
#10
36
47
Alan Jackson
Thirty Miles West
7,994
-24
180,101
#11
34
51
Hunter Hayes
Hunter Hayes
7,428
-30
178,422
#12
42
54
Various
Now Country 5
7,210
-22
84,575
#13
33
62
Lee Brice
Hard 2 Love
6,494
-40
173,254
#14
46
67
Brantley Gilbert
Halfway To Heaven
6,281
-26
636,462
#15
35
68
Josh Turner
Punching Bag
6,280
-41
100,097
#16
47
77
Kip Moore
Up All Night
5,633
-34
160,236
#17
71
79
Lady Antebellum
Own The Night
5,484
-12
1,686,749
#18
70
81
Rascal Flatts
Changed
5,433
-14
320,257
#19
64
94
The Band Perry
Band Perry
4,386
-34
1,341,157
#20
50
97
Blake Shelton
Red River Blue
4,306
-46
740,660
#21
85
109
Skylar Laine
American Idol:
Season 11: Highlights (EP)
3,836
-31
17,341
#22
69
111
Toby Keith
Clancy's Tavern
3,817
-40
559,512
#23
93
126
Scotty McCreery
Clear As Day
3,611
-29
1,091,989
#24
101
129
Pistol Annies
Hell On Heels
3,538
-24
354,267
#25


Albums due to Drop 
July 24
Love And Theft/Love And Theft/RCA

July 30
Kasey Chambers/Storybook/Sugar Hill

BILLBOARD HOT COUNTRY SINGLES NEWS

Dierks Bentley celebrates his 10th career No. one song as an artist and songwriter today as his foot-stomping hit “5-1-5-0” tops both the Billboard and Mediabase charts.
I have to admit, it’s been a 5150 kinda summer,” said Bentley. “The tailgating before shows has been turned up a notch, and the fans are ready to get crazy. You can’t ever take for granted the power of a fun, uptempo song that isn’t meant for anything other than kicking off a party. I’ll also never take for granted having 10 No. one hits on country radio…those guys and the fans have given me an unbelievable career so far.”
“5-1-5-0” is the third consecutive chart-topping hit off Bentley’s critically acclaimed Home, which debuted at No. one earlier this year.  (Source - dierks.com/news)
5-1-5-0 Single artwork

The single released by Capitol Nashville on April 9, 2012 and written by Dierks Bentley, Brett Beavers and
Jim Beavers marks the third single from Bentley’s 2012 album HOME.
Brett Beavers is a long-term frequent writer and producer for Bentley and has co-writing credits on a number of his previous hits including "Come a Little Closer," "Feel That Fire" and "Home."

The origins of the song - The songs co-writer Jim Beavers in conversation with Taste of Country said the idea for "5-1-5-0" came about when he and Bentley were discussing Van Halen's album 5150. Bentley had written - "let's get crazy, let's get fifty-one-fifty" with what was to be a bonus track song "Country and Cold Cans," . Bentley recalled to The Boot: "I was telling it to a friend of mine and he said, 'What does that mean?' And I told him it was Van Halen; it's California police code for criminally insane. The next day, he was singing, '5-1-5-0, somebody call the po-po.' I just started laughing because I thought that was the stupidest thing I'd ever heard. And he said, 'I'm tellin' ya, my kids cannot stop singing that.' I said, 'I don't know, man.'" Beavers said that he changed the pronunciation from "fifty-one-fifty" to "five-one-five-oh", and rhymed it with "somebody call the po-po" after seeing a police car
Punctuated by sharp acoustic riffing and tight banjo, Dierks entertains with his sense of humour and twists.

So what does "5-1-5-0" refer too? The title makes  reference to the 5150 "involuntary psychiatric hold" the California Welfare and Institutions Code. In the songs its narrator sings that his lover is making him "crazy"! - 5-1-5-0, just this side of loco/ I’m goin’ crazy / Think I love you, baby, he sings through lyrical dips and dives.
5150 = Mental case. A play on the digits perhaps? 10-50 = Under influence of drugs and 10-51 = Drunk (police-codes)

The song's music video was directed by Wes Edwards and shot at Big Nasty ATV Park outside of Savannah, Georgia. It features mud-bogging fanatics attempting to be the one who drives the farthest distance in the mud pit in their vehicles, which include Bentley's own old pickup truck. "I have never had so much fun or gotten so dirty at a video shoot," said Bentley. "It's hard to call it 'work' when you get to drive trucks and four wheelers through the mud all day. The fans who came out to this shoot were ready to get 5-1-5-0, so we basically just pulled up a bunch of trucks, threw some gear in the back, turned up the speakers and then let them do their thing. It was pretty wild!"

>>   [LISTEN] Dierks Bentley  "5150"
Watch the video >>  YouTube
 The track is available for Download at Amazon UK MP3  -   Amazon.com MP3

Dierks Bentley with ‘5-1-5-0’ moves up one place, to Top the chart!
Kenny Chesney with “Come Over”, is up one #3- #2
Glorianna with “(Kissed You) Good Night”, is up, #4 - #3
Eli Young Band with last week’s #1  “Even If It Breaks Your Heart” drops to #4
Love And Theft with “Angel Eyes” is up two, #7 - #5
Blake Shelton with “Over” is up 3 places, #9 - #6
The Band Perry with “Postcard From Paris” is up 3 spots, #10 - #7
Toby Keith with ‘Beers Ago’ falls, #6 - #8
Brantley Gilbert with former #1 “You Don’t Know Her Like I Do” drops to #9
Josh Turner with ‘Time Is Love” is up one, #11 -#10
Keith Urban with “For You” is up one notch #12 -#11
Jana Kramer with “Why Ya Wanna” is up one spot, #13 -#12
Little Big Town with “Pontoon” is up 2 places, #15 - #13
Dustin Lynch with Cowboys And Angels stays at #14
Zac Brown Band with “The Wind” is up one, #16 - #15
Thomas Rhett with Something To Do With My Hands is up, #17 - #16
Thompson Square with “Glass” is up one spot, #18 - #17

Hunter Hayes with “Wanted” is up 1 place, #19 - #18
Jason Aldean with ‘Take A Little Ride’ debuts at #19
Big & Rich with ‘That’s Why I Pray’ stays at #20

Country Songs
*** No. 1 *** "5-1-5-0" Dierks Bentley
Greatest Gainer/Hot Shot Debut No. 19 "Take A Little Ride" Jason Aldean
Debut No. 55 "Eighteen Inches" Lauren Alaina
Debut No. 57 "You're All That Matters To Me" Miss Willie Brown
Debut No. 59 "American Beauty" The Lost Trailers
Debut No. 60 "Kick It In The Sticks" Brantley Gilbert

Singles Due To Drop

July 23
Tyler Barham feat. Casey Walker/Meet Me In Montana/YN Records
Cloverdayle/Like We Were Kids Again/New Voice
Sarah Jarosz/Annabelle Lee/Sugar Hill
Brian Milson/Too Damn Young/Permian-Quarterback
Jaida Dreyer/Confessions/Streamsound
Sara Evans/Anywhere/RCA
Rich O’Toole/Red Wine On Your Lipstick/Triple Crown
Doug Briney/It’s All Country/DB Songs

TOP 30 DIGITAL  SINGLES In Country Music (25 July 2012)

Jason Aldean’s upcoming fifth studio album is off to a racing start, Jason's new single "Take a Little Ride" climbs in at No. 2 on the Billboard Digital Digital Singles Chart for all genres with 189,000 downloads representing  the largest debut sales week ever for a digital song by a male country artist.
Jason Aldean artwork
He betters 2011 American Idol winner Scotty McCreery's with his debut "Love You This Big" which launched with 171,000 in June 2011.
Take A Little Ride"also  storms onto the Billboard Hot 100 Chart at #12 this week. It is this week's Hot Shot Debut as well like it was on Country Songs which was #19 for Country.

The song has 116 stations on board a week before its official add date (July 31).  
I am honestly just blown away,” said Aldean. “I had a whole year of ‘firsts’ last year…things like my first arena tour selling out and taking home my first CMA awards, but I still feel like I’ve got a long way to go, so having two more ‘firsts’ come this week is really exciting for me. I love this single, and there are 14 more songs that I’m really proud of coming right behind it!” (Source - Broken Bow Records)

Blurb: “Take A Little Ride,” written by Dylan Altman, Rodney Clawson and Jim McCormick, carries Aldean’s distinct electric sound to a carefree summer night spent driving down country roads with a summer love and a six-pack.
Full Page Advert image
Unofficial Lyric Video - Take a Little Ride Lyrics  >>  YouTube   

The track is currently available in America only, Download at  Amazon.com MP3 - US iTunes

Little Big Town with the hit of the summer “Pontoon” who have held onto the #1 spot the past two week’s drop down to #2 with a track that has sold 600,000 copies to date.

2012 Teen Choice Winner Hunter Hayes with “Wanted” made a weekly gain of 11% (69,000 sold) now finds himself at #3 and passes the ¾ million mark. Hunter received his Gold Plaque for the single on CBS TV’s The Talk this week.
Eric Church with “Springsteen” at #6 has passed the 1.5 million sales mark.  

Carrie Underwood’sBlown Away” now Top 30 at country radio, makes a big move, up 16 places from #31- #15 slots this week. She makes a weekly gain of 53% selling an extra 9,000 digi singles.

Republic Nashville duo Florida Georgia Line are up 4 places to make the Top 20 for the first time in thier career with the single “Cruise”.

The Top 30 SoundScan Digital Singles for The Week of July 25, 2012. Digital sales rounded to nearest thousand.

 (LW) Last Week. (TW) This Week

LW
TW
Artist
Song Title
TW
Sales
LW
Sales
Total
Sales
NEW
1
Jason Aldean
Take A Little Ride
189K
1K
190K
1
2
Little Big Town
Pontoon
79K
84K
600K
4
3
Hunter Hayes
Wanted
69K
62K
761K
3
4
Kenny Chesney
Come Over
58K
66K
619K
2
5
Luke Bryan
Drunk On You
56K
66K
1,681,000
5
6
Eric Church
Springsteen
47K
55K
1,506,000
6
7
Love and Theft
Angel Eyes
41K
42K
435K
7
8
Dierks Bentley
5-1-5-0
40K
41K
463K
9
9
Tim McGraw
Truck Yeah
39K
39K
131K
8
10
Gloriana
(Kissed You) Good Night
38K
39K
635K
10
11
Eli Young Band
Even If It Breaks Your Heart
32K
36K
763K
12
12
Lee Brice
Hard To Love
32K
31K
341K
14
13
Dustin Lynch
Cowboys and Angels
27K
28K
367K
13
14
Blake Shelton
Over
27K
29K
238K
31
15
Carrie Underwood
Blown Away
26K
17K
263K
18
16
Jana Kramer
Why Ya Wanna
25K
25K
430K
17
17
Keith Urban
For You
25K
25K
285K
15
18
Kip Moore
Somethin' 'Bout A Truck
24K
28K
1,156,000
22
19
Zac Brown Band
The Wind
23K
21K
142K
24
20
Florida Georgia Line
Cruise
22K
20K
138K
16
21
Carrie Underwood
Good Girl
22K
26K
1,233,000
19
22
Toby Keith
Beers Ago
21K
23K
354K
20
23
Josh Turner
Time Is Love
20K
22K
417K
29
24
Chris Young
Neon
18K
18K
176K    
25
25
Luke Bryan
Country Girl (Shake It For Me)
18K
19K
2,048,000
26
26
Luke Bryan
I Don't Want This Night To End
18K
19K
1,840,000
28
27
Brantley Gilbert
You Don't Know Her Like I Do
16K
19K
683K
36
28
Thompson Square
Glass
16K
16K
221K
37
29
Jake Owen
The One That Got Away
16K
15K
94K
21
30
Toby Keith
Red Solo Cup
16K
22K
2,028,000