The Steel Guitar Forum

In all fairness to Alan, he is a great writer of traditional songs, and sings HIS songs very well. His CD's and songs maintained the element of pure Country Music which did not stray from the basic formula. He has done this successfuly for more than a decade and a half now. He stayed in his domain while others were seeking the NEW BIG HATS and arm MUSCLES songs. You can count on ZERO fingers the number of CD's I own from those guys.

With AJ's tunes it's not really about the singer..

it's about the singer, the songs and the MUSIC that goes with each one. It's a great formula for success.

Although I don't care at all for his new offering, I am still a huge fan of AJ.

Alan has done more for traditional major key 3 chord Country Music, Telecasters and Steel Guitars than any other single artist over the past 15 years or so.

thanks AJ..
t

ps..most of the cover songs that Alan is singing..uhh..

are HIS....
<font size="1" color="#8e236b"><p align="center">[This message was edited by Tony Prior on 02 October 2006 at 03:54 AM.]</p></FONT>

Tony, I stand corrected. I just never knew Alan was a great song writer. I guess thats what I get for not being a hugh fan.

Could you point me to where i could read the lyrics to ALL the songs he wrote?

Mark,

On the Hag CD: If you mean "Roots", yes, I have that one. I think I may may be missing a later release by Merle. I think the last one I bought was "Haggard Like Never Before".

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HagFan

Kinda "coincidental" that AJ got a bunch of airtime on CNN yesterday? Probably "press release" material.
Can you say "formulaic"?

hees an artist link and lyrics links.
http://www.cmt.com/artists/az/jackson_alan/bio.jhtml
http://www.lyricsondemand.com/a/alanjacksonlyrics/

Now of course AJ has recorded many cover songs as well,but he has written mnay of the tunes we have all come to know and also many songs that other artists have recorded.

t

Please note the dues that have been paid by Alan Jackson and Alison Krauss. Literally hundreds of great songs and song versions
produced by the best, played by the best,
and recorded by the finest session players,
That have literally molded the face of our
music as we know it. IMHO.
If this music is what they were feeling at the time of production, then I am inclined
to listen and place merit accordingly.
And as far AJ owing anybody any particular
type of music, That is ludicrous. When and
only when we can point at the awards and
prestigous accolades on OUR walls, can we say he strayed from the fold. Even then it would matter not to him.

Ron Page, the Hag CD to which I was referring, is "Unforgettable," which along with the title song contains popular tunes known as "standards" such as "Cry me A River," "As Time Goes By," and "Stardust." Sounds like from your last post that you don't have that one. It's Hag-but it ain't country.

And oh, I do think my Martina analogy in my post above does work. In the past, plenty of country purists have hammered Martina for being too pop-country, that is what has made her the big bucks. She grew up with a lot of those classics from "Timeless," even going so far as having Paul Franklin play non-pedal (SuperSlide)on some of the tunes to get that authentic Don Helms sound from the 50's. That's not something that your typical Rascal Flatts fan is going to buy into.

Of course I wasn't comparing Alan Jackson to Ray Charles as an artist-I was trying to use the Ray story to illustrate a point about "out-of-the-box" thinking, and how it can be the sort of thing that might give record label management types an upset stomach.

Actually, upon further listening of the new AJ album, it hits me that if Paul F. or Lloyd Green played some pedal steel, and Stuart Duncan was brought in for fiddle, the album wouldn't sound all that different than a typical AJ record, in regards to some of the "mellower" tunes he has recorded in the past.

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Mark
<font size="1" color="#8e236b"><p align="center">[This message was edited by Mark Eaton on 03 October 2006 at 12:38 PM.]</p></FONT>

Eddie, Nobody cares about accolades except the artists. The proof will be when Alan and the record company see that the fans ain't buying this drivel. This CD will not be the financial pleasure they have become accustomed to. Mark, Even with steel and fiddle it doesn't sound much like past AJ music. For one he only wrote 1 of the songs on this one. And then there is no uptempo anything on this. It should be a real favorite of the opium enjoying crowd. Sorry for my opinion but I am a big fan of Alan's and this is a disappointing record for me. I've come to expect more from him. Maybe he's tired of writing songs or he's too busy counting his money but this CD is horrible. I'll be looking for a new CD of AJ penned country tunes around the spring.

Alan Jackson is a pop country success.

He ventures outside pop country and I'm sure his eyes are wide open. He's been in this business long enough to know the risk.

It's probably not about the money or even his fan base.

Sometimes artists do this.

I have more repect for him for it but I may or may not like his new record. As an acoustic player (guitar/mandolin) I suspect I will. There are still plenty of steel records out there and the regular nashville players are still making pop country with steel.

Alan Jackson gets to be his own man.

He earned it.

But Brett, I'm sure you can teach him a lesson by not buying it!!



Terry

<font size="1" color="#8e236b"><p align="center">[This message was edited by Terry Edwards on 02 October 2006 at 07:28 PM.]</p></FONT>

Thanks Terry for the sarcasm, I always appreciate that. I probably won't teach him a lesson but if you had read my post a little closer you would have ascertained that I have already bought a copy. Luckily, I bought it at Wal Mart and it was under 10 bucks or 8 bucks more than its worth. And by the by according to the liner notes theres no mandolin on the CD either.

kinda funny, my bandmate TJ, who fronts our band called me last night. TJ and MATT( brothers) are always seeking new material and are HUGE AJ fans..as well as others within that formula.

TJ told me he bought the new AJ CD and there was not one song on it that would make our setlist. He was totally disappointed. He bought the CD cold because it was AJ...he basically told me he blew ten bucks.

This is a very strange siutation. CD's are rated by sales. So if millions of AJ fans buy the CD the sales numbers will be there. But what if millions who bought it don't like it ? This may be a false sense of success.

Mark,

Oh, yeah. I forgot I had "Unforgettable".

Certainly something very different for Merle and something he was able to do with unique style.



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HagFan

It's funny to get input from a different sorce other than that of a steel player, below is an email I got from a friend of mine, song writer/piano player Ron Hutchens who lives in Nashville. He moved there 25 years ago from NC...he knows I play lap & always give me a heads up on new stuff...

"Hey guy, have you heard the new Alan Jackson CD? Brilliant!! Being in Nashville for the last 25 years, it's always great when an artist does something new and different. Alan has stepped outside the box of the same old players, playing the same old licks.I so glad they used some new players, for a fresher sound. The critics in the paper and mags are raving about this CD. All my writer and player friends are saying the same thing. Being a piano player, I love "Red Like A Rose" and really like the lap steel.I've never owned one of his CDs, but I got this one.
Brilliant production,great songs, just plain cool. Go check it out.
Later, RH"

If you like what Alison Krauss does, then you'll like this music. I love what Alan normally does, but I really dig this too! Of course, I'm a huge fan of Alison. IMHO, I think they hit a homerun. It may not appeal to the masses or radio programmers, but I feel they've made some really great music and that's all that counts as far as I'm concerned.

Respectfully,
Dave Burr

I've never bought an Alan Jackson album before, but after reading this thread, I ordered this new one.

I think he is a fine singer with a nice voice, but I just can't take the lyrics on most of his songs.

How many "I'm just a good ole' boy, nascar watching, pickup driving, bass boat owning, down south, just a dumb redneck" songs does he have to sing?
I do appreciate all the great picking on the songs he has done in the past. It's just that after hearing the words to those songs, and playing them in assorted cover bands, I always start thinking how great they would be as instrumentals.

I'm really looking forward to hearing him sing a few songs that don't include lines about being a " good ole' boy, nascar watching, pickup driving, bass boat owning, down south, just a dumb redneck"!!!

how many stereotypical songs can he write ?

Well I guess enough to sell over 60 million CD's...

I've been listening to the new CD on Rhapsody, and there are a few tunes that are growing on me so I may have to back off my initial position.

t<font size="1" color="#8e236b"><p align="center">[This message was edited by Tony Prior on 05 October 2006 at 01:46 AM.]</p></FONT>

I just heard the title track, and Jerry Douglas KILLS on that Harmos! Yeah, it's different, and the line dance crowd won't like it at all. But still good music.

I'm sure I can find some exceptional songs in each one of Alan Jackson's CD's. The stereotypical redneck songs may get the most airplay, but I don't think Alvin's characterization is all that accurate.

Just to list of few favorites from the non-redneck side:

- Gone Country
- Livin' On Love
- Tropical Depression
- Wanted
- Drive
- Who I Am
- Where Were You (or whatever the September 11th song is titled)
- She Don't Get The Blues

Of course, I'll admit to digging the redneck ones the most.

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HagFan

<font size="1" color="#8e236b"><p align="center">[This message was edited by Ron Page on 05 October 2006 at 09:06 AM.]</p></FONT>

Hey Tony, I took ah look at the links you provided, I saw some covers I recognized but I didn't spend the time to try and go through all the album songs to see which ones alan actually wrote himself. Thats what I'd like to see. Songs he actually wrote.

Most of my post here have been directed toward artist that many preceive as being incredibily talented, according to record sales. I've seen it mentioned that so and so has sold a gazillion records and he or she must be doing something right and I'm wrong for doubting. But...to me the sales polls aren't very acurate because the people who buy these records are mindless idiots who buy what is made easily available through the music industry. They don't have a clue about music that isn't mainstream, so they buy what is marketed. These are the people who listen to their local FM station and think thats all there is to listen too. Just as an example, what percentage of people who buy alan or garth records know who Tom Morrell is? I'd venture to say, very few. How many record buyers know who Dann Penn is? Fricking NOBOBY! Only the Greatest songwriter ever! So, alan and garth sell 10 gazillion copies of their cds and Tom or Dann sell maybe 5000. Whats wrong with this picture?

I'm just not the type to heap on accolades according to record sales. This perception is skewed by listener ignorance. Is alan a songwriter in the same league as Dann Penn or is he just another pretty good singer that picks some good covers to do and has only one of the best guitar and steel guitar players living, playing on his cd's?

This whole line of thinking goes back to the heated Garcia threads, where people take offense to Jerry being praised for his steel playing. Yes he played a tasty little peice, but is he a Emmons or Franklin or Huey, etc. I think not!

There is a big misconception that record sales denotes talent. Take for instance, mettalica, the worst band I've ever heard! Period! They sold a billion records! How many copies did Danny Gatton sell? Not many i'm sure, bout the only people who bought Gatton's cd's were musicians. I wonder why? Maybe they heard something that the average radio listening Joe Blow couldn't ascertain.

I don't listen to the radio, because I've pretty much figured out, as far as my taste for music goes, if it's played on the radio, I just ain't gonna like it unless it's an oldie station. They just don't make men like they use to!

I'm not trying to dis alan, as black folk say I'm sure he's probably a super nice guy, but I know ah lot of cats that can sing and write much better that are laying bricks fer ah living.<font size="1" color="#8e236b"><p align="center">[This message was edited by Charles French on 05 October 2006 at 07:17 PM.]</p></FONT>

I just searched allmusic.com and I would say after looking at the list of songs,AJ wrote half or better of the hits. Pretty impressive. As I said I love his stuff but this album blows IMHO of course.

Charles, I'm certain others can offer much more..but , AJ is a fine writer..A majority of his primary songs he penned..he also has penned songs for other artists as described in one of the links.

I think if you're up for it, I'm not.. you can do a NET search and learn which songs he wrote.

He wrote a bunch...

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TPrior
TPrior Steel Guitar Homesite
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I'm sure AJ is not abandoning country music. It's probably just a needed temporary songwriting diversion or something.

It's not like he's adding a marimba to the band!!!

Think of it as a steel "tracks" recording. Yeah that's it! He's just thinking of us and released an album minus the steel so we can play along!


Terry

Well-you'd have to play over steel anyway on the tracks-it's just that Jerry Douglas doesn't have pedals.

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Mark
<font size="1" color="#8e236b"><p align="center">[This message was edited by Mark Eaton on 06 October 2006 at 09:15 AM.]</p></FONT>

Here's something from Jerry's forum...

ubject: RE: Alan Jackson - og the right track
From: JerryD
Date: 04-Oct-06

I would like to give you a little perspective on this latest Alan Jackson project, which was ably produced by my friend Alison.

I knew all along this was not going to be a bluegrass record. I came to the studio with one dobro and 3 lapsteels and two amps. The mere presence of Bernard Purdy, (Steely Dan, Aretha Franklin, you name it), great choice, Kenny Vaughn, and Michael McDonald would have been my second hunch we weren't going to play "Pig In A Pen".

It was immediately obvious we were a little out of Alan's comfort range, but he never waivered. I was the only guy in the room who knew Alan, and I kept telling him what a great job he was doing. And he was.

Alan kept flooring us with his readings of these songs I had heard before with RL singing. He's mostly a one take guy. He did come back and clean up a few things. He had a cold the second round of sessions. Mostly my point is this: Alan Jackson has made the same records with the same cast and the same producer for years now. They were successful. He's lucky about that. I think this gives him license to do any kind of record he damn well pleases. It's a chance most successful artists won't take, but Alan's his own man.

The idea that a certain website would be upset over there not being a certain instrument on the recording is something they need to confront with the therapists within their own site.



I'm going to pick it up (in spite of the fact that I would buy most anything that Kenny Vaughan played on... )<font size="1" color="#8e236b"><p align="center">[This message was edited by John Macy on 14 October 2006 at 03:54 PM.]</p></FONT>