Murder on Music Row

I sure wish I could take credit for the title of this post! But the credit belongs to the person who wrote that song.
So, who's heard John Prine's new album? Oh, you didn't know he had a new album out? Yep. But you thought he was dead. Or you just don't know who John Prine is. And who's heard the new song, "Something Like a Broken Heart" by Hanna-McEuen? Anyone? No dice, there, either, eh? Such is the state of American country music.
I thought things were on an upswing when the movie "Oh Brother Where Art Thou?" came out. There were songs in that movie that actually became popular. "Man of Constant Sorrow" was a big hit. "Roots music," as they called it, was on the way back in. Or so I thought. Lord, I'm optimistic.
Then, the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band released "Will the Circle Be Unbroken Volume III," featuring the likes of Jimmie Martin, Vassar Clements, Johnny Cash, June Carter Cash and Alison Krauss. It received three Grammy nominations and actually won one. It did receive a Country Music Association nomination for "Vocal Event"--the haunting "Tears in the Holston River" with Johnny Cash. Of course it didn't win. And the band was crammed on a stage with a bunch of other artists to sing half of a verse of "Circle." They were obviously afterthoughts.
But then, Johnny Cash's last couple of albums received a great deal of critical acclaim, and Loretta Lynn's album, "Van Lear Rose," which was produced by rocker Jack White, got rave reviews. Maybe things were turning around in country music. Yeah, right.
It's hard not to be cynical about the direction of country music (I gave up on current rock and roll a long time ago) when I hear what's on the radio these days. That's why I don't listen much. But this one fact should tell the bigwigs something: the Tennessee Valley in north Alabama is one of the major urban centers in the Southeast. There isn't a single Top 40-only station in the whole area. Not one. Most of the big stations that used to play Top 40 now mix it up with classic rock and oldies. The country stations are abysmal, by and large.
In fact, the most popular country station in the area is a locally-owned station that plays classic country, takes requests and runs commercials for places like the Dari Delite in Hartselle, S&R Catfish in Moulton and Standard Furniture (where Billy and Miss Velma welcome their customers by name). Carol Lynn, one of the DJs, makes no attempt to alter her Southern country accent, and talks lovingly of the chili dogs and "world famous" chicken fingers at the Dari Delite. She can make my mouth water talking about the Sunday buffet at some restaurant in Addison, the fried chicken, home-cooked pinto beans and hot cornbread with melted butter. Yum, yum, as the audience said to Grandpa Jones on "Hee-Haw." I love that station. It reminds me of the old AM stations when I was a kid. ("Hee-Haw" and "The Dukes of Hazzard" are out on DVD now, by the way.)
I wonder, like George Jones: "Who's gonna fill their shoes?" Who noted the passing of Jimmie Martin, "The King of Bluegrass" just a couple of weeks ago? Vassar Clements, one of the great country fiddlers, is probably terminally ill with lung cancer. At least people noticed when Johnny Cash died, but who will take over singing the working man's songs when he's gone? Willie Nelson is 70 and Merle Haggard can't be far behind. Who has picked up the torch? Who will write the next "Crazy" or "Mama Tried"? There's nothing on the market today that's as compelling as anything these men have written. And George isn't a spring chicken, either.
The female singers have Martina McBride to look up to, but who after her? Dolly's past 60. Tammy Wynette has died and Lynn Anderson's been arrested for DUI.
Who's writing songs that tear out my heart like "Galveston" and "Mr. Bojangles"? When I saw the NGDB sing "Bojangles" live the first time, I cried like a kid. Daddy loved that song. Even the more recent ones like "When You Leave that Way, You Can Never Come Back" by Confederate Railroad seem to have faded into the distance.
So you like the song "Bless the Broken Road" by Rascal Flatts, you say? I do, too. Only I liked it 10 years ago when it was released on the album "Acoustic" by the Dirt Band and was virtually ignored. Listen to Bob Carpenter's vocals on the original version and you'll never want to listen to the Rascal Flatts version again. It was nominated for Song of the Year by the Academy of Country Music, which goes to the songwriter, in this case, Jeff Hanna and Marcus Hummon. Of course, "Live Like You Were Dying" won. Dead dad trumps better song every time. I believe I mentioned I'm a tad cynical, non?
The trouble, of course, is that the suits have taken over music. They've always had their fingers in it, but now it's totally their arena. The older artists, the traditional artists, have no place in popular country music. It doesn't matter that they've honed their skills in the smoky honky-tonks and have dodged beer bottles as they kept singing for whatever the cover charge brought in. The suits want the pretty boys and the pretty girls. They're willing to leave a steel guitar and a fiddle in the band to keep the "country" label, but that's about all that resembles country anymore.
I don't know what the answers are. I know I'll keep going to see the NGDB in concert anytime they come anywhere close to where I live. They're the best musicians on the road. Period. No qualifications. I'll keep buying little-known albums by obscure musicians whose work is superior to anything on the charts. I may even rant again in this space. Who knows? I do need to get that new John Prine album, though. Can't let that one get away.