Jack in 24/ 215

Today's the day for Jack Ingram's new CD "Big Dreams and High Hopes". As you may recall Jack has pledged to do marathon radio interviews with about 215 stations throughout the USA including our own hometown airwaves of 98.3 KORA around 6:30pm with Chris Austin asking the questions. Jack should be good and giddy by that time.
Meantime, we've been eavesdropping on the proceedings via Jack's TwitterCam (?!?) on the CMT website.

Also out today is Deryl Dodd's new CD "Together Again" featuring the song of the same name. In fact, the song is so good we played the Deryl version along with the original Buck Owens and the Emmylou Harris 70's cut. You just can't get too much of a really good song.

Another CD of interest is a new oldies CD from Willie Nelson called "American Classic". It's in the vein of "Stardust" from the 80's. This time featuring the twin chanteuses Norah Jones and Diana Krall. Willie covers Willie with another recording of "Always On My Mind". Also Willies Farm Aid concert is offering front row seats for your Farmer Fotos.


Our Good Advice for the day was "Five Ways To Avoid A Speeding Ticket" we rejected the suggestion "Don't speed" as being unrealistic.

Summer of Love and Death

Ain't it funny how on the 40th Anniversary of the so-called Summer of Love, we'd be experiencing The Summer of Death? Since June of 2009 we've lost a number of notables including Ed McMahon, Walter Cronkite,Farah Fawcett, Micheal Jackson, Steve McNair, John Hughs and Gidget the Taco Bell Dog.
Now it's guitarist/engineer/innovator Les Paul who passed on from complications with pneumonia. He was 94. Les revolutionized music when he invented the SOLID BODY ELECTRIC GUITAR. Gibson Guitars began a production model in 1952 and it is still one of the most widely-used guitars in the world.
With his wife, Mary Ford, on vocals he also developed the recording process of multi-tracking, where singers are able to sing along with themselves on two or more different takes.
Although the Rock & Roll world has much to thank him for, he also had Country connections: he did an album with Chet Atkins called "Chester and Lester" that won a Grammy in 1976 and followed that with "Guitar Monsters a couple years later.

If you want to hear some prime Les Paul, use this link: http://www.rhapsody.com/les-paul

My favorite is "How High The Moon?" great guitar, great multi-track sound.

*Today we learned that graduating Aggies this weekend will have their diplomas confiscated if they try to leave the ceremonies early. Evidently it has become a problem with people clearing out - some 200 to 300 stage walkers- before the end of the alphabet. To try to curtail this practice, officials will grab your diploma as you try to sneak out and make you come back later in the week to re-claim your sheepskin. They'll be able to spot you by the way you're dressed. Th policy was instigated by a letter-writing campaign from people with names like "Zynda" and "Zwerschke".

* Roger's painful memories of a Randy Travis show of long ago resurfaced this morning as he again related how he had been misled into believing Mr. Travis was sick with "flu" when -in fact - he was working out at the gym and stood Roger up for an interview. Roger has never forgotten nor forgiven...

IN THE NEWS: Bryan City Council has hired a new management company for the LaSalle hotel downtown plus tossed in $615,000 for improvements, including furniture. Up till this time patrons have been sitting on wooden crates around giant wire spools (joke).

Roger and Roy's Good Advice: Five Compliments Women Love to Hear
1. No one could replace you (although,as you already know YOU can be replaced quickly)
2. You light up my life
3. You're perfect just the way you are (potential danger if she starts asking for specifics: "Why? What's wrong with the way I am?")
4. I love your eyes or some other favorite body part: her smile, her legs, her tattoos and piercings.
5. I'm proud of you. This encourages her in the personal goals she's trying meet. Unless, of course, her ultimate plan is to ditch her loser boyfriend. Then don't encourage her.
Once again, you're welcome.

In Country Western Cowboy News: George Strait says he doesn't hardly speak any Spanish, yet "El Rey" on his new "Twang" CD is near mariachi perfect.
Jack Ingram is one of many offering his tributes to Brooks and Dunn who announced their break-up yesterday.
Timbaland wants Taylor. The big-time pop and hip-hop producer wants to do a record with Taylor Swift. He says he loves her voice. Who doesn't?

Dena Gaskin from the Chamber of Commerce came in for a visit and stated all new construction should have a sign on it so we all know what they're building. I agree. What if someone was building a nuclear waste dump and we didn't find out till the ribbon cutting?


RG

Brooks and Dunn and Gibbons

Brooks and Dunn was the big buzz around the radio this morning. They are planning to bust up the duo after a 2010 Farewell Tour. A "Greatest Hits...and Then Some" package will be released in September, then "The Last Rodeo" tour in the new year (dates and venues yet to be announced).

Meanwhile, in the mail today, a new Brooks and Dunn single with ZZ Top's Billy Gibbons playing guitar and growling a little bit. Must be one a them "then some" songs.

That song immediately launched another debate about what's country and what ain't. A caller making the case that Country Music plagiarizes itself to sing songs with hard-edge guitar work and themes espousing Tractors, and Farmers and "Country" boys and girls. I think the new Brooks and Dunn song even steals a line from an old Brooks and Dunn song.

Oh well. If we play it, it must be Country on some level.

RG