You may notice the top of this post says “South Dakota” and not “Oklahoma.” I have been and am still traveling and will probably post less this week. I should be back to frequent posts by Friday.
Texas Music Chart
1. Wade Bowen–“Sun Shines on a Dreamer” (third week at No. 1)
2. Pat Green–“While I Was Away” (up 1)
3. Josh Ward–“Highway” (down 1)
4. Rich O’Toole–“Talk About the Weather”
5. Cody Canada and the Departed–“Easy” (up 1)
6. Granger Smith–“Back Road Song” (up 1)
7. Matt Kimbrow–“Livin’ the Good Life” (up 2)
8. Aaron Watson–“Freight Train” (down 3)
9. Cory Morrow–“Old With You” (up 2)
10. Turnpike Troubadours–“Down Here” (up 4)
11. Kyle Park–“What Goes Around Comes Around” (up 2)
12. Whiskey Myers–“Shelter From the Rain”
13. Bart Crow–“Life Comes at You Fast” (up 3)
14. Prophets and Outlaws–“Texas Home” (up 1)
15. Sam Riggs–“Long Shot” (down 5)
16. Reckless Kelly–“Real Cool Hand” (up 1)
17. William Clark Green–“Sticks and Stones” (down 9)
18. Curtis Grimes–“Smile That Smile” (up 1)
19. JB and the Moonshine Band–“Shotgun, Rifle, and a .45” (up 2)
20. Matt Hillyer–“If These Old Bones Could Talk” (down 2)
21. Sundance Head–“Darlin’ Don’t Go” (up 2)
22. Kevin Fowler & Deryl Dodd–“Damn This ol’ Honky Tonk Dream” (up 15) [biggest gainer]
23. Uncle Lucius–“Don’t Own the Right” (down 1)
24. Miles Williams–“Teasin’ Me” (up 3)
25. Stoney LaRue–“Easy She Comes” (up 3)
26. Aaron Einhouse–“I Could Fall” (down 2)
27. The Statesboro Revue–“Undone” (up 4)
28. Tori Martin–“Woman Up” (up 6)
29. James Lann–“Let it Rain” (down 9)
30. Adam Fears–“Golden Gravel Road”
31. Josh Grider–“You Dream I’ll Drive” (up 1)
32. Scott Taylor Band–“By Now” (down 3)
33. Adrian Johnston–“Avalanche” (down 7)
34. Mike Ryan–“Girls I Date” (up 5)
35. Judson Cole Band–“Time To Run” (up 3)
36. Caleb McIntire–“Ozark Mountain Stomp”
37. Chance Anderson Band–“245 Miles” (up 5)
38. Saints Eleven–“I Don’t” (up 2)
39. Asleep at the Weel featuring Randy Rogers, Reckless Kelly, and Shooter Jennings–“Bob Wills is Still the King” (down 14) [biggest loser]
40. TJ Broscof–“Phone Calls” (up 4)
41. Jeremy Steding–“Love Love Love” (up 2)
42. Thom Shepherd–“Little Miss Everything” (down 1)
43. Luke Robinson–“Roses on the Radio” (up 5)
44. Callahan Divide–“Happy” (up 1)
45. Jason James–“I’ve Been Drinkin’ More” (entering top 50)
46. Cody Joe Hodges–“One More Drink”
47. American Aquarium–“Losing Side of Twenty-five” (entering top 50)
48. Randy Rogers & Wade Bowen–“Ladybug” (entering top 50)
49. Paul Thorn–“Everybody Needs Somebody” (down 2)
50. Dalton Domino–“Jesus & Handbags”
Wade Bowen remains at the top for a third week
next week’s No. 1 prediction: “While I Was Away”
Turnpike Troubadours have now reached the top ten in six weeks
1. Wade Bowen–“Sun Shines on a Dreamer” (second week at No. 1)
2. Josh Ward–“Highway” (up 1)
3. Pat Green–“While I Was Away” (up 3)
4. Rich O’Toole–“Talk About the Weather” (up 1)
5. Aaron Watson–“Freight Train” (down 3)
6. Cody Canada and the Departed–“Easy” (up 2)
7. Granger Smith–“Back Road Song”
8. William Clark Green–“Sticks and Stones” (down 4)
9. Matt Kimbrow–“Livin’ the Good Life” (up 1)
10. Sam Riggs–“Long Shot” (down 1)
11. Cory Morrow–“Old With You” (up 2)
12. Whiskey Myers–“Shelter From the Rain”
13. Kyle Park–“What Goes Around Comes Around” (up 1)
14. Turnpike Troubadours–“Down Here” (up 3)
15. Prophets and Outlaws–“Texas Home”
16. Bart Crow–“Life Comes at You Fast”
17. Reckless Kelly–“Real Cool Hand” (up 3)
18. Matt Hillyer–“If These Old Bones Could Talk”
19. Curtis Grimes–“Smile That Smile” (up 2)
20. James Lann–“Let it Rain” (down 9)
21. JB and the Moonshine Band–“Shotgun, Rifle, and a .45” (up 1)
22. Uncle Lucius–“Don’t Own the Right” (up 2)
23. Sundance Head–“Darlin’ Don’t Go” (up 5)
24. Aaron Einhouse–“I Could Fall” (up 3)
25. Asleep at the Wheel with Randy Rogers, Reckless Kelly, and Shooter Jennings–“Bob Wills is Still the King” (down 6)
26. Adrian Johnston–“Avalanche” (up 3)
27. Miles Williams–“Teasin’ Me” (up 5)
28. Stoney LaRue–“Easy She Comes” (up 8)
29. Scott Taylor Band–“By Now” (up 4)
30. Adam Fears–“Golden Gravel Road” (down 4)
31. The Statesboro Revue–“Undone” (up 10)
32. Josh Grider–“You Dream I’ll Drive” (up 2)
33. Jesse Raub Jr.–“Plead the Fifth” (down 2)
34. Tori Martin–“Woman Up” (up 1)
35. Kylie Frey–“The Chase” (down 12) [biggest loser]
36. Caleb McIntire–“Ozark Mountain Stomp” (up 2)
37. Kevin Fowler & Deryl Dodd–“Damn This Ol’ Honky Tonk Dream” (up 11) [biggest gainer]
38. Judson Cole Band–“Time to Run” (up 1)
39. Mike Ryan–“Girls I Date” (up 3)
40. Saints Eleven–“I Don’t” (up 7)
41. Thom Shepherd–“Little Miss Everything” (down 4)
42. Chance Anderson Band–“245 Miles” (entering top 50)
43. Jeremy Steding–“Love Love Love”
44. TJ Broscof–“Phone Calls” (up 2)
45. Callahan Divide–“Happy”
46. Cody Joe Hodges–“One More Drink” (up 4)
47. Paul Thorn–“Everybody Needs Somebody” (re-entering top 50)
48. Luke Robinson–“Roses on the Radio” (entering top 50)
49. Doc West–“Whole Lotta Bull” (down 5)
50. Dalton Domino–“Jesus & Handbags” (entering top 50)
Wade Bowen’s “Sun Shines on a Dreamer” stays at No. 1, after gaining 133 spins this week
next week’s No. 1 prediction: “Highway”
Turnpike Troubadours have gotten to No. 14 in five weeks
So, if you have read this blog for more than three minutes of its short existence, you have probably heard me talk about Texas/red dirt country. Please don’t ask me to tell you the difference; some say there is no difference and others argue about it. I grew up with Texas country being played on my local Oklahoma station The Twister quite frequently. In fact, The Twister used to feature “Red Dirt Nights,” a program that has been replaced with the unfortunate “Country House Party.” In Oklahoma, the red dirt music that we once proudly supported has been blacklisted along with the music of traditional artists. This is especially unfortunate here, as many Oklahoma artists found their success in the genre.
But Texas music is still alive and well. Independent country fans long for a system that is entirely free of Music Row, Nashville, etc. Some look for the split of country music and/or the taking over of real country by Americana (which might actually be happening.) Meanwhile, Texas has already seceded from Nashville. They have stations playing Texas country only and others mixing it in with mainstream country music, giving it the level playing field that independent/Americana fans speculate about. They even have their own airplay charts, the Texas Music Chart and Texas Regional Radio Report. Just as I report the Billboard charts, I will now report the Texas Music Chart, giving Texas artists the equal opportunity to be discovered and appreciated that Oklahoma radio once gave them. I hope you will find new and deserving artists here, and that a love for Texas/red dirt country will be cultivated.
Texas Music Chart (August 3rd)
1. Wade Bowen–“Sun Shines on a Dreamer” (up 3)
2. Aaron Watson–“Freight Train”
3. Josh Ward–“Highway” (up 2)
4. William Clark Green–“Sticks and Stones” (down 1)
5. Rich O’Toole–“Talk About the Weather” (up 1)
6. Pat Green–“While I Was Away” (up 1)
7. Granger Smith–“Back Road Song” (up 1)
8. Cody Canada and the Departed–“Easy” (up 1)
9. Sam Riggs–“Long Shot” (up 1)
10. Matt Kimbro–“Livin’ the Good Life” (up 1)
11. James Lann–“Let it Rain” (down 10)
12. Whiskey Myers–“Shelter From the Rain” (up 1)
13. Cory Morrow–“Old With You” (down 1)
14. Kyle Park–“What Goes Around Comes Around” (up 1)
15. Prophets and Outlaws–“Texas Home” (down 1)
16. Bart Crow–“Life Comes At You Fast” (up 2)
17. Turnpike Troubadours–“Down Here” (up 8)
18. Matt Hillyer–“If These Old Bones Could Talk” (down 1)
19. Asleep at the Wheel featuring Randy Rogers, Reckless Kelly, and Shooter Jennings–“Bob Wills is Still the King”
20. Reckless Kelly–“Real Cool Hand” (up 1)
21. Curtis Grimes–“Smile That Smile” (up 1)
22. JB and the Moonshine Band–“Shotgun, Rifle, and a .45” (up 11) [biggest gainer]
23. Kylie Frey–“The Chase” (up 1)
24. Uncle Lucius–“Don’t Own the Right” (up 3)
25. Gabe Garcia–“Country Looks Good on You” (down 5)
26. Adam Fears–“Golden Gravel Road” (up 6)
27. Aaron Einhouse–“I Could Fall” (up 2)
28. Sundance Head–“Darlin’ Don’t Go”
29. Adrian Johnston–“Avalanche” (up 1)
30. Roger Creager–“Where the Gringos Don’t Go” (down 7)
31. Jesse Raub Jr–“Plead the Fifth” (down 5)
32. Miles Williams–“Teasin’ Me” (up 3)
33. Scott Taylor Band–“By Now” (down 2)
34. Josh Grider–“You Dream I’ll Drive” (up 5)
35. Tori Martin–“Woman Up” (up 2)
36. Stoney LaRue–“Easy She Comes” (down 2)
37. Thom Shepherd–“Little Miss Everything” (down 1)
38. Caleb McIntire–“Ozark Mountain Stomp”
39. Judson Cole Band–“Time to Run” (up 7)
40. Clayton Gardner–“Buy You a Drink” (down 24) [biggest loser]
41. The Statesboro Revue–“Undone” (entering top 50)
42. Mike Ryan–“Girls I Date” (up 2)
43. Jeremy Steding–“Love Love Love” (down 1)
44. Doc West–“Whole Lotta Bull” (down 1)
45. Callahan Divide–“Happy” (up 3)
46. TJ Broscof–“Phone Calls” (entering top 50)
47. Saints Eleven–“I Don’t” (entering top 50)
48. Kevin Fowler & Deryl Dodd–“Damn This ol’ Honkytonk Dream” (entering top 50)
49. Junior Gordon–“Country Lov’n” (down 8)
50. Cody Joe Hodges–“One More Drink” (down 5)
new No. 1: “Sun Shines on a Dreamer” (an actual good song hitting No. 1 on an airplay chart?)
I have no No. 1 prediction for next week as I just started looking at this chart regularly
Texas is as male dominated as Nashville…look at the lack of women
Last week, I featured Katie Armiger and noted that she is one of my favorite underrated female country artists. I love her sound because it is pop country that is done very well. This week, I am featuring Sunny Sweeney, one of my favorite traditional country females.
How You Might Know Sunny
Sunny Sweeney had a top 10 hit in 2011 with “From a Table Away” which many will remember. She was also an opener on Miranda Lambert’s recent Certified Platinum tour.
Bio
Sunny Sweeney (born December 7, 1976 in Houston, Texas, and raised in Longview), got a degree in public relations and even tried to make it in the “real” world for awhile. That is, until one day when she picked up a guitar and made the life-changing decision to pursue singing and songwriting. She began playing several shows a week in Texas and quickly had a growing fan base. In 2006, she independently released Heartbreaker’s Hall of Fame, which, according to her Web site, found its way onto the desk of Big Machine Records president Scott Borchetta
This turn of events led to a record deal and the re-release of the album in 2007, with three singles making the Texas Music Chart.
In 2010, after signing to Republic Nashville, a joint venture between Big Machine and Universal Republic, Sunny released the well-known “From a Table Away.” This has been her highest charting single–on a major chart–and peaked at No. 10. it was followed by the excellent album Concrete. Concrete was my first experience with Sunny Sweeney, and I couldn’t wait to hear more music from her. Other less-known singles from that album include “Staying’s Worse Than Leaving” and “Drink Myself Single.”
For whatever reason–we can speculate on many–Sunny Sweeney and Big Machine parted ways after this album. In 2014, Sunny released her third album, Provoked with Thirty Tigers, the self-proclaimed “home for independent artists.”
The first two singles, “Bad Girl Phase” and “My Bed”–a duet with fellow Texas singer Will Hoge that Sunny co-wrote with Ashley Monroe and Angaleena Presley of the Pistol Annies–hit No. 1 on the Texas Music Chart. This makes Sunny Sweeney the first female to have two consecutive singles hit No. 1 on the Texas charts. She said of the experience, “I am very honored to be the first female to ever have two number one songs back to back on the Texas music chart…I believe firmly that if you just keep following your heart and working your butt off, you will see the payoff and positive results.”
Why Sunny Belongs on Country Radio
Why? Well, for one, she’s already proved she can get chart success with “From a Table Away.” That song wasn’t a pop song either–it was a traditional sounding song about the “other woman” witnessing the husband, whom she thought was ready to leave his wife, from a table away with his wife. The husband is obviously still in love with the wife, and the other woman is confronting him later after having seen them together. This song did well on the charts, so why is it inconceivable to think Sunny could have radio success again? Not to mention she’s doing very well on the Texas Music Chart right now–proving that if actual country music was getting played on “country” radio, she would be highly successful. Also, much like Katie Armiger, her songwriting is relatable and autobiographical. However, unlike younger artists, such as Katie and Taylor Swift, Sunny writes from a place of more experience. Her songs speak of marriage, divorce, and adultery–many times from the view of the “other woman,”–in a way that says she’s lived the lyrics.
In addition, Sunny got a lot of exposure from Miranda Lambert’s Certified Platinum tour, so many more people should know her music now. But sadly, when I was standing in line before the doors opened to see Miranda on that very tour, a local DJ was spinning Miranda Lambert and Justin Moore hits (Justin was the other opener.) After awhile, he called out, “All of you know Miranda Lambert” to which we all cheered. Then he added, “But how many of you know Sunny Sweeney?” A handful of people answered. He said, “Well, here’s one of her songs,” and played “Bad Girl Phase,” one of the recent No. 1 Texas Music Chart singles. For many standing around me, that was the first they’d heard of Sunny Sweeney, and that speaks volumes. The same crowd that was cheering for Miranda Lambert should have been cheering for Sunny Sweeney, and yet most did not even know her name.
Tracks I Recommend
You cannot go wrong with either Concrete or Provoked, but if I had to narrow it down, here’s where I’d start.
1. Amy–Concrete
2. From a Table Away–Concrete
3. Fall for Me–Concrete
4. Staying’s Worse Than Leaving–Concrete
5. My Bed (featuring Will Hoge)–Provoked
6. Carolina on the Line–Provoked
7. Find Me–Provoked
8. Bad Girl Phase–Provoked
9. You Don’t Know Your Husband–Provoked
10. Drink Myself Single–Concrete
11. Refresh my Memory–Heartbreaker’s Hall of Fame
Unless you have been living under a rock, you have probably heard Luke Bryan’s chosen “defense” for his brand of “country,” as told in an interview Thursday. But in case you haven’t, here’s the now infamous quote, given in an interview with Hits Daily Double:
Well, yeah. I think that people who want Merle, Willie and Waylon just need to buy Merle, Willie and Waylon. I’ve never been a ‘Those were the good old days’ kind of guy. I’m not big on looking back on the past. I’m not an outlaw country singer. I don’t do cocaine and run around. So I’m not going to sing outlaw country. I like to hunt, fish, ride around on my farm, build a big bonfire and drink some beers—and that’s what I sing about. It’s what I know. I don’t know about laying in the gutter, strung out on drugs. I don’t really want to do that.
Then, after the backlash from a significant portion of the country community, Luke took to Twitter to respond (in other words, his manager told him, “Hey, everyone thinks you’re a douchebag, and your public image is in jeopardy.”) Here’s his response
I’ve been thinking about this all day, every now and then I feel I need to defend myself in this business. I did a great interview with many topics discussed. It’s so frustrating that something negative has spun out of the story. I would never speak against any artist. It’s not my style. I consider Willie, Waylon and Merle musical heroes. I was trying to state what I was about and where I come from with my music. It’s simple as that.
Now, before I pick apart this ridiculously fake “response,” let me first say that “outlaw country” refers to taking creative control of one’s music. I am not going to spend a lot of time covering this; a lot of other blogs have done a great job with this. I will simply say that Luke isn’t an outlaw country singer because he sings whatever the labels throw at him. He sings shit like “Kick the Dust UP” and “That’s my Kind of Night” to make money. He has no original thoughts of his own, and even if he did, his desire for money has overshadowed them. Outlaw country spawned the Texas/red dirt country movement, and that’s where you will find today’s outlaws; they are people like Wade Bowen and Randy Rogers who sing about having “standards” as opposed to making “hits” and are relegated to the Texas Music Chart and Texas and Oklahoma stations willing to play their music.
But let’s pretend “outlaw country” did mean “laying in the gutter, strung out on drugs.” Saving Country Music has a great article documenting Willie, Merle, and Waylon’s own words about their experiences with cocaine, and I have copied the link here. To summarize, Willie fired anyone in the band caught with cocaine, Merle tried it once and would never do it again, and Waylon was a long-time addict who finally quit and overcame his addiction. So now we can add “uneducated idiot” to Luke’s first crime of “classless douchebag.”
But let’s pretend further that they did, in fact, “do cocaine” and “run around.” This boils down to Luke’s lack of disrespect for legends of the genre that allowed him to become successful. Country music is (or used to be) about class. Here’s what Toby Keith had to say about Willie Nelson after the success of their duet “Beer for my Horses:”
When you see somebody that still has the love and passion that he’s got, you don’t understand why they can’t have a [No. 1] shot like these young guys and girls…but I’ve told him time and time again that I’m glad to be the guy that got to take that ride with him
And here’s Kenny Chesney, atWaylon’s passing: “I learned a lot from him, for not even meeting him. He had his niche. He had his style. He blazed his own trail. He didn’t care what anybody thought about it. That was a true artist.” (Also, apparently Kenny knows what “outlaw” means.)
And finally, just last year, country artists voted Merle Haggard the first-ever Artist of a Lifetime and numerous artists spoke about his career and influence. And now Luke, who says, “I would never speak against any artist” has chosen to do just that–instead of defending his douche “country,” he has chosen to misuse the term “outlaw” and drag the names of legends through the dirt for his own gain. So it wasn’t enough to destroy country radio with the shit you call music, Luke, but now you are seeking to destroy the last shreds of class and knowledge left to country music with your ignorance and disrespect…nice.
Waylon’s daughter-in-law, Kathy Pinkerman Jennings, has spoken out against Luke in a Facebook post and YouTube video. I will close this post with her thoughts, as I couldn’t have said it better myself
To Luke Bryan:
I hope your family members are proud of you for using your WORLDWIDE platform to take the time to disrespect my Father in Law. You have managed to PROVE to the world your true self.
Albeit that Waylon’s drug use is well documented and something he overcame, I assure you, he was never “laying in a gutter.” At the peak of his career and drug abuse, he was making history and setting records. He, single handedly paved the way for you and everyone else to make music the way the artist wanted to make it. I’m not willing to waste my time to debate your “music” and / or the fact you have zillions of fans – I will however, not sit back and be quiet when you have so blatantly disrespected Waylon.
I recall the time I was at the Grand Ole Opry to visit with Andy Griggs, you were making your debut appearance. My friend that was with us had just seen your video. As we stood at the side of the stage, Jeannie Seeley [Seely] was talking to us and you walked over to introduce your self to her and told her how much you admired her, she in turn introduced you to myself and my husband. I almost got a cavity because of the sweetness of the words coming out of your mouth – you told us Waylon was one of your musical heroes. You went on and on and on.
This is not about music, Outlaw Country, whatever – it’s about DISRESPECT.
You are a platinum, disrespecting, no singing, whining, grasping for media attention, asshole. Use your platform for something good, instead of bashing the LEGENDS that came before you.
Tomato of the Week: Sunny Sweeney
As she just had two singles hit No. 1 on the previously mentioned Texas Music Chart, I thought it appropriate to feature her this week. Check out her full article on Female Friday!
Random Country Suggestions
This week I am including two country suggestions, because they both seem appropriate. There will be no non-country suggestion.
