Johnny Bush records new CD, Willie Nelson, Ray Price help
Monday, March 24, 2008 – Texas honky tonker Johnny Bush announced plans to release a new disc, "Young at Heart," on friend Willie Nelson's label in mid-summer.
The disc by Bush, best known for writing "Whiskey River," features Nelson and Ray Price and the most current recordings by the late Calvin Owens.
"Young at Heart" is the follow-up release to his acclaimed "Kashmere Gardens Mud" (2007), which featured historic parallels between Bush's 55-year career and the east end Houston neighborhood.
Owens arranged two tracks for the album, "Whiskey River" and "Free Soul." "Whiskey River" is Calvin's last recorded arrangement. He also provided he trumpet solos on three songs.
Other guests on include arrangers Paul English, Nelson Mills (ex-Archie Bell & the Drells) and musicians Buddy Emmons (inventor of the steel guitar), Leon Rhodes (ex-Ernest Tubb) on guitar and Harry Sheppard, the vibraphonist who played with Billie Holiday.
Songs include Bush, Nelson and Price singing "Young at Heart" and Nelson and Bush duets on "September in the Rain" (Sinatra) and "Walking the Floor Over You" (Tubb). Other tracks include "That's All There is To That" (Nat King Cole), "Whiskey River" (Bush), "Soft Rain" (Price), "Will You Remember Mine (Nelson), "Summer of Roses/December Day" (Nelson), "Free Soul" (Nelson), "Worried Mind" (Ray Charles) and "You Don't Know Me" (Cindy Walker).
The album is being co-produced by Bush, Nelson and Andy Bradley and will be released on Nelson's label, Pedernales Records.
CD reviews for Johnny Bush
Kashmere Gardens Mud: A Tribute to Houston's Country Soul
"Nothing good ever grew in Kashmere Gardens," poignantly pours Johnny Bush about the disheveled Houston neighborhood from his youth. "Only bitter weeds and flowers of despair," he reluctantly affirms in the autobiographical yearning of "Kashmere Gardens Mud." Ably assisted by former Houston Chronicle music writer Rick Mitchell, last year Johnny Bush authored and an autobiography. And they also collected songs typifying the Houston country tradition that gave rise to »»» |
Honkytonic
Johnny Bush is teaching a whole new generation of listeners how to respect honky-tonk songs. Here, he even lets a few play along. Independent Texas singer-songwriters Tommy Alverson, Kevin Fowler, Stephanie Urbina Jones and Matt Martindale of Cooder Graw duet with Bush. As does old friend Willie Nelson on either the umpteenth version of Bush's moneymaker "Whiskey River."
Since getting voice problems under control, Bush has also recorded with Dale Watson and Cornell Hurd on their own CDs, and »»» |
Green Snakes
If a common thread can be found on Johnny Bush's latest, it would be the honky-tonk numbers that bring a crowd out onto a Texas dance floor just about every time. As a result, Bush eschews original material this time out in favor of classic two-steppers like Jerry Irby's "Driving Nails (In My Coffin)," as well as excursions into Tex-Mex ("Dos Tacos"), balladry (George Strait's 1993 hit "When Did You Stop Loving Me"), Texas shuffles (Ray Price's "I Wish That I Could Fall In Love Today") and even a »»» |
Editorial: American Idol's Carrie Underwood can sing –
If anyone saw the Super Bowl – what a great great game that was – they would have heard American Idol winner and country superstar Carrie Underwood sing the National Anthem. Underwood did with her voice what Kelly Clarkson did last week with her written words – give it to Scott Borchetta, the head of Big Machine Records,, who tried defending Taylor Swift by knocking American Idol performers. »»»
Concert Review: McBride, Adkins shine sometimes –
As Martina McBride pointed out, the pairing of the country singer with Trace Adkins on their current jaunt was surprising. After all, she's of diva-quality voice, petite, non-controversial unless you call singing songs that empower women controversial. Adkins, on the other hand, has not been afraid to speak his mind with a kick butt attitude.... »»»
Concert Review: Eilen Jewell wears her musical hats well –
Eilen Jewell wears a lot of musical hats. The Idaho native, who now lives in Boston, fronts the Eilen (ee-lin) Jewell Band, a pretty much traditional country band. She's a member the Sacred Shakers, an octet doing gospel country with a country beat. And she has yet another project, Butcher Holler, covering Loretta Lynn songs.... »»»
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