Alabama regroups
Thursday, June 2, 2011 – Is Alabama getting back together?
That's the word from Jeff Cook, guitarist, fiddler and keyboardist for the band, in an interview with Bradenton.com. The reunion could include a tour and new music in 2012.
Alabama supposedly ended its career together with a show in Bismarck, N.D., on Oct. 16, 2004.
Cook told Ward Tatangelo of the web site, "We're talking about doing maybe 20 shows next year," said Cook. "I never felt it was right that a band called Alabama should end their career in Bismarck, N.D. "It should have ended in Birmingham or Huntsville."
Alabama has gained some traction thanks to being on Old Alabama, the number one song from Brad Paisley on which the band plays and sings. The song incorporates part of the band's hit Mountain Music. Paisley and Alabama played the song together at the Academy of Country Music Awards April 3.
Last year, Alabama reunited to record Are You Sure Hank Done It This Way for "The Music Inside -- A Collaboration Dedicated To Waylon Jennings Vol. I," which came out in February.
Alabama also will headline "Bama Rising: A Benefit Concert for Alabama Tornado Recovery" on June 14. Paisley, Sheryl Crow, Dierks Bentley, Montgomery Gentry, Sara Evans, Darius Rucker and Kellie Pickler will participate.
"We started talking about the tour of 20 shows and the promoter said, 'Let's see what you're made of,' " Cook said. "We spearheaded this fund-raising event, and it sold out in 15 minutes."
More news for Alabama
CD reviews for Alabama
Alabama: The Last Stand
For a band that's supposed to be retired, Alabama has been steadily issuing a string of albums in the past few years, from their two-volume gospel music series to this new live album available only at Cracker Barrel restaurants. Just as similar discs from other country artists such as Alison Krauss and Josh Turner, this collection will appeal mostly to the band's core fan base.
There are some familiar classics, like "Old Flames" and "The Closer You Get," which are »»» |
Songs of Inspiration Volume II
For their second album of gospel music, Alabama sticks with a similar formula - a predictable mixture of traditional favorites and well-known hymns along with a few originals, not all of which work.
"When It Comes My Time" and "One Life" sound too much like the band's '80s output to be anything other than distracting, and the plodding arrangement of "I Am A Pilgrim," tries and fails to attain an energetic Waylon-esque stomp.
When they get some help and »»» |
Songs of Inspiration
As one of country's highest-profile success stories, Alabama's not-so-secret weapon has always been Randy Owen's voice. Unimpeachably Southern, but with traceable hints of rock and soul, Owen's pipes reach out over the airwaves with an earnestness that stirs the faithful. In other words, it has all the qualities that would make great gospel music.
This album was Alabama's game to lose, and, they don't. The band has turned in the tour buses, secured their bona fides »»» |
Editorial: Walking the talk –
When names like Hank Williams, Johnny Cash, Waylon and the Hag are invoked, you're talking hard core country. These are the touchstones of country , the guys who made country music what it was and still is (or maybe can be). When these folks would sing about being down-and-out and the rough-and-tumble, they knew of what they were singing about. Fast forward a few years to the country singers of today. »»»
Concert Review: McGraw has plenty of fight left –
Despite the fact that Tim McGraw is five years sober, fit as a triathlete and touring behind a number one album, he is still in an unenviable position. As he approaches 50, McGraw has to stay a step ahead of the current crop of young country hunks with TV shows, cross format radio airplay and wider appeal. But as he proved at First Niagara's... »»»
Concert Review: Steve Earle doesn't rest (on laurels) –
If you didn't realize Steve Earle had a new disc out, "The Low Highway," it would have been no problem realizing that quite and quickly.
That was because Earle started the two-hour show with three straight tracks from "The Low Highway," and he would not be done for the night. The title track of was a midtempo effort... »»»
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