James Stroud to co-produce Clint Black CD
Monday, June 18, 2007 – Clint Black has reunited with producer James Stroud, who is co-producing the next CD with Black. Black and Stroud created some of the artist's biggest hits, including five number one singles from Black's debut album, "Killin' Time."
"Even though it's been years since James and I worked together, we've remained good friends," Black said. "In the studio, his voice has always been in my head when recording. Besides the talent he brings to the studio, James and I have always been a bit of a comedy team. We picked up right where we left off, having all the laughs we can fit in. But James has some serious ears and a musical brain. He just has a way of listening."
Stroud said, "It's so exciting to be working with my dear friend Clint again. We've had lots of success in the past, selling millions of records, and it looks like we're going to pick up where we left off. His artistry and poetry is second to none and I am honored to be working with him again."
The CD will be out in the fall on Black's Equity Records label.
"Last week we released the first single in my career that I didn't have a hand in writing. These things - along with sharing the production duties with James, as well as recording with a great mix of my own band members and some of this town's great session players - have given me an album I wouldn't have been able to dream up on my own. It's been said again and again that Nashville is one of the most creative hotbeds of talent on the planet, but unless you lived and worked in it, you can never know how true that is. I, for one, am grateful for my bird's eye view."
More news for Clint Black
CD reviews for Clint Black
The Long Cool EP
This is a four-song teaser from Clint Black, including a few covers of chestnuts. He countrifies The Hollies' "Long Cool Woman" and maintains a bouncy feel with the vocal chops to pull the classic off. He rocks a bit with a steady drum beat, but with sturdy fiddle playing, the country vibe is apparent. "You Still Get To Me" is another well sung Black duet with wife Lisa Hartman Black. Written by Black with Victoria Shaw, the soulful-oriented song is catchy, but too glossy sounding. »»»
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The Love Songs
Originally, Clint Black may have been truer to his honky tonk roots than anyone in the Class of 1989, but his lengthy career has been highlighted by love songs. That's why it's fitting that Black released a themed, 12-song disc that features some of his best material in that category.
Black, recording on his own label, comes through with a different feel to the songs, one with a bluesy touch. There's more focus on the vocals throughout than there was on the original cuts. »»»
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Drinkin' Songs & Other Logic
Clint Black's latest is like two EPs awkwardly merged. There are six two-steppin', whiskey swillin', hard drinkin' songs, and then there are six others.
The "others" are a sober bunch, treated like they're much weightier songs than they actually are. "Too Much Rock" and "Code of the West" are message songs with no clear message. "Back Home in Heaven" is like corn syrup: sweet, light and lacking in flavor. The rest are even less memorable. The drinking half contains far better fare. »»»
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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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Haywire
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Somewhere in Time
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As He Wanders
Fans of country - and we're using a definition starting just west of real country and stopping a bit south of alt.-country - who aren't sold on Austin's Texas Sapphires four songs in can be suspected of unnecessary stubbornness. Just look what that first third offers. You get both male and female voices: Billy Brent Malkus' is handsome yet tough and wiry enough for a bar fight, and Rebecca Lucille Cannon's is lovely yet, well, tough and wiry enough for a bar fight. »»»
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