McGraw, Hayes top charts
Thursday, February 14, 2013 – Tim McGraw debuted as the second best selling CD in the U.S. for the week ending Feb. 23 with "Two Lanes of Freedom." Hunter Hayes was first with Wanted on the Hot Country Songs chart.
Hayes displaced The Band Perry's Better Dig Two, which slipped to second. McGraw was third with One of Those Nights, up four. Blake Shelton remained fourth with his new single Sure Be Cool If You Did. Former number one, Every Storm (Runs Out of Rain), by Gary Allan was fifth.
The biggest mover by far was Lady Antebellum's brand new single, Downtown, which skyrocketed from 34 to 6. McGraw's single with Taylor Swift, Highway Don't Care debuted at 13. Another big mover was Kenny Chesney, whose Pirate Flag jumped from 35 to 20.
On the Top Country Albums chart, Swift's "Red" stayed second." Last week's number one, "Set You Free" by Allan fell to third. Florida Georgia Line was fourth with "Here's to the Good Times." Hayes was fifth with his self-titled debut.
Holly Williams debuted at 18 with "The Highway," her first disc on her own label. The compilation disc "NOW That's What I Call Country: Volume 5" went from 36 to 19. Lady Antebellum jumped from 33 to 25 with "Own the Night." Dierks Bentley moved up 3 to 29 with "Home." Colt Ford stood at 31, up 4, with "Declaration of Independence." Jamey Johnson's "Living For A Song: A Tribute to Hank Cochran" went from 38 to 32. Lionel Richie was at 36 with "Tuskegee," up 5.
On the bluegrass chart, The SteelDrivers debuted in first with "Hammer Down," with last week's chart topper, Russell Moore & IIIrd Tyme Out's "Timeless Hits From the Past: Bluegrassed," falling to second. Old Crow Medicine Show was third with "Carry Me Back." "The Goat Rodeo Sessions" by Yo-Yo Ma/Stuart Duncan/Edgar Meyer/Chris Thile was fourth with "Who's Feeling Young Now?" by Punch Brothers fifth.
On the overall top 200, McGraw was second to Josh Groban's "All That Echoes." Swift was 12th, Allan 16th, Florida Georgia Line 21st and Hayes 27th.
More news for Tim McGraw
CD reviews for Tim McGraw
Two Lanes of Freedom
Tim McGraw's debut on Big Machine, "Two Lanes Of Freedom" is his first record since the announcement that he gave up alcohol five years ago and the first since his acrimonious, litigious split from the only label he had ever known, Curb. The new CD literally and symbolically represents a fresh start. If only the material better reflected his new take on life. What is presented here is about as boiler plate as contemporary country gets. The album is a safe play and takes almost no chances. »»» |
Emotional Traffic
Tim McGraw is the ultimate country music Zelig. Match him with a great lyric, and he's like the voice of a prophet. But put him with fluff, and he's no better than a news reader anchorman on a slow news day. McGraw is at his best on Better Than I Used To Be, a song as spiritual as you want it to be. It could easily be applied to the New Testament exhortation to "work out your own salvation with fear and trembling." It can also be taken as a self-help summation. »»» |
Christmas All Over the World (single)
Tim McGraw brings an international flavor, at least lyrically, to his new holiday single, Christmas All Over the World When the bells start ringing, it suggests, "no matter where you are, it's going to warm your heart," according to McGraw. With its lyric, McGraw names numerous countries and cultures and says a little bit about how each celebrates the season.
Sonically, the song features a big twang-y guitar part, which gives it a kind of wild-west-meets-U2 feel. »»» |
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: Size doesn't matter to Winslow-King –
Luke Winslow-King may have a fine new CD out ("The Coming Tide") on a long respected indie country/roots label (Bloodshot), but that didn't mean the throngs were going to fill the club. In fact, in a second night of shows in the Boston area, Winslow-King drew a handful of people. Well, make that literally two handfuls of people.
As in 10 people.... »»»
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... »»»
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