Still Country' on Audium Debut First Recording After Husband's Death Includes Tributes to Spouse
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ARTISTS & MUSIC Lynn's `Still Country' On Audium Debut First Recording After Husband's Death Includes Tributes To Spouse BY DEBORAH EVANS PRICE song was written by Larry Shell, Artists, will be touring this fall, and NASHVILLE -It's been more than Betty Key, and Larry Cordle. Hunter says she's agreed to appear at a decade since Loretta Lynn recorded "One of the boys that wrote the numerous in -store events at retail. He her last solo album, for MCA. Now song came down here and watched also says she wants to visit radio sta- after one of the most difficult periods every show I [had] ever done on my tions just as she and Mooney did in the of her life, the legendary coal miner's ranch," she says of Shell. "Every thing beginning of her career. She's warned daughter has returned, and as the I said onstage is what he put in that that her bus might pull up at midnight title of her Audium Records debut record. I said, `You wrote my show at an unsuspecting station with a pot proclaims, she's "Still Country" didn't you ?' He said, `I sure did.' " of coffee. Not A Bit Lonely. Andy Griggs looked anything but lonely during a recent As she celebrates her 40th year in "We're getting a tremendous Lynn will also be making the rounds recording session where some of Nashville's top musicians joined him to work country music, Lynn is gearing up for response on it," WSM -AM says of the media circuit with appearances on the follow -up to his gold -selling debut disc, You Won't Ever Be Lonely." a new chapter. In addition to the new Nashville PD John Malone of sin- the on "Late Show With David Letter- Griggs and producer David Malloy have been working on his sophomore album, she's preparing a museum to gle. "It's a great record from the per- man," "The Rosie O'Donnell Show," album at Starstruck Studios. Pictured, from left, are engineer Derek Bason, open next spring formance all the way to the production. and others, as well as performing on Malloy, drummer Kenny Aronoff, Griggs, bassist Michael Rhodes, guitarist near her home in Our audience is absolutely responding the Grand Ole Opry's 75th anniversary Kenny Vaughn, and guitarist David Grissom. Hurricane Mills, to it. It's just Loretta. She's so confi- show. Tenn., and is also dent, so sassy, and so energetic. It's finishing a book great to hear her again." about her life. To commemorate her 40th an- All this activity niversary, Audium has released the Chìcks Show Why they Rule the Roast follows some devas- original recording of her first single, tating times. "I've "Honky Tonk Girl," on the same disc had lots of prob- LYNN as the single. The label is also issuing lems, so we didn't a video for "Country In My Genes" Hall Of Fame, Satellite Broadcaster Linty Up get around to [recording]," says Lynn featuring Lynn and special guests ANYBODY WHO thinks the country music industry include "The Country Music Hall Of Fame Houe;" featur- of her self-imposed hiatus. "I stayed Reba McEntire, Martina McBride, may never recover from its current downswing needs ing hourlong profiles of country music legends with rare, with my husband for so long while he Chely Wright, Brad Paisley, and John to catch Dixie Chicks on their current Fly tour. Now archival recordings; "Today In Country Music History" was sick. I didn't leave until he had Anderson, as well as Scruggs and his clearly superstars, and obviously comfortable in that which will also tap the museum's archives; and "Rarkstage passed away." legendary father, Earl, who plays on role, Natalie Maims, Emily Robison, and Martie Sei- At The Country Music Hall Of Fame," featuring new live After 48 years together, Lynn's the album. del commanded the stage at the Target Center in Min- performances and rebroadcasts of classic concerts. husband, Mooney Lynn, died in 1996 Lynn is not worried about making neapolis recently and gave country fans a good dose of In other news, the Country Music Assn. has announced at the couple's home. Lynn went to her comeback in the midst of coun- what they really crave from the format -entertainment. that next year's Fan Fair will be held June 14 -17 in down- Nashville to get away. "You lose your try's current pop climate. "When I With stellar musicianship, a winning mix of hits and town Nashville. The main stage shows will take place at mind," she says of the grief. "I looked come to Nashville, everybody was humor, and a few great surprises, the Chicks put on a Adelphia Coliseum, and the exhibits and autograph booths at a friend and said, `Have I been here going pop when I come in with `Honky hell of a show. But the best surprise of all was the crowd, will be in the Nashville Convention Center. Riverfront a couple nights or so ?' And she said, Tonk Girl,'" she recalls. "Jim Reeves consisting largely of teen girls, a demo largely assumed Park is being considered for additional Fan Fair shows. `You've been here a year." was pop. Marty Robbins had `A White to be uninterested in today's country music. The teens The Tennessee State Fairgrounds had been home to Fan Eventually Lynn began writing Sport Coat And A Pink Carnation.' showed their enthusiasm for the group by emulating Fair for the past 19 years. songs again and went in the studio Patsy [Cline] was pop. their trendy fashions. Nashville's Bluebird with longtime friend Randy Scruggs, "Everybody was going pop, and I Feather boas and gold Cafe is raising money for who produced the album. The result walked in with a little swinging coun- glitter were everywhere. the Alcohol and Drug is "Still Country" the first solo album try song that they didn't use drums Many had scrawled Council of Middle Ten- Lynn has recorded since 1988's "Who on, and doggone if I didn't get in the "Chicks rule" in lipstick Nashville nessee by selling col- Was That Stranger ?" (She recorded door. I couldn't believe it . .. Now I'm down their arms. One lectible items on eBay. "Honky Tonk Angels" with Dolly Par- coming back into it. I once told Ernest group even showed up in Auction items from ton and Tammy Wynette in 1993.) Tubb, I was just going to sit here and chicken -shaped hats. Garth Brooks and The opening cut, "On My Own wait until [the format] comes around Opener Ricky Skaggs, Scene Trisha Yearwood are Again," was penned by Scruggs. "It and meets me again." unlikely to be a well - among those available. is so sad," says Lynn. "I listened to Audium Records president Nick known name in this crowd, that song, and I knew he wrote it for Hunter anticipates Lynn's album was nonetheless met with SIGNINGS: Nancy me. I cried." reaching the gold status (500,000 units) enthusiasm, particularly by Phyllis Stark Russell's Nashville - Lynn wrote two songs on the that George Jones achieved with his when he returned to the based company FORCE record, "God's Country" and "I Can't current Asylum album. "Our biggest stage to play a bluegrass stomp with the Chicks. has signed Alan Jackson to a co-management deal with Hear The Music" (co- written with marketing plan is to get Loretta her- While Dixie Chicks clearly appeal to a fan base much Los Angeles -based Howard Kaufman's HK Manage- Cody James and Kendal Franceschi). self to as many people [as possible] and larger than the country core, an astonishing number of ment. FORCE also manages Trisha Yearwood. Its pub- The latter cut is a vulnerable ballad let them see what this is all about, and attendees demonstrated -through signs, T- shirts, and licity arm already had Jackson as a client. Kaufman also about losing her husband. "I never then I don't worry about any of the rest body paint-that they are as much fans of Minneapolis' manages Aerosmith, Jimmy Buffett, Lenny Kravitz, could get through it without crying, of it," he says. "The music is fine, and country KEEY (K102) as they are of the band. The sta- Chris Isaak, and Stevie Nicks. Jackson split with for- so they had to leave part of that on when they see her, they are going to tion, meanwhile, earned that loyalty with a high -profile mer manager Chip Peay this year. there with me crying," she says. want the music ... Randy and Loretta presence both inside and outside the venue and a slew HighTone Records has signed San Jose, Calif. -based "I went into the chorus and com- have made a great record." of creative contests centered around the tour. honky -tonk singer/songwriter Dallas Wayne to its inde- pletely broke down," she continues. Hunter says the label will likely With an act drawing that many young and passionate pendently distributed HMG imprint. His label debut, "Randy brought me into the control release "I Can't Hear The Music" as fans to country, can the format's turnaround be far behind? "Big Thinkin'," is due Sept. 12. The album was produced room and said, `Think about something the next single. "That, to me, is the hit by Robbie Fulks. Booked by St. Paul, Minn. -based that's happy. Think about something record on the album," he says, "but HALL GOES HIGH -TECH: XM Satellite Radio and Hello Booking, Wayne will begin touring in September.