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Home , Allison Moorer, Dollywood, Hungry Again, Kenny Greenberg

TALENT extra- EDITED BY CHAS DE WHALLEY

I I Dolly ARIONr COUNTRY

It's more than 10 years since last visited the UK to promote an . But if the impressive list of TV appearances, radio and press interviews already scheduled to mark her return is anything to go by, then it is clear that the woman with the most famous physique in has lost none of her international appeal. Indeed, for many she has inherited the First Lady of Country Music title left vacant by the tragic death of Tammy TO FOLLOW... Wynette earlier this year. DIXIE CHICKS: Wide Open Spaces (Epic After more than 20 years of hit -making, 4898422). Sept 14. The combination of including the UK Top 10 entries Jolene and spectacular US success in 1998 for these Islands In The Stream with , major label debutantes plus nominations Parton developed a lucrative film career, and a performance slot on this year's CMA starring in movies such as , Best Little Awards show has finally led to a rush - Whorehouse In Texas and Steel Magnolias. release in the UK. The past few years have seen Parton : Teatro (Island 524 548-2). concentrating on her business Out Now. This may not empire and a less successful foray into network television production. Now she returns to the market she knows best with an album, , which and still hungry to write songs for myself as Café, while appearances on TFI Friday harks back to her dirt -poor well as for others." (September 18), Des O'Connor, The National mountain background, and fuses the stone Recorded in the basement studio Lottery Show (September 19) and a South country and white gospel styles which have belonging to her guitarist, cousin and co- Bank Show special recorded in Dollywood and always informed her best recordings. Parton producer Richie Owens, Hungry Again brings London (to be screen in November) should also proves she is serious about re- the singer back up to date with a distinctive provide a potent platform for Parton's charms. establishing her reputation by writing every blend of Nineties hot country rock licks, Ian Nlcolson song on the album. honky-tonking rhythms and aching gospel. "My songs are the door to every dream But overriding the modern settings are Parton's Act: Dolly Parton Album: Hungry Again Cat I've ever had and every success I've ever trademark vibrato, her Tennessee twang and number: MCA Nashville UMD 80522 achieved," says Parton. effortless hook -filled choruses. Publisher: Velvet Apple Music Producers: "My first love is still my music: I'm still The album was launched at a London press Dolly Parton/Richie Owens Studio: Train hungry for hit records, still hungry to sing conference on September 17 at the Hard Rock Traxx Released: September 21 MI

AOlson Moorer is the only new it was just a matter of time before THE BEST OF artist on the film soundtrack the unnamed singer, who had to Robert Redford's movie spent five years of scuffling and The Horse Whisperer. But it's demo singing, found herself REBA McENTIRE a tribute to her talent that with a record contract, with she is not overshadowed MCA Nashville, a by those big names such management deal with as Emmylou Harris, Nashville heavyweight TK George Strait, Lucinda Kimbrell (who represents Williams, Dwight , Sawyer Brown Yoakam, and and Chris LeDoux) and a . cameo role performing Not only does Moorer her debut single A Soft sound perfectly at home Place To Fall in The alongside these more - Horse Whisperer. established stars, but What attracted Redford to the story of how she got Moorer was not just her the chance to sing voice, which sounds like kd alongside them is almost ang, Bonnie Raitt and the stuff of Nashville all wrapped legend. up in one, but her songs, In early 1997, after shocking which are immediately the literary world by spending a reminiscent in style of Emmylou six -figure sum on the film rights to Harris trading melodies and bons The Horse Whisperer before the novel mots with Jesse Winchester. Moorer is was even completed, Redford set about signed to Windswept for the world. looking for new "western -style" songs to put "She's a tremendous writer with a into the film. As some scenes would include tremendous voice," says Windswept UK live performances by the artists themselves, creative manager Nick Bathe. "We always every publisher and label boss in the US aim to sign quality, not quantity and Moorer was interested. fits that bill perfectly." MCA Nashville president Tony Brown duly Moorer came to the UK and Ireland on a sent a cassette of Joe Ely material to flying visit at the end of August to promote Redford's Wildwood Enterprises and, on the both The Horse Whisperer itself (which off chance, tacked a track by a background premiered on August 31) and the release of singer he was "kind of thinking about her single and album Alabama Song. Now 20 TRACKS THAT HAVE MADE REBA signing" on the end. Universal's UK company is negotiating with ONE OF THE WORLD'S MOST SUCCESSFUL At the same time, on the other side of the Kimbrell to bring her back with a full band US, Debby Dill and Jonathan Stone of before the end of the year. Ian Nicolson FEMALE SINGING STARS publisher Windswept Pacific's LA office sent INCLUDES: "WHOEVER'S IN NEW ENGLAND" a tape of a newly -signed writing partnership Act: Allison Moorer Album: Alabama Song "SHE THINKS HIS NAME WAS JOHN" (Moorer and husband/co-writer Butch Primm) Cat Number: MCA Nashville UMD 80524 to the Wildwood offices. Within days, Publisher: Windswept Pacific Producer: "I'D RATHER RIDE AROUND WITH YOU" IF" UMC/UMD AND THE CURRENT AMERICAN HIT "FOREVER LOVE'UNIVERSAL Redford was back on the phone asking Studio: Javelina, Nashville about "the girl on the end" and from then on Released: September 21 26 MUSIC WEEK 26 SEPTEMBER 1998