"Strength of a Woman" from His Newly Released Album

42 R &R December 1, 1995 NASHVILLE THIS WEEK

New Year Comin', New Acts Hummin'

Labels prepare to release debut singles and albums in first quarter of `96

Nashville's music machine temporarily shifts into a lower self-titled debut album follows in gear during the holiday season, but rest assured the labels are March. Led by Danny Frazier, the working to launch a series of new acts once the new year begins. six -piece band is continuing a six - week radio tour. Some of the acts set to release Magnatone: Rich Mc- debut albums have already been in- COUNTRY Cready's "Hangin' On" - the sin- troduced to radio via singles and sta- gle - comes out in early January. tion visits. Here's a quick rundown FLASHBACK "Hangin' On" - the album - is of what you can expect during the due February 20. A native of Sene- first quarter of '96: ca, MO, McCready moved to Nash- Asylum: Curtis Day - who 1 YEAR AGO ville in 1992 to pursue a songwrit- emerged this month with his first ing career. He landed a job tending No .1: "When Love Finds single, "My Baby's Cookin "' will horses on Magnatone President FRIENDLY NEIGHBORHOOD MARTY-MAN -In Nashville, Superhe- - You" - Vince Gill see his self-titled debut album re- Brent Maher's farm. Neither Ma- ro Spiderman welcomed MCA artist Marty Stuart and his loyal sidekick leased January 30. her nor McCready was aware of the Oscar Lee to the ranks of comic book legends with the release of "Mar- 5 YEARS AGO vel's Marty Party In Space." `This is a great day forAmerica and country Asylum has also scheduled a first - other's non -equestrian interests. music," gushed Stuart. quarter release for Mandy Barnett's No. 1: "I've Come To Expect Maher later signed him to a pub- album. Barnett achieved a high pro- It From You" - George Strait lishing deal and, subsequently, the file in Nashville for her portrayal of record contract. release April 1. In addition to his Members of the current tour en- Patsy Cline in the stage production 10 YEARS AGO MCA/Nashville: Bobbie Cry- songwriting, Luna is known for an tourage Brooks & Dunn, Faith "Always, Patsy. "The choice fora fast ner's first MCA album, "Girl Of - impressive vocal range. Hill, and Wade Hayes were re- single is still in the planning stage. No. 1: "Morning Desire" - Your Dreams," will be released Jan- - Kenny Rogers Reprise: Cooter Brown's de- cently stranded on their respective Atlantic: The Hutchens (second week) uary 2. The album's first single, "I - but single, "Pure Bred Redneck," tour buses when a snowstorm unex- whose debut single, "Knock Just Can't Stand To Be Unhappy," 15 YEARS AGO has already made R &R's New & pectedly hit in Canada. Apparently, Knock," came out this summer was released inAugust. Another sin- - Active list. No date has been set for the tension later gave way to some are awaiting the February release of gle will be on its way in early '96. No.1: "Smokey Mountain Rain" an album release. innovative practical jokes. Here's their first album. MCG/Curb: The Smokin'Ar- - Ronnie Milsap (third week) RCA: Austin native Keith what happened: BNA: Florida native Mindy madillos' major -label debut sin- Gattis claims to have played at "ev- Hill took the first shot by fill- McCready's first single, "10,000 20 YEARS AGO gle, "Let Your Heart Lead Your ery dive in Nashville" before land- ing Hayes's bottle of mineral water Angels," is due in late January, with Mind," has just been released. The ing his record deal. Norro Wilson with salt water at one of the con- an as-yet -untitled album scheduled No. 1: "Secret Love" - band's debut album will be released produced the album, scheduled for certs. Between songs, Hayes took forApril release. The album was co- Freddy Fender (second week) in early spring. The young Califor- May release. The label is still mull- a big gulp and abruptly ran off- produced by Norro Wilson and nia band already had a strong region- - ing the choices for the first single, stage to recover. David Malloy. al following in the Southwest before due in February. Wanting to get back at her for the Columbia: Vocal group Rico- "All In Good Time." Hummon's signing to MCG/Curb. Warner Bros.: The label will be joke she played on Hayes, Brooks & chet are beginning to make waves songwriting credits include Ala- Mercury: VP /A &R Keith Ste- introducing Paul Brandt, a 22 -year- Dunn sent a member of their road with the debut single, "What Do I bama's "Cheap Seats." gall returns as an artist with the ear- old Canadian who got his record deal crew to a bait store but they didn't Know:' The Nashville -based Curb: New England native Jo ly January release of "1969," his - after the label's Toronto office for- go fishing. Instead, Hill discovered group's members are from Texas, Dee Messina's as- yet -untitled al- first single for the label. Stegall re- warded a tape to Nashville. Brandt's eels between her sheets when it came Oklahoma, Tennessee, and New bum and a debut single, "Heads corded for Capitol and Epic dur- album is complete, but no release date time to retire for the night. York. A self-titled debut album will Carolina, Tails California," are on ing the '80s. He also has a stellar has been finalized. On the trip home, Hill managed be released early next year. the first-quarter release schedule. reputation as a songwriter and Other labels including Giant, to get customs officials involved in Also early next year, Columbia Decca: Frazier River's first record producer. - Arista, Epic, and Capitol have the ongoing joke. At the border, will release the first single from single, "She Got What She De- Polydor: Singer- songwriter - scheduled album releases by estab- Brooks & Dunn were told that some Marcus Hummon's debut album, served," arrives in mid- January. A Mark Luna's debut single is set for lished acts, but have no immediate of Hill's jewelry was missing - and plans to introduce new acts during they would have to consent to a strip - the first quarter. Among Nashville's search before being allowed to re- new labels, Almo Sounds will re- turn to the U.S. lease its first single - by Paul Jef- Fortunately, Kix and Ronnie ferson - in May. were able to get through the ordeal Byrd Flies With Tour fully clothed. Tracy Byrd continues to travel Yoakam Benefits L.A. in heavy musical company. After Dwight Yoakam is slated to play touring this year with Reba McEn- a December 19 show at L.A.'s Vi- tire, Byrd spends the first months per Room to raise money for two of '96 with Brooks & Dunn. Dav- charities. It's his first live perfor- id Lee Murphy is in the opening mance since the release of his latest slot on the tour, which begins Jan- Reprise album, "Gone." All pro- uary 26 in Memphis and continues ceeds go to the LosAngeles Mission through June. and the Los Angeles Firemen's Re- lief Organization's fund for widows, B &D Frolics SMOKIN'! - In Los Angeles, MCA/Nashville recently hosted a martini- and -cigar party for the Mavericks to cele- orphans, and disabled firemen. Tick- brate the vinyl release of their latest work, "Music ForAll Occasions. " Smoking out are (I-r) MCA/Nashville's Steven Actually, Byrd might want to ets are $200 for reserved seats and McCord, band members Raul Malo and Robert Reynolds, Uni Distribution President John Bums, MCA/Nashville think twice before hitting the road $100 for general admission. VP/Sales & Marketing Dave Weigand, band member Paul Deakin, and manager Frank Callan. with Kix Brooks and Ronnie Dunn. - Calvin Gilbert PHILIP CLAYPOOL "Strength Of A Woman" From his newly released album. OGI S?OMG3 EE sooG7A CURB