Author Archives: ChuckDauphin
Con Hunley – Wayfarin’ Stranger
There’s little doubt in my mind that when the complete history of Music City is written that the name of Con Hunley will be listed as one of the top vocalists to ever record here. His body of work speaks for itself. Tracks like “Oh Girl” and “No Relief In Sight” are some of the best music to come out of Nashville in the decade of the 1980s. Fortunately, Hunley is still recording, and his new disc is a keeper. His first…
Posted in CD Review, Uncategorized
Tagged cd reviews, christian. gospel, chuck dauphin, con hunley, country music, dan harr, music news nashville, Wayfarin' Stranger
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Michael Juan Nunez and The American Electric – My Little Train Wreck
Hailing from South Louisiana, you can definitely get a feel for where Michael Juan Nunez is coming from in his music. This music sounds like it was meant to be played –loudly on Bourbon Street down in New Orleans. That is very apparent from the stirring blues riffs that this band plays on “Make Up My Mind.” The instrumentation- Nunez on the guitars, Chad Willis on the bass, and Clint Rodwing on the drums – is first rate all over the album, but particularly on this track. They continue that…
Posted in CD Review
Tagged American Electric, americana music association, Blues, chuck dauphin, dan harr, Michael Juan Nunez, music news nashville, My Little Train Wreck
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Rich Siegel – The Way To Peace
If you look at his web site, Rich Siegel’s talents are listed as a Pianist, a Vocalist, A Musical Director, a Composer, and a Lyricist, among others. He is definitely a man of many talents, and handles each in an impeccable manner. But, above all that, Rich Siegel is a man who is trying to make a difference. This package is full of twelve songs that are designed to make the world – and those who inhabit it – a better place. Starting off with the piano jazz of “This Moment,” Siegel impresses from the start with his…
Posted in CD Review
Tagged cd reviews, chuck dauphin, dan harr, music news nashville, rich siegel, The Way To Peace
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Styx – Takin’ It To The Fans
2012 marks four decades since the release of the very first album from Styx, and there is no slowdown in sight. The band still remains a huge crowd favorite on the road, as evidenced by the numbers from their recent tour – along with REO Speedwagon and Ted Nugent. According to member Lawrence Gowan, who has been with the band since 1999, it all makes for a great combination at the stadiums. “We’ve done shows with REO Speedwagon in the past, and that’s a great relationship…
Posted in Interviews
Tagged chuck dauphin, dan harr, music news nashville, rock and roll, styx
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Waco Brothers & Paul Burch – Great Chicago Fire
In the liner notes to this album, “L,” identified as the owner of Bloodshot Records says that the Waco Brothers and Paul Burch should aim to make this record between the “14th and 25th best albums every made.” Well, considering all the records released over the years, that still is quite a lofty goal, but I have a feeling that many of these acts longtime fans might be compelled to put this record in such high regard. I don’t know if they…
Posted in CD Review
Tagged americana music association, cd reviews, chuck dauphin, country music, dan harr, Great Chicago Fire, music news nashville, Paul Burch, Waco Brothers
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THE ALBUM COLLECTION, Live In London, Ricky Skaggs (1985)
I hope that you are enjoying this series of articles about some of the albums that hold a special place in my collection. This one definitely takes me back. In the mid 1980s, there was no Country artist any cooler than Ricky Skaggs. Older fans loved him because he was very respectful of the past, including such classics as “Crying My Heart Out Over You” and “Uncle Pen” as singles. Younger fans – like me, admired him because he made them sound like current songs, inspiring us to go back and seek out…
Posted in Articles
Tagged bluegrass, chuck dauphin, CMA, country music, dan harr, grand ole opry, Live In London, music news nashville, ricky skaggs
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The Strata Tones – Dressed Up To Fess Up
I have gotten to review several great Blues sounding albums as of late, but they usually feature the gravel-voiced male lead singer who waxes about how life was, or should have been. This is not one of those albums. Valerie Johnson is the lead singer of this ensemble, and let me tell you something. She is all that and a bag of chips, as the saying goes. Vocally, she leaves nothing on the floor. She belts it out like few I have heard…
Posted in CD Review
Tagged americana music association, cd reviews, chuck dauphin, dan harr, Dressed Up To Fess Up, music news nashville, The Strata Tones
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The Turnpike Troubadours – Goodbye Normal Street
Oklahoma natives the Turnpike Troubadours blend many different musical sounds and do it well. There’s Country, Rock, Southern Rock, Folk, and even a dash of Bluegrass that comes across in their songs. Listen to the opener, “Gin, Smoke, Lies,” and you will heart the Southern Rock stylings in their music. The Country elements in their sound come to the forefront on tracks such as “Blue Star” and “Call A Spade A Spade,” and they rock the hardest on the exhilarating “Morgan Street.” But, above and beyond…
Posted in CD Review
Tagged americana music association, cd reviews, chuck dauphin, country music, dan harr, Goodbye Normal Street, music news nashville, turnpike troubadours
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Geoff Achison & The Souldiggers – Little Big Men
Australian native Geoff Achison knows how to wail the Blues. On this album, he immediately conjures up a Santana-ish guitar riff on the opening “Crazy Horse,” and casts a BB King meets Bob Seger feel on the riveting “News.” You have to figure that each of those musicians cast an influence on young Achison when he was growing up in Malmsbury. He plays the guitar well, and he also sings with a Blues-tinged style that is a winner, as well. Some of the top cuts on this disc include the groovin’ feel of…
Posted in CD Review
Tagged cd reviews, chuck dauphin, dan harr, Geoff Achison, Little Big Men, music news nashville, Soul Diggers
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The Lacs – 190 Proof
Over the past few years, the worlds of Hip Hop and Country have collided on recordings by acts such as Colt Ford and Jason Aldean’s “Dirt Road Anthem,” which was co-written by Ford and Brantley Gilbert. The Lacs probably take this fusion as far as any act has so far. From Baxley, Ga, the Lacs blend the styles in an energetic manner that will no doubt keep fans entertained – on record and on stage. Cuts like “Old River Road” and “Drinks Up” will be big concert draws for when the Lacs play on the…
Posted in CD Review
Tagged 190 Proof, cd reviews, chuck dauphin, country music, dan harr, music news nashville, the lacs
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The Pa’s Fiddle Project – Pa’s Fiddle: Charles Ingalls, American Fiddler
One of the most revered authors of all time was Laura Ingalls Wilder, who detailed her growing up experiences in a classic series of books that inspired the 1970s TV series “Little House On The Prairie.” One aspect of her growing up experiences that didn’t get as much exposure in television as the books was the musical ability of her father Charles on the fiddle. This disc is an attempt to showcase some of those…
Posted in CD Review
Tagged americana music association, bluegrass, cd reviews, Charles Ingalls, chuck dauphin, dan harr, Fiddle, Laura Ingalls Wilder, music news nashville
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Marty Raybon – Southern Roots & Branches (Yesterday and Today)
Since the group Shenandoah first charted with “Stop The Rain” some twenty-five years ago, Marty Raybon has become one of the most respected male vocalists in Country, Gospel, or Bluegrass music. Ask Rascal Flatts, who just covered the group’s “Next To You, Next To Me” on their CD Changed. Ask Josh Turner, who long has credited Raybon for being one of his influences. The great thing about this disc is that nothing has changed. Marty Raybon still makes singing look as simple as waking…
Posted in CD Review
Tagged americana music association, bluegrass, cd reviews, christian. gospel, chuck dauphin, country music, dan harr, marty raybon, music news nashville, Southern Roots And Branches
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Cory Branan – Mutt
Mississippi born and bred singer / songwriter Cory Branan definitely has a unique sound. There’s some blues, some Texas sounds, and a lot of stylistic influences that come to light when listening to this very diverse collection. Vocally, there’s a rough-hewn Kristofferson-like sound to his voice. Take a listen to a song such as “The Corner” or “There,There, Little Heartbreaker,” and tell me that you don’t hear it. You might be able to spot the musical influences of one Jerry Jeff Walker on “Jericho,” as…
Posted in CD Review
Tagged americana music association, cd reviews, chuck dauphin, Cory Branan, dan harr, music news nashville, Mutt
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THE ALBUM COLLECTION, There’s More Where That Came From, Lee Ann Womack (2005)
I appreciate the comments I have gotten from you regarding this new series I have done spotlighting some of my favorite albums in my collection. There’s something about music and its’ healing power, or at the very least – something about it that leaves a memory with you. This week, I want to turn back the hands of time to a day during the latter part of 2004. One of my best friends had called me one night and said that I needed to take a listen to a new song from Lee Ann Womack. OK, first of all – listening to a…
Posted in Articles
Tagged chuck dauphin, CMA, country music, dan harr, I May Hate Myself In The Morning, lee ann womack, music news nashville, There's More Where That Came From
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Steep Canyon Rangers – Nobody Knows You
It’s been a whirlwind of the past three years for the Steep Canyon Rangers. Having worked with Steve Martin on his CD The Crow, as well as for their collaboration Rare Bird Alert, the band has yielded some major attention from the mainstream musical world. Now, they return with their first project since then, and one thing that is apparent is that their confidence has grown to a level like never before. Taking nothing away from their prior excellent recordings, but one listen to the harmony on cuts like “As I…
Posted in CD Review
Tagged americana music association, bluegrass, cd reviews, chuck dauphin, dan harr, music news nashville, Nobody Knows You, steep canyon rangers
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Red June – Beauty Will Come
Founded in Asheville, NC, the trio of Red June blends Bluegrass and Folk with a dash of Pop sounds, and does it very, very well. Will Straughan, John Cloyd Miller, and Natalya Weinstein possess a airtight harmony that will impress even the toughest critic. Listen to their vocal blend on “I’m Willing To Try,” and you may need to have your jaw surgically removed from the floor – they are that good! You can also say that for the astonishing sounds of “Red Sky Of Morn.” They are also just as good when taking…
Posted in CD Review
Tagged americana music association, Beauty Will Come, bluegrass, cd reviews, chuck dauphin, country music, dan harr, music news nashville, red june
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Sauce Boss – Live At The Green Parrot
This is a novel concept. Bill Wharton, aka “Sauce Boss,” plays great music that has entertained fans at his shows for years, as evidenced by this fun and lively disc. At the end of the show, everyone eats authentic gumbo prepared by – guess who? You got it, the “Sauce Boss.” Now, I haven’t sampled the gumbo, but the music is entirely first rate on this disc. There is a exhilarating vocal approach and confidence that comes across on the first cut, “Killer Tone.” He keeps up the fun sounds on “Smuggler’s…
Posted in CD Review
Tagged americana music association, cd reviews, chuck dauphin, dan harr, music news nashville, Sauce Boss
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Stella Parton – Tell It Sister, Tell It
Stella Parton has enjoyed some major career successes over the years. As a recording artist, she has hit with such classics as “The Danger Of A Stranger” and “Standard Lie Number One.” She also has enjoyed success with acting and writing. It’s the latter that gets the showcase here. While Stella has always been a very impressive vocalist, her work as a tunesmith has never been stronger. This disc, a companion piece to her latest book by the same title, has some of the deepest and most personal…
Posted in CD Review
Tagged americana music association, bluegrass, cd reviews, chuck dauphin, country music, dan harr, music news nashville, Stella Parton, Tell It, Tell It Sister
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HoneyHoney – Billy Jack
The duo of Suzanne Santo and Ben Jaffe definitely has quite a bit of chemistry together. That is apparent from the opening riffs of “Angel Of Death.” For such an ominous sounding song lyrically, the track has a very dream-like arrangement balanced with a Bobbie Gentry-type murkiness. That mysterious sound continues on “Glad I’ve Done What I Did,” which also benefits from some nice steel sounds from Raymond Richards. Along the way, instrumentally, is some fine fiddle work via the hands of Santo. At the…
Posted in CD Review
Tagged americana music association, Billy Jack, cd reviews, chuck dauphin, country music, dan harr, honeyhoney, music news nashville
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