“What was the first record you ever bought? As the 7-inch disc celebrates six decades, Jonathan Owen asks 60 celebrities for their musical memories”
Del Shannon: Run Away
“I just liked it. I just really liked it, the whole feel to it. I’m not embarrassed by it. I’ve always been a romantic, despite what some people may think.” Max Clifford, Publicist, read more from The Independent
Alan Jackson: Sissy’s Song (not official video)
“Alan Jackson’s fourth single from his completely self-penned album Good Timeis a real tearjerker.” Country Music Central
“Alan Jackson is blessed with a voice that exudes sincerity. It’s a rare gift in country music, but one that many of country’s greats have shared.” Country Universe
The Band: The Night They Drove Old Dixue Down
“Bob Dylan had come in with his people during the first part of the show and retreated to a dressing room off-limits to everyone else. Halfway through the intermission, about 15 minutes before we were due back onstage with Bob, he decided he didn’t want to be in the film.
I wasn’t that surprised. Howard Alk (a film editor and Dylan sidekick) had been saying all week it wouldn’t work because Bob didn’t want to compete with himself by having The Last Waltz and Renaldo and Clara go head to head. But there was never a decision made until the last minute. This was it, the last minute. Bob’s lawyer came out of Bob’s dressing room with an awful look on his face. Robbie was pale. They said: ‘Bob doesn’t want to be in the movie.’
Scorsese went nuts. Without Bob there would be no movie. More than a million dollars were probably down the drain. Scorsese demanded to know why Bob wouldn’t be filmed.
Robertson said that Bob just wasn’t into it. He felt there was already too much film of him in his present state. There were 10 minutes to go. Albert Grossman was there but couldn’t influence Bob; Bob didn’t want to be influenced. So they asked Bill Graham to intercede. He went in and came out shaking his head. Bob, Bill said, claimed he didn’t even know anything about being in our movie. Never heard of it. Bob didn’t want to be filmed.
They sent Bill back in to explain to Bob how dire the situation was. I think Bill really pleaded with Bob for us, for the sake of the history of it all. He got Bob to the point where any film that might be shot would be scrutinised by Bob before being considered for use. No one could believe this. With about five minutes left, word came down that Bob’s last two songs could be filmed, and only the last two.
Bill Graham saved their asses that night.” The Independent
John Rich: Shutting Down Detroit (Live on K98.5 Real Jersey Kountry www.k985radio.com)
“Indeed, John Rich is Nashville’s leading attention whore, an outspoken redneck populist with an addiction to self-serving publicity stunts such as his tenure as host of the incomprehensibly pointless CMT series “Gone Country.”” Country Music 9513
“He starts off strongly out of the box with his single Shuttin Detroit Down, his ultra-timely condemnation of Wall Street at the expense of Main Street. It’s catchy and gets his message across with a lot of twang.” Country Standard Time
“And for contemporary Nashville, shockingly topical. Mr. Rich, 35, conceived and wrote “Shuttin’ Detroit Down” in late January, in a fit of pique after watching news accounts of the $1.2 million office remodeling by John Thain, the Merrill Lynch chief executive. Within two weeks it had been recorded, mastered and released to country radio stations, as well as added to his new album “Son of a Preacher Man”, which had already been submitted to the label.” New York Times
Keith Urban: Sweet Thing (is the first single from the brand new album “Defying Gravity”)
“What I’ve always wanted is that when people ask ‘What music do you play?’ and I say, ‘Country music,’ they say: ‘Oh, yeah? What kind?’ ” New York Times
“Keith Urban is a freak of nature. A phenomenal writer, master guitar player and engaging vocalist, he may in fact be the perfect recording artist. And he is unquestionably one of the premier talents in music today.” Country Music 9513
Aretha Franklin & Ray Charles: Spirit in the Dark (Live at Filmore West, 1972)
“…Midway through, Franklin gives up her seat at the electric piano to Charles, and notes well into his solo, “it’s funky up in here.” Nearly 40 years later, the performance stands one of the greatest moments in the careers of both artists, if not one of the great live recordings in all of pop music.” New Black Man Celebrating the Queen of Soul’s Birthday by Mark Anthony Neal
Eric Church: Love Your Love the Most
“So what do you get when you combine a couple dozen southern good ole’ boy cliches with a forgettable hook? You get this song.” My Kind of Country
Bob Dylan: Someday Baby (from the album Modern Times)
Naturally 7: Wall of Sounds
“The members of the band Naturally 7 are experts at blowing their own horns — and they do it without a trumpet or trombone in sight. In fact, you won’t see a single instrument when they hit the stage. They are the instruments.” CNN
