| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| Joe Z |
Posted - 05/06/2012 : 16:58:31
SETTING THE STAGE
A new way of communicating - a contagious CB Fever - gripped the country in the seventies. The Citizens Band radio, a short-range, two-way voice communications system around 27 megahertz, initially became a favorite tool for truckers. The general public soon followed, and sales peaked in the mid seventies with about seven million units sold per year. As part of the draw, users adopted monikers, identifying themselves with "handles," thus providing a shield of anonymity and often a bit of harmless fun.
Mick’s handle was “PappyDad... my Grandfather’s name.” From his Springfield home, he reportedly operated an illegal five-kilowatt linear CB transmitter with a 40-foot antenna. Legal power levels ran at four watts, and illegal systems typically utilized as much as 100 watts. Mick’s rumored 5,000-watt rig - way outside the norm - was referred to as freebanding. Thought it is said he “could talk to truck drivers in Canada,” 155.3 miles is the maximum CB distance permitted according to FCC rules. The Commission also makes it clear that music, whistling and sound effects should not be transmitted. Wonder if Newbury complied? As he was spending more time at home, he missed his music friends, and DXing with other operators eased his mind.
Spends all his miles on the dials of a poppin’ C.B.
THE NIGHT YOU WROTE THAT SONG
Mick was frustrated and reaching out helped. His record label had changed considerably over the past six years. Shortly after Mick signed with Elektra, Jac Holzman sold the company for $10 million, though Jac would remain at the helm for three years. With the increased sales brought on by Bread, Harry Chapin and Carly Simon and the label’s affiliation with Atlantic and Warner Brothers, Elektra became more than a support group of artists. It became big business. Jac needed a break by 1973 and went to Hawaii for vacation. David Geffen took over Elektra, merging it with his Asylum label. Geffen remained in control until ‘75, when he left to become vice-chairman of Warner Brothers pictures. Joe Smith assumed power then, and during his reign, Elektra became more of a bottom-line business and less of a support group of artists.
During the year, Mickey worked on a few new songs at Elektra, as his singing voice had returned to top form. Texan singer-songwriter Rock Killough was introduced to that voice one evening. “It was June 26, 1976. Mickey was sitting in the grand salon on Hank Cochran’s yacht and he was singing when I stepped on board. He sang for four hours. I’d never even heard of the smallish man in black with the thoughtful sad songs and the glorious tenor voice. But, we became friends that night and I became an eternal fan.” Mick and the yacht’s owner were also good friends; Hank Cochran was the writer of such standards as I Fall to Pieces and Make the World Go Away. Perhaps that evening they spoke of the current Kristofferson-Streisand movie, “A Star Is Born.”
When Mickey returned home, Susan gave him wonderful news. She was carrying their second child.
In October, Newbury signed with ABC Hickory Records, who paid Elektra $500,000 for his back catalog. As Hickory served as Acuff-Rose’s in-house recording label, the journey though far from complete, had gone full circle. For the first time in a decade, Mick had all eggs in one basket - except for the two inconsequential RCA albums. He liked getting back to basics, explaining, “I fired my manager. Fired my accountants, the whole thing. Started out all over again. I really don’t need a manager.”
Mick and Susan’s first daughter Leah was born during the winter of 1977 in Springfield on February 11. Big brother Chris, then three, was delighted to welcome his new playmate, nicknamed “Annaleah” in reference to Mickey’s song, Weeping Annaleah.
Well, yesterday’s gone forever and ever and never to be again
Oh, you look for the sunshine
That brought warmth to your mind
But find only rain
Sleeping Annaleah
WEEPING ANNALEAH
Oh di lo de lea I am GONE TO ALABAMA
I am gone to Alabama I am gone to Mobile Leah
About the time Leah arrived, Mick was name-checked in Waylon’s number one song, Luckenbach, Texas: "Hank Williams' pain songs and Newbury's train songs...” Meanwhile, the success of “Saturday Night Fever” marked the high point of the disco craze; and yes, Newbury’s work was even covered in the polyester environment. Bill Woody released an LP titled, “Organized Noise” with six Newbury songs interpreted as disco dance tunes.
ALBUM # 9
Rusty Tracks (ABC Hickory AH-44002) contains the following songs:
(Side 1)
Leavin’ Kentucky
Makes Me Wonder If I Ever Said Goodbye
Bless Us All
Hand Me Another Of Those
People Are Talking
(Side 2)
Tell Him Boys
Shenandoah
The Lucky Old Sun (Just Rolls Around Heaven All Day)
Danny Boy
In The Pines.
Side one of “Rusty Tracks” was recorded mostly at Elektra under the production of Mick’s good buddy, Bobby Bare. Because Elektra had no intention of promoting the LP, Mick arranged for ABC Hickory to acquire the masters as part of the back catalog. Mick went straight to work at Hickory on the rest of the album with staff producer Ronnie Gant. Released in January 1977, it consists of original material and original treatment of old standards.
Mick and the “Rusty Tracks” producers assembled a legion of Nashville’s best musicians, including Norbert Putnam, Buddy Emmons and Buddy Spicher. Strings were beautifully arranged by Alan Moore; backing vocals were aided by Larry Gatlin and Janie Fricke. And Newbury’s singing is just mesmerizing.
The songs carried on with perceptive lyrics, masterly delivered in memorable melodies. Makes Me Wonder If I Ever Said Goodbye and Leavin’ Kentucky are notable examples.
God I’m just one man
I wish I was three
Take a forty-four pistol to me
Put one in my brain for her memory
One more for my heart
And then I’d be free
LEAVIN’ KENTUCKY
Traditional ballads - produced by Gant - such as Shenandoah, Danny Boy and That Lucky Old Sun were performed with such emotive phrasing and powerful singing that Mick accomplished what an artist strives for in the cover of a standard: he made the songs his own.
Reviews of the new songs were favorable such as The Pedal Steel Guitarist, who wrote, “Trying to pick a favorite song from this album, would be like trying to choose a favorite child. I love them all but, each for a different reason. To comment on Mickey’s singing on each song is not necessary. He sings as usual - GREAT! Mickey is not only a great songwriter, but, he is also a powerful singer.” TPSG also wrote, “Bless Us All gives another insight into the compassion Mickey has for people.” And reviewing the album, writer Russell Shaw’s commented, “When any songwriter is asked who their favorite composer is, the name Mickey Newbury comes to mind.”
Johnny Rodriguez, of Mexican-Irish decent, scored a number two country hit with the album’s Makes Me Wonder If I Ever Said Goodbye, titling it, I Wonder If I Ever Said Goodbye. Born in Sabinal, Texas, Rodriguez became country music’s first Hispanic singing star, popularizing the Mex-Tex style two years before Freddy Fender’s initial success. Texas Ranger Joaquin Jackson discovered Rodriguez in 1970, while Rodriguez was singing in jail for pilfering and barbecuing a goat! Rodriguez does a fine job with Mick’s music and covered five more Newbury songs: Hand Me Another, Poison Red Berries, If You See Her, Love Look At Us Now and Leave Me Tomorrow But Love Me Tonight.
Newbury friend Keith Bowman mentioned how he played his first Newbury album ‘till “you could drive a freight train around the grooves.” The cover of “Rusty Tracks” illustrates the notion colorfully, with a red locomotive doing double duty as a record player tonearm. The slick art deco image could be captioned with a classic Newburyism: “Sometimes I wonder if I’m writin’ the song or if the song is writin’ me.”
Drawn from "C&S" (updated) and "Mickey Newbury Songs Covered"
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| 3 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| San Diego |
Posted - 05/07/2012 : 18:27:35
Thanks, Joe. |
| larry larry |
Posted - 05/07/2012 : 08:03:42
quote:
Originally posted by Bill Smith
Last time I talked to Keith, he told me he still stalks this place. CALL ME KEITH!!!!
Ok, from here on, we will call you Keith. No big deal.
LL |
| Bill Smith |
Posted - 05/06/2012 : 18:31:43
Last time I talked to Keith, he told me he still stalks this place. CALL ME KEITH!!!! |
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