Nashville keeps in tune with new teen spirit
Brian Mansfield
* 01/22/99
USA Today
(Copyright 1999)
With country's twin behemoths, Garth Brooks and Shania Twain,
continuing to dominate retail counters, sales of early 1999's new
country albums may be mired in relatively sluggish straits.
Except for George Strait's, that is. His Always Never the Same,
due March 2, looks to be the hottest release in the first part of
the year. He'll support it with his second stadium tour, following
last year's $33-million-grossing, 18-date expedition. This year's
package also features Tim McGraw, whose May release, A Place in the
Sun, figures to be the other superstar attraction in stores..
Though LeAnn Rimes' Sittin' on Top of the World sold more than 1
million copies last year, it seriously underperformed compared with
her first three albums. By year's end, she'll have serious
competition in the teen department.
Jessica Andrews, a 14-year-old from near Paris, Tenn., who made
her recording debut on The Prince of Egypt's Nashville soundtrack,
releases her first album, Heart Shaped World, on March 23. Andrews'
voice possesses every bit of the self-confidence Rimes' has, and she
may have better song instincts: The album contains tunes not only by
top Nashville writers, but Shania Twain's producer/husband Robert
John "Mutt" Lange and Tom Petty keyboardist Benmont Tench are on
board, too.
Sixteen-year-old Lila McCann releases her second album, Something
in the Air, the same day as Andrews' debut. Alecia Elliott, a
teen-ager from Alabama's Muscle Shoals region who blew away an
industry crowd with a version of Brandy's Have You Ever? at a recent
Diane Warren benefit concert, will make her debut on MCA later this
year.
For Rimes' part, she's recording a pop-oriented album as well as
a collection of country classics, in hopes of wooing back some of
the older fans she lost with Sittin' on Top of the World. The first
of those, probably the country album, could come out in late spring
or early summer. She's also hinted that gospel and Christmas albums
might be in the works.
For country to improve on last year's modest sales increases
(almost completely attributable to Brooks and Twain), this year's
crop of young talent will have to outperform last year's, which saw
only the Dixie Chicks and the Wilkinsons, a Canadian family trio,
stand out. In addition to Andrews and Elliott, other hot prospects
include a pair of Southern-rock-influenced honky-tonkers called
Montgomery Gentry, one of whom is John Michael Montgomery's brother,
and Susan Ashton, a singer with an established following in the
contemporary Christian market whose first country single, the Diane
Warren-penned Faith of the Heart, comes out next week, with an album
following in April.
Following are country's leading winter/spring prospects, listed
chronologically under their headings. Listings of artist names only
indicate an as-yet-untitled, tentative release. Release dates
subject to change.
STADIUM STARS
George Strait, Always Never the Same. The 23rd album from
country's most consistent hitmaker of the past two decades. March
2.
Tim McGraw, A Place in the Sun. Low-key superstar's fifth release
* follows the path of his Everywhere, the Country Music Association's
1998 Album of the Year. May 4.
NEWCOMERS
Claudia Church, Claudia Church. Contemporary country from a
former model who's also married to producer Rodney Crowell. March
9.
Monte Warden, A Stranger to Me Now. Major-label debut from
sweet-voiced Texas singer-songwriter whose tunes often are compared
to Buddy Holly's. March 9.
Jessica Andrews, Heart Shaped World. Catchy, teen-oriented
country, produced by Tim McGraw/Jo Dee Messina producer Byron
Gallimore. March 23.
Andy Griggs, You Won't Ever Be Lonely. Lousiana
singer-songwriter with pop-rock influence. April 13.
Susan Ashton. Veteran contemporary Christian star ventures into
the country mainstream. April.
SHeDAISY. Sister trio needs to distinguish itself from the Dixie
Chicks to break through. May.
ESTABLISHED ACTS
Sawyer Brown, Drive Me Wild. Road-tested band returns with more
songs about love and small-town life. Feb. 2
Mark Chesnutt, I Don't Want to Miss a Thing. This honky-tonker's
cover of the Aerosmith-originated title cut sets the album up to be
one of his most successful. Feb. 9.
Tracy Byrd, Keepers (Greatest Hits). Eleven smoothly sung hits,
ranging from the silly (Watermelon Crawl) to the sublime (Heaven in
My Woman's Eyes). Feb. 23.
Kenny Chesney, Everywhere We Go. Potential breakthrough album
has the East Tennessee singer's finest moment: Baptism, a stunning
duet with Randy Travis. March 2.
Patty Loveless, Classics. Loveless' second collection of
singles, with two new recordings. March 16.
Sammy Kershaw. Sixth album (aside from hits and Christmas
packages) from consistent Louisiana hitmaker. April.
Lorrie Morgan. Follow-up to standards album returns versatile
singer to country mainstream. April.
Rick Trevino, Changing in Your Eyes. The bilingual recording
Texas singer looks to recapture the success of his early records.
April.
Joe Diffie. Also following a hits collection, this seasoned star
of the '90s seeks millennial success. May.
ON THE RISE
Lila McCann, Something in the Air. Sixteen-year-old's follow-up
to her 1996 gold debut. March 23.
Ricochet, What a Ride. Third album by radio-favorite band hoping
to reach the next level. March.
Jon Randall, Cold Coffee Morning. Former Emmylou Harris
guitarist and husband of Lorrie Morgan makes his second stab at
stardom. April 27.
Mandy Barnett, I've Got a Right to Cry. Sophomore album from
much-touted singer features legendary country producer Owen
Bradley's last sessions. April.
Lisa Brokop, When You Get to Be You. Canadian singer switches
labels hoping for a career-momentum jolt. April.
Kinleys. Twin-sister act's second album seeks to capitalize on
building tide of acceptance. April.
Lonestar. Third album from clever, highly successful band
aspiring to Alabama territory. April.
Michael Peterson. 1997 breakthrough artist returns with album No.
2. May.
Sons Of The Desert. Somewhat belated follow-up to a moderately
successful mid-1997 debut for this Texas band. May.
Chely Wright, Single White Female. Nashville favorite scored
some hits in 1997 after a few unsuccessful tries; this is a crucial
follow-up. May.
VETERANS
Trio, Trio 2. Five-year-old recordings from Linda Ronstadt, Dolly
Parton and Emmylou Harris finally see the light of day. Feb. 9.
David Ball. First album in three years from a vet best known for
his 1994 smash Thinkin' Problem. May.
George Jones. Country's most-revered singer makes his debut on
Asylum, hoping to catch white lightning in a bottle one more time.
May.
Marty Stuart. Highly respected artist/historian/preservationist
is a long time away from his radio heyday and could be consigned to
the fringes. May.
SLEEPERSKelly Willis, What I Deserve. Sultry Austin, Texas,
roots goddess returns with her first album in six years. Feb. 23.
David Allan Coe, Recommended for Airplay. The baddest of
country's outlaws makes his first new studio recording in ages.
March 30.
* BLUEGRASS
* Ricky Skaggs, Ancient Tones. Veteran bluegrass/country performer
summons the ghosts of Bill Monroe and Carter Stanley. Tuesday.
Del McCoury Band, The Family. High, lonesome sounds from
* arguably the greatest band in contemporary bluegrass. Feb. 9.
* Steve Earle and the Del McCoury Band, The Mountain. Teaming
* these phenomenal talents for a bluegrass album makes for an American
dream come true. Feb. 23.
