Video Wednesday (A Day Late)

Ok, since we're a day late we're going to present two amazing singers and a great song.  Peter Wolf and Shelby Lynne singing "Tragedy."

Simply Six: Janine Wilson

Janine Wilson is an artist from Washington D.C.

1. For many artists, they cite a defining moment for themselves when they knew they wanted to be a singer.  For many it was the appearance of Elvis on the Ed Sullivan show, to another generation it was theBeatles’ appearance on Sullivan half a decade later.  Is there such a defining moment for you?

I don’t remember one specific moment that made me want to be a musician but there seemed to be a lot of influences around me.  I heard Jazz and Dixieland from my Dad, and I loved watching musicals on television with my Mom.  My sister and I used to ride around in the car with Mom listening to the radio quite a bit.  I was in school plays and choir as well.  I suppose my love of music was instilled in me at an early age and I wanted to be involved in it somehow so eventually that came true.  Although I do believe that if I told my teenage self that I would have put out three albums, written songs, won awards and performed for a crowd, I wouldn’t have believed it!

2. When you’re not creating music what are you listening to?  Who are some of your favorites?

My favorites are Springsteen, The Black Crowes, Shelby Lynne, Astrid Gilberto, 70’s Bette Midler, Adele, Tom Jones, AC/DC, Liz Phair, Patsy Cline and so many others….

3. What would you say is your greatest moment so far as an artist, either on record or live?

My latest album has been the greatest experience so far because it’s my first of all original material.  The song, “It Should Be Me” has done really well (even winning a songwriting award) and it’s pretty amazing seeing an event in my past come to life in song and connect with so many people.

4.  Do you believe music can change the world or is just something to listen to?   How much can music influence current events?

I absolutely believe music can change the world!  Look at what happens when people go see a live concert.  The many times that I’ve seen Bruce Springsteen in concert I still get so excited the second the lights go down and there is a unified roar of happiness at what is about to take place.  Music soothes the soul, gives us a hug when we’re sad, gets us moving in the morning and can change the way a person thinks.  And all we have to do to see how music can reflect and influence current events look at the 1960s!

5. How has technology affected the music industry?  How has technology affected your career as a musician?

Technology has greatly affected the music industry in both good and bad ways.  The ease of accessing music these days is incredible but also has helped in the decline of CD sales.  It is much easier to connect with fans, and give them access in many ways that weren’t available before with Facebook and Twitter.  It also takes an incredible amount of time away from being creative, songwriting, etc, but it seems to be a necessary evil.  I long for the days of going into a record store and browsing around and discovering new music.  I loved readingliner notes – I discovered so many songwriters and musicians that way.  Now with downloading a song, you don’t have that information readily available.  In this fast paced world our attention spans are shorter and shorter and don’t allow us to stop and truly absorb the moment before we’re on to the next thing.

6.  Now for my Barbara Walters question:  If you were a pair of shoes what type of shoes would you be?

I would be silver glittered 4 inch platforms!  I would wear them every day with everything!

Video Wednesday:

Peter Wolf with Shelby Lynne singing "Tragedy" from his new album on the Jimmy Fallon show.

Shelby Lynne

Shelby Lynne Moorer is the sister of the country singer Allison Moorer. She goes by the name Shelby Lynne. She started out as pretty much a country singer, but over the years has moved more towards soul and r&b without completely forgoing her connections to country music.

Today as I write this, Jan 29, 2008, Shelby is releasing her newest album. It's entitled Just A Little Lovin', subtitled "Songs Inspired by Dusty Springfield". Nine of the songs on this album are songs Dusty has made famous on her albums, one is an original. Dusty's music has always been very lush, full of strings and accompaniment. For her album Shelby decided that it wouldn't do to try and compete with these arrangements, she has stripped the sound down to just a spare piano and guitars and her wonderful, thrilling voice.

Shelby's early life often over shadows her music. As children, Shelby and her sister Allison, lived in a house with an alcoholic father. One day the father came home and shot his wife and than himself. The two sisters moved in with a sister until Shelby reached the age of 18 and married for a brief time.

Shelby moved to Nashville and secured a recording contract. Her first album Sunrise contained a duet with George Jones. The next year she released Tough All Over and the year after Soft Talk. Even with winning the ACM's Top New Female Vocalist in 1990 none of her albums made much a impression in the music industry.

Being fairly strongly opinioned about the course her music should take and not liking the fact that she had little control with a big label she left Epic and moved to the smaller label Morgan Creek and released Temptation there before it folded and she released Restless from Magnatone.

For the next three years she released nothing. Than in 1999 she released I Am Shelby Lynne. Released in England first the album became a big hit and didn't come out in the USA until the next year. This was a new sound and look for Shelby and the album became a critical and commerical hit. This is one of the best albums of the decade.

She's released a few more albums since than, but none have reached the heights of that album either commerically or critically. In the Johnny Cash bio movie she played Johnny Cash's Mother.

Shelby is an artist that in not content to rest on past accomplishments and continues to look for ways to advance her talents.

The song is "Your Lies" taken from her I Am Shelby Lynne album.

Coming Soon

Drive By Truckers: Brighter Than Creation's Dark
This album should actually by out now. It's release date was Jan 22, but when I went to the store today I couldn't find it. Which isn't unusual, sometimes the Big Box stores don't get the less than superstar releases right away. This is a 17 track disc, their first one since Jason Isbell left the band. Jason has written some of the best songs on recent Trucker albums, so his departure hurts, but there is enough talent in the band to make up for his loss I think. Patterson Hood, the leader of the Truckers, helped produce Bettye Lavette's newest album with most of the Truckers acting as her backing band. In fact, Jason's ex-wife, who is still with the band, has stepped up and written a few tunes and actually sings lead on them. The Truckers are a great band and I am looking forward to this one.

Shelby Lynne: Just A Little Lovin'

This one has a Jan 29 street date, which is next Tuesday. Shelby re-does songs by Dusty Sprinfield. Evidently she's been working on this one for awhile, go to her My Space page and read some of the history behind it. Instead of just copying the songs from Dusty Shelby has taken the songs and stripped them to their basics. Shelby is a powerful singer and this is one I am eagerly awaiting for.