Dustin & Kevin Welch "Jolly Johnny Junker"

Toward the end of the last century, I got to be part of the team for the release of the Emmylou Harris album Spyboy, with Monty Hitchcock and Bob Goldstone putting an amazing cadre together. We were almost all outsourced, a harbinger of what has become a very common occurrence. We took lots of conference calls, and even the occasional face to face meeting to get things done. It was exhilarating working that way, with respected peers. Holly Gleason was our publicity person. I have simply been in awe of her ever since. She has the most amazing facility for description, coupled with impeccable taste. She has worn many hats throughout her career. You might know her from The Yummy List, in which she touts music, movies, books, fashion, products, and food for a head’s up on cool stuff. You can also become a fan on Facebook.

Now remember a week ago when I referenced the “country gets integrity” period? Holly Gleason just wrote an epic piece for the LA Times about the torch being passed to the offspring of those brave iconoclasts from the 80s. You have to read this article, there are so many people we love mentioned in it. Among the elders are Rodney Crowell, Rosanne Cash, Jimmie Dale Gilmore, and Kevin Welch. The second generation includes Justin Townes Earle, Colin Gilmore (who will be joining us for the Music Fog Marathon in Austin coming up in a couple of weeks), Savannah Welch and The Trishas (so will they), and her brother Dustin Welch. The article talks about being true to one’s vision, and following the path. We love that Dustin does that, that these brave artists all do; it is the reason Music Fog chases down this rabbit hole in the first place.

We witnessed a very special occasion at MusicFest at Steamboat in January, as we were so fortunate to record some Welch family. First Kevin with Dustin, then Dustin with Kevin, and on this song, Trisha Keefer from The Trishas joining in, too. Plus, we filmed Savannah Welch with The Trishas on the very next session! Here's an as yet unreleased tune from Dustin, "Jolly Johnny Junker."

- Jessie Scott

Shawn Camp "Dying for Someone to Live For"

Back in 1975, I started working at a legendary New York City radio station, WHN. It was country, it was on the AM dial, and it became a destination for music that couldn’t be heard anywhere else in the city. I did the evening show there for six years, six nights a week. On one quiet Saturday night in 1979, I was spinning George Jones and Conway Twitty and Glen Campbell and Don Williams, when the request line rang. Well actually, it lighted up, as phones don’t ring in studios. I have always enjoyed finding out what people were up to and taking requests. (A footnote: this is not always the case, for many jocks would put the phones on hold the minute they came in to work, and never answered them.) I punched into a call, and the voice on the other end identified herself as Loretta Lynn. She said she was in a sound stage in New York recording a Crisco® commercial, and that they had done several takes, but hadn’t gotten it right yet. She asked to take a break to speak to a friendly voice. She figured she would find one at the country station so there she was. We chatted companionably for several minutes. I was tickled to talk to her, she was legend even then. The impact she has had on popular music is immeasurable, especially in giving voice to female empowerment.

Loretta Lynn celebrated 50 years in the entertainment business in November. She has had a storied career, and is still immersed. If you haven’t heard her Van Lear Rose CD, produced by Jack White in 2004, you owe it to yourself to get your hands (or ears) on it.

Today’s Music Fog tune is a co-write, Loretta with Shawn Camp. The song is called “Dying For Someone To Live For,” an old school “twist of a phrase” country title if ever I have heard one. The two of them have been writing together for over a year. What a lucky boy Shawn is, not to mention how totally worthy. He is an exceptional troubadour, writer, and instrumentalist. Here is the Music Fog recording of it, a solo acoustic performance from Shawn, filmed last September during Nashville’s Americana Fest.

- Jessie Scott

Buddy Miller "Why Baby Why"

I had an interesting conversation a few days ago that referenced what we like to call the 'country gets integrity' period, back when Nanci Griffith, Lyle Lovett, Dwight Yoakam, New Grass Revival, The Mavericks, Steve Earle and more were being signed to label deals. At the time, adults were discovering Country music, and listening to country radio in droves. It made for a very healthy population spike in the ratings. My friend was wondering if that could ever happen again. I certainly would hope that to be true, as there are a garden of delights to be found in the Americana world. I am certain that could bring a passionate and robust mainstream audience to a radio station in a major market somewhere, hell, in ANY major market. I'd bet my boots on it, the music is just that good.

Buddy Miller is another Americana MVP, whose work spans the musical aspects from gospel, to rocking and edgy, to straight ahead Country, to downright soulful; as he is doing on his brand new CD The Majestic Silver Strings, which hits the street today. Buddy pairs with Greg Leisz, Marc Ribot, and Bill Frisell for this haunting and reverent look back. With textures that bring a hint of the British Isles, to folk that predates county, to the Les Paul fueled, to the gospel tinged, there is even a bit of gothic Tom Waits styling. There is so much ground to explore on this album, with contributions from lots of stellar guests, including Shawn Colvin, Ann McCrary, Patty Griffin, Lee Ann Womack, Emmylou Harris, and Julie Miller. We bring you the Darrell Edwards/George Jones composition, "Why Baby Why."

- Jessie Scott