This week the Big Machine Record Label announced that the planned release date for the Country tribute to Motley Crue
is being delayed from July 8th to August 16th. It will feature some of
the best known names in Country Music, performing countrified cover
versions of Motley Crue hits.
So let me try to understand this: todays' hottest country stars are paying their dues to Motley Crue by doing a covers tribute album? What the hell is the connection between these two?
According to general knowledge (Wikipedia), Motely Crue is a US glam-metal band, formed in 1981 in L.A. and correctly spelled Mötley Crüe, in reference to their favorite (German) beer "Löwenbräu". Their members have spent time in prison, suffered from alcoholism, drug addiction and had countless escapades with women.
All this did not keep them from becoming one of the most successful bands of all time by selling some 75 million records world wide (and 25 million in the US).
Currently they seem to be on the verge of their fairwell tour into retirement.
The history of country music has had its share of alcoholism, drug addiction and potentially escapades with women. But does this warrant a cover album? One, that Motley Crue fans clearly will skip (from their feedback in the net), and country music fans might not want to look at.
Country Music has done its share of (partially) quite successful tribute albums to artists outside of the genre. Here are the Top 5 country music tribute albums to artists outside of the genre, from my point of view:
5. In 1995 "Come Together: America Salutes the Beatles" was released. It featured mostly country artists on its 17 tracks, singing Beatles classics. While George Harrison may be known for some country connections, and country artists did some Beatles cover songs on their albums ("Yesterday" by Merle Haggard on the duet album "Seashores of Old Mexico" with Willie Nelson comes to my mind), it is still not quite a locigal connection. And commercially it did not make much of a splash (No. 13 on the country albums chart, No. 90 on the Billboard 200 album charts), before it went into oblivion.
4. A tribute album which made a little more sense, because it paid tribute to a southern (Texas) band, was released in 2003: "Sharp Dressed Men: A Tribute of ZZ Top". They grew up on blues, and country music has often been called the blues of the white man.
It proved to be an interesting album, because other than artists who sound like a natural fit for ZZ Top songs, such as Hank Jr. or Montgomery Gentry, the album brought singers to the table, who probably do not even play a ZZ Top song in their live shows. Yet they managed to create their own versions of those songs, such as Willie Nelson who does a swinging version of 'She Loves My Automobile' or Dwight Yoakam who makes 'I'm Bad, I'm Nationwide' a pure country version. And closing the album, traditional country music legend Alan Jackson does a great blues version of one of the lesser known songs 'Sure Got Cold After The Rain Fell'.
3. 1996 saw the release of a tribute album that made quite a lot of sense. "Skynyrd Frynds" paid tribute to one of the most important representatives of southern rock, Lynyrd Skynyrd. They and country music both share their southern roots and most country rock acts sooner or later cover a Skynyrd song. And except for The Mavericks, who stick out a little like a sore thumb, it is these artists who deliver believable and new versions of Skynyrd music.
What is more logical than letting Alabama sing "Sweet Home Alabama"? The way their unique harmony vocals open the song is outstanding. And Wynonna delivers the ultimate 7:41 minute version of "Free Bird", full with blistering guitar solo.
2. 1994 another well working tribute was released although it did not pay tribute to one particular artist but rather one genre. "Rhythm Country & Blues" was actually more a collaborative album as it paired one country and one R&B artist for each song. And each song was a classic, well known to audiences of both genres. It also featured one of the last Conway Twitty recordings on a great duet with Sam Moore on the Tony Joe White classic "Rainy Night In Georgia".
1. The most successful country tribute album most likely was "Common Thread: Songs of the Eagles". It was released in 1993 and sold some 3 million copies. Some even claim it as one triggering moment for comeback of the Eagles (and their 1994 album 'Hell Freezes Over').
"Common Thread" contained some great cover versions, such as 'Best of My Love' by Brooks & Dunn or 'Desperado' by Clint Black. It also made sense musically, as the sound of the Eagles was always considered as a forerunner to country rock. Although today it may be difficult to understand, how the music of the Eagles could have ever been considered as rock music if you place it against some of todays rock acts, but that is the changing of the times and the music that comes along with it.
So where does the Motley Crue tribute come in? Nowhere and I would not be sad, if the delay of the album will turn into a cancellation altogether.
I think there are acts for which a tribute would make more sense, such as CCR, then Motley Crue who just seem to want to jump on the currently hot country bandwagon to give their fading career a commercial boost.
So let me try to understand this: todays' hottest country stars are paying their dues to Motley Crue by doing a covers tribute album? What the hell is the connection between these two?
According to general knowledge (Wikipedia), Motely Crue is a US glam-metal band, formed in 1981 in L.A. and correctly spelled Mötley Crüe, in reference to their favorite (German) beer "Löwenbräu". Their members have spent time in prison, suffered from alcoholism, drug addiction and had countless escapades with women.
All this did not keep them from becoming one of the most successful bands of all time by selling some 75 million records world wide (and 25 million in the US).
Currently they seem to be on the verge of their fairwell tour into retirement.
The history of country music has had its share of alcoholism, drug addiction and potentially escapades with women. But does this warrant a cover album? One, that Motley Crue fans clearly will skip (from their feedback in the net), and country music fans might not want to look at.
Country Music has done its share of (partially) quite successful tribute albums to artists outside of the genre. Here are the Top 5 country music tribute albums to artists outside of the genre, from my point of view:
5. In 1995 "Come Together: America Salutes the Beatles" was released. It featured mostly country artists on its 17 tracks, singing Beatles classics. While George Harrison may be known for some country connections, and country artists did some Beatles cover songs on their albums ("Yesterday" by Merle Haggard on the duet album "Seashores of Old Mexico" with Willie Nelson comes to my mind), it is still not quite a locigal connection. And commercially it did not make much of a splash (No. 13 on the country albums chart, No. 90 on the Billboard 200 album charts), before it went into oblivion.
4. A tribute album which made a little more sense, because it paid tribute to a southern (Texas) band, was released in 2003: "Sharp Dressed Men: A Tribute of ZZ Top". They grew up on blues, and country music has often been called the blues of the white man.
It proved to be an interesting album, because other than artists who sound like a natural fit for ZZ Top songs, such as Hank Jr. or Montgomery Gentry, the album brought singers to the table, who probably do not even play a ZZ Top song in their live shows. Yet they managed to create their own versions of those songs, such as Willie Nelson who does a swinging version of 'She Loves My Automobile' or Dwight Yoakam who makes 'I'm Bad, I'm Nationwide' a pure country version. And closing the album, traditional country music legend Alan Jackson does a great blues version of one of the lesser known songs 'Sure Got Cold After The Rain Fell'.
3. 1996 saw the release of a tribute album that made quite a lot of sense. "Skynyrd Frynds" paid tribute to one of the most important representatives of southern rock, Lynyrd Skynyrd. They and country music both share their southern roots and most country rock acts sooner or later cover a Skynyrd song. And except for The Mavericks, who stick out a little like a sore thumb, it is these artists who deliver believable and new versions of Skynyrd music.
What is more logical than letting Alabama sing "Sweet Home Alabama"? The way their unique harmony vocals open the song is outstanding. And Wynonna delivers the ultimate 7:41 minute version of "Free Bird", full with blistering guitar solo.
2. 1994 another well working tribute was released although it did not pay tribute to one particular artist but rather one genre. "Rhythm Country & Blues" was actually more a collaborative album as it paired one country and one R&B artist for each song. And each song was a classic, well known to audiences of both genres. It also featured one of the last Conway Twitty recordings on a great duet with Sam Moore on the Tony Joe White classic "Rainy Night In Georgia".
1. The most successful country tribute album most likely was "Common Thread: Songs of the Eagles". It was released in 1993 and sold some 3 million copies. Some even claim it as one triggering moment for comeback of the Eagles (and their 1994 album 'Hell Freezes Over').
"Common Thread" contained some great cover versions, such as 'Best of My Love' by Brooks & Dunn or 'Desperado' by Clint Black. It also made sense musically, as the sound of the Eagles was always considered as a forerunner to country rock. Although today it may be difficult to understand, how the music of the Eagles could have ever been considered as rock music if you place it against some of todays rock acts, but that is the changing of the times and the music that comes along with it.
So where does the Motley Crue tribute come in? Nowhere and I would not be sad, if the delay of the album will turn into a cancellation altogether.
I think there are acts for which a tribute would make more sense, such as CCR, then Motley Crue who just seem to want to jump on the currently hot country bandwagon to give their fading career a commercial boost.
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