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Posted by Pete Smith on 5/11/2008, 11:08 am
Michelle Wright has, over the last fifteen years, sold around 2 million records (5 gold and 2 multi-platinum), enjoyed 25 top ten hits in her native Canada and received more than 30 major awards. Born to country performers, Michelle grew up in Ontario and though she was surrounded by country music her first musical loves were rhythm and blues and Motown. After studying counselling for people with learning difficulties Michelle toured northern USA and in 1988 released her first album, “Do Right By Me” for the Savannah label (this was re-released in 1997). Two years later (1990) the beautiful young Canadian signed with Arista Records in Nashville. “Michelle Wright” was very well received ensuring a follow-up, “Now and Then” (1992) featuring the top single “Take It Like A Man”. The album and single generated an Academy of Country Music Award for “Top New Female Artist” and twelve top Canadian Awards. The album sold double platinum. Michelle, now a resident of Tennessee, eventually decided to return to the Savannah label and her country roots with the stunning “Everything And More”. The album features a dozen excellent songs superbly performed and offering so much for both a dancing and listening audience. I find it difficult to select just two or three favourites but pushed to the limit I would suggest the deeply moving “Love Me Anyway”, the optimistic “You Can’t Lose Them All” and the beautiful “In The Blink Of An Eye”. Michelle Wright may not be recording for the major labels these days but I would suggest “Everything And More” is her finest work to date. www.michelle-wright.com
Jim Blackie lives in Michigan, hardly the deep south but as far as Jim’s concerned the place to be if you want good old country music. Though I know little or nothing about Jim Blackie, just that I enjoyed his debut album three years ago and that I am more than enjoying his current album, “I’m Back” (Comstock). By listening to the new album I am able to detect that Blackie is influenced by both Lefty Frizzell and Johnny Cash, the opening track, “I Don’t Need You Baby”, has a beautiful warm baritone, the same sort of style that made Lefty a hero, and “Tribute To Johnny” is a loving reminder of the “man in black”. The bulk of the songs, eleven in all and all composed by Jim, are heart ballads, a genre the singer is so comfortable with and include “Someone”, “You Tell Me You Like Me” and “I Loved You”. www.JimBlackie.com
This week’s memorable days. Today (9); Hank Snow born in 1914 in Nova Scotia, Saturday (10); Maybelle Carter born in 1909, Sunday (11); Lester Flatt died in 1979, Tuesday (13); Johnny and Jack born, Johnny Wright in 1914 and Jack Anglin in 1916 and Thursday (15) Eddy Arnold born in 1918.
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