You have some time off this week, and so does the rest of the family and now you want to take some great pics. Maybe Santa brought you a new phone or actual camera that you are eager to use.

I know, you know what you're doing, but maybe we could all do a bit better. So let's take some really fun pics this week, and here's a little help.

Take GREAT Pics

Merry Christmas!

Number One Last Week  -  Spiderman  - 253 million

New Out Already This Week  -  (Wednesday) -   Sing 2  / The Kings Man  / Matrix /  The Velvet Queen

Christmas Day  -   Journal For Jordan / American Underdog  

NFL On TV  -  Christmas Day  -  Browns At Packers 430  /  Colts At Cardinals 8PM

Christmas Day NBA   -  Five games starting at 12 noon

Cool To View  -   All Madden 2PM on Fox Christmas Day  -  (Documentary on John John Madden)

Miranda Lambert and her MuttNation Nonprofit stopped by Tractor Supply to help out the 4-foots at shelters in Nashville.  The day helped a local shelter also. The Sanctuary For Senior Dogs (Cleveland, OH) won a $1,000 Gift Card for supplies for their shelter.  If you would like to check out or help The Sanctuary For Senior Dogs in Cleveland.   Click Here.  Or on Socials.. Click Here....  

 

 

 

 

 

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The last two weeks I have written about our boom in the 1990's. I hope you've also read the articles I've written about three pivotal years that led to the big 90's boom in Country, 1981, 1986, and 1989, (Click to get caught up)  And Part 1 of this series last week,  And Part 2 as well.

The depth of talent we had in those years was enviable.  Every era has its superstars that lead the way, as did the 1990's.  Garth, Clint, Alan, George, Brooks And Dunn, Shania, McGraw, Faith, Vince, and Martina were the giants of the time. But there have to be others that help drive the popularity. 

There was also a very gentle mix in the 1990's that has been tough to duplicate.  Yes, early in the decade the traditionalists were here and they still were at decades end.  But there was also a subtle flow in some rivers and tributaries in our format that did branch off and were a bit more pop country.  But I feel some lessons for the most part had been learned from Urban Cowboy, that too far away from country -  was too far.  So for the most part even late 1990's pop country albums and artists were not overly alienating to our core fans.  Many times we are at our best overall when we have a nice gentle mix and are not too far off shore one way or the other.

The 1990's were loaded with the best stars just outside of superstar status, maybe ever.  Let's look at some more remarkable stars who deserve a whole lot of the credit.  In many cases I've featured them already and I'll link you back to my original article on them.  No order, no ranking - This is three part series and this is the final part. 

Again, these are the stars just outside of the superstars of the decade that really helped make us great!

Lonestar - They had a red hot run that in the grand scheme of things was short, but impactful. True, they are still around today in some fashion, but in the mid and late 90's they were gigantic.  They also developed a very loyal fan base that is still with them even though there have been a bunch of changes with them. Key member departures like John Rich, and Richie McDonald proved to be too much to overcome in the long run. Amazed was an insanely big song, as was I'm Already There, and they became signature songs that found their way to various charts in addition to country.  In all they had nine number one hits in their run that began in 1995, and sold about 11 million albums.

Songs Don't Get Much Bigger Than This -

Deana Carter -  She was completely synonymous with the late 1990's with one of the biggest albums we've ever had. Deana's Did I Shave My Legs For This album sold a ridiculous amount of copies, she won awards with Strawberry Wine, both are generational memories for a huge swath of fans still.  That album is a true work of art for our format and she was the exact stylist for it.  Her vocal performances on that album are flawless and her image was sensational. We loved that carefree spirit this album, and she gave to us.  This album was a big deal as it sold millions and brought us a huge amount of new fans, while not costing us any.

Huge Hit, Huge Album - A Generational Song

Blackhawk - Here is a very interesting story. This band never had a number one and was really only a factor on the actual charts for a few years, but they had a very strong following.  Their first two albums were very successful selling millions. There has seldom been a group that had the mild chart success they had and been so popular.  Goodbye Says It All may be the most popular #11 song of the decade. Their music sounded good on the air, and with the fans. Still around today, although members have come and gone, and some passed away.

Still A Big Favorite Song

The Dixie Chicks  -  As polarizing as they became and still are with many, they have reinvented themselves as simply The Chicks.  Their popularity for a very short time in country is undeniable.  They sold millions of albums initially and were nominated and won about every award you can. Their sound was new, and old at the same time, and they were extremely talented.  In the 1990's they did something very difficult to do. They found a new sound, one that was theirs alone that made them cut through the rest of the very formidable competition.  Wide Open Spaces was one of the most popular albums of the decade.

At The Beginning

Neal McCoy - Here's a guy that wasn't going to be denied.  McCoy had been around for a number of years releasing songs with no real success. (His first song peaked at #85).  Then in 1994, he hit with No Doubt About It, and went on a run of very popular songs as he sold a few million albums.  He also became known for his powerful stage shows no matter how small or large the venue. Also, his demeanor and extreme likability became a real calling card, as did his actions outside of the music with his his support of the military. Fans loved his music and they loved who he was, and still do.

This Song, This Album Broke Him Through At Last

John Anderson STILL -  I know, the vast majority of his hits were pre-90's where he was very popular and an important inspiration for many future stars with this fantastic traditional style. And then after a downturn in his career, he came back and did it all over again. His Seminole Wind album in 1992 was immensely popular, sold millions and restarted his career. Straight Tequila Night to me, is the greatest comeback song in country history.  After Seminole Wind, there was new success for a few years on the charts, and he was as popular as ever.  Fans loved John Anderson. He was a big part of the initial movement in country in 1981 that dared to be different.  Seminole Wind is one of the most popular, most important, and best country albums of the 1990's as well.  I loved seeing him have great success alongside many of the younger stars he absolutely influenced years earlier.

What A GREAT Comeback Song!

Many different styles, many different kinds of stars.

 Pistol Annies:  Hell of A Holiday Facebook Christmas Special is tonight at 8pm..   

 Click Here for the show at 8pm Tonight!

It’s gonna be a hell of a holiday...special! ? Dec 15, we’re performing songs off the record, sharing some memories and chatting with @blairgarner and it’s all to benefit an organization dear to our hearts, @musichealthall ❤️?❄️

Set a reminder here: https://t.co/21P9vXiXWh pic.twitter.com/tkxGIjzCZR

— Pistol Annies (@PistolAnnies) December 1, 2021

Niko Moon performed his song "No Sad Songs" last night on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon!

We all have great memories of Christmas Eves, and I would like to share mine. The remarkable house shown above was my moms for 62 years before she passed away this fall at 94.  I grew up in this old farm house in Berea as did my siblings.  It has now been sold to a wonderful new family, and those kids will love that place as much as we did.  That house was also the home of some of the most amazing Christmas Eve party's ever.

This house was built in 1853 and has stories to tell, especially at this time of year.  For many years, I would say at least 20, maybe more, it was the home of CE party's that no one needed an invite to. My mom and brother especially were theater people and our home had been the official "Cast Party" house in the summer time, with actors, students and crew from the Berea Summer Theater coming over dozens of times a season and staying entirely too late. Many who attended those went on to good things in Hollywood or Broadway, including the late John Michael Tebelek, who wrote the smash hit play Godspell.  They loved the house, remembered it, and the community decided it was the best place to have a CE party.

So we did.  No invites ever really went out and tons of people came every year.  Then my friends, family and family friends, neighbors, and people that I'm not sure anyone knew, but we all had fun. We made fires in the fireplaces and had drinks, food, singing, music and just a great time.  In a very interesting mixture of people, and many with zero really in common, everyone really seemed to like each other, and remembered each other the next year.

There were GREAT singers and players there from the theater.  One of my moms great friends was the organist from the Cleveland Orchestra and he would play the piano, while dozens of others sang - WELL I might add. Local TV legend Mr. Jingaling was there many years his name was Earl Keys and was a great friend of my moms.  And one year a guy named Bruce came and played the bag pipes as he walked down the street and into the party.  We all remember that.

This fall as we sold that old house, many of those people who spent so many Christmas Eves with us there, came back one last time to choose artwork from my mom they wanted and to say goodbye to an old friend. The Old House. I have to admit I was transported back to those times that weekend. So many came back to see it one last time.  My friends came and it was sad to know that was their last time there too.  But it filled me up to have them there and I'm so glad they came.

If I live to be 100, I  will never forget those wonderful years, holidays and times.  And the people, the ones that were there and those who could not be will always be with me. I sincerely hope the wonderful new owners have memories made there like those I've spoken of.  That house is famous, and has been well known to those who never lived there. Those were great times, at a one-of-a-kind place.

Christmas Eve, at The Old House...for me, there was nothing really like it...

This week I have been remembering Christmas days a bit differently. This Christmas is my first as a person on this earth with no living parents as my mom passed in September at 94 years old after a great life.  But the purpose of this writing is not to focus on that, but to relive a great day, so that's what I'll do.  As you read, I'm sure you'll go back to some similar memory of your own.

My favorite Christmas morning was about maybe 1972-1973.  We were all still at home, and both of my parents were still with us.  It was a very nice morning. Cold, but sunny and there was a ton of snow that had fallen on Christmas Eve night. I was about 10 and I got some kind of sledding device from Santa and we decided it was a good morning to test it out. So we did. I think it was some kind of Atomic Saucer thing deal, I remember it had orange handles and went downhill at about 5,000 MPH.  This is a full decade and half before Christmas Vacation - Think they heard about this and stole the idea...

We all dressed up warm, me, my brother, sister, mom and dad and walked to a small, but fun hill near our house in the MetroParks Rocky River Reservation. I think the dogs got to go too, (Taffy and Lafayetta). It was late morning and we had the entire place to ourselves as no one else had emerged out of their home yet.  We sledded for a good long while my mom took pictures and shot home movies on our Super 8 film camera.  (It was color).  I have a hard time remembering a more fun morning I ever had as a little kid. 

You see, I am seven years younger than my sister, and five years younger than my brother.  Before I was around, they all did a ton of things as a family, all well documented on Regular 8 film home movies (Black And White).  But as an ENTIRE family it was rare after I showed up, only because my siblings were much older and were gone to college when I was pretty young. And maybe too, my parents ran out of documentation fuel too.  So this Christmas morning really sticks with me.  We had a blast, and I think we all went out on a day that I probably was driving them nuts to use my new gear. 

So we grabbed that new gear, and other sledding stuff from no doubt Christmas' past and had the time of our lives.  At least I did.  I have no idea if my siblings remember it or not, but I am thankful I do.  It's what I have, and I'm glad I can call it up on this special week, which will be a bit more special than others to come. There are few mornings in my life and memory I can see as vividly as that one.

Merry Christmas!

Box Office Results - West Side Story (10.5 Million) Very Disappointing

New This Week - New Spiderman / Nightmare Alley

Next Week - Matrix / American Underdog / Sing 2

The New Trailer - For the new Fantastic Beasts movie is out

The 10th Fast & Furious - Will now hit theaters April 7th, 2023   

This Weekend – Check out my Country Music Memory Lane (link)

Brett Eldredge performed the title track to his new holiday album "Mr. Christmas" on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert. The album is available everywhere now!