Jake Owen has always been a favorite of mine for many reasons.  His big voice and really great song selection plus he puts on a real good show.  But he is a very interesting artist too. Yes, in my view he is a traditionalist by today's standards but doesn't really look the part with his relaxed image. But he IS country.   He has recorded some of my very favorite songs over the past number of years.

This is a real nice song that is extremely catchy and gets in your brain quickly as most hit songs do. It also sounds like a "Jake Owen" song, where at the same time does not sound like every other Jake Owen songs.  I love songs that are celebratory of the country lifestyle without being an actual "list" song, which are overdone.  This also has a comtempory flair to it, I realy like.

Jake is traditional with thump, a real beat. Well done!

Sit back, grab a coffee and catch this new Jake Owen song!

About Half – Of us feel good about returning to a movie theater (Cinamasafe)

Box Office Results - Free Guy   29 million   (Box Office)

New This Week - Reminiscence (Hugh Jackman)  Paw Patrol / The Protege / The Night House 

This Is Cool - They have developed a new Daytime Drive In Movie theater  (Story) 

WOW  - Escape From New York    -  Turn 40 this year!  (How trailers have changed!)

Ryan Reynolds - Says that Disney already wants a sequel to his hit this week, Free Guy brought in 29 million this weekend  (Story)

A Field of Dreams - TV Show is headed to Peacock   (Story)

Bill Engvall - Has announced his retirement. He will launch his farewell tour later this summer.  (Story) 

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

Check out my Song Of The Week -  (Link)

Ask anyone in my life and they will tell you I ask a lot of questions.  I do. I know that it can be a bit much after a while, but I am a very curious person.  Years ago I went to get some help for some problems I was dealing with (or actually not) and my counselor told me  "Scott, you are a very curious individual, you want to know things."  It was the first time anyone had ever said that to me. I mean how do you know?  You're just - YOU!

I do want to know things.  Asking people questions is about the nicest thing you can say to them.  You are actually saying, "What do you think or feel about........"  And it makes people feel important to be asked, about that there is no doubt.  By asking others questions you are showing interest in THEIR feelings and thoughts and taking the focus off of yourself. People like that.  I always think that is a good formula to building long lasting friendships.  I am VERY proud to say I have many GREAT friends that I see regularly and play golf with I have known all my life.

Here is a fun read too, about questions. What do you think about that??

Click To Read!

The 1990's were a great time for our format and mega star names like Shania, Garth, Alan, Clint, and Billy Ray were absolutely synonymous with it.  But so were names like, Chesnutt, Stone, Byrd, McGraw, Hill and John Michael Montgomery.  He was part of a class that came along a few years after the huge avalanche of 1989, and was a major factor and very popular.  His gift to us was that he was a big new star in an era where we needed one to keep the momentum going that had been building since 1986.  He was right on time.

His First Hit Song - Really Got Him Noticed!  Should Have Been #1 (#4)

In the 1990's we had all those major stars mentioned above, and there was others too like George Strait, Alabama, Randy Travis, Brooks And Dunn, and Reba.  Every era has its big, and mainline stars.  BUT, I have always maintained what made that era the very best ever, were the acts just outside of the mega stars.  In addition to the above mentioned JMM, Pam Tillis, Tracy Lawrence, Martina McBride, Joe Diffie, Patty Loveless, Terri Clark, JoDee Messina, Kathy Mattea and many others. We also had a young Kenny Chesney and Toby Keith, and new groups like Blackhawk, Lonestar, Diamond Rio, and Shenandoah.

His First #1 - A Staple At The Time!

We have never had such a robust and talented group of successful artists like this  -  in this regard. They were artists that had real popularity, sold a lot of albums, concert tickets, and had real appeal, that in any other era would have been the dominant stars. These are stars that gave us real depth and kept the radios on. These stars to me are the ones that really helped drive the format to incredible heights. We had GREAT songs on the radio all the time. Every era has it gigantic stars and you need them. But not many eras have this kind of talent.  It was a remarkable time. And John Michael Montgomery was the leader of this new class.

Another Number One!

He really hit in 1992 with Life's A Dance, and the success of that first album really set the stage for his march through the 1990's which was very strong.  During his run he released some 30 songs, and had 7 number ones.  It seemed like there were more because of his incredible popularity, but many of the songs stopped near the top of the charts.  In fact, between 1992 and 1999 only 4 of songs didn't make the top ten.  He was a big time hit maker and fans loved him.  The real key for him in my view was song selection.  He really picked songs that not only he would do well, but would find a niche within the format and cut through. Especially his ballads, many became staples in pop-culture and not just on the radio.

His Ballads Were Loved

In addition to charting well, he was selling well. His first album, Life's A Dance sold over 3 million.  His second, Kickin' It Up sold 4 million, and his third and his fourth sold 2 million each.  Funny thing is, that in an era of so many dominant stars, we almost are numb to how many great stars we had at that time, and the record sales were simply staggering. JMM had an amazing run and recorded hugely popular ballads like, I Can Love You Like That, I Love The Way You Love Me and I Swear, and many others that became love themes and wedding songs. 

Huge Song - Still Gets Requested

He also had some real fun songs, like Sold, Be My Baby Tonight and others that showed his amazing versatility.  He was about the most versatile we had then. He is from a musical family as you may know as his brother is Eddie Montgomery from Montgomery Gentry.  And his nephew is newcomer Dillon Carmichael who is on the charts now. 

What a run, what great music and what a star.  JMM still tours and plays  - and this week he will be in town at the Dusty. 

For the past few weeks, I wrote a 4 part series on Desert Island Country Albums, featuring an album from each decade from the 1980's to today. Plus 4 Wild Cards.  The best albums you would want with you marooned on a desert island!

Here are all four parts if you missed them  -  (Part 1)  (Part 2)  (Part 3)  (Part 4)

So, there were 20 total albums by various stars from different decades.  They all are  -  and were GREAT!  But many of you have asked, what is the BEST one? I didn't really think about which one is best, but you all got me thinking, and I guess there has to be a "best."  That's where we are in the world.  What album is the best in the past 40 years of my country radio career?

To be honest, it was tough.  I had to ignore personal feelings about the songs and the artists.  Forget sales or radio play or singles. They all had a bunch of all of them.  What album start to finish best captured that particular era and the minds and hearts of fans and listeners from this list of 20?  The winner is what I remember to be the best in every regard.  I looked at it as honestly as I could.

And the Winner IS -  

The 1990's  (1997)  Tim McGraw - Everywhere

This is just flat out great stuff.  This is one of the very best albums, of any format, anywhere over the past 30 years.  Everywhere is an upper deck grand slam home run from the first song to the last. It was, and is the crown jewel of his incredible career.  There were great albums from him before this, and of course great albums after, but this is beyond sensational.  Again, this ten song album threw out 6 hits, 4 of them #1's.  Two of the hits spending 6 weeks at number one. This is a once in a lifetime kind of deal where an album is so good, and universally loved by fans. What a gem for music in general. Any artist  - recording any kind of music would love to record an album this good, focused, and on point.  Everything just lined up perfectly for this to be the classic it is. Multi-platinum, terrific. This album took a star and made him a mega star.

Singles  - It's Your Love #1 (6weeks)  /  Everywhere #1  /  Just To See You Smile #1 (6weeks) /  One Of These Days #2 /   Where The Green Grass Grows #1  / For A Little While #2

It's Your Love   - 6 Weeks Number One....

Title Song - A Work Of Art

Tim McGraw is back with a new song, and it's one of the strangest titles you'll hear, 7,500 OBO.  McGraw is seeming to be making an effort recently to recapture some of the magic of the 1990's with the last few songs, and I'm OK with that.  I feel there will be an audience for 90's country for the foreseeable future and he was one of the driving forces in it.

I loved, I Called Mama, which to me was very 90's driven, and there is a lot to like here with this song.  It's a love and lose song, that will strike a chord with many.  It's a sort of story song, and it is certainly original.  I always think McGraw is great when the songs come directly from his heart.  That is what he does best.  This sounds like it could have been a song from 1996 for him. 

So sit back and grab a coffee and take in a new McGraw song!  (The Video features his daughter)

About Half – Of us feel good about returning to a movie theater (Cinamasafe)

Box Office Results - Suicide Squad tanks - about 25 million  (Story)

New This Week -  Free Guy  /  Don't Breathe  / Respect   

Tim and Faith - Will to star in a Yellowstone prequel called 1883 on Paramount+  (Story) 

Next Week  - Reminiscence with Hugh Jackman (Theaters and HBO Max)

Addams Family Netflix Show  -  Coming soon, and Catherine Zeta Jones will play Morticia (Story)

Christina Applegate  -  Has been diagnosed with MS -  (Story)

Quentin  Tarantino  - Says his mom used to belittle him and his Hollywood dreams, so he has "never given her a penny"  (Story)

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

Check out my Song Of The Week - (Link)

Being honest this kind of ticks me off!  Also full disclosure, I don't eat a bunch of Peanut Butter and Jelly sammiches anymore, but it's an institution.

Even more disclosure - I DO eat Peanut Butter and Mayo sammiches on occasion as it is delicious!  (Real mayo too, not that Miracle Whip stuff)  Don't judge till you try it. LOL -first open your mind, then your mouth - fantastic!  Let's break it down - Peanut Butter? - Good!  Mayo? - Good!  Bread? - Good!  What's not to like?

But the decline of the classic PB and J is a sad commentary indeed.  We all grew up on them, and they have a special place in our hearts!

What Happened To Peanut Butter And Jelly?

This week, Part 4 of Desert Island Country Albums.  The ones you would choose if you were marooned on a desert island to listen to, (ALA - Tom Hanks In Castaway).  I'll list some of mine, and I will pick one for each article from each decade starting with 1980, up until 2019, and a Wild Card album which can be from any decade. This is the last part of this series. I have played all these songs and albums on the radio.  (Here's Part One) -  (And Part Two) -   (Part 3 as well)  -   if you missed them.

Desert Island Country Island Albums - Part  4  (Final Part)

The 1980's - (1981)  Merle Haggard - Big City

This was a huge success for a star that had been around for years. He signed with a new record label and it was the shot in the arm he needed. This re-energized his career, and sent him on a very nice 5 year run in the 1980's that was very different than his previous 15 years.  This album was a new path, and in my view was the beginning of the best music of his career.  It was such a great re-invention, as a lot of younger fans found Haggard and realized that he was pretty darn good, and not just their parents favorite. I saw Haggard with Brooks And Dunn at Blossom a number of years ago and he was terrific, and was still riding the redesigned sound that this album provided.  This album also focuses on the struggles of the common man, as an ugly recession was devastating factory workers that year, it was exceedingly timely. I had just begun my country radio career at my first country radio station WOBL in Oberlin, Ohio, and this album made a huge impact on me.  Are The Good Times Really Over For Good, sung by this American Icon, became a loved early 80's anthem.

Singles - My Favorite Memory #1  /  Big City  #1  /  Are The Good Times Really Over For Good #2

Very Powerful Song!

The 1990's -  (1998)  Faith Hill  -  Faith

Sometimes we forget just how big a star and album actually were.  This may be the best example I can think of in country.  This album to me was the zenith of Faiths wonderful run through the 1990's. This sold six million copies and spawned a lot of hit songs. It also launched a "new" Faith, more mainstream, and her fans - and her new fans loved it. This Kiss was the biggest song she ever had, and drove the insane sales of this album. There is probably no better example of the perfect song, done by the perfect artist, at the perfect time in her life. We believed every word of that song, and we could sense her sincere happiness, her passion for the song, this project, and her life.  I feel many artists could benefit from her example here.  Fans love passion, positivity and being happy. Far more people like music to lift them up rather than to slap others down, as a little bit of that goes a very long way. This is a big, big album. 

Singles  -  This Kiss #1  /  Just To Hear You Say That You Love Me #3  /  Let Me Let Go #1  /  Love Ain't Like That #12 / The Secret Of Life #4

 This Song Drove This Album To Incredible Heights!

The 2000's - (2005)  Dierks Bentley  - Modern Day Drifter

Dierks Bentley has recorded a bunch of really good albums.  And even though this was not his first album, I feel this is where the really great albums began. This was his second album, and this is proof yet again that the second album is the one that decides if you're gonna hang around or not. This gave us really great songs that are still real radio and concert favorites all these years later. It's hard to imagine that he has been around 20 years now.  This is a platinum album a couple times over, and really established him as a legit star that had a golden future.  Bentley has a real love of traditional country and this is a fantastic mix of old school in music and lyric, and a newer school sound. Great, great album. 

Singles -  A Lot Of Leavin' Left To Do #3  /  Come A Little Closer #1  /  Settle For A Slowdown  #1

A Real Favorite On The Radio, Video And Concerts!  (Very Waylon-Like)

The 2010's - (2017)  Luke Combs  - This Ones For You

It isn't often that someone like Luke Combs shows up and breathes new life into an already successful format that was not gasping for air.  But that's exactly what Luke Combs did.  He sang on our morning show here at WQMX, just as Hurricane was hitting the radio.  Luke is a regular guy with more than incredible talent.  After Hurricane was #1, I think the next single absolutely solidified his place as not only a real contender, but a superstar.  When It Rains It Pours, is one of the great country songs of this century, and after it when #1 the floodgates flew open and we had a new mega star. This album was number one for 50 consecutive weeks and that tied Shania's, Come On Over. (In Part 3)   Combs along with Jon Pardi (Also in Part 3) have re-energized the traditional country fan and that's a big deal.  This album is sensational and so is he. Mandatory owning.

Singles  -  Hurricane #1  /  When It Rains It Pours #1  /  One Number Away #1  /  She Got The Best Of Me #1  / Beautiful Crazy #1

 What A Hit -  Look At The Views!!

Wild Card - (1983)  Earl Thomas Conley  - Don't Make It Easy For Me

This was a record setting album that only made country music history, but music history. It was ETC's third album on RCA records, and was a huge success. This became the first studio album in recorded music history to have four consecutive number one songs on it.  Not the Beatles, not Micheal Jackson, not Bing Crosby, not Elvis, not anyone.  Should be noted it has been done since, but not often (Luke Combs and a few others).  Casey Casem spotlighted Conley on American Top 40 that year chronicling his historic feat. Conley was a real up and and comer at the time and this album sent him on a truly incredible run through the 80's. In fact, the singles from this album were the first of 17 consecutive #1's for him, that string finally ended in 1989.  He had 20 #1's overall.  This is a mix of many kinds of music, with two common denominators, Conley's country voice, and the best people in Nashville in every aspect, putting this project together.  Everyone should own this album.

Singles - Your Love's On The Line #1  /  Holding Her, And Loving You #1 /  Don't Make It Easy For Me  #1  / Angel In Disguise  #1

 The First Of Seventeen Consecutive Number One Songs 1983-1989

OK, I'm eating this!  I love to grill out and I've developed some skills over the years, but this I gotta try.  On the grill, or in the oven, pork and chicken, low and slow is a good method to use. Especially pork.  But steak?

I Love Grilling!

I've never really done this, but I've seen it on the Food Network and here, so I'll give it a go. 

Try this and let me know how it goes, we can compare notes!

Steak Low And Slow In OVEN!