Author: chimesfreedom

Editor-in-chief, New York.

Marty Brown’s Tribute to George Jones: “Who’s Gonna Fill Their Shoes”

Who's Gonna Fill Their Shoes George Jones Marty Brown This weekend, country singer Marty Brown posted a video tribute to George Jones with Brown appropriately singing Jones’s classic song, “Who’s Gonna Fill Their Shoes.” Regular readers of Chimesfreedom know that we are big Marty Brown fans, so we cannot pass up posting Brown’s touching tribute here.

“Who’s Gonna Fill Their Shoes” was written by Troy Seals (who co-wrote “Seven Spanish Angels“) and Max D. Barnes. George Jones released the song as the title track on a 1985 album of the same name. “Who’s Gonna Fill Their Shoes” mentions a number of country music legends including Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings, Patsy Cline, and Willie Nelson. Apparently because Jones recorded the song it does not mention him, but as Marty Brown notes in his introduction, Jones left some pretty big empty shoes.

What is your favorite tribute to George Jones? Leave your two cents in the comments.

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    Steven Spielberg’s New Film with “Daniel Day-Lewis” as Obama

    White House Correspondents’ Dinner

    At the recent annual White House Correspondents’ Dinner M.C.’d by Conan O’Brien, one of the highlights was this short film where director Steven Spielberg announced that after Lincoln (2012), he decided the logical choice for his next movie is Obama, about our current President Barack Obama. In the video Spielberg explains why “Daniel Day-Lewis” was the natural choice for the lead. Pres. Obama shows a good sense of humor here, too, even poking fun at his ears. Check it out.

    What is your favorite part of “Obama”? Leave your two cents in the comments.

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    Michael Bublé Sings In a NYC Subway Station

    michael buble naturally 7

    I have seen some talented folks in the New York City subway systems, but I missed the performance a few days ago when Michael Bublé and the group Naturally 7 did an acapella performance of “Who’s Lovin’ You.” The song is from Bublé’s new album To Be Loved (2013).

    I am not sure I believe that the highlight of Bublé’s tour is actually singing in the subway station at W. 67th Street, but it does look like everyone had a good time.

    Where would you like to see Michael Bublé and Naturally 7 sing next? Leave your two cents in the comments.

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    They Placed a Wreath Upon His Door: George Jones RIP

    George Jones Collection George Jones, one of the greatest country singers, and the owner of one of the best voices in any genre, passed away today. The Possum was 81.

    You may find more detailed accounts of his life in the obituaries, but each one will mention “He Stopped Loving Her Today,” the great song written by Bobby Braddock and Curly Putnam and recorded by Jones in 1980 not long after his divorce from Tammy Wynette disintegrated into cocaine use and added to the legend of “No Show Jones.” Many call the song, which is about a man who never loses his desire for a lost love, the greatest country song of all time. It also has one of the best twist endings of any song. And the brokenhearted have probably played “He Stops Loving Her Today” on more honky tonk jukeboxes than any other song. Here’s a live performance on The Ronnie Prophet Show in July 1980.

    While any discussion of Jones will begin and end with “He Stopped Loving Her Today,” Jones had other hits and other great songs like “The Race is On,” “White Lightning,” and “A Good Year for the Roses.” As the hits stopped in later years he remained a respected country music living legend. In 1999 he had some success with an album I love, Cold Hard Truth. The album included the wonderful song “Choices,” which, like “He Stopped Loving Her Today,” seemed to fit Jones like a glove:

    “I was tempted, by an early age I found,
    I liked drinkin’, oh, and I never turned it down;
    There were loved ones but I turned them all away;
    Now I’m living and dying with the choices I’ve made.”

    When Jones was supposed to perform “Choices” at the 1999 Country Music Association Awards show, the producers asked him to omit verses from the song, apparently so they could focus on younger artists. Jones stood up for what was right and refused to cut the song and boycotted the show. But Jones was so respected that Alan Jackson cut his own performance of “Pop a Top” short to sing Jones’s song, a tribute that yielded a standing ovation.

    Below is Jones’s version of “Choices,” added to a video played during George Jones’s 2013 Farewell Tour. It is a perfect way to say goodbye to the man. RIP.

    What is your second-favorite George Jones song? Leave your two cents in the comments.

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    Steve Earle Performs “Invisible” on David Letterman and Announces Box Set

    I have been listening to Steve Earle’s new CD, The Low Highway, and enjoying it. I will probably have more to say about it after some more listens, but in the meantime, check out this video. Earlier this week, Steve Earle was on the Late Show With David Letterman, where he performed his new song about the homeless, “Invisible.”

    According to Rolling Stone, that is Chris Masterson playing the pedal steel and Eleanor Masterson playing the violin.

    Steve Earle Box Set In other Steve Earle news, Earle and Shout! Factory announced that on June 25 they will release a box set entitled, Steve Earle: The Warner Bros. Years. The box set will feature his three great post-prison albums from the 1990s, Train a Comin’, I Feel Alright, and El Corazón. The package will also include a fourth CD of an unreleased concert album Live at the Polk Theater from 1995. The Nashville concert was his first after being released from jail. Additionally, the box set will contain a DVD of a 1996 concert at the Cold Creek Correctional Facility in Tennessee, To Hell and Back.

    American Songwriter has the track listings and Billboard has the audio of a live version of “Devil’s Right Hand” from the new set. Because I already have the three previously released albums (and they are among my favorite CDs of all time, I hope they also release the additional material separately.

    What is your favorite Steve Earle song? Leave your two cents in the comments.

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