MAB Q&A

I rest my case! Thank you...GOODNIGHT CLEVELAND!!!!!

That was very good RiDawn. and how are you today? Everybody, RiDawn is actually on vacation and laying in the sun on a beach writing to you. Better watch out girl, OD is going to think you are really trolling for old fat men to replace your husband and HE IS IN THE RUNNING!!  

Those are great insights. At the risk of sounding like a MUTUAL ADMIRATION SOCIETY, RiDawn has a pretty interesting outlook on this. She had done music before moving to Nashville, on Cruise ships and was an international entertainer. So she saw first hand what it takes to entertain the public. Then she knows by moving to Nashville and seeing the highs and lows of writers and artists. She has seen a lot of them come and go and been there often to hear some over intoxicated guy or girl moaning about how crappy the music business has treated them.
"Want some cheese with that whine?"

 

She had to endure a lot of my bitching and moaning over the years and can tell you that there used to be NO MORE FRUSTRATED INDIVIDUAL in the world of Nashville than me. I was always going to quit and move home. I had giant shows that I was stating 'This is my last show." I've had more LAST shows than the Eagles.

And even though I WAS usually invited back to the writing appointments, the performing shows, the high and low profile gigs, things sometimes didn't happen.

But of course, if they HAD happened, I might be on that beach with RiDawn. And Tom. And Tina. We might be pretty crowded down there. LOL! 

Thanks a lot young lady. For taking your vacation time out and touching base. Means a lot. 

MAB 

 

 

 

 

Marc, let me know if this reply went through. I'm helplessly hoping I'm no longer in spammers prison. Fingers crossed...

Come to think of it, I had just made friends with RiDawn, when 5 min later I was thrown into spammers prison, where I have remained until now. Hoping I'm a free man & that this isn't just a one day pass out into the free world.

You are in Jarrod. Welcome back everyone.......

HE WENT TO JARROD!!!!! 

 

Then, after he left, Jarrod went to Subway to eat...

                                                                             CO-WRITING, WHY OR WHY NOT?

I have a discussion going on with fellow Ramper, Sir William, on "another thread" here. His comments and opinions echo a very well known train of thought in the songwriting community, "WHY CO-WRITE? Did Van Gogh or Picasso CO-PAINT?" Indirectly, yes. If you study history of any art form, book authorship, poetry, painting, sculpting, etc. usually the artist spent YEARS learning at the foot of masters. In the Greek, Roman, even into the rennesaince, those that would go on to be the masters, studied with other masters. Like any business, there would be apprenticipts, schools, etc.

As we entered the 19th and 20th Centurys, artists, writers, etc. would gather together in friendly enclaves where they would talk about their crafts, make constructive (and negative) critical annlysis, and help mold each other. The "expartiate Americans, Hemmingway, Scott Fitzgerald, Gertrude Stein, all hung around Paris with painters like Toulise Latrec and Pablo Piccasso. The Algonquin round table, with Dorothy Parker, and James Thurber. Did they 'co-write?" At times they did. reading biographies, they often gave assistance, sometimes even physically adding to the cumlative work. Harper Lee did the research and part of the work of Truman Capote's IN TRUE BLOOD. So yes, they did.

In days past, publishers actually contributed to what would now be considered co-writing. But in those days the money came from publishing,not the writing. So they kept it separate. I have known people who were associated with HANK WILLIAMS SR. and they would talk about his publisher, Fred Rose, and gave him as much credit for some of those songs. Richard Frank, who was a professor in the early days of Nashville, worked with Acuff Rose publishing, Hank's publisher. He said this for Michael Kosser's book, HOW NASHVILLE BECAME MUSIC CITY', the best book I have read on the history of Nashville:

"Hank Williams was a grammar-school dropout, who was an alcoholic before he was old enough to join the Boy Scouts. He was from South Alabama. HHe was frimo a afamily background that was intellectually deficent to his own, which put him pretty much in negative territory. Think, of some of the lyrics of some of those songs. "The silence of a falling star, lights up a purple sky.' have you ever heard a redneck hillbilly from South Alabama use language like that?"

"Rose, on the other hand, had a stellar and varied songwriting background, that included numerous pop hits in the 20's and some classic County and Western songs for Gene Autry and Ray Whitley. He was a very accomplished songwriter, and like most really good songwriters, his product hast certain fingerprints on it. I think there is no questions but that a streak of musical genius in Hank Williams. A very raw streak. He would have ideas, hooks, if you liike and bring them to Fred and they would massage them, which is a polite way of saying Fred would write it up."

I preach the concept of co-writing, because that is what I have always done. I came from bands and those are always joint ventures. Into Nashville which is built around co-writing. The entire town is founded on it. And for 37 years I have dealt with songwriters and more than most are solo songwriters. And it sounds like it. Their songs are usually rambling diatribes of pain. The lyrics go on about how they have been slighted in life, how terrible the world is, how horrible everything is and how they wish they could die. " I wish they could too.

It takes work at this but you have to learn it from somewhere. I DO NOT believe it can be learned alone. Sorry, I just don't. While there have been a few solo writers throughout history, mostly Dylan (of which I am not too big a fan of, I will be honest here), writing with other people give you not only skills, but force you to GET THINGS FINISHED. If you sit in a room dreading being there, and want to get something finished JUST TO GET THE HELL OUT, you learn something. This happened monday of this week. I was writing with two people, and it was just laborious. Even I was stumped. We couldn't find anything to write about. Finally someone through something our that hit me and I was able to get a handle on it. I got a verse and chorus and to all our surprise, it really worked. I still wanted to get out of there, so I did. But the idea intrigued me so much I had it pretty much written by the time I got home. And now I think it is one of the best things I have written in a while. Nessacity is the Mother of Invention.

And now, in this day and age where we HAVE to have other people, it is essential. With so many people trying to do this, you have one chance to make a bad first impression. So you need someone to bounce things off and sometimes more than that, to make your product stand up. I believe that takes teamwork. And then if you write only by yourself, you only have YOU to get that song outside yourself. That is pretty much the Saharah desert now. WHO CARES NOW?

But there are people who want to write and be solo. Sometimes it is not by choice. John Westwood will be glad that today I have a girl from Melbourne, Australia, doing one of my tours today. She has never co-written because it is just not an option where she is from. I hope to hook her up with John when she gets back. And hope to bring her over here. 
The key problem for her in Nashville is that she doesn't co-write. First question out of a publishers mouth is "Who have you written with and how much do you co-write a month?" The reason is as I stated above, "How well do you work with others?" Off the playing field. Am I going to be able to send you to work with someone else because alone your songs have no chance in even being heard. Neither do you. Thank you for playing. Here's a copy of our home game...." 

So that is the first thing I have to work on with her. I will. 

But for those of you who want to live in the solo bubble. That is fine. You have the right to do anything you want, any way you want it. But if you are doing that you also have to accept reality. There is nothing someone like myself can do for you. I can't reccommend you to anybody. And I am NEVER going to put songs someone else wrote over my own with these artists I work with. Ever. 

And that is what you are saying. "I want you to put my songs over your own. My emotions over yours. My stories over what you think is important. And deprive you of any chance at livelyhood, financial or personal achievement. "

Say that to someone you just meet and see how that works for you.

Gotta go change someone else's life. LOL!

MAB

Great post MAB!  I can personally attest to the positive outcomes of co-writing. My first co-write was with MAB and JimmyB. All I had was a hook idea, but no idea of where to go with it. With 3 of us in the room, the song took shape. Same experience the the next time when it was MAB, Melissa, Justin and I in the room. We all just kept talking about the ideas going in to the song and it just came together. Another one I could NOT have done alone. The third one was with MAB and RiDawn. Again, I only had an idea for a hook and story. (I actually had several, but the others were dismisssed as either "already done that" or "too similar to what's already been done".) And again, since there were three of us, it just worked great!

The other co-write I did long distance with Justin using e-mail. And again, it was just soo much easier bouncing ideas off each other to get a finished song. And, another example of a song I would never have thought of writing. The idea and most of the story and lyrics were Justin's and I basically added the rhythm and melody. BUT STILL, it took two of us to "git 'er done".

Now I want to address another thing MAB said, and that is when he talked about how even though some of the greats of the past didn't actually sit down in the same room, they did study each other, hang together, talk about each other's work, and basically come up with new ideas for their art. THAT WORKS, and SHOULD BE considered a form of co-writing. That happened to me a couple weeks back. A local singer/songwriter decided to host a songwriter's circle. When she made the anouncement, she gave attendees "a challenge" to write a song that included Kentycky Fried Chicken, tin cans, mountains, and Mexico. I got a verse and chorus by that night, BUT THE POINT IS, I would have NEVER even thought of writing that song without having interfaced with her. Then, during the meeting she gave us another challenge. A song that included Cheyene Pepper, two way mirror, hotel shower, and sweat in it. I have another new song (and so does she) because of that conversation. These are two examples of how RELATIONSHIPS will help you write (at least) more songs. AND, in MY MIND, I consider both of these songs co-writes, because I would have NEVER THOUGHT of writing that song in the first place.

phil g.

OOPS! Almost forgot. I also have two more songs I need to credit MAB with. The first one was inspired by my first co-write with MAB and JimmyB. It really wasn't anything he said, but was more because of how the co-write went. But, had I not had that interface that day I would have never written the song. The second song was a direct challenge from MAB to write a song where the same chorus lyrics took on three different meanings, based on the story line. That WAS a challenge! LOL But I did get a new song out of it, and learned a valuable lesson about the craft of songwriting as well.

                                           CORPORATION TIME

I'm sitting here, waiting on Ms.Dee Babe to get ready so we can go meet with my employers tomorrow night, The RAYMOND JAMES company. Yes, tomorrow night, it is TIME TO WORK FOR A CORPORATION! About 800 members of the Raymond James orginization (those great commercials on TV with the "IMPOSSIBLY TALL HATS' or the WOMAN CLONING HERSELF FOUR TIMES) are decending upon Nashville for a huge corporate event at The OPRYLAND hotel.  They are a multi billion dollar financial investment company based out of Florida and are going to have a big weekend  here.

Tomorrow night, I am hosting A TASTE OF NASHVILLE in their main event. It will be me as the Emcee, Feature act, KELLY PICKLER and an opening act of BONNIE LEE  PANDA, DANI JAMERSON and two male artists I don't know very well. We will have an in the round of the artists, doing two songs each. Then the audience will text their favorities, ALA American Idol and the winner will be paid DOUBLE. (we are all getting paid for this. Very well, actually.) 

Kind of interesting that I have written three of the girl's songs, but I can't be seen to play favorites. But I am not a judge, so it doesn't matter. The idea is the show these people what we do here. And to have a great time. I will provide the narration and color commentary, lol! Look for a lot of Kelly Pickler's HOT jokes!!!! I'm turning into OD.

Right now we are going to dinner with several of the producers of the show. Kind of a pre-planning dinner. Will let you know how it goes.

MAB 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hey MAB,

Sounds like your coporate event is going to be a really good show, and a pretty big event for you and the others.  Best of luck with that.  About Kelly Pickler,  I recall watching the season she was a contestant on Idol.  She was so cute, innocent, and somewhat backwards with her country girl charm.  She was refreshing with her sweetness and you couldn't help but fall in love with her (well, the Old Dog anyway). 

That was several years ago but there are two things I remember about her.  For some reason while talking with the judges after a performance, she mentioned she had tried (for the first time) and hated Calamari.  While even mentioning them and telling the judges about them, they grossed her out and caused her to make a funny face and quiver a little.  That was so cute.

The second memory I have about Kelly that season was after she had performed a song by Sara Evans "Suds In The Bucket".   She waited on stage for the judges comments and when it came time for Simon to speak, he questioned her choice of songs by singing anything titled (and he said sarcastically) "Suds In The Bucket".   Ha!!!  Kelly defended the song by answering Simon in a girlish manner,  "I like that song".   

Now, my follow up memory.  A group of us from the Ramp took a group tour with you in '09' .  That group included: The Deaner (from Canada), MattH, Becky, Cindy R, and the Old Dog.   One of the events you had planned for us was to have lunch with hit songwriter Will Nance and his lovely wife.  Then, for a special treat you made a phone call and got us a large table at the Bluebird for a late performance featuring Will and some other hit songwriters (sorry, I can't remember their names).

Into the evening, one of the male songwriters began to introduce his next song by telling the story of how Simon criticized poor little Kelly Pickler for singing a song he had written.   He then went on to say Simon's comments got his song more attention than having Sara record it.  Of course he was intoducing his song "Suds In The Bucket".

What a night that was.

OD

 

That's right OD. I forgot about that Bluebird show. Thanks for reminding me of that. The show is going to be pretty cool. it is going to have those huge TV screens next to the stage. I sure don't want to see me thirty feet tall. But they are supposedly giving us all DVD's of it. Will try to post some if I can ever figure out the posting things here.MAB

 

 

You know MAB,  another fond memory of that night, at the Bluebird,  was from the only female singer/songwriter in the group.  Sorry, I can't remember her name either.  She was a friend of yours and you warned us she would be hilarious.  She delivered one of the funniest lines I have ever heard as she was setting up her next song.  She mentioned how difficult it was to get any Publisher or Label person to give a songwriter any personal time to pitch a song.   She went on to mention the excuses they would give by saying they would get back with her, when she said "I will be the only person to die from second hand smoke blown up my ass".   That is still a favorite of mine.

The other great line (used in a song) came from Kasey Jones.  It was during a Tin Pan South show at the Listening Room with the featured show of MAB, Jimbeau, Kasey Jones, and Rich Fagen.  What a show that turned out to be.  Anyway, during a song Kasey was singing about recovering from a 'love gone wrong' situation, Kacey sang the line "I could get over him; if I could get 'under' you".  Ha!!!

Another fact about that line,  I heard the actors use it during an episode of the TV series "Nashville".   Not in a song but in general conversation between two female actors on the show.   I didn't think it came across near as funny as when Kasey used it in her song that night at the Listening Room.   I had no doubt who they had stolen it from.

OD

 

JUST WANTED TO SAY HELLOTO EVERYONE AND ASK IF YOU ALL ARE LIKING THE NEW SONGRAMP. ?

gary

                                                                ABOUT LAST NIGHT

Well, it's all over so I can talk a little about what we did last night in our writers round opening for KELLI PICKLER. I couldn't talk a lot about it as it was going through a lot of planning stages, but now I can let you know about it.

Last night, four great writer/artists were able to put on a really great round in front of about 1000 top representatives and investment people from RAYMOND JAMES. (The great commercials about the men with IMPOSSIBLY TALL HATS") It was held at OPRYLAND HOTEL (the biggest and most confusing hotel in the world), and was one of the textbook great shows that all worked the way it was planned.

It was an amazing set,l HUGE BALLROOM, HUGE STAGE, enormous lights, cameras, smoke, giant screens beside the stage, just like you see on television. I was the emcee and one of the few times in my career where I didn't do anything musically. I was Jeff Foxworthy and had to go back to my stand up comedy days to open ths show. My job was to narrate, and keep things moving along. I had to set up the town, the ups, downs, what songwriters and artists went to. Told my Garth Brooks and taylor Swift stories, my Shelby Lynne GRB story, all the high lights. LOL! After my five minutes,  I brought out the players. out. CHASE WARREN, a new "spiky haired Rascal Flatts sounding singer in town, (what is it about these guys with the spiky hair, they all sound alike! LOL!) the amazing BONNIE LEE PANDA, another new comer Zac Brown bearded "ADAM CUNNINGHAM, and the unbelivable DANI JAMERSON!

They each did two songs in two rounds and each one stronger than the last. Everyone was on their A game and it is really cool to hear giant "ooohs, ahhs, laughs, screams, hooting and hollering" from a very engaged, non music business crowd. As I sat back and watched the girls nail the songs we had written together it was like your children hitting the top of the charts.  
There was a "contest" of sorts, with the audience texting their favorite performance. I did set it up as if they were record label executives and would want to sign all of them. But there would have to be a beginning artist. Adam did win and tore it up. I was a bit biased and found out that Dani missed by two votes taking it. But it really wasn't about that. All of them were mobbed afterword, pictures going all over the place, their information and web sites are flooded today with fan  requests and they will probably be getting a bunch of new activity. A couple of people approached us about doing the same show in other areas. You never know.

The president and CEO of the company loved my James Earl Jones impression of "RAYMOND JAMES, you just feel wealthier SAYING IT!" Which was my kind of thing for the conference. They want to use it in a new commercial. That would be funny as hell! 

All in all, it was one of those nights you love to be a part of. My biggest thanks to LARRY AND BECKETT SINGLETON,  two people who have become some of our best friends in town. Larry put it all together with the players and got me included as emcee. Was strange for him to ask me to perform without music, but I think it worked very well. Having three of the eight songs performed being some of yours, was a pretty cool deal. One of Larry;s cowriters, Leah, has a sister, who was the production manager for the whole thing.That is how it all came together. So talk about RELATIONSHIPS. That is what we are always talking about here. 

They video taped the entire show so when we get that I will post it here and on my web site. A very fun night, great show, great food, great people, and great money. Can't ask for more than that.

Gotta go.

MAB 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CONGRATULATIONS MAB!! Sounds like it was an awsome night! You must be so proud of your girls! I've heard both of them live, and watched them on youtube. They are really great girls!

phil g.

MAB,  

Great run down on last night.  I'm sure the folks had a great time with their own personal taste of Nashville.

It sounds like the show went well and the artist's had a good time also.  

I'm sure Larry and Beckett are happy with how everything went.  How about Tina, was she there.  Maybe she will come on and tell us more, from her perspective.  

OD

 

Tina says "Sure it was okay. But you are NO PHIL!!"

I'm not sure how to respond to that

Enjoy some Johnny Paycheck on this sunny sunday! BTW, this is NOT Rap. LOL!

 

http://countrymusicnation.com/johnny-paycheck-and-the-outlaws-prayer-watch-51230

That was awsome Ed! Thanks for sharing!

phil g.

Yeah, I remember ol' Johnny. That video,which I have seen before, are a bit different than my experiences with him. A friend of mine put on a show with Johnny in the 80's. I was around the back stage area, and saw him pretty close but didn't get to talk to him because all he was doing was running around looking for more cocaine. He had a real drug problem, as well as false teeth, which fell out a lot when he was doing lines. He actually did a television show one time and could barely open his mouth because he forgot to put his teeth in.

Everybody has their own crosses to bear. Johnny's were in long white lines.

MAB 

 

Hi Everyone!

Just a quick note as I start my work week. Planned to post this weekend, but we were busy, busy, busy! I've got a few pictures from Friday night's show at Opryland. It was AWESOME! Spend almost the entire day at Opryland while everything was set up, rehearsals were done and ready for the show. I love Sales recognition meetings! It's always great to see the people in the organization get rewarded for good work. The Raymond James even was no exception.

Marc was an amazing emcee and I was so proud of him. He was funny, informative and lead the round perfectly. All four performers had their own unique style. And when I say unique, the were OUTSTANDING. Represented Nashville and songwriters perfectly. The added touch of Text voting was fun. It would be hard to pick just one...although I too am partial to Dani and Bonnie.

Since Marc gave such great details, I won't repeat. While the talent had their own catered dinner in their green room, guests (each person was provided 1 guest) had a reserved table in the ballroom Open bar, steak dinner, fabulous dessert. So, we were all treated very, very nicely. We stayed for Kelli Pickler and during most of the show Marc, Dani, Bonnie, Adam, and Chase were taking pictures, meeting and greeting, etc. They deserved every once of the attention they received!

I'll share a vew pictures to give you a feel of the event.

Have a great week everyone!

OK...how do you share pictures on this new forum site?

Tina, at the top of the "Post New Reply" dialog are 5 icons. Insert a photo, a link, a video, a file, or emoticons. Just click on "insert photo" and this is what you get.

 

Phil,

I'm looking at the icons on "Post a Reply" and only see the first five for fonts and bullet points, the next two for inserting / deleting links, then back to font sizes, family. At the bottom there is Yes/No for Subscribe right abov the "Submit" button. Don't see anything anywhere else.

Hmmm. In my Post A Reply, there are 5 icons above the font icons, on the left top, next to the word, 'Insert:" If you don't see those, we need to ask Eddie why. Go over to Forum/Community Improvement/(Observations / Bugs / Issues) and post the question to Eddie.

phil g.