Hayes Carll and Good Companions
Hayes Carll’s album What It Is took the top spot for most spins by Americana Radio in 2019 (through 12/17/19). Denver’s very own The Lumineers’ cut “Gloria” off III was the single most spun single in 2019. Contrast this, as usual, with the Grammy’s complete lack of recognition of the artists and songs actually being played on Americana radio.
From the AMA PR:
| Top 10 Americana Radio Airplay Albums of 2019 What It Is, Hayes Carll Fever Breaks, Josh Ritter III, The Lumineers Turn Off the News (Build a Garden), Lukas Nelson & Promise of the Real Signs, Tedeschi Trucks Band” Jade Bird, Jade Bird We Get By, Mavis Staples American Love Song, Ryan Bingham Walk Through Fire, Yola Closer Than Together, The Avett Brothers View the complete Top 100 albums list here. |
| Top 10 Americana Radio Airplay Singles of 2019 “Gloria,” The Lumineers (Appears on III) “Old Black Magic,” Josh Ritter (Appears on Fever Breaks) “Bad Case,” Lukas Nelson & Promise of the Real (Appears on Turn Off the News [Build a Garden]) “Stay High,” Brittany Howard (Appears on Jaime) “High Steppin’,” The Avett Brothers (Appears on Closer Than Together) “Hard Case,” Tedeschi Trucks Band (Appears on Signs) “Change,” Mavis Staples (Appears on We Get By) “Jingle and Go,” Ryan Bingham (Appears on American Love Song) “All Your’n,” Tyler Childers (Appears on Country Squire) “None’ya,” Hayes Carll (Appears on What It Is) View the complete Top 100 singles list here. |
I was just arguing with a friend over the merits and authenticity of Hayes Carll, in light of his chart-topping performance this year. She thinks it’s long deserved recognition. I, on the other hand, do like Carll’s latest effort, but I still get hung up on his transformation from 2002 suburban Woodlands Texas folk singer to 2019 Gee Shucks Texas Country boy. I mean, he’s good, he hangs out with Corb Lund and Ray Wylie Hubbard good. He’s picking-fights-with-Steve-Earle good. She makes a good point, too, that artists evolve and SOMETIMES that means they get better. Usually some producer gets ahold of them and they go all commercial, but not ALWAYS.
I’m trying to dwell less on negatives and be grateful for the positives in life. Hayes Carll and his music are good companions these days.
Speaking of companions, I definitely agree with the 8-9-10 spots on the Singles chart Substitute Tyler Childers’ “House Fire” for “All Your’n” on my list even if that’s one the Grammys and AMA agree upon. I didn’t want to like Ryan Bingham’s “Jingle and Go” but it’s an ear worm–I did stream more of Carll’s tracks on this album compared to Childers’ and Bingham’s, for what that’s worth.
And oh by the way, Steve Earle was ROBBED with airplay for GUY, his album in tribute to Guy Clark, only coming in #37. Airway Robbery—I knew the first time I played “Dublin Blues” with the early singles release, that this was going to be my #1 album of 2019, and you can jump up on the coffee table and tell everyone just that.
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I wrote about the 2018 AMA Radio Charts last year, and the No Depression annual readers poll. I’ll have to get to the ND list.