Buddy Jewell - Jewell, Buddy (CD 2003)

He's 41. He's "overweight." He wears a cowboy hat. All three things are essentially "out" in Nashville marketing board rooms when it comes to finding and signing new artists. What those marketing people fail to realize is that looks should be last on the list of requirements for country singer. Merle Haggard's was/is not "cute," neither were/are Johnny Cash and Willie Nelson. What all those men possessed when they started out was an acute sense about what it takes to craft and perform a great song.

Buddy Jewell is 41, slightly "overweight," (like most 40 somethings are) and he wears a cowboy hat. He looks like a cross between Travis Tritt and Trace Adkins. Buddy Jewell's story starts around twenty years ago when he decided to be a singer and joined a band. Slowly Buddy gained a following and eventually landed a deal singing other songwriter's demos. He's come close to record deals so many times that he cannot even count the rejections anymore. He couldn't even get his songs recorded by other artists. Essentially, Buddy was destined to make his living recording demos and singing in Nashville area clubs.

An Overnight Success

All of this changed when, at the urging of a few friends, Buddy tried out for a talent show called Nashville Star. He succeeded in being one of the 12 finalists picked by a panel of judges. The judges then whittled down, with voters from across the USA, to a final group of three, 19 Year old Miranda Lambert and two 40 something guys, Buddy and John Arthur Martinez. Buddy won the contest and was signed to Columbia Records (Judge Tracy Gershon is a A&R representative [talent "scout"] for the label while Nashville Star's "Simon," Charlie Robison, records for Sony).

The Monday after the show ended, the single, "Help Pour Out The Rain (Lacey's Song)" was released to country radio and became the most popular debut single since Wynonna Judd's "She Is His Only Need" in 1992. The beautiful traditional styled ballad was written by Buddy as a response to a question his daughter asked him during a trip.

The Dream Comes True

With a hit single and recognition because of Nashville Star, Buddy entered the studio with Grammy winning artist Clint Black as his producer. Released on July 1, 2003, Buddy Jewell's self titled CD is an 11-track collection of some of the best country music to be released this year.

"I Wanna Thank Everyone" is a fun sing-a-long type of song that is sure to inspire people. It's a tongue-in-cheek mid tempo number that finds Buddy playfully saying thanks to anyone who has ever "told (him) no." It was performed on Nashville Star and is sure to be a hit when it gets released.

"Sweet Southern Comfort" sounds like a great advertising campaign for country living and life. It's an ode to the relaxed ways to the south. Featuring Buddy's smooth baritone voice (think Gene Watson) over some great guitar, banjo and mandolin pickin' the song also features fellow Nashville Star finalist Jamey Garner on harmonica (a solo).

While it's probably not a hit single, Merle's "Today I Started Loving You Again" is notable for it is a duet with the beautiful Miranda Lambert. She has a great traditional vocal style that mixes well with Buddy's voice.

"Abilene On Her Mind" looks feels and sounds like a hit. It sounded like one when Buddy sang this self-penned (with Jim Weaver) song on Nashville Star and the fully produced version is no different. There's a tasty fiddle wrapped up in crying steel and electric guitars.

Buddy also wrote the stone country ballad "One In A Row" (with Thom McHugh). It's a traditional ballad about how a man feels after his relationship has ended; you know one of those songs about taking life day by day. I could see Trace Adkins singing this if Buddy doesn't have a hit with it.

Tom Douglas ("Love's The Only House") and Billy Kirsch ("Holes In The Floor Of Heaven") wrote the emotional ballad "Why We Said Goodbye." Tim McGraw fans will remember it from the "Set This Circus Down" CD. Like "One In A Row" this is about a guy who is suffering through a break-up. However, this time he wants to "give it one more try" because he doesn't know why she ended the relationship.

Clint Black wrote and recorded "I Can Get By" for his great 1994 CD "One Emotion" and Buddy re-interprets the song while retaining Clint's classic style to it. It's a fun song that says there are a million things that he can do but he live without the one he loves.


A Fine Line Between Art and Commerce

Buddy Jewell has seen a wish come true with the recording and release of this album. What he probably didn't realize when he was recording the CD is that he'd have a successful record that may very well end up on many people's "best of" lists. Buddy Jewell is a sturdy set of traditional flavored country music that is also modern enough for radio programmers tastes.

Songs
1. I Wanna Thank Every One
2. Help Pour Out The Rain (Lacey's Song)
3. Sweet Southern Comfort
4. Today I Started Loving You Again (A Duet with Miranda Lambert)
5. Abilene On Her Mind
6. One In A Row
7. O'Reilly Luck
8. Why We Said Goodbye
9. One Step At A Time
10. I Can Get By
11. You Know How Women Are
Produced By: Clint Black
Released July 1, 2003 by Columbia Records Nashville/Sony Music