CMT Blog: Chris Cagle

Pay no attention to the headline on this Yahoo story. When it says "Country twang poisons Bret Michaels album," they don't mean that literally. Twang has no such poisoning qualities. The writers are just trying to be clever since Michaels made his name by fronting the metal band Poison. But now that his new album, Custom Built, has been drenched in "country-fried grease," it looks like Michaels' old fans may have a problem with it. I can see how purists might find a collaboration with Chris Cagle on "Every Rose Has Its Thorn" and a duet with Miley Cyrus on "Nothing to Lose" unthinkable. But I'm looking forward to hearing this side of Michaels, who once served as a judge on Nashville Star. My curiosity is piqued. Is yours?

Photo by Bryan Bedder/Getty Images

How can a video that is roughly eight years old seem so timeless? When I watch this vintage video from Chris Cagle, I see one that looks like it could have premiered yesterday. I guess that either means he was ahead of his time or maybe that video trends haven't changed all that much. It was his "I Breathe In, I Breathe Out" video, which turned out to be Cagle's only No. 1 hit so far. The song itself, and his voice, are what took that song to the top of the charts. But I'd always loved the video for the way it captured that lonely heartbroken look in his eyes, just the way it would be if you'd been dumped and all you could do to get through the day was breathe in and breathe out.

There are a lot of songs out there about breathing, especially country ones. Faith Hill's "Breathe," Taylor Swift's "Breathe," even Chris Cagle's "I Breathe In, I Breathe Out." So when someone played this new song, "Just Breathe," for me, I thought maybe it was some new country artist trying to copy Hill and Swift and give the "breathe" concept a man's perspective. It starts with some nice guitar picking, there's a sweet cadence to the melody and the vocals kind of have that pleading desperation sound. I like it. Well, I did like it. Until I found out that it was A PEARL JAM SONG. Pearl Jam, of the screaming grungy alt-rock fame. Not really my thing as a hardcore country fan. But since my gut reaction to this song was a good one, I think I'd better add it to my one-off playlist and keep it handy in case anyone ever accuses me of having a one-track mind.

When record labels put out greatest hits albums for artists who are no longer on the company roster, who makes money? The labels, obviously. But what about the artists? I hope in this case Chris Cagle and Gretchen Wilson get a big piece of the well-deserved greatest hits pie. They are after all, their hits. Without Cagle, Capitol Records wouldn't have the ability to throw together an album with chart-toppers like "Laredo," "I Breathe In, I Breathe Out" and "What a Beautiful Day." And without Wilson, Columbia Nashville would not have the means to get songs like "Homewrecker," "When I Think About Cheatin'," "California Girls" and "Politically Uncorrect"(the one with Merle Haggard) collected in one place. Wilson's Greatest Hits is due out on Jan. 19. Best of Chris Cagle is due out Feb. 9. And I will be buying them both and crossing my fingers that it puts a little more cash in both of their pockets.

On Saturday night, I met a couple (Nick and Michelle) whose first blind date had been to a Tracy Lawrence concert. Fast forward some 10 years and they are happily married with kids, and still love country music. No surprise there. But their story reminded me of how much I love Lawrence, especially his "Paint Me a Birmingham." How he literally created an image in that song of a place he loved. I felt the same way about Chris Cagle's "Laredo." And all the songs about towns/roads/rivers I've never been to in real life but feel like I have because of the country songs that have taken me places.

"Paint Me a Birmingham," Tracy Lawrence
"Laredo," Chris Cagle
"Louisiana," Tim McGraw
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This decade has been quite a rollercoaster for country music. But I'll spare you the trip down memory lane right now and will just say this: A lot of artists have had just one big No. 1 hit in the past 10 years.

I thought of that when I read that Chris Young had his first No. 1 just now at the end of the decade. So I took a look back at all the songs that have been so huge but never had the follow up I'd hoped they would, chart-wise.

According to Billboard magazine, these are some of the songs that topped the charts -- recorded by artists who didn't make it back up there again.

The Wreckers, "Leave the Pieces" -- Loved the whole acoustic Bohemian sound they had on this, their break-out hit.

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In the midst of some last-minute vacation planning for various places I wish my family could go this summer, I keep getting hung up on songs about places. Faraway places, down-the-street places, beaches, dude ranches, lakes jam-packed with boat houses. Some are places we're considering, and others are just ones we dream about. With the kids out of school and already crying "bored," the world is my oyster, so to speak. So, close your eyes and go with me to:

"Ireland," Garth Brooks
"She's So California," Gary Allan
"Laredo," Chris Cagle
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Who remembers the Martina McBride YWCA auction where Chris Cagle literally sold the shirt off his back and the shoes off his feet and walked out shirtless and barefoot? That's why you shouldn't miss this year's auction. You just never know what kinds of crazy stuff will happen with the artists. This year's auction starts at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday (June 13) at the Hall of Fame Park in downtown Nashville. McBride will be hosting and will be auctioning off cowboys hats signed by Kenny Chesney and Trace Adkins, guitars signed by Dolly Parton and Brad Paisley, a gold fiddle signed by Charlie Daniels, a quilt made entirely of McBride's tour T-shirts and so much more. The proceeds help women get a solid education, get good jobs and get away from the cycle of domestic violence.

With all the year-end lists floating around, I was glad to see a real list of the top country songs of 2008 in Country Aircheck magazine. I only live in one market, so it's not feasible for me to know what's being played on the other country stations throughout the nation. But on the MediaBase list, which monitors airplay on country radio stations, the usual chart hogs like Brad Paisley and Kenny Chesney made room for newcomers like James Otto and Lady Antebellum. Otto actually topped the list with his over-the-top sexy "Just Got Started Loving You." That has to give him all kinds of bragging rights at holiday parties.

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Is it too early to start thinking about Stagecoach? Or as I like to call it, Spring Break Country-Style? Chesney, Paisley, McEntire, Lambert, Rucker, Cagle, Kid Rock, Little Big Town and Lady Antebellum don't think so. They're already booked for this late April country festival in Indio, Calif. (just a couple of hours east of Los Angeles). And with all the recent fest cancellations, Stagecoach may be our last chance to see country music in such abundance outside of the CMA Music Festival in Nashville. My gut tells me that with the economy the way it is, fans will be less likely to spend hundreds of dollars on two-day passes for events like this, making promoters less likely to book top tier talent. So I say, get it while you can. Tickets go on sale next week.