By Judy Shields
Los Angeles, California (The Hollywood Times) 06/19/2024
It was a great pleasure to have had the opportunity to speak with John McEuen. It was also shocking to hear about his heart attack, but a blessing he pulled through.
“It was time to bring back the art form of spoken word, where there’s a story with music behind it,” shares McEuen. “The music does not have to reflect anything like a melody, so it’s supportive of the words. I chose some pieces that were not spoken words with music but made them so, and some pieces that were definite spoken words with music and tried to support them as well. These tracks span over 200 years to recent and have made an impact on me. In return, I hope they make an impact on you. I hope you enjoy it!.”
Country, bluegrass, and Americana legend John McEuen is excited to release his long-awaited album, The Newsman: A Man Of Record, today on Compass Records. In this project for McEuen, the album has ten spoken word tracks and one instrumental piece. Each one tells a special story in a way that’s like a play, with John‘s own style of music in the background. The album starts with a story about a newspaper seller who had a big impact on John when he was getting started in Los Angeles and ends with “Jules’ Theme,” a song inspired by Jules Verne talking about his wife, who passed away in a French cemetery. Every part of the album is carefully put together to make it unforgettable. Outlets including The Bluegrass Situation, M Music & Musicians Magazine, Nashville.com, Center Stage Magazine, Bluegrass Today, My Kind of Country, Americana Highways, The Hollywood Times, and The Music Universe premiered each song.
This is one amazing album. Old songs and poems now spoken by John McEuen for the entire world to listen to and for some, a reminder of the good ole days in country music, and bluegrass of spoken word songs along with musical instruments to sooth our souls. Thank you Mr. John McEuen for keeping it traditional and simple. Get you copy today. Judy Shields, The Hollywood Times
To listen/download The Newsman: A Man Of Record, visit found.ee/newsman.
Enjoy my conversation with John McEuen:
The album features a mix of tracks from different eras and genres. The collection spans various literary themes from Henry Wadsworth Longfellow’s Civil War-era poem “Killed at the Ford” to Robert Service’s “The Cremation of Sam McGee” about a Yukon prospector. Other tracks include Stephen Vincent Benét’s “The Mountain Whippoorwill,” Hank Williams Sr.’s “Fly Trouble,” and Walter Brennan’s “Old Rivers.” Thomas Monroe’s Vietnam War reflection “Nui Ba Den” contrasts with more recent compositions like John Carter Cash’s “The Guitar Of Pineapple John,” Hans Olson’s “I’ll Be Glad (When They Run Out Of Gas),” and Thaddeus Bryant’s “Red Clay.”
The Newsman: A Man of Record Album Track Listing:
The Newsman: Premiered by My Kind Of Country
Fly Trouble: Premiered By Bluegrass Today
The Cremation of Sam McGee: Premiered by The Bluegrass Situation
Old Rivers: Premiered by The Hollywood Times
The Guitar of Pineapple John: Premiered by Americana Highways
Killed at the Ford: Premiered by The Music Universe
Nui Ba Den: Premiered by Center Stage Magazine
Red Clay: Premiered by My Kind Of Country
I’ll Be Glad (When They Run Out Of Gas): Premiered by M Music & Musicians Magazine
The Mountain Whippoorwill: Premiered by Nashville.com
Jules’ Theme: Premiered by Center Stage Magazine
More About John McEuen:
Born in Oakland, California, in 1945, John McEuen relocated to Orange County for high school, where he began his musical journey at sixteen while working in a magic shop alongside Steve Martin. Co-founding member of the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, McEuen’s departure after fifty years marked a shift towards solo endeavors and new creative paths. Notably, he orchestrated the groundbreaking Will The Circle Be Unbroken album, boasting collaborations with bluegrass legends and earning multiple accolades. McEuen has over forty albums (six solo) that have earned four platinum and five gold recognition awards, multiple Grammy, CMA, and ACM awards, IBMA Record of the Year, and performed on another twenty-five albums as a guest artist and a prolific career spanning nearly six decades in live entertainment including concerts, television, and production.
John’s Steve Martin – The Crow production won the 2010 Best Bluegrass Album Grammy. The Music of the Wild West CD — produced by McEuen, was honored with the Western Heritage Award. A Grammy nomination for String Wizards II preceded the 1994 Uncle Dave Macon Award – for excellence in the preservation and performance of historic music. John’s popular Acoustic Traveller show is now in its 16th year on Sirius/XM’s The Bridge. McEuen produced and directed the 1990s documentary film The Dillards – A Night In the Ozarks, which captures his early mentors at their best. His recent ventures include producing albums, writing books, and exploring spoken-word projects, epitomizing his enduring passion for storytelling and music exploration. McEuen has a new album, a brilliant spoken word project he has been working on for years, The Newsman: A Man of Record, which is available now. It’s a brilliant spoken-word project with music underlying fascinating stories and poems spanning over 200 years. For more information, visit johnmceuen.com.
