| Artist |
Song Title |
Label and/or Notes |
| Cecil Grant |
Nashville Stomps |
From "Night Train to Nashville" comp (Lost Highway) |
| The Band |
Ophelia |
From "The Last Waltz" Levon Helm's Ramble at the Ryman kicked off this show with this one. Levon was all smiles and interacted with the crowd. His joy made us soon forget the 45 minute late start and sound problems that plagued the first half hour of the show. Guests at the show included Robert Plant/Allison Krauss, John Hiatt, Buddy Miller, Sam Bush, Delbert McClinton, Sheryl Crow, Billy Bob Thorton, Little Sammy Davis. Levon's band included Larry Campbell, Teresa Williams, Amy Helm and members of Ollabelle. |
| Levon Helm |
Wide River to Cross |
From "Dirt Farmer" (Vanguard) Buddy & Julie Miller composition, sung by Buddy at the show after thanking Levon for including it on Dirt Farmer |
| Levon Helm |
Anna Lee |
From "Dirt Farmer" (Vanguard) Levon, Amy Helm, Teresa Williams, and Larry Miller sang this along with Levon on mandoline both at the Ramble and at the AMA Awards. A highlight at both nights. Larry Campbell presented Levon with the Artist of the Year Award at the AMA. Levon in turn presented Larry with the Lifetime Achievement Award: Instrumentalists. |
| John Hiatt |
Have A Little Faith In Me |
Hiatt sang this, just him and the piano at the AMA Awards. Hiatt was awarded a Lifetime Achievement Award for Songwriting from the AMA |
| Jim Lauderdale |
Hittin' It Hard |
From "Honey Songs" (Yep Roc) Lauderdale dedicated this song to Chris Gaffney (Dave Alvin/Hacienda Bros) who passed earlier this year. It was nice to see Chris was recognized at the AMA. |
| Grateful Dead |
Cumberland Blues |
From "Workingman's Dead" Jerry Garcia was presented posthumously with the AMA President's Award. Garcia cited as being an "American Original" I couldn't agree more. After the awards, the American Beauty Project played a wonderful set at Cannery Row. This song was led by Jim Lauderdale. The band line up for the night included Levon's band, plus the rest of Ollabelle, Lauderdale, Catherine Williams, and Buddy Miller. Great guitar wars between Miller and Campbell and wonderful harmonies throughout the night. |
| Mike Farris |
Oh Mary Don't You Weep |
From "Salvation In Lights" Farris performed this at the Ryman during the AMA Awards which he was presented with New Emerging Artist of the Year. This Nashvillian also performed this at his showcase set at 3rd & Lindsay. His no-holds bar gospel was just the break I needed from the assault of twang. Here's hoping he comes to Boston and brings the McCrary Sisters and his hot band along with him. A must see. |
| Hank Thompson |
The Wild Side of Life |
While touring the Country Music Hall of Fame, I was struck by the Kitty Wells Exhibit now showing. This song about a woman gone wrong topped the charts in the early 50s. Wells wrote a response to Hank with "It Wasn't God Who Made Honky Tonk Angels" and bumped Hank off the top of the charts. |
| Kitty Wells |
It Wasn't God Who Made Honky Tonk Angels |
see above |
| Little Jimmy Dickens |
(Men Came After Women) And Women Been After Men Ever Since |
From the compilation "Always Lift Him Up: A Tribute to Blind Alfred Reed" (Proper). As part of the AMA, The Ford Theater at the Country Music Hall of Fame presented a session on Blind Alfred Reed led by Tim O'Brien who sang this song. |
| Kathy Mattea |
We've Got to Have 'em That's All |
Reed wrote his own response song to the previous song. Mattea performed this at the Reed session. Also at the Reed session were John Lilly, Charlie McCoy (Orbison, Cash, Dylan, Presley++), Connie Smith |
| Carlene Carter |
Me & the Wildwood Rose |
From "I Fell In Love" (Reprise) (1990) Carlene performed this at the Country Music Hall of fame, acoustic on the autoharp. Holding back the tears as she talked about her mom and grandma, Maybelle Carter. |
| Patrick Sweany |
Think About It |
From "Every Hour Is A Dollar Gone" (Nine Mile) Patrick performed a killer showcase at The Basement (below Grimey's Record Store). His performance of AC/DC's "It's a Long Way to the Top If you Want to Rock and Roll" was bluesy and moody and certainly well felt as Sweany just moved to Nashville the week before. He's such a great performer it's only a matter of time before he connects with other talented artists. |
| Paul Thorn |
Fabio & Liberace |
From "Ain't Love Strange" Thorn brought the Mission Temple Fireworks Stand vibe to a packed Mercy Lounge. |
| Buddy Miller |
Worry Too Much |
From " Universal United House of Prayer" (New*West) Buddy also packed the Mercy Lounge. He was ubiquitous during the week (welcome of course) having played with Levon Helm at the Ramble, the AMA Awards house band, and the American Beauty Project, an early morning session at the Conference and his official showcase where he sang this song as well as a couple with Bonnie Bramlett. Outstanding. Miller was also presented at the AMA Awards with Instrumentalist of the Year. |
| Jason & the Scorchers |
White Lies |
Jason & the Scorchers were presented with an AMA Award for Lifetime Achievement for Live Performance which they proved aptly at the Ryman during the Awards Ceremony and at the packed Mercy Lounge. Mojo Nixon introduced the band (sorry Beatle Bob) and where original drummer Perry Baggs joined Ringenberg on vocals. Welcome to Nashville indeed. |
| Glen Campbell |
Rhinestone Cowboy |
OK, this might be cheesy, but to see it live and at Campbell's age (72) with its opening line of "I've been walking these streets so long..." Its a moment to behold. Especially with a stage full of exception musicians and fans that included Jesse Dayton, Raul Malo, Chuck Mead (BR549), Jason Ringenberg, Bryson Jones and more - was well a nice way to begin my last night in Nashville. |
