CONTINUING CIRCLE: It’s the third time around for the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, with an October 1 release date set for Will The Circle Be Unbroken, Vol. III. Co-produced by Randy Scruggs and NGDB, the collection will follow the previous formula of pairing the band with a parade of stellar guests. Contributors this time include Johnny Cash and June Carter Cash, Iris DeMent, Vince Gill, Emmylou Harris, Alison Krauss, Taj Mahal, Jimmy Martin, Del McCoury, Willie Nelson, Tom Petty, Tony Rice, Earl Scruggs, Doc Watson and Dwight Yoakam. Earlier this year, Capitol reissued the first Circle album, which was originally a 3-LP set when it appeared in 1972. A second volume was released by Universal in 1989.
CASH EARS: At press time, no release date had been announced for America Four: When The Man Comes Around, the fourth album JOHNNY CASH has recorded with American Recordings producer Rick Rubin. The disc is expected to come out sometime this fall….
In the meantime, there are a slew of Cash historical discs in stores. Live At Madison Square Garden, a previously unreleased Cash concert disc, came out August 27 on Columbia/Legacy. Recorded on December 5, 1969, the 25-song disc includes guest contributions from Mother Maybelle Carter, Doug Kershaw, Carl Perkins and the Statler Brothers. Columbia/Legacy follows on September 3 with four mour reissues in its continuing Cash series, with Songs Of Our Soil (1959), Ballads Of The True West (1965), The Johnny Cash Show (1970) and Silver (1979).
OCTOBER 8 A PEACH: A fair share of notable releases are set to hit shelves on October 8. Freakwater co-leader CATHERINE IRWIN makes her solo debut on the Thrill Jockey label with Cut Yourself A Switch. A combination of originals and covers, it includes the Carter Family’s “Will You Miss Me”, as well as songs popularized by Johnny Paycheck and Elvis Presley. Freakwater’s Dave Gay plays bass….
The sophomore album from Laura Cantrell, When The Roses Bloom Again, features a cover of the title song, an outtake from the Billy Bragg/Wilco Mermaid Avenue collaborations of songs set to Woody Guthrie lyrics. (Wilco leader Jeff Tweedy’s version surfaced earlier this year on the Chelsea Walls soundtrack.)…
Canadian singer-songwriter RON SEXSMITH makes his debut on the Nettwerk America label with Cobblestone Runway. The album includes a guest vocal appearance by Chris Martin of Coldplay….
Incidental Music releases Nothing Left To Lose, a KRIS KRISTOFFERSON tribute that includes cuts from Richard Buckner (“Loving Her Was Easier”), Calexico (“Casey’s Last Ride”) and the Handsome Family (“Sunday Mornin’ Comin’ Down”). It’s the second Kristofferson tribute to surface this year, following Don’t Let The Bastards Get You Down on the Jackpine Social Club label.
ALSO ON THE WAY: Audium Records released Time, a new album by RAY PRICE, on August 27. Price is backed by members of Nashville’s legendary “A” Team, including Harold Bradley, Buddy Harmon and Pete Wade. The disc includes three tunes penned by songwriting legend Cindy Walker….
Demolition, a collection of thirteen RYAN ADAMS demos from various sessions during the past year, is due out September 24 on Lost Highway….
New West Records unleashes two albums on September 24: Room To Breathe by blues/roots great DELBERT MCCLINTON, and Slippage by Denton, Texas, rock band SLOBBERBONE….
Bloodshot Records’ upcoming releases include REX HOBART & THE MISERY BOYS’ Your Favorite Fool, produced by Pete Anderson (September 24), and the Waco Brothers’ New Deal (October 22)….
Spread Your Wings, documenting a 2001 breast-cancer benefit concert in Chartlotte, North Carolina, features tracks from Alejandro Escovedo, Richard Buckner, Jim Lauderdale and many others. It will be on sale at this year’s Spread Your Wings concert on September 21 at Charlotte’s Neighborhood Theater; the lineup includes Scott Miller, Stacey Earle & Mark Stuart, the Silos and Duane Jarvis. To order the disc online, e-mail Bob Graham at M6913J@aol.com for details.
IN LIMBO: Guit-steel master JUNIOR BROWN has parted ways with Curb Records….
The reshuffling of Mammoth Records under the Hollywood/Universal umbrella has left the MINUS 5 album Down With Wilco, a collaborative album between Minus 5 ringleader Scott McCaughey and Jeff Tweedy’s band, without a home….
The Clark Family Experience has filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy protection, with estimated debts of $800,000. The group released several singles for Curb Records. The band’s attorney has said that the filing will probably terminate the group’s recording contract. Byron Gallimore and mainstream country star Tim McGraw produced the group’s music.
